Entertainment
8 Near-Perfect Netflix Miniseries Nobody Remembers
The miniseries format has been a big success for Netflix, particularly in the past few years, so it’s hardly shocking that the platform boasts several standout works in this style, including acclaimed titles like Adolescence and Baby Reindeer. Bridging the gap between the high-budget productions of cinema and the intimate storytelling of television, these shows have become massive critical and commercial successes. However, beyond those widely recognized hits, the streaming platform is also home to many excellent miniseries that haven’t received the same level of attention.
The challenge of a one-season story is that you don’t have the luxury of reigniting popular interest with new installments, which makes it easy for even the greatest miniseries to fade from public memory. But though they may be forgotten, that doesn’t diminish their brilliance, and they’re still remarkable achievements, even if they never achieved enduring popularity. With that in mind, here’s a look at some near-perfect Netflix miniseries that deserve to be revisited even though practically nobody remembers them anymore.
1
‘Alias Grace’ (2017)
A Canadian drama miniseries directed by Mary Harron and written by Sarah Polley, Alias Grace is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1996 novel, which follows a fictionalized take on real events from the 19th century. Sarah Gadon stars as Grace Marks, a young housemaid convicted of a high-profile murder, who reveals her story to a psychiatrist hired to evaluate her mental state. Edward Holcroft, Rebecca Liddiard, Zachary Levi, Kerr Logan, David Cronenberg, Paul Gross, and Anna Paquin star in key supporting roles.
Most audiences these days know of Margaret Atwood primarily because of The Handmaid’s Tale, but as haunting as that near-future story may be, this journey into the past is every bit as powerful. Alias Grace was highly acclaimed by critics in its day, earning praise for its gripping story, complex characters, and sharp social commentary, and it’s a truly fascinating period thriller that opens a window into a little-explored time and place. The show garnered several accolades as well, including two Canadian Screen Awards and an Emmy nomination.
2
‘Unbelievable’ (2019)
Based on a real-life case detailed in T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong’s Pulitzer Prize-winning news feature and their book A False Report, Unbelievable is a crime drama miniseries created by Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, and Michael Chabon. Kaitlyn Dever stars as 18-year-old Marie Adler, whose rape assault report was dismissed by police officers as a false allegation, and the show explores her nightmarish experiences with the police and judicial system, as well as an investigation years later by two relentless detectives (Toni Collette and Merritt Wever) who are looking for a serial rapist who may have been responsible for the assault on Marie.
Unbelievable is not an easy watch, but it’s a show that a lot more people ought to see. A powerful and painful narrative about how victims of abuse are unfairly persecuted by the very systems meant to protect them, the show handles its real-life events with grace and sensitivity, honoring the struggles of the victims while sharply criticizing the dysfunctions of the justice systems. Featuring one of Kaitlyn Dever’s most compelling performances to date, Unbelievable is a criminally overlooked series that remains tragically relevant today, decades after the true events that inspired it.
3
‘Maniac’ (2018)
Created by Patrick Somerville and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, Maniac is a black comedy-drama miniseries loosely based on the 2015 Norwegian show. Emma Stone and Jonah Hill star as two strangers who take part in a pharmaceutical trial testing a treatment that can supposedly cure all psychological disorders, embarking on a mind-bending trip through hallucinatory worlds. The series also features Justin Theroux, Sonoya Mizuno, Gabriel Byrne, and Sally Field as part of its main cast.
Released on Netflix in 2018, Maniac was very well-received by critics and audiences, garnering praise for its performances, direction, and retro-futuristic visuals. A darkly comedic and psychologically layered series, Maniac is an intriguing experience that takes its characters (and the viewers) in unpredictable directions. The show is driven by the amazing performances of Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, with the former receiving a Satellite Award nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her role.
4
‘Dracula’ (2020)
An adaptation of Bram Stoker’s eponymous Gothic novel created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, BBC’s Dracula is a reimagination of the iconic character through a 21st-century lens. Starring Claes Bang as the titular vampire, the miniseries explores Count Dracula’s centuries-spanning legacy of gore and terror, from his beginnings in Transylvania to modern-day London, following his lifelong battle with his arch nemesis, Agatha Van Helsing (Dolly Wells). The show’s ensemble cast also includes John Heffernan, Morfydd Clark, Samuel Blenkin, Lydia West, Matthew Beard, and more in supporting roles.
Arguably one of the most elegant modern adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Gatiss and Moffat’s adaptation of the 19th-century literary classic is a meticulously crafted and highly sophisticated production anchored by its impeccable performances. Driven by the fiery chemistry between Bang and Wells, the miniseries cleverly reinterprets the vampiric Count’s familiar story, finding new heights of horror, humor, and emotion in the process. Visually stimulating and sharply written, the show is a contemporary television masterpiece that deserves a lot more attention.
5
‘Maid’ (2021)
Based on Stephanie Land‘s 2019 memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive, Maid is a drama series created by Molly Smith Metzler that stars Margaret Qualley as Alex, a young mother and the titular maid. After escaping an abusive relationship, Alex takes a job cleaning houses to provide for her daughter, and the show explores her struggles navigating dysfunctional relationships and government red tape while dreaming of a future as a writer. The series also stars Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Tracy Vilar, Billy Burke, and Andie MacDowell in key roles.
After its premiere in 2021, Maid quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular English-language TV shows, earning acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its moving, dramatic story. A grounded and heartbreakingly realistic story inspired by true events, the series has been widely praised for its narrative and acting, particularly Margaret Qualley’s intense performance as the central protagonist. Maid earned several accolades as well, including three Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations, and it was named one of the top 10 TV shows of the year by the American Film Institute.
6
‘Clark’ (2022)
A Swedish crime comedy-drama miniseries starring Bill Skarsgård, Clark explores the real-life story of notorious criminal Clark Olofsson, as described in his book Vafan var det som hände? Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the series recounts Olofsson’s life and crimes, particularly the infamous Norrmalmstorg robbery, which originated the term “Stockholm Syndrome.” Besides Skarsgård, the show also stars Vilhelm Blomgren, Isabelle Grill, Malin Levanon, Hanna Björn, Peter Viitanen, Sandra Ilar, and more in supporting roles.
On the surface, Clark is a wildly comedic, almost gleeful story about a highly flamboyant criminal, but underneath that is a subtle yet clear critical examination of Olofsson’s life and psyche, revealing the sociopathic and delusional tendencies behind his bravado and charisma. Though the show may not be very widely known, it’s easily one of Bill Skarsgård’s best performances and a highly enjoyable, energetic, and vibrant period crime saga. His performance earned Skarsgård a Kristallen Award, the Swedish equivalent of an Emmy.
7
‘Bodies’ (2023)
Based on the DC Vertigo graphic novel written by Si Spencer, Bodies is a sci-fi mystery thriller miniseries created by Paul Tomalin that explores a complex time travel conspiracy. The story begins with the discovery of a mysterious corpse that appears in the same spot in London in four different time periods — 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053 — following the Metropolitan Police detectives who investigate the case in their respective times. Shira Haas, Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller, and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd lead the cast as the detectives, with Stephen Graham, Tom Mothersdale, Greta Scacchi, Michael Jibson, and more appearing in lead roles.
Bodies is a sci-fi masterpiece that slowly unravels an intricate four-dimensional mystery that moves backwards and forwards in time, earning critical acclaim for its complex narrative and compelling performances. Though it’s relatively underrated, this mindboggling thriller series is easily one of the best ever made in its genre, using recurring motifs, layered character dynamics, and intriguing sci-fi concepts to create a truly fascinating journey through space and time. And while it does all that, the show also maintains a powerful emotional core, particularly through the characters played by Kyle Soller and Amaka Okafor.
8
‘Pluto’ (2023)
Produced by Genco and animated by Studio M2, Pluto is a sci-fi anime mystery series adapted from the manga by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki, which is in turn inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s iconic Astro Boy series. Set in a futuristic world where humans and advanced robots co-exist, the show follows a robot inspector who is investigating a series of robot and human murders, uncovering connections to a devastating war in the recent past. Shinshū Fuji, Yoko Hikasa, Mamoru Miyano, and more star as the original Japanese voice cast, with Jason Vande Brake, Laura Stahl, Keith Silverstein, and others voicing the English dub.
Unlike the family-friendly Astro Boy manga and TV series, Pluto is a darker, more mature reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s beloved characters, brought to life through stunning animation and an emotionally deep narrative. Essentially a neo-noir psychological thriller set in a futuristic sci-fi world, the show explores powerful themes of trauma, hatred, and humanity. The series was a critical darling when it first premiered in 2023, and though it isn’t as widely known as its landmark predecessor, Pluto is easily one of the most elevated, complex, and gorgeously animated anime series of the 2020s.
Pluto
- Release Date
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2023 – 2023-00-00
- Directors
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Toshio Kawaguchi
- Writers
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Tatsuro Inamoto, Heisuke Yamashita
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