Netflix is known for creating innovative TV shows and popularizing the idea of binge-watching – releasing whole seasons at once to keep viewers hooked. However, with longer series, there’s always a chance a single weak episode could damage the show’s overall quality. Even the best shows sometimes have moments that aren’t as strong as the rest.
Miniseries offer a unique chance to create a truly exceptional TV show with consistently high quality – no filler episodes. When given the right amount of time, they can be just as compelling as big-budget movies. In fact, some of Netflix’s most highly-rated shows are shorter miniseries where every episode feels like a perfect 10 out of 10.
The Queen’s Gambit
2020
During the pandemic, The Queen’s Gambit became a huge hit on Netflix, like many unexpected shows. While a story about a young woman battling addiction and difficult relationships while competing in chess might not have resonated as strongly at other times, it captured viewers’ attention during lockdown and received widespread critical acclaim.
This miniseries follows Beth Harmon, a brilliant but troubled young chess player who discovers her talent while growing up in an orphanage. Chess becomes her potential path to both triumph and hardship. While Anya Taylor-Joy was already a rising star, The Queen’s Gambit brought her widespread recognition and earned her a Golden Globe award.
Though short at only seven episodes, The Queen’s Gambit was visually beautiful, with attention paid to everything from the costumes to how Beth imagined her chess games. The show cleverly let us see the game through Beth’s perspective without the special effects feeling disruptive. The understated ending was a perfect fit for the series, concluding the story in a way that didn’t require further seasons.
Adolescence
2025
Despite not being a horror show, the Netflix miniseries Adolescence is deeply unsettling. It examines the troubling world of incel culture through the perspectives of characters connected to a murder committed by a young teenager. The show also launched the career of Owen Cooper, who was making his acting debut in the lead role.
The series Adolescence was notable for being filmed in single, unbroken takes per episode – a remarkable achievement in directing. This technique kept the story focused, with each episode exploring a different angle of the murder, such as the victim’s family and school life. Every episode of Adolescence delivered a significant twist, and it built suspense through psychological horror instead of relying on cheap thrills or graphic violence.
The show Adolescence has received very positive reviews, earning a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Its success comes from strong performances by the cast, especially Cooper and Stephen Graham, and its powerful central theme. Adolescence stands out for its realistic portrayal of incel culture and has the potential to significantly raise awareness and understanding of the topic.
Arcane
2021-2024
I honestly think Arcane is one of the greatest animated series ever made. It totally proves that animation can be for everyone, not just kids, and it’s seriously raised the standard for what animated shows can look like. I was captivated by every single episode – it’s just gorgeous, and even the fight scenes were beautiful, though often really sad. The action is some of the best I’ve seen in a fantasy show, and the relationship at the heart of the story is incredible.
A heartbreaking event splits sisters Vi and Powder, forcing them to forge new paths. Powder reinvents herself as the chaotic Jinx, a character known for her striking appearance that’s become incredibly popular with fans. Though the world of Arcane is richly detailed, it’s the compelling characters who truly drive the story forward in each episode.
Arcane is a quick sci-fi and fantasy show with just two seasons, making it perfect for a weekend binge. Critics loved it – it has a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes! While a continuation isn’t impossible, the show feels complete after its 18 excellent episodes, so it might not return for another season.
Dark
2017-2020
Creating a complicated show with lots of twists and turns, and not having a single weak episode, is a remarkable achievement. The creators of Dark managed to do just that over its three seasons. Because the series jumps between different time periods and features characters interacting with their past and future selves, every single detail had to be carefully planned and executed.
Every episode of Dark‘s 26-episode run is brilliantly crafted, drawing viewers into the initial mystery of a missing person while subtly suggesting a much larger, more complex story. The show is famous for its surprising twists and incredibly detailed plot, demanding multiple viewings to fully appreciate all the hidden clues – because in Dark, everything has a purpose.
Some sci-fi shows can be really complex, but Dark is brilliantly put together, making it surprisingly easy to follow. Like other great TV shows, it has exceptional episodes – the finale, “The Paradise,” is a prime example – but every episode of this Netflix series carefully builds the story and reveals more about the characters and the different worlds they inhabit.
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2025-11-06 04:01