Best Limited Series You’ve Never Seen

There have been so many one and done gems across different networks that slipped by without much noise, even though they told complete stories in just a handful of episodes. Limited series often pull from acclaimed books, real events, and bold original scripts, and they usually bring together impressive casts for a short commitment. The entries below span crime, historical drama, mystery, and character studies, with episode counts that make them easy to finish in a weekend. If you missed them the first time, here is a focused list of titles worth putting on your watchlist now.

‘Show Me a Hero’ (2015)

This six part HBO series chronicles the late 1980s Yonkers housing desegregation crisis and the political fallout around a federal court order. It is based on the nonfiction book by Lisa Belkin and was created by David Simon and William F. Zorzi. Oscar Isaac plays Mayor Nick Wasicsko with a supporting cast that includes Catherine Keener, Winona Ryder, and Alfred Molina. The production filmed on location in New York and uses archival styled news segments to frame key votes and community meetings.

‘The Honourable Woman’ (2014)

This eight episode BBC and SundanceTV co production follows a newly appointed baroness who inherits her family’s international company tied to the Middle East. Created and written by Hugo Blick, it stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Andrew Buchan, and Stephen Rea. The series moves between London and the West Bank with a timeline that alternates past and present events. It received major awards recognition for lead performance and writing.

‘And Then There Were None’ (2015)

This three part BBC One adaptation brings Agatha Christie’s best selling novel to the screen with a period setting on a remote island. The cast features Aidan Turner, Charles Dance, Maeve Dermody, and Toby Stephens. The screenplay preserves the closed circle mystery structure with modernized dialogue and a darker tone. Production used locations in Cornwall and a detailed country house set to stage the murders.

‘Patrick Melrose’ (2018)

Based on the semi autobiographical novels by Edward St Aubyn, this five episode Showtime and Sky Atlantic series tracks a British aristocrat’s life across decades. Benedict Cumberbatch leads with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Hugo Weaving in key roles. Each episode adapts one of the novels and shifts country and time period, from 1980s New York to the south of France. The series uses distinct visual styles for each chapter to reflect changes in memory and recovery.

‘Alias Grace’ (2017)

Adapted from Margaret Atwood’s novel, this six episode series was produced for CBC and Netflix. Sarah Polley wrote the scripts and Mary Harron directed, focusing on the true story of Grace Marks in 19th century Canada. Sarah Gadon stars alongside Edward Holcroft and Anna Paquin. The production incorporates period accurate costuming and uses interview sessions with a doctor to structure the narrative.

‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)

This six episode AMC and BBC adaptation of John le Carré’s novel centers on an actress drawn into an undercover operation in late 1970s Europe. Park Chan wook directs all episodes, bringing a unified look across locations in Greece, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic. The cast includes Florence Pugh, Michael Shannon, and Alexander Skarsgård. The story uses stagecraft and false identities as core plot devices within the espionage setup.

‘Escape at Dannemora’ (2018)

Showtime’s seven episode series dramatizes the 2015 upstate New York prison break involving two inmates and a prison employee. Ben Stiller directs the entire run with a cast led by Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Arquette, and Paul Dano. Filming took place in and around actual correctional facilities to reproduce daily routines and security procedures. The series details the planning phase, the escape route, and the multi agency manhunt that followed.

‘ZeroZeroZero’ (2020)

This eight episode Amazon series adapts Roberto Saviano’s nonfiction book about a global cocaine shipment and the groups that move it. Filming spanned Italy, Mexico, the United States, and Morocco to follow the supply chain from producers to brokers and buyers. The ensemble cast features Andrea Riseborough, Dane DeHaan, and Gabriel Byrne. The narrative alternates among cartel conflicts, Calabrian crime clans, and a shipping family’s logistics operation.

‘The Virtues’ (2019)

This four part Channel 4 drama was written by Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne and stars Stephen Graham. The story follows a man returning to Ireland to reconnect with family and address childhood trauma. Production shot in Liverpool and various Irish locations, using handheld camerawork and long takes to capture intimate scenes. Music by PJ Harvey and a minimal score frame the show’s time jumps and personal revelations.

‘National Treasure’ (2016)

This four episode Channel 4 series centers on a beloved television comedian who faces historical sexual assault allegations. Written by Jack Thorne, it stars Robbie Coltrane, Julie Walters, and Andrea Riseborough. The structure follows police interviews, legal proceedings, and press coverage while exploring the figure’s public image. The production uses courtroom and backstage studio settings to contrast private and professional worlds.

‘Devs’ (2020)

FX on Hulu released this eight episode limited series created by Alex Garland about a quantum computing company and a secret research division. Sonoya Mizuno and Nick Offerman lead a cast set around a Bay Area tech campus. The show features purpose built sets, including a vacuum sealed lab with distinctive production design. The plot integrates determinism, encryption, and surveillance technology into the investigation of a suspicious death.

‘Sharp Objects’ (2018)

HBO’s eight episode adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s novel stars Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson. Jean Marc Vallée directs the full series, using flashbacks and sound cues to reveal a reporter’s past while she covers a murder case in her hometown. The show filmed primarily in California while doubling for a small Missouri town. The opening theme and recurring visual motifs connect characters to locations and family history.

‘Collateral’ (2018)

This four part BBC Two and Netflix co production follows the investigation of a fatal shooting of a pizza delivery driver in London. Carey Mulligan plays a detective inspector with supporting roles for John Simm, Nicola Walker, and Billie Piper. The narrative spans immigration services, the army, and political offices over four consecutive days. Filming used South London streets and real restaurants to stage key scenes.

‘Black Bird’ (2022)

This six episode Apple TV Plus series is based on the memoir by James Keene and follows a plea deal that sends him into a maximum security prison to elicit a confession. Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser headline with supporting performances by Sepideh Moafi and the late Ray Liotta. The production recreates 1990s settings and uses interview transcripts to structure interrogation sequences. Episodes track the transfer process, prison social dynamics, and evidence gathering.

‘Station Eleven’ (2021–2022)

This ten episode HBO Max series adapts Emily St John Mandel’s novel about a traveling troupe and the world that forms after a flu pandemic. The cast includes Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, and Danielle Deadwyler with timelines that move across two decades. Filming took place in Chicago, Toronto, and Mississauga with practical sets for abandoned airports and theaters. The production uses a play within the story and a graphic novel to connect characters across time.

‘Parade’s End’ (2012)

This five part BBC and HBO co production adapts Ford Madox Ford’s novel sequence about an English aristocrat caught between duty and a changing society. Tom Sturridge leads with Rebecca Hall and Benedict Cumberbatch in key roles. The script by Tom Stoppard uses parallel timelines and letters to trace personal choices against wartime pressures. Filming took place in the United Kingdom and Belgium with period accurate costuming and rail travel scenes.

‘Mildred Pierce’ (2011)

HBO’s five episode adaptation of James M. Cain’s novel follows a resourceful mother who builds a restaurant business while navigating a strained relationship with her daughter. Kate Winslet stars alongside Guy Pearce and Evan Rachel Wood. Todd Haynes directs the entire run and leans on meticulous production design to recreate neighborhoods, kitchens, and music venues. The narrative is structured around interrogations, flashbacks, and the rise of a hospitality empire.

‘The Lost Room’ (2006)

This Syfy miniseries centers on a motel room where everyday objects gain unusual properties after a mysterious event. Peter Krause plays a detective who discovers that the key to the room opens doors anywhere. The story builds a mythology around collectors, auctions, and rules that govern the objects. Filming used New Mexico locations and practical effects for object based set pieces.

‘Years and Years’ (2019)

A six part BBC and HBO drama tracks a Manchester family through rapid political and technological shifts over a short span of time. Russell T Davies created the series and blends news footage with domestic scenes to show how big events reach living rooms. The cast includes Emma Thompson, Rory Kinnear, and T’Nia Miller. Production mixes studio sets with city exteriors to stage protests, tech demos, and televised debates.

‘The Third Day’ (2020)

Sky and HBO present a folk mystery set on a tidal island that is cut off from the mainland for much of the day. Jude Law and Naomie Harris lead two connected story cycles, with a live theatrical event bridging them. The production shot on coastal locations and used local festival staging to create rituals and processions. The score and ambient sound design emphasize the isolation of causeways and marshland.

‘The Serpent’ (2021)

This BBC and Netflix co production dramatizes the crimes of Charles Sobhraj across Southeast Asia. Tahar Rahim and Jenna Coleman portray the central duo who target travelers along the overland trail. The series recreates embassies, hostels, and police offices across multiple countries with era specific details. Investigative threads follow passport forgeries, false identities, and interagency coordination.

‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)

The three episode BBC and Amazon Studios series tells the story of a British politician whose private life becomes a legal and media storm. Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw star in a script by Russell T Davies. Stephen Frears directs and uses courtroom scenes and parliamentary corridors to move between public and private arenas. The production relies on archival inspired montages to place events within broader headlines.

‘The Plot Against America’ (2020)

HBO adapts Philip Roth’s novel into a six part series about a family confronting rising populism in the United States. The showrunners David Simon and Ed Burns frame the narrative through a child’s point of view and neighborhood dynamics. Casting features Winona Ryder, John Turturro, and Zoe Kazan. Period detail extends to campaign materials, radio broadcasts, and civic groups.

‘Quiz’ (2020)

ITV’s three parter reconstructs the ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ coughing scandal from the perspectives of contestants, producers, and investigators. Matthew Macfadyen and Sian Clifford lead the cast with Michael Sheen as the quiz host. The production restages studio lights, camera placements, and audience prompts to mirror the game show format. Legal strategy and media appearances structure the final chapter.

‘John Adams’ (2008)

HBO’s seven part biographical drama follows the second president from early legal cases through diplomatic missions and domestic life. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney anchor the cast with recurring appearances by David Morse and Tom Wilkinson. The series uses extensive location work in Virginia and Massachusetts along with detailed sets for courtrooms and foreign ministries. Music cues and letters read aloud guide transitions between public service and family scenes.

‘Five Days’ (2007)

This BBC and HBO collaboration covers a missing person case by revisiting five separate days across the investigation. Each episode jumps forward in time to show new leads, media attention, and shifts in the family’s routine. The cast includes Suranne Jones, David Morrissey, and Hugh Bonneville. Police procedure, press briefings, and community searches form the backbone of each installment.

‘The Corner’ (2000)

HBO’s six part miniseries portrays one West Baltimore family’s struggle with addiction and survival. Created by David Simon and Ed Burns, it is based on their nonfiction book and features many local actors. The documentary style interviews and on location shooting add a lived in texture to row houses and street corners. The storytelling follows caseworkers, schools, and health services as they intersect with the family.

‘From the Earth to the Moon’ (1998)

This twelve episode HBO series chronicles the American space program from early tests to lunar missions. Tom Hanks produces and appears in host segments that frame technical milestones and personal stories. Multiple directors handle episodes that focus on engineering, training, and media coverage. Physical mockups of capsules and mission control recreate procedures and checklists in detail.

‘Hatfields & McCoys’ (2012)

History channel’s three part western drama covers the feud between two Appalachian families and the legal and military aftermath. Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton lead ensembles on opposite sides of the rivalry. The production used Eastern European locations to stand in for frontier landscapes and river crossings. Court filings, truce attempts, and militia involvement shape the timeline.

‘Olive Kitteridge’ (2014)

This HBO adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s linked stories follows a blunt retired schoolteacher and the people in her coastal town. Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins lead a cast that includes Bill Murray and Zoe Kazan. Lisa Cholodenko directs all parts to keep a consistent visual style across changing seasons. The production uses New England locations to ground family milestones and neighborhood routines.

‘Generation Kill’ (2008)

HBO adapts a Rolling Stone reporter’s embedded account with a Marine reconnaissance unit during the invasion of Iraq. Alexander Skarsgård and James Ransone portray squad leaders navigating communications, gear, and shifting orders. The production filmed in Africa to capture desert convoys and urban corridors. Military jargon, radio traffic, and after action reports shape the structure of each patrol.

‘I Know This Much Is True’ (2020)

HBO’s drama stars Mark Ruffalo in dual roles as twin brothers whose lives diverge through illness and caretaking. Derek Cianfrance writes and directs the whole run for a unified tone. The story uses hospital records, family documents, and taped interviews to fill in history. Scenes move between factories, small town streets, and institutional settings to show daily pressures.

‘The Looming Tower’ (2018)

Hulu adapts Lawrence Wright’s book about the run up to the September attacks from the perspective of investigators and analysts. Jeff Daniels and Tahar Rahim lead an ensemble that includes Peter Sarsgaard and Wrenn Schmidt. Interagency friction is shown through briefings, field reports, and secure meetings. Filming covers safe houses, embassies, and training sites to follow parallel tracks.

‘Godless’ (2017)

Netflix presents a western about a mining town where most residents are women after a disaster. Jack O’Connell, Michelle Dockery, and Jeff Daniels carry intersecting storylines about pursuit, refuge, and frontier law. The production shot in New Mexico with extensive set building for streets and ranches. Practical stunts and horse work anchor showdowns and cattle drives.

‘Seven Seconds’ (2018)

Netflix’s crime drama centers on the death of a teenager in Jersey City and the fallout across police, prosecutors, and family. Regina King, Clare-Hope Ashitey, and Russell Hornsby lead the cast. The investigation moves through internal affairs, church gatherings, and neighborhood protests. Location shooting around parks and waterfronts adds a real world texture to key scenes.

‘The Pacific’ (2010)

HBO chronicles three Marines through major campaigns in the theater across multiple islands. James Badge Dale, Rami Malek, and Joseph Mazzello portray real service members whose letters and diaries inform the narrative. Large scale sets recreate amphibious landings, jungle positions, and field hospitals. Training sequences and logistics show how units prepared between battles.

‘The English’ (2022)

Prime Video’s frontier tale pairs Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer as travelers crossing territories shaped by treaties and settlers. Hugo Blick writes and directs, keeping the plot tightly focused on two intersecting quests. The production films in Spain to stand in for prairie and mesa landscapes. Costumes, rifles, and wagons are matched to period catalogs for authenticity.

‘A Small Light’ (2023)

National Geographic dramatizes Miep Gies’s role in sheltering the Frank family and her work after the arrests. Bel Powley and Joe Cole lead a cast that portrays daily risks, office cover stories, and neighborhood networks. The series uses Dutch locations and reconstructed interiors to track hiding places and courier routes. Archival photos and museum consultations informed set dressing and props.

‘Fosse/Verdon’ (2019)

FX follows choreographer Bob Fosse and performer Gwen Verdon through collaborations on stage and screen. Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams show rehearsals, edits, and casting battles inside real studios and theaters. The production stages numbers with original choreography under supervision from dance veterans. Contracts, playbills, and rehearsal notes appear as on screen documents to mark career turns.

‘A Teacher’ (2020)

FX on Hulu examines the criminal relationship between a high school teacher and her student and the consequences that follow. Kate Mara and Nick Robinson portray the central pair across classrooms, homes, and disciplinary offices. The story incorporates counseling sessions, legal representation, and media aftermath. Short chapter like episodes track how boundaries are crossed and documented.

‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ (2022)

FX adapts Jon Krakauer’s nonfiction book about a murder case connected to a breakaway religious movement. Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones lead a cast that moves between police interviews and historical flashbacks. The production builds rural neighborhoods and church spaces to match records and photographs. Case files and personal journals guide the investigation on screen.

‘Maid’ (2021)

Netflix tells the story of a young mother who leaves an abusive relationship and finds work cleaning houses while seeking stable housing. Margaret Qualley and Andie MacDowell play a daughter and mother with clashing approaches to survival. The show uses intake forms, shelter rules, and court hearings to track progress and setbacks. Real cleaning routines and client notes structure many scenes.

‘The Good Lord Bird’ (2020)

Showtime adapts James McBride’s novel about abolitionist John Brown and the raid at Harpers Ferry, told through a fictional child’s viewpoint. Ethan Hawke leads an ensemble that includes Joshua Caleb Johnson and Daveed Diggs. The production stages river crossings, safe houses, and armory yards with attention to period weapons. Dialogue and chapter headings pull language directly from the source material.

‘11.22.63’ (2016)

Hulu brings Stephen King’s time travel thriller to television through a teacher who tries to stop an assassination. James Franco leads with Sarah Gadon and Chris Cooper in key roles. The production rebuilds diners, boarding houses, and campaign stops to match archival images. Newspaper clippings, surveillance notes, and recordings help chart cause and effect across timelines.

Share your picks for overlooked limited series in the comments so everyone can discover more hidden gems.