Some of the best TV shows ever made have 10 or fewer episodes, and each installment is perfect from beginning to end. From cable networks like HBO to streaming services like Netflix, numerous platforms have produced and released miniseries over the years. However, only a handful of these limited series can be considered flawless by critics and audiences alike.
Of course, opinions are subjective, especially when it comes to critiquing TV shows. Not every person who watches will absolutely love it, and that’s true for every show, whether it’s a miniseries or one with multiple seasons. Still, the vast majority agree that the limited TV series on this list are phenomenal, and that’s because each of their episodes is a 10/10.
10
Band Of Brothers
10 Episodes
Not only do many believe that Band of Brothers is the best miniseries ever, but numerous people also consider it one of the best TV shows of all time. The 2001 HBO war drama, created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, was an absolute hit. It went on to receive 20 Emmy nominations, winning in seven categories, including Outstanding Miniseries.
Band of Brothers follows Easy Company (aka the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in the United States Army) during World War II. The show never holds back on depicting the brutality and horrors that the soldiers experienced on the Western Front at the time. As such, many praised it for its depiction of the war.
Although it has been 24 years since it premiered, Band of Brothers still holds up today. It remains one of the greatest limited series ever made, despite the fact that many others have been produced and released since then. It also helps that the show was a leading force for Peak TV. Nevertheless, Band of Brothers isn’t the only miniseries with perfect episodes.
9
The Haunting Of Hill House
10 Episodes
The Haunting of Hill House is nothing like Band of Brothers, but it’s still a masterpiece. Each of the Netflix supernatural horror drama limited series’ 10 episodes is all-consuming from start to finish, as its story is unlike anything on TV. It also has the ability to captivate every viewer (even ones who aren’t fans of horror shows or movies).
Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House is simply Netflix’s best horror show that also happens to be a miniseries. It’s loosely based on Shirley Jackson’s 1959 book of the same name, centering around a family during two different timelines — the first in 1992, when they moved into a haunted house, and the second in 2018, when the children are all grown up.
As its title implies, the limited series is quite haunting, thanks to its unique and enthralling story, the cast’s performances, and more. The Haunting of Hill House leaves viewers on the edge of their seats, jumping out of fright, and occasionally crying. It just contains a lot of power, and the show proves why Flanagan is the leading horror filmmaker of this generation.
8
WandaVision
9 Episodes
Some might argue that WandaVision‘s finale doesn’t hold up to its previous episodes, but they would be wrong. The Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ TV show is perfect, from the opening featuring Wanda and Vision moving to Westview to the closing end-credits scene of Wanda flipping through the Darkhold. Every episode (especially the penultimate hour, “Previously On”) is simply a masterpiece.
WandaVision was a cultural phenomenon at the time of its airing. Of course, it helped that it debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic when many were stuck in their homes. However, there was a reason why WandaVision was the show that brought people together during this difficult time.
The Disney+ miniseries sitcom’s nostalgia appealed to all audiences, including those who weren’t Marvel fans previously. Meanwhile, Wanda’s heartwrenching, yet wholly intriguing story enticed veteran MCU lovers. As a result, WandaVision remains one of Marvel’s best projects ever made.
7
Mare Of Easttown
7 Episodes
While Mare of Easttown‘s plot is entertaining on its own, Kate Winslet’s performance puts it on another level, making it one of the greatest miniseries in recent memory. In the HBO crime drama, Winslet plays a detective investigating the murder of a young woman and the disappearance of another girl. Perhaps the premise might sound generic, but Mare of Easttown is anything but.
Over the course of its seven episodes, the audience watches Winslet give a performance of a lifetime (one that earned her an Emmy). She isn’t the only reason to watch Mare of Easttown, but she played a pretty big role in its success. Aside from Winslet, though, the limited series’ fascinating, complex story makes it a perfect binge.
6
The Queen’s Gambit
7 Episodes
Netflix has produced various iconic miniseries over the past decade or so, one of them being The Queen’s Gambit. The 2020 coming-of-age period drama centers around Anya Taylor-Joy’s Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy who makes a name for herself in the chess community. However, during her rise to the top, Beth also deals with difficult personal struggles.
To this day, The Queen’s Gambit is one of Netflix’s most-watched TV shows. Even though it only ran for seven episodes and it isn’t Bridgerton or Stranger Things, Taylor-Joy’s show is among the streaming service’s most popular series. If that’s not proof enough that each episode of The Queen’s Gambit is an outstanding triumph, I don’t know what is.
5
Chernobyl
5 Episodes
As its title suggests, Craig Mazin’s Chernobyl chronicles the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, which happened when a nuclear power plant exploded, and its aftermath. The HBO historical drama miniseries received universal acclaim. Many applauded the show for its historical accuracy, cast performances (particularly that of Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson, who all received Emmy nominations), cinematography, script, and more.
It certainly helps that Chernobyl dramatizes real events, but the limited series’ five episodes are all completely riveting. Viewers won’t want to look away as they watch the horrifying disaster play out onscreen. Consequently, many place Chernobyl among the best miniseries in TV history.
4
When They See Us
4 Episodes
When They See Us might only be four episodes. However, it’s arguably one of Netflix’s most powerful miniseries that is a must-watch for everyone. The crime drama depicts the 1989 Central Park jogger case that led to the arrests of five male teenagers of color — Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise, and Raymond Santana.
Jharrel Jerome won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his performance in When They See Us.
They were wrongfully accused and convicted of raping and assaulting a white woman, Trisha Meili. Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us showcases the unnecessary struggles the Central Park Five endured and shines a spotlight on the ironic injustices of the United States justice system. And with each episode more captivating than the previous, it’s easy to binge the miniseries in one sitting.
3
Adolescence
4 Episodes
Many agree that Adolescence is an impressive feat, and it was treated as such at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards. The Netflix show all but swept the ceremony’s limited series categories, winning Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Lead Actor for Stephen Graham, Outstanding Supporting Actor for Owen Cooper, Outstanding Supporting Actress for Erin Doherty, and more.
Adolescence revolves around Cooper’s Jamie, a young boy accused of killing one of his classmates, and how the case affects his family (and the people of his small town). The limited series also explores misogyny and the dangers of the manosphere. It brings the horrifying, but very real problems pertaining to these subjects to the story’s forefront, making it all the more riveting.
The fact that every episode of Adolescence was shot in one take also elevates the show. Even if there were cuts, the story alone would be poignant enough to draw in viewers. However, thanks to Adolescence and Matthew Lewis’ outstanding cinematography, the Netflix miniseries is, without a doubt, a masterpiece with only four episodes.
2
The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
10 Episodes
Following The People v. O.J. Simpson, Ryan Murphy’s anthology biographical crime show, American Crime Story, produced two more installments, but neither could compare to the first one. The People v. O.J. Simpson featured an all-star cast, many of whom were nominated for and won Emmys for their performances. Their efforts, combined with the script and direction, made for an unforgettable miniseries.
It’s a case that has been adapted many times, but American Crime Story best represents O.J. Simpson’s murder trial. It’s the one that many will point to whenever anyone wants to learn more about the case. Sure, it dramatizes many elements of the true story, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that each episode is engrossing from beginning to end.
1
Angels In America
6 Episodes
HBO’s Angels in America often gets pushed to the background, especially because the cable network released Band of Brothers two years prior. However, the 2003 drama is one of the best miniseries of all time. It’s only one of three TV shows to sweep their respective major categories at the Primetime Emmy Awards (including Meryl Streep’s Outstanding Lead Actress win), after all.
Angels in America is based on Tony Kushner’s play of the same name and follows Prior Walter, a gay man with AIDS, who gets visited by an angel. The HBO miniseries dives into the AIDS crisis and the devastating reality of living with it during the Reagan era. Angels of America is simply a memorable, emotionally-charged TV show, and each episode is perfect.
