Why I Love Limited Series
Over the past ten months, throughout the ongoing pandemic, I have watched a lot of movies and shows, many of which I might not have had the chance to watch, if it weren’t for all of the extra time I was granted being stuck at home alone. With nowhere to go and not much to do, I continuously found myself turning to Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu, in search of some kind of entertainment that would keep me busy and interested for hours at a time. However, out of all the different forms of content I have kept up with this year, limited series continue to constitute my list of top picks.
Essentially, a limited series, (otherwise referred to as a mini-series), is a program that is condensed into a single season of roughly eight to ten episodes. Unlike a regular television show, a limited series does not feature any recurring characters or ongoing storylines in subsequent seasons. Therefore, once the season is over, the entire story comes to a close for good.
One of my favorite things about a limited series is the short time commitment. You will not have to invest countless weeks or months to finish the show, as is the case with many primetime shows, (*cough, cough*, the seventeen season-long Grey’s Anatomy), since a limited series has only one season. Furthermore, if you are not in the mood to dedicate almost two hours of your time to watch a feature-length film, a simple 25 to 45-minute episode might be a better alternative for you. This way, you will still be able to watch a short form of entertainment that you can continue at a later time if you end up enjoying it. So if you do not have much time or energy to give to a film or series-long television show, a limited series is the way to go.
Moreover, a limited series allows for its story to be developed with more detail than a film might be able to do. As the standard length of a feature-length film is generally 90 or 120 minutes, there is not usually as much leeway to add or elaborate on many minor details, or to develop multiple characters extensively. Therefore, it makes sense that films mainly focus on the most significant events - i.e. the different elements of the plot structure - since these are the driving forces of the narrative, which make the film. On the other hand, with a limited series, there is more room to give attention to those intricate details which add deeper layers to the characters, and the narrative. In other words, the episodic structure of a limited series grants the audience access to further understand characters’ backgrounds, relationships, and personalities, in more depth and consideration than a film could.
Also, a limited series already has a predetermined number of episodes to be released, therefore it is less likely that the story will drag on, like some television programs tend to do, (no shade, but how many more seasons of the same hospital, doctors, and gurneys do we really need?). It is already set in stone that there will not be any future seasons for the show, so the showrunners are generally able to create a story with a conclusive ending that often leaves the audience feeling satisfied. The concept of limited series also means that the shows’ writers do not have to face the pressure of creating a new storyline for a story that has already been told in full. There are no expectations of continuing the narrative, since the initial season has a resolute conclusion with the majority of loose ends all tied up.
On a side note, a limited series is not to be confused with an anthology series - though they are quite similar in comparison. Anthologies are series that present both an entirely different cast and storyline in each episode or season. Some popular anthology series include FX’s American Horror Story or Netflix’s Black Mirror. While the former example centers on a new location, story, and set of characters for every season, the latter reinvents itself with each new episode. What I find so great about anthologies is that one can start watching the series in any order they desire. Rather than having to watch chronologically, as with a typical series, you can begin with whichever episode or season sounds most interesting to you, and continue from there. In fact, I even started “out of order” when I first got into Black Mirror. I began with Season 4, Episode 1 - ‘Nosedive’ (one of my favorite episodes of the entire show) - and jumped from season to season with each of my next viewings. So after watching some limited series, I would also recommend getting into some anthologies as well.
Now, here is a current list of my favorite limited series, that I have watched over the past few months. Feel free to watch one, or all of them!
Madeleine’s Top 10 Picks
The Queen’s Gambit (2020) on Netflix
I May Destroy You (2020) on HBO Max
We Are Who We Are (2020) on HBO Max
Little Fires Everywhere (2020) on Hulu
Years and Years (2019) on HBO Max
Normal People (2020) on Hulu
A Teacher (2020) on Hulu
When They See Us (2019) on Netflix
Maniac (2018) on Netflix
Unbelievable (2020) on Netflix
***Honorable mention: Big Little Lies (2017) on HBO Max (Though it was originally billed a limited series when it was released, it was ultimately renewed for a second season.)