The world of miniseries, or limited series as they are called lately. A somewhat ambiguous storytelling model due to the current tendency that, if it is successful (as with ‘Big Little Lies’), immediately transform it into a series with its second (and sometimes more) season.
But the fact is that it is a great way to tell closed but exciting stories… and in this 2022 we have had good examples of it and we are going to review the 13 best miniseries we have seen this year.
The limited series of the year
A selection in which we have navigated between great players such as Netflix, HBO Max and Disney + with the latter taking advantage of the fact that Hulu is specializing in this format with jewels such as ‘Pam & Tommy’ or ‘By God’s command’.
We also have some of the latest gems from TV authors like David Simon, Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy, that come together with intense adaptations like ‘The Essex Serpent’ and anthologies like ‘Blackout’.
These are the best of this 2022, but we also have our ranking with the most outstanding limited series of 2021. If you want to continue with the best of this year, here are our favorite series of 2022 in general and also on platforms such as HBO Max, in Netflix, on Disney+ and on Prime Video. Going further back in time, you can check the series of the decade and the best of television in history.
‘Blackout’
developed by Fran Araujo
Great anthology that, thanks to the cast of great directors it has, allows itself to jump from genre to genre when exploring this Spain that is as post-pandemic as it is “apocalyptic” thanks to the “death” of electricity.
‘The city is ours’ (We Own This City)
created by David Simon and George Pelecanos | Distribution: Jon Bernthal, Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, Josh Charles, etc.
It’s not Simon’s grand triumphant return to Baltimore, but it is a fascinating (perhaps more expository than narrative) exploration of police corruption.
‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story)
created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan | Distribution: Evan Peters, Richard Jenkins, Niecy Nash, etc.
Released by surprise and immediate phenomenon… and no less controversial in its merciless portrayal of the notorious serial killer. A dark, tough series masterfully starring Peters.
‘After the hurricane’ (Five days at Memorial)
created by John Ridley and Carlton Cuse | Distribution: Vera Farmiga, Cherry Jones, etc.
Heartbreaking medical drama that takes us back to those moments after Hurricane Katrina. Throughout eight episodes, the camera immerses us in chaos for five days without abusing the search for the excessively melodramatic.
‘The Dropout: The Rise and Fall of Elizabeth Holmes’
created by Elizabeth Meriwether | Distribution: Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews
How we like a great series about con women… something that has been a trend this year. One of its greatest exponents has been this exploration of the Theranos case that has an absolutely wonderful Amanda Seyfried.
‘Locked up with the devil’ (Black Bird)
created by Dennis Lehane | Distribution: Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser
Great miniseries that has an absolutely spectacular main cast in this confrontation behind bars. Paul Water Hauser is absolutely magnetic in his portrayal of a deranged killer.
‘Irma Vep’
created by Olivier Assayas | Distribution: Alicia Vikander, Vincen Macaigne, etc.
A fascinating exercise in review and meta-commentary of the film industry with an Olivier Assayas aware of what he has in his hands. A miniseries that is the most unique that we have found this year on television.
‘Pam & Tommy’
created by Robert Siegel | Distribution: Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Nick Offerman, Seth Rogen, Taylor Schilling
The more time passes, the more I like this delicious exploration of a sex scandal that takes us through a tale of fame and sex tapes with Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee at the center.
‘pistol’
created by Craig Pierce | Distribution: Toby Wallace, Anson Boon, Maisie Williams, etc.
The musical note is set by this wonderful miniseries that will delight fans of the irreverent British group. A show in which it is impossible not to be captivated by seeing that breeding ground that led to punk.
‘By command of heaven’ (Under the Banner of Heaven)
created by Dustin Lance Black | Distribution: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones, etc.
What a police gem has come to us via Disney + with the adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s book. An interesting reflection on faith, crisis and life based on religion through a crime in a Mormon family.
‘Who is Anna?’ (Inventing Anna)
created by Shonda Rhimes | Distribution: Anna Chlumsky, Julia Garner, Arian Moayed, Katie Lowes, Alexis Floyd, etc.
Rhimes was missed (in recent years he was limited to production work) as a screenwriter and his return to the ring has been spectacular with this foray into the case of a false heiress who deceived half of New York.
‘The Essex Serpent’
created by Anna Symon | Distribution: Claire Danes, Tom Hiddleston
Although many of the Apple TV + series tend to go under the radar (and there are two on this list), we could not leave out this adaptation of the novel by Sarah Perry. An exploration of faith and science that takes us into a small community besieged by a legend.
‘The Staircase’
created by Antonio Campos | Distribution: Colin Firth, Toni Collette, etc.
HBO (and Campos) had an impossible mission to offer a new light to a story that has been the foundation of true crime in the 21st century and they have achieved it with that game between what is seen in the documentary and what is dramatized for the occasion, offering one of the the rawest true crime dramas and, at the same time, different in years.