Television fiction manifests itself in various ways and one of the most accessible is the miniseries, since they present a closed story over a handful of episodes. Therefore, they are a perfect option for those looking to see something without running the risk of it taking longer than necessary.
Today in Espinof it is time to make a stop at the 13 best Netflix miniseries. It is true that the platform has not been active for that long, but its volume of productions is very high, so there are enough titles that are very worthwhile. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you miss some pretty good works like ‘Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’, but at some point you had to set the limit.
I remind you that at Espinof we also have a review of the best HBO miniseries and another of the best miniseries of 2022. In addition, you can also take a look at our list of the best Netflix series of 2022 and the list of the best Netflix movies of 2022. Without more to add, let’s go with today’s chosen ones:
‘Godless’ (2017)
Created by Scott Frank. Distribution: Jack O’Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Tantoo Cardinal, Kim Coates, Sam Waterston, Jeff Daniels
Something currently forgotten -I confess that I had it pending and I did not dare to see it until I had to make this list-, it is the first miniseries of the creator of ‘Gambito de dama’ for Netflix in which he opted for the western to tell us a revenge story perhaps very traditional but also very captivating with a striking setting due to the existence of this town led by women. With a superb work of setting and a perfectly chosen cast -personally I feel a weakness for that peculiar villain who thinks he knows how and when he is going to die played by Jeff Daniels-.
Criticism of ‘Godless’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (‘The Haunting of Hill House’, 2018)
Created by Mike Flanagan. Distribution: Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Kate Siegel, Victoria Pedretti, Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, Timothy Hutton
Free adaptation of the novel by Shirley Jackson with which Mike Flanagan showed that he had a lot to contribute to the television medium. The resource of the haunted houses is used here to investigate the drama created in the main family, brilliantly shining in the use of the narrative structure in two different times and also when it focuses its attention on one of its main characters, all of them very well outlined both from the script and in the interpretive.
Cast of ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘This is how they see us’ (‘When They See Us’, 2019)
Created by Ava DuVernay. Distribution: Asante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Ethan Herisse, Jharrel Jerome, Marquis Rodriguez, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Justin Cunningham, Freddy Miyares, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Kylie Bunbury, Aunjanue Ellis, Vera Farmiga, Felicity Huffman, John Leguizamo, Niecy Nash, Michael K Williams
An advocacy miniseries based on a scandalous true story of a group of teenagers who were accused of a rape they didn’t commit. Intense and intimate at the same time, she has no problem showing the less friendly side of the police, but always keeping a firm and emotional focus to explore all the possibilities of what happened.
Criticism of ‘This is how they see us’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘Believe me’ (‘Unbelievable’, 2019)
Created by Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, Michael Chabon. Distribution: Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, Kaitlyn Dever
A powerful work based on true events that delves into the drama that is for a victim of sexual assault when his word is questioned. Exceptional interpretation of Kaitlyn Dever in the part focused on his character, but also watch out for the great chemistry they have Toni Collette and Merritt Wever as two cops with opposite personalities and methods.
Criticism of ‘Believe me’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ (‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’, 2020)
Created by Mike Flanagan. Distribution: Victoria Pedretti, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Amelia Eve, T’Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, Tahirah Sharif, Amelie Bea Smith, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Henry Thomas,
A supernatural drama based on various works by henry james that perhaps it can become somewhat repetitive in the central part when developing its characters, but it has a more classic touch that lets the story breathe and ends up giving the chest in its final stretch. Plus, it has a couple of particularly inspired episodes that make up for the others where it might not really push things.
Criticism of ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘Queen’s Gambit’ (‘The Queen’s Gambit’, 2020)
Created by Scott Frank and Allan Scott. Distribution: Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Isla Johnston, Christiane Seidel, Rebecca Root, Chloe Pirrie, Akemnji Ndifornyen, Marielle Heller, Harry Melling, Patrick Kennedy, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Marcin Dorociński
final confirmation that Anya Taylor-Joy is going to be one of the great stars of Hollywood in the coming years, since it is true that everything that surrounds it works very well -to the point of causing a small chess boom!-, but at the moment of truth it is she the one who takes everything to another level.
Criticism of ‘Queen’s Gambit’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘The Serpent’ (‘The Serpent’, 2021)
Created by Mammoth Screen. Distribution: Tahar Rahim, Jenna Coleman, Billy Howle, Ellie Bamber, Amesh Edireweera, Tim McInnerny, Dasha Nekrasova, Mathilde Warnier
A co-production with the BBC about the fascinating true case of Charles Sohbraj with enough courage and personality to stand out from other similar proposals. The meticulous work of setting, the stupendous work of his cast, especially his Tahar Rahimand the very strength of the story more than compensate for small slips in the narrative.
Criticism of ‘The Serpent’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘New cherry flavor’ (‘Brand New Cherry Flavor’, 2021)
Created by Nick Antosca and Lenore Zion. Distribution: Rosa Salazar, Catherine Keener, Eric Lange, Manny Jacinto, Jeff Ward
Partial adaptation of the novel that shines for being unique in every way, both in the story it presents and how it develops up to the peculiar atmosphere it achieves. In addition, it balances its terrifying nature very well with a more dramatic and Rosa Salazar he gives himself body and soul to a character who could have been ridiculous and who here hypnotizes from the first moment.
Criticism of ‘New cherry flavor’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘Midnight Mass’ (‘Midnight Mass’, 2021)
Created by Mike Flanagan. Distribution: Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Hamish Linklater, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kristin Lehman, Henry Thomas
The best Netflix miniseries to date is a Mike Flanagan dream project that had a hard time pulling it off. Here we have an adult drama about a community marked by grief that is shaken by the appearance of a supernatural element that causes everything to change. With a great job of setting, a measured pace and a great job of its cast, it is an absorbing work where everything falls into place.
Criticism of ‘Midnight Mass’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘The assistant’ (‘Maid’, 2021)
Created by Molly SmithMetzler. Distribution: Margaret Qualley, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Tracy Vilar, Billy Burke, Andie MacDowell
One of the great surprises of 2021, as it reached the platform without making noise and then had impressive success. His best weapon is the sensational interpretation of Margaret Qualleywho manages to capture the viewer and emotionally involve us in the difficult process his character goes through.
Criticism of ‘The assistant’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘The time I give you’ (2021)
Created by Nadia de Santiago, Inés Pintor Sierra and Pablo Santidrián. Distribution. Nadia de Santiago, Álvaro Cervantes, David Castillo, Mariví Carrillo, Cala Zavaleta, Julián Villagrán
The only Spanish contribution to the list is an exploration of the process of overcoming a break. All this from a disarming simplicity but without betting on the simple at any time. In addition, it makes very good use of the peculiar narrative structure that it presents and its two protagonists are most convincing.
Criticism of ‘The time I give you’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘Who is Anna?’ (‘Inventing Anna’, 2022)
Created by Shonda Rimes. Distribution: Anna Chlumsky, Julia Garner, Arian Moayed, Katie Lowes, Alexis Floyd, Anders Holm, Anna Deavere Smith, Jeff Perry, Terry Kinney, Laverne Cox
Great adaptation of the real case of Anna Sorokin -although there were a few changes- that was benefited so much from the great interpretation of julia garner as well as a balanced script that makes successful use of the secondary characters to solve the mystery around the protagonist of the show.
Review of ‘Who is Anna?’ | Watch it on Netflix
‘From within’ (‘Inside Man’, 2022)
Created by Steven Moffat. Distribution: David Tennant, Stanley Tucci, Dolly Wells, Lydia West, Lyndsey Marshal, Dylan Baker, Atkins Estimond, Louis Oliver, Eke Chukwu
The second co-production with the BBC on the list has only 4 episodes, but in them it has time to mix two very different plot lines together. For my part, everything related to that murderous counselor played by stanley tucci I’m much more interested, but the chain of bad decisions by the part led by an also great david tennant it also hooks its own.
Criticism of ‘From within’ | Watch it on Netflix