In recent years, many miniseries have earned awards and acclaim, hailed by audiences and critics alike as some of the best shows of all time. A few of them, like Netflix’s Emmy-winning drama Adolescence, have even gone on to have a significant social impact, sparking important conversations about society’s most pressing issues. But as much as we love these popular shows, there are also a ton of great miniseries that haven’t received the attention they deserve.
Some of these are niche gems that flew under the radar, and others are acclaimed hits that were wildly popular at one point but have since faded from the limelight. But even though they may be underrated, these shows still have what it takes to truly enthrall an audience. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of underrated miniseries that you’ll wish you had watched sooner.
1
‘The Underground Railroad’ (2021)
Based on Colson Whitehead’s eponymous 2016 novel, The Underground Railroad is a magical realist historical fantasy drama created and directed by Barry Jenkins. Set in the 1800s, the series reimagines the real-life Underground Railroad, the network of abolitionists who helped transport escaped slaves from the South to the North, as an actual subterranean train to freedom. Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mullan, Mychal-Bella Bowman, and Sheila Atim star in lead roles, with recurring characters played by Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, Lily Rabe, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and more.
A mesmerizing series adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Underground Railroad was universally acclaimed when it premiered in May 2021. With stellar performances and an unflinching narrative, it’s a television masterpiece that’s equal parts beautiful, horrifying, and painfully human. The series earned several accolades, including seven Emmy nominations, a BAFTA, a Peabody Award, and the Golden Globe for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film, but it’s still sorely underwatched these days.
2
‘Small Axe’ (2020)
Image via Amazon Prime Video
A British anthology series that includes five films set across three decades, Small Axe was created and directed by Steve McQueen and explores the history of West Indian immigrants in London. Each of the films follows a separate story set against the backdrop of real-life events that happened in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. The anthology is brought to life by an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Letitia Wright, John Boyega, Malachi Kirby, Micheal Ward, Shaun Parkes, and more.
Small Axe premiered three of its episodes at the 2020 New York Film Festival and screened two at the Cannes Film Festival the same year, earning critical acclaim from both. A powerful, educational, and unapologetic series that movingly chronicles the political and personal experiences of London’s West Indian community, all five of these films have earned universal acclaim, as has the anthology as a whole. Though it isn’t quite as well-known internationally as it ought to be, the series garnered several accolades, including a Golden Globe, a Peabody Award, and six BAFTAs out of 15 nominations.
3
‘Devs’ (2020)
Created, written, and directed by Alex Garland, Devs is a sci-fi thriller miniseries that revolves around a groundbreaking quantum computing project and its enigmatic founder, Forest (Nick Offerman). Sonoya Mizuno stars as Lily Chan, a software engineer working at Forest’s tech company who is pulled into a complex and dangerous investigation after the mysterious death of her boyfriend. The show also features Jin Ha, Zach Grenier, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, Karl Glusman, and Alison Pill in lead roles.
A truly mindboggling work of science fiction, Devs is a fascinating Silicon Valley thriller that explores themes of free will vs. determinism and the very nature of reality. A highly imaginative sci-fi drama, the series received four Emmy nominations and earned praise from critics and viewers alike for its cinematography, performances, writing, and direction. It’s a rather dense and complicated story which may be why it hasn’t quite gotten the attention it deserves from wider audiences but it’s also one of the best sci-fi shows of all time.
4
‘One Day’ (2024)
5
‘The English’ (2022)
6
‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)
7
‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)
8
‘Lovecraft Country’ (2020)
