:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/the-girlfriend-adolescence-black-rabbit-022526-a82614090ef6417d9d15b694bbdd4a42.jpg "The 25 best miniseries ready to binge-watch this weekend")
These short watches linger for a long time. The 25 best miniseries ready to bingewatch this weekend These short watches linger for a long time. By Ilana Gordon :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ILANAGORDONHEADSHOT80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg) Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles. EW's editorial guidelines and Declan Gallagher on June 5, 2026 9:01 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/thegirlfriendadolescenceblackrabbit022526a82614090ef6417d9d15b694bbdd4a42.
These short watches linger for a long time.
The 25 best miniseries ready to binge-watch this weekend
These short watches linger for a long time.
By Ilana Gordon
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ILANA-GORDON-HEADSHOT-80577598f8ed442cacff5de184ceb9f5.jpg)
Ilana Gordon is an entertainment, culture, and comedy writer originally from Connecticut. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
EW's editorial guidelines
and Declan Gallagher
on June 5, 2026 9:01 a.m. ET
Olivia Cooke as Cherry Laine in 'The Girlfriend'; Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in 'Adolescence'; Jason Bateman as Vince Friedken in 'Black Rabbit'. Credit:
Christopher Raphael/Amazon; Netflix (2)
For those who can’t commit to dozens of 20-plus-episode seasons, miniseries are a major solution. This month, the guide highlights women in law enforcement with the additions of *Mare of Easttown* and *Escape at Dannemora*. If it's a shootout you seek, the Western drama *Godless* pits an outlaw against his former mentor and sets them in a town occupied by almost all women.
Still to come in 2026: Apple TV premieres *Cape Fear* (psychological thriller) on June 5, and a new *Pride & Prejudice* adaptation (romance) is slated to hit Netflix at some point later in 2026. In these busy times, find a series as limited as your attention span. Read on as ** runs down the 25 best miniseries streaming options.
Adolescence (2025)
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Mark Stanley as Paulie Barlow, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, and Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller in 'Adolescence'.
Courtesy of Netflix
One of the most talked-about pieces of television to emerge in 2025 is *Adolescence**. *A British crime drama about a 13-year-old boy named Jamie Miller who is accused of murdering his classmate, the miniseries offers four episodes, all of which were shot in one continuous take. The technical execution of the project is thrilling, and so is the show’s depiction of how modern media affects the minds and actions of teenage boys.
Young actor Owen Cooper makes a brilliant Emmy-winning debut as Jamie, and the scenes between him and his therapist (Erin Doherty) in episode 3 are some of the most affecting examples of storytelling in recent history. A series that feels especially relevant as talk of incels and loneliness epidemics becomes more mainstream, *Adolescence *gets deep about what teenage boyhood really looks like today. *—Ilana Gordon*
Where to watch *Adolescence*: Netflix
**Cast: **Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay
American Crime Story (2016–present)
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Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson and Courtney B. Vance as Johnnie Cochran in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story'.
Ryan Murphy more or less does away with his signature campy trappings for this riveting fact-based anthology series profiling some of the most notorious crimes in American history. Each of the three seasons so far — concerning O.J. Simpson’s trial; the murder of Gianni Versace; and the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal — are accomplished pieces of television, but the first two installments are particularly well done.
Coming from Murphy’s stable, the miniseries are nothing if not soapy. However, *American Crime Story* takes a much more serious approach to its material, allowing a murderer’s row of talent to dramatize the most notorious period in the lives of those chronicled. *—Declan Gallagher*
Where to watch *American Crime Story*: Hulu
**EW grade:** A
**Cast: **Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, John Travolta, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance
Angels in America (2003)
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Meryl Streep as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg in 'Angels in America'. HBO/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
Tony Kushner adapted his own Pulitzer Prize-winning two-part play into a six-part HBO miniseries. For the uninitiated, *Angels in America* is a fever dream collision of historical figures and events (Republican lawyer Ray Cohn’s closeted homophobia, the AIDS crisis, the execution of Ethel Rosenberg) and everyday New Yorkers of Kushner’s own design. Director Mike Nichols' televised version breaks the story into six chapters and adds a dash more humor and coherence to appeal to HBO’s audience.
The finished product is an achievement in both acting and writing. EW’s review compliments “Kushner’s language, arias of desire and fury and lamentation,” and gives special praise to Al Pacino’s work as Ray Cohn, and Meryl Streep’s performances. (She plays multiple roles — blink and you’ll miss her as the Rabbi.) *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Angels in America*: HBO Max
**Cast:** Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson
Baby Reindeer (2024)
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Richard Gadd as Donny Dunn in 'Baby Reindeer'.
This Netflix hit is as controversial as it is buzzy, but there’s no denying a terrific miniseries when you see it. Making splendid use of both the short-form medium and the tragi-comedy genre, Richard Gadd’s seven-episode, semi-autobiographical work follows a struggling comedian (Gadd) who can’t shake an increasingly deranged stalker (Jessica Gunning) who inserts herself into all aspects of his life.
*Baby Reindeer* is an excellent example of juggling tone and allegedly true events with dramatizations. That’s caused quite a stir, including a lawsuit, but the combination makes for one of the most daring and bingeable miniseries in recent memory. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Baby Reindeer*: Netflix
**Cast:** Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Nina Sosanya, Hugh Coles
Band of Brothers (2001)
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Cast of 'Band of Brothers'. Everett Collection
HBO’s groundbreaking dramatization of WWII takes an ensemble approach to the mayhem, showing many different facets of the American men who served and their disparate experiences fighting abroad.
Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who are well-heeled in authentic WWII productions, *Band of Brothers* positions itself as overtly emotional and realistic. This is an incredibly harrowing, at times hard-to-watch miniseries, but it’s one of the finest stories ever told about war. The heartbreaking moments feel authentic and well-earned, while the brilliant writing rarely relies on the easy way out. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Band of Brothers*: HBO Max
**Cast:** David Schwimmer, Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, Peter O’Meara, Matthew Settle
Beef (2023–present)
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Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho in 'Beef'.
Andrew Cooper/Netflix
The first season of Netflix’s astonishing anthology series stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as Amy and Danny, two strangers who get into a fender bender and proceed to disrupt each other’s lives to the nth degree. To say any more would ruin *Beef*’s terrific surprises. This is both one of the funniest and most tragic shows in recent memory, one which conveys with unmistakable clarity the low-level anxiety, and perhaps anger, that many people harbor in the modern age. The second season (starring Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny) premiered on April 16. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Beef*: Netflix
**EW grade:** B
**Cast:** Ali Wong, Steven Yeun, Young Mazino, David Choe, Ashley Park
Black Rabbit (2025)
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Jude Law as Jake in 'Black Rabbit'.
Combine *The Bear'*s subject matter with the stress of *Uncut Gems* (2019), and you get *Black Rabbit*. Netflix’s thriller miniseries tells the story of the Friedken brothers, Jude Law's Jake and Jason Bateman's Vince, whose restaurant business is threatened by debt, accusations of sexual harassment, and other criminal activity. As their family, friends, and co-workers get pulled into the madness, Jake and Vince must confront their history and look for a way to save themselves and their restaurant, The Black Rabbit.
The series unfolds over eight fast-paced episodes — New York City culinary and scandal nerds may recognize elements of the story as being similar to those that precipitated the closing of the West Village’s beloved gastropub, The Spotted Pig. And while no one would describe this miniseries as uplifting, it does give Bateman a chance to reunite with former *Ozarks* costar Laura Linney, who directs two *Black Rabbit* episodes. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Black Rabbit: *Netflix
**Cast:** Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Cleopatra Coleman, Sope Dirisu, Amaka Okafor
Chernobyl (2019)
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Jared Harris as Valery Legasov and Emily Watson as Ulana Khomyuk in 'Chernobyl'.
The 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine was a situation unlike anything ever experienced on planet Earth. Millions of Europeans were exposed to low levels of radiation, and doctors later linked thousands of cancer cases to the nuclear contamination. Even after four decades, the city of Chernobyl and the surrounding Exclusion Zone remain restricted.
History lovers will be pleased to learn the story of what occurred that April night is available to watch as a five-part miniseries on HBO Max. Craig Mazin (*The Last of Us*) focuses *Chernobyl* on the scientists and government officials tasked with cleaning up after the disaster, and the everyday people who lost their lives and loved ones. Jessie Buckley is a particular standout in her role as Lyudmilla Ignatenko, the wife of one of the first responders. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Chernobyl*: HBO Max
**EW grade: **A–
**Cast: **Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adam Nagaitis
Death by Lightning (2025)
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Michael Shannon as James A. Garfield in 'Death by Lightning'.
Larry Horricks/Netflix
President James A. Garfield is best known for how he was born and how he died: in a log cabin, and by assassination, only 120 days into his time in office. His truncated presidency meant Garfield was largely overshadowed in the history books, but the 20th President of the United States finally gets his time to shine in Netflix’s *Death by Lightning*.
The four-episode series stars Michael Shannon as Garfield, chronicling his election, civil rights advocacy, and eventual collision with Charles J. Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), the failed lawyer with a mental health condition, who was destined to end his life. Adapted from the 2011 book *Destiny of the Republic* by Candice Millard, *Death by Lightning *is a fascinating historical footnote. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Death by Lightning*: Netflix
**Cast:** Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Betty Gilpin, Shea Whigham, Bradley Whitford
Dopesick (2021)
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Michael Keaton as Dr. Samuel Finnix in 'Dopesick'. Antony Platt/Hulu
Hulu’s distressing miniseries spotlights America’s opioid epidemic, from the Purdue Pharma headquarters to a small middle-American community ravaged by drug abuse. Michael Stuhlbarg stars as Richard Sackler, a modern-day villain if there ever was one, while Michael Keaton plays a well-intentioned GP who is suckered into prescribing OxyContin to a young coal miner (Kaitlyn Dever) with a back injury.
Charting the crisis from the early 1990s to the present day, *Dopesick* lays out in tragic and unambiguous detail how pharmaceutical companies have been allowed to prey upon hapless victims for decades. The series, created by writer Danny Strong, is one of the most compelling and credible modern dramas. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Dopesick*: Hulu
**EW grade:** A–
**Cast:** Michael Keaton, Michael Stuhlbarg, Kaitlyn Dever, Will Poulter, Phillipa Soo
Dr. Death (2021–2023)
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Joshua Jackson as Dr. Christopher Duntsch on 'Dr. Death'. Scott McDermott/Peacock
The first season of NBC’s haunting true-crime procedural, based on the Wondery podcast of the same name, stars Joshua Jackson as real-life spinal surgeon Christopher Duntsch, who was eventually found guilty and sentenced to life in prison after maiming 31 of his patients and killing two.
*Dr. Death*’s terrifically satisfying structure pivots around Duntsch’s co-workers, Dr. Robert Henderson (Alec Baldwin) and Dr. Randall Kirby (Christian Slater), slowly putting the pieces together which implicate the twisted surgeon in a series of increasingly botched procedures. The series is “part medical drama, part mystery, part *Catch Me If You Can* thriller,” EW's critic noted in a glowing review. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Dr. Death*: Peacock
**EW grade:** A–
**Cast:** Joshua Jackson, Grace Gummer, Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, AnnaSophia Robb
The 24 best bingeable miniseries streaming on Netflix
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The 50 best shows to watch on HBO Max
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Dying for Sex (2025)
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Jenny Slate as Nikki and Michelle Williams as Molly in 'Dying for Sex'.
One woman’s terminal cancer diagnosis prompts her to leave her husband of 15 years and prioritize pleasure in *Dying for Sex*. Based on a true story — which was first shared in a critically acclaimed podcast — this miniseries follows Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams) and her best buddy, Nikki Boyer (Jenny Slate), as Molly tries to find a partner she can have an orgasm with, and Nikki tries to support her sick friend through her sexual exploration.
A story about living and dying on one’s own terms, the series is thoughtfully created, beautifully performed, and uniquely empowering. As EW’s critic writes, “*Dying for Sex* is a heartbreaking (and at times, very horny) story about female friendship, self-actualization, and the realization that it’s never too late to heal.” *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Dying for Sex*: Hulu
**EW grade: **B+
**Cast: **Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney, Jay Duplass
Escape at Dannemora (2018)
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Patricia Arquette as Tilly in 'Escape at Dannemora'.
Christopher Saunders/Showtime
For fans of *The Shawshank Redemption *(1994), the limited series *Escape at Dannemora* scratches a similar itch. Based on the true story of two murderers who escaped from prison in 2015 with the help of an employee, the series offers eight episodes covering the relationship between Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell (Patricia Arquette) and inmates Richard Matt (Benicio Del Toro) and David Sweat (Paul Dano).
Arquette gained and lost 40 pounds for the project, and her work was recognized with a Golden Globe, a SAG award, and a Critics’ Choice award. Ben Stiller directs, and while the pace is a bit slow at the beginning, the camerawork, performances, and plotting sucks the viewer in to the point where not bingeing is not an option. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Escape at Dannemora*: Paramount+
**Cast: **Benicio Del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, Eric Lange
Five Days at a Memorial (2022)
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Vera Farmiga as Dr. Anna Pou in 'Five Days at Memorial'.
Russ Martin/Apple TV+
Among the best shows Apple TV has produced thus far, John Ridley and Carlton Cuse’s eight-episode miniseries is an adaptation of Sheri Fink’s non-fiction book, which chronicled a New Orleans hospital left devastated after Hurricane Katrina.
If “agonizing” and “deeply anxiety-inducing” are things you avoid in your entertainment, *Five Days at Memorial* is probably not for you. The title itself is almost a taunt — can you make it through another? However, despite the challenging material, the series is a compelling dissection of the U.S. government’s beyond-blundered response to the natural disaster and an inspiring ode to the first responders who attempted to fill the gaps. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Five Days at Memorial*: Apple TV
**EW grade:** B+
**Cast:** Vera Farmiga, Cherry Jones, Molly Hager, Julie Ann Emery, Cornelius Smith Jr.
Feud: Bette vs. Joan (2017)
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Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford and Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis in 'Feud: Bette vs. Joan'.
The polar opposite of *American Crime Story*’s (relatively) austere presentation, this is likely the closest Ryan Murphy will ever come to producing an out-and-out WWE battle. Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange play the titular divas, respectively, in this dramatization of their infamous (though largely invented) feud.
Less baroque than its title suggests but just as campy as it needs to be,* Bette vs. Joan* relies less on extended sequences of Sarandon and Lange berating one another (though there are plenty) in favor of more nuanced stories about how hard it was, and still is, to be a woman in a man’s world. There are also fun Easter eggs for film buffs — like John Waters playing schlock-meister William Castle, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Olivia de Havilland, doing her best *Lady in a Cage* impression. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Feud: Bette vs. Joan*: Hulu
**EW grade:** B
**Cast: **Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Jackie Hoffman, Stanley Tucci, Kathy Bates
The Girlfriend (2025)
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Robin Wright as Laura Sanderson in 'The Girlfriend'.
Christopher Raphael/Amazon Content Services LLC
Yes, technically, *The Girlfriend* is a miniseries about two women fighting for a man’s attention, but not in the way that you think. This psychological thriller tells the story of Daniel (Laurie Davidson), who brings his girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke), home to meet his mother, Laura (Robin Wright), only for the two women to engage in a power struggle for the ages.
Set in London and Spain, the story unfolds across six episodes — Wright directed the first three — and cleverly heightens the tensions sometimes experienced in in-law relationships. The series skews soapy, and Cooke and Wright revel in putting each other through psychological hell. It’s all leading up to what Wright calls a “psychotic" ending, making *The Girlfriend* the perfect binge option. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *The Girlfriend*: Amazon Prime Video
**Cast:** Robin Wright, Olivia Cooke, Laurie Davidson, Waleed Zuaiter, Tanya Moodie
Godless (2017)
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Michelle Dockery as Alice Fletcher in 'Godless'. Ursula Coyote/Netflix
La Belle, N.M. is practically a no man’s land: In 1882, the majority of the town’s male population was killed in a mining accident, and the women were left to pick up the pieces. Now it’s 1884, and injured outlaw Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell) rides into town, fleeing his former mentor, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels), who is terrorizing the area.
A traditional Western with a twist, *Godless’* seven-episode arc takes viewers through La Belle’s backstory and its current reality, as the surviving women navigate running the town and securing the mine’s future. *Godless* gives off notes of *Deadwood*, but is delivered in a more compact and female-focused package. Merritt Wever is a standout as Mary Agnes, widow of the late mayor, giving what EW’s critic describes as an “electric” performance. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Godless*: Netflix
**EW grade:** B
**Cast: **Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, Thomas Brodie-Sangster
I May Destroy You (2020)
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Michaela Coel as Arabella in 'I May Destroy You'. HBO
Writer-director-actor Michaela Coel’s devastating, terrifically smart miniseries follows a young writer (Coel) who attempts to remount her life after a sexual assault lingers as such a fleeting, dim memory she’s not entirely sure what happened.
Coel’s exceptional, largely autobiographical 12-part series upends the clichés about processing unspeakable trauma. *I May Destroy You* is a vicious satire of modern social mores and a deeply authentic, heartbreaking examination of a life undone just as it was taking flight. Coel has just lined up her next series with Max and the BBC, *First Day on Earth*, and we can’t wait to see what she has in store. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *I May Destroy You*: HBO Max
**EW grade:** B
**Cast:** Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Weruche Opia, Marouane Zotti
Mare of Easttown (2021)
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Kate Winslet as Mare Sheehan in 'Mare of Easttown'.
Michele K. Short/HBO
There’s not a lot of lightness in *Mare of Easttown*, a miniseries whose thematic focuses include suicide, drug addiction, poverty, and missing teenagers. This seven-episode drama ushers viewers into the heart of a fictional working-class suburb of Philadelphia (though there is also a *real* Easttown, Pa.), where Detective Sergeant Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet) lives with her mother (Jean Smart), daughter (Angourie Rice), and grandson. Mare’s life is complicated enough with four generations living under one roof and her ex-husband (David Denman) announcing his engagement. Then a teenage single mother ends up murdered.
Winslet nails everything about the role, from Mare’s regional accent to her physicality as a former basketball star turned frustrated cop. Julianne Nicholson offers a solid presence throughout as Mare’s best friend, Lori, but ends the series with a powerhouse performance. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Mare of Easttown*: HBO Max
**Cast: **Kate Winslet, Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, Angourie Rice, David Denman
Midnight Mass (2021)
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Hamish Linklater as Father Paul in 'Midnight Mass'.
Courtesy of Netflix
Mike Flanagan’s stunning Netflix miniseries stars Zach Gilford as a former finance bro who returns to his hometown following a tragedy. His arrival coincides with that of Father Paul Hill (Hamish Linklater), a charismatic priest who is to replace the church’s ailing monsignor. As you may have guessed, Father Hill isn’t exactly who (or what) he appears to be, and his presence has shocking ramifications throughout the close-knit community.
Flanagan is a clear-eyed auteur who rarely puts a foot wrong. With this darkly hilarious, genuinely quite frightening ode to Stephen King and ‘80s supernatural horror, *Midnight Mass** *is unabashedly an homage to the author, but it’s also blessedly and entirely its own beast. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *Midnight Mass*: Netflix
**EW grade: **A–
**Cast:** Zach Gilford, Hamish Linklater, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan
Normal People (2020)
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Daisy Edgar-Jones as Marianne and Paul Mescal as Connell in 'Normal People'. Enda Bowe/Element Pictures/Hulu
Sally Rooney writes novels “about what it feels like to be alive right now,” and the miniseries adaptation of her book *Normal People *is bursting with youthful romance and struggle. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal star as Marianne Sheridan and Connell Waldron, two Irish high school seniors transitioning into college life and young adulthood.
At school, Marianne is the rich outcast and Connell is the working-class jock whose single mother cleans Marianne’s family’s home. In spite of their differences, the two connect emotionally and begin a complicated relationship that continues through their time at Trinity College Dublin. The story is told over 12 episodes, and while binging is definitely an option, *Normal People* is best enjoyed slowly, so you have time to process the show’s vulnerability and nuance. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *Normal People*: Hulu
**Cast:** Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Sarah Greene
One Day (2024)
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Ambika Mod as Emma and Leo Woodall as Dexter in 'One Day'.
This adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 novel gets the source material completely right, unlike the anemic 2011 film of the same name starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. The Netflix miniseries sees Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) meet at their university graduation and proceed to fall in and out of love throughout the next two decades.
*One Day* takes the *Normal People* recipe of sex and tragedy and manages to do the most authentic, interesting version of it since. Nicholls’ novel, and both of its screen adaptations, are upfront about their emotional manipulation. It’s a testament to Woodall and Mod’s undeniable chemistry and the sharp character writing that *One Day* makes those turns not only believable but deeply affecting. *—D.G.*
Where to watch *One Day*: Netflix
**Cast:** Ambika Mod, Leo Woodall, Essie Davis, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amber Grappy
One Hundred Years of Solitude (2024–present)
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Claudio Cataño as Colonel Aureliano Buendía in 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'.
Considered one of the foremost literary achievements of the last century, Gabriel García Márquez’s magical realism novel, *One Hundred Years of Solitude*, has finally been adapted for television. The series tells the story of the Buendía family over multiple generations and is set in the fictitious town of Macondo, Colombia, which the family founded.
Critics and fans have commended the adaptation for its acting, cinematography, and adherence to the original source material. A TV series with the spirit of the novel, Netflix released the show's first eight episodes in December 2024, with another eight to come this August. A must-watch for literary lovers and TV nerds alike, treat yourself to *One Hundred Years of Solitude*. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *One Hundred Years of Solitude*: Netflix
**Cast: **Claudio Cataño, Diego Vásquez, Marleyda Soto, Viña Machado, Loren Sofía
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
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Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in 'The Queen's Gambit'.
Ken Woroner/Netflix
One of the cultural highlights of the pandemic, *The Queen’s Gambit* is a period drama about an orphan who becomes a chess prodigy in the 1950s and '60s. Anya Taylor-Joy stars as Beth, a young woman who becomes addicted to tranquilizers during her time in an orphanage, and whose substance abuse and mental health issues threaten to undermine her rise through the competitive chess world.
Chess is an internalized and intellectual pursuit, but Taylor-Joy throws her body, face, and soul into it, and the result is a performance that makes a board game feel as exciting as an NBA championship. The show’s success generated a renewed interest in chess, and Taylor-Joy’s performance is almost universally acclaimed. EW’s reviewer highlights the show’s “luscious production design” and notes the “darkly fascinating lead performance duel against mawkish sentiment and a messy final act. It's always fun to watch, even when it's playing emotional checkers.” *—I.G.*
Where to watch *The Queen's Gambit*: Netflix
**EW grade:** B
**Cast: **Anya Taylor-Joy, Bill Camp, Moses Ingram, Isla Johnston, Christiane Seidel
The White Lotus (2021–present)
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Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett in season 3 of 'The White Lotus'.
The best way to travel these days is through HBO’s *The White Lotus*. The anthology series is set at The White Lotus Resort and Spa, a fictional hotel chain with luxurious locations in Hawaii, Italy, and Thailand (so far — France is next). The staff at The White Lotus is on hand to provide a special experience to the resort’s wealthy, if eccentric, guests, but the hotel is fast becoming known for the strange deaths that keep occurring.
Mike White has established himself as a character study artist, a keen observer of families, friend groups, and social dynamics. The characters on his show are fascinating, flawed people, and White knows exactly where to push to apply pressure and tension. The show is especially beloved for its ensemble casts, which are full of some of the best actors you forgot about. *—I.G.*
Where to watch *The White Lotus*: HBO Max
**EW grade:** B+
**Cast: **Jon Gries,** **Jennifer Coolidge, Natasha Rothwell
- TV Reviews & Recommendations
Original Article on Source
Source: "EW TV"
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Source: TV
Published: June 19, 2026 at 10:19AM on Source: RED MAG
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