6 Best Miniseries Released Between 2010 and Now That Make Every Episode Count
A spy thriller with star turns
In The Night Manager, former soldier Jonathan Pine, played by Tom Hiddleston, works at a hotel before being recruited to get close to arms dealer Richard Roper, played by Hugh Laurie. Roper’s girlfriend Jed, portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki, becomes central to the plan, while Tom Hollander’s Corky is a scene-stealing presence.
Susanne Bier directed all six episodes. Hiddleston, Laurie and Olivia Colman, who plays intelligence officer Angela Burr, won Golden Globes for their roles; Bier also received an Emmy for directing. Hiddleston’s performance prompted speculation that he might become the next James Bond.
A mystery rooted in old wounds
Sharp Objects follows St. Louis reporter Camille Preaker, played by Amy Adams, as she returns to her Missouri hometown to cover the murders of two girls. She stays with her controlling mother, Adora, played by Patricia Clarkson, and teenage half-sister Amma, portrayed by Eliza Scanlen.
Based on Gillian Flynn’s first novel, the eight-episode series was directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. It uses brief glimpses of words carved into Camille’s skin and rapid shifts between the present and her memories. Clarkson won a Golden Globe, while Adams, who also produced the show, delivers a standout performance.
Chernobyl’s human cost
Written by Craig Mazin, Chernobyl recounts the 1986 nuclear disaster through scientist Valery Legasov, played by Jared Harris, and people including Lyudmilla Ignatenko, portrayed by Jessie Buckley. Her husband, a firefighter, is sent to the burning reactor without proper protection.
Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir built the score from recordings made at an actual nuclear power plant. The actors speak English with British accents rather than Russian ones, a choice that some viewers disliked and others found easier to follow. The series won ten Emmys, including Outstanding Limited Series.
Key points
- The Night Manager earned Golden Globes for Hiddleston, Laurie and Colman.
- Sharp Objects adapts Gillian Flynn’s first novel and runs for eight episodes.
- Chernobyl depicts the 1986 disaster and won ten Emmys.
- The selections are praised for strong acting and complete stories.