7 Iconic 20th-Century Miniseries That Changed Television Forever—and Still Matter

A different kind of television

Long-running series once treated longevity as a sign of success. Miniseries showed how character development and subtext could make a powerful impression within a shorter story. Some productions revisited difficult historical events, while others demonstrated that genres such as science fiction and period drama could draw large audiences. Their approaches helped lay groundwork for later prestige television, including Game of Thrones and The Expanse.

Rome as a family drama

The BBC’s I, Claudius adapts Robert Graves’ 1934 novel, telling the story of the Roman Empire through Claudius as he faces an impending assassination. Derek Jacobi stars, alongside John Hurt and Patrick Stewart.

Rather than treating ancient Rome as distant history, the series made its flawed characters compelling through performances and simple sets. Its approach helped prepare the way for dramas such as The Sopranos, House of Cards and Game of Thrones.

Roots confronts American history

Roots follows generations of a Black American family, beginning with the enslaved Kunta Kinte. Its cast included John Amos, LeVar Burton and Maya Angelou, and the series received 37 Primetime Emmy nominations, winning nine.

At a time when Black characters were often reduced to stereotypes, Roots showed that a mostly Black cast could earn critical acclaim and reach a broad audience. Its final episode drew more than 100 million viewers, while total viewership was estimated at 130 million to 140 million in 1977.

The Holocaust’s public meaning

The account turns to the television treatment of the Holocaust, noting that the term is now widely understood. It says that this was not always the case, but the discussion ends before providing further details.