6 Best Miniseries of 2025, Ranked

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2025 was a fantastic year for television. Popular shows like Severance, Mythic Quest, and The Righteous Gemstones returned with highly praised new seasons. Meanwhile, The Pitt and The Studio quickly became hits after premiering that year. It was also a strong year for limited series, with some becoming major cultural talking points.

I’m really into miniseries lately, and I think it’s because they’re the perfect length. You can actually finish one in a day or over a weekend, which is great! They have to pack a whole story into just a few episodes, and when they do it well, you really get invested in the characters and understand what drives them. Honestly, a lot of the miniseries that came out in 2025 were just incredibly gripping – they really knew how to tell a story!

The Residence Delivers a Perfect Whodunit Mystery

The Shondaland series centers around Cordelia Cupp, a detective brought in to investigate a murder at the White House during a state dinner. The victim wasn’t a politician, but A. B. Wynter, the White House Chief Usher – a key member of the residence staff.

The short series, The Residence, keeps viewers engaged with its story that jumps around in time. It switches between the night of the murder, the investigation itself, and a current-day congressional hearing about the case. However, the lead investigator, Cordelia, faces a tough challenge because it seems like almost everyone working at the White House had a reason to want Wynter dead.

The series The Residence features a strong cast, with Uzo Aduba (from Orange Is the New Black) playing the lead role of Cordelia Cupp. The talented ensemble also includes Molly Griggs, Ken Marino, Randall Park, Jason Lee, Jane Curtin, and others.

The Narrow Road to the Deep North Is a Story About War and Love

The story centers on Dorrigo Evans, an Australian medical student who becomes a soldier in World War II. However, this isn’t a typical war story focused on battles. Instead, it primarily follows Dorrigo’s experiences as a prisoner of war.

Okay, so “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” isn’t just a war story; it’s surprisingly a love story at its heart. The series jumps around in time, showing us Dorrigo’s life before, during, and after the war, which keeps things interesting. It’s in those pre-war flashbacks that we see him get involved in a really complicated, and frankly, forbidden romance with his uncle’s wife. It adds a whole other layer to the story, and honestly, it’s quite compelling.

While The Narrow Road to the Deep North includes a love story, it’s much more than that. The film realistically depicts the harsh realities of war and features intensely difficult scenes that some viewers may find disturbing. Ultimately, it’s a story about how love and war can profoundly and permanently change a person’s life.

The miniseries features Jude Law as Dorrigo Evans, and Ciarán Hinds portrays the character in his later years. Olivia DeJonge plays Dorrigo’s girlfriend, Ella, and Odessa Young is Amy Mulvaney, the young wife of Dorrigo’s uncle. With stunning visuals and compelling acting, The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a truly remarkable series.

Dying for Sex Is a Bittersweet Comedy

This miniseries centers around Molly, a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer who decides to leave her husband and explore her own desires. But it’s about much more than just sex; Dying for Sex is a story about the power of friendship, dealing with past trauma, and the journey of self-discovery and healing.

In the film Dying for Sex, Molly, a breast cancer survivor, receives devastating news: the cancer has returned and spread to her bones. Facing a limited lifespan, she begins to question her marriage, realizing she no longer feels connected to her husband and doesn’t want to spend her remaining years with him.

Instead, Molly turns to her best friend, Nikki, for support. The series, Dying for Sex, then follows Molly as she attempts to experience an orgasm with someone new before she passes away. What makes the show special is its ability to balance Molly’s funny adventures with the deeply sad truth of her situation, and the impact it has on everyone around her.

In Dying for Sex, Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate deliver powerful performances as Molly Kochan and Nikki Boyer, portraying a deeply moving friendship and the enduring power of hope. The show offers an honest and realistic look at loss, allowing viewers to experience Nikki’s struggle as she faces the slow decline of her best friend and what it’s like for those left behind.

Death by Lightning Dramatized the Story of an Often-Forgotten President

Death by Lightning tells the story of James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. President, and his tragically short time in office. Garfield is often a forgotten president, but this book looks at what he might have accomplished if not for his assassination by Charles J. Guiteau.

“Death by Lightning” tells the story of a little-known period in American history, focusing on James A. Garfield’s brief time as President. Elected with promising ideas about civil rights and government honesty, Garfield championed education and worked to include African Americans in leadership roles, but his presidency lasted less than four months.

It’s impossible to know what President Garfield might have achieved, as his life was cut short by his assassination. A disgruntled man named Guiteau, desperate for a government position, shot Garfield twice. Garfield succumbed to these injuries after two months, and unfortunately, medical practices at the time also contributed to his death.

I just finished watching Death by Lightning, and it’s a really compelling miniseries. Michael Shannon, whom you’ll recognize from Boardwalk Empire, gives a predictably strong performance as James A. Garfield, but it’s Tom Macfadyen as Charles J. Guiteau who truly shines. He absolutely nails the character’s unsettling and delusional state. Beyond the acting, the show is visually stunning – the production design, sets, and costumes really transport you back in time. Both Shannon and Macfadyen deserved the critical praise they’ve received; it’s a beautifully made and acted four-part series.

The Beast in Me Is a Captivating Thriller

This miniseries is a suspenseful and often frightening story. It centers on Aggie Wiggs, a writer who lives alone in a secluded house, and whose quiet life is disrupted when Nile Jarvis, a notorious property developer and a man suspected of murdering his wife, becomes her new neighbor.

From the start, The Beast in Me creates a spooky and intriguing atmosphere. The music powerfully heightens the sense of something bad about to happen, and also deepens our understanding of Aggie’s struggles with her job, her crumbling personal life, and a neighbor who seems unusually focused on her.

CBR Report

CBR Report

Both Kirsten Danes, starring as Aggie Wiggs, and Matthew Rhys, known from The Americans, bring their impressive skills to The Beast in Me. They both excel at playing characters with hidden depths and risky lives, and that talent is clearly on display here. While the film’s music and visuals create a compelling atmosphere, it’s the powerful performances of Danes and Rhys that truly make the story work.

With only eight episodes, “The Beast in Me” quickly draws you into the story and the characters’ worlds. The series creates a feeling of suspense and danger from the very beginning, and Matthew Rhys’s performance takes that tension to another level.

Adolescence Is a Disturbing yet Compelling Drama

Almost everyone has seen or heard of the series Adolescence, and with good reason. It quickly became incredibly popular, captivating audiences worldwide. The story centers around the Miller family when their thirteen-year-old child, Jamie, is arrested for a murder.

This series delves into the aftermath of Jake Miller’s arrest, showing how his family deals with it, and also reveals unsettling truths from Jake’s perspective. Many believe Adolescence will be the most impactful miniseries of 2025, as it tackles issues that are deeply affecting young people today.

The series Adolescence is notable for its compelling story and strong acting. It features a standout performance from Eddie Miller as Jamie’s father, and introduces Owen Cooper in his first acting role as Jamie himself. What really sets Adolescence apart is its unique filming style – each episode is shot in a single, continuous take, which deeply engages the audience.

The series resonated deeply with audiences and sparked important conversations. It tackled crucial and sensitive issues facing teenagers and young adults globally, making it a highly relevant and almost essential watch for everyone.

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2025-12-23 23:09