Top 3 TV Shows With 5 Episodes Or Less, Rated 10/10

by

Looking for a quick but amazing TV binge? These three shows are top-notch and have only five episodes or less. A great series doesn’t have to be long – in fact, many of the most highly praised shows are actually miniseries!

I suspect there’s a link between how many episodes a show has and its rating on Rotten Tomatoes, even though I don’t have any proof. It seems like shorter shows – those with fewer episodes – tend to get better scores. This makes sense because a common criticism of shows and movies is that they become too drawn out. With fewer episodes, there’s less chance of that happening.

Miniseries often hit the sweet spot in terms of length. They give stories enough room to develop over several episodes without becoming overly drawn out and losing your interest. If I’m right about shorter series getting more praise, then these three examples – each with under five episodes – are really interesting to look at.

YuYu Hakusho (2023)

5 Episodes

YuYu Hakusho is a live-action series based on the popular manga of the same name, originally created from 1990 to 1994. An anime version was also made in 1992. The show follows Yusuke Urameshi, played by Takumi Kitamura, a rebellious teenager who often gets into fights.

When Yusuke tragically dies saving a child from a car accident, he’s brought back to life and begins working as a supernatural investigator. He uses his impressive fighting skills to protect people from dangerous demons. This adaptation streamlines the original manga story, which works well for a live-action series.

The live-action adaptation of YuYu Hakusho successfully brings the manga’s amazing action scenes to life, maintaining the energy and fight choreography fans love. While the series only covers select parts of the manga’s story – a choice some readers might not like – it gives the show a fast-paced and nimble feel, mirroring the personality of the main character.

When They See Us (2019)

4 Episodes

I just finished watching When They See Us, and it’s a truly harrowing experience. This 2019 miniseries dives into the infamous 1989 Central Park jogger case, focusing on the five young Black and Latino men who were wrongly accused of a brutal attack. It’s a deeply upsetting, but incredibly important, look at how the American justice system can fail, and it stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

This series tells the story of five teenagers and the events leading up to the April 19, 1989, attack on a young woman who was jogging in Central Park. Following the assault, five young men were arrested, publicly tried, and ultimately convicted and imprisoned for the crime.

In 2002, the convictions of the Central Park Five were overturned after Matias Reyes confessed to the attacks, and they received a financial settlement in 2014. The miniseries When They See Us doesn’t focus on graphic details of the crimes, but rather on the stunning failures of the legal system in their case.

​​​​​​​

Olive Kitteridge (2014)

4 Episodes

Despite having only four episodes, the series Olive Kitteridge spans 25 years in the life of its main character. Frances McDormand plays Olive Kitteridge, a somewhat grumpy but ultimately good-hearted retired teacher who lives with her husband, Henry (Richard Jenkins, a gentle pharmacist), in a made-up coastal town in Maine.

Their son, Christopher (played by John Gallagher Jr.), has struggled with difficulties, and Olive has battled depression, jealousy, and grief for years, often causing tension with those around her. While the story is deeply sad, it’s also incredibly uplifting, demonstrating the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

The TV show Olive Kitteridge beautifully illustrates how relationships often fall apart not because of one big event, but through years of unspoken worries, taking loved ones for granted, and an unwillingness to apologize. After just four episodes, it feels like you’ve experienced a lifetime of different perspectives.

Read More

2025-11-11 02:10