It’s an undeniable fact that we are experiencing the golden age of mini series. This television genre consists of productions that prefer to tell their stories in a single short season, usually no more than 12 episodes, without the intention of making multiple seasons. Mini series gained immense popularity with the television adaptation of Alex Haley’s bestselling novel Roots in 1977, breaking viewership records for ABC and winning nine Primetime Emmy Awards.

Over the years, many mini series have received praise from both critics and audiences, but the peak of this genre coincided with the rise of streaming services. Platforms like Netflix provided the opportunity to create one-off programs that could be easily consumed in a weekend. There are no signs that this situation will change anytime soon. Therefore, to pay tribute to the mini series that have reshaped the television landscape, we’ve compiled the most binge-worthy series that you will enjoy watching over and over again.

Let’s go back to March 2020. Despite being a terrible year in terms of health, 2020 turned out to be a fantastic year for mini series. As people were forced to stay home and protect their loved ones, everyone was searching for the best series to spend two weeks “avoiding the mention of the virus.” During this period, the eight-episode Hulu drama Little Fires Everywhere, adapted from Celeste Ng’s 2017 novel and telling the story of two mothers (Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington) from different backgrounds in the Cleveland area, garnered significant attention.

Little Fires Everywhere offers a poignant story about loss, secrets, identity, and hope. Liz Tigelaar and her team managed to provide viewers with both a heartbreaking and uplifting experience while questioning the myth that adhering to social rules can prevent disaster. If you haven’t watched it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s a series that will leave you unable to hold back tears and will linger in your mind for a week.