The current discourse on films being too long, and people getting annoyed by films with a running time of three hours, is very funny. Stories are not the same all the time, so perhaps some of them have to use more footage. There's also the storytelling style of filmmakers and the manipulative hands of studios that want more and more all the time. In any case, if you hate long films, we can't imagine you during the 2000s were TV series went for more than 23 episodes a season. If you simply don't care for TV shows, we can honestly say you may be missing out.
Or perhaps we can meet in the middle. If you're not into long films, then you may settle with these shows that only go for one season and that's it. Also known as the miniseries, limited series have story arcs that begin and end on a limited run of episodes.
HBO is a pioneer in this format and for this reason, we've handpicked the best limited series you can watch today on the streaming service Max.
Landscapers
Told in a comedy-drama style that feels much too risky, Landscapers is a hidden gem in Max that not many people saw when it was released back in 2021. However, it's not too late to watch the story of a married couple with far too many secrets. Olivia Colman and David Thewlis play Susan and Christopher Edwards, the real-life couple that mysteriously killed and hid the corpses of Susan's parents in 1998.
Band of Brothers
This one is the Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks production that followed up on WWII stories that had to be told. Band of Brothers is a great piece on the dynamics of the Easy Company, from their training back in the United States until the war ended. Featuring an ensemble cast, it brought cinematic value to television in 2001, when the format of TV series was still waiting to explode.
I May Destroy You
HBO
Michaela Coel does everything in I May Destroy You. She writes, directs, and executive-produces the limited series. Oh, and she stars in the comedy-drama about a Londonese writer trying to deal with the aftermath of sexual assault. This one takes things a bit too far, but Coel's impressive writing makes the show delightful and very, very interesting.
Angels in America
Directed by Mike Nichols and written by Tony Kushner, based on his 1991 play of the same name, Angels in America was an impressive HBO show that perfectly depicted the social circumstances of the mid-'80s when there were far too many things taking place. From the questionable politics by conservatives, to the demonization of AIDS. The cast is powerful, to say the least, and Meryl Streep stars in one of her best and underseen performances.
Love & Death
David E. Kelley has truly made a great show in the very recent Love & Death. The series tells the true crime story of Candy Montgomery's murders that took place after she got entangled in a devious relationship with a man whose wife she ends up hacking to pieces. The portrayal of Montgomery, and also the performance by Elizabeth Olsen, already put it near the top spot for the best of 2023.
From the Earth to the Moon
From the Earth to the Moon, the HBO limited series also produced by Tom Hanks, is a great dramatic dive into the Apollo missions during the '60s. Using state-of-the-art special effects it gave television a place in the spotlight when it was heralded as secondary. But its great, very extensive cast, was what made it relevant in the late '90s. Its format is pseudo-documentary which will appeal to those seeking realism.
I Love You, Now Die
The docuseries I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth V. Michelle Carter is an exceptional true crime documentary about the trial of Carter, as she's accused of enticing her boyfriend Conrad Roy to kill himself. The case, as confusing as it is, is explored thoroughly by director Erin Lee Carr, who proves once again her worth in the documentary universe.
The Third Day
Sky Atlantic
You have never experienced something like The Third Day. Not because of the familiar folklore horror aspect of the plot, but because of its ambitious format of adaptation. Yes, this was the one whose middle segment consisted of a 12-hour live event shown on the Internet. Not many people saw the footage (12 hours is simply too much) but it proved to be essential to the plot about a grieving man who travels to a mysterious island where people seem to know a little bit too much about the death of his son.
We won't spoil what happens in this mysterious place. Just know that you don't simply leave the place without experiencing the traditions and customs that make it unique.
Scenes from a Marriage
Based on the Ingmar Bergman miniseries of 1973, Scenes from a Marriage tells the story of a couple dealing with the common stages of a modern marriage. From love to absolute hatred, they travel the tumultuous waters of a relationship between discontent people who can't see any form of light at the end of the tunnel. This one is very awkward to see with your significant other. Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain both shine in the starring roles.
The Staircase
The Staircase tells the true life story of Michael Peterson's trial after his wife Kathleen is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in sketchy circumstances that made him the prime suspect. A great companion to the docuseries of the same name, The Staircase is a great rendering of the case we know to its core, but it also sheds light on the dynamics of a family deeply affected by a crime that raises too many "internal" questions. This is Colin Firth's best performance of his entire career.
Chernobyl
A fantastic adaptation of the events surrounding the Chernobyl disaster and the incompetence of a government that cared nothing for its citizens. Chernobyl is a very realistic and thorough depiction of the timeline, both before and after. When this one was released in 2019, it brought home many awards, proving once again HBO's capacity of making good historical dramas.
Watchmen
Created by Damon Lindelof (who also upon his departure made HBO forced to categorize this one as a limited series), Watchmen is a great twist on the original comic books by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. This time the events take place in current times as Tulsa experiences racial violence due to white supremacist groups going against the police. How the original story connects with present-day events is an example of great screenwriting. You'll see.
Sharp Objects
The 2018 series based on Gillian Flynn's book of the same was directed by the late Jean-Marc Vallée. Sharp Objects is a crime show that starts as a regular whodunit, but then it turns into an invasive exploration of its lead character's psyche. Her mind is flooded with demons of her past that she's forced to face as she comes back home to investigate the murders of two young girls. The last-minute reveal is shocking. Stay around for the credits in the last episode.
The Night Of
Written by the great Richard Price and Steven Zaillian, The Night Of tells the story of Naz, a Pakistani-American student who gets accused of a murder he doesn't know if he committed. In a swift and surefire trial, Naz gets sent to prison where his naive spirit is corrupted.
This is an extraordinary TV show with impressive performances by its five leads: Riz Ahmed, Michael K. Willams, John Turturro, and Bill Camp. When it comes to character development and writing, it doesn't get any better than this. We'll never understand how the Black Mirror episode "San Junipero" won over this one for Outstanding Writing.
Mare of Easttown
An exceptional display of female performances. Mare of Easttown tells the story of Mare, a small-town detective that's dealing with far too many issues. The burden of being unable to solve a horrific crime in the past, but also a divorce, a son who has committed suicide, and now the murder of a teenage mother.
This one has Jean Smart, Evan Peters, and Kate Winslet in the best performances of their careers. However, it's Julianne Nicholson who left us speechless in her role as Lori, one of Mare's friends who must make a horrible decision that can solve the murder. Mare of Easttown is the best limited series you can watch on Max today, by far.