Best TV/Cable Mini-Series of All Time

[Win TWINS!!!]

Its interesting because I remember Netflix calling Luther a miniseries before this 4th season came out.

I'll have to do some searching on other miniseries and see if I can come up with any other good ones that haven't been mentioned.

BTW I just found out about the 4th season of Luther I couldn't be anymore ecstatic right now! One of the best and most underrated series!

Fresno


'Nuff said.

 

[obxyankeefan]

North and South
Lonesome Dove
Texas Rising, but it was long enough that it could be considered a season.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

What about the anthology shows?

TD and Fargo have seasons but completely new casts.

So couldn't like S1 of each classify as a mini series and be in the running?

 

[calsnowskier]

What about the anthology shows?

TD and Fargo have seasons but completely new casts.

So couldn't like S1 of each classify as a mini series and be in the running?

Personally, I would not include them in this discussion. But why? This is why I would like to have some kind of definition fir what we consider a miniseries.

 

[broncosmitty]

If Ken Burns movies count as miniseries, I vote for them.

They were shown in mini series format, so, imo, they count.

I'd count Texas Rising also.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Good examples. BBC puts out a lot of "miniseries'" that are hard to classify.

Luther and House of Cards, I think, would be just regular TV shows because of the multiple seasons. But how are they different from V, Roots, or Lonesome Dove that all had "second seasons"? Especially House of Cards, that had 3 seasons, spanning about 19 years.

When lonesome Dove first came on did it have 2 seasons?

North and South
Lonesome Dove
Texas Rising, but it was long enough that it could be considered a season.

Texas Rising was exceedingly and disappointingly lame.

And it wasn't very good either, sort of a sympathy fuck.

 

[obxyankeefan]

When lonesome Dove first came on did it have 2 seasons?


Texas Rising was exceedingly and disappointingly lame.

And it wasn't very good either, sort of a sympathy fuck.

I enjoyed it, but to each their own.

 

[PatsFan2003]

I figured I would do one of these again, but for TV/Cable Mini-Series'.

It may get a bit difficult to define exactly what a mini-series is, though, so I wanted to have a bit of discussion to establish some parameters before we get started.

How can we differentiate between a mini-series and a single-season TV show? "V" was a mini-series that ended up having a sequel series. Does that now qualify as 2 seasons of a TV show? "Firefly" only lasted one season, but is not considered a mini-series.


Off the top of my head, here are some that deserve consideration. I am POSITIVE there are others that are out there...

Stand
It
V
Band of Brothers
Adams
The Pacific
Roots
Shogun

Band of Brothers and Roots.

I was pretty disappointed with the Stand.

A TV series is intended to go as long as it can. A mini-series has an established beginning and end right from the start.

 

[Comeds]

Does Luther count as a mini series or because it was spanned of three "seasons" it doesn't count?
Same with Sherlock.

Thinking they don't but want to be safe.

Luther is great.

I liked both the V mini series when I saw them as a kid, but seeing them as an adult I thought the first one kind of sucked but still really liked V2. Quick moving action show.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I enjoyed it, but to each their own.

Soundly panned by all critics.

I had extremely high hopes for it given the cast and premise but it flat out sucked balls.

 

[Edonidd]

Does it really matter what the definition is? As long as Band of Brothers is included, it wins. It's like asking who the best WR in the history of the NFL is, and then arguing if tight ends like Shannon Sharpe or running backs like Larry Centers should be included? It doesn't matter who or what you include, Jerry Rice is the best pass catcher ever. And Band of Brothers is the best mini series.

 

[calsnowskier]

Does it really matter what the definition is? As long as Band of Brothers is included, it wins. It's like asking who the best WR in the history of the NFL is, and then arguing if tight ends like Shannon Sharpe or running backs like Larry Centers should be included? It doesn't matter who or what you include, Jerry Rice is the best pass catcher ever. And Band of Brothers is the best mini series.

While I agree, I think Roots would actually put up a fight (at least for the older crowd that experienced the cultural phenomenon that was Roots).

Quick show of hands...

Is there anyone who would vote for something OTHER than Band of Brothers?

 

[outofyourmind]

Is there anyone who would vote for something OTHER than Band of Brothers?

Not me, unless someone brings up one that I forgot about.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I've seen Band of Brothers. I liked it but have a hard time calling it the best ever. I don't have war blood in me though. Never been in a regiment.

If it isn't Lonesome Dove for me it would be Roots.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

Band of Brothers.