Mini-series (projects consisting of 5-10 hour episodes with a completed story) as a format are now experiencing an unprecedented rise. For various reasons, filmmakers began to pay more and more attention to serial projects. They began to invest a lot of money in the series, attracting the best directors, screenwriters and actors. As a result, a large number of high-quality projects with 5-8 hour episodes began to appear. About the best mini-series of our time later in the article.
Briefly about all the series from the article
“11/22/63”
- Number of episodes: 8 (45-80 minutes).
- Kinopoisk: 7.9.
- IMBb: 8.2.
11/22/63 is a sci-fi miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, released at the dawn of the format’s popularity. James Franco performed one of his best roles here, as well as directing the fifth episode and serving as one of the lead producers along with JJ Abrams. In addition, this series became one of the first hit projects of the Hulu streaming service, which gave it a serious boost in development. “11/22/63” seems to immerse viewers in the atmosphere of the 60s in the United States. Cars, costumes, hairstyles, music, interiors – everything is at the highest level. Even some plot deviations from the original did not spoil the overall picture, despite the dissatisfaction of ardent fans.
The series follows the time travel of English teacher Jake Epping. He wants to prevent the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy. The catch is that the portal that allows you to travel in time leads to a point a few years before the event. Therefore, Epping will have to live in America in the 60s. He thought it would be an easy task, a kind of rest before a big deal. However, the closer the date of the murder approaches, the more Jake becomes attached to a new life and the more time itself resists changes in history.
“Good Omens” (Good Omens)
- Number of episodes: 6 (50-55 minutes).
- Kinopoisk: 7.8.
- IMBb: 8.1.
The British mini-series Good Omens was filmed thanks to Amazon in 2019. It is based on the 1990 satirical novel of the same name by writers Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. The first was directly involved in the creation of the series. In addition to the excellent literary basis, an incredible cast also played a role in the success of the project. The duet of Michael Sheen and David Tennant in the images of an angel and a demon is simply mesmerizing. And the cameo of Benedict Cumberbatch, although not to be missed, can be misunderstood, since the actor has changed better than Christian Bale. It was Good Omens and The Boys that took Amazon Prime Video to the next level.
The angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley were among the first inhabitants of Earth. They watched as Adam and Eve, expelled from paradise, led humanity into a brighter future. Over the long years of their life on the planet, they became so attached to the Earth and humanity that when the order came from above to start the Apocalypse, they felt uneasy. The angel and the demon even decided to unite and replace the Antichrist with an ordinary child. They intend to educate the very son of the Devil in such a way that he does not lean towards either side, because the child does not carry evil in himself, but only the opportunity to create it. True, everything does not go according to plan, but the heroes will find out about this much later.
“Chernobyl” (Chernobyl)
- Number of episodes: 5 (60-70 minutes).
- Kinopoisk: 8.9.
- IMBb: 9.4.
HBO is one of the main promoters of the miniseries format. The channel made high-quality limited shows with the best directors, screenwriters and actors of the first magnitude, when it was still not fashionable (“True Detective”). In 2019, HBO, together with the British television network Sky, made a breakthrough in the world of miniseries with the release of the historical drama Chernobyl. The project received incredibly enthusiastic reviews from critics and viewers, and also topped the IMDb rating with an average rating of 9.5 out of 10 points! After the broadcast of the series, the tourist attraction of the Chernobyl exclusion zone has increased several times.
The film tells about the terrible events that took place in the USSR in 1986. April 26 at 1:23:45 during the safety experiment at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP), the fourth power unit explodes. The reactor core burns with an open flame. Firefighters rush to the scene of the accident, not even suspecting that they will be at the epicenter of the largest man-made disaster in the history of mankind. At the same time, the Chernobyl leadership is trying to hide the real consequences of what is happening. Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Boris Shcherbina, as well as a chemist and specialist in RBMK (high-power channel reactor) Valery Legasov, are sent to sort out the situation.
The Queen’s Gambit
- Number of episodes: 7 (45-65 minutes).
- Kinopoisk: 8.3.
- IMBb: 8.6.
The Queen’s Move (or Queen’s Gambit, which is a more accurate translation) in 2020 revived humanity’s interest in chess around the world. The series is based on the novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, which tells about the life of chess prodigies in the middle of the 20th century. The style of the 60s is perfectly conveyed on the screen, the plot keeps in suspense, and the dynamics are so high that it seems that the audience is not in front of a chess drama, but a series about racing or football. Anya Taylor-Joy, best known for M. Night Shyamalan’s film “Split”, was excellent in the lead role. Interestingly, Stephen King himself named The Queen’s Move his favorite series of 2020.
The series is set in the 1950s and 60s. In Kentucky, nine-year-old Elizabeth Harmon is left an orphan and sent to a Catholic orphanage. From an early age, she has shown an amazing talent for chess. The little girl grows and climbs up the sports ladder, simultaneously overcoming all the difficulties of growing up. She wins one game after another, makes important contacts and reaps the financial rewards of success. However, along with victories in chess, Harmon’s dangerous addictions to drinking and drugs also come.
“Mare from Easttown” (Mare of Easttown)
- Number of episodes: 7 (60-65 minutes).
- Kinopoisk: 8.2.
- IMBb: 8.5.
Another hit mini-series from HBO. An unhurried detective, which in spirit is somewhat reminiscent of True Detective. However, the story of “Meir of Easttown” is about something else. Oscar winner Kate Winslet played the main role, and Guy Pearce, Evan Peters, Jean Smart and others made up her company on the screen. Winslet, by the way, has already received a Golden Globe for “Meir” as the best actress in a miniseries in 2021. And in general, the project received many awards, including the Emmy award in the category “Best Miniseries”. A thoughtful and viscous series about real life, living people and real detectives without embellishment.
The action takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania, where everyone knows each other and nothing really happens. A middle-aged woman named Meir Sheehan works as a detective there. Once she was the star of the local basketball championship. Now she is keeping order, trying to set the local drug addicts on the right path, she can’t improve relations with her children and grandchildren in any way. True, she devotes most of her time to work. After all, even in a quiet town sometimes terrible things happen. To solve the case of the murders and kidnappings of young girls, a district detective even comes to the aid of Meir in Easttown.
“Loki” (Loki)
- Number of episodes: 6 (50 minutes).
- Kinopoisk: 7.7.
- IMBb: 8.3.
In 2021, Marvel Studios turned a new page in its history with the release of high-budget series of its own production, actors from films, as well as directly related to and influencing the events of the MCU. And if each project had both its pluses and minuses, then Loki became the series that was praised by almost everyone. Excellent visuals, an atmospheric soundtrack, a good script, a story that significantly affects the global picture in the MCU, and most importantly, Tom Hiddleston’s incredible acting as the god of cunning and deceit. Moreover, Loki was named the best TV series of 2021 according to the People’s Choice Awards, and Hiddleston became an actor.
After the Tesseract fell into the hands of the 2012 version of Loki in Avengers: Endgame, he was able to escape imprisonment in Asgard, thereby disrupting the sacred timeline. Therefore, operatives from the “Management of temporary changes” (UVI) are immediately sent after him. The god of cunning is trapped in a bureaucratic organization that exists outside of space and time. In order not to be erased from the face of the universe, he will have to go on a journey into the past and the future, and also prove his usefulness for the UVI. In this case, Loki will need all his tricks.
“Scenes from a Marriage” (Scenes from a Marriage)
- Number of episodes: 5 (60 minutes).
- Kinopoisk: 8.1.
- IMBb: 8.1.
And another HBO series. Scenes from a Married Life is a modern adaptation of the miniseries of the same name by legendary Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. Moreover, unlike many remakes (and indeed modern films in general), where many elements are trying to complicate in order to achieve the effect of originality and originality, the new “Scenes from Married Life” are made as chamber, vital and minimalistic as possible. Just a few evenings in the life of two people, which nevertheless allow the audience to plunge into the flow of a variety of emotions. The main characters are living people, complex, rational and at the same time quick-tempered, doing both logical and strange actions. And they were played by Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, who are at the peak of their acting abilities.
Self-confident and ambitious Mira is the head of a large company. At first glance, it may seem that her life is perfect. However, she is not satisfied with her marriage. Jonathan, a sensible and compliant professor of philosophy, does his best to save their relationship. True, after ten years of marriage, the couple has accumulated so many disagreements that they still decide to divorce. Ironically, it is after this event that their feelings flare up with renewed vigor. Perhaps, for many young people who have not lived years with their soulmate in everyday life, the series will not be fully understood emotionally. The rest will find a part of themselves in this story.
Source: Trash Box
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