As the saying goes, good things don’t come easy (and often). While there has been an increase in the production of television series in recent years, only a handful are so spectacular that they will leave you with a long-lasting impression of them. Sometimes, audiences find hidden gems that become their favorite shows, but they don’t last as long as they should. Some widely-beloved television series in this category includeSherlock,True Detective, andPEN15.
These short TV shows don’t need more than five seasons to impress and captivate audiences and critics alike.For fans looking for these binge-worthy four-season series, there’s no shortage of incredible shows that never make it past a few seasons. While some of them manage to wrap up their well-written storylines and give satisfying endings, others clearly deserve more episodes and are likely still on fans' minds.
20’Russian Doll' (2019-2022)
No. of Seasons: 2
Created by and starringNatasha Lyonne,Russian Dollis a mind-bending comedy-drama series that revolves around a game developer who finds herself stuck in a time loop. Nadia Vulvokov (Lyonne) soon discovers that she’s not the only one there, and soon partners up with Alan Zaveri (Charlie Barnett) to figure out exactly what’s happening to them.
The critically acclaimed series has two seasons (15 episodes) worth of wild antics from Nadia and Alan, who each react to and approach their time loop situation differently. Comedic moments soon give way to surprising emotional depth, which is further explored in the second season. While the second season’s big swings lead to some misses, both storylines are still worth watching,soaring thanks to Lyonne’s unique character worth rooting for.
Russian Doll
Watch on Netflix
19’PEN15' (2019-2021)
Hulu’sPEN15isa cringe comedy television seriesabout two middle schoolers, Maya Ishii-Peters (Maya Erskine) and Anna Kone (Anna Konkle) who attempt to navigate middle school as best as they can. Maya is a shy but funny Japanese-American girl, while her best friend, Anna, finds solace in music while trying to cope with her parents’ divorce.
At the time of filming, Erskine and Konkle were 31 years old but played 13-year-old social outcasts, with the show being set in 2000, and the duo being surrounded by actual 13-year-olds.This scenario results in some awkward yet laugh-out-loud moments inPEN15for fans who are into that kind of humor. The series' first season received critical acclaim and was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards, Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, Writers Guilds of America Awards, and more.
Watch on Hulu
18’Flowers' (2016-2018)
Flowersis a British black comedy-drama that stars and is written and directed byWill Sharpe. The series focuses on the Flowers family, a dysfunctional family consisting of a depressed father Maurice (Julian Barratt), the overthinking wife Deborah (Olivia Colman), competitive son Donald (Daniel Rigby), and musician daughter Amy (Sophia Di Martino). When Shun (Will Sharpe) writes a heartwarming letter to Maurice, a children’s author, he gets invited to the UK to work as an illustrator for Maurice. Cultural differences aside (Shun is Japanese), the Flowers welcome him and embrace him as family.
Sharpe wanted to incorporate Japanese humor into a British show while at the same time trying to portray a more in-depth Asian character rather than just the presumed stereotypical Asian seen in a lot of movies and television series. Although funny, the underlying tone and theme of theseries surround the topic of mental healthand suicide.ThroughFlowers, Sharpe shows a rare depiction of people who struggle with mental healthand the darkness that persists in these people’s lives.
17’Killing Eve' (2018-2022)
No. of Seasons: 4
Killing Eveis a British spy thriller series that follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), a British intelligence investigator whose mission is to capture a psychopathic assassin, Villanelle (Jodie Comer). However, Polastri and Villanelle deter from their original goals and instead form a mutual obsession with each other.
Despite dipping ratings towards the end of the series, the overall show was included in many “Best TV Shows of 2018” lists by countless publications and critics.Oh and Comer’s mesmerizing on-screen chemistry propels the show forward, with their bizarre dynamic keeping fans coming back for more. The series was particularly praised for its brilliant writing and performances, and for exploring relationships and sexuality within the LGBTQ community.
Killing Eve
16’Black Sails' (2014-2017)
A retelling of the legends of Long John Silver and Captain Flint,Black Sailsis a must-watch for historical drama/adventure fans. Set in the 1800s, the series is told as a prequel toRobert Louis Stevenson’sTreasure Islandand begins two decades before the book’s plot, where James McGraw/Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) leads a young crew in search of treasures, raiding the seas, while dodging the British government. As their journey progresses, Flint and his crew meet various characters who challenge their survival and skills.
Across its four seasons,Black Sailsintroduces a host of interesting characters, including important historical figures and real-life pirates likeBlackbeard,Annie Bonny, andCharles Vane.With daring seafarers wreaking havoc on the high seas and navigating romance and friendships,Black Sailsis an all-roundedsaga about swashbucklers and their conquests. It also earned critical acclaim for its stunning visual effects, intricate period art, and music, winning three Primetime Creative Emmy Awards. –Maddie P
Black Sails
15’Good Girls' (2018-2021)
A crime comedy-drama,Good Girlsfollows three mothers – Elizabeth/Beth (Christina Hendricks), Annie (Mae Whitman), and Ruby (Retta), who are struggling with their finances and debts, so they decide to rob the supermarket where Annie works. But their plan backfires and the local mob and FBI get involved, making their lives become more complicated, and they get embroiled in more dangerous things than they signed up for.
Told in a colorful, fun, emotional, and dramatic narrative,Good Girlsis essentially a celebration of female friendshiplikeGrace and Frankieand/orBig Little Lies, and delivers a similar message about female bonding. Additionally, the series also explores parenthood, family dynamics, and relationships in an intimate but lighthearted way. Each of the three actresses brings their distinctive performance style to their characters, which becomes the spine of the show. AlthoughGood Girlswas canceled after four seasons and 50 episodes with what might seem like a cliffhanger ending, it doesn’t leave you dissatisfied. –Maddie P
Good Girls
14’Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency' (2016-2017)
Based on the eponymous novel series byDouglas Adams, this sci-fi comedy mystery detective series follows a hapless bellhop, Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood), who gets embroiled in a mysterious murder at his workplace. Through a chain of bizarre and unfortunate events that follow, Todd meets the eccentric and “holistic” detective, Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett), who investigates obscure cases and the interconnectedness of the universe. He makes Todd his reluctant sidekick to solve the murder and embark on a wild adventure to fulfill their destiny, while being chased by the CIA and a “holistic assassin.”
Even though two seasons and 18 episodes cannot do justice to Adams’ exhaustive original work,Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agencyfeels wholesome enough asa sci-fi comedy show, thanks to its honest storytelling and well-designed characterization. With its pure weirdness and absurdism,the show is fantastical, mysterious, and visually delightful, and has garnered widespread acclaim and 100% Rotten Tomatoes approval. —Maddie P
Watch on AMC+
13’Sense8' (2015-2018)
Sense8, which ran for two seasons (24 episodes), is a science-fiction drama that follows eight strangers who come from different parts of the world, and later discover that they are “Sensates”; humans who are mentally and emotionally linked to each other.The series was praised for its depiction and representation of the LGBTQ community and the rarely discussed areasand issues such as identity, sexuality, gender, and politics. Empathy and diversity are, however, the most prominent and celebrated themes of the series.
In recognition ofSense8’s depiction of the LGBTQ community, the series received nominations from the Dorian Awards, the Saturn Awards, the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, and more. But despite being a well-received show with a passionate audience,Sense8was canceled because it did not have a large enough following to support the high production costs it needed to keep it going.
12’Money Heist' (2017-2021)
No. of Seasons: 5
With three action-packed seasons made up of 41 episodes, Netflix’sMoney Heistmanaged to become a global phenomenon that would amass mask-wearing fans everywhere. It’s centered on a group of robbers who infiltrate the Royal Mint of Spain and the Bank of Spain, while delivering a powerful message about authority and the power individuals can hold.
What really became the highlight of the series are the characterizations of its endearing thieves, all led by the brilliant mastermind, the Professor (Álvaro Morte).Fans would soon fall in love with each of the characters inMoney Heist, whose dramatic arcs became more important than the robberies themselves. It’s impossible not to feel invested in their personal (often emotional) stories, making the heists fade into the background as the main characters' struggles unravel.
Money Heist
11’Broadchurch' (2013-2017)
No. of Seasons: 3
Broadchurchis a British crime drama series that ran for three seasons. The series follows an investigation led by Detective Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller (masterfully played by Olivia Colman) about the murder of an 11-year-old boy, Danny Latimer (Oskar McNamara), whose body was found at the town’s local beach.The series not only showed the investigative side of the murder case, but it also showed the pain and grief that the Latimers endured, while dealing with the media at the same time.
Despite being an extremely well-received series with a high viewership in the UK,Broadchurchdidn’t do as well in the US. It was, however, nominated for several BAFTA Awards, of which the first series won Best Actress for Olivia Colman, Best Supporting Actor for David Bradley, and Best Drama Series.
