20 Best Limited Series of 2022
In the ever-growing age of streaming, limited series are some of the most favored things to stream today.
Whether you’re sitting down for a three-episode true crime series or an eight-episode extravaganza detailing the most damaging scam in the medical industry in the last decade, limited series are never far and few in between.
There’s no doubt that limited series are sometimes the best ones to watch — they never take too long, but they never go on for too long. 2022 delivered many difficult, funny, memorable limited series, from Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel to The Dropout, Inventing Anna, and The White Lotus.
In no particular order, here are the 20 best limited TV series of 2022.
1. Station Eleven (HBO)
Set in a post-pandemic world, Station Eleven was adapted from a novel published in 2014, then began production pre-COVID. The end result could not have premiered at a better time. The series provides a deeply hopeful take on a restructuring world and the way that art can adapt and transcend the boundaries of time and place.
Station Eleven weaves together a beautiful story of what life was like before and after this massive global event, with the cast of characters touching each other’s lives in ways they sometimes don’t even know about.
With knockout performances from cast members like Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler, and, Danielle Deadwyler, a breathtaking score, and one of the most gratifying series finales, Station Eleven has a well-deserved spot on our Best Limited Series of 2022 list.
2. The Staircase (HBO)
Not to be confused with the documentary of the same name, The Staircase explores Michael Peterson and the mysterious things that happen around him.
Creator Antonio Campos sets out to highlight the chaos that ensues in the years following Peterson’s wife’s death, and all that’s revealed with it. Starring Toni Collette and Colin Firth, The Staircase is a unique new telling of a story we may have heard before, and it’s one you don’t want to miss.
3. Moon Knight (Disney+)
Oscar Isaac shines on Moon Knight, with an engaging performance that makes his character one we can’t help be root for. This TV series from Marvel took us all by surprise this year. With a cast that was seemingly picked out of a hat, the show works so well.
Intertwining mythology with the aesthetics of 2022 imagery, Moon Knight absolutely stuns in both the visual and writing departments. If you watch one Marvel show this year, make sure it’s Moon Knight.
4. The White Lotus (HBO)
The White Lotus, which is officially an anthology series, absolutely deserves its place on our list.
The TV show presents us with a show that takes every moment and flips it on its head. Maybe not even in the clever, gotcha, kind-of-way, but they make it so chaotic that it makes it hard to look away from.
The White Lotus is like a car crash that you can’t look away from in the most literal way possible. People on the show are ruining their lives and we can’t help but watch and watch and watch.
5. A Friend of the Family (Paramount+)
A Friend of the Family dives into the true story of a girl who was kidnapped twice by her neighbor.
In the time these kidnappings happen, a family is put through strife while a little girl has her innocence ripped from her. A Friend of the Family focuses on McKenna Grace as Jan, someone who deserved a lot better than she got.
McKenna Grace is a star, and A Friend of the Family makes no secret of that. Backed with an all-star cast, A Friend of the Family is not the show to miss if you’re looking for a true story that keeps its integrity.
6. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Disney+)
Following Obi-Wan, as young Luke and Leia are finding their own footing, Obi-Wan Kenobi gives us a look into Obi-Wan that we’ve never been able to see before.
Ewan McGregor returns to his beloved role and brings nostalgia that warms the heart, and a newness we haven’t felt in a while from Star Wars. It’s rare that a decades-old franchise is still surprising its fans, but Obi-Wan Kenobi is not the show to miss if you care about the Star Wars lore.
7. The Dropout (Hulu)
One of the more shockingly good limited series of 2022, The Dropout features Amanda Seyfried playing Elizabeth Holmes and follows her journey from a student to a scammer.
Amanda Seyfried embodies Holmes and her ever-changing personality across the eight episodes. The Dropout works to tell the story as it happened, and not an overly-sensationalized version.
The show also comes at a very interesting time considering a mere seven months later, Elizabeth Holmes was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison.
8. Under the Banner of Heaven (Hulu)
Based on the bestselling true crime book by Jon Krakauer, Under the Banner of Heaven follows the story of Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield at his absolute best), a 1980s Utah police detective, dedicated family man, and devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
What sets this series apart from the many true crime dramas on our screens is that it’s less concerned with the question of who committed this terrible crime than why they did it, and the ways that the thin line between faith and fanaticism can shift and blur in dangerous ways.
Under the Banner of Heaven treats the victims with care and makes their stories matter in a way that few dramas of its ilk can match. It’s as unflinching in its depiction of the horrors of religious violence as it is forthright in its presentation of the quiet work of faith in real life through, charity, kindness, and love for one another.
It’s a harrowing emotional journey, but one that’s definitely worth taking.
9. Candy (Hulu)
Jessica Biel stars as a housewife who gets a little too tired of living in suburbia and starts to destroy her and her friends’ lives one by one on Candy.
Revealing the horrors of living in small-town America, Candy shows the nitty-gritty of being a housewife in the ’80s, and the style and nostalgia match the tone.
Stellar performances from Biel and Melanie Lynskey, in particular, make this series a standout.
10. Angelyne (Peacock)
Peacock’s Angelyne is one of the most charming and unique stories you’ll see in the limited series format–and maybe even throughout all the small screen offerings–this year.
11. Five Days at Memorial (Apple TV+)
Following a hospital that’s severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina, Five Days at Memorial is a gut-wrenching series following the doctors of the hospital making decisions they would never be able to go back on.
In recent years, nurses, doctors, and frontline workers have been praised, disregarded, and praised again for the work they do on a daily basis. From ER doctors to lab technicians, Five Days at Memorial focuses on how strong and steady healthcare workers had to be during the aftermath of the hurricane.
At the helm, Vera Farmiga stars as Dr. Anna Pou, and surrounding her is a cast of actors who put their hearts and souls into their performances.
12. The Girl From Plainville (Hulu)
The Girl From Plainville is deeply upsetting, revealing the ins and outs of the story between Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy and the suicide that rocked the nation.
Despite it being a dramatization, the show never makes light of the mental illness Conrad faced.
The Girl From Plainville offers a look into who Conrad was — and Colton Ryan shows a beautiful depiction of a boy who was misunderstood and deserved better.
13. The Essex Serpent (Apple TV+)
The Essex Serpent, a beautiful tale about a widow who relocates in search of a mythical creature, gives all the allure of a period drama without it becoming boring.
Cora (Danes), befriends a local villager, and the two form an unlikely friendship that transcends the real-life world. The show is compelling but still asks you to think about the world around you.
The Essex Serpent is a must-watch for historical drama lovers.
14. Black Bird (Apple TV+)
A puzzle to figure out, Black Bird stuns with performances from Taron Egerton and Ray Liotta.
Black Bird shows a man heading to prison being offered the chance to not face even one day in prison. He, of course, takes this opportunity, and a journey begins of him trying to get a confession out of an accused murderer.
Based on a book, the show brings to life a fascinating story that asks its viewers to suspend disbelief in redemption for another man.
15. Fleishman Is in Trouble (Hulu)
Based on the best-selling book by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Fleishman Is In Trouble tells the story of a divorcee going through the best years of his sex life whose wife suddenly disappears and leaves him in charge of their two children.
Hard to believe, but this Dad is, unfortunately, going to have to actually be a Dad.
With the help of Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, and Adam Brody, Fleishman Is In Trouble beats the bad adaptations accusations.
16. Ms. Marvel (Disney+)
For so long, shows about teenagers feel like they’re actually about young adults. In a world of Euphorias, Ms. Marvel is a show about teenagers for teenagers.
From dealing with friendships that you’re not sure would last outside of homeroom, and the emotions that come with learning family secrets, Kamala Khan shows us what being a teenage girl is like… if you had superpowers.
Ms. Marvel is a short but sweet introduction to a character that’s hopefully going to be playing a much bigger part in the MCU.
17. 1883 (Paramount+)
The spinoff and prequel to the ever-popular Yellowstone, 1883 is the emotional, harrowing journey of the Dutton Family and several other travelers as they try to make their way across the Oregon Trail.
This story is narrated by Elsa Dutton, a young woman who is the daughter of James and Marget Dutton. Seeing this journey through her eyes makes the story extra special, as it’s as much a coming-of-age story as anything else. Of course, it also helps explain how the legacy of the Dutton family and Yellowstone Dutton Ranch began.
With incredible performances by Sam Elliot, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Isabel May, and Lamonica Garrett, this series is a can’t miss. And we’re looking forward to the next spinoff and next part of the story, with 1923 starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.
18. The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+)
Loss, grief, and acceptance are all things every human must go through. In The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, though, the title character is given an opportunity to extend his time with his memories.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey send an important message: to always appreciate what we have and to take an opportunity if it comes to us, even if it has a confusing start.
Samuel L. Jackson offers a thought-provoking performance that’s sure to be remembered for years to come.
19. Inventing Anna (Netflix)
Starring the phenomenal Julia Garner, Inventing Anna dives into who Anna Delvey is and how she fooled thousands.
Giving us iconic one-liners and an accent that will never leave our minds, Garner takes this role by the horns and shows us what kind of person Delvey is.
We’re also given a deeper look into the original writer of the article — Jessica Pressler — as the character of Vivian Kent is based on her. Though divisive, Inventing Anna is not a show to miss as it takes a fascinating look into how New York’s social life works.
20. Gaslit (Starz)
Everyone in the United States knows — or has at least heard of — the Watergate scandal. Gaslit on Starz highlights some of the often-overlooked people who were involved.
Given that “gaslighting” has been named a word of the year by Merriam-Webster, Gaslit comes at a time that is more than appropriate on our screens.
With performances from Betty Gilpin and Julia Roberts, Gaslit earns a spot on our list for recognizing the people who were truly on the ground during Watergate.
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What are your favorite limited series of 2022? Let us know in the comments below.
*Additional contributions by Ashley Bissette Sumerel, Lacy Baugher, Erin Allen, and Marissa Crenwelge.
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Laura Wanberg
Laura is a homebody who loves everything about TV. Some of her favorite shows include Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Parks and Recreation, and The Morning Show. With her ever-growing list of new shows to watch and books to read, her favorite thing to do is to cuddle up with her cat and get lost in someone else's world.