20 Most Intriguing Limited Series of 2023

Television continues to deliver an abundance of great limited series for viewers looking for something shorter and contained to watch.

From docuseries to anthologies to adaptations of best-selling books, limited series continue to provide a variety. Long gone are the days when limited series were only used for prestige drama, and this year’s picks include everything from gothic horror to mockumentary.

Lessons in Chemistry, The Fall of the House of Usher, Swarm, and Fargo are just a few of our picks this year. Among the 20 shows we’ve highlighted, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

In no particular order, here are the 20 best limited TV series of 2023.

1. The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)

If the “Flanaverse” on Netflix had to end, then The Fall of the House of Usher is a great show to go out on. The series brings new life to Edgar Allan Poe’s works of gothic horror by adapting them for the modern age while maintaining their message.

Showrunner Mike Flanagan brings back many of his beloved repertory players from past projects while also adding some new faces including Willa Fitzgerald and Mark Hamill in standout performances as Madeline Usher and Arthur Pym. You’ll loathe the Usher family while also not being able to look away.

Whether you’re a literature nerd who wants to geek out over all the Poe references or a horror buff excited about this supernatural slasher, The Fall of the House of Usher will hook you until the dreaded end.

2. Daisy Jones and the Six (Prime Video)

Daisy Jones and the Six is a fake band but a real limited series worth watching for anyone who loves music with a healthy dose of behind-the-scenes drama. The central chemistry between Daisy Jones and Billy Dunne is electric and dangerous, but it’s the chemistry of the full cast that brings the band to life.

Riley Keough delivers a spirited, break-out performance as Daisy Jones, but the show is dedicated to telling more than just Daisy’s story. By giving all the women their moments it emphasizes that they’re not just the muses but the somebodies, as Daisy would say.

The heartbreak and triumph of this group will keep you locked on the screen even when the music stops. Beware though, you might find yourself playing the soundtrack on repeat long after you’re done with Daisy Jones and the Six.

3. Beef (Netflix)

An instance of road rage entwines two lives in Beef, Lee Sung Jin’s dramedy for Netflix. The series stars Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as Danny Cho and Amy Lau, the two strangers who go on to develop an over-the-top feud.

Although the two couldn’t seemingly be more different, they are both their own worst enemy. Comedian Wong proves her dramatic acting chops with the role.

The characters are deeply flawed and human, and their surprising rivalry makes for compelling television. Beef’s escalating tension will keep you wanting to see what these characters do next.

4. Fargo (FX)

Showrunner Noah Hawley returns to Fargo‘s Minnesota roots with the fifth installment of the anthology. Using a 2019 setting, this season provides a mix of blundering criminal intrigue with real-world commentary.

Juno Temple’s spitfire homemaker Dot is one of the more fascinating characters the franchise has seen. It’s hard to decide what’s more fun, watching her go full “tiger” or watching the confused reactions of the unsuspecting folks who get dragged into her misadventure.

Going from crime caper to home invasion thriller to modern Western, Season 5 runs the gamut while still managing to produce one cohesive narrative. If it’s been a while since you’ve tuned into the series, now is an excellent time to return.

5. Dead Ringers (Prime Video)

One of the more twisted and shocking series of the year, Dead Ringers updates the classic Cronenberg film by grounding the body horror in the real and terrifying experience of pregnancy. Add in a twisted twin relationship and you have a properly thrilling show.

Giving the story about two, codependent, twin gynecologists a feminist perspective makes the story even more personal. The twins face issues of fertility, motherhood, and the ethics of women’s healthcare.

Rachel Weisz playing double duty as both Elliot and Beverly Mantle is reason enough to recommend the show with one of the most awe-inspiring performances of her career.

While it would be easy to play one good twin and one bad twin, each Mantle is messy and complicated, making their tension and mutually assured destruction even more delicious to watch.

6. Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

Mrs. Davis is a wacky little show, but that’s why we love it so much.

What other show features a scene where a woman’s ex-boyfriend (Wylie) is touching a giant sword in a ridiculous King Arthur contest called Exalibattle when he learns that his ex (Simone) left him for Jesus Christ? Wylie reacts as anyone would, and in return is hit by a bolt of lightning.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Simone and Wiley get involved in all sorts of ridiculous situations as they track down the Holy Grail to stop a powerful AI known as Mrs. Davis.

The limited series is full of heart and will keep you captivated until the very last scene.

7. Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+)

Lessons in Chemistry tells the powerful story of a woman trying to find her place in a world that would rather box her in. The show avoids cliches to take you on an emotional journey with compelling twists and turns as Elizabeth Zott battles the sexism of the 1950s and 60s.

Although Elizabeth is the star of the show, the special ingredient to this recipe is the love story she shares with Calvin Evans, who treats her as a true partner and equal. The chemistry between Brie Larson and Lewis Pullman jumps off the screen, making their short time together and its legacy even more bittersweet.

You’ll root for Elizabeth and the people who become her adopted family. Despite its sometimes dark reality, Lessons in Chemistry is one of the more uplifting shows of the year and will maybe even cause you to shed a tear or two.

8. A Small Light (National Geographic)

A Small Light is the inspiring true story of Miep Gies, who played a critical role in hiding Jewish refugees during the Nazi occupation in Amsterdam. Those refugees included the famous Anne Frank, daughter of Gies’ employer Otto.

Bel Powley’s nuanced performance as Gies shows the power of everyday heroism. The series stands out by showing the everyday life of living under occupation, which provides its own quiet tragedy instead of focusing only on the most intense moments.

A Small Light gives a new perspective on a well-known story and is every bit as compelling as it reminds us to remember our history.

9. Fellow Travelers (Showtime)

After meeting in the early 1950s, at the height of McCarthy’s Lavender Scare, Hawkins Fuller and Tim Laughlin fall in love. Despite how they may both feel, the two have to agree to secrecy to save their lives and careers.

Over the next 30 or so years the two face many societal challenges that create friction in their relationship. No matter how many times the universe and themselves get in the way, their love perseveres.

Through haunting storytelling the show manages to convey the strength of love against all odds — both internal and external. The rawness in which Fellow Travelers looks at history reminds us that it wasn’t so long ago that being yourself was dangerous, and illegal, and that so much of queer history was lost to the devastating AIDS crisis.

10. Swarm (Prime Video)

What happens when our obsession with celebrity goes too far? Donald Glover and Janine Nabers’ blistering psychological horror thriller dives into just that, with a star-making turn from lead Dominique Fishback.

Swarm pulls no punches in its scathing indictment of parasocial relationships and our collective fixation with the rich and famous.

Like Glover’s Atlanta, the series takes a tumble down the rabbit hole of surrealism, often feeling more like a fever dream than a grounded drama. However, this quality allows the creative team to explore relevant themes.

Fishback is a revelation, delivering a unique character study with her portrayal of Dre. She attacks this role with vim and vigor while mining the depths of Dre’s complicated (and sometimes terrifying) psyche.

11. Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu)

If you’re looking for complex female characters, look no further than Tiny Beautiful Things, starring the ever-delightful Kathryn Hahn. Hulu’s limited series is a quick binge that stays with you long after.

It centers around Claire Pierce whose life is unraveling and the only constant is the chaos. Hahn plays the hottest of messes most endearingly, and it is a treat to enter her beautifully complicated and messy world.

Flashbacks and present-day situations are interspersed thoughtfully, nurturing the narrative and providing pacing that draws one in completely.

Boosted by phenomenal supporting performances from Merritt Wever, Sarah Pidgeon, and Tanzyn Crawford, Tiny Beautiful Things is worth the watch

12. Full Circle (Max)

Steven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon team up again for Full Circle, Max’s limited crime series. A botched kidnapping uncovers a trove of secrets that connect the show’s larger cast of characters.

Soderbergh and Solomon deliver a modern noir with an all-star cast that includes Claire Danes, Timothy Olyphant, Jim Gaffigan, and Zazie Beetz. Viewers willing to invest in an intriguing albeit at times convoluted mystery will enjoy unraveling Full Circle.

The six episodes are better enjoyed as a whole which makes it perfect to revisit as a binge-watch.

13. Beckham (Netflix)

Everyone knows the name David Beckham, but Netflix’s docuseries on the life of one of the world’s most famous (and infamous) footballers tells the fuller story. It’s a great retrospective on the mania that followed his career as well as a closer look at his personal life.

Relying on interviews from Beckham, his wife Victoria Beckham, and figures from his past and present, the series provides a look at the highs and lows of his journey. Academy Award-winning director Fisher Stevens is careful to make sure the project never veers too far into becoming a vanity project.

Fans will enjoy the nostalgia of revisiting his career while all viewers can enjoy the compelling story of Beckham.

14. Tom Jones (PBS)

You can count on PBS to deliver new versions of classic tales. Based on the novel by Henry Fielding, this four-part miniseries starring Solly McLeod, Sophie Wilde, and Hannah Waddingham provides an olden romantic comedy.

It’s also a classic coming-of-age story that will keep you on your toes. The wily Tom Jones and his love Sophia Western try to be together despite their families keeping them apart for class reasons.

Whether you’ve read the book or the story is new to you, Tom Jones is a cozy romp to tune into. Ted Lasso fans will also enjoy seeing Hannah Waddingham’s complex villain turn.

15. White House Plumbers (HBO)

The satirical drama White House Plumbers delivers the behind-the-scenes of the real-life Watergate Scandal. As they say, truth is stranger than fiction, and this story is the perfect example.

The limited series works on the strength of its cast led by the dynamic duo of Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux as E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy. At a crisp five episodes, it’s short enough to keep you hooked without overstaying its welcome.

If you need a reminder that politics have been a circus long before our current times, White House Plumbers is there waiting for you.

16. A Murder at the End of the World (FX)

If AI, technology, hackers, and murder mysteries are your thing, A Murder at the End of the World is the show to watch. By locking a group of hackers in a remote hotel in the middle of nowhere and adding snow storms, the show gives the perfect setting for a murder mystery that seems to be unresolvable.

The time jumps between Darby’s present and past make for an intriguing story. Even though at times the audience may be confused as to what is happening or what is coming, the show knows how to tie loose ends and give us the answers we are looking for.

With the rise of AI and concerns as to how it will affect our daily lives, A Murder at the End of the World gives a great perspective as to what could happen if technology takes over our lives.

17. Accused (Fox)

Based on the British series of the same name, Accused is a crime anthology that follows a different case on each episode. Unlike traditional procedurals, the focus is on the defendant and not the cops or lawyers.

Viewers first meet the accused during their trial, with the events leading to their trial unfolding throughout the episode. Most importantly, the story is told from the defendant’s point of view.

Cases range from the sensational (a seemingly murderous and manipulative stepmother gaslighting her stepson) to serious topical issues (environmental activism, school shootings). If you want an engaging crime show that turns the typical format on its head, then check out Accused.

18. Little Bird (PBS)

Little Bird is based on the true story of Bezhig Little Bird, who was forcibly removed from her reservation and adopted into a Jewish family. She goes on a journey to discover her history and find her lost family.

The series sheds important light on the Canadian government’s crime of abducting and rehoming Indigenous children, a period known as the “Sixties Scoop.” This compelling story brings representation to both the Indigenous and Jewish communities and their history of trauma and oppression.

Although Little Bird covers a tragic history, it’s also a story about resilience and healing.

19. Cunk on Earth (Netflix)

If you haven’t seen Cunk on Earth yet, there’s a good chance you’ve still seen a viral clip of Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan). Already known in the UK, Cunk has quickly become a fan-favorite in the US thanks to this mockumentary that documents her outlandish exploration of history.

Sending up real BBC documentaries, Cunk’s complete ignorance and earnestness balance out the historians she interviews. Many of her “dumb” questions have a slyness that ends up critiquing the subject.

With questions like, “Which was more culturally significant, the Renaissance or ‘Single Ladies’ by Beyoncé?,” there’s never any doubt who the character is and Morgan plays her to aplomb. Partly educational and entirely funny, Cunk on Earth is sure to leave you laughing.

20. Telemarketers (HBO)

Telemarketing has never had a particularly good reputation, but the HBO docuseries Telemarketers paints an even grimmer picture.

Part expose, part redemption story, Telemarketers follows the story of former co-workers Sam Lipman-Stern and Pat Pespas. The two uncover their employer Civic Development Group is soliciting donations for civic organizations just to keep the money.

Using real footage of the raucous work environment and follow-up interviews, the series puts a human face to a much larger scheme. The grittiness and humor make for an unexpected story about a seemingly boring topic.

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What are your favorite limited series of 2023? Let us know in the comments below.

*Additional contributions by Allison Nichols, Melody McCune, Mads Misasi, Erin Allen, and Lara Rosales.

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