Just finished watching the riveting limited series, Adolescence, on Netflix? If you’re craving more British limited series that tell a complete story in a short run, the platform has a sizable collection of miniseries that will suit your tastes.
The Emmy-winning show has won both critical acclaim and public praise for its writing, commentary, and the lead cast’s performance, including from Emmy winner Stephen Graham. Here are ten British limited series you can watch on Netflix today after you finish watching Adolescence.
1
Baby Reindeer
Baby Reindeer is a heavy watch, but a recommended one if you can stomach themes of stalking, parasocial relationships, and assault. The story follows a down-on-his-luck comedian and bartender, Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd), who meets a customer, Martha (Jessica Gunning). Martha quickly takes an obsessive liking to Donny and begins stalking him online and in person, sending him threatening messages and quickly taking over every aspect of his life. As Donny tries to succeed in his career, Martha’s overwhelmingly concerning behavior weighs down on his life.
Baby Reindeer is (allegedly) heavily inspired by Gadd’s own experiences, and the release of the series followed controversies surrounding the true behavior of Martha’s real-life counterpart.
The British black comedy is the winner of six Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards, thanks to both Gadd’s writing and Gunning’s chilling performance. For a limited series, Baby Reindeer does an excellent job of tying up the loose ends of Donny and Martha’s story, with each episode ending on a cliffhanger that has you clicking to the next episode without a second thought.
2
Collateral
Collateral is a crime drama limited series produced by The Forge for BBC, led by Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman). The story involves the murder of an immigrant pizza delivery driver in London, which is investigated by Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie (Mulligan). The seemingly random killing, committed by a masked shooter, quickly turns into a twisted web involving political propaganda and conspiracy.
Driven by Mulligan’s strong lead performance, Collateral is an exciting four-episode story about social issues wrapped in a murky murder mystery. Collateral was nominated for a British Academy Television Award and a British Academy Television Craft Award.
3
One Day
Adapted from the 2009 novel and its 2011 film version that starred Anne Hathaway, One Day is a limited romantic series that traces the 14-year relationship between Emma and Dexter. Their story begins on the night of their graduation, but they part ways the following morning. Over the next decade, the series revisits their love story and independent journeys, capturing both the highs and lows as their lives intertwine.
Upon release, the show drew nearly 10 million viewers in its first week (for good reason). Beyond the faithful adaptation of the source material, One Day is a series for any viewer who loves romance plots that come with a healthy dose of bittersweet twists. Told over 14 half-hour episodes, the story is a good mix of sweet romance and heartbreaking angst, so grab your tissues if you’re tuning into this one.
4
Paranoid
Paranoid is a murder mystery and crime thriller that focuses on the mysterious murder of a local doctor who is found stabbed to death in a children’s playground. A team of four detectives is assigned to the case, and soon, things start going wrong when an obvious suspect is also found murdered. With the aid of a ghost detective who seems to know about the case, the team tries to find the truth behind the doctor’s murder.
Meanwhile, another suspect flees to Germany, prompting a cross-country investigation that involves one of the four detectives being triggered.
5
The English Game
For fans of history and sports, The English Game is a short yet necessary watch. Set in the 1870s, this six-part series explores the history of football (soccer) in the United Kingdom, and how it went from being reserved for the wealthy elite to the common man’s popular pastime. The English Game delves into the class politics of the sport, with a working-class Scottish man leading the change of the sport.
The miniseries is fictionalized, but draws inspiration from real-life events and figures. It’s a great period drama to watch if you’re intrigued by the class divide of once-guarded sports.
6
Stay Close
Based on Harlan Coben’s novel of the same name, Stay Close is a mystery thriller miniseries that ties together three lives: those of a happy suburban mother, a down-on-his-luck photographer, and a detective hung up on a cold case. The case of Stewart Green, who went missing many years ago, haunts the detective, but things are set into motion when another man goes missing on the anniversary of Green’s disappearance. Old lives are dug up and secrets resurface as investigations take place.
Like other Harlan Coben stories, Stay Close stands out for its mystery elements and morally gray characters. The fast-paced series is driven by strong characters, ending in a thrilling reveal of the killer’s identity.
7
Bodies
If you like sci-fi and time travel plot lines, then Bodies is an addictive limited series that you don’t want to miss out on. Set in four different years (1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053), the body of a man is found in the same location, with the four detectives’ investigations interlinking as events unfold. This series also features a stunning performance from Stephen Graham, who plays the role of Eddie Miller in Adolescence.
Bodies is one of those shows that you cannot turn away from, given the plot twists and intriguing characters. While the time travel elements of the series can seem slightly convoluted at times in later episodes, the show’s writing does an overall good job of hooking viewers with its complex timelines.
8
Treason
Starring Daredevil’s Charlie Cox, Treason is a spy thriller miniseries that you can binge in one night. The story follows Adam Lawrence (Cox), a rising MI6 officer whose career seems secure until his boss is suddenly poisoned and hospitalized. Adam is forced into the role of acting chief of the organization, but his rapid ascent draws suspicion from those around him. To make things worse, Kara, a Russian spy and his former lover, resurfaces, compromising him. Adam suddenly finds himself and his family in Kara’s complicated web, with deceit and betrayal driving the rest of his story.
In true spy drama style, Treason comes with twists and turns, betrayals, and secrets from past lives.
9
Missing You
Missing You is a thriller miniseries based on Harlan Coben’s novel of the same name. It’s a twisted tale of betrayal and secrets, and an intriguing plot that keeps you engaged for the entire run. After losing her father, Detective Inspector Kat Donovan (Slow Horses‘ Rosalind Eleazar) faces another tragedy: her fiancé, Josh, goes missing out of the blue. Over a decade after his disappearance, Kat tries to move on, only to find Josh on a dating app and at the center of another disappearance case.
Kat puts her career and life in jeopardy as she chases down the truth behind Josh’s disappearance.
10
Anatomy of a Scandal
Based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan, Anatomy of a Scandal is a thriller miniseries that revolves around a political turpitude. It follows the British Home Secretary, James Whitehouse (Rupert Friend), and his wife Sophie (Sienna Miller), whose lives are thrust into the public’s microscopic eye after it’s revealed that James has been having an affair with his young aide. Things take a darker turn when the scandal quickly turns into a trial after James is accused of sexually assaulting the aide.
The truth behind the scandal, with the entire public watching, unravels in the courtroom as Sophie’s life is thrown into turmoil. If you’re a fan of political courtroom dramas, then Anatomy of a Scandal is a short and fast-paced watch to tune into.
Netflix hosts limited series from many countries, spanning different languages. If you’d like to search for these titles easily, use the Netflix secret code 4814 to filter miniseries on the platform for quicker browsing.
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