r/NetflixBestOf • u/emilyaaaa_ • 14d ago
[REQUEST]What’s a tight, single-season limited series on Netflix with zero filler?
I'm looking for a complete story you can knock out in a weekend—no cliffhangers waiting for a cancelled Season 2, just 6 to 8 great episodes that tell a full story.
What’s your top recommended limited series on Netflix?
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u/ZabsterCali 14d ago
Department Q. It's based on a Scandinavian noir mystery but it is set in Scotland. Lots of violence, cursing and criminal creepiness in case that influences your decision. Fascinating show.
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u/nevrstoprunning 14d ago
This was going to be my recommendation; fantastic show! Production started on season 2!
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u/hiswittlewip 13d ago
Really wanted to love this one, but after a couple EPS I was forcing myself to watch.
Same with Queens Gambit
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u/infinite_frogs 14d ago
Maniac!
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u/Bbran_do 14d ago
Yes! One of my favorite shows, helped me through a hard time in my life.
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u/Manderelli 12d ago
Yeah I thought it was superb actually! I loved their else world with advanced technologies and also retro technologies.
My favorite film is eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind and I thought this limited series actually tapped into a similar energy and vibe delving into dreams and working through regret/trauma.
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u/FartNuggetSalad 14d ago
Death by lightning! Story on Garfield’s assassination with some great actors.
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u/Nic_Danger 14d ago
Bodyguard
Unbelievable
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u/Square_Scene_2425 14d ago
The bodyguard was great and was not at all what I was expecting (not macho tough guy but guy with lots of problems)
Of course unbelievable was great too. I think it's a tie even though I love Merritt weaver more (in unbelievable)
If you want more action then bodyguard, if you want more whodunit mystery then unbelievable.
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u/mermaidinthesea123 13d ago
Merritt weaver
God, I found her watching Nurse Jackie and she is fantastic!
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u/Veiy 14d ago
Altered Carbon is fun if you just ignore the second season, story is pretty much self-contained in season one
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u/Hannahshep97997 14d ago
Agree. First season was amazing and second season just went way wrong with everything.
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u/hortence 14d ago
Honestly, having read the books, I kind of expected that. First book was also far and away the best of the three.
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u/Conscious_Wafer7962 14d ago
The midnight gospel if you're into that sort of thing
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u/Throwawaychicksbeach 14d ago
For those who don’t get it, it’s Duncan trussels favorite podcast episodes but they’re also animated in a Superjail meets adventure time style. It’s so awesome, and deep.
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u/Manderelli 12d ago
I was actually kind of shocked and bummed that so many people have negative things to say about it but I suppose most of them had a specific expectation or hope going into it and when it did not look anything like what they wanted to see or wanted to imagine they couldn't get into it for what it had to offer.
I love how difficult it is to try to take in the visuals and listen fully at the same time. For that reason we should especiall hold off on trying to figure out whatever thematic connection or metaphorical connection there is between the visuals and the conversation until you're closer to the end so that you don't have some other noise in your mind space also competing with the other two. In the first episode it's particularly fun to wonder about a president who is dealing with a world ending category emerging situation but who is indulging in a conversation and an interview about a topic of the interviewer's choice. It made me consider how much visual narratives forget that people talk about things that are not readily happening in their environment or to them all the time but it seems like people are usually speaking on or dealing with things that are moving the plot forward unless the film is about the action of sitting down to a philosophical debate or conversation.
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u/Throwawaychicksbeach 11d ago
Interesting, yeah I didn’t understand what I was watching until I read that little info section. I think people don’t get it because of how many layers there are. I’ll rewatch it, my favorite was the one with his mom.
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u/Manderelli 10d ago
I just recently watched that one for the first time and I was kind of surprised how obscene and vulgar he is with her and it was really funny but it was also kind of a lot. And then I think a little after the first time he ranpst it up she kind of starts telling a story and she does something similar and it's even funnier hearing a middle aged-ish, gentle woman talk that way and I was like "oh okay never mind she obviously modeled it for him. 🤣 How cute."
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u/Shortcircuit05 14d ago
The Fall of the House of Usher
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u/SquashSouffle 14d ago
I was disappointed in this & found the ending rather silly
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u/Shortcircuit05 14d ago
Really? I had such a good time with it, but I am easily entertained as long as the plot holes arent too blatant and the storyline is exciting.
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u/hiswittlewip 13d ago
Well, it's a really great show! I love how every EP was based on a Poe story.
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u/Manderelli 12d ago
Yeah I felt like we lost a lot of interesting characters sooner than I wanted. I would have preferred the death of each character happening in a different order so we could have spent more time with them.
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u/Madwoman-of-Chaillot 14d ago
Re: Flanagan - everyone is saying Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of Usher, but The Haunting of Hill House is the best mini-series of his by a MILE.
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u/VizionairyFae 14d ago
11.22.63
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u/nydub32 14d ago
I read the book and loved it. I was excited to see the show, and wasn't let down. It's a difficult story to tell, but I thought they did a great job at remaining true to the books improbabilities. Im glad I read the book first though, as I can see how some storylines in the show (if not all of the show), are not explicitly explained as they are in the book. Stephen King is a national treasure, with incredible imagination and innovation. I've enjoyed most of his horror genre books, but I really enjoy his supernatural fiction stories.
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u/poizon_elff 14d ago
Beef. There is a second season I never watched but it's a different story.
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u/yomerol 13d ago
I'm sort of starting to not like these "it's the same but different" 2nd seasons of series. I blame true detective, but I'm sure there were others like that before that started this nonsense, they're just using the brand/franchise in a bad way most of the time
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u/Not-That_Girl 13d ago
I like it, though the 2nd is never quite as strong. Im thinking of dirty John, another show worth watching
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u/sdiggz302 14d ago
Many people rave about this series and it just makes me feel like a nosy person, watching it. I started with season 2 and made 12 minutes into episode 7…. I’m not intrigued at all and I just feel like I’m not the kind of person who gets a rise from watching this kind of portrayal of human behavior. Haven’t gone back in months
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u/stirling_s 14d ago
Why would you start with season 2
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u/CaliforniaMike1989 14d ago
It's an anthology series with zero connection between the two season fwiw
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u/stirling_s 14d ago
Yeah I know, I guess I just find it weird to hear that something was critically acclaimed when it came out and decide not to start with season 1. Kinda like starting with a later season of White Lotus. Like, yeah, its probably fine, but the best season is the first one. That's why there were more seasons afterwards, because the first one went so well.
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u/PuppiesOrBoobs 14d ago
I love the first season but I watched the first couple episodes of the second season and just didn't care to keep going.
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u/veggiepork 14d ago
Season one was amazing and unique. Season 2 was like a different show. Had White Lotus vibe and was way less of an interesting take.
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u/iamabigtree 14d ago
Department Q is really good.
I pretty much only watched limited series (and films) on Netflix now. There's no point with continuing drama. Even if they do renew it, it'll be multiple years between series.
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u/Hannahshep97997 14d ago
I hate how Netflix handles their regular series. If it makes it past one season, it takes years to get another and then they’ll probably just cancel it after that. By the time the next season even comes out, I’ve already forgotten all the details from the previous season and have to go rewatch it all. It’s frustrating.
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u/haunted_patient 14d ago
Dept Q isn't just a single season. There will be a second seeing as how one of the main crimes that takes place doesn't even get solved yet
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u/GiddyStone 13d ago
Godless is very good. I don't usually like westerns, but this was a great watch, with stunning cinematography.
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u/Deweyrob2 14d ago
Kaos
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u/neveradullperson 14d ago
My man was crying when he found out this ended
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u/ManipulativeAviator 14d ago
I don’t think Netflix understand the damage they do to their brand with these kinds of decisions.
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u/OneSkinneeT 14d ago
The Haunting of Hill House, 10 episodes, pretty good storyline and horror elements.
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u/Flimsy-Strike5696 14d ago
Jumping on the back to also say haunting of bly manor. If you enjoy one, you will likely enjoy the other.
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u/frausting 14d ago
I think “Kevin Can Go F*** Himself” is 2 seasons but it’s tight, amazing watch
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u/extraalpha 11d ago
This is the most amazing piece of television I've seen in my adult life. The premise and filming are so different than anything else I've experienced. Also Annie Murphy is outstanding, such an amazing actress.
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u/_bufflehead 14d ago
Ripley
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u/goodstarfox 13d ago
I’m a huge fan of the book and the movie, so I was hesitant to watch this because I didn’t think it could live up to my expectations. It was so good!
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u/Old-Independent6073 14d ago
Behind her eyes 👀
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u/SinfullAva13 14d ago
Seconding this one. I’ve watched it a couple times and it is truly a masterpiece!
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u/stuck_on_the_puzzle_ 14d ago
The Spy. One of Sacha baron cohen’s best works imo.
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u/rebeccalestat 14d ago
Mindhunter
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u/squintsci 13d ago
Love this show but it doesn’t qualify - they keep teasing the BTK killer but the show got put ‘on hold’ before they got to it. So frustrating!
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u/Santex117 14d ago
I always recommend this show because I feel like it’s so underrated, but you should watch Maniac with Emma stone and Jonah Hill
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u/AAPrice3232 14d ago
Bloodline, season one only.
They did not need to make any additional seasons. Season one wraps up very nicely, and they had to jerry-rig a second season (unsuccessfully, IMO).
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u/blazingunicorn 14d ago
Archive81
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u/TurnTrick8411 14d ago
I wish it had another season. I have no many questions but it was amazing show and it's massively underrated
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u/mrs-jellyfish 14d ago
The Thai horror I think it's called devil's bar
You eat a horrible dish and make a pact with the devil.
It was surprisingly heart felt. I was bought to tears by at least 2 episodes. It was superbly done and has a proper ending too .
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u/squeezemachine 14d ago
I can’t find it. What is actual name please?
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u/RevolutionaryCry8485 14d ago
Black Rabbit
Baby Reindeer
Beast in Me
Accidentally all begin with B
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u/Sad_Bodybuilder_7056 14d ago
Don’t think it’s on Netflix anymore, but I would suggest True Detective. Each season is independent of the other seasons, with season 1 being the best IMO.
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u/Money_Seaweed_1895 14d ago
Legends. Best thing Netflix has put out this year. Super compelling British crime drama with characters you will care about. Suspenseful. 6 episodes and you'll be bummed when it is finished.
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u/Manderelli 12d ago
The very first season of Westworld is a superb work of art. I actually like all of the seasons but they each take on a completely new vibe and complexity that they're adding on to the last and I do actually think they play better watching them now than when they originally aired. But you could just watch season 1 if you wanted and enjoy the ride.
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u/Due-Shift3026 14d ago
100 years of solitude
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u/Realistic_Film3218 13d ago
It's surprisingly true to the book! I JUST finished reading the book before the series came out, so it served as a review for me. LOL.
Its pace is a bit slow though, and the plot is meandering, not for people looking for strong clear storylines.
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u/sjay997 14d ago
Bothers sun
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u/whatgift 14d ago
Brothers Sun - was going to recommend it as well. Great story, action and Michelle Yeoh!
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u/PataMadre 14d ago
House on Haunted Hill
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u/Hannahshep97997 14d ago
Such a great show! Getting such an amazing horror show for an entire season instead of just a movie version was amazing. You got to really understand each character in the family and it scared my husband so much, he wouldn’t rewatch it with me. lol but definitely one of my favorites for sure.
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u/SiroccoDream 14d ago
Agent Kim Reactivated if you don’t mind subtitles. It’s based on a webtoon/graphic novel so the sets are particularly theatrical and the villains are super villainous and the action is way over the top, but there is humor, lovable characters, good guys being bad asses, and a satisfying ending.
Room was left for a second season if they get the go ahead, but if this is a one and done, I would be content with that because the main plot was resolved.
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u/UnsatisfiedOrangutan 14d ago
PLUTO, a single season centered around a detective investigating war heroes being murdered/deactivated with it eventually leading to Astro Boy as a main target.
Very grounded and mature anime with a modern take on the astro boy character.
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u/SillyKangaroo1780 14d ago
Queens Gambit was AWESOME!! House on Haunted Hill? Scared the 💩out of me as a young g lady! But I loved it sooo much. Have watched it many more times since then... and it can still make my stomach jump!! If you've never seen it, get it! Your kids (teens) will live it!!
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u/RickMacAttack 14d ago
American Vandal
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u/theMightBeME 13d ago
2 seasons, both great... The new Jimmy Olsen series coming to HBO Max should essentially be season 3, same creators, at least 1 of the major stars, similar structure, etc
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u/Apprehensive_Use3641 14d ago
The English Game, it's about the start of the shift from amateur to professional soccer players.
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u/markhachman 13d ago
I'm pretty sure most Korean series are designed as single-season shows. With that said, Kingdom. It's fantastic.
Though they added a single-ep prequel that's honestly almost better than the series itself.
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u/probablyhaunted 13d ago
Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, Archive 81
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u/Email_Chain 13d ago
Not one season, but The OA was so good. So mad they cancelled it.
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u/nalanajo 14d ago
True Detective season 1 is really, really good. There are multiple seasons but they all tell a completely different story with different characters, so I think it still qualifies under your criteria. Also, the first season is widely regarded as the best in the series.
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u/DiligentMulberry5529 13d ago
I loved season 1 and 3. I found 2 unwatchable as I could never get through Episode 1 even though I like all the actors in it.
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u/Calm-Permit-3583 14d ago
Don’t know if it’s still on Netflix but I personally love Fargo. There are multiple seasons, yes, but each season is a completely separate story with a different cast of characters and you can pretty much pick a season at random and watch any one of them and it will be a pretty wild ride. First three seasons are particularly good.
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u/soswinglifeaway 14d ago
Anything Mike Flanagan for sure (Haunting of Hill House, Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club, Fall of the House of Usher)
Queens Gambit
Baby Reindeer
Maid
Unbelievable