The four-hour broadcast of Blue Knight starring William Holden was shown over four nights in 1973. It receives credit as the first Miniseries in the United States. The National Dream and QB VII followed. The 12 one-hour episodes of Rich Man, Poor Man in 1976 introduced the Miniseries featuring popular books and all-star casts. Broadcast in eight episodes in 1977, the 12-hour Roots brought the Miniseries format to new heights. In 1977, Jesus of Nazareth received acclimation as the best Miniseries of all time. The 1985 Miniseries North and South became one of the top ten highest-rated Miniseries.
See Also: The Best TV Comedies of All Time
Roots
Roots was the story of Kunta Kinte, a young Madinka warrior who was captured and enslaved in Virginia. The Miniseries follows his life and the lives of his descendants through the Civil War, emancipation, the Ku Klux Klan, and other events in U. S. history.
Roots is among the best Miniseries because it created a major breakthrough for the Miniseries format.
Band of Brothers
From 2001, Band of Brothers follows the 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division or E (Easy) Company from their training in 1942 to the end of WWII. They participated in D-Day, the liberation of Carentan, Operation Market Garden, the entry into Hitler’s Berchtesgaden hideaway, and the líberation of a concentration camp.
Band of Brothers makes the best Miniseries list for its historical accuracy, writing, cinematography, and action sequences. Actors were in contact with the veterans they portrayed to ensure historical accuracy.
Chernobyl
In the 2019 Chernobyl, screenwriter Craig Mazin featured Russian scientist Valery Legasov, who assisted in the 1986 cleanup of the nuclear power plant. Legasov finds himself in the position of saying nothing about the false claims of the Russian government or telling the truth and risking his personal welfare.
Chernobyl rates among the best Miniseries because its theme promotes discussion about the dangers of ignoring the truth for expediency.
Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1813. However, the story and the characters speak to today’s audiences. The six-part series follows the courtship of Elizabeth Benet and Mr. Darcy. As their relationship progresses, Elizabeth gains an understanding of superficiality and sincerity.
This Miniseries made it on the best list because it reflects Jane Austen’s intention in writing the novel. The actors, script, costumes, and sets add to its appeal.
John Adams
In 2008, Paul Giamatti portrayed Founding Father John Adams. The details of Adams’ life and career reveal his character and beliefs. It begins in the time leading up to the American Revolution when people were only whispering about their discontent with British rule. The Miniseries follows Adams through the Revolution, the formation of the new Republic, and his election as President. Although Adams is not as well-known, it provides an understanding of why he was respected by the other Founding Fathers.
John Adams ranks among the best Miniseries because the characterizations of John and Abigail Adams, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin provide us with new insights into the thoughts and times of the American Revolution.
