Comments on: Best TV miniseries

By: Roger Keeling

Roger Keeling — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:22:57 +0000

So many series listed here that I’ve not seen, not even had a chance to see, so I’m hesitant to suggest my favorites might really be the “best.” Still, I do think leaving out I, Claudius and Lonesome Dove is a mistake. And Berlin Alexanderplatz. All magnificent. Roots was excellent, too, although certainly very “commercial.” And someone upthread mentioned Holocaust, which was on NBC here in the U.S. It, too, was superb, with a mangificent cast.

Not a mini-series, and thus really not eligible for this group, was The Missiles of October, broadcast on ABC in 1974. Very unusual for American television, then or now. A 3-hour (as I recall), serious drama about the Cuban Missile Crisis that could just as easily have been broadcast over a couple of nights (so then it would have been a “mini-series”). It’s out on DVD, and I happened to see it again not long ago: it’s held up very well, despite documents since released that alter our understanding of the story somewhat (and, frankly, it’s a lot better than the Kevin Costner / Bruce Greenwood feature film on the same topic, although the film did treat the near-mutiny of top Pentagon brass more forthrightly).

By: Capt. Automatic

Capt. Automatic — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:03:11 +0000

By: Pommie Barsteward

Pommie Barsteward — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 15:01:12 +0000

Oops, how could I forget The Water Margin from the 1970s?

By: Pommie Barsteward

Pommie Barsteward — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:55:33 +0000

I’ll second Das Boot: gripping and atmospheric just don’t come close to describing it.

PS In the other discussion some of our Aussie friends decided that the greater popularity of Neighbours in the UK was some indication of the present state of British cultural appreciation. I don’t suppose they they realise that while Neighbours may be primetime adult viewing in Aus it’s shown in a different timeslot in the UK schedules; just after kids get home from school :)

By: johnhayter

johnhayter — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:02:19 +0000

What about Das Boot? The miniseries, not the film. And I'll add my voice to I, Claudius.

By: Crooked Timber » » We’ll never be uncovered again

Crooked Timber » » We’ll never be uncovered again — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 10:58:23 +0000

[...] Ahem. Well, this year’s bout of February insanity has been more embarrassing but less exhaustingly life-changing than in previous years. If you’re feeling fed up and worn out by this endless winter, you could do worse than check out Pure80sPop.co.uk. Or you could make like the rest of Northern Europe and just go skiing (where you will dance manically to a jagermeister-fuelled blend of 5-year old Euro-pop, so there’s no need to feel superior). Or do the French thing and take off to one of your well-located ex/current colonies in the sun. Or Declare a Duvet Day and watch the entirety of a great mini-series. [...]

By: Michael Cross

Michael Cross — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 22:38:40 +0000

Canada has some good examples. The Boys of St.Vincents, about priestly abuse of boys at a Newfoundland school, was exceptional and came before the huge ruckus over priests abusing kids.

By: Adam Stephanides

Adam Stephanides — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 16:06:38 +0000

Is animation eligible? If so, I have several Japanese series to nominate: Serial Experiments Lain, Boogiepop Phantom, Haibane Renmei, Paranoia Agent (those just off the top of my head).

By: Greg

Greg — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 14:40:14 +0000

I’d go with ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’, ‘I, Claudius’, ‘GBH’, and ‘Pride and Prejudice’ too. Bringing stuff like ‘The Sopranos’ into it just destroys the discussion’s parameters, no matter how good said show might have been.

By: Pinko Punko

Pinko Punko — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:21:00 +0000

I myself preferred “Prime Suspect 3” of the Prime Suspects- nice and long and it actually felt like an investigation. All the characters are memorable. “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” was also excellent.

By: phil

phil — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 21:54:06 +0000

harry b(58): thanks for the welcome news!

By: Dan Drezner

Dan Drezner — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 21:17:46 +0000

HBO’s “The Corner” is up there in quality… but let’s have more fun and consider the trashiest example of the genre, 1984’s Lace, in which Phoebe Cates gets to utter the immortal line, “Which one of you bitches is my mother?”

By: harry b

harry b — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 20:07:18 +0000

phil (52) there is a vague rumour that http://www.networkdvd.co.uk is getting the rights to release The Owl Service on DVD. I emailed them to encourage them, and they didn’t deny it (though they are always deliberately cagey about what they are doing).

By: hirvi

hirvi — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 17:04:47 +0000

Chris B:

If you haven’t already seen it, you’re sure to enjoy “Im Schatten der Macht” – a 2-part reconstruction of Willi Brandt’s last days as Chancellor.

Includes a “must see” performance by Dieter Pfaff as Genscher.

(made 2003, I think).

By: novakant

novakant — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 15:56:47 +0000

The Wire
Band of Brothers