Bingeworthy Short Series: Sometimes, you just want a complete story without the commitment. Nowadays, with streaming giants coming out with huge shows which often end on a cliffhanger, it’s great to come across a series that is short, to-the-point and concludes all of its talking points well. Thus, we have brought you a list of fantastic shows that don’t require pulling an all-nighter but are still fantastic and can be binged in one evening.
These bite-sized series deliver top-tier storytelling and emotional payoff—all in under 5 hours. Ideal for a weeknight binge or a lazy weekend evening to refresh your mind!
Bingeworthy Short Series
A Very English Scandal (BBC One)
This Prime Video series is a political true crime drama that stars Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw. It’s a gripping miniseries based on a real-life British scandal and is packed with wit, drama and tension. Following British Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe, it showcases his trial in 1979 after he was accused of conspiring to murder his gay ex-lover. With a total runtime of 3 hours, the series is sharp, scandalous and perfect for a quick, memorable binge.
Calls (Apple TV+)
Viewers who enjoy cerebral thrillers and sci-fi twists need not look any further because Apple TV+’s Calls will grip you like no other. This experimental anthology thriller, told entirely through a series of audio calls, is unnerving and chilling, dipping into surreal and supernatural stories that will give you goosebumps. With a total runtime of less than 3 hours, the series is essentially an immersive podcast that does not disappoint.
This Is Going to Hurt (BBC / AMC+)
With a total runtime of less than 5 hours, this dark comedy, medical drama series is a brutally honest and hilarious depiction of junior doctors in the NHS and features some fantastic performances, especially by Ben Whishaw. This show blends humour, heartbreak and rage in equal measure, leaving us with a host of different feelings that will leave anyone entertained. Whishaw, as Adam Kay, delivers a raw performance as a junior doctor trying to stay afloat among a sea of impossible demands. This one is for anyone who loves a medical drama that will make you laugh and cry at the same time – it’s dark, eye-opening and very, very human.
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Cheaters (BBC)
With a total runtime of less than 3 hours, this 18-episode series is short, punchy and extremely witty, surrounding modern relationships and infidelity. It deftly brings to light the emotional complexities, and the storytelling is clever, character-driven and emotionally mature. Although each episode is 10 minutes long, it provides more nuance than other long-format shows manage to achieve in one season. This one’s for anyone looking for a romantic drama that’s both funny and reflective but without all the extra fluff.
Staged (Season 1) (BBC / Hulu)
Set and filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, this British comedy series, starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen, features the actors as exaggerated versions of themselves trying to rehearse a play over Zoom. The dialogue is whip-smart, and the chemistry, as always, is fantastic. This self-aware show is simply hilarious, and although it was a comfort show during the pandemic, it will still leave you cackling years after!
Which of these series do you love? Let us know in the comments below!
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