For years, the United Kingdom’s television industry has maintained a thriving miniseries culture. But why so much focus on shorter shows? Several factors are at play. For one, British productions tend to have smaller writing teams and smaller crews overall, held together by tighter budgets. There’s little sense, then, in the horse dragging the cart beyond the destination. Creators also cater to a smaller audience, making this a case of matching supply with demand. Why produce more of something than will realistically be consumed?
Despite their shorter formats, many British shows are excellent, boasting near-perfect critical scores. Unfortunately, plenty of them never became hits outside their country of origin. Thankfully, BritBox is changing that. Launched in the United States in 2017 by the UK’s two major networks, ITV and the BBC, the streamer offers a wide range of content, including some of the best British miniseries ever made; these are ten you need to watch.
‘The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe’ (2022)
A Death Too Good to Be True
The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe dramatizes the infamous John Darwin disappearance case in which a cash-strapped former teacher and prison officer faked his death so that his wife could collect his life insurance of £250,000. The fraudulent plan allowed the couple to clear a £130,000 mortgage and live comfortably until they were photographed together in Panama.
Here, series writer Chris Lang takes a too-strange-to-believe case from the real world and twists it into an allegorical tale about the dangers of taking shortcuts. Determined and decided, John is willing to do everything in his power to ensure his family escapes the pangs of poverty. Overall, this is a beautiful blend of domestic normality and tension, with knowledge of the couple’s fate acting as the subtle bridge that keeps viewers glued to the end.
‘Elizabeth R’ (1971)
All the Queen’s Highs and Lows
Elizabeth R chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth I (portrayed by Glenda Jackson), from her precarious youth as a princess to the height of her reign. All major events, including her relationship with Robert Dudley and her imprisonment in the Tower of London, are covered.
The miniseries looks good. Here, several expensive pieces of furniture are used to lend an air of opulence to the mise en scène. And so good is the costume design that an Emmy was won. Costume designer Elizabeth Waller reportedly recreated many of the queen’s actual gowns from several official portraits. It’s also hard to take your eyes off Jackson in the title role. Elizabeth remains firm and determined throughout the show, with those around her providing an errant contrast.
‘Des’ (2020)
Worst Kind of Human
Looking for the perfect serial killer story? Choose Des. This terrifying, true-to-life miniseries recounts the activities of Scottish necrophile Dennis Nilsen, aka the Muswell Hill Murderer, who killed at least 12 young men and boys at his London flats between 1978 and 1983. He was eventually arrested after bones and pieces of human flesh caused a blockage in a drain near his address.
The greatest credit goes to lead actor David Tennant (fitting name given the story), who makes you believe you are seeing the real killer. With continual fear of discovery etched in his villainous eyes, Nilsen makes us furious each time we look at him. No shocked faces when Tennant won the International Emmy Award for Best Actor. Don’t miss this trenchant, horrific reminder of a dark time in British history.
‘Emma’ (2009)
Love Isn’t as Simple as Emma Makes It Look
Based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, Emma follows Emma Woodhouse (Romola Garai), a self-proclaimed matchmaker in Highbury who prides herself on meddling in the love lives of others. Eventually, she bites off more than she can chew when she takes protégée Harriet Smith under her wing.
Emma paints a concerning portrait of life in the old times, where women were completely devalued and people often relied on others to choose life partners for them. Everything from the costume design to the cinematography is great, but it is the actress, Romola Garai, who glows more than everyone and everything else. She has those dancing eyes, like Nicole Kidman, and as history has taught us, such eyes are always enough when performances are being judged.
‘Life in Squares’ (2015)
Having It All, Yet Feeling Empty Inside
Life in Squares dramatizes the fraught relationship of sisters Virginia Woolf and Vanessa Bell (members of the Bloomsbury Group). Major plot points include Vanessa’s complicated relationship with gay artist Duncan Grant and Virginia’s marriage to political theorist Leonard Woolf.
Writer Amanda Coe’s devastating portrayal of two sisters struggling with an existential crisis, despite being blessed in life, anchors this absorbing, insightful, and haunting miniseries. And director Simon Kaijser cleverly contrasts the old, classy architecture with the characters’ psychological stasis. The title comes from the legendary witticism, often attributed to writer Dorothy Parker, that members of the Bloomsbury Group had “lived in squares, painted in circles, and loved in triangles.”
‘Three Girls’ (2017)
Walking Tight Ropes
Three Girls is a retelling of the Rochdale child sex abuse ring in which nine men, mostly of Pakistani heritage, were convicted in 2012 of offenses including sex trafficking. The incident triggered discussions regarding how racism affected law enforcement, with many concluding that police were hesitant to investigate the culprits for fear of being accused of racial prejudice.
Detailed and capturing all major aspects of the case as per police reports, this tense work builds to a powerful denouement. It collected many accolades, including Best Miniseries and Best Actress (for Molly Windsor) at the BAFTAs. Lesley Sharp also plays one of the fiercest TV detectives you’ll ever see. Unfortunately, she never received any awards.
‘Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?’ (2022)
Poulter Flexing His Skills
Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? follows Bobby Jones (Will Poulter), the son of a vicar, whose life unfolds without any form of stress until he discovers a dying man at the base of a cliff. Before dying, the person asks, “Why didn’t they ask Evans?” Curious, Bobby starts investigating.
Will Poulter can always be counted on to shine in everything he participates in. Here, he is placed in a noir-ish world and never blinks. At times, the miniseries comes off more as an earthy, overdone, tingling melodrama, but the good eclipses the bad. Regardless of how anyone categorizes it, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? stacks up admirably against other Agatha Christie adaptations. And who is the nasty fella who keeps tailing Bobby? No spoilers.
‘A Confession’ (2019)
Success at a Cost
A Confession tells the true story of Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher (portrayed by Martin Freeman), who investigated the disappearance of a 22-year-old in 2011 and nailed a taxi driver for the murder. Unfortunately, his off-the-book tactics led to his being found guilty of gross misconduct, and Fulcher ultimately resigned, his career over.
It’s a good thing that a story like this was told in the 2010s. Under the noses of old television censors, it would have been less sizzling, stripped of all of its dark elements. Here, patience is required. By the end of the first episode, you cannot even tell that there has been any, but you can feel it coming. And Martin Freeman was always the right person for the job. Watch him shine.
‘House of Cards’ (1990)
The Joys of Succession Politics
Before the American version, there was the original House of Cards. In it, Chief Whip Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), a man of tumultuous moods and searing passion, vows to scheme his way to 10 Downing Street after Margaret Thatcher leaves office. Will he be successful?
Michael Dobbs’ oft-adapted novel about a whip’s rise to power gets more faithful treatment here. The center of fascination in this riveting British version is, of course, the inimitable, BAFTA-winning Ian Richardson, who simmers and quakes with ideas triggered by his lust for power. Grab a seat and watch the best of fictional British politics.
‘Pride and Prejudice’ (1995)
Good Girl Meets Flawed Boy
Set in Regency-era England, Pride and Prejudice concerns the love life of Elizabeth Bennet (Jennifer Ehle), a resilient and well-mannered woman. While at a local ball, she meets Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy (Colin Firth), a well-heeled but arrogant man, and strikes up a complicated romantic relationship with him. Will the two end up betrothed?
It’s intriguing to watch Lizzy agonize in profound despair over succumbing to Darcy’s charms. Jennifer Ehle offers an explosive performance, bolstered by the equally impressive work of Colin Firth, who invests his haughty character with a minimal air of compassion. A scene showing Firth in a wet white shirt came to be recognized as one of the most iconic moments in British TV history. The miniseries proved so iconic that Colin Firth was later cast as Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones films, a knowing nod to his turn here.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
