15 TV shows for one season that will brighten up autumn evenings

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The best series of the last two years with a complete plot.

1. Big little lies

• USA, 2017.
• Drama, detective.
• Duration: 7 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

A murder takes place at a charity ball. However, the viewer is not shown not only the killer, but also the victim itself. Further, the series tells about the lives of several families and the events that led to the tragedy.

Director Jean-Marc Vallee ("Dallas Buyers Club") shot a very bright and twisted story based on the book of the same name by Liana Moriarty. A detective story about violence and murder is interwoven with a story about everyday life and the secrets of families that at first glance seem to be happy. Work is already underway on a second season, which will be filmed by a different director. But initially "Big Little Lies" is a complete story that does not imply a continuation.

2. Feud

• USA, 2017.
• Costumed drama.
• Duration: 8 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

In the center of the plot is a real confrontation between two famous actresses of the sixties. The series follows a behind-the-scenes rivalry between Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) and Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon).

Ryan Murphy, one of the most prolific serial directors, brought in his favorite middle-aged actresses on this project. And as usual, he shot the story in very bright colors, but with really dramatic content. It is already known that the second season of the TV series "Feud" will be devoted to the relationship between Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

3. Mind hunter

• USA, 2017.
• Drama.
• Duration: 10 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

The history of the activities of two FBI agents who laid the foundation for the study of criminal psychology. They interview serial killers in prison to create psychological portraits of criminals and understand their way of thinking.

The famous director David Fincher worked on this series. And in "Mindhunter" you can clearly see his best techniques: a lot of elaborated small details, a complex plot and a very realistic atmosphere. Now we are working on the continuation of the series. The new plot will not be associated with the first season, it will tell about the crimes of Charles Manson.

4. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: An American Crime Story

• USA, 2018.
• Drama, anthology.
• Duration: 9 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

The second season of the American Crime Story anthology is based on Maureen Orth's book Vulgar Services: Andrew Cunenan, Gianni Versace and the Most Unsuccessful Police Rally in US History and focuses on the murder of the famous fashion designer. The plot is equally about Versace himself (Edgar Ramirez) and his killer Andrew Cunenen (Darren Criss). The story of their acquaintance is highlighted, as well as the circumstances that pushed Kyunenen to this act.

In the first season of the American Crime Story project, the authors turned to the famous People vs. O. Jay Simpson case, but this story turned out to be of interest only to Americans. But the second season, dedicated to one of the most famous fashion designers of the twentieth century, simply must be bright and exciting. Since the same Ryan Murphy was responsible for its production, this added a double portion of colors to the project. In addition, the roles of Donatella Versace and Antonio D'Amico took on such stars as Penelope Cruz and Ricky Martin.

5. Pose

• USA, 2018.
• Drama.
• Duration: 8 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 5.

The revolutionary era of the eighties. In the center of the plot are transsexual artists who want only one thing - to live an ordinary life, to love and rejoice. The dullness and limitation of the world around them makes them fight and create a new vibrant culture.

Another project of Ryan Murphy - a lover of glitz, provocations and bright costumes. In this series, in addition to his favorites Evan Peters and Kate Mara, he took a lot of transgender actors. But the visual series, first of all, pleases with the brilliance of disco balls, dances and defiant costumes, contrasting with the problems in the lives of the heroes.

6. Genius: Picasso

• USA, 2017.
• Dokudrama, anthology.
• Duration: 10 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

The life story of the great surrealist and cubist Pablo Picasso from his studies and first experiments (Alex Rich) to maturity and old age (Antonio Banderas). The series from National Geographic tells about the formation of Picasso as an artist, the various periods of his work, as well as his personal life, relationships with women and times of war.

Like American Crime Story, the Genius Anthology can be watched from any season as the plots are not related. In 2017, the authors introduced viewers to the life and work of Albert Einstein. But the truly brightness and beauty of the series manifested itself precisely in the history of the great artist. The creators capture all stages of Picasso's work: from the "blue" and "pink" periods to "Guernica" and surrealism. And of course, the frames of the series themselves, in color, often resemble the works of the master.

7. Forgotten by God

• USA, 2017.
• Drama, western.
• Duration: 7 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 4.

In the middle of the 19th century in the Wild West, criminal Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels) is looking for his adopted son Roy Goode (Jack O'Connell). He fled from his father and his accomplices with all the loot and took refuge on a secluded ranch near the town of La Belle. Its only peculiarity is that after the collapse of the mine, almost all women live in the city.

Director Scott Frank (one of the authors of "Logan") knows how to create very dark and emotional stories. “Forgotten by God” was immediately conceived as a complete story, so at any moment each character can die, which adds tension to the story.

8. Patrick Melrose

• UK, USA, 2018.
• Drama, black humor.
• Duration: 5 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

A screen adaptation of a series of books by Edward St. Aubin about the heir of a wealthy family, Patrick Melrose (Benedict Cumberbatch), who is trying to cope with alcohol and drug addiction. In order to solve problems in the present, he needs to sort out his past: Patrick grew up with a very abusive father (Hugo Weaving) and an indifferent alcoholic mother (Jennifer Jason Lee).

Many critics believe that Cumberbatch went to this role throughout his acting life. Indeed, he is incredibly believable to convey the emotions of a person who is trying to hide from the outside world under the guise of sarcasm and rudeness. Visually, the series is interesting in that the color gamut and brightness here change from series to series. The authors either twist the colors to the fullest to show the colors of childhood, or, on the contrary, go into darkness and dullness or hopeless blue tones.

9. Sharp objects

• USA, 2018.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 8 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

A screen adaptation of the first book by Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl. Reporter Camilla Priker (Amy Adams) travels to her hometown to write an article on the disappearances and murders of children. But the return opens old wounds: the oppressive mother and the memories of her long-dead sister do not allow the heroine to be objective. Meanwhile, the situation in the city is heating up, and the police are practically powerless.

All the works of director Jean-Marc Vallee certainly deserve attention from an artistic point of view. He knows how to combine long and slow shots, when the camera moves almost to the music, with sharp editing, showing flashes from the past. In Sharp Objects, he again demonstrates his ideal taste, combining an interesting picture with an incredible intensity of emotions. And if "Big Little Lies" revealed all the secrets of marital relations, then the new series shows the deep trauma associated with parents.

10. Happy

• USA, 2017.
• Comedy, crime drama.
• Duration: 8 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Former police officer and now a hitman and alcoholic Nick Sachs (Christopher Meloni) is tasked with killing several members of a criminal gang. But things are not going according to plan. Sax suffers a heart attack at the same time as he is injured, after which he begins to see a talking blue unicorn named Happy. He persuades the hero to go to the rescue of his daughter, about whom Sachs did not know anything before.

The combination of a comic book by acclaimed author Grant Morrison and the talent of director Brian Taylor for Adrenaline created an explosive mixture. In Happy, gloom and cruelty are interspersed with terrific humor on the verge of madness. The first season ends the story of Sachs and Happy. However, the authors have plans to continue. True, it is not very clear what they will talk about next.

11. Modified carbon

• USA, 2018.
• Science fiction, detective.
• Duration: 10 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

A screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Richard Morgan. The action of the series takes place in the world of the future, where the mind has learned to record on removable media, and the body has become just a shell or even a transport.

The protagonist, former resistance soldier Takeshi Kovacs (Yuel Kinnaman), has been frozen for over 200 years. When he wakes up and gets a new body, he is hired by the famous wealthy Laurence Bancroft. Kovacs must find the killer who destroyed Bancroft's previous body.

The series shimmers with all the colors traditional for cyberpunk. The picture is replete with neon signs, purple reflections, flames, streams of water and naked bodies. However, one should not forget that an ordinary tabloid detective is hiding under the cover of futuristic fiction. In the sequel to Altered Carbon, Takeshi Kovacs will play a different actor, and the story seems to be about something completely different.

12. Night administrator

• UK, USA, 2017.
• Drama.
• Duration: 6 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Former British soldier Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston), who works as a night administrator, is hired by intelligence. He has to get into the credibility of arms dealer Richard Ropper (Hugh Laurie). But a spark flies between Pine and Ropper's girlfriend (Elizabeth Debicki).

The action of the famous book "The Night Administrator" by John Le Carré was moved to our days, and popular actors were taken on the main roles. Many criticize the plot for being too dramatic, but at the very least, you can enjoy the style and beauty of this series. It became popular enough for the authors to decide to extend the project. But essentially, six episodes tell a complete story.

13. The Hunt for the Unabomber

• USA, 2017.
• Crime drama.
• Duration: 8 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Like The Mind Hunter, this series is dedicated to the true story of the search for a criminal. The Unabomber (Paul Bettany) is a terrorist who has sent bombs by mail for many years. He is being hunted by linguistics specialist Jim Fitzgerald (Sam Worthington). He establishes the identity of the culprit based on the text of the manifesto published by the Unabomber.

This Discovery Channel series is a must-see for those who love Mindhunter. Although filmed a little more simply, the ideas and presentation are about the same: a documentary story that has been turned into a personal confrontation between a hero and a villain. In the second season, the authors promise a new "Hunt", this time for the Demoman from the Atlanta Olympic Park.

14. Haunted Tower

• USA, 2018.
• Drama.
• Duration: 10 episodes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

FBI and CIA agents are trying to join forces in the fight against Islamic terrorists. However, professional jealousy and simple selfishness prevent employees from working together. This rivalry leads to the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

One of the most popular streaming service series Hulu takes the US disaster from an unexpected angle. The authors suggest that the terrorist attack could have been prevented, but the special services were too carried away by internal squabbles and forgot about their main tasks.

15. Alienist

• USA, 2018.
• Detective, crime drama.
• Duration: 10 episodes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

At the end of the 19th century, a series of brutal murders took place in New York. They are investigated by newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans), the first female police officer Sarah Howard (Dakota Fanning) and Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl), whose profession was called "Alienist" at the time.

The writer Caleb Carr has a whole series of books about Laszlo Kreizler. The Alienist is based on the first of these. Now we are working on a sequel to the series, which will be based on the book "Angel of Darkness".