Collider highlights television series that achieved lasting acclaim despite having fewer than 40 episodes, arguing that short runs can make stories easier to revisit and leave audiences wanting more.

– Firefly: The 2002–03 space Western blended science fiction, comedy and frontier drama, building a devoted following despite ending after 14 episodes.
– The Queen’s Gambit: The seven-part 2020 miniseries follows chess prodigy Beth Harmon’s rise alongside her struggles with addiction, and was credited with encouraging wider interest in chess.