Collider selects HBO miniseries of four episodes or fewer as substantial alternatives to longer prestige dramas, spanning crime, literary adaptation and historical storytelling. The article argues that their short formats make them suitable for quick viewing without sacrificing acclaimed writing, performances or production quality.

– ‘Landscapers’ (2021): a four-part, darkly comic true-crime drama about Susan and Christopher Edwards, who concealed the murders of Susan’s parents for more than a decade; Olivia Colman and David Thewlis lead the cast.
– ‘Olive Kitteridge’ (2014): Lisa Cholodenko’s four-part adaptation of Elizabeth Strout’s novel follows a difficult retired teacher across 25 years in a Maine coastal town; it won eight Emmys, including awards for Frances McDormand, Richard Jenkins and Bill Murray.