‘One of the best TV shows ever made’: Your favourite one-season thrillers

Chernobyl, which only lasted for one season, is widely regarded as one of the best TV shows ever made (Picture: HBO)

We live in a culture of binge-watching, where it feels impossible to stop yourself from devouring yet another episode when you should go to bed.

So what could we do to combat this? How about finding a batch of TV thrillers that only have one season to watch… and then, fini.

One-season drama Chernobyl is widely-regarded as one of the best TV shows ever made, while American Gothic has become a cult classic since it was released three decades ago.

Then there are also shows that were brutally axed before they had a chance to tie up loose ends, such as 1899 and The Midnight Club, both on Netflix.

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We asked Metro readers to share their favourite thrillers that only lasted for one season, and they delivered an array of shows that’ll have you on the edge of your seat.

If you fancy a high-octane binge-watch, but don’t want to spend weeks upon weeks making your way through multiple seasons, then look no further.

Chernobyl

Top Metro fan Chris Moran revealed that not only did he greatly admire Chernobyl as a TV series, but in his opinion, it was ‘one of the best shows ever made in the history of television’.

After witnessing the sensational reaction that the drama received when it was released in 2019, that description should surely come as no surprise.

The haunting series tells the tale of one of the most horrific disasters in history (Picture: HBO)

Written by The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin, Chernobyl delves into the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, when a reactor at the power plant exploded. It became the worst nuclear disaster in history.

The five-parter currently boasts a 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as 97% score from TV fans. One, called Berni P, called the programme: ‘one of the best, most dramatic, and most considerate shows ever made’.

Tim C added: ‘Must see TV. It is incredibly raw, emotional, and dark yet is so captivating in every single episode. The perfect mini series!’

The show also received a plethora of awards, winning a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Stellan Skarsgård, two Golden Globes and an Emmy for outstanding writing, among many more accolades.

Where to watch: You can pay to watch Chernobyl on Amazon Prime Video, or watch it on Sky and NOW.

American Gothic

For their recommendation, Metro reader CL Edwards decided to take us on a journey through time, back to the 90s, to a horror that is now widely regarded as a cult classic.

American Gothic, which was created by Shaun Cassidy and executive-produced by Sam Raimi, first premiered in September 1995, before coming to an end in July the following year. The final four episodes originally weren’t broadcast.

The show only lasted one season, but is now regarded as a cult classic (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)

The drama, which CL praised for its cast and intriguing storyline, was set in a town in South Carolina, where a sheriff used demonic powers to exert control over others.

‘It had a good cast with a young Sarah Paulson and Lucas Black. It was a very interesting take on the idea of the devil is among us/wolf in sheep’s clothing/child of Satan trope,’ CL shared.

‘It’s also the first TV series that I can remember really showing PTSD manifest itself (be nice, I was a kid when this show came out). This show really deserved another season.’

Where to watch: You can pay to watch American Gothic on Amazon Prime Video or on Apple TV Plus.

1899

When considering one-season TV shows, there’s a very important distinction that has to be made: those that were made with the intention of only being one season, and others that were brutally cut short.

The captivating sci-fi series 1899, from the creators of Dark, falls into the latter category.

1899 proved a huge hit with fans, and many still urge Netflix to bring it back to this day (Picture: Netflix)

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‘I’ve never seen another show quite like it,’ Metro reader Stephen Davis shared. ‘Dark is similar but not the same.’

Set in the year – you guessed it – 1899, the drama follows an ensemble cast of characters hailing from different countries around the world as they travel on a ship to New York City.

What did Metro think of 1899?

Metro writer Keith Watson gave 1899 four stars in his review.

If you decide to set sail with 1899, a period saga centred on an ocean liner lost at sea, then be prepared to throw away your life jacket and drop anchor in a world of secrets and illusions.

1899 is not so much a drama, but more an enigmatic jigsaw puzzle.

From the makers of Dark, the time-flipping German sci-fi thriller that played no small part in convincing Netflix that subtitled shows can pull in major audiences, 1899 is much more interested in stirring up a mood of menace and bafflement than it is in straightforward storytelling.

As elusive as a dream you can’t remember 20 minutes after you’ve woken up, it’s like a murder mystery weekend dreamt up by Salvador Dali.

To read more, click here.

But it’s not just your typical riveting period drama – this historical piece is also a sci-fi epic, with all sorts of twists and turns. Including a cliffhanger at the end of season one that will sadly never give fans closure, unless the show is renewed.

A petition to save 1899, which was launched in 2023, currently has over 100,000 signatures. It might be useless, but we’re holding onto the small shred of hope that it could come back one day.

Where to watch: You can stream 1899 on Netflix.

Black Rabbit

One of Netflix’s most recent thriller releases, Black Rabbit proved a massive hit on the streaming platform, with Jude Law and Jason Bateman playing brothers Jake and Vince Friedken.

Reader Joanna Vines commended the actors for ‘playing their parts brilliantly’, and the sentiment was also felt by Metro’s Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook.