10 Miniseries I Knew Would Be Masterpieces In The First 10 Minutes

While an entire pilot episode should be strong and well-crafted, I could tell these miniseries would be perfect from the first scene. There have been some particularly memorable limited series, including the surprising Sirens starring Milly Alcock and Meghann Fahy, but not all of them have impressive openings that make you think and sum up the theme of the show.

A lot of attention is paid to finales and rightfully so, as an ending can make or break how you feel about a series. But the first 10 minutes of a show are equally important, if not more so. They should paint a picture of an intriguing main character who you can’t wait to watch for the next few episodes.

10

Chernobyl (2019)

A miniseries depicting a terrifying historical event could be very dry, but HBO’s Chernobyl ​​​​​is anything but, and the beginning proves it. You’re pulled into 1988 Moscow as Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), a chemist, tells his side of the story on a tape recorder, and says the chilling line, “There was nothing sane about Chernobyl.“

The show could have begun in any number of ways, but showing Valery’s decision to take his life emphasizes the disturbing nature of this true story. Many would say they can’t revisit Chernobyl after they see it because it’s so upsetting and sad. No matter how much you know about the unimaginable explosion at the Chernobyl Power Plant, you want to keep watching and learning more.

9

Mare of Easttown (2021)

Kate Winslet’s strengths as an actress are on full display at the start of this HBO miniseries as she plays Mare Sheehan, a detective who wants to find out what happened to young Katie Bailey (Caitlin Houlahan).

Episode 1, “Miss Lady Hawk Herself,” opens with images of the houses in the small Pennsylvania town she lives in, which is a great introduction to the setting. When Mare tells an older woman to phone the police station rather than her when something is wrong, her desire to be patient and always do her job is clear.

Mare of Easttown doesn’t waste any time as, just a few minutes in, Mare’s boss asks her to look into the case. When Mare harshly says Katie was an addict who must be dead, you understand she’s frustrated and tired of dealing with so much sadness in her small town.

8

The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)

What is arguably Mike Flanagan’s goriest and darkest horror miniseries opens with a stunning image: Roderick Usher (Bruce Greenwood) sitting in a church at the funeral for three of his children while seeing flashes of terrifying ghosts.

Newspaper clippings of each adult child’s death are then shown, which is a smart way to get that dark point across. You’re immediately curious about why this family has seen so much death and tragedy.

Then, the real meat of the story is revealed: Roderick is spilling all his secrets to attorney C. Auguste Dupin (Carl Lumbly). How can you not want to keep watching?

7

Mildred Pierce (2011)

The opening scene of this HBO miniseries features a montage set to jaunty music of Mildred Pierce (Kate Winslet) baking several lemon meringue pies is beautifully shot. Through a seemingly simple conversation between Mildred and her husband Bert (Brían F. O’Byrne), the sequence shows the serious themes of marriage and career that the show explores.

The next few minutes emphasize Mildred’s strong will, intelligence, and refusal to be a traditional housewife. You want to cheer when she tells her husband that he needs to let her know if he’ll be home at dinnertime because she’ll earn $3 from a cake, and it would be a waste of money to buy food if he won’t be.

This scene sets the entire story in motion as Mildred tells Bert to leave. Without this big moment, the show wouldn’t be a fascinating exploration of a single mother’s quest to make money and be herself.

6

Maid (2021)

An unforgettable and emotionally devastating portrait of a single mother, Maid starts off with Alex Russell (Margaret Qualley) waking up and running away from her cruel partner Sean Boyd (Alex Robinson) with her daughter Maddy (Rylea Nevaeh Whittet). The brilliantly crafted scene is shot in blues and blacks to illustrate the dark, scary situation she’s in.

After Sean runs outside and yells as Alex drives off, the title card is displayed, which is powerful and effective. From these brief few moments, you understand the point of the show: Alex is going to find a job, take care of her daughter, and make something for herself. She’s also going to be dealing with trauma from this relationship.

As Alex’s negative bank account is shown and a cop tells her she can’t sleep in her car, the thought-provoking and tragic tone of Maid is evident.

5

The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

The beginning of The Queen’s Gambit episode 1, “Openings,” is perfect. You meet brilliant and endearing chess star Beth Harmon and realize her personal life is messy. She wakes up in a fancy hotel room with wet hair in 1967 Paris, makes herself presentable, strolls by journalists taking her photo, and goes to a chess match.

That would be fascinating enough as you wonder if she’ll win and how she got here. Beth is also shown swallowing a pill, which hints at her substance abuse problem. This tiny moment says so much.

The first 10 minutes of The Queen’s Gambit also hint at Beth’s childhood trauma in one beautifully shot scene. As she starts her match, she sees herself as a young girl at the scene of the car accident where her mom died. The miniseries moves between Beth’s unique career and her past, and it all starts here.

4

The Dropout (2022)

Every episode of this true story about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is strong thanks to its incredible acting and fast pace. But the start of episode 1, “Hurry Up,” cements it as one of the most well-crafted miniseries ever made.

The Dropout begins with the testimony of Holmes (Amanda Seyfried) for a fraud conviction, which immediately makes you wonder about the motivation behind her crime. Holmes’s awkward personality is shown during a media interview, and her competitive nature is hinted at when she’s shown running as a teenager.

But it’s the scene when a young Holmes learned that her father was fired that really drives home the theme and message of The Dropout: Holmes wanted to win and be successful at all costs. No one thought she would harm people as a result of her medical start-up, which is what makes this real story so gripping.

3

Adolescence (2025)

The talk of March 2025 when it was released on Netflix, the grim tone of Adolescence is evident in the first 10 minutes. This miniseries gets its disturbing and unsettling point across without any words at all. As soon as you tune in, you see childhood photos of main character Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper).

This image lets you know that while everyone thought he was young and innocent, he was hiding a dark secret. The miniseries is already asking its biggest question — “How could a 13-year-old do something like this?” and it’s barely even begun.

The police raid on Jamie’s family home is terrifying, as his father Eddie (Stephen Graham) screams that he “hasn’t done anything” and they must be looking for something else. As Jamie, from his bed, learns he’s being arrested and accused of murder, the shock on his face is telling. You want to know if he’s guilty and what happened.

This is a particularly effective opening as it sets up the final image of Eddie trying to come to terms with his young son having committed such a shocking crime.

2

Baby Reindeer (2024)

A year before Adolescence, Baby Reindeer stunned viewers with its unnerving story about Martha Scott’s (Jessica Gunning) obsession over Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd). The miniseries cuts right to the chase as Donny is shown at a police station saying, “I don’t know how to tell you this, but I’m, like, I’m getting stalked.“

The scene has flawless details that speak to Donny’s frustration at not being believed. The bored cop drinks coffee and says the various text messages “aren’t threatening.” Since many people avoid reporting crimes because they’re afraid no one will listen or do anything, this is an important element.

In a short period of time, Baby Reindeer shows Donny and Martha’s creepy first meeting at the bar where he works, his comedy routine, and the fear in Donny’s eyes when he realizes she’s following him.

1

Long Bright River (2025)

The HBO series, adapted from the well-written novel by Liz Moore, dives into themes of poverty, addiction, and family. Those are all right there in the opening scene as a young woman walks through an area of Philadelphia where many unhoused people struggling with drug addiction are living. You can’t look away from the gritty and raw nature of the show.

As the woman gets into a car and attempts to escape right away, realizing that something isn’t right, Long Bright River emphasizes the danger that these characters are in. The miniseries is a sea of contrasts as detective Mickey Fitzpatrick (Amanda Seyfried) is then shown driving her son to school and chatting happily with him.

You can tell Mickey will try to help the women who are in trouble while also doing her best to be a good parent and keep her own child safe. It’s a heartbreaking premise, and the show doesn’t shy away from its harsh tone, not even in the first few minutes.