British TV series are known for being short. While the US version of The Office has 201 episodes and would take even the most diligent binger a few weeks to get through, the UK original has just 14 episodes. That’s right, 14 – it would take only a few hours to get through the entire cringe-inducing comedy series.
More often than not, this reduced episode count is due to a reduced number of writers. Whilst, for US series, it’s common for a show to be written by a big team, with every member plotting out and scripting a few episodes each, in the UK, series are usually penned only by one or two individuals – it’s too much work for them to pump out 23 episodes a season. Going back to the Office example, the US series had over 33 writers; the UK series had just two (Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant).
Indeed, as a result of these lower episode counts, many British TV series can be binged in one night and still take less time than The Irishman (why was it three and a half hours long? That’s like 10 episodes of The Office). Not sure which contemporary British shows to watch? Here are some examples from 2020 that many in the UK loved but aren’t perhaps as well-known across the pond.
Us
Not to be confused with the Jordan Peele film, Us is a small-screen adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2014 award-winning novel of the same name. Centered around the relationship of scientist Douglas and artist Connie, the series looks at the sudden meet-cute that sparked their love, and the portentous interrailing trip they go on 25 years later in an attempt to save it.
Starring Tom Hollander (the actor from Pirates of the Caribbean and The Night Manager, not Spider-Man), the series is a sentimental look at what it means to recapture that feeling of being young and in love, across the backdrop of some of Europe’s most beloved landmarks. Really, that's the best reason to watch the show – at a time when the majority of people are trapped at home, this country-hopping adventure is maximum escapism. With only four episodes at 50 mins each, Us (and 25 years of marriage) will fly by.
Life
Again, not to be confused with Rhett Reese’s sci-fi flick of the same name, Life is a BBC drama that follows the lives and woes of the residents of a Manchester house divided into four different flats – think This is Us, but British and in the same building. As the neighbors’ stories intersect and interconnect, the multi-generational group learn about love, loss, the ordinary and the extraordinary (so yeah, This is Us).
But, unlike US equivalents, Life has two strong assets going for it. Firstly, the cast made up of an A-list of British acting talent, featuring the likes of Adrian Lester, Alison Steadman, Victoria Hamilton, and Peter Davidson, some of the best names working in the UK. The other asset? There are only six episodes – it can be binged in one tear-jerking evening.
I May Destroy You
There has been no show bigger in the UK in 2020 than I May Destroy You. Written, directed, and starring Chewing Gum’s Michaela Coel, the series is the ultimate of epitome of this contemporary moment, touching on themes of sexual assault, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ representation, and systemic violence against marginalized groups.
Centering around the story of Arabella (Coel), a promising writer who is sexually assaulted on a night out, I May Destroy You is hard-hitting, emotionally poignant, and disproportionately funny – those who loved Fleabag will be surprised by just how much better I May Destroy You is. With 12 episodes around 25mins long, the cultural relevance and thoughtfulness of I May Destroy You is one that shouldn’t be missed.
Normal People
Ever wondered why so many guys are now wearing neck chains? Blame Normal People. Adapted from Sally Rooney’s wildly popular novel of the same name, the series takes the classic rom-com formula and says, “I think we can do better”. Set in Ireland and following the relationship between cool-but-shy Connell and individualistic-but-lonely Marianne, Normal People is a raw and heartfelt look at what it means to grow up and in and out of love.
Ambitious in its scope, the series follows the pair from their school-days secret romance to their rollercoaster relationship at University, all the while asking questions about belonging and identity. Unafraid to show moments of starting intimacy and shocking emotion, the series was a savior to many during lockdown (and to jewelers, as men across the UK bought necklaces to emulate Connell’s signature look). With 12 episodes at 30 mins apiece, Normal People is a quick binge that leaves a lasting impression.
Quiz
In 2001, Lieutenant Charles Ingram unexpectedly became a household name after he won the maximum prize on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, one of the first-ever to do so. But, after a detailed criminal investigation, it was announced that Ingram and his wife Diana had cheated the system, conning their way to the million-pound prize – Quiz is the dramatization of their story.
Starring Matthew MacFadyen and Michael Sheen, the mini-series is a fun exploration of this infamous event, asking whether or not the Ingrams actually cheated or whether some other ominous forces were at play. Dramatic, fast-paced, and the right amount of camp, Quiz was a cultural phenomenon in the UK, with millions tuning in and trying to decide whether or not the Ingrams were actually guilty. With only three episodes at an hour each, the mini-series is easy to binge – which is good because, once it’s started, it’s impossible to turn off.