Five limited series that deserve a second viewing
What pulls the audience for a second watch can be subjective. But on Netflix, you’ll be honestly astonished by just exactly how many titles can draw you for repeat viewing.
So, on this episode of what’s worth a rewatch, we have the five ultimate limited series that demand your full-proof attention even on a second viewing as well as consideration, concentration, engrossment, and heed. Essentially, don’t mistake this for a no-commitment, no-brainer ride.
Even though you know what awaits, these limited series on Netflix add more to what you already know and still leave you reeling from it. Sure, rewatches can invoke nostalgia and comfort. But these five limited series have made the cut, thanks to their sheer brilliance that’s not lost, no matter how many times you find yourself knocking on that door.
If you’re seeking cognitive ease, they might not satisfy. However, if you’re on the lookout for shows that make your brain cells sprint like the very first time, you’re at the right place.
Five limited series that deserve a second windup
Maniac (Patrick Somerville, 2018)
There are many such titles that lose their charm the first time around, but thankfully, not Maniac. Cary Joji Fukunaga directed the ten-episode series from creator Patrick Somerville, starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. Set against a retro-future New York City, the black comedy series follows the heartwarming story of two strangers during their three-day pharmaceutical trial.
Maniac is designed to cause daze and disorientation the first time around. But if you’re tuning it for the second time, it’s probably to appreciate the social themes, the nuanced framework, the foreshadowing, the Easter eggs, and the details that slipped your eye. The concept of shared consciousness and the surreal dreamscapes will take the life out of you if you’re a first-time watcher. But repeat viewers can keep the delirium at bay and dip their toes deep because Maniac isn’t just a cerebral and visual flummox but is replete with even more engaging social commentary.
The Fall of the House of Usher (Mike Flanagan, 2023)
Edgar Allan Poe’s stories are always worth returning to, and Mike Flanagan kept this in mind throughout the making of The Fall of the House of Usher. Set on a treadmill running from 1953 to 2023, the Netflix miniseries is steeped in layers of storytelling and Poe Easter eggs. While Netflix adaptations often concern viewers with literary faithfulness, this one has been received with open arms.
Flanagan injects his stylistic hallmarks of horror approach to tease you for a rewatch. Sure, you catch the on-the-face references in a go. But once you’re in for a second viewing, everything else falls into place: the names, the episode titles, the dialogues, and the monologues. Framed as a modern-day horror narrative, The Fall of the House of Usher is thematically rich in contemporary details, corporate greed, dysfunctional family, and a moral compass without morals. Most importantly, what scares you the first time around is definitely not the same when you return, except for Carla Gugino’s Verna.
Bodies (Paul Tomalin, 2023)
Murder mysteries often lose their shock value once the credits roll. But Bodies? Definitely not one from that camp. The sci-fi crime thriller is perfect for a second viewing because it’s incredibly hard to keep up the first time around; Bodies is all about connecting the dots. Bodies guarantees reception of its social themes of identity and trauma way better on repeat viewing. Not to mention, they can finally save room to appreciate the visual attention to detail across multiple periods with the show’s immaculate worldbuilding.
The show follows four detectives through four different timelines, connected by one central mystery: a naked, dead body on Longharvest Lane. A second watch not only smoothens the ride for viewers but also helps them wrap their heads around the complex time loop to understand the motivations behind Elias Mannix’s logic in new light.
The Haunting of Bly Manor (Mike Flanagan, 2020)
They call you mad when you return for a horror watch, but The Haunting of Bly Manor is worth every devotion to insanity. Coming from the coattails of horror king, Mike Flanagan, this Netflix limited series ambitiously clubs gothic, romantic, supernatural, and horror to highlight every genre, especially on a rewatch.
The Haunting of Bly Manor follows a young American woman who is hired as an au pair for two children at Bly. But Bly doesn’t just hold secrets; it’s full of real skeletons. The rules of the house, the backstories of the ghosts, the commentary on love and loss, these archetypes can only bloom on repeat viewing because, essentially, as a ghost story, you’re more engrossed in the fear the first time around. While there’s always a risk of losing the scare factor with rewatches, if not for one, you probably won’t understand that it’s so much more than just a scary story.
Ripley (Steven Zaillian, 2024)
Netflix’s limited series are all about impact, and Ripley has plenty to draw you back a second time. Set in 1961 New York, the neo-noir thriller follows rundown conman Tom Ripley, whose unexpected introduction to a life of wealth slowly spirals into obsession, deceit, betrayal, and murder. Andrew Scott almost makes this a one-man show with his incredible micro-expressions and facial translations through each and every interaction.
This is not exactly a fast-paced thriller. And we know what you’re wondering, won’t it lose the shock factor? Perhaps not. The plot itself is so fascinating that it’s hard to look around initially. The most immediate reason to rewatch is the monochromatic cinematography, intense play of shadow and light, and how it ultimately complements the setting of the show, juxtaposed with the cold, detached sociopathic characteristics of Ripley. The second is the renewed focus on details, especially what seemed mundane the first time around. The physical activities of Ripley are not exactly fillers. They subtly inform viewers of his con-man attributes, capturing the meticulous and desperate nature of his actions. And this time, make sure to pay attention to the sound and background art because, believe it or not, they, too, speak.