Summary

• Anthology shows allow for limitless creativity through diverse and standalone stories, taking bold risks in themes and genres.
• The unique storytelling DNA of anthologies like Why Women Kill and Fargo has shaped television's boldest achievements.
• Series like American Horror Story and True Detective redefine horror and crime genres with complex characters and social commentary.

Anthology series unlock boundless creativity by offering unique perspectives in each episode or season, resulting in some of the greatest television ever made. Unlike traditional series that demand rigorous continuity, anthology shows benefit from the flexibility of standalone stories, which liberates them to take bold creative risks. Unburdened by the fear of alienating audiences who aren't caught up, they facilitate innovation in themes, tones, and genres unmatched by conventional franchises tied to formulaic staples. These shape-shifting chameleons of television constantly reinvent themselves by resetting with distinct settings, plots, and characters in each chapter.

Whether exploring provocative subject matter through speculative fiction, spotlighting a range of characters connected by theme, or using self-containment to intensify moods from mystery to horror, anthologies' versatility drives their cultural impact. From the unique genres and type of The Twilight Zone which laid the small-screen groundwork, to modern pioneers like Fargo and American Horror Story, which ignited a prestige renaissance, the unique storytelling DNA of anthology shows makes them a perpetual fountain of inspiration capable of transcending trends and eras. A review of history's most outstanding entries reveals how the anthology tradition has cultivated television's boldest achievements.

10 Why Women Kill (2019-2021)

An interesting take on femininity and relationships

Why Women Kill, hooks through empathetically exploring how societal constraints surrounding feminine roles and sexuality incite repression and heartbreak across the decades.

The provocative Why Women Kill chronicles three women from different eras dealing with marital strife in the same Pasadena mansion. Unlike many period dramas fixated on superficial aesthetics, each impeccably designed vignette uses lush visuals to deeply dissect different relationships. Why Women Kill, hooks through empathetically exploring how societal constraints surrounding feminine roles and sexuality incite repression and heartbreak across the decades. Unifying its standalone stories is comion for complex characters and a campy sensibility that adds breezy watchability to heavy themes. Why Women Kill’s satisfying ending makes the case for why this show is a brilliant watch.

9 The Haunting (2018-2020)

Skillfully told horror stories

Each installment showcases a deep empathy for its characters, portraying the intimate horror of confronting personal demons.

Under the guidance of horror maestro Mike Flanagan, The Haunting anthology sets itself apart by imbuing traditional haunted house themes with profound psychological insight and emotional depth. Both self-contained series, The Haunting of Hill House and Bly Manor, skillfully weave intricate character studies with escalating supernatural suspense. They delve into the complexities of the human psyche that are rooted in themes of grief and family trauma. Each installment showcases a deep empathy for its characters, portraying the intimate horror of confronting personal demons. By blending suspense with poignant narratives, The Haunting series epitomizes sophisticated and mature horror storytelling.

8 Modern Love (2019-2021)

A beautiful series focusing on love and relationships

Though often labeled as a romantic comedy, Amazon’s Modern Love delves deeper into the complexities of love's many facets. Creator John Carney adapted stand-alone narratives from The New York Times’ eponymous column into moving human dramas filled with comion and wisdom. From parental bonds to long-term marriages to friendships, each episode offers a sharply observed exploration of intimate connections between lovers, families, or companions. Modern Love possesses the earnest power to evoke laughter, tears, and the urge to reach out to someone dear once the credits roll. Its sincere depiction of shared vulnerability resonates universally, making it a standout.

7 Love, Death & Robots (2019-Present)

Cinematic craftsmanship and diverse storytelling

Spanning dystopian, apocalyptic, and bizarre landscapes, each episode explores unique aesthetics and thought-provoking premises with humor and philosophical depth.

Led by Deadpool director Tim Miller and with David Fincher on board, Netflix's animated anthology Love, Death & Robots stands out for its bold stylistic choices and diverse range of sci-fi stories. Spanning dystopian, apocalyptic, and bizarre landscapes, each episode explores unique aesthetics and thought-provoking premises with humor and philosophical depth. While Love, Death & Robots quality varies from episode to episode, the series excels in leveraging animation's creative freedom to its fullest potential. By providing a platform for innovative concepts and marginalized creators often overlooked in mainstream CGI blockbusters, Love, Death & Robots contributes to pushing the medium forward.

6 American Horror Story (2011-Present)

Over 10 years of unique horror stories

Each precisely crafted season crystallizes societal fears into visually stunning psychological drama.

With lots of exciting things to expect from part 2 of American Horror Story season 12, this series remains unmatched for consistently delivering top-tier terror in self-contained chapters united by razor sharp cultural commentary. While other series rely on tackiness and jump scares, AHS creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk spearheaded prestige TV horror through cinematic production values, provocative themes, and powerhouse acting ensembles. Each precisely crafted season crystallizes societal fears into visually stunning psychological drama. This bold evolution beyond cheap thrills and into social relevance cements American Horror Story as the genre’s new gold standard.

5 High Maintenance (2016-2020)

Unique stories full of heart and innovation

The show shines brightest in poignant moments that reaffirm a shared struggle to connect.

Transitioning from a micro-budget web series to prestige cable, High Maintenance carved out a new path for slice-of-life anthology storytelling with its humorous and insightful glimpses into the lives of disparate New Yorkers. The series follows an unnamed cannabis delivery man, simply known as “The Guy,” through encounters with an amusing array of eccentric characters. Each episode reveals how its characters use cannabis to cope with life's challenges, but avoids heavy-handedness by infusing sincerity and humor. While addressing themes such as loneliness, exploitation, and anxiety, the show shines brightest in poignant moments that reaffirm a shared struggle to connect.

4 Fargo (2014-2024)

A series that celebrates Midwestern eccentricity

This witty celebration of Midwestern eccentricity, nestled within riveting morality tales, showcases inspired storytelling.

Fargo builds upon one of the Coen Brothers' best movies, harvesting humor and horror from Minnesota's frozen countryside across different eras. Unlike many anthology series that recycle familiar genres, Fargo revolutionizes prestige crime drama through masterfully crafted chronicles of only-in-Minnesota mayhem. Each self-contained, but connected season captivates with an intricately realized atmosphere, an endearingly oddball cast of characters, and winding plots that subvert expectations until the very end. This witty celebration of Midwestern eccentricity, nestled within riveting morality tales, showcases inspired storytelling. Genuinely original among other anthology series, Fargo remains endlessly compelling.

3 True Detective (2014-Present)

An impressive first season that makes this show worth the watch

Since its 2014 debut, HBO’s moody procedural anthology True Detective has been essential viewing, shattering genre conventions with seasonal cases that navigate sinister conspiracies. Unlike formulaic "whodunnits," each chapter, distinctly directed, delves into criminal enigmas through fraught detective psyches. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson’s magnetic odd couple set the tone in the first season, innovating the concept of the crime drama antihero leading man. While following seasons with new A-list leads proved uneven, True Detective endures for pioneering the model of mining procedural tropes to probe social tensions and the damaged self.

2 American Crime Story (2016-Present)

An award-winning series

It addresses enduring societal tensions around race, gender, and abuse of power. American Crime Story confronts difficult truths with bold comion.

American Crime Story sets itself apart by dramatizing real-life controversies, from tabloid-grabbing '90s atrocities to history-making political scandals, still fresh in public memory. Unflinching in its portrayal of complex personalities like O.J. Simpson and Monica Lewinsky, the series offers refreshing and insightful perspectives often overlooked during its initial media frenzy. Powered by award-caliber A-list casts, each portraying nuanced characters with empathy and rigor, every distinct season peels back new emotional layers to these cultural touchstones. Furthermore, it addresses enduring societal tensions around race, gender, and abuse of power. American Crime Story confronts difficult truths with bold comion.

1 Black Mirror (2011-Present)

One of Netflix's most popular shows

Charlie Brooker’s dystopian disruptor Black Mirror reignited enthusiasm for high-concept episodic television by incisively extrapolating moral quandaries and societal tensions into chilling sci-fi parables. Each self-contained episode unveils uncomfortable truths about technology's capacity to expose and manipulate weaknesses. With elegantly constructed setups that yield profound perspective shifts, Black Mirror is more philosophically daring than other formulaic presentations the genre has to offer. The show's creative risks pay off through imaginative worldbuilding that strikes an unsettling chord, without overly relying on star power. As the world inches closer to the show’s uncanny futures, Black Mirror only grows more prophetically outstanding.