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This list of great one-time-watch TV shows has shows from all genres. Be it a mystery, historical drama, book adaptation, or true story-based show, these one-time watch great shows deliver a great story that gets us hooked from the beginning. However, the end is portrayed in such a clear and coherent way that you don’t need to rewatch the show again.
Here’s a list of 10 one-time-watch great TV shows you’ll love but won’t need to rewatch again.
Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.
10 great one-time-watch TV shows
10) Band of Brothers
This war drama follows the Easy Company of the 101st Airborne Division, a parachute infantry division. The series introduces Easy Company from their strict training to the fighting in World War II on the Western Front. From fighting in Normandy, losing several crucial members in the war, and also liberating a concentration camp, the Easy Company was an important regiment.
While there were several dramatized moments, the finale incorporated interviews with the survivors of Easy Company and also showed their names for the first time in the miniseries. This show is included in the list of one-time-watch great TV shows due to its glimpse of the horrors of a world war that affected the lives of thousands of people, making it a difficult show to rewatch.
9) House of Cards
The political thriller that brought Netflix initial popularity was one of the best in the genre and is also one of the one-time-watch great TV shows. It followed the ambitious couple Frank and Claire Underwood, who began their quest for power that was marred by manipulations and betrayals from every direction. The series detailed what goes on behind the scenes of politics and the level of deception a person is ready to go to in their greed for power.
However, the show couldn’t provide a satisfying ending due to the departure of Kevin Spacey. Therefore, a show that was largely curated around a single character fell through when that character disappeared from the show, hence making it a part of the list of one-time-watch great TV shows.
8) Midnight Mass
Midnight Mass is a Mike Flanagan show. Therefore, it is a must-watch but also one of the great one-time-watch TV shows. The supernatural horror show takes us to a remote Island called Crockett Island, where, after the arrival of a mysterious priest, the town feels revitalized as faith in God returns for many. However, things turn into deadly chaos when this faith reaches a level of exacerbation when the priest makes them all drink the blood of a vampire-like creature that he deems to be an angel without letting them know.
The show, apart from the horror elements that would scare you, also has stories of the faith of different individuals that make it a relatable watch. However, the miniseries perfectly concludes the story of the Island and its inhabitants so satisfyingly that you won’t need another watch the show. Therefore, it's on the list of one-time-watch great TV shows.
7) Unbelievable
Inspired by the Pulitzer prize-winning article called An Unbelievable Story of Rape by Ken Armstrong and T. Christian Miller and also their book, A False Report, Unbelievable follows the story of a woman named Marie, who is charged with a crime of reporting her being r*ped. The show follows two timelines: 2008 when Marie reported that she was r*ped, but the police didn’t believe her and was then charged and reprimanded. The other timeline is 2011, when two detectives, Karen and Grace join hands to investigate a series of rape cases where the police did not believe the victims due to lack of evidence, which also connects Marie’s case.
The show is on the list of one-time-watch great TV shows because the crime drama details the investigation and the plight of the survivors, including Marie, in such a coherent way that you would not need to watch it again after you find out about the criminal.
6) Chernobyl
This historical drama recounts the tragic event of the Chernobyl nuclear plant disaster of 1986, making it one of the great one-time-watch TV shows. The series narrates the story of how the disaster occurred and who was involved in it. It also showed the people who suffered and responded to the tragedy. From firefighters to plant workers, it depicted how they tried to manage the situation, but it still impacted many of the civilians living in Pripyat.
The series also highlighted the efforts of Soviet officials to modify their reports to save themselves from humiliation, which harmed the people working in the field. The disaster was not due to some sudden change but to some officers' false reports to gain promotions. From the beginning of the miniseries, it detailed the horrific events of one of the most tragic historical events, the impact of which still covers the surroundings of Pripyat. It is also included in the list of one-time-watch great TV shows due to its content being heartbreaking and distressing, which will stop you from rewatching this great TV show.
5) Normal People
Based on the renowned novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, the series follows Connell and Marianne’s lives from their last days of high school to adulthood. While their relationship evolves throughout the years, they learn to articulate their feelings as their relationship had been affected due to misunderstandings earlier. They also become each other's support system as they encounter grief and emotional vulnerability in their lives.
The drama series is a masterpiece, just like Salley’s novel. It brings the diverse emotional moments encountered by Connell and Marianne to the screen with incredible performances by Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. However, the psychological romance drama is far from a lighthearted watch, and with its heavy content and a bittersweet ending, you can muster up the courage to watch it only once, making it a part of the list of one-time-watch great TV shows.
4) Baby Reindeer
The 2024 Netflix series Baby Reindeer became one of the chart-topping shows on the streaming platform right after its release. The psychological thriller is based on Richard Gadd’s autobiographical narration, which is also told in his one-man comedy show. It follows Gadd’s character, Donny Dunn, an aspiring comedian struggling to make something of his life in the comedy scene, who meets a woman named Martha at the bar he works in and offers her a cup of tea. However, this meeting results in the darker times that follow both individuals, and Martha begins to stalk him obsessively, online and in real life.
These events also end up triggering Donny’s past of being s*xually abused by a TV writer, Darrien. The series explores the effects of a victim of s*xual abuse and stalking and how it impacts their life through the real-life story of Richard Gadd, making it heart-rendering as you see Donny struggle with various things alone with no one, in particular, to give him the ultimate support until he confides in his parents at the end. It is a compelling story that can only be watched once and hence is on the list of one-time-watch great TV shows.
3) Big Little Lies
Another book-to-screen adaptation, Big Little Lies follows the story of a murder that is not revealed until the end of season 1. The first season focuses on introducing five women, their different lives, struggles, and binds them together at the end when one of them accidentally kills the abusive husband of one of the five women. Season 2 picks up from there and depicts how they stall being arrested by concealing what had happened.
The show addresses numerous issues such as abuse, s*xual assault, bullying in school, and how traumatic events affect mental health and damages a person psychologically. The heavy subjects used in the series deem it perfect for watching just once, resulting in it being on the list of great one-time-watch TV shows.
2) Dexter
A show dedicated to a serial killer, even if he kills other killers, can only be watched once, and hence, this popular series is one of the great one-time-watch TV shows. Dexter narrates the story of Dexter Morgan, trained by his adoptive father to kill criminals whom the police have failed to put in jail. Dexter channels his traumatic past and psychopathic tendencies, and being a forensic analyst keeps on killing the criminals without being caught.
However, revisiting the series with Dexter hunting down criminals and killing them will be difficult to watch, and also due to the underwhelming series finale that left many fans of the series disappointed, making it one of the top shows on the list of great one-time-watch TV shows.
1) Black Mirror
The last entry on this list of great one-time-watch TV shows is the popular sci-fi series Black Mirror, which explores the advancement of technology and media and their effects on individual lives. Through different stories in each episode, the series highlights modern social issues that challenge a society addicted to technology.
As an anthology series, the episodes present standalone stories that conclude effectively within a single episode, answering all questions clearly and concisely. While the themes will make you think deeply for a long time, there is no need to revisit them, solidifying their status as one of the top recommendations for great one-time-watch TV shows.
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There are several other shows, such as Supernatural and The Handmaid's Tale, among others, that can also be added to this list of great one-time-watch TV shows due to a perfect ending or the subject being too heartbreaking.
Also Read: 10 TV shows that were not the same anymore after a character’s recasting
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