The Best Anthology Television Shows

From the terrifying and the twisted to whodunnit scenarios, some of these shows are long-established titles, while others are new entries. But if you’re looking for something new, exciting, unconventional, and unpredictable, then here is a list of the best anthology shows to dip your toes into.

10

American Horror Story

2011-Present

Belonging to the same franchise as American Crime Story, Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story has been a mainstay of horror TV with a whopping 12 seasons under its belt. Although some of its later seasons were not as stellar as the first few, the show explores different sides of the horror genre through traditional (or sometimes unconventional) horror settings.

From the quintessential haunted mansion in the middle of nowhere to a sinister cult in the White House, the show’s well-paced storylines, excellent camerawork and consistently hitting the nail on the head with its atmospheres are what makes American Horror Story such a standout even after more than a decade’s run.

9

American Crime Story

2016-Present

As the title of the show suggests, American Crime Story focuses on some of the most notorious crimes in American history. Every season is dedicated to investigating the unfolding events regarding each crime, as well as a closer examination of the conflicts and motivations of the characters involved.

Thus far, the show has produced three seasons, covering the OJ Simpson trial, the murder of Gianni Versace, and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. American Crime Story does a swell job of giving an all-round depiction and perspective of each case, giving ample attention to both sides to gift you with a truly enthralling true crime showcase.

8

Cabinet Of Curiosities

2022

From the mind of the master of gothic horror and romance, Guillermo del Toro’s latest foray into television is the personification of his love for the mysterious and the macabre. Consisting of eight episodes, each story grows even more spooky and twisted than the last, with both sympathetic and unsympathetic protagonists.

Similar to the next entry on this list, there is a moral message to each tale, from the price of greed to the consequences of vanity. Although in some episodes the horror takes the form of a monster, the horror aspect in others is more subtle and psychological in nature. From the classic haunted house story to a sci-fi body-jumping horror extravaganza, Cabinet of Curiosities proves another triumph for del Toro.

7

Devil’s Diner

2025

A very recent release, Devil’s Diner is a Vietnamese anthology horror that spans six episodes. Each episode consists of a moral tale that focuses on a specific sin each new character represents through their actions, but the story largely revolves around a mysterious hole-in-the-wall diner with its equally mysterious owner. Riddled with symbolism and references to Buddhist traditions and folklore, the diner’s owner prepares a dish and offers a tantalising deal to any poor soul who comes by his establishment.

Once they consume the meal, the deal is sealed. Naturally, due to the heavy theme of karmic justice, these sorts of deals have a silver lining to them, and we see each character’s moral sufferings explored and their souls collected. Devil’s Diner keeps you absorbed with every new tragic story explored, delving into human nature and surprising us in the end as even the owner’s sins are put in the spotlight in the finale.

6

Love, Death And Robots

2019-Present

Upon its release back in 2019, Love, Death, and Robots captivated its audience with its compelling stories (sometimes told without a single dialogue spoken) and the varying, eye-catching art styles from episode to episode.

From the iconic visual masterpiece Jibaro to the mind-bending time loop The Witness, the show was intended to be a movie reboot of the 1981 sci-fi animation, Heavy Metal, but the decision was made to go down the television series route. Ultimately, Love, Death and Robots is a show that doesn’t hold back from exploring sensitive, mature, and explicit topics, and truly showcases the talent and creativity of showrunner Tim Miller and writer Philip Gelatt.

5

Death’s Game

2023

An underrated South Korean thriller, 2023’s Death’s Game introduces a fresh, new concept in this anthology series, of a man damned by Death. Protagonist Choi Yee-jae decides that his life is not worth living after years of being unable to find a job, and ends his life. Instead of finding peace in the afterlife, Death intervened and punished Yee-jae by making him go through the cycle of reincarnation 12 times before it would claim his soul.

Each episode sees Yee-jae experience the lives of 12 different people, with Death setting the challenge that he could live on if he manages to save a single life of those whose bodies he’s inhabiting. Touching and emotionally gripping, Death’s Game is a commentary on suicide and death, as well as hammering the notion that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

4

Criminal

2019-Present

If you’re keen on an anthology series entirely dedicated to detective crime thrillers, then Criminal is the one for you. Interestingly, Criminal was conceived and realised into four separate series based in different countries and is filmed in their respective native languages: United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Spain.

Although it’s, in essence, a whodunnit-type show, the series is mainly shot in a single interrogation room for the entirety of each three-episode season. Each episode involves a different case, with a new suspect. As a result, episodes are focused on the interrogators pulling the truth out of each suspect and watching them put the pieces together as the conversation flows. This makes for some excellent tension build-up and utterly masterful dialogue that keeps your eyes glued to the screen from start to finish.

3

Fargo

2014-Present

Inspired by the 1996 film of the same name, Fargo is a gripping crime thriller that focuses on a different set of crimes and characters in varying periods each season. Set in the Midwest, the show was initially written by Noah Hawley, but the original directors of the 1996 film, the Coens, later contributed to the writing of the series.

Comprising five seasons, the show’s stories stand out due to their compelling, flawed characters, their machinations, and the plots of manipulation, deceit, and betrayal that all somehow link back to the town of Fargo. Featuring an all-star cast from Kirsten Dunst to Steve Buscemi, Fargo is a storytelling masterpiece that stands the test of time.

2

Black Mirror

2011-Present

Possibly the most well-known title of an anthology series in the past decade, Black Mirror continues to meet resounding success by pushing boundaries through its many stories. This award-winning series is a modern revamp of the classic, The Twilight Zone, and has now been running for six seasons.

Black Mirror mostly deals with dystopian futures, complex moral conflicts, and the potentially twisted downsides of innovation and technology. The show has produced some of the most iconic stories in television, from the madness-inducing societal pressure to conform that’s explored in Nosedive to the crime thriller Hated in the Nation, Black Mirror thrives in the unexpected.

1

The Twilight Zone

1959-1964

From the brilliant mind of Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone is a foray into the eerie and the surreal. Serling desired to explore more unconventional topics than what was permitted at the time, and after dealing with setbacks, finally released his magnum opus to the world in 1959.

Spanning 150 episodes over five seasons, The Twilight Zone delves into various themes, from loneliness and paranoia to vanity and the importance of healing and moving on. The show has influenced many movies and television shows after the end of its original run, with thought-provoking, impactful classics like ‘The Eye of the Beholder’ and ‘Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?’. Although there have been several revivals of the show, there can be no doubt that the 1959 original holds a special place in our hearts.