The Best Miniseries, TV Movies, and Specials of 2017

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 26, 2017

Above are the highest-scoring special TV programs—including "limited" series, made-for-TV-movies, and one-off specials—debuting in the United States between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Titles are ranked by Metascore (an average of grades from top professional critics on a 0-100 scale) prior to rounding, and any programs with fewer than 7 reviews are excluded. (Note that regular TV series will be ranked in a separate list coming later this week.)

2 of 16 photo by Courtesy of AP/Frank C. Curtin

90 The Vietnam War (PBS)

(#2) It wouldn't be fall on PBS without a lengthy documentary miniseries from Ken Burns. And this 18-hour examination of the Vietnam War, made by Burns with his frequent collaborator Lynn Novick over the course of a decade, is an especially good one, with critics praising the pair's powerful, immersive filmmaking.

“A must-watch: The most important TV program of the year.” —Verne Gay, Newsday

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