'Masterpiece' Netflix series with ending that 'sticks with you' is a must-watch

Finding something to watch on Netflix once you've finished your latest obsession can be tricky with so many options to choose from.

But if you're looking to sink your teeth into a gritty drama with an ending that will have you reeling for days, then this "must-watch" crime drama miniseries could be your next TV binge.

The "masterpiece" miniseries has been hailed on social media as an "absolute favourite" – but there's just one catch. The series isn't for those looking for an easy watch, as the subject matter is "heavy" and it isn't for the faint-hearted.

Unbelievable first aired on Netflix in 2019, and it stars Toni Collette, Merritt Wever, and Kaitlyn Dever.

The series is based on the 2015 news article 'An Unbelievable Story of Rape' by T. Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, which was written about the Washington and Colorado serial rape cases between 2008 and 2011.

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The show follows Marie Adler (Dever) after she goes to the police to report a sexual assault and is ultimately pressured into retracting her report after being accused of "attention seeking", leading her to be charged with making a false report.

The series also follows two female detectives, Detective Grace Rasmussen (Collette) and Detective Karen Duvall (Wever), as they investigate a spate of similar attacks and try to apprehend those responsible for the crimes.

TV fans recommended the show in a forum on Reddit, where they praised show creators Susannah Grant, Ayelet Waldman, and Michael Chabon for handling the sensitive subject matter so well.

One person said: "Just finished Unbelievable on Netflix and it was really good! I'm not usually a fan of cop shows, but I love Toni Collette, so I gave it a chance. It had a great cast with lots of strong female characters, and even though it was tough subject matter, the ending left me feeling satisfied."

Commenters on the post agreed with their assessment, stating that although the show is "heavy", it never feels "exploitative". This can happen when TV shows are trying to address a serious subject, especially when it's based on a true story. 

Others who had previously watched the series particularly praised the ending of the eight-episode miniseries, saying that it is "satisfying" and "sticks with you" after watching, without leaving you feeling as though the story wasn't finished.

One commenter wrote: "That one surprised me too. It's heavy but never feels exploitative, which is rare for that kind of story. Toni Collette just has this grounded energy that makes everything feel real without being melodramatic. Definitely sticks with you after."

Another added: "I watched it when it first came out, and I loved it. I still remember how good the ending was!"

A third posted: "That was very good. I think Adolescence is my favourite of dramatised true crime, but Unbelievable was also heartbreaking and very well done."

Someone else simply shared: "My absolute favourite series to date."

Unbelievable also has a strong score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, where it holds an approval rating of 98% among critics and 89% among all audiences. The website's critical consensus describes the series as "heartbreaking and powerful", claiming the show creators treated the true story with "grace and gravity".

The show bagged Toni Collette a Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series in 2020, and in October 2019, just one month after the series aired, Netflix announced it had been watched a staggering 32 million times.

Unbelievable is available to watch on Netflix now.