HBO Max, about to become just Max following the ongoing Warner Bros. merger, is prided on the reputation of being a network that has transformed television. The network that “is not just TV,” is now setting on to transform streaming as we know it, with a vast and eclectic catalog of originals turned classics such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Sex and The City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. The network also houses beloved favorites from other networks such as Friends, Search Party, and Miracle Workers.
There have been very few instances when the network has delivered a show that wasn’t top-notch or worthy of praise, especially considering the fact that a lot of brilliant content from other networks is being acquired. It’s definitely a mammoth task to curate a list of the best shows on the network right now, with so many brilliant options to pick from, which is why this list features picks both old and new, lesser-known and prominent, to facilitate any binging needs and is a good place to start.
House of the Dragon
Game of Thrones fans breathed a sigh of relief knowing that the House of the Dragon was far from the disastrous end of the final season. This prequel, set about two hundred years before the events of the sequel, chronicles the power-hungry Targaryen family and the beginning of their decline. Matt Smith, Paddy Considine, and Emma D’Arcy deliver riveting performances, keeping fans hooked as ever considering the series had the largest single-day viewership in the network’s history upon its debut.
White House Plumbers
White House Plumbers has an excellent cast to satirize the Watergate scandal, led by Woody Harrelson as E. Howard Hunt and Justin Theroux as G. Gordon Liddy. The witty and slapstick humor used to chronicle how Richard Nixon’s closest allies killed his presidency has received extremely favorable reviews. The series also sticks extremely close to the original narrative, which adds more authenticity and absurdity. Showrunners Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck also have another successful political satire under their belt – Veep, also produced by the network.
Love & Death
Elisabeth Olsen portrays Candy Montgomery in Love & Death, a biographical crime drama that is based on the 1980 murder in Texas. The series, created by David E. Kelly, also known for the network’s original Big Little Lies, crafts a brutal and tragic narrative around the affair between two churchgoers and how it unravels their lives into a gruesome event. Jesse Plemons gives an outstanding performance as Candy’s lover. Jessica Biel has also portrayed the titular character in Hulu’s Candy , which slightly differs from Love & Death‘s depiction of the events.
Two Weeks To Live
Two Weeks To Live is a coming-of-age miniseries, starring Game of Thrones favorite Maisie Williams as Kim Noakes and Sian Clifford, known for Fleabag, as her mother. Kim is raised off-the-grid by her mother in rural Scotland to believe that the end of the world is near. The series chronicles the events that follow when Kim leaves her protective environment following a prank. Williams and Clifford both received tremendous praise for their comedic talent.
Julia
Julia is definitely a show created for the fans of the 2009 film Julia & Julia, which starred Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. This show features Sarah Lancashire, known for Happy Valley, as Julia Child, the woman credited with being responsible for the invention of television cooking shows. The series light-heartedly chronicles her rise to stardom with her show – The French Chef, with David Hyde Pierce, starring as her loving and supportive husband.
Perry Mason
Set in 1930s Los Angeles, Perry Mason is a gripping series, starring Matthew Rhys in the titular role, portraying the brilliant defense attorney immortalized by Erie Stanley Gardner. The show follows the events of the protagonist investigating the murder of a baby boy, across eight brilliantly written episodes, featuring stunning performances from John Lithgow, Juliet Rylance, and Shea Wigham. Apart from the stellar performances by the cast, the series also received praise for its brilliant cinematography and production design.
Rain Dogs
Rain Dogs is a heart-felt noir comedy from the UK, about a single mother struggling to make ends meets and support her typical adolescent daughter. Played by Daisy May Cooper the aspiring novelist mother-daughter duo find themselves in the slimiest of pickles. Jack Farthing stars as the mom’s aggressive and rich gay best friend -Selby, who bails them out in the best and most comical way he can. This dysfunctional family drama is definitely worth binging over the weekend.
Oh Hell
Oh Hell is a show made especially for people in their mid-20s to relate to. This comedy is, unsurprisingly, extremely funny and cringeworthy at the same time. Mala Emde stars as Helene in this German dramedy that has been compared to Fleabag for breaking the fourth wall along with its use of monologue, but what sets it apart is its whimsical yet realistic approach to narrating the female protagonist’s misadventures. This show is painfully funny and often punches too close to reality.
Euphoria
A show that has all parents across continents worried about their school-going children, Euphoria, with its shocking scenes, is one of the most viewed dark coming-of-age dramas. Starring screen favorites Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, Sydney Sweeney, and numerous other gifted actors delivering exceptional performances, this show will comfortably break hearts while keeping audiences hooked. It’s another bingeworthy show that features a fabulous soundtrack as well as a cinematographic marvel.
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is one of HBO Max’s most iconic and timeless shows featuring an all-female lead cast. The show chronicles the lives of four New Yorkers – Carrie Bradshaw portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker, Samantha Jones portrayed by Kim Cattrall, Charlotte York portrayed by Kristin Davis, and Miranda Hobbes portrayed by Cynthia Nixon, as they negotiate their lives across the city trying to find a partner. The show is credited with helping the network gain tremendous viewership and popularity.
Ghosts
Another brilliant comedy from the UK, Ghosts stars Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Charlotte Ritchie as a couple who inherit a home infested with spirits of people from across the ages and time periods who died on the premises. The show has received a lot of critical acclaim for the stellar performances by the cast and the brilliant and timely jokes that just keep on coming. For those looking for slapstick humor that isn’t at all heavy on the head, this is the perfect pick.
Pennyworth
For all the Batman fans out there, Pennyworth stars Jack Bannon as the titular character, portraying Alfred Pennyworth and giving him the much-deserved leading role. The series chronicles Pennyworth’s early life, before his service to the Wayne family, set in London. Ryan Fletcher and Dorothy Atkinson also star as Wallace “Daveboy” MacDougal and Mary Pennyworth respectively, giving us a better background into the spy-turned-butler’s life. This standalone show has received generally positive reviews.
The Last of Us
One of the very few game-to-series adaptations that is, in fact, extremely good, The Last of Us has not disappointed gamers or binger-watchers. This post-apocalyptic drama stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, a smuggler tasked with aiding Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, a teenager immune to the pandemic that destroyed humanity. The show was co-created by Craig Mazin, known for Chernobyl, and Neil Druckmann – the original game’s director, and has been credited for being the best adaptation of a video game by critics and audiences alike.
The Climb
Jason Momoa stars in HBO Max’s epic adventure series about a competition show where contestants face off in a climbing contest to determine who can remain on the show. The Climb, unlike as would be expected, doesn’t delve into the philosophical with each passing week but instead becomes a platform to display the skill set of the fittest competitors. Momoa also serves as producer for this show, which focuses more on the adventure sport than the mentalities and personalities of the sports persons.
True Detective
True Detective is one of the most compelling shows the network has produced. Created by Nick Pizzolatto, this anthology crime drama features a brand-new cast and plot line in each of the three seasons. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson set the ball rolling in the debut season, allowing the series to be renewed instantly, on account of its gritty, brilliant, and suspenseful plotlines that captivated viewers by the millions. Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams, and Maharshala Ali, and Carmen Ejogo were cast for the second and third seasons respectively. True Detective season 4’s story is confirmed to be in the works.
Fired on Mars
Fired on Mars is an adult-animated comedy, created by Nate Sherman and Nick Vokey, based on their 2016 animated short film of the same name. The series follows Jeff Cooper, voiced by Luke Wilson, a graphic designer for a Martian start-up who gets fired and falls into an existential crisis. The show is compared to BoJack Horseman on account of its witty and dark humor that points out the realities of life with delicate subtlety. This show is credited with being a lot more fun than hard-hitting.
The Big Brunch
Hosted by Schitt’s Creek favorite and creator Dan Levy, The Big Brunch is a cook-off that set 10 chefs from all across the country against. The stakes are pretty high, considering the challenge is to prepare the toughest meal known to humanity – brunch. Levy also serves as a judge alongside culinary maestros Sohla El-Waylly and Will Guidara. What separates this show from other cook-offs, apart from Levy’s charisma and charm, are the feel-good factor and warmth the structure of the competition brings to competitors and contestants alike.
Succession
Succession is a dark comedy that follows a family of extremely rich spoiled detestable characters that deserve nothing but love and affection. This is one of HBO Max’s best shows to date and boasts excellent writing and creative decisions from Jesse Armstrong as well as stellar performances by the cast which comprises Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Nicholas Braun, and Sarah Snook. There aren’t enough praises or accolades that will do this series any justice, it simply needs to be binged.
The White Lotus
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The White Lotus is unlike any show the network has previously created or hosted. An anthology series that does feature an occasional familiar face, the show introduces us to rich, spoiled, and unlikable characters that are guests at the prestigious hotel. This black comedy is an exquisite delight that highlights the lengths to which hotel staff and guests alike can get on each other’s nerves. Jennifer Coolidge, fortunately, makes a return for both seasons, set in Hawaii and Italy respectively, supported by phenomenal performances by Murray Bartlett, Alexandra Daddario, and Aubrey Plaza.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is arguably one of HBO Max’s most iconic and prestigious shows. Created as an original by David Chase, the plot revolves around Tony Soprano, portrayed by James Gandolfini – an Italian mobster based out of New Jersey as he tries to balance family life and crime. The show follows a linear narrative that is disclosed during therapy sessions. The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time and often frequents classic and ‘must watch’ lists and deserves to be devoured at least twice if not more.
The Other Two
Drew Tarver and Case Walker star in The Other Two, a comedy about two siblings who must grow up in the limelight of their younger sibling’s pop-star fame. Co-created by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider, the series is extremely fresh in its comedic approach to millennial problems. It has received very positive reviews for the performances by the cast, and premiered on HBO Max for the second season, although originally developed by Comedy Central.
Somebody Somewhere
Somebody Somewhere is another stellar comedy by the network, created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen. The series follows Sam, portrayed by Bridgett Everett, who suffers a midlife crisis following the death of her sister Set in Manhattan, Kansas, the show poignantly deals with loss and identity crisis in a way that is light yet riveting. Following the success of the first two seasons, the series renewed for a third season earlier this month, having gained critical acclaim, especially for Everett’s performance.
I Hate Suzie
Billie Piper delivers a dazzling performance as Suzie Pickles – an actress whose family life is brought to shambles after the leaking of some very private photos on I Hate Suzie. The plot unravels in this dark comedy how celebrities are often subjected to attack and the self-destructive tendencies that a lot of them possess. The show can be uncomfortable, gritty, and enlightening, juggling between highs and the lowest of lows for the character, producing anxiety and suspense in equal measure.
Sort Of
Sort Of is a dramedy revolving around a young non-binary millennial, starring and created by Bilal Baig, who balances their role as an LGBTQA bar tender, caregiver to the children of a family, while juggling their own family life as an immigrant family. This Canadian sitcom has received extremely positive reviews for representing and addressing subjects pertaining to race, gender, sexuality, and identity while dealing with external forces that demand a person to play specific roles in society.
Peacemaker
John Cena reprises his role in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad for the stand-alone series Peacemaker. Ironically, Peacemaker is one of the most violent characters in the DCU and spares no chance to pick up a fight. Gunn returns as writer and director for the character and delivers on the signature humor and wit that is expected from the filmmaker. Alongside Cena, co-star Jennifer Holland also delivers a superb performance, bringing more acclaim and positive applause to the HBO Max show.