Yearly brings unbelievable and thrilling new HBO collection, however these reveals from the Golden Age of Tv are the best. The interval from 2000 to 2023 gave us some unimaginable tales, from the Western show Deadwood to the horror vampire drama True Blood.
Among the earliest HBO reveals performed a big function in cementing the community and now streaming platform as a go-to spot for robust storytelling, together with the beloved jail drama Oz.
From a modern and groundbreaking comedy to a number of the hottest dramas with complicated characters and memorable collection finales, these HBO reveals are the perfect you will discover. They positively show that HBO continues to be the place you are going to discover a number of the most spectacular small-screen tales.
The White Lotus (2021-Current)
The White Lotus deserves many accolades for being the form of “appointment tv” that many individuals thought was not doable within the streaming age. The present brilliantly merges an exhilarating premise — “What if wealthy individuals went on trip someplace lovely and somebody died?” — with robust character work.
Season 1 laid the groundwork, whereas seasons 2 and three grew to become the speak of 2022 and 2025, cementing the present as a without end favourite. Whether or not you watched for the gorgeous and haunting theme music or to bask within the glory of Jennifer Coolidge’s efficiency as lonely and fashionable Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, you seemingly by no means wished to overlook an episode.
The collection has a tone not like different reveals that got here earlier than it, because it’s humorous, sensible, typically unsettling, and mysterious. It is exhausting to think about the rest matching it sooner or later.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
Two years after Seinfeld ended its nine-season run, Larry David got here again to the small display screen along with his humorous, awkward, and offensive-on-purpose HBO comedy. Whereas David was the inspiration behind Jason Alexander’s George Costanza, the Seinfeld co-creator performed a fictional model of himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm and received into awkward and cringeworthy conditions in each episode.
Curb goes even additional than Seinfeld, nonetheless, and crafts storylines out of even smaller particulars that you simply won’t suppose might make up a TV episode. One instance: in season 8, episode 2, “The Protected Home,” Larry desires to purchase Chubby Hubby, however he is blocked by a lady who’s sobbing within the ice cream aisle.
It is also enjoyable to see famous guest stars pop up on Curb, and season 7 is about makes an attempt at a reunion of Seinfeld, which is completely nostalgic. HBO proved it was an excellent place for comedy, too, with this distinctive and memorable collection.
Succession (2018-2023)
With storylines about household, enterprise, and scheming and a thriller-like tone, this must-watch collection proved but once more that HBO is unmatched in relation to delivering water-cooler status dramas. Because the Roy siblings vie for management of their billionaire father’s media firm, Waystar RoyCo, you are fascinated by who’s going to win in the long run.
It may be powerful for a latest HBO present to face out amongst its unimaginable catalog, and even tougher for it to dwell as much as the wonderful high quality of what got here earlier than it. Succession managed to do all that, and the collection finale was additionally probably the most extremely anticipated lately.
Veep (2012-2019)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s award-winning work as Vice President Selina Meyer is only one motive Veep is one in every of HBO’s finest comedies that aired between 2000 and 2003. After enjoying sensible Elaine Benes on Seinfeld and a unusual single mother on The New Adventures of Previous Christine, the actress proved she may lead yet one more hilarious and intelligent present.
Veep tells political tales by a satirical lens, and Selina’s employees is a unbelievable solid of characters, together with her passionate aide Gary Walsh (Tony Hale) being a selected standout. Among the present’s storylines even truly occurred after some episodes aired, together with a 2013 authorities shutdown (through The Daily Beast).
Six Ft Underneath (2001-2005)
As of late, if you wish to atone for a well-crafted drama you did not get round to when it aired, you will seemingly flip to HBO. Six Ft Underneath is without doubt one of the finest 2000s reveals for those who’re seeking to go on an emotional trip, and it arguably will get even higher with time.
When individuals speak concerning the HBO drama, they instantly point out the gorgeously crafted collection finale. You learn the way every Fisher character dies, and it is devastating however candy. The solid, together with Michael C. Corridor, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Krause, Matthew St. Patrick, Richard Jenkins, and Frances Conroy, is wonderful right here, too.
The eye-grabbing story of the Fisher household who has a funeral dwelling and the construction of every episode is greater than sufficient to make you retain watching. Each episode’s opening sees a brand new character dying in a typically terrifying means, which units up that this can be a completely different collection from most dramas focusing solely on work, love, and life issues.
Band of Brothers (2001)
Earlier than Band of Brothers premiered in 2001, it is exhausting to think about any miniseries that had been fashionable or “cool.” The present not solely proved what might be completed with this temporary however impactful storytelling type, but it surely’s additionally among the best TV conflict tales of all time.
From government producers and creators Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the present tells unhappy however highly effective tales concerning the Simple Firm’s experiences in World Struggle II. The large-budget present appears unimaginable and led to 2 extra: The Pacific in 2010 and Masters of the Air in 2024.
Now HBO is a go-to place for lovely and typically darkish miniseries, from Mildred Pierce to Sharp Objects to Chernobyl, and we are able to hint all of it again to the success of Band of Brothers.
Intercourse and the Metropolis (1998-2004)
Earlier than this beloved present’s 1998 premiere, HBO aired male-focused comedies like The Larry Sanders Present and The Youngsters within the Corridor and critical dramas like Oz and Most Safety. Then Darren Star’s Intercourse and the Metropolis got here alongside and fully altered our view of what an HBO present might be and, actually, what any present might be.
SATC is a raunchy, hilarious, and uncooked take a look at the agonies and the ecstasies of relationship and being a single girl in your thirties in a giant metropolis. Most of all, it is a celebration of rock-solid feminine friendships. You can watch and name your self a “Samantha,” “Carrie,” “Charlotte,” or “Miranda,” as there’s one thing particular about every foremost character.
Reasonably than treating “ladies’s tales” as frivolous or unimportant, the present made looking for love, occurring a date, reaching for profession success, and carrying a classy outfit as thrilling as a drama episode. The revival, And Just Like That… proves this storytelling still matters, even when it was a disappointing outing.
The Wire (2002-2008)
One of many first wonderful HBO dramas, The Wire confirmed individuals how robust the storytelling in a criminal offense collection might be. Reasonably than simply specializing in a jail like Oz, or a procedural about detectives or cops, the present tells tales about a number of completely different characters in Baltimore, Maryland.
When individuals advocate an HBO present from the 2000s, they are going to say, “It’s important to watch The Wire,” and it is true. It is a notably thrilling collection to return and watch now because it lives as much as the hype. The dialogue, all-star solid’s performances, and somber tone all contribute to a pitch-perfect present.
Sport of Thrones (2011-2019)
Even an unsatisfying collection finale cannot totally bitter public opinion on this epic fantasy that nobody might cease watching or speaking about throughout its eight-season run. The world-building, stellar performances from stars like Maisie Williams and Package Harington, and the juggling of a large solid can all be praised immediately.
HBO Max has a few awesome fantasy shows, however nobody can argue with the truth that Sport of Thrones is the most well-liked. You’ll be able to always remember the emotional expertise of watching season 3, episode 9, “The Rains of Castamere,” aka “The Purple Marriage ceremony.” This was actually must-see TV, and followers nonetheless talk about it years later.
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
From 1996 to 2009, HBO’s advertising mantra was “It isn’t TV, it is HBO,“ and viewers had been thrilled to spend Sunday nights watching a brand new episode of a status drama. The Sopranos‘ place in fashionable tradition cannot be forgotten about, and the present is broadly credited with kicking off the Golden Age of TV.
Most significantly, Tony began the “anti-hero” development, with different drama characters like Mad Males‘s Don Draper arising after him. The Sopranos was must-see TV as you could not wait to search out out extra about Tony’s harmful mob boss place and what was occurring with the opposite characters.
The cultural dialogue surrounding the collection finale of HBO‘s The Sopranos continues to be so loud it is nearly straightforward to neglect about how good the remainder of the present is. Whereas the “fade to black” ending and query about Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) destiny is highly effective, you additionally love Tony’s no-nonsense perspective and grow to be hooked up to his household.
