After a long time of storytelling, HBO continues to be a trusted place for glorious TV, and its greatest reveals spotlight why. There isn’t any scarcity of nice collection to binge at present — whether or not viewers are involved in Netflix’s lengthier titles or Hulu’s miniseries based mostly on true tales — however you may at all times rely on robust character improvement and riveting premises on HBO.
HBO is a very excellent spot to search out unique content material as a result of the community knocks it out of the park with each style, from a devastating miniseries, to status dramas, to sharp comedies. Irrespective of what number of different platforms there are, HBO nonetheless stands out as one with the very best high quality.
Women (2012-2017)
Earlier than Women, it is exhausting to think about any reveals that explored the ache, awkwardness, anxiousness, and struggles of millennial life in a really relatable and compelling approach. From the second you see Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham) joking along with her physician about being broke within the pilot, it is clear this might be a hilariously trustworthy present.
There are numerous collection about twenty-something girls relationship, working, and partying whereas residing in New York, however Women feels completely different because of Dunham’s distinctive voice. Like one other incredible HBO present, Intercourse and the Metropolis, the 4 predominant characters are nothing like one another, which provides to Women‘ enchantment.
With the passage of time, Women has change into much less talked about, and it hasn’t resonated fairly as a lot as different HBO reveals that transfer between comedy and drama. It nonetheless deserves reward, nonetheless, and it is fascinating to see Dunham’s artistic evolution and watch her 2025 Netflix rom-com series Too Much.
Barry (2018-2023)
HBO is probably not a spot for tacky and heartwarming sitcoms, however that simply means there’s extra room for darkish and interesting out-of-the-box comedies. Barry is likely one of the most glorious ones, and Invoice Hader, together with his background in sketch comedy like Saturday Night time Reside and horror motion pictures like It, provides a riveting efficiency.
The collection, which has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, will not enchantment to each HBO subscriber, as Hader performs a hitman who is not sure he needs to proceed down this harmful profession path. It has a stunning and quirky tone, and whereas it is undoubtedly violent, there are various hilarious and playful scenes of Barry attending performing lessons.
Though it is not fairly as common as HBO’s status dramas, which are likely to get all the eye, Barry additionally options an awesome efficiency from Henry Winkler as an performing coach.
Huge Little Lies (2017-2026)
Even with out spectacular stars like Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, and Meryl Streep, Huge Little Lies can be a thriller to recollect, because it has a number of enjoyable twists and turns.
The premise of a homicide at a college occasion makes you suppose, and when you choose aside and attempt to guess the suspects, Huge Little Lies additionally provides a personality examine about moms struggling regardless of their privilege and wealth.
Whereas we’re undecided if Big Little Lies season 3 will reside as much as the primary two seasons, the present’s observe document has been robust up to now. The present makes it clear that HBO continues to be an awesome place for mysteries with high expertise.
The Final Of Us (2023-)
It isn’t straightforward to adapt a beloved online game into a wonderful TV present, however The Final of Us does precisely that with its lovely and terrifying first season. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are unimaginable as Joel and Ellie, the post-apocalyptic premise is gripping, and “Lengthy, Lengthy Time” is likely one of the most emotionally devastating and unforgettable TV episodes of all time.
Sadly, The Final of Us season 2 is nowhere close to as universally beloved as the primary, with the introduction of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and sure sport adjustments kicking off a plethora of issues.
It is a sophisticated scenario, since Dever provides a tremendous efficiency and would not deserve on-line hate. Nevertheless, since the second season of The Final of Us would not match the primary’s prime quality, different HBO reveals are extra constantly nice.
The Leftovers (2014-2017)
Beloved for that includes a extra gratifying ending than Misplaced, showrunner Damon Lindelof’s other epic, devastating, and generally perplexing present, The Leftovers, has three gorgeously crafted seasons.
An adaptation of the novel by Tom Perrotta, which was printed in 2011, the collection opens with a chilling premise: what if 2% of the inhabitants went lacking throughout an incident known as “the Sudden Departure“? The Leftovers deserves reward for wanting on the lives of the heartbroken individuals left behind as a substitute of specializing in discovering the characters who disappeared.
Robust expertise like Carrie Coon, Amy Brenneman, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux are different causes to tune into this HBO collection. It isn’t fairly as common as some others, but it surely’s an awesome status drama with a mysterious tone.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)
Larry David took his capability to create a hilarious storyline out of tiny moments and kicked it into excessive gear with Curb Your Enthusiasm. It pokes enjoyable at Hollywood, in addition to many on a regular basis issues individuals cope with, although some are a bit extra intense or cringe-worthy than our personal experiences.
Since David took many breaks between seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, it did not at all times have as a lot momentum as different comedies or dramas on HBO, and it did not attain the common recognition of Seinfeld. It is nonetheless an ideal alternative whenever you desire a good comedy, although.
Angels In America (2003)
The HBO adaptation of Tony Kushner’s play from 1991 was a groundbreaking have a look at characters affected by the AIDS epidemic. In addition to telling this necessary story, the miniseries additionally options among the best actors, together with Jeffrey Wright, Emma Thompson, Meryl Streep, and Al Pacino.
Because of its 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating and 11 Emmy wins, Angels in America stays one of many saddest and most fantastically crafted HBO reveals. Because the years have gone on, it hasn’t been acknowledged in popular culture discussions as a lot, but it surely’s nonetheless highly effective.
Treme (2010-2013)
Sadly, as it has been over a decade because the present premiered and even longer because the pure catastrophe occurred, Treme would not come up in conversations as a lot because it ought to. That is a disgrace, as it is one of the well-crafted and emotional dramas on HBO.
From The Wire creator David Simon, the present has the identical genuine tone of that common drama, and tells a narrative of characters coping with the trauma of Hurricane Katrina.
Top-of-the-line characters is musician Antoine Batiste, performed by Wendell Pierce, who additionally starred in The Wire. It is highly effective to see such a uncooked depiction of life after the horrible historic occasion, particularly since many people solely learn information headlines about it.
Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)
Boardwalk Empire additionally is not talked about that a lot nowadays, which might be as a result of there are such a lot of incredible HBO reveals to select from. However after the star’s nice work in quirky motion pictures like Huge Fish and Ghost World, Steve Buscemi performs secret gangster Nucky Thompson to perfection.
Buscemi followers should not miss this one, as it is not only a compelling Prohibition period story; the present has a predominant character as darkly gripping as Tony Soprano or Don Draper on Mad Males. You possibly can’t cease questioning what is going on to occur to him, and all 5 seasons are pretty good, which does not at all times occur.
Mare Of Easttown (2021)
Each one of the compelling HBO miniseries of the past decade and among the finest true-crime reveals, interval, Mare of Easttown sums up what you’ll find on the community: high-quality tales that includes among the most gifted actors round.
Kate Winslet’s Mare Sheehan is probably the most thrilling draw right here, as she’s as clever and hard as you need her to be, however the whole collection works as a result of the characters really feel so actual. You possibly can be eavesdropping on an precise group and the way they reply to a homicide investigation and in addition go about their common lives.
In an interview with Philly Voice, Craig Zobel, the present’s director, defined that Meghan Kasperlik, the costume designer, made certain the clothes felt genuine to individuals residing in a small city. Zobel mentioned she was “texting me footage from the Wawa comfort retailer, simply of individuals within the line.“
