Entertainment
10 HBO Shows I Knew Would Be Masterpieces After the First 10 Minutes
Sometimes, all it takes is the first 10 minutes of a TV show to hook you immediately and confirm that this show is going to be a huge hit. Breaking Bad was like that, for example, as was its sequel series Better Call Saul. The latter cold opened with a black-and-white scene of Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) working behind the counter of a Cinnabon in Omaha, a direct reference to a comment he made in Breaking Bad that unknowingly, it seems, predicted his exact future.
Another great one is The Walking Dead, which shows Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as sheriff walking through a parking lot when he comes across a disheveled little girl clutching a teddy bear. As he calls to her, and she turns, he realizes her face is completely deformed, and she’s groaning like a monster. Despite his clear reluctance, he shoots her dead. It’s scenes like these that draw you into a show, and HBO shows have some of the best.
‘The White Lotus’ (2021–Present)
How could you not instantly know that The White Lotus was going to be a massive hit? The show opens with a sad young man in the airport traveling home alone. He chats with an older couple, who heard about a death at the resort where he was staying. This is juxtaposed by the flashback of excited families and individuals, this man included, arriving at the fancy resort in Maui. It builds intrigue right from the jump, because you realize this is a murder mystery that needs to be solved.
Within the first 10 minutes, you’re scanning everyone, analyzing every conversation to try and figure out both who is the killer and who is dead. The scene of the waving staff members, which has become a signature of the show through its first three seasons (and the fictional resort), really has you wondering how this wonderful-looking trip suddenly turned so horrible. The story, along with the familiar faces among the cast like Connie Britton, Murray Bartlett, Jake Lacy, and Sydney Sweeney, will have you dying to blaze through all six episodes in a single sitting.
‘The Penguin’ (2024)
The Penguin might tell the backstory of one of the most iconic DC Comics villains, traveling back in time to when he was just the low-level mob wannabe known as Oswald “Oz” Cobb (Colin Farrell). But it feels more like a gangster show/movie than it does a superhero one, and you pick up on this right from the jump. It begins with an ominous scene, news reports about an explosion as Oz looks out the window at the devastation. But it’s just his outline in the dark.
Those who watched The Batman know it’s Colin Farrell in heavy make-up behind the long coat, but it’s only when the camera pans around to his face that you get chills. In his first scenes that follow, you can’t help but wonder what shenanigans Oz is going to be up to. When he confronts the late mob boss’ son Alberto Falcone (Michael Zegen), at first in a friendly way, you think maybe he isn’t so bad. But the events that occur from there are the beginnings of proof that Oz is not someone to be underestimated. That sets up the entire show from there.
‘True Detective’ (2014–Present)
Widely considered to be the best season of the anthology series so far, or at least among the best, True Detective Season 1 provided a good indication of what the show was all about as immediately as in the moments following the intriguing opening credits. It’s a dark, creepy night scene as a body is being taken into the forest. A fire breaks out, and it’s clear something very bad is happening. This is the case that will come back to haunt the two leads decades later.
The scene in the perfect from start to finish detective show fades to black and officer Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) is giving his statement about his partner, which instantly has you wondering who his partner is, why Marty is being questioned about him, and what it has to do with that opening scene. It flips to former partner Rusty Cohle (Matthew McConaughey), whose life has clearly gone a very different way. As they both begin to recall the case of Dora Lange, a woman who was murdered in 1995, the scene takes viewers back. Seeing the younger, baby-faced versions of these two characters will have you itching to know not only what happened in this case, but also what happened between them.
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
Game of Thrones begins with men of the Night Watch being attacked by White Walkers in a snowy scene. It’s clear based on the fantastic directing of this scene along with the setting and cinematography that this show is going to be brilliant. The intensity, costumes, and makeup will also blow you away.
When the scene switches to men on horseback riding on a luscious, green hill, you get the idea that Game of Thrones spares no budget, and it is going to be like a Hollywood movie told across multiple seasons. Once the scene flips to the Starks, you’ll instantly want to learn more about this family who will very likely play a pivotal role (those who read the books know they will). For anyone who has read the George R. R. Martin novels on which the show is based, the picture painted looks like pages from the book come to life instantly.
‘The Last of Us’ (2023–Present)
Who doesn’t love a good flashback? The Last of Us really sets the stage by flashing back to a news program in 1968 when a scientist basically predicts exactly what happens with the viral pandemic decades later, including fungus mutating to the point that it becomes uncontrollable and can’t be stopped. In the beginning, the show’s host and the audience are smiling and laughing at the absurdity. But as his explanation begins to sound more and more real, it seems like they are all quietly panicking inside. Viewers at home know very well what is coming in this adventure video game masterpiece, which makes this scene even more impactful.
The story flips to 2003, and we see Joel (Pedro Pascal) and his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) going about their day in what is very clearly just before the virus begins to spread in a big way. Seeing the interactions and picking up on subtle clues, you can’t wait for the other shoe to drop, but also appreciate the slow burn. It sets the stage for the pre-surly Joel, a glimpse into who he was before the loss of his daughter. The first few minutes also introduce Joel’s brother Tommy (Gabriel Luna), who, as fans know, becomes pivotal to the plot going forward.
‘Succession’ (2018–2023)
The opening scene of Succession is the most vulnerable Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is throughout the entire series, but it’s important to set up the premise and why it’s so important. He awakens in the night, unaware of where he is. He walks into a room, pulls down his pants, and urinates. When the lights go on, he’s in the hallway and has relieved himself on the floor. Cut to his goofy son Kendall (Jeremy Strong) in a suit rapping to music with headphones on while in the backseat of a limo.
You instantly understand that Succession is going to follow an elderly media head in desperate need of passing the torch to someone else. But if Kendall is any indication, his grown kids clearly aren’t ready to lead. Kendall, who seems to be first in line, is desperate for respect but isn’t getting any. He’s the only Roy sibling introduced in the first 10 minutes, along with COO Frank (Peter Friedman), the obvious buffer between family and business. You can tell it’s going to be a wild ride the second Kendall and Logan are in the same room together. The circus it becomes hasn’t even begun, but you just know that when the other kids come along, it’s going to be explosive. The setup is perfectly subtle while getting the point across.
‘The Newsroom’ (2012–2014)
The Newsroom has one of the cleverest, perfectly delivered opening scenes that sets the stage for the lead character, the show’s political slant, and the overall tone. It’s a Q&A session at a university and news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) is innocently asked by a young student what makes America the greatest country in the world. He delivers a long monologue basically saying America is not the greatest country in the world and here’s why. Of course, it goes viral.
The idea that this drama is going to follow an already very outspoken and cynical man through a rocky situation will perk your ears up. He returns to work a month later to learn that most of his staff is gone, and his new producer happens to be his ex-girlfriend. When Will learns she has been brought on to improve the network, he doesn’t take too kindly to both the change and the awkwardness of answering to his ex. The Newsroom went on to be one of the best political shows of the decade.
‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)
A woman is naked, sitting in a chair and being questioned by a man. He seems to be controlling her. She is staring into space as a fly crawls along her face, even onto her eyeball. But she doesn’t instinctively swat it away as most humans would do. It’s evident that this woman isn’t actually human. But what is she? When the scene in Westworld switches to the woman in bed in a lovely home, looking out into the town and discussing the order and purpose of her days, everything seems fine, like it exists in another time.
Once she meets a young man in a cowboy hat, it’s like an old Western movie. The situation turns bleak quickly, however, and you get the sense that this is just the beginning of many horrors to come. There’s no way you can stop watching now, especially when the Man in Black (Ed Harris) shows up, hinting that this show could have been the next Lost. Those who read the books know what Westworld is about, seeing it come to life in such a convincing way will have you hooked.
‘Chernobyl’ (2019)
One of the best miniseries on HBO, Chernobyl tells the story of the catastrophic nuclear plant disaster of 1986 that occurred in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union back in the ’80s. It begins with the voiceover of a man talking about truth, stories, and the importance of knowing not who the heroes are but who is to blame. You know something very bad has happened that this person is recollecting. Since it’s based on a true story, you also understand the gravity of it.
When you see the clearly broken up man recording his testimony on several mini cassette tapes then wrapping them in paper, you know this isn’t going to end well. And it doesn’t. The horrifying nature of this subtle yet powerful scene leaves it virtually impossible for you not to want to keep going to learn more about who this man is, and what his involvement was in everything that happened.
‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
Today, The Sopranos is mostly remembered for its ambiguous finale that had everyone talking. And of course, the fantastic stories and moments throughout the show’s six seasons. But it’s easy to forget how the beginning of this crime drama instantly set the stage and had fans sold on watching. It begins with Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) in the waiting room of his psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi’s (Lorraine Bracco) office. He sits down for his first-ever session. These sessions, of course, would become integral to the show as Tony gets help dealing with panic attacks.
Tony has a violent job as a mob boss but also struggles to balance this with being a family man. It’s an awkward conversation as Tony seems disinterested in sharing, forced to see her by his family doctor. But Jennifer is intrigued. As Tony begins to tell his story, she seems to imply that she’s willing to keep his secrets. It almost feels like you’re watching a gangster movie like Goodfellas. Tony is someone you need to get to know, and his dynamic with Jennifer is instantly interesting, providing a nice reprieve from the action that you suspect is coming as the plot unfolds.
The Sopranos
- Release Date
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1999 – 2007
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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David Chase
- Directors
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Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García
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