Entertainment
10 Near-Perfect HBO Shows That Are Worth Your Time
The past 30 years have seen television emerge as a prestige form of dramatic entertainment, evolving from the formulaic sitcoms and comforting police procedurals that used to define small-screen storytelling, and becoming a vessel of searing drama that takes the world by storm. The productions of HBO have been at the forefront of this development, with everything from crime masterpieces like The Sopranos and The Wire to detailed historical dramas like Chernobyl and Band of Brothers defining the premium network’s impact of the medium.
There is no doubt that HBO has presented a litany of masterful series that have engrossed the masses and become some of the biggest and best television spectacles of all time. But what of the series that don’t quite reach that level of quality and/or popularity? From dreary apocalyptic dramas to brutal crime dramas, political comedies, fantasy adventures, and even Western sci-fi, these near-perfect HBO series are still worth investing in even if they may not quite live up to the gold standard of the network’s most acclaimed and adored sensations.
10
‘Carnivále’ (2003–2005)
One of HBO’s most ambitious undertakings, and a sadly forgotten gem of 2000s television, Carnivále is an arresting blending of period drama, biblical fantasy, and folklore horror. Set in the Depression-era Dust Bowl, it transpires as an epic battle of good and evil as it follows Ben (Nick Stahl), a man with healing powers who joins a traveling circus, and Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown), a Methodist minister devoted to his religious duties who realizes he is capable of bending people to his will.
Complimented by its eerily beautiful atmosphere of 1930s America and its effort to create its own mythology steeped in ideas of Gnostic mysticism, Templar conspiracies, and religious imagery, Carnivále excels as a uniquely enrapturing dark fantasy. Unfortunately, its high production costs led to it being axed after just two seasons, but it was able to deliver something of a conclusion to its main story, ensuring it is still worth watching today even if some superfluous plot threads remain unresolved.
9
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
The vast majority of the television-loving world was ensnared by Game of Thrones throughout most of its epic eight-season run. However, if anyone who missed HBO’s monumental fantasy series considered revisiting it today, they’d probably be advised to steer clear by the masses. But is this entirely fair? While its conclusion is notoriously underwhelming, Game of Thrones still delivers six of the most exhilarating, astutely crafted, and brilliantly performed seasons television has ever seen.
Based on George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels, it unfolds as the ruling families in the magical realm of Westeros are plunged into a devastating war for power. The production is ceaselessly astonishing, while the story’s penchant for shocking twists, violent betrayals, and unbearable suspense make for an addictive dose of volatile, high-stakes drama. Even with its eighth season seeing it fall well short of television perfection, Game of Thrones remains a worthwhile series for the heights it reached so consistently throughout its run. It was a flagship series of HBO for many years and is still one of the defining titles of 2010s entertainment at large.
8
‘Oz’ (1997–2003)
It isn’t an understatement to say that Oz is one of the most important series in television history. It is certainly a monumental milestone for HBO, released two years before The Sopranos as the network’s first ever one-hour-long scripted drama. Furthermore, its gritty realism and confronting violence broke down barriers regarding television censorship, laying a foundation of dark, serialized drama and bleak morality that set a revolutionary new benchmark for small-screen productions.
Running for six seasons, the series immerses viewers in the lives of the inmates held at the Oswald Maximum Security Correctional Facility, following the prisoners in an experimental new ward that sees heinous acts of violence, domineering, and manipulation despite being designed to promote reform. Its hard-edged brutality hasn’t aged in the slightest since it first aired more than 20 years ago, and the series as a whole still stands as an enthralling, albeit deeply disturbing, descent into life behind bars.
7
‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)
Thematically loaded and decisively clever, HBO’s Westworld is a stunning recreation of the 1973 Western sci-fi film of the same name that adds plenty of layers of intrigue and social commentary to an exciting premise of chaos at an Old West amusement park. Set in the 2050s, it initially revolves around a wild west-themed amusement park as the android inhabitants become sentient and start to rebel against the human visitors that belittle and abuse them. As the series evolves, it extends into the real world where a powerful A.I. known as Rehoboam reigns over humanity.
Combining Western themes of morality, freedom, and power with integral science-fiction ideas like the exploration of what it truly means to be human and the dangers that reside in a near-future of technological advancement, Westworld is a flawless meshing of genres. Delivering four seasons of captivating drama defined by the brilliance of the ensemble cast and the majesty of the production design, it stands as one of HBO’s greatest hits of the past decade.
6
‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)
So much of HBO’s success over the years has come in the form of crime television, particularly series that delve into the complex morality and cutthroat stakes of the world of organized crime. Boardwalk Empire isn’t the first series people typically think of when they contemplate gangster drama by HBO, but that certainly doesn’t mean it isn’t still worth watching, even a decade on from its conclusion in 2014.
Set in Prohibition-era Atlantic City, it follows Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Steve Buscemi), the corrupt treasurer of Atlantic County who is actively involved with organized crime and routinely interacts with such figures as Al Capone (Stephen Graham), Arnold Rothstein (Michael Stuhlbarg), and Charles “Lucky” Luciano (Vincent Piazza). Bolstered by an ensemble of incredible performances, immaculate production value, and pervasive dramatic intensity that leans into the ruthless volatility of gangland tension, Boardwalk Empire is an underrated gem of HBO programming that should be an even bigger hit than it currently stands as.
5
‘True Detective’ (2014–2024)
Truth be told, there is nothing “near-perfect” about Season 1 of True Detective. It is viewed by many to be the greatest single season of television ever produced, a faultless marriage of mystery, suspense, atmospheric eeriness, and rich character drama that epitomizes crime television at its absolute best and demands to be watched by everyone with even the slightest interest in the genre. However, while the masses continue to sing the praises of Season 1 to this day, True Detective’s ensuing efforts have been met with more mixed reviews at best.
While following up Season 1 is a thankless task, Season 2 does a more admirable job than it is given credit for, transitioning from rural Louisiana to L.A. as it focuses more intently on police corruption and corporate crime. Season 3 recaptures a sense of the atmospheric gloom of Season 1 as it explores the case of a missing child, while Season 4—which is the weakest season thus far—revolves around the disappearance of eight men in Alaska. While each of the ensuing seasons have their flaws, all of them are worth investing in due to the caliber of actors involved, the winding tales of mystery and suspense, and the glorious production value of HBO.
4
‘Veep’ (2012–2019)
Created by esteemed political satirist Armando Iannucci, Veep excels as an acidic and cynical look at American politics from the perspective of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a former senator now representing the nation as the Vice President. Skewering the halls of power as a cesspit of egomania, convoluted publicity, and shambolic chaos, the series unfolds as Meyer and her bumbling staff try to forge a respectful legacy while avoiding brewing scandals and getting caught in the day-to-day duties of the office.
In stark contrast to more idealistic and uplifting political series like The West Wing, Veep is a biting and blunt portrayal of ruthless ambition and the power of amorality. Narcissism and witty profanity are treated as necessary strengths characters need to thrive in the cutthroat world of democratic power. In addition to this unflinching depiction of callous inhumanity, Veep also commands to be watched thanks to the stunning lead performance of Louis-Dreyfus, who won six consecutive Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Selina Meyer which went a long way to solidifying the show as HBO’s greatest comedy thus far.
3
‘Generation Kill’ (2007)
Through the production of series like Band of Brothers and The Pacific, HBO has garnered universal acclaim for its handling of war drama in the form of limited series. A criminally underrated title that should also be included in this praise is 2007’s Generation Kill, which runs on a harrowing basis on Evan Wright’s non-fiction book documenting his time as an embedded reporter with the U.S. Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in the opening weeks of the Iraq War.
Even nearly 20 years on, Generation Kill remains the most authentic illustration of modern warfare that audiences have seen. It extracts drama from the unglamorous details of a soldier’s experience, be it the monotony of waiting for orders, the frustrating ordeals of miscommunication and resource mismanagement, and even the bureaucratic process that must be adhered to even when in active combat. Bereft of glory or sensationalism, it focuses purely on authenticity, and it stands among HBO’s greatest ever miniseries because of this.
2
‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)
Quite possibly the greatest depiction of the Old West television has ever seen, Deadwood is a masterpiece of genre deconstruction and observational storytelling that ties its dramatic ferocity to the mythic-like story of the titular South Dakotan town and its notorious inhabitants. Unfolding as the town’s population booms due to a mining surge, Deadwood runs less as a traditional Western story and more as an examination of how a society is built from the ground up.
Furthermore, the series is made utterly entrancing by the rhythmic beauty, philosophical richness, and captivating vulgarity of David Milch’s dialogue, which manages to be thought-provoking and contemplative without ever losing sight of the hard-edged brutality of the characters that speak it. An abrupt and largely unresolved conclusion at the end of its third season is the only thing that keeps Deadwood from being a true beacon of television perfection, but it is still worthwhile viewing, especially with 2019’s Deadwood: The Movie tying up a lot of loose ends.
1
‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)
Not only the most underrated series in HBO’s catalog of small-screen titles, but potentially the most underappreciated masterpiece in the history of the medium as well, The Leftovers is an enthralling descent into a world of grief, loss, and teetering chaos. On October 14, 2011, two percent of the world’s population abruptly vanished. Three years later, society is still struggling to move on from the “Sudden Departure” as some try to maintain a sense of normality even as extremist cults and nihilistic views abound around them.
What makes The Leftovers so special is the delicacy of its focus. It isn’t about a manic search for answers or a desperate fight between survivors; it simply meditates on the profound complexity of the human condition by observing, without judgment, how different characters respond to grief, loss, and depression. Bitterly existential, while also being bolstered by a litany of exceptional performances and Max Richter’s somber, empathy-inducing score, The Leftovers is a true triumph of television from HBO, with every episode of its three-season run a masterclass in surrealist intrigue and contemplative drama.
The Leftovers
- Release Date
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2014 – 2017-00-00
- Showrunner
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Damon Lindelof
- Writers
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Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta
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