Since the late 1990s, HBO has been producing quality shows, including miniseries. They are often heavy, sometimes dark, and also thought-provoking. While not every show has aged well, many HBO miniseries have aged like fine wine.

This is because they focus on issues and topics that are still relevant today. It’s a lens into how much progress we both have and haven’t made as a society. Some of these series, ranging from ones released decades ago to some that came out only five or so years ago, still resonate today as much as they did back then. In every case, it’s for different reasons. But with some of these shows, it’s because the conflict they address is still very much existent in present times. Here are eight HBO miniseries that have aged excellently.

1

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Image via HBO

It took decades for a show to be made about this 1986 nuclear disaster, diving into the real stories of what happened in the aftermath. Yes, creative liberties were taken in Chernobyl, and some people criticized the historical inaccuracies. But the historical drama is also accurately reflective of the time and setting, and a deeply emotional look at a harrowing story.

These types of things sadly happen all the time, and there’s never going to be a moment when we forget Chernobyl and the lives that were impacted. The show remains one of the best of its kind, bringing emotion and education to the story in a way that many of us hadn’t seen. It’s just as impactful today as it was seven years ago and a perfect weekend binge.

2

‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)

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The tragedy and complexities of war remain as relevant today as they were 25 years ago when the series Band of Brothers premiered. The war drama is based on the Stephen E. Ambrose non-fiction book and is heavily inspired by Saving Private Ryan, with both Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks serving as executive producers.

Set during World War II, Band of Brothers follows one group through their harrowing journey fighting for their country. What’s so compelling about the series is that the events, though dramatized for TV, are taken from interviews with the real veterans of Easy Company. It doesn’t get more real and emotionally impactful than that.

3

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

Image via HBO

Criticisms of the justice system, the public being quick to judgment, and racism are sadly still as relevant topics of discussion today as they were a decade ago when this crime drama premiered. In The Night Of, Riz Ahmed is Nasir “Naz” Khan, a Pakistani American college student whose thrilling one-night stand goes horribly wrong when he wakes up next to the woman’s dead body. Naz is certain he did nothing to this woman, but the judgmental eyes and the situation that makes him look guilty cause him to question his own reality.

The near-perfect HBO miniseries follows Naz’s court case, led by his lawyer John Stone (John Turturro). The way the series both points out serious flaws in the justice system and shows what can happen to a promising young man when he’s caught in a bad situation will break your heart. Sadly, it’s a situation we could, and do, see in real life all the time. The message is powerful and the delivery even more so. The show is bound to inspire dialogue and debate.

4

‘Empire Falls’ (2005)

Image via HBO

One of those 20-year-old HBO miniseries many of us forgot about, Empire Falls is about a small, decaying town in Maine and the residents who are simply trying to get by. Sound familiar? The situation is one that many face in similar towns today as costs rise, systems change, and it becomes tough to keep your head above water.

In the story, which is based on the Richard Russo novel, local factories have closed, and the community is struggling to survive amidst a class divide and troubles that resurface from the past. At the center is Miles Roby (Ed Harris), a manager at a local restaurant who is deeply entrenched in his blue-collar roots. Empire Falls was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes. It’s as realistic a depiction of middle-class life now as it was two decades ago.

5

‘Show Me a Hero’ (2015)

Image via HBO

Another forgotten HBO miniseries, Show Me a Hero debuted a decade ago and chronicles the fight of the white middle-class community in Yonkers, New York, against federally mandated public housing developments in their area. Based on the nonfiction book by Lisa Belkin, a writer for The New York Times, Show Me a Hero touches on tensions that still exist today in similar communities.

The conflict involving a class divide and pushback against affordable housing is one that endures. The idea is to provide housing for those in need who would otherwise remain unhoused, but residents fear it would devalue their property. Plus, they don’t want an influx of lower-class citizens in their hometown. The series stars Oscar Isaac as Nick Wasicski, a former police officer running for mayor of Yonkers, along with Jim Belushi, Alfred Molina, and Winona Ryder. Show Me a Hero takes this very political topic and helps to humanize the players in the fight. Note that it’s created by David Simon, the same man behind another politically and socially charged series, The Wire.

6

‘Mrs. Fletcher’ (2019)

Image via HBO

It doesn’t matter what decade or era it is — the idea of a woman coming of age during midlife at the same time as her child is coming of age as a teenager transcends time and location. It’s something every female parent goes through, especially if they have had children at a certain age. Women having children later and later in life is becoming more and more common nowadays, which makes Mrs. Fletcher even more topical.

The comedy miniseries dives into this dynamic with Eve Fletcher (Kathryn Hahn) as a divorced mom in her 40s raising her son Brendan (Jackson White), who has just gone off to college. As Fletcher rediscovers her body and her sexuality, her son is coming to terms with his own sexual life and journey to adulthood. The series isn’t just fitting today — it will be just as so another 20 years from now, too.

7

‘Angels in America’ (2003)

Image via HBO

One of those passion projects by A-list actors, Angels in America is set during the Ronald Reagan era of the 1980s, when the AIDS epidemic was in full swing. While times have changed a lot since then, the core premise of the show remains topical today. It centers on struggles with sexuality, feelings of loneliness and abandonment, and the pressures of conservative beliefs in finding one’s truth. At the heart of the story is Prior Walter (Justin Kirk), a gay man with AIDS who is visited by an angel as he grapples with his loneliness.

As a made-for-cable project, Angels in America is one of the most essential HBO miniseries. It swept every major Emmy award category, an accomplishment that has only recently been tied by The Crown and Schitt’s Creek. The exploration of topics like sexuality, religion, and conservative politics will still resonate today. Plus, the A-list cast is impressive, including Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson, and Jeffrey Wright. This show not only has a powerful message but also tremendous star power to deliver it effectively.

8

‘I May Destroy You’ (2020)

Image via HBO

The #MeToo Movement went global in 2017, and I May Destroy You was released right in the midst of public talk and controversial cases about the subject. Michaela Coel stars as Arabella Essiedu, a young novelist enjoying her success. She goes out with friends to celebrate before writing her next book, but the night doesn’t turn out the way she hoped. She awakens to horror, unable to remember what happened, and eventually realizes that she was raped.

The topic of sexual violence against women, the impact it has on victims, the trauma they carry with them afterward, and the treatment and viewpoints of others all come into the conversation in the series. I May Destroy You uses dark humor to explore Arabella’s journey as she reaches out to friends to try and piece together the night, then works her way through the trauma that she’ll carry forever. The HBO masterpiece is an honest look at the raw and real journey to healing. As a spotlight is shined more and more on sexual assault, victim-blaming, and accountability, I May Destroy You fits just as well today as it did six years ago.

Kelly Clarkson is making her fans look at her twice!

The “American Idol” alum, who recently wrapped up her daytime talk show, has unveiled a fresh hairstyle that has sparked plenty of reactions online.

As talk about her makeover continues, Clarkson has also reflected on what “The Kelly Clarkson Show” meant to her, admitting it helped her in many ways.  

Kelly Clarkson Chops Off Her Hair In Dramatic Transformation 

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The “Miss Independent” singer appeared on the September 21 episode of the “Today” show sporting a short bob that sat well above her chin, marking her shortest hairstyle in years.

Clarkson wore the ash-blonde cut in a side part, with soft waves framing her face. Although the 44-year-old didn’t explain the change, she opened up about shifts in her daily routine and how she’s been focusing more on her children.

“It feels wild,” Clarkson told the hosts, per E! Online. “I’ve never lived in New York without working 9 to 5. It’s such a fun city to live in. I’m mom-ing it. I’m taking my kids every day and picking them up.”

Fans React To Kelly Clarkson’s New Makeover

Fans had plenty to say shortly after the three-time Grammy Winner debuted the look. While some users on X were taken aback, others felt the change suited her. 

“WHAT THE H-LL WAS GOING ON?” one user questioned on X. Another commenter compared it to a typical “mom haircut, writing, “It looks like her grey hair grew out. She looks older.”

A third fan slammed it as a “terrible hairstyle and color,” while another echoed similar observations, claiming it looked like “her hair dye was exposed to chlorine.”

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One fan mistook Clarkson for Rosie O’Donnell, while this user argued that the hairstyle “Aged her 20 years.”

Some, however, praised her for embracing a natural style. One supporter gushed that she looked “good.” A different admirer added that it was “her natural hair with her natural hair color,” praising Clarkson for “being herself.”

Kelly Clarkson Does Not Follow Beauty Trends In Hollywood 

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While fans share their opinions about Clarkson’s appearance, the singer has spoken about her stance on the beauty standards in Hollywood. 

During one of her “Studio Sessions,” last year, the “Since U Been Gone” hitmaker joked about the industry’s obsession with staying forever young.

She said that the tight faces everyone wears look like villains in “The Hunger Games” and made it clear she wasn’t going to jump on the trend.

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“Do you, but don’t make me do you,” she said, per The Blast. She also recalled how one of her managers in the past told her to get a b–b job. In response, she fired back that he “should get a d-ck job!” before gushing to the audience about her body being perfect.

Clarkson Speaks Positively About Her Body 

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Clarkson has not shied away from admitting positive things about her body, even when the negative ideas come. 

Last month, The Blast reported on Clarkson’s reaction at a performance in Las Vegas after noticing mid‑performance that her top had slipped. 

She poked fun at the moment, saying her b–bs were too small. However, she quickly took back her words and declared that they were perfect.

The songwriter referenced a spiritual event tied to August 8, believed to be a powerful time for manifestation. With the universe listening in, she wanted to make sure her words about her body were positive ones.

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While spreading body positivity in her residency, the “Stronger” singer also dished on some embarrassing personal moments.

She recalled having a rough night after eating something that didn’t sit well and gave her frequent bathroom visits.  Although Clarkson did not confirm if it was true, she joked about the possibility of food poisoning, comparing her night to the infamous bathroom scene in “Bridesmaids.”

Kelly Clarkson Reflects On The End Of Her Talk Show

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While Clarkson continues to entertain audiences, she has also closed the chapter on her TV program.

According to The Blast, the host looked back on the journey and admitted that the program helped her through some of the most challenging periods of her life.

“I think it saved me, honestly, more times than I can count. And I believe this show has helped everyone grow stronger in what they do,” the TV star shared. 

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Clarkson recalled navigating the changes throughout the show’s run, including the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that there was never really a “normal season.”

However, showing up for it gave her a sense of purpose during the difficult times. 

Fox is finally bringing everyone back to Port Wenn — but Best Medicine fans should expect a “devastating” revelation amid season 2 shakeups.

During Us‘ visit to the Best Medicine set, executive producer Rodney Ferrell teased where season 2 starts out, saying, “We’ll see how long Eden remains in town. We’ll see how this new romance with Louisa pans out. Mark is going to have some hanky panky with some characters you know.”

Ferrell hinted that every character would face ups and downs.

“Martin is going to get better at the blood phobia but then something very major is going to happen that is going to regress him backwards in a big way,” he hinted. “So that’s coming. And then something pretty devastating is going to happen to one of our characters.”

Despite the concerning warning, Ferrell promised that Port Wenn would always find a way to come back from the challenges.

“[Don’t be] that worried. But it’s going to be a scary moment,” he hinted. “And there might even be a moment of medical attention for Copernicus [the dog] that might need to be dealt with. … [But] nothing’s going to happen that we’re not going to want to watch.”

Best Medicine follows a doctor who moves from Boston to a small practice in the East Coast fishing village where he vacationed as a child. In addition to Josh Charles, the cast includes Josh Segarra, Abigail Spencer, Cree Cicchino, Annie Potts, Didi Conn, Clea Lewis, Stephen Spinella, Jason Veasey, Cindy De La Cruz, John DiMaggio, Carter Shimp and dog Wattson.

“We learned a lot in season 1. I think what we learned was about finding the right balance between comedy, finding the real emotion, finding the drive with the medical cases,” Ferrell explained. “So I think this season you’re going to find a lot of episodes having a lot more emotion in them and going places with each character emotionally that we didn’t explore before.”

Ferrell saw each experience as a lesson, adding, “Because I feel like we discovered that the show can handle that along with the comedy, along with the medical cases. So I think that’s the big difference this season.”

Creator Liz Tuccillo was also thrilled to see the series adapt.

“Just having the room to tell the amount of stories that you want because you just feel like you have these great actors and you want them all to have big stories in every episode and you can’t. So that’s the challenge [this season],” she noted. “Finding ways to feel like you’ve really touched in with everybody for a season, and then they’ve all had growth and they’ve all had an arc while sort of doing all the other things you have to.”

Ferrell spoke to Us as well about the challenges behind the scenes, adding, “Tone is always the hardest thing for a show like this because you’re constantly treading the balance of, ‘Is it funny enough?’ But does the medical cases feel legitimate enough? Is there a real threat? But also having fun around that so it never gets too serious that you can’t have fun.”

He continued: “This year we’re trying to sort of implement a little more urgency with the medical cases, even having multiple medical cases and episodes. So I think our challenge is constantly making sure that we don’t lose the fun tone and that everyone’s sort of tuning into, the quirkiness of the characters, because sometimes those cases can start to override and take over. So I think maintaining the tone of what everyone loved is our biggest challenge. We’re doing it but it’s a constant thing we’re watching.”

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The one thing that will never change is the cases.

“That’s so funny because we’re in the middle of development so I have so many in my head. But the good thing is with all of our medical consultants, they all stem from real things,” Ferrell noted. “But then we’re a fictional show so we take creative liberty to sort of. There’s some memory loss coming.”

Best Medicine airs Tuesdays on Fox at 8 p.m. ET.

Pamela Anderson knows how to dress rich, whether she’s lounging around the garden or attending a designer fashion show. Her black dress style is the perfect example, and although hers costs thousands, I found the luxe look for only $41!

Anderson attended the Khaite Fashion Show in Brooklyn wearing Khaite heels, Khaite sunglasses and, you guessed it, a Khaite dress. It had cozy ribbed fabric, dainty front buttons and long sleeves, making it the perfect rich mom style for all things fall — think date nights, pumpkin patches, the like.

This classy twin has similar elements, featuring ribbed material, shiny gold buttons and lantern sleeves that conceal your arms. Better yet, the midi length shows off your shoes, whether you wear casual sneakers or fancy Khaite sandals like Anderson.

The only major difference is the neckline, and honestly, I prefer the mock-neck look. To top it off, the fabric has a stretchy feel that hugs your curves without squeezing, so don’t be surprised if you want to live in this chic dress. I sure do!

To top it off, the fabric has a stretchy feel that hugs your curves without squeezing, so don’t be surprised if you want to live in this chic dress. I sure do!

Sweater dresses are an easy fall outfit, and clearly, you don’t need Anderson’s budget or a Khaite Fashion Show invite to rock one. This comfy find gives a basic silhouette an elevated twist, ideal for luxe-loving fashionistas like me who want to dress rich without spending like it.

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Fall Sale –>

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Anthropologie is my fashion weakness, and honestly, I stand behind it. The boho-luxe aesthetic is dreamy, but when I say these affordable Amazon dresses look almost identical, I mean it. The only difference? The price tags.

With billowy, romantic silhouettes, floaty fabrics, whimsical prints and enchanting details, these fall dresses are as stylish as it gets. The best part is they start at only $9! I sifted through thousands of options to narrow down the list to these 17, so scroll on to see my favorites. You’re in for a super sweet treat!

17 Anthropologie-Style Fall Dresses — From $9

1. My Favorite: Everything about this floral maxi dress is swoon-worthy, including the short puff sleeves, sweeping tiered skirt and vintage pink and yellow blooms.

2. Flattering Find: Shirtdresses can lean stiff but not this silhouette-enhancing number. The structured waist shapes your body without squeezing.

3. Boutique Vibes: Flowers, paisley, colors! This short-sleeve maxi dress looks straight out of a Charleston boutique.

4. Very Velvet: People will think you dropped hundreds on this shiny velvet maxi dress, but no — it’s on sale for only $25.

5. Expensive Alert: If Anthropologie and Zimmermann merged, they’d create this oversized mini shirtdress that features a luxe floral print and dramatic short sleeves.

Related: Shh! Amazon Marked Down Free People-Style Fall Pieces — From $6

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6. Cozy Pick: With a cable-knit sweater top and pleated chiffon skirt, this preppy dress mixes textures in the best way. Add knee-high boots before heading out the door.

7. Polka Dot Princess: Polka dots are trending in 2026, and this mock-neck midi is the easiest way to rock the look.

8. So Fresh: Green can totally work for fall and this long-sleeve maxi proves it. You’ll wear it from brunches to orchards to weddings.

9. Solid-Color Stunner: This solid-color maxi dress is anything but boring, thanks to the shirred bodice, lantern sleeves and textured skirt.

10. Everyday Outfit: Imagine an expensive-looking quarter-zip in dress form. That’s this knit mini dress (that even has pockets).

11. Center of Attention: Yes, this vibrant Amazon dress is on the pricier end, however, it’s under $55 and looks like $550. The belt makes it flattering, too.

12. Cute Corduroy: Flowy and buttery soft, this corduroy mini dress is all you’ll want to wear. The loose three-quarter sleeves cover your arms without making you hot.

13. East Coast: This tie-waist maxi dress belongs in Nantucket due to the breezy silhouette, striped pattern and pure coastal energy.

14. Apple of My Eyelet: Eyelet fabric screams ‘expensive’, and this drapey maxi dress is made of it.

15. Wedding Guest: Be careful, you might upstage the bride in this floor-length gown that’s decorated with leaves, buttons and pleats.

16. Wine Night: Stun the girls in this wine-colored maxi dress that hides bumps and cellulite, all while elevating your aesthetic.

17. Pretty Patchwork: It’s hard to believe this patchwork-print dress is under $10. Toss on a denim jacket on, and you’re ready for date night!

UsNow Fall Sale Alert: These chic fashion finds are up to 60% off – plus free shipping

Welcome to fall with our biggest sale of the season. Our favorite dresses, tops, handbags, and shoes are all on sale + free shipping. Inventory is limited so hurry before they’re gone.

Shop the UsNow Fall Sale –>

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