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Max was once known as “HBO Max,” and it took him a while to realize his own identity instead of creating HBO screens smart enough to be HBO proper. But we landed on anything with The Pitt, a high-quality medical procedure drama from the creators of ER. The Pitt is the latest addition to our list of Max’s most productive displays. It sits alongside HBO’s new hits The Penguin and Dune: Prophecy, cult animated films for adults like Creature Commandos, and, of course, HBO classics like The Soprano.
A note on how this list was compiled: In order to stay relevant, we’re emphasizing new releases, recently uploaded screens on Max, and HBO/Max originals, but we’ve also made sure to upload screens that we personally can. I continue to recommend it to our friends. We will update this list periodically.
Last updated Jan. 10; most recent additions at the top.
More on HBO and Max:
Noah Wyle, The Pit
The Pitt isn’t technically an ER revival, but it plays a lot like this old-fashioned medical procedural, with the same kind of fast-paced drama following the ER doctors as they do their life-or-death work. It even stars Noah Wyle. from the emergency room, who returns to the genre as the lead attending physician at a Pittsburgh trauma center. Pitt covers a 15-hour day, with one episode representing one hour. It is noteworthy because it is one of the first procedures ever designed. for a broadcast service. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Joe Dempsie and Tamara Lawrance get Millie Black
This five-episode British limited series is a dark crime mystery set in sunny Jamaica, where former Scotland Yard detective Millie Black (Tamara Lawrence) investigates a missing persons case that’s uncomfortably personal. The series is the debut screenplay of Man Booker Prize-winning novelist Marlon James, who founded the character about his own mother, who is a detective in Kingston, Jamaica. This is a real hidden gem that you can impress your mystery-loving friends with because they probably haven’t heard of it. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Creature Commands
This adult animated series is James Gunn’s (Guardians of the Galaxy) first project to come out since he and his producing partner Peter Safran took over DC Studios in 2022. Gunn writes every episode of this spinoff of The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker. The premise is that after the brutal live-action events of the aforementioned projects, Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is no longer willing to send humans on black ops missions, but she can send monsters, robots, animals, etc. The new team, led by Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo), is dubbed the Creature Commandos. Gunn’s live-action projects are known for their gonzo ultraviolence, anarchic humor, and surprising heart, so you can probably guess at what his animated project is like. It’s a fun preview of what’s to come from Gunn’s new-look DC. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Emily Watson and Olivia Williams, Dune: Prophecy
They’re doing a smart job on Dune adapting Denis Villeneuve’s film franchise to the small screen. This spin-off series from the epic sci-fi films tells the origin story of the Bene Gesserit, the brotherhood of psychics who exert ordinary influence over the Dunivese, rarely for better or worse, but in a way that maintains their influence. own power. Emily Watson and Olivia Williams play Valya and Tula Harkonnen, the founders of the order. “The film’s extended running time gives Dune: Prophecy the chance to explore corners of this universe never before seen on film, from nightclubs filled with rich spice shoppers to snowy planets whose economies appear to be based on hunting hairy whales. “Keith Phipps writes. . in his review of the series. -Liam Mathews [Trailer | Bye bye]
Anna Faris, it’s Florida, man.
Danny McBride is the executive producer of the HBO late-night comedy series, which tells true stories from the Sunshine State. It features quirky Florida features recreated through famous visitors including Anna Faris, Jake Johnson, Juliette Lewis and many more. It’s a bit like the Drunk History Dateline montage. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell, The Penguin
The Penguin picks up from 2022’s The Batman, continuing the story of Colin Farrell’s Oswald Cobblepot, aka Penguin, as he tries to take over Gotham City’s underworld in the wake of Carmine Falcone’s death in the movie. But it won’t be an easy task, because Falcone’s daughter Sofia (Cristin Milioti) is also making moves. Milioti and Farrell are so good in their respective parts that this noir thriller becomes impossible to look away from when their on the screen. -Phil Owen [Trailer]
Myha’la Herrold, Industry
The industry, which can be described as the satisfied medium between “the succession of Instagram influencers” and “the euphoria of big business,” is simply too good. The series about global finance revolves around an organization of young bankers looking to land their dream job at a prestigious investment bank in London, and focuses on both their professional drama and their interpersonal drama. The market is still in ruins. Partnerships are changing. Sometimes, Jay Duplass is there. It’s a wonderful show. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Matt Smith, House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon, HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series, needs no introduction, but I’ll try to give it one anyway: Set two centuries before Game of Thrones, the series focuses on the Targaryen family as they fight for iron. Throne . Expect strength struggles and gray hair. In his review of Season 1 for TV Guide, Liam Mathews wrote that the screen doesn’t “break the wheel,” it’s just more Game of Thrones, which is rarely very bad. thing: “If you’re even a little willing to get burned by dragon fire, House of the Dragon is in a position to meet you wherever you are. ” -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Ren Fair
Everything is bigger in Texas, adding its Renaissance fairs. This documentary series produced by the Safdie brothers follows the fierce war between the possible successors of the largest ren faire in the country, after the octogenarian millionaire owner makes the decision to resign. But, as with all smart documentaries, it’s the themes that are worth watching, and Ren Faire has a cast of unique quirks that will leave you in awe. It begins with landlord King George, who makes the decision, at a complex age, that he is willing to rent to a female partner, and unabashedly talks about the medical care he uses to enjoy bedtime with his future wife, while contemplating ending your life by lethal injection (or dying by “snu snu”). like anything from Succession to Game of Thrones, with the medieval context adding a charming layer of absurdity to the debates, and the unique folk horror vibes of the staging adding extra weight to it all. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Smiling friends
In the world of absurd adult animation, there’s a fine line between idiotically lol random and dementedly brilliant. Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Rick & Morty fall into the latter category, and they’re clearly influences on Adult Swim’s latest gem, Smiling Friends. As is usually the case with this type of show, the “plot” matters little — but in case you must know, it’s about four weirdos who work for a company dedicated to spreading happiness — and the bizarre adventures matter a lot. And oh, the adventures they go on. Smiling Friends also can’t be contained by one animation style, mixing CGI, stop-motion animation, and more into its crude drawings. It’s a trip. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Robert Durst, The Jinx – Part Two
The original The Jinx gave us one of the peak pop culture moments of the last decade as the documentary production exposed new evidence that would ultimately lead to Durst’s conviction for murder, not to mention his absolutely and undeniably obvious confession on a hot microphone. . The Jinx – Part Two is therefore the most authentic sequel: the one that deals directly with the consequences of the first. The second part follows Durst without delay after the original series aired, when he was on the run, through his trial, imprisonment and, finally, death in 2022. All of this is attractive in its own right, of course, but it is in that meta facet: This wouldn’t have happened if they hadn’t made The Jinx ten years ago, which gives it its true appeal. And today we are as captivated by this saga as we were in 2015. -Phil Owen [Trailer]
Conan O’Brien, Conan O’Brien Must Go
Conan O’Brien used to do his Conan Without Borders segments for his TBS series, and now he’s expanded that concept to his own full-screen on Max. Unfortunately, it’s only 4 episodes, but it hits all the right notes and satirizes the viewing format, with Conan visiting random enthusiasts he met on his podcast and engaging with the local culture in a very Conan way. The series takes Conan on adventures in Norway, Argentina, and Thailand, before ending with a vacation in Ireland that became a bit poignant when he discovered his family’s history. But don’t worry, it’s not so touching that it doesn’t be hilarious. -Phil Owen [Trailer]
Jean Smart, Hacks
Jean Smart is a living legend, and we owe it to human civilization to do everything we can for her, starting with watching everything she does. Smart stars in what is Max’s most productive original comedy as Deborah Vance, an aging comic from Las Vegas whose days at best are coming to an end, so cases pair her with a more youthful comic (Hannah Einbinder) recently canceled for a joke she made on Twitter. The cast also includes Kaitlin Olson and co-creator Paul W. Downs. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. , The Well-Wisher
The 2015 Viet Thanh Nguyen e-book adaptation of the same title follows a conflicted Communist Party spy in Vietnam throughout his life and mixes dark humor with Cold War espionage emotions. Co-created by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) and Don McKellar, The Sympathizer’s ’70s and ’80s vibe comes from the screen in style, thanks in part to a trio of cool camera managers: Park, Fernando Meirelles from the City of God. and Mark Mullen of Utopia. Hoa Xuande plays the unknown protagonist, with Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr. in multiple supporting roles. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Jerrod Carmichael, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show
One of the most interesting comedians today is Jerrod Carmichael, who has followed the path of working with independent rappers, headlining comedies on networks and turning down large amounts of money to direct even more conventional projects for the sake of being as original as possible. be. His 2022 Emmy-winning comedy special Rothaniel was his grittest yet, focusing on Carmichael coming out as gay, and his new Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show assignment accelerates his new unfiltered opening. Jerrod shows the world his life of crushes and relationships, his love of nameless sex, and his confusing problems with his devoted parents, providing an exclusive look at what it means to be a celebrity when you only have general problems. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Larry David, master your enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm, now in its 12th and allegedly actual final season, is a show that needs no introduction. But I’ll give one anyway in case you somehow haven’t heard of it: Larry David plays a fictionalized version of himself and the show follows him as he goes through life being inconvenienced by normal, everyday things. In 12 seasons, nothing has really changed, and that’s the whole point. It’s actually kind of incredible that it’s still funny after all these years — even deep in his 70s, Larry David’s still got it. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, True Detective
Each season of True Detective is its own distinct story with a completely new cast, however, there is one main facet that all 4 seasons have in common: a doom-serious noir mystery vibe and a morally gray story that will make you feel bad, eh, many things. The new season, called True Detective: Night Country, stars Jodie Foster in the same type of role that won her an Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs, and is True’s most productive season. Detective since the premiere. -Phil Owen [Trailer]
Natalia Grace Barnett, The Strange Case of Natalia Grace
The craziest truth-telling docuseries since 2020’s Tiger King explosion is Investigation Discovery’s The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which features more twists and turns than Chubthrough Checker running through a pretzel factory in the middle of a tornado. The saga follows the story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian child who was followed by an American family but became a terrifying burden to them. Well, according to the parents. Was she a 30-year-old woman with dwarfism who deceived everyone around her? What happened is still up for debate, trapped in an internet of lies, accusations of abuse and legal strangulation. It’s the kind of series that will leave everyone with an opinion and more questions than answers. The second season features Natalia telling her side of the story and comes with an explosive finale that almost promises a third season. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Boston Murder: Roots, Rampage, and Trial
Boston’s troubled history of racism is put to the test in this three-part documentary series that follows the murder of a pregnant white woman and the shooting of her husband in the 1980s, the reaction of the city government, and the forces of the order, and the pain and suffering of a community. That followed. Under the direction of The Last Dance’s Jason Hehir, Murder in Boston is a history lesson and true crime series, back to the crime and even deeper into the building blocks that created one of the most segregated cities and racially tense United States.
Rose Matafeo, Starstruck
The rom-com isn’t dead; it just moved to television. Like a reverse Notting Hill, the endearing series Starstruck follows Jessie (played by creator Rose Matafeo), a New Zealander living in London who spends a boozy New Year’s Eve with a guy named Tom (Nikesh Patel), only to wake up to the realization that he’s a famous movie star. The whole thing — each season zips by in six half-hour episodes — plays like an old-school screwball comedy. They just can’t quit each other. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
John Wilson, How to do it with John Wilson
How to With John Wilson is a philosophical series through Peeping Tom that suffers two other series of leaks “through my eyes”. First, through its author John Wilson, an introverted teacher who distills complex social interactions down to their simplest explanations, and second, through the lens of the gotherera that leads to New York City (as well as Idaho, Florida, and other places where he lives (research leads him), who centers his point of view on an image of a bachelor, like this crazy American beauty. It all combined to tell her story in a way that no one expects. Wilson is able to take those inappropriate themes and turn them into a cohesive and moving reflection on existence. It’s the most unlikely show to explain, but watch it and you’ll understand. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Harley Quinn
DC’s hit animated series will return for a fifth season on the same Bat channel. In the meantime, catch up on Harley Quinn’s fourth season, which begins with Harley (Kaley Cuoco) teaming up with the Bat-Family now that Batgirl (Briana Cuoco) has taken the reins and Bruce Wayne (Diedrich Bader) is gone. . in criminal for tax evasion. Superhero stories like this don’t come along every day. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
Andrew Koji, warrior
Warrior is a breakthrough in Asian representation on screen, but it’s just a bonus of this action drama that breathes new life into Max after running in the dark at Cinemax. Based on Bruce Lee’s writings and brought to the screen through his daughter Shannon, Warrior’s depiction of the Tong Wars in San Francisco in the late 19th century is absolutely terrifying and takes more twists than Lombard Street, showing a time, a place, and other people who made them a reality. somehow, he neglects. This is Peaky Blinders with an added layer of racial issues. It’s the Gangs of New York with the most flying kicks. But it’s also quite original as a story of immigrants making their way to a country that lightly tolerated them and fought against them. opposed to this hate. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Sex and the City
Even if you haven’t noticed Sex and the City, you know Sex and the City. The four most productive friends in New York! Navigating love, navigating life, navigating the transition from old 90’s fashion (fun) to early 2000’s fashion (horrible)! It’s been incredibly popular, but it hasn’t been identified as an “important” show, as is often the case with a lot of things that are, quote, “for women,” but it’s definitely an amazing show. Array even with all its many flaws. Its sequel series, And Just Like That. . . , which premiered in 2021 and reaches 3 in 4 women now in their 50s, is rarely as good, but if you’re a fan, it’s tough. to resist. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Adam Devine, Danny McBride and Edi Patterson, The Righteous Gemstones
Danny McBride is very clever at making exhibitions about terrible, hateful people. His most recent film, The Righteous Gemstones, is a black comedy about a family of world-famous televangelists whose patriarch, Eli (John Goodman), made a fortune preaching the intelligent word of the Lord to the public and opening a series of megachurches. to the detriment of small churches. McBride, Edi Patterson, and Adam DeVine play his three terrible adult children, all of whom are constantly festivaling each other to see who can become dad’s favorite and take over the empire (seriously, it’s Succession), and Walton Goggins . he plays his disgusting brother-in-law. Every comedy is truly a drama these days, but The Righteous Gemstones, thankfully, is all about making you laugh, even if its characters do and say some surely despicable things. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Drew Tarver and Heléne Yorke, The Other Two
Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider’s showbiz comedy is one of the funniest shows of the last decade, period. It follows forgotten older siblings Cary (Drew Tarver) and Brooke (Heléne Yorke) who have to deal with the fact that their teen brother has become a world famous pop star overnight. As his star rises, they flail forward, trying to forge their own career paths despite the world constantly kicking them down at every turn. It’s a satire that isn’t cynical or smug, and it’s the surprisingly rare comedy of today that is primarily focused on packing as many jokes into each episode as possible. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Unicorn: Eternal Warriors
Unicorn: Warriors Eternal is an anime series that is highly unlikely to be described as it should, but here we go. A steampunk robot travels back in time, imbuing the teenagers of Victorian England with the spirits of warriors tasked with battling an entity for eternity, forcing those unsuspecting ships to give up their lives and save the world. The best description would be to say that this is another winner by Genndy Tartakovsky (Primal, Samurai Jack), a bizarre work of art that is visually striking and emotionally rich. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Jeff Hiller and Bridget Everett, Someone Somewhere
Comedian Bridget Everett stars in this indie-com about a woman named Sam learning to find herself in Kansas after the untimely death of her sister. But it’s not a sad show! In fact, Somebody Somewhere is about relishing the joys of friendship, expressing yourself, and embracing what makes you unique, but in that weird way that the choir club at high school used to do. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Bill Hader, Barry
Barry, which follows Bill Hader’s depressed hitman who seeks to make it as an actor in Los Angeles, is the funniest drama on television or the ultimate comedy-drama. In four seasons, it was rarely lost and established itself as one of our most productive character studies on hurting people. Their common moments of sly and absurd humor prevent him from delving into incredibly dark territory, and the curtain is augmented through a dynamic ensemble, including the wonderful Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, and Stephen Root. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Jeremy Strong, relief
Jesse Armstrong’s series about the power struggles of the members of the exorbitantly rich Roy family, whose father is the CEO of a billion-dollar media conglomerate, is worth every bit of the hype surrounding it. Yes, it’s about the business stuff (though I don’t really know anyone watching it because they’re super passionate about business), but it’s mostly about the truly horrifically twisted family dynamics, and about the awful things wealth and power do to people. Considering the clashing personality types at play — from king sad boy Kendall (Jeremy Strong) to slimy, immature Roman (Kieran Culkin) to cold, calculating Shiv (Sarah Snook) — it’s not difficult to understand why it’s inspired so many memes. Sometimes it’s just fun to watch bad people behave badly, when it’s all happening within the confines of a fictional TV show. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason
You probably won’t forget Perry Mason as the towering defense attorney somewhere in that towering trial as he summed up murder cases and, like clockwork, extracted a confession from someone who wasn’t his consumer to prove his innocence. Throw all that out the window, as HBO reboots Perry Mason with a fantastic Matthew Rhys playing the iconic TV character as a scruffy, grumpy, alcoholic, whore-loving malcontent who, in Season 1, takes on a case involving to a homicidal man. baby in dirty, grimy 1930s Los Angeles. That’s how prestige television goes: even if the story is ultimately a little short, the performances and visuals are enough to keep you watching, and its second season (and , in the end, the last one) was a marked final result. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
One of the most productive video games of the last decade is getting its long-awaited live-action adaptation in HBO’s The Last of Us. The drama is set in a desolate, post-apocalyptic edition of the United States that has been overrun by cannibalistic and zombified creatures and follows the adventure of a survivor (Pedro Pascal) to smuggle a teenage woman (Bella Ramsey) out of the quarantine zone. . The series was co-developed through Chernothroughl’s Craig Mazin and the game’s art director Neil Druckmann, with a cast that reads like a Who’s Who made up of TV greats like Murray Bartlett, Anna Torv, and Melanie Lynskey. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Billie Piper, I Hate Suzie
It’s OK to watch someone during the worst time of their life, really! It’s good for learning from their mistakes and enjoying a little schadenfreude, and in the SkyTV series I Hate Suzie, it’s also very funny. Billie Piper delivers an award-worthy performance as she absolutely becomes Suzie Pickles, an actress whose career and family get blown to bits when her phone is hacked and racy photos are leaked on the internet. The scramble to save face and her marriage is a bumpy one for Suzie, who goes through the wringer in the dark comedy that isn’t afraid to mix raunch with sharp observations about celebrity. There’s an element of horror to the show as the walls close in on Suzie and she retreats into some self-destructive behavior in strange places, and the anxiety it produces is almost too much, in a great way. In its three-episode second season, the delirium continues as Suzie gets a part in a televised Christmas special and fights to regain the love of the public. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Sultan Salahuddin and Kareme Young, south side
South Side follows two friends in Chicago who try to become venture capitalists but are forced to work boring jobs until it happens. Creators Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle have created a delightfully unique little world. It’s the ultimate chill out show where nothing happens, but the jokes are funny and the characters are great. It’s the kind of screen you see and wonder why you didn’t start watching it sooner. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Amanda Cordner and Bilal Baig, from
A tender, low-key comedy-drama about a non-binary millennial who drops everything to care for the young people he cares for after their mother has an accident. Sort Of is a quietly innovative gem of a series. It avoids relying on its own importance and flows with the slow authenticity of everyday life, all anchored through its glorious star and co-creator, Bilal Baig. His explorations of identity are presented candidly; His jokes may surprise you with their subtlety. It’s like a breath of new air in the form of television. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus
The first season of Mike White’s gripping comedy-drama took place at an exclusive multimillion-dollar Hawaiian resort, although it was hardly relaxing for any of its characters, whether they were there on vacation or rushing to satisfy the needy desires of their wealthy clients. Season 2, location adjustments to Italy, and a new cast of high-strung characters are in the spotlight. White has created a dark comedy that’s proven to work well in every corner of the world, and it’s a joy to watch even when it comes off as The Stakes. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Julio Torres and Ana Fábrega, Los Espookys
Los Espookys, HBO’s quirky Spanish-language comedy about an organization of friends who turn their love of horror into a special affair, deserves to be a huge hit. Julio Torres, Ana Fábrega, and Fred Armisen co-created and starred in the series, which after all comes out in its second season after a long COVID-induced hiatus, and the world will finally get used to its many gothic charms. There is nothing like it on television, taking a stand at the crossroads of the genuine and the unknown, and savoring its own weirdness. Unfortunately it was canceled after season 2. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Abbott Elementary School
Abbot Elementary is a mockumentary in the vein of The Office or Parks and Recreation about an underfunded public elementary school in Philadelphia, where students struggle to supply their students as productively as possible without being exhausted by a lack of resources. respect, administración. la and difficulty of the paintings themselves. The main character is Janine Teagues (creator of the series Quinta Brunson), an idealistic sophomore in her second year on the job. In each episode, he attempts to go above and beyond the call of duty, with effects that are alternately triumphant or humiliating. The series has a sweet and salty sense of humor and a cast of characters that feel like other people who can actually exist in real life. We’ve all relied on the commiseration of capable colleagues to help us put up with bad bosses like Ava Coleman, the groomed, vindictive manager hilariously played by Janelle James. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]
Nathan Fielder, The Rehearsal
Nathan Fielder is really good at making social experiment TV (like his great Comedy Central series Nathan for You, or How to With John Wilson, which he produces) in which many episodes are built around interactions with everyday people. His latest series is a little harder to describe — in it, Fielder helps people plan for big moments in their lives through elaborately constructed rehearsals, but as is usually the case with Fielder’s work, it becomes about so much more the longer it goes on. If Fielder’s deadpan character appeals to you, and you can allow yourself to be in on the joke with him, you’ll love The Rehearsal. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Colin Firth and Toni Collette, The Staircase
2022 has been a banner year for turning true crime cases into scripted miniseries, and The Staircase has positioned itself comfortably among the pack. Colin Firth, in one of the most impressive performances of that year, plays Michael Peterson, who in 2001 was accused of murdering his wife after claiming she died after falling down the stairs. The star-studded cast also includes Toni Collette, Parker Posey, Sophie Turner and Michael Stuhlbarg. Before you say, “Well, I already saw the documentary, I don’t want to see that,” know that this adaptation adds just enough to make it interesting, adding the making of the documentary. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Kaley Cuoco, the flight attendant
Sometimes you just want to kick back and watch people make bad choices. The Flight Attendant delivers. The darkly comedic thriller stars Kaley Cuoco, never better, as a hot-mess flight attendant named Cassie who wakes up after a boozy night in Bangkok next to her fling’s dead body. Cassie’s fumbling quest to clear her name forces her to face what’s screwed up in her, confronting memories she’s repressed for decades. It’s a fizzy, addictive caper with a Hitchcockian flair, and Cuoco makes it impossible to look away as her character spirals. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
John Cena, peacemaker
John Cena brings his DC Comics The Suicide Squad character Peacemaker, a passionate guy who needs peace so much he’s willing to be incredibly violent about it, to the small screen, with James Gunn writing all the episodes and directing five of them. If you’ve noticed the brilliant The Suicide Squad (it won’t be with the failed Suicide Squad, but of course it will be), you know the tone of this, with Gunn riding the disgusting humor of The Suicide Squad into an origin story for the most productive character of the movie that he wasn’t a walking weasel and Cena appeared out of his magnetic star force like an idiot. Superhero purists would probably scoff at it, but those who like muscles, violence, and wicked jokes will enjoy it. -Tim Surette [Trailer]
Zendaya, Euphoria
Euphoria is the kind of show that will make you say, “I’ll never have kids!” Sam Levinson’s gloriously messy semi-autobiographical series centers on Rue (Zendaya), an excellent freshman in rehab who has no goal of staying sober, and her poisonous friendship with Jules (Hunter Schafer). Rue, Jules and their classmates have fun. They take drugs and indulge in general debauchery as they struggle to locate each other, but the show is so affectionately empathetic to their teenage desperation while also having some of the most productive cinematographic moments on television. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Alia Shawkat, John Early, John Reynolds and Meredith Hagner, team
Search Party originally aired on TBS, where it was ignored for its first two seasons, but luckily Max kept it from getting lost in the shuffle of cable TV. The satirical comedy stars Alia Shawkat as Dory, an aimless twenty-something living in Brooklyn who makes the decision to find purpose in her life by reuniting with an old classmate who recently disappeared. Anyway, that’s how it starts. Search Party goes to all kinds of ambitious and dark places, ambitiously switching genres each season by adding elements of crime thrillers and courtroom dramas, and raising the stakes while maintaining its sharp sense of humor. It’s a journey, but if you’re willing to take it, you’re in for a wonderful adventure. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Himesh Patel and Matilda Lawler, Station Eleven
For better or worse, plenty of shows have already tackled the pandemic, but Station Eleven is a little different from the rest, if only because the book it’s based on (also called Station Eleven, written by Emily St. John Mandel) was written years ago. back. COVID (filming of the miniseries also began before the pandemic). It centers on an organization of survivors in the wake of a global pandemic that has devastated much of the world as they struggle to figure out how to move forward in the face of so much devastation, with the story alternating between before and front. -the afterlife of the virus and the post-virus future. Mackenzie Davis, Matilda Lawler and Himesh Patel star. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Insecure Yvonne Orji and Issa Rae
Issa Rae’s work focuses on her changing ego, Issa Dee, and Issa’s best friend, Molly (Yvonne Orji), who are doing the best they can in their careers, relationships, and lives. Insecure is so clever at so many things: presenting nuanced looks at friendships between black women, making life’s struggles fun and heartbreaking, and, of course, having an endless revolving door of handsome guys. It is one of the most productive, funny and intelligent comedies of the last decade. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Blake Lively and Leighton Meester, Gossip Girl
The crown jewel of late aughts TV, Gossip Girl revolves around a group of rich kids who go to an elite Manhattan high school, all while their scandalous inner lives are tracked and put on display by the mysterious Gossip Girl. It’s silly, it’s stupid, it’s perfect, and it catapulted people like Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, and Penn Badgley to stardom. Max also put out a, to be nice about it, not as perfect revival in 2021 that focuses on a new cast. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Isaiah Johnson and Akili McDowell, David Makes Man
Nothing else on TV moves like David Makes Man, a tender coming-of-age drama from Moonlight co-writer Tarell Alvin McCraney. The first season is told through the eyes of 14-year-old David (powerhouse talent Akili McDowell), who can’t reconcile the person he is at his magnet school with his home life in the projects. As he deals with academic pressure, his mother’s struggle to make rent, and the local boys who are eager to recruit him to the drug trade, each world he inhabits is written with equal empathy and humanity. When Season 2 jumps ahead to find David (played as an adult by Kwame Patterson) in his 30s, it only underlines the way adults still carry their youth with them. David Makes Man is a remarkable show, suffused with magical realism and drenched in the sunlight and sweat of South Florida. The impression it leaves is vivid and unforgettable. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
Kate Winslet, Easttown mare
On the surface, Mare of Easttown seems like any other crime show about a grizzled cop solving a case. The series follows Mare (Kate Winslet, giving one of the best performances of her career), a Pennsylvania detective, as she investigates the killing of a local teen girl while simultaneously coping with her own trauma. But despite how many dark murder dramas are out there, Mare is singular: It’s an enthralling mystery; it’s a character study of damaged people; it is, occasionally, a mother-daughter sitcom. It’ll keep you hooked until the final shot, in which Mare finally begins dealing with the piece of her past she’s had the most difficulty accepting. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Frances Conroy, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, and Freddy Rodriguez, Six Feet Under
Alan Ball’s series follows the lives of the Fisher family, who take over the Los Angeles funeral home that was left to them by their recently deceased father. You may or may not know that Six Feet Under is best remembered for its iconic series finale sequence, but most everything that happens before that is incredible too. The Fisher family is dysfunctional and troubled, and the show is unique for its willingness to have frank, complicated discussions about the many facets of dying and grief. While you should probably know before going in that this one is pretty dark (each episode begins with a different death), don’t let that deter you from watching. It’s something special. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon, The Leftovers
Co-created by Lost’s Damon Lindelof and author Tom Perrotta, The Leftovers could be read as a direct response to the controversy around the Lost finale: On The Leftovers, the lack of answers was the point. Set in the dazed aftermath of the sudden vanishing of 2 percent of the world’s population, the series evolved past its bleak first season to tell a story more expansive, and more quietly magical, than anything else on TV. But while the unrelenting anguish of the first few episodes turned some viewers off, it wasn’t a flaw in the big picture. The distance between where The Leftovers began and where it ended was part of what made the second and third seasons so effective: It was thrilling to watch the show break its own rules. When the characters found their own ways to heal, it was both a rebellion and a relief. The Leftovers didn’t capture life exactly as it is but as it feels. It will be looked back on as a snapshot of a chaotic era striving for grace. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]
Wendell Pierce and Dominic West, The Wire
Created by David Simon, The Wire is rightfully lauded as being one of the greatest shows of all time. Set in Baltimore, the crime drama focuses largely on the city’s drug trade, but with each season it peels back another layer, expertly exploring other facets of the city, from the local government to the educational system. It’s unflinching and fascinating, set on exposing the American underbelly, but more than anything, it really just is that good. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
The Sopranos
Have you heard of this one? David Chase’s groundbreaking drama is as popular today as it was when it first aired, and for smart reason. It’s simply one of the most productive ever made, following James Gandolfini’s mobster Tony Soprano as he tries to come to terms with the weight of the horribly violent things he did as a mob boss while balancing his role as a husband. and father. It’s a gripping, colorful story about America, the things capitalism does to a person’s soul, and tracksuits. If you like an exhibit made after The Sopranos, chances are it was, in one way or another, encouraged through The Sopranos. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Mike White and Laura Dern, Enlightened
One of the most productive series HBO has ever produced, Mike White’s 30-minute comedy-drama Enlightened stars Laura Dern (in arguably her biggest TV role) as a former business executive heading to a religious retreat after a nervous breakdown. There, she becomes an eco-friendly and new-age goddess who joins her company in the depths, where she plans to take it down. Extremely touching and funny, Enlightened was ahead of its time. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Regina King, Guardians
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons and created by Damon Lindelof, Watchmen is the rare superhero story that resonates with people who love superheroes and people who hate superheroes. Set in an alternate edition of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where cops hide their identities to protect themselves, the film begins 34 years after the original Watchmen story. Regina King stars as Angela Abar, who quickly becomes embroiled in a mysterious conspiracy after the death of a co-worker. The exhibit is an incredible showcase for actors like King, Jean Smart, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and at the same time serves as a hitale lesson, bringing the bloodbath of the 1921 Tulsa race into greater public consciousness. It also remarkably manages to make such a sprawling story digestible for others who are familiar with the original Watchmen. From start to finish, this is an expertly crafted series. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]
Michaela Coel, I can
Rising super talent Michaela Coel created, wrote, directed and stars in this timely and unflinching drama made in association with the BBC. She plays Arabella, a writer who is drugged and sexually assaulted in a bar, and vaguely remembers that something bad happened to her, but doesn’t know who is responsible. He tries to find out who did this, while maintaining his friendships and completing his book. The series deals with incredibly heavy topics, but has a sly sense of humor that will make you laugh when you least expect it. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]