Since the days when premium cable seemed so…premium, HBO was always the most desirable of channels. There was a reason why for the longest time motels used to advertise a feature of their rooms being free HBO. Even when more premium cable channels of Starz, Showtime and Cinemax came into being, HBO remained on top with the best selection of movies and original content. They maintain their popularity to this day by hosting the most eclectic and high-production series that range everywhere from quirky comedies to epic genre sagas. Here’s a selection of 12 of their most interesting programs.
1. Westworld
Based on the sci-fi film by Michael Crichton, Westworld takes place in a future where androids have been built for entertainment. They’re built in service of the amusement park Westworld, where fantasies of the Wild West can be lived out with robotic figures feeling true to the era. But when the programming of the androids go awry, a new nightmarish experience awaits the guests and staff of Westworld. Loaded with unbelievable special effects amid great drama, the show is notable for boasting an impressive roster of actors that includes Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson, Luke Hemsworth, Ed Harris and Anthony Hopkins.
2. Watchmen
Not even HBO is immune to the comic book craze of reaping superheros for strong television and they’ve thankfully chosen a very stellar show to pursue. Shifting from the 1980s to the 21st century, the postmodern superhero saga now addresses a false utopia where fascism and racism are on the rise, despite a more restrictive society after the events of the 80s. What follows is a brilliant follow-up that not only answers the questions of what happened to the damaged heroes of the past but how the next generation will move forward in a chaotic world. The show was created by Damon Lindelof and does an amazing job of building up how reshaped society can be when the frightening powers of wealthy and god-like beings control the fate of the planet.
3. Game of Thrones
Based on the best-selling novels by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones tells that tale of a fantasy land gripped in constant conflict. The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros all are at each other’s throats for the glory of sitting atop the Iron Throne to lord over all. Kings and Queens will not only send their armies into battle but commit hideous acts of betrayal, genocide and murder most foul to attain the top honor of Westeros. Extremely gritty and incredibly violent with fantasy action, Game of Thrones features one of the most elaborate ensembles of any HBO series with such actors as Sean Bean, Sophie Turner, Emelia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage and Aidan Gillen, just to name a few.
4. Curb Your Enthusiasm
Larry David, having been the co-creator of the iconic Seinfeld series, turns the camera on himself in this wonderfully wicked satire series. Larry mostly plays himself as a nitpicky elder so uncertain and uneasy about the world around him. He’s not too sure what to think of everything from a house of lesbians to gestures on the street. Mountains turn into molehills as he finds himself descending into trouble often caused by his meddling, as when he wears a Make America Great Again hat to avoid social interaction. This hilarious series co-stars the likes of Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman and J. B. Smoove.
5. Chernobyl
Based on true events, this intriguing and grim miniseries focuses on the disaster that was the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant meltdown. The events of April 26, 1986 led to an accident that had Russia scrambling how to handle such a situation when radioactive disaster forced a complex and difficult means of cleaning up after such a horrific tragedy in world history. Winner of multiple awards from the Emmys and the Golden Globes, the series features intense drama with award-winning performances from a cast that includes Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley, Adam Nagaitis, Con O’Neill, Adrian Rawlins, Sam Troughton, Robert Emms and Emily Watson.
6. Eastbound and Down
Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) was once a pitcher in Major League Baseball but was too much of a mess to continue playing professionally. His issues with addiction coupled with his aggressive behaviour forces him out of the big leagues and into the smaller box of middle school fitness education. Now residing in his North Carolina hometown, Kenny longs for the days of baseball and finds that he may have some of that same flair when he ventures down to Mexico. Created by Danny McBride and produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, McBride dominates this profane and hilarious sports comedy of how one bad athlete struggles to become an educator.
7. True Detective
Though True Detective comes labeled as an anthology crime drama for its seasons that shift to different storylines, the show is anything but your typical police procedural. Created by Nic Pizzolatto, the show follows multiple duos of detectives in cases that run long, taking place over the course of years. What the detectives will find, however, manages to be both dark and surreal with unexpected and horrifying discoveries. Critically acclaimed and the winner of multiple awards, True Detective is one of the most intriguing of detective series with a fantastic cast that includes Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in season one, Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams in season two, and Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff in season three.
8. Deadwood
Set after the Civil War, the small mining town of Deadwood, South Dakota is a very dangerous place in the late 1800s. Brimming with all manner of violent and scummy characters, Sheriff Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) struggles to maintain law and order in such a lawless town. That justice is hard to maintain when the sneering and vicious Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), owner of The Gem Saloon, doesn’t make it easy. The revisionist Western series of great drama and grit features such appearances by such Western profiles as Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, Charlie Utter, and A. W. Merrick. It should be worth noting that of all the adult programming on the channel, Deadwood has by far the dirtiest mouth which is quite a feat for slinging profanity in with poetic dialogue.
9. The Righteous Gemstones
Danny McBride creates yet another hilarious satire in this series that takes aim at the weird wealthy world of televangelists. The series follows the famous Gemstone family, known far and wide for their television gospel to their enthusiastic Christian audience within their megachurch structure. But as the show reveals when the cameras are not aimed at them, the Gemstones are one very messed up family of questionable character. This hilarious take on modern religion features an all-star cast that includes John Goodman, Edi Patterson, Adam DeVine, Cassidy Freeman, Tony Cavalero, Tim Baltz, Skyler Gisondo, and Walton Goggins delivering some of their best performances.
10. The Leftovers
In a strange turn of events, 140 million humans vanished from the Earth in what would come to be called The Sudden Departure. Over the years, those residing in Mapleton, N.Y. try to cope and live on after such an incident. Yet such madness has led to a tsunami of guilt, paranoia and madness that breed the cult of Guilty Remnant. It’s up to police chief Kevin Garvey to restore law and order to his community, which is not an easy task when trying to be a family man. Based on the best-selling novel by Tom Perrotta, the series showcases stellar drama amid an earth-shaking tragedy that causes all of humanity to rethink their perspective on life.
11. The Newsroom
The prolific screenwriter Aaron Sorkin of The West Wing fame took his talent for biting political writing into the newsroom for, well, The Newsroom. The show follows the very vocal and vicious news anchor Will McVoy (Jeff Daniels), devoted to seeking the truth and reporting on it, no matter how many feathers he may ruffle. Before each broadcast, his team struggles to dig deep and find the best stories while also ensuring their accuracy. This show has real teeth and wasn’t afraid to tackle the more relatable issues of the day including voter suppression and climate change. The show features fantastic performances from the likes of Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn and Sam Waterston.
12. Silicon Valley
Developed by Mike Judge (Beavis & Butthead, King of the Hill), this tech-based series follows a collective of intelligent nerds that strive to build up their startup company. The company is the product of five Bay Area friends who live together, sharing their thoughts and ideas as they build a very profitable search algorithm. But with all the challenges of developing the algorithm and the pressures of a bidding war, the geniuses soon find themselves putting their friendship to the ultimate test. Though this comedic series stirs up competent drama, it also weaves in relatable and vulgar humor far too real to fit the nerdy absurdity of The Big Bang Theory.