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HBO Max has all the time benefited from being the house for HBO hits like Sport of Thrones, The White Lotus, and The Final of Us, however has additionally produced some high quality unique programming of its personal.
Given the amount of streaming content material on the market, and the variety of reveals Max and HBO have already produced, collectively and individually, there are some nice decisions that may have flown underneath your radar. In our present streaming period, wherein good reveals aren’t simply canceled however erased from existence (farewell, Raised by Wolves), it by no means hurts to take a second to think about the marginally much less talked-about reveals which might be equally worthy of your consideration. In that spirit, I am suggesting some widespread hits and some reveals that may have flown underneath your radar.
Creature Commandos (2024 – , renewed for a second season)
A reasonably wild option to kick off the present iteration of the DCU, the animated present sees Amanda Waller (Viola Davis, reprising the function) assembling a black ops staff to guard a overseas nation from the Amazonian sorceress Circe. Waller cannot be trusted with individuals, so her staff is made up fully of literal monsters: The Bride (Indira Varma), Physician Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), Eric Frankenstein (David Harbour), and aquatic mutant Nina Mazursky (Zoë Chao), alongside Nazi-obsessed G.I. Robotic and the rodent-like Weasel (Sean Gunn). The cartoon is fairly violent with a particularly darkish humorousness, however James Gunn additionally brings a powerful quantity of coronary heart to the present, making it very arduous to not care about these very unlikeable characters. Stream Creature Commandos.
Journey Time: Fionna and Cake (2023 – , renewed for a second season)
Each Journey Time and its follow-up miniseries, Distant Lands, adopted on the adventures of Finn the Human and Jake the Canine. This present introduces their multiversal counterparts. In a universe with out magic, Fionna and her cat reside boring lives by day, however by evening dream of adventures in an odd world. In the meantime, the Ice King is struggling to exist with out his powers when he discovers that Fionna and Cake, who he believed to be purely merchandise of his fan fiction, are in actual fact actual, and that they need assistance to avoid wasting their very own universe. The sequence hits all these candy Journey Time notes whereas advancing each characters and lore. Stream Fionna and Cake.
Dune: Prophecy (2024 – , renewed for a second season)
Regardless of how good the flicks have been, a Dune prequel tie-in sequence was, almost certainly, going to be fairly inessential. However this one’s been a shock: a juicy house cleaning soap opera set 10,000 years earlier than the Denis Villeneuve movies, a timeframe that places it nicely out of the way in which of later occasions and lets it stand alone. There are a whole lot of threads right here, however the sequence focuses on Valya and Tula Harkonnen (Emily Watson and Tula Williams), struggling to construct and preserve the Sisterhood that we’ll later come to know because the Bene Gesserit within the face of an unstable political order. The ruling dynasty has a brand new weapon in Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), a manipulative former soldier who appears resistant to the persuasive talents of the Sisters, thus threatening their locations on the Emperor’s aspect. Particularly provided that we’re on HBO Max, it isn’t fully unfair to recommend that the vibe (filled with intrigue, shady dealings, and violent plot-twists) is a bit that of a star-spanning Sport of Thrones. Stream Dune: Prophecy.
And Simply Like That… (2021 – 2025)
We beloved it and we hated it, typically , however this bizarre, messy, very often profound sequence will not quickly be forgotten—the sequence finale, wrapping up many years of Intercourse and the Metropolis storylines, generated great chatter and loads of on-line arguing. What the sequence did inarguably proper was to current these girls, now of their 50s, as being each bit as complicated and alive as they have been 1 / 4 of a century in the past. As for the remainder of it? Sporadic highs and baffling lows, together with a seemingly steadfast dedication to tossing in awkward and unlikeable characters. It might have been nice, however it’s one thing virtually nearly as good: by no means boring. Stream And Similar to That…
Duster (2025)
J. J. Abrams is again with this one, and Hollywood’s preeminent excavator of light genres (for higher and worse) is taking up the hard-driving (actually) Nineteen Seventies, with Josh Holloway (Misplaced, Yellowstone) stars as Jim Ellis, a getaway driver with a candy cherry-red Plymouth. He is changing into more and more disenchanted together with his crime-syndicate boss, Ezra Saxton (Keith David), particularly when he is tasked to move a just-harvested human coronary heart after which requested to then assist with the surgical procedure. Into his life walks Nina Hayes (Rachel Hilson), the FBI’s first Black lady agent (that is 1972, in spite of everything) who enlists Ellis in her plan to convey down Saxton. It is fast-paced and (principally) enjoyable, with immaculate interval vibes. The buzzy present was canceled after its first season, however that is hardly an indicator of lack of high quality lately. Stream Duster.
The Pitt (2025 –, second season coming January 2026)
E.R.‘s Noah Wyle is again in scrubs as Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, senior attending on the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Robby’s mentor died in the course of the top of COVID-19, and he’s solely simply recovering from his traumatic experiences. It is gonna be a protracted day, although: Every episode represents a single hour of a tumultuous 15-hour shift, peppered by tragedies together with a mass capturing. It appears like medical dramas are a dime a dozen, however this one is kind of a bit extra fascinating, and quite a bit buzzier, than most. Stream The Pitt.
When No One Sees Us (2025 –)
A particular police thriller imported from Spain, When No One Sees Us stars Mariela Garriga (Mission Unattainable – Lifeless Reckoning) as a Cuban-American particular agent of the U.S. Military, and Maribel Verdú (Pan’s Labyrinth) as a Spanish Civil Guard sergeant, each investigating an obvious loss of life by violent suicide on an air base throughout Holy Week. It is a twisty-turny thriller, however the performances and the emphasis on character over plot make it a standout. No phrase but on whether or not or not we’ll get one other season. Stream When No One Sees Us.
Business (2020 – , renewed for a fourth season)
This British co-production debuted considerably quietly again in 2020, getting good opinions however not a lot in the way in which of buzz. Maybe as a result of it was a distinct period (that means: barely 5 years in the past), HBO introduced the present again, giving it time to develop till the third season premiere was up by virtually 90% in viewership over the sequence debut, and earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating. (Wild, is not it, what occurs in case you truly give viewers time to find a present? Absolutely a fluke with no discernible classes for networks and streamers.) The present, created by two precise former funding bankers, chronicles the cutthroat world of the fictional Pierpoint & Co wherein, on the sequence’ outset, a gaggle of younger graduates are made to compete for a vanishingly small variety of everlasting positions. There are juicy soap-opera vibes, however the consideration to element in relation to the world of excessive finance provides the present a sense that the stakes are very actual in relation to the lives, and psychological well being, of our leads. Stream Business.
Doom Patrol (2019 – 2023, 4 seasons)
Max’s early DC present was initially ported from the now-defunct DC Universe streamer (previous and future episodes at the moment are Max-exclusive), a largely forgotten effort. Thank goodness it survived; it was an uncharacteristically daring and freaky entry within the superhero canon. Practically indescribably bizarre, the present consists of characters just like the non-binary Danny the Road (a literal road), paranormal investigators the Intercourse Males, Imaginary Jesus, and orgasm-generating physique builder Flex Mentallo—whereas additionally grounded in some glorious, steadily emotional character work from the whole forged, together with Brendan Fraser, Matt Bomer, Michelle Gomez, and Timothy Dalton. It’s additionally very queer and sex-positive, making it a standout among the many often chaste and straight world of superhero cinema. Stream Doom Patrol.
Full Circle (2023, miniseries)
Creator Ed Solomon (Now You See Me) and director Steven Soderbergh navigate a giant forged and a labyrinthine plot involving homicide, kidnapping, company espionage, and magic. The title refers to a homicide ritual performed by a Guyanese crime lord (performed by CCH Pounder) that entails drawing a literal circle in New York, centered on the scene of a homicide. There are a couple of too many balls within the air at any given time, however watching the chaos unfold is addictive. Pounder is joined by Zazie Beetz, Claire Danes, Timothy Olyphant, and Dennis Quaid. Stream Full Circle.
Scavengers Reign (2023, one season)
A certified suggestion for this one, solely as a result of it was canceled after its first season with lots left unresolved. However! It is a sensible, impressively voice-acted, and superbly animated sci-fi epic following the stranded survivors of the crashed interstellar cargo ship Demeter 227. The net of pure life on the world on which they discover themselves is unusually complicated, an the principles they’re used to do not appear to use. The creators are purchasing a second season round, however it appears possible we’ll be left with a couple of questions—which is perhaps not the worst factor. Stream Scavengers Reign.
Hacks (2021 – , renewed for a fifth season)
After getting canceled over a tweet, 25-year-old author Ava (Hannah Einbinder) struggles to get her profession again so as, reluctantly taking a job for Deborah Vance (Jean Sensible)—a comedy trailblazer who stays widespread with an older Vegas crown, however whose profession is essentially on autopilot. They’re a completely mismatched pair, however their chemistry is finally explosive, with Jean Sensible doing a few of the finest work of her unbelievable profession as the usually deeply unlikeable Vance, and Einbinder greater than holding her personal in return. It is humorous, bitchy, and surprisingly transferring when it desires to be. Stream Hacks.
The Flight Attendant (2020 – 2022, two seasons)
Kaley Cuoco performs hard-living (i.e. alcoholic) flight attendant Cassie Bowden, who, within the first episode, wakes up in a Bangkok lodge room with no reminiscence of the evening earlier than. Which might be a very good factor or a nasty factor, provided that she’s sharing a mattress with a lifeless passenger from her final flight. Afraid to name the police, she tries, on her personal, to piece collectively the more and more convoluted reminiscences of that final evening. Impressively twisty-turny, but in addition with a hallucinogenic sense of enjoyable, it is a distinctive present that earned a number of Emmy nominations, together with for an incredible Cuoco. Regardless of producing loads of buzz and seemingly good numbers, it was canceled after two seasons—which is able to turn into one thing of a theme with Max. Stream The Flight Attendant.
The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women (2021 – 2025, three seasons)
Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) is an endlessly naïve scholarship scholar; Bela (Amrit Kaur), is an aspiring comedy author on the make for the most popular guys; Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) is an overachieving athlete and senator’s daughter; Leighton (Reneé Rapp) is a closeted sorority lady. They’re randomly assigned to room collectively as freshmen on the fictional Essex Faculty in Vermont. Created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, the comedy-drama is not almost as salacious as its title suggests: There’s intercourse, for certain, however like Intercourse and the Metropolis earlier than it, the humorous and queer-friendly present is extra about feminine friendship. Stream The Intercourse Lives of Faculty Women.
Jellystone! (2021 – 2025)
The Hanna-Barbera cartoon pantheon has been largely dormant in current many years, however it is a enjoyable revisit, with the titular city serving as dwelling to dozens of characters from again within the day, led by Mayor Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear (now a health care provider at Jellystone Hospital), Augie Doggy, Jabberjaw, Prime Cat, and dozens extra, with out-of-towners like The Jetsons and House Ghost popping in on occasion. The present’s foolish, anarchic model is unquestionably not a one-for-one match to the supply materials, however it’s not a horrible factor that the present is targeted on interesting to trendy children moderately than their mother and father (or grandparents, at this level). It is enjoyable for that older elementary age group. Stream Jellystone!.
The Gilded Age (2022 – , renewed for a fourth season)
Julian Fellowes made interval drama buzz-worthy with Downton Abbey, and does one thing comparable right here whereas shifting the time and place to the Eighteen Eighties in New York Metropolis. We’re launched to the world of higher and extraordinarily upper-class New York Metropolis society by Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), poor relation to the estranged aunties who take her in, and Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), a younger Black author from a solidly middle-class household who turns into a secretary to Christine Baranski’s Agnes van Rhijn. Previous-money Agnes and sister Ada (Cynthia Nixon) reside throughout the road from new-money social climbers the Russells (led with juicy imperiousness by Carrie Coon’s Bertha); established society is not eager on letting in these upstarts—although cash very a lot talks. In a single sense, the stakes right here couldn’t presumably be decrease (Bertha desires a greater seat on the opera!)—so why is the present so addictive? Stream The Gilded Age.
Gremlins: Secrets and techniques of the Mogwai (2023 –, two seasons)
It was bizarre, however kinda cool, that the unique Gremlins film was marketed towards children, provided that the plot activates moments like a Mogwai blowing up in a microwave and an anecdote about somebody’s lifeless dad mouldering in a chimney dressed like Santa Claus. That each one being mentioned, this animated prequel is legit kid-friendly, even when it would not shrink back from the Looney Tunes-esque model of the live-action films. It additionally takes the awkward Orientalism of these films and makes it a advantage: Sam Wing (performed by Hollywood legend Keye Luke in Gremlins) is, right here, a 10-year-old boy who meets Gizmo and is then compelled to hitch him on a journey by the Chinese language countryside, typically encountering legendary creatures. The stacked voice forged consists of Izaac Wang, Ming-Na Wen as Fong Wing, B. D. Wong, and the good James Hong; no phrase but on a 3rd season. Stream Secrets and techniques of the Mogwai.
The Different Two (2019 – 2023, three seasons)
Heléne Yorke and Drew Tarver stars as a few meandering siblings whose lives are turned the wrong way up when their youthful brother turns into a viral sensation. The present has a whole lot of enjoyable dissecting trendy popular culture, and, although it has a candy aspect, it’s a few of the finest cringe comedy you may discover on Max. As class satires go, it by no means fairly achieved Succession ranges of obsession, however deserves a bit extra love. Stream The Different Two.
What do you suppose thus far?
Tokyo Vice (2022 — 2024, two seasons)
Your tolerance for Ansel Elgort might range (given assault allegations), however he stars right here alongside always-welcome Japanese actors Ken Watanabe and Rinko Kikuchi as a younger journalist who turns into embedded with veteran detectives in Tokyo’s vice squad circa 1999. The present pays tribute to each the glitzy and splendidly seedy points of the title metropolis, whereas additionally working as an efficient crime drama set in a really totally different context from extra typical America-set reveals. Stream Tokyo Vice.
Rap Sh!t (2022 — 2023, two seasons)
Issa Rae follows up Insecure with the story of socially aware Miami rapper Shawna (Aida Osman), who winds up promoting out, at the least in her personal eyes, when she groups up together with her pal Mia (KaMillion), whose widespread OnlyFans brings the brand new rap group a built-in fanbase. In the meantime, Shawna’s boyfriend Cliff (Devon Terrell) has to return to phrases with the truth that Shawna’s extra business profession path would possibly put his goals of political success in peril. Like Insecure, it’s deeply humorous, but in addition has lots to say about friendship and ambition between younger Black girls. Stream Rap Sh!t.
The Huge Brunch (2022, one season)
Lastly: a actuality present for individuals who love brunch (a few of whom, I’m knowledgeable, would possibly even be straight). Schitt’s Creek’s Dan Levy hosts the cooking present involving 10 cooks competing for the cash to make all their goals come true (to the tune of $300,000)—however provided that they’ll make the right brunch. The present avoids the aggravating components of a Gordon Ramsey-type competitors, whereas being fairly a bit funnier than a GBBO. It’s a strong entry within the reality-cooking world with a singular model, although its one-and-done single season (at the least thus far) shall be a professional or a con relying on how hooked you end up. Stream The Huge Brunch.
It’s a Sin (2021, miniseries)
Russell T. Davies (Queer as People, Physician Who) revisits the Eighties by the story of a gaggle of buddies dwelling in London in the course of the top of the HIV/AIDS disaster. The miniseries brings a powerful forged to bear on a narrative that tracks them by the early days of queer liberation by the creating menace of a illness that nobody within the broader world was keen to speak about, a lot much less do something about. Stream It is a Sin.
Peacemaker (2022 – ,)
A humorous and violent vibrant spot within the wildly convoluted onscreen world of DC Comics, Peacemaker spins out of James Gunn’s snarky 2021 entry The Suicide Squad, with John Cena reprising his function. Having survived the occasions of that movie, he is recruited as soon as once more by america authorities to hitch a staff making an attempt to cease mysterious butterfly creatures inhabiting human hosts. It is obtained the identical bloody comedian tone of the film, however provides simply sufficient dimension, and an emotional arc, to the jingoistic superheroes’ story that it is simple to root for him, at the same time as his self-awareness stays restricted. It additionally appears to be a little bit of a bridge between the outdated DC film universe and the upcoming, James Gunn-led one—the second season follows the occasions of the brand new Superman film, and there is additionally a Viola Davis-lead Waller spin-off within the works. Stream Peacemaker.
South Facet (2019 – 2022, three seasons)
Creators/writers Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle (who even have components within the sequence) introduced a singular model to their three-season sitcom set in Englewood—the close-knit forged and manufacturing crew (Bashir’s brother, Sultan, performs one of many leads) give the present a familial vibe. it follows two mismatched buddies (Sultan Salahuddin and Kareme Younger) looking for success whereas working a rent-to-own retailer amid a extensively numerous ensemble, and looking for some type of accord with the native PD. Stream South Facet.
By means of Our Eyes (2021, miniseries)
An unique manufacturing from Sesame Workshop, every episode of the docuseries offers with a particular concern going through kids, and every is directed by a distinct proficient and acclaimed director. The 4 present episodes interact with children with incarcerated mother and father, households displaced by local weather crises, the kids of veterans counting on caregivers, and people with out everlasting housing. The sequence provides a uncommon perspective, and takes an appropriately simple and trustworthy strategy with out feeling the necessity to manipulate our feelings. It’s a miniseries in the meanwhile, though there could be extra coming. Stream By means of Our Eyes.
Julia (2022 – 2023, two seasons)
I’m more and more drawn to tales of people that made it later in life, most likely unrelated to being solidly middle-aged whereas having achieved (as but) nothing of notice. Sarah Lancashire performs Julia Baby magnificently, capturing a lot of her distinctive model and patter, and the present has a whole lot of enjoyable with the manufacturing woes of early public tv. Though it has a lightweight contact, the present’s additionally an necessary reminder of the significance of a girl like Julia, a girl in her 50s who turn into an unlikely trailblazer as not simply an on-camera character, but in addition as an modern producer. One other one which deserved greater than two seasons, however nonetheless pleasant. Stream Julia.
Younger Justice (2010 – 2022, 4 seasons)
That is the little cartoon that might—canceled approach again in 2013, picked up by the defunct DC Universe streamer for season 3, after which getting a closing season as a Max unique (these first three seasons are additionally on Max). There’s a motive it has hung in there, even with out the title recognition of a few of DC’s different stuff: It’s an impressively animated sequence that pulls from any variety of comics sources whereas scrupulously creating its characters. Not like a whole lot of cartoons (or comics), it’s additionally allowed its characters to develop up through the years and launched new generations of heroes alongside the way in which. Stream Younger Justice.
Station Eleven (2021, miniseries)
The miniseries, based mostly on the Emily St. John Mandel novel, was launched at both the most effective time or the worst potential time, the story of a flu pandemic landed on the previous HBO Max proper in the midst of the primary part of COVID. The present follows Kirsten Raymonde, a younger stage actor whose efficiency in a manufacturing of King Lear is reduce brief by the onset of a virus with a 99% fatality charge. We meet Kirsten on the outset of the pandemic, after which go to her 20 years on, nonetheless an actor, in a world very a lot modified. It’s a gradual burn, however finally, the sequence makes a transferring case for the ability of artwork, even (or particularly) in moments when survival is on the road. Stream Station Eleven.
Harley Quinn (2019– , renewed for a sixth season)
Kaley Cuoco voices Harley on this very grownup cartoon sequence starring the anti-hero who made her debut in Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s Batman: The Animated Collection approach again within the day. Don’t anticipate conventional superheroics—it’s a zany comedy that is typically humorous and delivers some strong queer illustration. A Kite Man spin-off debuted in 2024, and nonetheless would possibly get a second season of its personal. Stream Harley Quinn.
Our Flag Means Demise (2022 – 2023), two seasons
I feel everybody most likely is aware of about this one already—at the least these of you who’re extraordinarily on-line—however the swashbuckling pirate comedy isn’t solely splendidly goofy and humorous: It additionally options, unexpectedly, one of the vital plausible and compelling homosexual romances of the final a number of years, so I simply wished to provide it just a little further love. Max reduce it brief after a mere two seasons which, boo! However that does not imply it isn’t value diving in. Stream Our Flag Means Demise.
