Top 10 HBO Max Shows You Should Be Watching
#10: “Love Life” (2020-)
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The boundaries between film and TV have all-but eroded away. This is evident in “Love Life”, an anthology romantic comedy centered on different characters and their titular love lives. The first season focuses on Darby Carter, played by the always wonderful and consistent Anna Kendrick. Kendrick’s name certainly did a lot to draw attention to the show, as did the inclusion of Paul Feig as executive producer. While the story is broken up into episodic form, it has the feel of a big screen comedy, with all the charm, humor, and heart one would expect given the creative talents involved.
#9: “Legendary” (2020-)
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HBO Max contains its fair share of reality competitions, and “Legendary” is among the best. The show is all about ball culture, an LGBTQ+ subculture that emerged within Harlem’s Black and Latin communities in the 1960s and 70s. In “Legendary”, contestants compete in voguing challenges - a stylized dance popularized through Madonna’s “Vogue” music video. The winning “house” takes home a $100,000 cash prize. “Legendary” also contains some popular judges, including Megan Thee Stallion and Jameela Jamil. It’s obvious that HBO Max cares a lot about this program, as the production values are extraordinary and unlike similar reality programs. But perhaps more importantly, the performances themselves are always entertaining, a feast for both the eyes and the ears.
#8: “Raised by Wolves” (2020-)
This science fiction drama was created by Aaron Guzikowski, who’s perhaps most well known as the writer of 2013’s “Prisoners”. Ridley Scott also serves as executive producer, and directed the first two episodes of the series. He is also joined by his son Luke Scott, who directed a further three. The story concerns two androids, known only as Mother and Father, raising human children on a distant planet following the destruction of Earth. “Raised by Wolves” uses its science fiction concepts to explore universal human themes - in particular religion and belief. The show makes for hard sci-fi, complete with stellar production values and a gloriously futuristic aesthetic.
#7: “Close Enough” (2020-)
The Cartoon Network’s “Regular Show” came to an end in 2017 following eight seasons and 261 episodes. Now its creator, J. G. Quintel, is running “Close Enough” on HBO Max. This adult-oriented animated comedy follows Josh and Emily, a married early 30-something couple who live in LA with their young daughter and divorced friends. The show finds humor through its relatable characters and situations, but also mixes in elements of outlandish surrealism, turning “Close Enough” into a unique mix between observational comedy and fever dream hilarity. Like “Regular Show”, “Close Enough” is very silly and very energetic, but it also finds time for some welcome social commentary. It’s a future classic.
#6: “Generation” (2021-)
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HBO’s content is typically geared towards adults, but in the case of “Generation”, the streaming service looks to capture the Gen Z demographic. Produced by Lena Dunham, “Generation” is a dramedy that follows an ensemble group of high school teenagers in Orange County, California. Growing up in a deeply conservative community, the teenagers are forced to combat their preconceived notions about love and identity while exploring their sexuality. The performances and writing are the stars here, with four episodes being penned by father-daughter team Daniel and Zelda Barnz. The young Zelda lends an air of authenticity to the show, preventing the “how do you do, fellow kids?” writing of other shows of this type and ensuring that it’s grounded in reality.
#5: “Made for Love” (2021-)
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Based on Alissa Nutting’s novel of the same name, “Made for Love” stars Cristin Milioti as Hazel Green-Gogol, a woman who escapes an abusive ten-year marriage. Unfortunately, Hazel’s billionaire husband has implanted her with a tracking device, allowing him to monitor both her location and emotional status. The story serves as wonderful satire, pushing the ways that technology is becoming more intrusive to extreme lengths for laughs. And laugh audiences will, especially when it comes to Milioti’s excellent and hilarious performance as Hazel. But the show isn’t just funny; it’s also a tender exploration of Hazel’s newfound freedom and independence, mixing in great social commentary.
#4: “It’s a Sin” (2021)
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This drama originally aired on Britain’s Channel 4 before HBO Max picked it up for exclusive distribution in the United States. It was created and entirely written by Russell T. Davies, who’s found fame and success through shows like “Queer as Folk” and the 2005 “Doctor Who” revival. It follows an ensemble cast of gay characters who live through the AIDS epidemic in 1980s London. The show has been widely lauded for its performances, writing, and accurate depiction of the AIDS epidemic. It’s also been credited with normalizing the depiction of gay sex on television and for raising awareness about HIV testing. It’s poignant and magnetic, but also at times surprisingly funny. Above all, “It’s a Sin” makes for essential viewing.
#3: “Doom Patrol” (2019-)
This superhero show started its life on the now-defunct streaming service DC Universe. Its second season was then aired simultaneously on both DC Universe and HBO Max, but it’s third season will be released exclusively through HBO Max. The show follows the titular Doom Patrol, a group of superhero misfits. Superhero shows are a dime a dozen today, but “Doom Patrol” stands out from the pack through its unhinged weirdness and gleefully oddball personality. It’s wonderfully bizarre, but it also finds time to explore the inherent tragedy at the heart of the story and its characters.
#2: “Search Party” (2016-)
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This show began its life on TBS, airing its first two seasons on the network before moving to HBO Max for its third and fourth seasons. It stars Alia Shawkat as Dory Sief, an NYU grad who decides to search for her missing college acquaintance. The show is a glorious mix of genres, often alternating between straightforward thriller, detective mystery, legal drama, and even dark comedy and satire. The shifting genres and surprising character development help keep the show fresh, and Shawkat proves an endlessly commanding and engaging lead. Anti-hero protagonists are very popular these days, but Dory Sief is the most interesting one in years. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. “Equal” (2020) A Fascinating Docuseries About LGBTQ+ History “Stylish with Jenna Lyons” (2020) The Ex-President of J. Crew Showcases Her Talent for Design & Fashion “Selena + Chef” (2020-) Selena Gomez Cooks with Professional Chefs While in Quarantine
#1: “The Flight Attendant” (2020-)
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Mystery lovers will find a lot to love in “The Flight Attendant”. The unique comedy-drama-mystery concoction stars Kaley Cuoco as Cassie Bowden, an alcoholic flight attendant who wakes up next to a bloody corpse. She cleans up the crime scene in a panic and is forced to confront the investigating FBI while also figuring out who the killer could be. At the same time, she also has to deal with her estranged family and curious co-workers. It’s a fantastic show on all counts, full of intriguing storytelling, inventive filmmaking, and a spectacular lead performance from Cuoco, who plays a paranoid mess to hilarious perfection. It was one of the greatest new shows of 2020.
