With more than 1,500 Primetime Emmy nominations and over 220 awards, HBO continues to be one of the reigning kings of television. The programming giant houses a lineup of shows that are neither flat nor predictable, constantly pushing the screenwriting envelope and dipping into dark or controversial themes. Yet, no matter how unconventional their story arcs may be, HBO shows continue to hold a strong cultural relevance while staying original, all thanks to the creative freedom granted to actors, writers, and directors.
The cable network rose to prominence in the ’90s, but it wasn’t until the end of the decade that it cemented itself as a true competitor, spearheading the modern Golden Age of Television and breaking new ground on TV. Its library of content is considerable, producing some bonafide masterpieces. Addictively binge-worthy and never skimping on quality,these HBO shows are pretty much perfect from start to finish, and critics and audiences can agree on that.
10‘The Wire’ (2002-2008)
Creator: David Simon
The war on drugs never ends inThe Wire. The police drama takes audiences through the gritty streets of Baltimore,where criminals roam freely, and law enforcement is constantly hot on their tail. Throughout the five seasons, what begins as a drug-dealing problem that only affects its everyday citizens eventually snowballs into an alarming emergency involving the corruption and dirty work done by politicians right under the city’s noses.
Raw and real,The Wireisn’t necessarily about crime. Instead, it’sa testament to the people living in Baltimore. The show’s life and soul stem from characters of different demographics and how they interact with each other in this chaos.The Wireis about the many, putting people under circumstances beyond their control and explores how they navigate the consequences of their decisions — for better or worse.
9‘Veep’ (2012-2019)
Creator: Armando Iannucci
There’s a new Vice President in the country.Veepfirst made a splash in the White House when former Senator Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) was suddenly appointed Vice President of the United States. Unfortunately, being second best in the office isn’t all cut out to be, especially when her fellow chiefs constantly undermine her potential. Despite the many public humiliations thrown in her direction, Selina and her team attempt to leave a lasting legacy in politics.
Witty, vicious, and cutthroat,Veepis a deliciously superficial takeon the pretentiousness that makes politicians so infamous. With rich dialogues that don’t rely on cheap one-liners, it’s amusing to watch just how hollow and shallow one of the world’s most powerful institutions can be. Selina may be “for the people,” but this political satire shows that there’s nothing human about politics.
8‘Sex and the City’ (1998-2004)
Creator: Darren Star
Sleek and stylish,Sex and the Citywas ahead of its time. Based on the newspaper column and 1996 book, the series follows a circle of four female New Yorkers coming from all walks of life:the Manolo Blahnik-wearing sex columnistCarrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), the sexually experimental PR professional Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), the romantic art dealer Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), and the queen of reality checks lawyer Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon).
Together, the four galavant through the bustling avenues of the Big Apple and make their mark, one career move, one shopping decision, and one man at a time. Naysayers will say thatSex and The Cityis all sauce and no substance, but the heart of the show lies inthe genuine exploration of female companionship. No friendship is perfect, but as the girls have shown time and time again, true friends stick with each other through thick and thin.
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7‘Band of Brothers’
Creators: Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg
Despite only being a miniseries,Band of Brothersdoesn’t wait a second longer to pull audiences into the bloodshed. Created by the director ofSaving Private Ryan, the story is a dramatization of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, spanning from Operation Overlord to V-J Day. From liberating a concentration camp to entering Hitler’s mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden, each episode is jam-packed to keep audiences invested in what’s next.
Whilethe overall tone ofBand of Brothersis realistic, harrowing, and authentic at best, what gives the show its soul isthe soldiers experiencing the brutality of the battlefield. In war, the lines between good and evil are clearly distinguished, but in an army division like the Easy Company, there’s no such thing as a hero or villain. These troops are only imperfect human beings trying to make it to another day unscathed - or alive.
Band of Brothers
6‘Silicon Valley’ (2014-2019)
Creators: John Altschuler, Mike Judge, Dave Krinsky
These nerds mean business. Set during the peak of high-tech innovation,Silicon Valleyfollows coder Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch) as he builds a tech company from the ground up.Thanks to his ingenious algorithm, Richard takes the $300K offered to him and creates a cloud-based compression platform. But as Richard quickly learns, it takes more than money to get a company running, let alone maintain it. With his team of fellow engineers, Richard encounters everything, from everyday systemic setbacks to backstabbing from those closest to him.
The Internet knows the tech world thanks to big names such asSteve JobsandMark Zuckerburg. ButSilicon Valleypays more attention to the underdogs trying to break into the corporate competition. These guys may have brains that operate like an actual computer, but running a business requires more than just intelligence. With the fear of failure looming on top of their heads,Silicon Valleyis addictive to watchas audiences witness what decision the company will take next.
Silicon Valley
5‘The Sopranos’ (1999-2007)
Creator: David Chase
Timelessly groundbreaking and genre-defying,The Sopranosis one of, if notthe household name of HBO. New Jersey Mafia Capo Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) has a lot on his plate.Besides the tough work that comes from being a “waste management consultant,” his home life’s a wreck. His wife and teenage daughter are now hurling insults at each other, his mother refuses to move out to a retirement center, and his uncle’s not too keen about Tony’s rising success. To make matters worse, Tony discovers he suffers from panic attacks and relies on his secret visits to the psychotherapist to keep him sane.
The Sopranosblew audiences away with its graphic violenceand unfiltered adult language; considering the time of the show’s airing, this shock is understandable. However, this gangster tale is far more nuanced.Underneath its nail-biting aggressiveness,The Sopranosspeaks about the importance of family. Tony Soprano is no one-dimensional tough guy but an emotionally-ridden human being working in a business where nobody’s supposed to put their hearts on their sleeves.
The Sopranos
4‘Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019)
Creator: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
The world of Westeros is a brutal chessboard where power-hungry families maneuver, scheme, and betray in their quest for the Iron Throne.Game of Thronesprimarily follows House Stark, led by the ver-honorable Ned Stark (Sean Bean), who’s reluctantly pulled into the snake pit of King’s Landing by his old friend, the now dissolute King Robert Baratheon (Mark Addy). As Ned digs deeper into the death of the previous Hand, he learns of dark secrets that could ignite an all-out war.
The long-runningGame of Throneswowed, shocked, and bewildered audiencesas it constantly toyed with their feelings, only to crush them thanks to the show’s many plot twists. Yet, despite its many story arcs,both celebrated and controversial,Game of Throneshas grown into a pop culture phenomenon that transcends all corners of the world.
Game Of Thrones
3‘Succession’ (2018-2023)
Creators: Jesse Armstrong
No family member is safe inSuccession. The Roy family is America’s most feared media moguls who,despite their obscene wealth and power, live in constant paranoia and ruthless competition. When Logan Roy (Brian Cox) toys with stepping down, his children — the scheming yet anxiety-ridden Kendall (Jeremy Strong), the morally flexible Shiv (Sarah Snook), the out-of-depth Roman (Kieran Culkin), and out-of-touch Connor (Alan Ruck)— circle like sharks in bloody water, each hungry for his throne.
Successionpaints its premisewith the glossy facade of wealth but then juxtaposes it with thethe cruelty of modern-day feudalism. Members of the Roy family operate stealthily, quietly hiding the knife before striking their enemies from the back. Pair it with razor-sharp dialogue and ruthless satire, the biting dark comedy lays bare the twisted hearts of its morally bankrupt players.
Succession
2‘The Leftovers’ (2014-2017)
Creator: Damon Lindelof, Tom Perrotta
The Leftoversanswers the question: what happens to those left behind?Three years after 2% of the world’s population inexplicably vanishes, a small New York community struggles with the lingering grief, fear, and mystery that this “Sudden Departure” has left behind. The Garvey family, along with unforgettable characters like the determined Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) and the devout yet tormented Reverend Matt (Max Richter), search for meaning in a world that no longer makes sense.
What starts as an existential crisis inThe Leftoverssoon transforms into an emotional symphony, combining mystery, spirituality, and raw humanity. Unafraid to tackle sorrow, hope, and the surreal,The Leftoversis a powerful, almost underrated pieceof work that lingers long after the credits roll.
1‘Barry’ (2018-2023)
Creators: Alec Berg, Bill Hader
Bill Haderbrings out his comedic (and actual) guns inBarry. Equal parts gritty and hilarious, the series is a genre-defying work where bullets and self-discovery collide in surreal Los Angeles. Barry Berkman (Hader) is a hitman experiencing an existential crisis, and when a job pulls him into an acting class, he’s hooked on the thrill of performing and the hope for a fresh start. But acting isn’t all headshots and rehearsals, especially when his relentless handler, Fuches (Stephen Root), keeps dragging him back into the shadowy business.
Like Hader’s ability to seamlessly shift between moods and tones asBarryprogresses, the showtransitions from punchline-filled tension to a sobering, psychological spiralthat makes audiences question just how redeemable anyone really is. Set to a soundtrack filled with everything from pop bangers to haunting silences,Barryis a clever yet dark explorationof ambition, guilt, and reinvention.
