HBO Max gets most of its prestige reputation from the tentpoles it continuously delivers—House of the Dragon, Euphoria, The White Lotus among them—that dominate the charts and social media for weeks and then disappear for a year. But between those behemoths, though, HBO Max’s catalog is full of unique shows that do a ton of heavy lifting, like award-winning documentaries, oddball superhero spinoffs, and cult-hit animated series.
For this final week in May, I’ve pulled a handful of them, some new and some old, that I think you’ll enjoy.
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Rick and Morty
Catch up on this epic animation before season 9 arrives
With all the ugliness of co-creator Justin Roiland’s departure from the show now well behind them, the brilliantly bizarre and endlessly creative Adult Swim multiverse-hopping adult animated comedy series Rick and Morty is back to top form, and now is the time to catch up on season 8 before the latest season makes its way to HBO Max next month.
With Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden now in the voice roles of sociopathic, genius scientist Rick Sanchez and his ball-of-nerves grandson Morty Smith, respectively, the sci-fi misadventures of the Emmy-winning pair continue as Rick drags Morty—and sometimes his sister Summer (Spencer Grammer), mother Beth (Sarah Chalke), and clueless father Jerry (SNL‘s Chris Parnell)—across the universe, alternate dimensions, and through all kinds of weird stuff.
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The Winchesters
This Supernatural prequel was short but sweet
If you were a fan of the CW’s mainstay horror-sci-fi series Supernatural, which ran for a staggering 15 seasons, then The Winchesters offers a cool and entertaining look at how Sam and Dean’s parents got caught up in the family business of fighting monsters and demons in the first place.
The Winchesters differs from Supernatural in that it’s more of a team sport than a duo. It follows who will eventually be Sam and Dean’s folks—young demon hunter Mary Campbell (Meg Donnelly) and Vietnam-vet-returned-home John Winchester (Drake Rodger)—who team up with rookie hunter Latika (Nida Khurshid) and super-chill Carlos (Jojo Fleites) to fight a centuries-old demon.
QuizThe best supernatural shows of all time
Trivia challenge
From demonic hunters to psychic teens — how well do you know the greatest supernatural shows ever made?
OriginsCharactersPlot TwistsCreaturesCreators
In which year did the Winchester brothers first hit the road in the CW series Supernatural?
Correct! Supernatural premiered on September 13, 2005, and went on to become one of the longest-running genre shows in TV history, lasting 15 seasons. Sam and Dean Winchester became iconic figures in supernatural fiction.
Not quite. Supernatural first aired on September 13, 2005, on The CW. The show ran for an impressive 15 seasons, finally concluding in 2020 after building one of the most devoted fanbases in television.
In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, what is the name of Buffy’s group of friends and allies who help her fight evil?
Correct! Buffy’s group of friends — including Willow, Xander, and Giles — were affectionately nicknamed the Scoobies, a playful nod to Scooby-Doo. The term became one of the show’s most enduring cultural touchstones.
Not quite. Buffy’s inner circle was known as the Scoobies, a fun reference to Scooby-Doo and their monster-hunting adventures. The group included Willow, Xander, and Watcher Giles, among others across the show’s seven-season run.
Who created the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana?
Correct! Matt and Ross Duffer, known as the Duffer Brothers, created Stranger Things, which debuted on Netflix in 2016. The show became a massive cultural phenomenon, blending supernatural horror with 1980s nostalgia.
Not quite. Stranger Things was created by Matt and Ross Duffer — the Duffer Brothers. The siblings drew heavily on their love of 1980s cinema and horror novels, particularly the works of Stephen King, to craft the beloved series.
In The X-Files, what is the name of the secretive government informant who frequently tips off Agent Mulder?
Correct! The mysterious informant in the early seasons of The X-Files was simply called Deep Throat, played by Jerry Hardin. The nickname was a nod to the famous Watergate source, fitting the show’s conspiracy-laden tone perfectly.
Not quite. The informant who fed Mulder secret information in the early seasons was known as Deep Throat, played by Jerry Hardin. The name referenced the famous anonymous Watergate source, reinforcing the show’s deep distrust of government authority.
In the BBC series Being Human, which three supernatural creatures are the central flatmates sharing a house?
Correct! The original BBC version of Being Human followed a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost all trying to live normal human lives together. The show ran from 2008 to 2013 and later inspired an American remake on Syfy.
Not quite. Being Human centered on a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost sharing a house in Bristol and navigating everyday life alongside their supernatural natures. The British original aired from 2008 to 2013 before an American version was produced.
Twin Peaks, the groundbreaking supernatural mystery series, was co-created by David Lynch and which other television writer?
Correct! Twin Peaks was co-created by director David Lynch and writer Mark Frost, premiering on ABC in 1990. The show revolutionized television drama and its influence can be felt in nearly every prestige supernatural series that followed.
Not quite. Twin Peaks was the brainchild of David Lynch and Mark Frost. Frost brought a strong background in television writing to the project, while Lynch contributed his surrealist cinematic vision — together they changed what TV storytelling could be.
In American Horror Story, which actress has appeared in the most seasons of the anthology series?
Correct! Sarah Paulson holds the record for the most season appearances in American Horror Story, becoming the de facto lead of the anthology. Her range across roles — from a conjoined twin to a Supreme witch — earned widespread critical acclaim.
Not quite. Sarah Paulson has appeared in more seasons of American Horror Story than any other cast member, making her the closest thing the anthology has to a consistent lead. Her performances across wildly different roles became one of the show’s defining qualities.
In the HBO series True Blood, the vampires’ ability to live openly among humans is made possible by the invention of what product?
Correct! In True Blood, a Japanese company invents Tru Blood, a synthetic blood beverage that allows vampires to sustain themselves without feeding on humans. This invention triggers the central premise of the show: vampires publicly revealing their existence to society.
Not quite. The synthetic blood product in True Blood was called Tru Blood, invented by a Japanese corporation within the show’s universe. It served as the in-world catalyst for vampires ‘coming out of the coffin’ and integrating — however uneasily — into human society.
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The Boys‘ Soldier Boy, Jensen Ackles, returns as Dean Winchester to narrate. Sadly, The Winchesters was canceled too soon, amidst the CW’s corporate shake-up, but not before it clocked a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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The Yogurt Shop Murders
A 34-year cold case finally finds closure
If you watched this gripping four-part docuseries that first made waves when it originally aired in August 2025, then you’re about to get the closure that you, and everyone involved in the 34-year-old cold case, deserve with this surprise fifth episode that just landed on HBO Max last week.
The Yogurt Shop Murders detailed the tragic, unsolved murders of four teenage girls who were killed inside an Austin, Texas yogurt shop on December 6, 1991. The bracing documentary, directed by Margaret Brown and produced by A24 and Emma Stone’s Fruit Tree production company, tells the story of the case, which sat unsolved for more than three decades while wrongful convictions piled up and innocent men were dragged through the system. Just weeks after the final episode aired last year, Austin police used DNA evidence to uncover the real killer, which is the focus of this latest episode, “The End of Wondering.” Buckle up for the exciting conclusion, that features new interviews with family members of the victims and of some of the falsely accused men, as well as investigators and DNA experts.
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Doom Patrol
DC’s weird team of misfits is four seasons of strange
John Cena’s Peacemaker and Colin Farrell’s The Penguin might have gotten all the DC series love on HBO for the last few years, but don’t overlook this excellent Emmy-nominated series that ran from 2019 to 2023 if you’re looking for something off the beaten comics path.
Doom Patrol is a brilliantly-cast series, based on the long-running DC Comics title, that follows a group of traumatized, broken outcasts, who all get their superpowers after horrific accidents and are brought together by The Chief, Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton) at Doom Manor. The team includes Robotman, Cliff Steele (voiced by Brendan Fraser), a racecar driver whose brain ends up in a huge metal body; Crazy Jane (Diane Guerrero), whose childhood trauma mixed with government experimentation results in 64 powerful personalities; the bandaged Negative Man, Larry Trainor (Matt Bomer), a test pilot who crashed into a radioactive field giving him flight and energy manipulation powers; and others who form the Doom Patrol. All 46 episodes of this acclaimed (98% on Rotten Tomatoes) superhero series are available to stream on HBO Max.
Four great shows from between the cracks
That’s an eclectic lineup for one service, making for the kind of week when sinking into a single show actually pays off—any one of these acclaimed shows will deliver hours of entertainment. But for more weekly streaming ideas across Netflix, Paramount+, Prime Video, and beyond, How-To Geek’s roundups are worth a look.
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HBO Max is a subscription-based streaming service offering content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, and more. In 2025, the service re-branded itself as HBO Max after having previously cut “HBO” from its name.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
