As one of my go-to platforms, HBO Max has a plethora of outstanding shows in its catalog that serve as major draws for anyone interested in looking for something to watch. Each year, that catalog grows and continues to strengthen the platform’s reputation as home to some of the most iconic TV shows ever made.
We’ve selected five must-watch shows that aren’t just iconic — they’re absolute masterpieces. Our top pick is a scathing example of why going into business with family is never a good idea.
5
The White Lotus
People aren’t always who they seem to be
Created by Mike White, The White Lotus is an anthology series following guests and employees at a luxury resort of the same name, with each season set in a different country. So far, we’ve been to Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand, but the narrative’s starting point always traces back to a dead body. From then on, we learn through irony and precision just who these guests really are behind their social façades.
This razor-sharp social satire entertainingly mixes human drama and biting comedy with a gripping murder mystery, without weakening its elements. And because the characters change each season, the show feels like a miniseries pieced together into one big, consistent identity. Its holiday-horror structure thrives on exceptional acting and lush cinematography while dissecting modern wealth and privilege in a way that is darkly funny, deeply disturbing, and extremely well-executed.
The White Lotus has won 16 Emmys to date, including Best Limited Series.
4
The Last of Us
Television’s best video game adaptation to date
The big draw with The Last of Us is how well HBO Max adapts PlayStation’s brutal, post-apocalyptic story. The post-apocalyptic drama follows a smuggler (Pedro Pascal) as he’s tasked with escorting a teenage girl (Bella Ramsey) across the collapsed ruins of the United States after a mass fungal infection turned most of humanity into beastly, zombie-like, mushroom creatures. She is the world’s hope for a potential cure.
The series pushes this already-brilliant story beyond its creators’ wildest nightmares by taking smart, strategic liberties with source material in a way that still feels faithful to it. It’s a visual masterpiece that serves as a superb exploration of human nature and watches like a shot-for-shot recreation of the game (e.g., the series premiere when the you-know-what hits the fan). It’s also hailed as having successfully broken the decades-long video game adaptation curse. The show might be television’s best video game adaptation right now, but all of that may change when Prime Video’s God of War adaptation arrives.
The Last of Us has received a total of over 200 nominations across various award ceremonies, resulting in over 100 wins, including a Peabody Award, 4 Golden Globes, and 9 Primetime Creative Arts Emmys.
3
Game of Thrones
Dark, gritty, shocking, and breathtaking
We all love a good fight for power, especially when it’s set in an epic fantasy world involving royal houses, supernatural creatures, moral ambiguity, and fire-breathing dragons. Author George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones opened the door to expanding his franchise, which now includes House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, in the HBO Max catalog.
The political dynamic between the families and how each main character develops across the seasons are some of the most interesting parts of the show. By series end, you will be rooting for who you think deserves to sit on the Iron Throne next. The epic fantasy series is also famous for its shocking plot twists and gasp-worthy moments, all of which are well above average. For eight years, this fantasy masterpiece subverted tropes, gave us three-dimensional characters, featured massive world-building, and hit audiences with an unprecedented production value that left us breathless.
Throughout its 8-season run, Game of Thrones earned over 650 total award nominations and won over 390 of them, including a historic 161 Primetime Emmy Award nominations with 59 wins.
2
The Pitt
A spectacular medical drama with no exit
If you’re not watching The Pitt, what in this ever-loving world is wrong with you? I’m kidding. The gritty medical drama centers on ER veteran Noah Wyle as the burned-out but passionate attending physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinovich in the busy Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The hit show submerges viewers in the chaotic, high-stakes environment and explores the extensive toll it takes on the medical professionals working on the frontlines of America’s troubled healthcare system.
What makes The Pitt an absolute masterpiece is its raw, realistic tone and deeply human portrayal of life in an emergency department. Its writing is sharp and rapidly propels the narrative forward, without leaving time to think. Here, there’s only action. It’s presented in real time and filmed with handheld cameras, so viewers feel like they’re part of the action instead of mere witnesses. The show also serves as a scathing critique of social and healthcare systems in the United States, where the emergency room serves as a last resort. There’s no doubt the show is a standout achievement in the genre that’ll be difficult to top.
The Pitt has earned 13 Emmy nominations to date, winning 5, including Outstanding Drama Series.
1
Succession
Never go into business with family
A darkly comedic and Shakespearean masterpiece exploring the brutal power struggles, media manipulation, and deep emotional damage within a monstrously wealthy family and their corporate empire, Succession is a must-watch for every TV fan. Few series in television history have so precisely and cruelly portrayed the corporate world and the family world as they bleed together.
Our narrative follows the Roy family, who own one of the largest media conglomerates in the world, as its members wage relentless battles for control of patriarch Logan Roy’s (Brian Cox) empire. It’s delicious, it’s dirty, and it masterfully balances juicy drama, biting comedy, and Shakespearean-level tragedy with an echelon of skills few have ever been able to achieve. Its greatest strength lies in its performances from a remarkably talented cast, including Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, and Kieran Culkin, whose work steals the show each season. Its complex character dynamics are so well constructed that viewers can’t help but connect with them emotionally on every level. Each season raises the stakes, which is why, even today, the show ranks among the top reasons to subscribe to HBO Max.
Succession achieved an astonishing awards record, earning over 200 nominations and more than 80 major wins across ceremonies like the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Critics’ Choice.
Worth the subscription
With just one subscription, you’ll get access to decades of Emmy Award-winning productions, all in one place. Settle in for your next full-length binge on HBO Max. Its shows are worth it.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $10.99/month
- Simultaneous streams
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2 or 4
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
