Some weeks, no amount of coffee can jolt you from the fog of the Monday to Friday grind. But what I do know that helps is a solid watchlist waiting for the moment your laptop slams shut at the end of the day.
HBO Max happens to have one of the best libraries of upper-crust TV series, and this week I’ve pulled four critically-acclaimed, highly rated shows for you. There’s a docuseries about one of the climbing world’s most enigmatic souls, one of the best musical comedy shows this side of New Zealand, a fresh anime-tinged take on the Man of Steel, and a slow-burning Italian crime drama based on a true story.
4
The Dark Wizard
A harrowing portrait of a tormented climbing pioneer
HBO Max’s stunning documentary series, The Dark Wizard, has been in the top 10 of the streamer’s charts since its debut in April, and for good reason. The intense four-part series is a nail-biting portrait of controversial and enigmatic climber Dean Potter, who lived his life on the edge, literally.
The poster child for climbing in the late 1990s and 2000s, Potter was a pioneer of free-solo climbing and was even looked up to by the sport’s current star, Alex Honnold. The Dark Wizard traces Potter’s life—from his rebellions and mischievous charisma that often got him in trouble with Yosemite’s law enforcement and his climbing crew, the Stone Monkeys, to his personal relationships and his obsession with climbing that would eventually take his life. It’s a 100% rated series on Rotten Tomatoes for good reason—hang on for dear life.
3
Flight of the Conchords
New Zealand’s fourth-most-popular folk-comedy duo
The legendary New Zealand duo Flight of the Conchords (Brett McKenzie and Jemaine Clement) recently reunited on stage for the first time in eight years as part of a short run of performances, immediately inspiring me to binge the entire series of the HBO show of the same name that made them famous.
QuizThe most iconic HBO shows of all time
Trivia challenge
From Westeros to the wire — how well do you really know HBO’s greatest television masterpieces?
DramaCharactersCreatorsPremieresClassics
Which HBO series, often credited with launching the era of prestige television, premiered in 1999 and followed a New Jersey mob boss in therapy?
Correct! The Sopranos premiered on January 10, 1999 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series ever made. Created by David Chase, it redefined what TV drama could be and paved the way for the golden age of prestige television.
Not quite — the answer is The Sopranos. Created by David Chase and premiering in 1999, the show followed Tony Soprano as he balanced family life with running a criminal empire, all while attending therapy sessions with Dr. Melfi. It’s frequently cited as the catalyst for prestige TV.
In Game of Thrones, which character famously declared ‘When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die’?
Correct! Cersei Lannister delivered this chilling line to Ned Stark in Season 1, and it became one of the most quoted lines in the entire series. It perfectly encapsulated the ruthless political world of Westeros and foreshadowed much of the bloodshed to come.
Not quite — it was Cersei Lannister who spoke those iconic words. She said it directly to Ned Stark in Season 1 as a warning, and it turned out to be a prophecy of sorts. The line became one of the defining quotes of the entire Game of Thrones saga.
The Wire, HBO’s critically acclaimed crime drama set in Baltimore, was created by which former journalist and police reporter?
Correct! David Simon worked as a crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun for years before creating The Wire, which drew heavily on his real-world experiences. His journalistic background gave the show an unmatched authenticity in depicting systemic failures in American cities.
The correct answer is David Simon. A former crime reporter for The Baltimore Sun, Simon used his deep knowledge of Baltimore’s streets, institutions, and politics to craft one of the most realistic and layered portrayals of urban America ever put on screen.
Which HBO anthology series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, captivated audiences with its philosophical first season set in Louisiana in 2014?
Correct! True Detective Season 1, created by Nic Pizzolatto, premiered in January 2014 and became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight. McConaughey’s portrayal of the nihilistic Detective Rust Cohle sparked countless philosophical debates and think-pieces.
The answer is True Detective. Its debut season in 2014 starred Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart, two detectives investigating a series of ritualistic murders over seventeen years. The show’s dark atmosphere and philosophical monologues made it an instant classic.
In The Sopranos, what is the name of the psychiatrist Tony Soprano regularly visits throughout the series?
Correct! Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played by Lorraine Bracco, is one of the most important characters in The Sopranos. Her therapy sessions with Tony formed the emotional and philosophical backbone of the entire series, exploring themes of identity, violence, and self-deception.
The correct answer is Dr. Jennifer Melfi, played masterfully by Lorraine Bracco. Her fraught therapeutic relationship with Tony Soprano was central to the show’s psychological depth. The other names listed are also characters from the series, which is why this one can be tricky!
Succession, the Emmy-winning HBO drama, centers on the Roy family’s media empire. What is the name of the fictional company they control?
Correct! Waystar Royco is the sprawling media and entertainment conglomerate at the heart of Succession. Created by Jesse Armstrong, the show drew clear parallels to real-world media dynasties like the Murdochs, making the fictional empire feel disturbingly plausible.
The answer is Waystar Royco. This fictional media giant, loosely inspired by real conglomerates like News Corp, serves as the prize the Roy children are all desperately fighting over. Pierce Global Media and ATN are also referenced in the show but are separate entities.
Which HBO miniseries, based on a true story, dramatized the 1986 nuclear disaster in Soviet Ukraine and won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series in 2019?
Correct! Chernobyl, written by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, was a critical sensation that earned widespread praise for its harrowing accuracy and gripping storytelling. It held a near-perfect score on review aggregator sites and sparked renewed global interest in the disaster.
The correct answer is Chernobyl. The five-part miniseries aired in 2019 and depicted the catastrophic explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the subsequent Soviet cover-up. Band of Brothers and The Pacific are also acclaimed HBO miniseries, but they cover World War II rather than Chernobyl.
In Six Feet Under, the Fisher family runs a funeral home in which American city?
Correct! Six Feet Under, created by Alan Ball, is set in Los Angeles, California, where the Fisher family operates Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. The show ran from 2001 to 2005 and is celebrated for its unflinching exploration of death, grief, and dysfunctional family dynamics.
The answer is Los Angeles. Six Feet Under ran from 2001 to 2005 and used its LA funeral home setting to explore mortality and family in a deeply unconventional way. Its series finale is still widely considered one of the greatest and most emotionally resonant final episodes in television history.
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If you’ve never seen the hysterical show about a two-man novelty band from Wellington who move to New York with their well-meaning, but incompetent manager, Murray (the excellent Rhys Darby), to make it big, then drop everything and get watching—there are only two seasons. The series follows Brett and Jemaine as they navigate the big city, look for love, fend off their one obsessed fan (the hilarious Kristem Schaal), while trying to get gigs to pay their rent and survive. The 10-time Emmy-nominated musical show spawned so many amazing comedy songs, such as Robots, The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room), Bowie in Space, Business Time, and Hippopotamus vs. Ryhmenoceros. There ain’t no party like my nanna’s tea party.
2
My Adventures With Superman
An anime-tinged reboot of the Man of Steel
Two seasons of this refreshing new animated Superman series are available to stream on HBO Max, and there’s a third on the way next month, so now’s a great time to get caught up if you haven’t already started this excellent Adult Swim-based show. My Adventures with Superman is just that, a fun, PG-13 rated series that follows a twenty-something Clark Kent (voiced by The Boys‘ Jack Quaid), as he’s just figuring out his powers, grappling with his secret identity, and trying to navigate his job as a reporter at The Daily Planet.
Oh, there’s also his budding love affair with Lois Lane (Alice Lee) to contend with, as well as helping his other colleagues, including Jimmy Olsen, get ahead while not exposing himself as The Man of Steel, while a young Lex Luthor (Max Mittleman) begins his life of corruption and scheming. My Adventures with Superman is a solid watch, which has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and features an anime-inspired style that brings a fresh take on the DC superhero.
1
Portobello
An Italian late-night TV king’s surreal judicial nightmare
Another perfectly-scored HBO Max series finishes off this week’s list. Portobello is the streamer’s first original Italian production, which is fitting because it dramatizes the unbelievable true story of Enzo Tortora (Fabrizio Gifuni). The king of Italian TV and host of its popular late-night variety/talk show of the same name, Portabello, in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Tortora was arrested and wrongfully accused of drug trafficking and having ties to the Italian mafia.
In a gross miscarriage of justice, and through a trial based on unverified testimony, Tortora was convicted to 10 years in prison, despite there being no actual evidence. This gripping six-part biopic, based on Tortora’s posthumous book, Lettere a Francesca, traces the years-long ordeal, culminating in his eventual release in 1986.
HBO Max always brings the prestige
That’s the work week, sorted. Whether you’re chasing adrenaline, absurd novelty songs, something animated to enjoy with the family, or a sweeping true story, the queue is locked. For more weekly picks across the streaming landscape, How-To Geek’s rotating roundups for Netflix, Paramount+, and Prime Video are always worth a scroll.
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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.
