15 greatest HBO series of all time

Bethany Lewis

Image: HBO

While HBO wasn’t always known as the producers of quality television it is now, it has managed to become the home of some of the greatest and most influential shows of all time.

Some of them even changed television as we know it. Here are fifteen of the best.

15. Treme

From the creator of The Wire, David Simon and Eric Overmyer produced another show that intelligently and sensitively focuses on a single city and its residents and communities.

Treme delves into post-Katrina New Orleans with the same single-minded intensity as The Wire does with Baltimore or that Show Me a Hero does with Yonkers. Its kind of Simon’s style and he works wonders with it.

Originally there was some trepidation from locals about a television show based on New Orleans, particularly after Katrina. Simon and Overmyer took the opportunity to examine issues that the community struggles with every day — everything from political corruption to police brutality against the Mardis Gras Indians to reviving tourism — making the show authentic and loving as much as critical.

Locals also appreciated the bump in the economy when the HBO series filmed on location, using local talent whenever possible.

Image: HBO

14. Sex and the City

No matter how you feel about Sex and the City (and no, it isn’t and never was called Sex IN the City) you can’t deny that it was a groundbreaking HBO series in the genre of female lead drama.

While it focused on a certain socio-economic class of women that I personally cannot identify with and personally don’t know anyone who can, it was rare to have women’s issues and perspectives so openly explored on television.

And no matter what class you’re in, there are some issues that all women share. It also inspired shows like Gossip Girl and Lena Dunham’s Girls.

At the same time, modern viewers watching the show might feel that this HBO series is somewhat dated in its idea of feminism and that the constant emphasis on romantic relationships undermines the value of the women as individuals.

Image: HBO

13. The Kids in the Hall

If you like Saturday Night Live, you might not like The Kids in the Hall. Despite the fact that they share two writers and the support of Lorne Michaels, this five-person Canadian sketch comedy troupe is firmly in the realm of the bizarre — more on the side of Monty Python than Mad TV.

Kids featured recurring characters like the friendly ax murderer, Mr. Tyzik the head crusher, Cabbage Head, the Flying Pig, and gay socialite Buddy Cole. There are almost no jokes or sketches based on pop culture or political personalities and they often played themselves in sketches.

On the other side of the spectrum, they have a song based on the completely mundane topic of the different “Daves” Bruce McCulloch knows.

Thia HBO series ran for five seasons, but 24 years later you can still catch Scott Thompson, Kevin McDonald, Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, and Mark McKinney on the occasional reunion tour — which I can personally recommend with highest regards.

Image: HBO

12. Angels in America

HBO brought high theater to television when Mike Nichols directed the miniseries based on Tony Kushner’s sweeping play Angels in America.

It took over 10 years for the 1991 play to reach the screen with Al Pacino committed to the role of Roy Cohn starting in 1993. It took a decade to hit HBO because the series wasn’t released until 2003.

To have a big actor attached to a project for that long speaks of more than dedication, it speaks of passion. And that passion shines through every frame of this smart, emotional, and intellectual material that tackles the very difficult subject of AIDS in the 80s and the Reagan era politics.

Every actor in this series is magnificent — especially Meryl Streep. I often think that Streep is at least a little overrated, but not this time. If anyone needs a reminder of just how good Streep actually is, all they need to do is watch Angels in America.

Image: HBO

11. Deadwood

Deadwood is a historical Western series set in and revolving around the residents of Deadwood, South Dakota in the 1870s.

During its three seasons, this HBO series covered the annexation of South Dakota and incorporated a lot of historical characters into its narrative, blending an authentic historical tone with fictionalized elements.

Writer/creator David Milch’s dedication to authenticity and Ian McShane’s performance as Al Swearengen helped to cement the series as one of the greatest of all time — which is a rare success for a Western these days.

While the show has been off the air for 12 years, there has been much empty talk about a Deadwood movie. The recent news is looking hopeful as David Milch has a script and HBO is looking to start production in the fall.

Image: HBO

10. Game of Thrones

There’s no doubt that Game of Thrones is a cultural phenomenon. It’s the most watched show on HBO ever and everyone I know is practically obsessed with it.

I understand why people love it. There’s magic, intrigue, sex, blood, conspiracies, dragons and war. It’s everything must watch TV is supposed to be in a genre-friendly package.

Some people see greatness. I see a political drama with dragons, neither of which I’m crazy about.

At the same time, the series is populated with fantastically talented and charismatic actors and the writers have certainly not pulled any punches when it comes to sensational and shocking material.

I think this is largely why people remain so entranced by the series — the promise of intrigue and disturbing surprises. Viewers can’t wait to see how dark and how wrong the show can go — the “what will they think of next” factor.

Image: HBO

9. The Leftovers

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show as constantly emotionally fraught as The Leftovers. And in an HBO series where one-tenth of the world’s population suddenly and inexplicably disappears one day, its no wonder.

Mothers are left without their children, children are left orphaned, people are constantly fighting guilt and grief without ever knowing why it happened or where they went. Everyone is searching for answers and meaning in a world where there isn’t any.

It’s incredibly tragic and as much as people hurt each other just trying to survive their own demons, they also come together and find meaning in each other.

New families are formed, a new way of life is forged, cults are created, religions are founded, some move on and some don’t. It’s awkwardness and pain but it’s also love and beauty.

In the end, nothing is answered and everything is answered. Don’t expect closure.

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8. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

When John Oliver took over as temporary host of The Daily Show, not only did he prove that there was life after Jon Stewart, but that the world had been missing out on John Oliver.

After his guest-hosting run, it wasn’t long before Oliver acquired a politically slanted comedy news show of his own. And since it was on HBO, it gave him the flexibility to run wild with his content and vent his frustrations.

And what makes Oliver so great to watch — aside from his intelligent and hilarious socio-political commentary and his brilliantly structured arguments — is that his frustrations are our frustrations.

His scathing takedowns of everything that drives us crazy about the world — from bigoted politicians to climate change deniers to unsustainable food practices — help us articulate our own frustrations.

John Oliver helps us vent our anger while giving us the tools to communicate intelligently with others.

Image: HBO

7. The Sopranos

The Sopranos was more than just your average gangster HBO drama. It revolutionized the anti-hero and humanized the oft-caricatured mob-boss.

Tony Soprano wasn’t your typical gangster. He had weaknesses, even though he couldn’t afford to show them. He suffered from depression and saw a therapist, even though he struggled with the social stigma against mental illness.

He had very human problems in a profession and position in which it was not safe to be perceived as human, as weak, as vulnerable. As sympathetic as he could be, Tony was a monster. He was undoubtedly a bad guy and even though the audience suffers for it, we sympathize with him anyway.

Without Tony Soprano we wouldn’t have anti-heroes like Dexter Morgan or Hannibal Lecter or Walter White. It set a precedent for the kind of stories you could tell on television — the darker more complicated kind — and proved that the audience would keep showing up.

Image: HBO

6. Boardwalk Empire

Speaking of The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire is another HBO series that probably wouldn’t exist without the show’s precedent, not least of all because it was created by Sopranos writer and executive producer Terence Winter.

The HBO series is based on the book Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City, about the exploits of Prohibition-era crime boss Enoch L. Johnson. Steve Buscemi plays the fictional Atlantic City criminal kingpin Nucky Thompson.

The pilot episode was directed by Martin Scorsese with a production cost of $18 million dollars. With Scorsese and Mark Wahlberg as producers, the series attracted top acting talents like Michael Shannon, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Pitt, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jeffrey Wright, and Patricia Arquette.

While its not exactly considered groundbreaking television, the HBO series ran for five highly successful seasons, won 20 Emmy Awards, and receives a 91% average on Rotten Tomatoes.

If nothing else, it’s high quality entertainment.

Image: HBO

5. Flight of the Conchords

This comedy duo from New Zealand brought their quirky brand of musical humor to the US in 2007. Although this HBO series ran for only two seasons, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement wrote a number of classic comedy songs that are both uniquely funny and musically impressive.

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Their musical style ranges wildly, including anything from rap to love ballads to robot techno, all with exceptionally funny premises enhanced by the style and lyrics.

While the HBO series has been off the air for some time, it seems the popularity of the duo has only increased as their 2016 comedy tour went sold out at several venues, including the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado.

They have each had exceptional solo success as well, with McKenzie winning an Oscar for his original song “Man or Muppet” for The Muppet Movie and Clement often collaborating with Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi on bizarre comedies like What We Do in the Shadows, soon to be a TV series on FX.

Image: HBO

4. The Jinx

The Jinx marked a resurgence of popularity for the true crime documentary. The docu-series created a perfect storm of intrigue and exclusive that fascinated and shocked viewers.

Not only did the case have a sensational premise about a man (Robert Durst) suspected of killing his wife (among others), but the suspect in question had evaded capture for years.

Bizarrely, following a fictionalized film about the cold case starring Ryan Gosling, the suspect in question approached the filmmaker about collaborating on a documentary telling his side of the story.

The six-episode docu-series famously lead up to a startling confession captured accidentally when his microphone was left on during a bathroom break.

This shocking turn of events cemented The Jinx’s place in true crime history and created a demand for more sensational material.

As it turns out, the three murders of which Durst is accused in the series is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his suspected crimes.

Image: HBO

3. Fraggle Rock

I was not one of the lucky kids who grew up with Jim Henson’s charming Fraggle Rock. As with most Henson projects, the creativity, imagination, and ingenuity that went into producing the HBO series are staggering and the love and effort show.

Like Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock was partly educational — but more for emotional development and intuition than for ABCs and 123s. Like Star Trek for kids, Fraggle Rock strived to communicate compassion and empathy for others and taught kids to celebrate diversity.

It also communicated a humorous perception of how the universe is ordered (humans are the “silly creatures” that live in the universe outside Fraggle Rock) and the idea that although we are often separated by borders or culture, we are all connected in a universal symbiotic relationship.

In the end, we are all dependent on each other for everything from food and trade to science and invention to culture and education.

Image: HBO

2. True Blood

On the other side of the spectrum, we have the “so bad its good” category. True Blood is trashy, bloody, sexy, soapy, and compulsively watchable.

While it capitalized on the Twilight inspired vampire-craze (it was released the same year as the first Twilight movie and only a year ahead of The Vampire Diaries), it injected the genre with some much needed gothic horror and occasionally aimed at social commentary.

It was never much more than a gratuitous and campy indulgence, however, and one that became more and more self-indulgent and desperate as the series played out.

Not content to stick with vampires, writers started developing storylines involving other other-worldly creatures in an attempt to keep things lively — as if fans needed any more motivation for watching it than all the gratuitous sex and mystical violence.

It was pretty much the beginning of the end once they started experimenting with the Fairy Land.

Image: HBO

1. The Wire

Not only is David Simon’s seminal crime series one of HBO’s best shows, its one of the greatest shows of all time, period. Look up The Wire and many critics even count it as the best show ever made.

The groundbreaking series, which took place in Baltimore, Maryland and provided an in-depth focus on a number of factors related to crime rates in the area (drugs, education, politics, police corruption), ran for five seasons from 2002-2008.

Not only did it challenge misconceptions related to both crime and law enforcement, it challenged the stigma against drug addiction, and brought humanity to those who are so often dehumanized.

It also offered breakout roles for some fan favorite actors, such as Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, Seth Gilliam, Clarke Peters, Michael Kenneth Williams, and a young Michael B. Jordan.

Ten years later, the show still feels modern and relevant.

Next: 15 most influential women in TV history

What are your thoughts on the best HBO series of all time? Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know your favorites from the premium cable network in the comment section below and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook & Twitter for more on your favorite shows!

Bethany Lewis

Traveler, reader, fan of many things. Graduated Boston University with an MFA in Film Studies, current day job working at a dude ranch in Arizona.