HBO has delivered some of the most groundbreaking television shows of all time, like Oz, The Sopranos, and The Wire. Many of these shows have already finished airing. However, that doesn’t mean HBO no longer produces high-quality television. The 2010s have seen a plethora of great shows from HBO, and these eight are some of the best of the decade.
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Last Week Tonight is the epitome of the late-night, political satire television format. It’s widely regarded for its comedic method of tackling current events. Five seasons in and renewed for several more, every week sees British comedian John Oliver take a deep dive into a neglected or outlandish news story.
Oliver always brings biting, witty criticism which he combines with vigorous research to create an insightful yet humorous weekly half-hour. Additionally, he’s never afraid to face the real world consequences of his show, and he’s always willing to push the boundaries in an attempt to help evoke a reaction from viewers.
Veep
Veep follows the fictional Vice Presidency and continued political career of Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she struggles to accomplish her political agenda. Political satire, thoughtful insights, and smart commentaries form the comedic backbone of the series. One of the greatest HBO comedy series, Veep will conclude with its seventh season in 2019, leaving behind a powerful comedic legacy.
Treme
The first of two successor series to The Wire, Treme sees writer David Simon tackle a post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. The musical performances, realism, and gripping portrayal of the struggle toward recovery made this four-season series a moderate hit.
It never received the same levels of acclaim as other series on this list. But it was still loved for its delicate, tasteful, and honest use of cultural touchstones. New Orleans’ culture anchors the series, keeping the audience invested in the drama.
The Deuce
The Deuce is the second of The Wire‘s successors. In the first season, David Simon begins his examination of the prostitution and pornography industry in 1970s New York. Highlights include James Franco‘s portrayal of twin brothers Frankie and Vincent Martino, and Maggie Gyllenhaal‘s leading role as a sex worker, “Candy.” These elements grab viewers and immediately pull them in.
Thanks to the thorough research and thoughtful care of the production team, the series never glamorizes or sugarcoats the despair or struggles of the characters. Instead, the team keeps the depictions tasteful and, often, gut-wrenching.
Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies was originally a miniseries adaptation of Liane Moriarty‘s novel of the same name. After the wild success of the show, however, HBO decided to renew it for another season. The tight plotting and mystery hook of the show makes for a great backdrop to the true highlight — the memorable performances across the board of the mostly female cast. Standouts including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, and Laura Dern all anchor the series.
Thanks to the strength of the characters, the particularly easy-to-binge episode count, and the thrilling story, the show has become an instant classic, and it looks to only get better when it returns.
True Detective
An anthology crime series that dramatically changes each season, each True Detective season tells intense, enthralling narratives centered on characters. This allows the leading actors to truly shine as they portray the depths of human emotions experienced by the characters. Their performances turn this police drama into a frank look at human limits.
The first season received wide critical and audience acclaim, but the second garnered a more tepid response. With a third season coming soon, the show has the opportunity to push the boundaries even further. Hopefully, we’ll get another compelling story with an all-star ensemble cast.
Westworld
What better way to examine the human condition than through the eyes of robots achieving consciousness? Science fiction western, puzzle box mystery, and adaptation of the 1973 film of the same name, HBO’s Westworld sees humans and artificial “hosts” struggling to co-exist in the eponymous amusement park.
Highlight performances include Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, and Jeffrey Wright in their roles as emerging hosts. The characters take the viewer through their repetitious narrative cycles as they struggle toward something bigger.
Game of Thrones
Critically acclaimed, widely beloved, and attracting record viewer numbers, Game of Thrones is the flagship HBO show to most of the world. It brought George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series into the mainstream and has been widely celebrated as one of the greatest fantasy stories of all time.
Starks, Lannisters, Targaryens, and other Great Houses of Westeros engage in political machinations even as a greater threat looms on the horizon. These character-driven interactions are the heart of the show. Fans repeatedly fall in love with new characters only for them to be dramatically killed them off in shocking twists.
With only one season left, it remains to be seen if the show’s ending will live up to our expectations. Either way, the will go down as one of the greatest in television history.