Winter is rapidly approaching, and there’s nothing quite like watching a good TV series while snuggling under some blankets with a warm cup of hot chocolate. To keep you entertained while you try to keep warm, here’s a list compiled of HBO’s Top 5 bingeable shows readily available on Showmax:
5. Girls (2012-2017)
A dramedy about the experiences of four young women living in New York City. The series follows an aspiring writer, Hannah Horvath, played by Lena Dunham, and her friends, Marnie Michaels, Jessa Johansson, and Shoshanna Shapiro, as they try to navigate their way in one of the world’s most expensive cities. Messy, raw, funny, and sad, the show allows the viewer to revel in the drama that these not-so-likable protagonists often find themselves in.
The show tackles topics such as the angst of emerging adulthood, abortions, STDs, self-esteem, body image, nuanced relationships, intimacy in a digital world that espouses distance, and the bloodlust of living in a city like New York with little to no money, all tied together with humor and poignancy. The TV series is often referred to as “millennial Sex and the City”, yet these two shows couldn’t be more different from one another. If you’re in the mood for a show with a self-aware sense of humor and angsty melodrama, Girls is the series for you to binge!
4. Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
Lies? Secrets? Murder? The lives of the apparently perfect upper-class mothers of children at a prestigious school begin to unravel following the announcement that a murder has taken place in their hometown. Starring Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, and Zoë Kravitz, Big Little Lies has enough star power to light up a night sky. Loosely based on the book of the same name, the series is chalk-filled with drama, deceit, mystery, grief, suspense, and even a little bit of comedy, which will keep you on your toes and your eyes glued to the screen. It’s difficult to talk about this show without giving too much away; after all, it is partially a mystery.
The series received 16 Primetime Emmy Awards for its first season and has been lauded for its writing, directing, acting, production values, cinematography, and soundtrack. And if that’s not enough to convince you to binge this series, the first season of the show was so good that Meryl Streep begged to star in its second season.
3. Insecure (2016-2021)
Issa Rae, as Issa Dee, is insecure in this series. A charming yet moving TV show that follows the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern-day American black woman. When the show first aired back in 2016, it was heavily praised not just for how good it is but also for its depiction of relatable and regular black characters. Issa Dee and her best friend, Molly (Yvonne Orji), are a quirky couple of best friends simply trying to get through the regular ups and downs of life while navigating relationships, careers, and the normal mundanities.
This show is a must-watch if you haven’t seen it before, as it is truly one of the greatest shows of all time, with high, solid ratings for all five seasons. Raunchy, insightful, and hilarious, Insecure is a fun journey that dismantles negative stereotypes with amusing plotlines and memorable characters.
2. The Last of Us (2023–)
The latest HBO star, The Last of Us, is a post-apocalyptic drama TV series that created a huge amount of buzz online during the run of its first season. The show is set in 2023, 20 years into a pandemic caused by a mass fungal infection, resulting in most of the population turning into zombie-like creatures and the destruction of modern society. The series follows Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a smuggler who is tasked with escorting Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a young girl who is immune, across a post-apocalyptic United States.
The cast of the show received widespread acclaim for their performances, with many critics singling out the undeniable chemistry between the show’s leads, Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal. Moving and packed with action and excitement, the show stands out among most TV series in the “zombie-apocalypse” genre. The show has been particularly praised for the third episode in the series, which has been regarded by many critics as one of the greatest episodes in television of all time. Even if you don’t like the zombie-apocalypse genre, this show is worth the binge. Oh, and keep a box of tissues nearby for when you get to the third episode.
1. Succession (2018-2023)
The next installment on the list, Succession, is a satirical black comedy drama series created by Jesse Armstrong. The hilarious family drama centres on the Roy family, a wealthy family who own a global media and entertainment conglomerate called WayStar RoyCo, and their battle for control over the company amid uncertainty about the health of the family’s patriarch and head of the company, Logan Roy (Brian Cox). Other cast members include: Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy; Kieren Culkin as Roman Roy; Sarah Snook as Siobhan “Shiv” Roy; and Alan Ruck as Connor Roy.
Praised for the performances of the show’s “unlikable” characters and acid wit, the series is a sensational comedy of absolute power and dysfunction. What makes this show stand out is undeniably its characters, who, despite being horrible, are complex with motives and actions that lead to some comical moments. Currently airing its fourth and final season, Succession has been lauded by critics and audiences alike throughout its run, with the show receiving two wins for both the Golden Globe for Best Television Series—Drama and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series in 2020. Entitled, spoilt, and dysfunctional, the Roy family will keep you entertained, shocked, and excited.
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