Beyond Succession and Euphoria: 5 HBO Hidden Gems You Haven't Seen
Intricate crime stories and hilarious sitcoms.
We are used to HBO being the forge of major TV series, the home of The Sopranos, The Wire, Game of Thrones and Succession.
However, HBO has many lesser known but worthy series that do not boast cult status, sky-high ratings and prestigious awards.
1. Eastbound & Down, 2009-2013
If you like black comedies, then you should definitely give Eastbound & Down a chance. This is an excellent show that tells the story of an arrogant and egocentric athlete who is willing to do anything to regain his former glory.
Kenny Powers was once a talented baseball player who left to conquer the national league, and now works as a physical education teacher at his hometown school, but he does not even think about being ashamed of falling to the bottom, on the contrary – he sincerely does not understand why the locals do not give him the respect he deserves.
2. Gordita Chronicles, 2022
Gordita Chronicles may be one of HBO's most underrated projects. First, the network canceled the series after the first season, and six months later, it was completely removed from streaming. Totally undeserved.
The sweet and touching story of a Dominican girl and her family adjusting to a new life in Miami in the mid-1980s had every chance of becoming one of the most successful sitcoms of recent years.
The first few episodes were a little slow to catch on, but then the writers found the right tone for the story, and the charismatic characters, hilarious situations, and unique Caribbean flavor did everything they could to enchant viewers.
3. The Staircase, 2022
Even before the true crime boom, viewers were shocked by the 2004 French project The Staircase, dedicated to a scandalous case: the famous writer Michael Peterson called the police and said that his wife had died after falling down the stairs.
It seemed to be a domestic accident, but investigators began to notice more and more inconsistencies, so the widower was charged with murder, which he tried to contest.
The 2022 HBO project of the same name has a truly brilliant cast – the main roles are played by Colin Firth and Toni Collette.
4. Hello Ladies, 2013-2014
A lanky, nearsighted Englishman named Stuart, the owner of a two-person web design studio, lives in Los Angeles and tries to meet women. However, he completely ignores the woman who rents a room from him, an aspiring actress named Jessica.
Hello Ladies is a hilarious cringe comedy with elements of an honest rom-com that chronicles the main character's increasingly shameful attempts to maintain a Casanova image.
5. Bored to Death, 2009-2011
A failed writer and alcoholic, Jonathan experiences a painful breakup unlike anyone else – he begins to imitate characters from detective stories and pretends to be a private detective. An unusual escapade heals the man's mental wounds and helps the people of New York.
Bored to Death lasted for three seasons – a good timing for a series based on references to cinema and literature. Light humor, neurotic characters, and even Jim Jarmusch on a bicycle – the show seems to have everything to be loved.