6 Near-Perfect HBO Max Shows Nobody Seems To Remember

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HBO Max has created some fantastic TV shows, but viewers often quickly forget about them – shows like The Sex Lives of College Girls and Pretty Little Liars disappear from memory soon after they’re added. This is a common issue for HBO Max and many other streaming services, which are always trying to keep their content fresh and new.

However, this strategy doesn’t always work well. If a streaming service releases too much new content too fast, good shows can easily get overlooked. For example, Netflix has some highly-rated thriller series – even ones starring popular actors like Emma Stone and Naomi Watts – that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.

Despite strong reviews and a lead actor like Andrew Scott, Netflix’s crime drama Ripley quickly faded from public attention after its release in April 2024. This has happened to many shows on streaming services like Apple TV+, Paramount+, and Prime Video, and it shows that even HBO Max isn’t safe from this trend.

Since its launch, HBO Max has produced a diverse range of shows, with some becoming huge hits. While a few were poorly received, the most interesting ones are those listed below. These shows were all genuinely good, and though they didn’t always get positive reviews or widespread attention, they deserve to be recognized for their quality.

Hacks

Hacks follows the relationship between Deborah Vance, a seasoned comedian played by Jean Smart, and her ambitious assistant, Ava Daniels, portrayed by Hannah Einbinder. The show is a clever satire of the entertainment industry, striking a great balance between humor and substance. It avoids being overly superficial like Entourage or excessively grim like BoJack Horseman, instead offering a funny and insightful look at show business without becoming too depressing.

As a total film and TV buff, I have to say that what really makes Hacks shine is the incredible work from Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Their performances are just phenomenal. But honestly, the show is also packed with fantastic cameos! Seeing real-life comedians like Margaret Cho, Patton Oswalt, Jimmy Kimmel, and Rosie O’Donnell playfully poke fun at themselves is a huge treat. And then you’ve got these amazing recurring guest stars – Laurie Metcalf, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher Lloyd – it just creates such a strong, talented ensemble.

It’s surprising that Hacks hasn’t become more popular with a wider audience, despite its success with dedicated fans. The show has been nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series four times and even won once, but this recognition hasn’t translated into a larger mainstream following.

Gremlins

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Okay, so HBO Max dropped a prequel to Gremlins starting in May 2023, and honestly, I was pleasantly surprised. The original Gremlins films were huge in the 80s and 90s, inspiring a ton of copycats, and this new series manages to capture that same mischievous, slightly edgy humor. What’s really impressive is they didn’t dumb it down for a younger audience, even though the animation is definitely geared towards kids. It’s still delightfully chaotic, just like the originals!

Okay, let me tell you, the new Gremlins series is a real treat for fans. They’ve assembled a fantastic cast – Matthew Rhys, Ming-Na Wen, even Eric Bauza – and it genuinely feels like a continuation of the original movies. It doesn’t just rehash old ideas; it expands on the world we already love, all while maintaining that same quirky, fun spirit that made the originals so great. It’s a worthy addition to the Gremlins legacy, in my opinion.

Even though the Gremlins TV series manages to strike a good balance between honoring the original films and offering something new, it didn’t initially attract a large audience and hasn’t really caught on with fans online. Critics generally enjoy it, but most online discussions about Gremlins still focus on the possibility of a third movie instead of this surprisingly entertaining spin-off series.

Full Circle

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Released in 2023, Full Circle is a captivating mystery drama that benefits from careful attention and multiple viewings. Featuring Claire Danes, known from The Beast in Me, this intricate thriller explores a failed kidnapping from every side, unraveling the lives of those involved in the complicated and deceptive situation. Director Steven Soderbergh and writer Ed Solomon expertly dissect the crime as they reveal the truth.

I was completely blown away by the cast of Full Circle – CCH Pounder, Jharrel Jerome, Timothy Olyphant, and Zazie Beetz all had moments to really shine, especially before that incredible twist! But honestly, the show felt like a perfect showcase for the skills of Solomon and Soderbergh. I knew Solomon from big action movies like Men in Black and Charlie’s Angels, but this mystery really let him explore a much darker and more complex side of storytelling.

This series is a natural fit for Steven Soderbergh, the director known for both insightful dramas about everyday people and stylish thrillers. By the end of Full Circle, it’s clear the show successfully combines these two styles, and it’s a shame it didn’t get more recognition.

Pretty Little Liars

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When HBO Max announced plans to revive Pretty Little Liars in 2020, many people were surprised. The original series had only finished airing three years before, and its ending wasn’t particularly well-received. Plus, making the reboot more mature with an R-rating seemed likely to turn off fans of the original teen drama.

When Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, known for Riverdale, was named the creator and showrunner, some fans worried about the reboot. In fact, a vocal group disliked it even before it premiered in July 2022. But those who gave the reboot a chance found it to be a surprisingly enjoyable, exciting, and creative show.

The 2022 version of Pretty Little Liars is darker and more violent than the original series, with more shocking twists than the often over-the-top Riverdale. It’s a tone that won’t appeal to all viewers, but the show was ultimately cancelled in September 2024 and deserved a better ending.

The Sex Lives of College Girls

Given that Mindy Kaling created the controversial HBO Max show Velma, some viewers might be hesitant about her new series, The Sex Lives of College Girls. However, it’s worth remembering that Kaling also created the popular The Mindy Project and wrote some of the most beloved episodes of The Office.

Mindy Kaling really hit her stride with The Sex Lives of College Girls, a funny and often outrageous comedy about teenage girls exploring their sexuality. It’s a fresh, female-focused take on the classic college sex comedies of the ’80s and 2000s—think American Pie or Porky’s, but told from a woman’s point of view. The show is honest, a little shocking, and consistently funny.

Okay, seriously, if you like shows that are funny, a little raunchy, and really honest about sex, you have to check out The Sex Lives of College Girls. It stars Renee Rapp and Amrit Kaur, who are both amazing, and it’s a lot more lighthearted than Sex Education but still tackles some pretty bold stuff. Honestly, I wish more people had been talking about it when it first came out in 2021 – it’s really good!

Raised By Wolves

Any list of hidden HBO Max gems needs to include Ridley Scott’s incredibly ambitious sci-fi drama from 2020, but surprisingly few people have seen it. Penned by Aaron Guzikowski, who also wrote Prisoners, Raised By Wolves centers on two androids – named Father and Mother – tasked with raising human children on a new planet after Earth is destroyed.

Raised By Wolves is a thought-provoking science fiction series that explores themes of faith, extremism, and what it means to be human. It unfolds at a deliberate pace, which might not appeal to all viewers, but those who appreciate its unique style will find it visually captivating.

Despite tackling complex and serious topics, Raised By Wolves didn’t attract a large enough audience to justify its high production costs. Similar to shows like The Sex Lives of College Girls and Pretty Little Liars, it just didn’t connect with a broad audience.

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2025-12-05 01:11