After streaming all of the best series on Netflix and playing all of the fun board games you’ve got stored at home, you’re likely looking for something else to do while you’re working from home or under government-mandated lockdown measures.
Is an HBO subscription worth it, then? HBO Now, which is slightly different from HBO Go (the latter is only for those who have HBO through a cable provider and want to stream HBO shows on a mobile device or tablet), definitely is if you’re in search of premium, original content.
With HBO Now, you can access brand new HBO content on top of their entire catalog of shows, films, and content. Go ahead, try the free trial. Once you sign up, here are the ten best HBO series to watch right now while you’re waiting for the world to go back to normal.
1. Big Little Lies
If you’ve ever read Liane Moriarty’s bestselling book then you’ll absolutely want to sign up for an HBO Go or HBO Now account just to see Big Little Lies on the small screen. The adaptation follows three mothers living seemingly normal lives only to find that their private lives are filled with murder, deception and other juicy drama. If you’re feeling like your life as a mother is falling apart during the lockdown, just watch some Big Little Lies and you’ll feel so much better about your life and parenting skills.
2. Entourage
Entourage was perhaps one of the biggest HBO hits of the 2000s. This entertaining and yet sometimes vulgar HBO series follows the lives of two childhood friends as they attempt to forge a path in the rough and tumble world that is the Los Angeles entertainment industry. The series has an impressive list of stars as regulars plus tons of others who make appearances throughout the show. Overall, it’s great for those interested in a unique story about male friendships and hardships.
3. Game of Thrones
Now, if you’re really bored then there’s no better time to start binge-watching Game of Thrones on HBO Now. The best of the best HBO series, ever. Shocking, scenic, and gripping are all perfect adjectives to describe this thrilling fantasy TV show that enchanted audiences for years. And, as mentioned, it’s one of the best HBO shows to binge as the episodes are dense and lengthy. Overall, if you watch the series from beginning to end, you’ll enjoy 63.5 hours of premium content. Enjoy the impressive cinematography and enchanting filming locations as you get to explore Westeros.
4. Veep
Interested in something a little more light-hearted than Game of Thrones? Veep is easily one of the best comedy series on HBO Now. This series is a mixture of the idiotic, useless staff you might expect to find in a Parks & Recreation office mixed with a bit of dark humor and West Wing vibes. You’ll get to follow vice president Selina Meyer as she routinely puts out political fires all while dazzling with her comedic timing.
5. The Wire
Ask any devoted HBO fan which of the platform’s series is the all-time best and we’d be willing to bet that The Wire makes it in the top three at least. The series was created by a former police reporter and follows the lives of various characters as they navigate the dark underside of the drug-ridden streets of West Baltimore. Complex once called the show one of the “smartest” series HBO has ever produced, and that’s pretty spot on. The plot lines are incredibly well-crafted.
6. The Leftovers
The Leftovers, originally published as a book, follows the lives of well, those leftover after a mysterious global event causes 2% of the entire world’s population to disappear. What follows is a deep, emotional and often heart-wrenching exploration of human emotions and guilt. So, it’s somewhat timely for the era in which we’re living. Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon give fantastic performances, and the suspenseful ending is, well...you’ll just have to see for yourself.
7. Sex and the City
Definitely a YES in the best HBO series list. We’re throwing it way back for this one. Sex and the City was the gal pal series that created the gal pal series trend all the way back in the late 1990s. The show was revolutionary at the time, making it a great way to explore past culture while following along the sometimes raunchy adventures of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte. The series is easy to get through and makes for great, casual viewing while you’re stuck at home.
8. Curb Your Enthusiasm
If intense, dark dramas aren’t really your thing, especially not given the current state of global affairs, try starting a series that’ll make you laugh without being so cheesy that it’s hard to bear. Curb Your Enthusiasm is a Larry David at his finest, living life in Los Angeles as...Larry David. The humor mimics what you might expect out of a modern-day Seinfeld. And, as an added plus, there are lots of seasons to watch, providing you with endless hours of comedic gold.
9. Deadwood
Immerse yourself in a version of America that’s distant enough to make you forget about everything that’s going on the world right now by streaming Deadwood, one of the best HBO series. The series is set in a lawless mining town in the 1870s following one of the largest gold strikes in American history. And, while the setting might be distant, the concept is actually quite timely, with Complex noting that, ultimately, it’s an “optimistic show about the bonds that form between people in the most desperate of circumstances.”
10. The Sopranos
It’s no list of the best HBO series to stream right now if we don’t include perhaps the most classic series of all, The Sopranos. Heck, it might even be one of the best drama series of all time to stream during the lockdown. As one of the very first cinematic TV shows to appear in the late 1990s, you’ll find yourself addicted to anti-hero Tony Soprano’s life and mobster antics.
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Here're the best series to stream:
The 10 Best Amazon Prime Series to Binge Right Now
The 10 Best HBO Series to Stream Right Now
The 10 Best Hulu Series to Stream Right Now
The 10 Best Netflix Series to Stream During Self-Isolation
The 5 Best Series to Watch on YouTube TV
Best Content You Don't Want to Miss on Audible
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