While many associate the birth of the 21st century with the origin of television’s reign as a prestige form of entertainment drama, the medium really began to showcase its appetite for more daring and boundary-pushing stories as far back as the early 1990s. It should come as a surprise to absolutely no one who loves TV to learn that HBO has been a major source of A-grade small-screen drama in the 36 years since the start of the ‘90s.
To select just 10 shows that stand as the premium cable network’s best in that time is no simple task, and it has seen some defining productions miss out, like the pioneering prison drama Oz and the infectious comedy favorite Curb Your Enthusiasm. The titles that have made the cut truly epitomize HBO at its absolute best.
10
‘Veep’ (2012–2019)
Julia Louis Drefyus as Selina Meyer standing at a podium with an American flag behind her in Veep.Image via HBO
As far as outright comedy goes, HBO has never reached greater heights than it has with Veep. Created by ingenious political satirist Armando Iannucci—the man behind The Death of Stalin and I’m Alan Partridge—the series delivers an acidic and barbed look at the inner workings of the White House as it follows Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the newly appointed Vice President of the United States, as she uses her new station to try to cement her political legacy while handling the litany of issues that arise in her professional and personal life.
A marvelous procession of rapid-fire, profanity-laden poetry and illusion-shattering cynicism that cuts to the fragile egotism and reckless amorality that resides behind the all-American charm many politicians present, Veep is a masterclass in cutthroat comedy. Also buoyed by Louis-Dreyfus’ incredible lead performance that saw her win six consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards, Veep is seven seasons of scorching satire that, despite its many accolades, still stands as one of HBO’s more underrated triumphs.
9
‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2006)
Image from Six Feet Under’s pilot released in 2001 of people standing at a graveside service.Image via HBO
While HBO has enjoyed an abundance of success over the past 36 years, the 2000s mark a defining decade for the network, one that produced plenty of revered classics as well as a handful of underappreciated gems. Six Feet Under falls into the latter of the two categories, with the five-season series never truly finding the widespread acclaim it deserved despite its masterful balance of black comedy, family drama, and spiritual surrealism garnering more attention retrospectively.
Following the highly dysfunctional Fisher family as they manage a funeral home while dealing with their own individual life issues, Six Feet Under explores everything from sexuality to depression with the profound depth granted to it by the story always being within touching distance of death, mortality, and grief. Complimented by its exceptional cast and a finale that still stands tall among the best the medium has ever seen, Six Feet Under is a hidden gem of HBO dramedy.
8
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 3Image via HBO
HBO has always been at the forefront of new evolutions in television, especially throughout the 21st century. However, the network may have outdone even itself with Game of Thrones, with the epic medieval fantasy series shining as the grandest, most awe-inspiring production the medium has ever seen, and is ever likely to see. Based on George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novel series, it unfolds in Westeros as several powerful houses enter into a brutal and treacherous war for power while a long-forgotten evil threatens to return from the North.
Much has been said about the pitfalls of its later seasons, but it remains true that when Game of Thrones was operating at its best, it was the best drama television has ever seen. Its violent and fiercely unpredictable plotting made every episode a nauseating yet addictively unmissable spectacle, while the sheer magnitude of its ambition was impressively matched by the brilliance of its ensemble cast and the stunning, immersive capabilities of its production team.
7
‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)
Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock in a hat and tie with an angry expression in Deadwood.Image via HBO
Of all the strengths that have served as essential pillars of HBO brilliance throughout its domination of television excellence, few are as remarkable as the network’s commitment to production value. A litany of period pieces are perhaps the greatest testaments to this, with few being as enrapturing asDeadwood. Even with the series being abruptly canceled after Season 3,the Western drama remains one of21st-century television’s defining feats ,an immersive descent into themud-soaked depravityof1870s Americaasamining boom sees massesof peopleswarmtoSouthDakotan townofDeadwood.
Bereftofthe starry-eyed romanticismthatso often permeates Hollywood productions exploringthe Old West,Deadwood prides itself onitscallousmoralityand confronting realism.David Milch’s writing is afeatureaswell ,withhisstrikingdialogueofpoeticprofanitymixingbeautifullywithhisassemblyoflayered,morallyambiguouscharacterswhosecomplexjourneysserveas sociologicalexplorationofhowcivilizationisbornfromruthlessambitionandlawlesschaos.
The series’ ability to juggle profound and complex human drama with outrageous hysterics that lampoonthe richand powerful is astonishing, withthe tonal shiftsnever once feeling jarring. Everything fromJesse Armstrong’s resolute commandoftheseriestoThe ensembleofengrossingperformances,thevisceral , handheld intensityofthecamerawork,and eventhepervasive senseofambitionandself-destructioncontributes,makingSuccession both hilariousandheart-stopping ,as wellasoneofthemostaddictiveseries televisionhaseverseen.
Collider Exclusive · Villain Personality Quiz WhichCriminal Mastermind Would Be Your Nemesis? Lecter · Joker · Moriarty · Chigurh
AMy manners,and everything I amcareful notto say.
BThat I still believepeoplearebasicallydecent.
CThat I am clever,and quietly enjoy provingit.
DThat I handle things myself,and always have.
Sarah Parker is a research analyst and content contributor with a strong interest in business strategy, organizational behavior, and social development. With a background in sociology and public policy, she focuses on exploring the intersection between research and real-world application. Sarah regularly contributes articles that bridge academic insights and practical relevance, aiming to foster critical thinking and innovation across sectors.
Image via HBO
Image via HBO
Image via HBO
Image via HBO
