Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, and the 15 best HBO shows ever, ranked
11. The White Lotus
One of the newest HBO shows on this list is The White Lotus, Mike White’s addicting dark comedy anthology that debuted in 2021. The series took audiences by surprise in the first season with its unpredictable storyline and shocking moments. Viewers follow vacationers at luxurious resorts enjoying their trip while interacting with the staff. We get to know the personal lives of all parties and how they manage to deal with their day-to-day issues.
The White Lotus features an ensemble cast of fantastic actors, including but not limited to Jennifer Coolidge, Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Michael Imperioli, F. Murray Abraham, Aubrey Plaza, and Jon Gries. Not only is the cast fantastic in both seasons, but the writing is so sharp. The second season debuted in 2022 and dives even deeper into themes of love, betrayal, and class.
It’s no surprise The White Lotus has done well with critics, earning multiple Emmy awards for its first season, including the award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. At the 2023 Emmys which is scheduled for later this year, the series is nominated for a whopping 24 awards!
10. The Leftovers
Man, oh, man. Where to start with The Leftovers? It’s probably the most underrated HBO show ever. Another one on this list created by Damon Lindelof, alongside Tom Perrotta, the supernatural drama series is based on the 2011 book of the same name written by Perrotta. Taking place a few years after 2% of the world’s population disappears, the series follows characters as they try to move on and deal with the fallout of inexplicably losing their loved ones.
Airing for three seasons between 2014 and 2017, the first season is without a doubt the best, but the show still does a great job expanding on the source material and keeping viewers engaged after that. While The Leftovers definitely has an element of the supernatural genre, it’s much more focused on the psychological impact of the “Sudden Departure” and the grief the characters share.
The thought-provoking storylines, complex characters, and effective performances make this a show that will stay with you for a while.
The Leftovers was seriously snubbed by the big award shows, receiving just one Emmy Award nomination for Ann Dowd, who was up for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and lost.