1 Season Wonders on HBO Max - Investment Policy

Summary

HBO’s short single-season series like Sharp Objects and I May Destroy You deliver exceptional storytelling.
These series feature career-defining performances and explore complex themes like trauma, consent, and post-apocalyptic survival.
From horror to historical drama, HBO sets the bar with series like Station Eleven, Scavengers Reign, and Mare of Easttown.

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but acknowledge that when it comes to crafting premium television content, there’s no one quite like HBO. They’ve been setting the bar since the late ’90s, with groundbreaking series such as “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” serving as the pioneers of what we now refer to as “quality TV.” Despite fierce competition in the television landscape, HBO continues to lead the pack, consistently pushing the boundaries of what this medium can achieve.

On HBO Max, you can find several outstanding series that deliver compelling, top-notch stories within the scope of a single season. Ranging from Thrillers, Sci-Fi, Historical Dramas, and Horror genres, these TV shows effectively condense their narratives into one captivating season.

10. Sharp Objects

Investigating Personal Trauma And Small-Town Murders

Sharp Objects

Overview: This gripping drama, penned by Gillian Flynn, who is renowned for her intense mystery novels like Gone Girl, follows the story of Amy Adams as Camille Preaker, a journalist freshly discharged from a psychiatric facility. She returns to her small-town roots to delve into the gruesome murders of two young girls. As she uncovers the truth, she’s compelled to face off with her overbearing mother, Adora (Patricia Clarkson), whose manipulative nature threatens to reawaken Camille’s painful recollections from her troubled childhood.

Sharp Objects” offers a somber, unsettling mystery that might not leave viewers feeling overly optimistic, yet it manages to captivate them. The series primarily thrives on standout performances by both Adams and Clarkson, who deliver career-best work as they portray complex, damaged characters. While these characters can sometimes be difficult to cheer for, they are always convincing.

9. I May Destroy You

Finding Dark Humor In Serious Subject Matter

As a film enthusiast, tackling sensitive subjects like sexual assault is no easy feat, especially when presented through the lens of black comedy. Yet, when done skillfully, as in the case of “I May Destroy You,” it becomes something extraordinary. The series, set in London, was conceived and performed by Michaela Coel, portraying Arabella, a social media influencer turned writer, grappling with the completion of her second novel. In an attempt to relax, she joins friends for a night out, only to wake up with fragments of the previous evening’s memories missing. With the help of her friends, she pieces together the events of that night, and it gradually dawns on her that she has been a victim of sexual assault.

Clearly, this tale requires a skilled storyteller, and Coel fits that bill admirably. Her prowess as an author and actress shines through, as she masterfully unearths and amplifies the unexpectedly potent dark humor that arises following a tragic incident. The ensemble cast delivers solid performances, but the spotlight is on Coel, and she handles it gracefully, crafting one of the most compelling dramatic narratives to stem from the #MeToo movement.

8. Station Eleven

A Post-Pandemic Apocalypse Drama Spanning Multiple Timelines

Debuting as the COVID-19 pandemic was winding down, Station Eleven seemed almost custom-made for our contemporary world situation. The story focuses mainly on Kirsten Raymonde (played by Mackenzie Davis), a survivor of a global flu pandemic that brought about society’s demise. As an actress since her youth, Kirsten becomes part of a troupe of traveling performers who traverse the remnants of civilization, eventually encountering a potentially dangerous cult.

This series unfolds gradually, showing less intense action than shows like “The Last of Us” or “The Walking Dead”. Instead, “Station Eleven” focuses on realism when portraying a post-apocalyptic world, weaving a deep and meaningful story that delves into the importance of art and narrative as well as human nature amid an overwhelming catastrophe.

7. Scavengers Reign

Animated Science-Fiction That’s Unlike Anything You’ve Seen Before

Following the emergency exit from their crippled spaceship, the Demeter 227‘s resilient crew, now scattered, find themselves stranded on the strange planet of Vesta. With little expectation of being saved, they head towards the remnants of their spacecraft, braving an alien landscape that is unlike anything portrayed in the genre. What sets Scavengers Reign apart in science fiction isn’t just its depiction of alien life as something scarcely familiar; it’s the challenge of making such strange beings entirely plausible and convincing.

Unlike other shows listed here, “Scavengers Reun” was originally designed for multiple seasons rather than just one. However, it was Max who decided to cancel the show due to low viewer turnout, despite garnering both critical and audience praise. Initially, Netflix took up the series, but they too opted not to produce a second season. “Scavengers Reun” is a show that needs to be experienced; while this may have been a factor in its low viewership, it’s also what makes it essential viewing.

6. Mare Of Easttown

A Suspenseful Small-Town Crime Drama Featuring Stunning Performances

Just as Sharp Objects showcased Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson, Mare of Easttown serves as a platform for the talented threesome of Kate Winslet, Evan Peters, and Julianne Nicholson. Notably, all three were awarded Emmys for their outstanding performances in the series. Among them, Winslet stands out with an exceptional portrayal that could potentially be the pinnacle of her career. She plays Marianne “Mare” Sheehan, a detective from Easttown, Philadelphia, who was once a high-school basketball star and is now investigating the murder of a young mother in the town.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I must say that Mare’s fame stems from that fateful basket two and a half decades ago, which brought home Easttown’s inaugural State Basketball Championship. However, her work as a detective has yet to earn the same respect, with many townsfolk questioning her prowess in cracking the current case, especially since she couldn’t locate a missing girl last year. Piled on top of that, Mare grapples with heartrending personal struggles – the tragic loss of her son to suicide and an intense custody battle over her grandson. The tension between her inner turmoil and the chilling local murder gives rise to one of the most gripping mystery series of this decade. Its climactic twist is a haunting memory that will linger long after the final credits roll.

5. Lovecraft Country

An Examination Of Race, A Lovecraft Critique, And An All-Around Exceptional Horror Story

Prior to the detrimental legal issues surrounding allegations of abuse that later affected his career, Jonathan Majors gained significant recognition and eventually secured the role of Kang the Conqueror in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his breakout performance in “Lovecraft Country.” In this series, Majors portrays Atticus Freeman, a veteran of the Korean War who embarks on a journey along with his childhood friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) and Uncle George (Courtney B. Vance), as they search for Atticus’s missing father (Michael K. Williams) through the racially charged Jim Crow South.

During his travels, Atticus uncovers the fact that he is a relative of the Braithwhites, a once wealthy family of ex-slave owners who appear to have harnessed powers linked to ancient deities. The Braithwhites seem overly keen for Atticus to be part of their circle. In this remarkable miniseries, the chilling elements of Lovecraftian horror and real-world racism converge, demonstrating the immense thematic power of horror to go beyond mere fear and explore a wide range of deeper themes.

4. The Night Of

An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Thriller Where Innocence And Guilt Are Inseparable

The difficult beginning in the filming of “The Night Of” is widely known. Originally, Riz Ahmed was joined by James Gandolfini for the lead roles, but after his unexpected death, the role transitioned to Robert De Niro before scheduling issues led him to withdraw. Eventually, John Turturro took on the role of attorney John Stone, and now that the series is accessible, it’s hard to envision anyone else embodying the character.

As a film aficionado, I find myself captivated by “The Night Of,” a series that unfolds the story of me, Pakistani-American student Naz Kahn (Riz Ahmed), who, in a moment of youthful exuberance, decides to take my father’s cab for an unplanned night out. This fateful decision leads me to cross paths with a captivating and enigmatic woman (Sofia Black-D’Elia). Our connection escalates into a wild night filled with drugs and alcohol, but when I wake up the next day, she has been tragically murdered. To make matters worse, later that day, the murder weapon is discovered on me.

The suspense built by “The Night Of” is unparalleled, and part of its power lies in the fact that, like Naz, I’m unsure of his innocence. Just as John Stone, Naz’s defense attorney, delves deeper into the case, so too must I, the audience, piece together the crime ourselves. This self-discovery leads to a gripping climax that will leave viewers in a state of shock and awe.

3. Chernobyl

One Of The Most Terrifying Miniseries Ever Made Is Based On A True Story

Under the direction of Craig Mazin, who has worked on comedies like the Scary Movie and Hangover franchises in the past, Chernobyl is a chilling, unflinchingly real, and captivating portrayal of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster and the ensuing cleanup and containment efforts that transpired near Pripyat, now located in Ukraine.

Under the skilled leadership of Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgard, Chernobyl is not explicitly anti-nuclear nor anti-Russian in nature. Instead, it aims to provide an authentic portrayal of the devastating consequences of human overconfidence when dealing with complex and potentially volatile science without due reverence for its power. The disaster itself is chilling, but the lingering, long-term effects of the nuclear contamination on the nearby Pripyat community are where the series delivers its most haunting moments. Chernobyl offers a stark representation of real-life horror at its core, and no supernatural entities can surpass the dread this show instills.

2. Watchmen

An Impossible Sequel That Both Rivals And Elevates Its Source Material

When HBO announced they were producing a follow-up television series based on Alan Moore’s acclaimed graphic novel “Watchmen,” some fans expressed doubt. For one, there was the controversial Zack Snyder movie adaptation that many felt failed to capture the source material’s complexity. Additionally, at the time, there was no sequel comic available to serve as a blueprint for the series. Instead, HBO’s “Watchmen” would be an entirely new creation. This put quite a burden on showrunner Damon Lindelof.

It was particularly remarkable when HBO’s “Watchmen” not only delivered as a strong follow-up to the renowned comic but also surpassed it, something that seemed unattainable before its premiere. Set 34 years after the comic’s events, this series provides an unusual perspective on contemporary issues such as white supremacy and police weaponization, the Tulsa race massacre, and lesser-known historical events. Furthermore, it delves into the enigma surrounding the vanishings of both Doctor Manhattan and Ozymandias, who have been absent since the latter’s deceitful attack on New York City in 1985. This complex narrative results in one of the most captivating and contemporary superhero series ever created.

1. Band Of Brothers

The Greatest World War 2 Series Ever Made

In 1998, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks collaborated to produce one of the most truthful depictions of World War II ever put on screen with the film Saving Private Ryan. Later in 2001, they teamed up again to create Band of Brothers, a series that detailed the missions conducted by the 101st Airborne’s 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, more famously known as “Easy” Company, and their roles in the Western front.

The show boasts one of the best ensemble casts ever gathered, including stars like Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Tom Hardy, Simon Pegg, Jimmy Fallon, David Schwimmer, Andrew Scott, Dominic Cooper, Kirk Acevedo, and Colin Hanks, along with lead actors Damian Lewis, Ron Livingston, and Scott Grimes. While “Saving Private Ryan” had a narrow focus, “Band of Brothers” offers a comprehensive view of the war, covering events from Normandy to Bastogne to Germany’s occupation. The series is almost flawless, intertwining real-life interviews with veterans who inspired the characters. Few shows have managed such depth and quality, and it’s remarkable that “Band of Brothers” achieved this in just one season, especially considering it was made in 2001, showcasing the brilliance of its creators.

2025-03-06 10:38