Characters from HBO Max shows
Have you ever seen a show that made you say, “Shut up and take my money!”? With the dozens of streaming services available now, it’s hard to find platforms with enough good content to make me happy to pay for a monthly subscription.
For my money, there are two: Netflix and HBO Max. Netflix has a good range but they also have some stinkers. HBO Max, however, always delivers. Here are my three favorite shows that make me happy to pay $9.99 every month.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is the perfect mix of comedy and drama. It’s rare to find a show that pulls your heartstrings and makes you cry but then, two scenes later, you’re rolling on the floor with laughter. The entire cast is perfect and the writing is some of the best you’ll ever see. Almost two decades later, people are still talking about the legendary ending (which I won’t spoil in case you haven’t seen it!) of the series.
If you love the show as much as I do, Max also offers “Talking Sopranos”, a video podcast starring Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Steven Schirripa (Bobby Bacala) that explores the themes and behind-the-scenes stories behind the beloved program. “The Many Saints of Newark,” a prequel film from 2020, is also available.
House of the Dragon
Before “Game of Thrones” became awful, it was one of the best shows in the history of television. Now, you can enjoy the same setting without all the bad things that made the last few seasons terrible. “Doctor Who” fans will also enjoy seeing Matt Smith (who played the 11th Doctor) as Daemon.
If you loved the first half of “Game of Thrones”, you’ll love the prequel series set 200 years earlier. The twists and turns, character drama, and the sight of those dragons make the series a must-watch.
Mr. Show
“Mr. Show” is a sketch comedy series like Saturday Night Live or Chappelle’s Show that stars Bob Odenkirk (best known as Saul Goodman from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul) and David Cross (Tobias Fünke from “Arrested Development”). It may not be as popular as other sketch comedies but it’ll still have you rolling on the floor with laughter.
Sarah Silverman appears in several episodes, as does Tom Kenny (best known for his role as Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants). If you love laugh-out-loud comedy, you’ll love Mr. Show. The sequel series, “With Bob and David”, is also available for even more laughs.
