There’s a lot of TV available these days, with streaming services adding tons of shows to already popular classics. HBO consistently stands out as a top provider, offering well-made, high-quality programs that often become major talking points in popular culture.
While shows like The Last of Us and Game of Thrones become huge hits, many other truly excellent series have faded into relative obscurity. Some were intentionally created as short, limited-run stories, while others were unfortunately cancelled before their time. Regardless of how long they lasted, these shows are hidden gems that deserve a much wider audience.
7) Carnivale
The series Carnivale takes place during the difficult years of the 1930s Dust Bowl and centers on a compelling struggle between good and evil. When a teenage runaway named Ben Hawkins loses his mother, he joins a traveling carnival led by a shadowy figure known only as Management. He soon discovers he has hidden supernatural abilities. Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, a preacher is haunted by terrifying visions of the end of the world. These two men, unknowingly caught in a larger conflict, are on a collision course as they become pawns in the age-old battle between darkness and light.
I absolutely loved Carnivale, even though it only lasted two seasons. It was supposed to run for six, but the show was expensive to make and ratings dropped after the first season. Still, it was an amazing series – so well-researched and with this incredibly detailed, unique world they built. The stories were complex and unfolded slowly, making it a really captivating drama. Honestly, I think it was one of the most creative shows ever made, and a lot of the big genre hits we see now owe a debt to Carnivale. It’s a shame it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves – it’s mostly just us dedicated fans who still talk about it.
6) Sharp Objects
I was completely captivated by Sharp Objects when it came out in 2018. It’s based on Gillian Flynn’s fantastic novel, and features an incredible cast, especially Amy Adams as Camille Preaker. The story follows Camille, a reporter battling her own issues, as she returns to her hometown in Missouri to investigate a heartbreaking case – the murder of two young girls. But going back home isn’t easy; she has to deal with her very critical mother and, ultimately, confront a lot of painful memories and personal struggles.
Critics loved Sharp Objects, and it’s easy to see why. The show builds suspense masterfully and features outstanding acting from both Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson, bringing a dark, unsettling, and often harsh story to life. Adams delivers a particularly brilliant performance – arguably one of the best of her career. It’s also one of the most successful adaptations of Gillian Flynn’s work so far, which is high praise given how well-received Gone Girl was.
5) We Own This City
Despite featuring familiar faces from the Marvel and DC universes, like stars from Loki and the future Superman, HBO’s We Own This City is a fantastic series that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The show tells the story of the Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force, focusing on Sergeant Wayne Jenkins (played by Jon Bernthal). It’s based on a non-fiction book by Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton, and also stars Wunmi Mosaku and David Corenswet alongside Bernthal.
This crime drama delves into widespread corruption within the police force. Critics have praised it as a gritty and realistic show, similar in tone to The Wire. Jon Bernthal delivers a standout performance as Jenkins, one of eight officers convicted of corruption. Though it’s a compelling six-episode series, it seems to have been largely forgotten since its release over three years ago.
4) Enlightened
Before creating the hit show The White Lotus, Mike White made a critically acclaimed series called Enlightened, which many consider to be one of the best shows of its time, despite being largely forgotten today. The show, which premiered in 2011, stars Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe, a woman in her 40s who, after a mental breakdown and a stay in a treatment facility, returns home and tries to rebuild her life with a new perspective. The cast also includes Luke Wilson, Diane Ladd, Sarah Burns, Timm Sharp, and Mike White himself.
The show was highly praised, earning award nominations – including a Golden Globe win for Laura Dern – and especially shining in its second season. However, despite strong performances and a clever, dark sense of humor, it didn’t attract a large audience and has since faded from view, particularly with the current success of The White Lotus.
3) I May Destroy You
Michaela Coel wrote, directed, executive produced, and starred in I May Destroy You, a series many consider to be among the greatest TV shows ever made. Despite debuting only five years ago, it doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. The show centers on Arabella, a successful author and social media personality, whose life is upended after a night out results in sexual assault. She then must navigate the challenging process of rebuilding her life. I May Destroy You was highly praised by critics and earned multiple Emmy nominations, winning two awards, including an Outstanding Writing award, making Coel the first Black woman to receive this honor.
This series is deeply moving, often heartbreaking, and surprisingly funny as it sensitively portrays the aftermath of sexual assault and its lasting effects. It’s a powerful demonstration of what can happen when a creator is given the freedom to fully realize their artistic vision, and it’s absolutely worth watching.
2) Watchmen
Despite the initial buzz when it premiered in 2019, HBO’s Watchmen isn’t discussed much anymore. Created by Damon Lindelof and starring Regina King, Don Johnson, and others, the series isn’t a direct sequel to the classic 1986 comic book, but rather a story set in the same universe. Watchmen centers around Angela Abar (King) as she investigates the murder of police chief Judd Crawford (Johnson) in present-day Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her investigation uncovers disturbing truths about both Crawford and the history of masked vigilantes.
The show took some bold risks and cleverly linked back to the original Watchmen comic book. While it wasn’t perfect, the acting was strong, and critics generally loved it. Some comic book fans disagreed with certain choices, but the series is undeniably thought-provoking and effectively imagines what the world of Watchmen would be like if the story hadn’t ended.
1) Los Espookys
Premiering in 2019, Los Espookys is a quirky and original series that unfortunately only lasted two seasons. It really deserves more recognition! The show, entirely in Spanish, follows a group of friends who turn their passion for horror into a strange business – they create spooky experiences for people in a Latin American country where the unusual is commonplace.
The concept of a business that deliberately frightens people for fun is already great, but Los Espookys is much more than that. It’s a surprisingly rich and thoughtful show, blending horror tropes with the magical realism often found in Latin American storytelling. Beyond the spooky thrills, it realistically portrays the difficulties of running a small business while still pursuing your passions. It’s a funny, strange, occasionally unsettling, and ultimately very relatable series.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- 10 Most Badass Moments From Arrow
- The Simpsons Kills Off Marge Simpson In Shocking Twist
- How Mariska Hargitay’s Husband Supported Her After Sexual Assault
- Vanessa Kirby Reveals Pedro Pascal Got ‘Snappy’ During Fantastic Four Events
- 7 Characters The Hulk Has Definitely Smashed
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- Wind Breaker Chapter 197 Release Date & What To Expect
- Brent Oil Forecast
- Discover Snow Patrol’s Complete Album Journey: Every Release Ranked!
2025-11-01 01:13