When it comes to television drama, few can compete with the sheer brilliance that is HBO. Not only does the network have the financial muscle required to produce a truly top-tier series, but the requisite experience as well. Not all of the shows have been perfect, but as the old saying goes, when you shoot for the moon, you’re at least guaranteed to fall amongst the stars.
Since the broadcast of its first 60-minute drama series back in 1997, the network has produced countless high-quality shows. Many of these have gone on to become some of the finest in the history of television. They’ve included some incredible actors, tackled just about every subject imaginable, and captivated millions of viewers all over the world.
10 The Newsroom (8.6)
Many shows have tried to capture the frantic nature of breaking news, but few have done so as accurately as The Newsroom. From the brilliant mind of Aaron Sorkin and featuring Jeff Daniels at his absolute finest, the show takes viewers behind the cameras into a world that is politically charged and fraught with both internal and external pressures.
Daniels may be the leading man, but the show features many stand-out performers. Emily Mortimer and Olivia Munn in particular are both fantastic and help to bring out the best of Daniels. It may get a few things wrong here and there, and much like News Night itself, the ratings weren’t always great. Regardless though, it is a fantastic show for anybody with even a passing interest in how the news is made.
9 Oz (8.7)
Oz was the first one-hour drama series that HBO ever produced and set the standard for more than two decades of excellence. It ran for six seasons and picked up plenty of awards during the process. Most impressively though, it managed to maintain its high standards right through to the very last frame.
The series is set in the experimental unit of a prison and explores the day to day lives of the inmates who are incarcerated therein. Its depiction of prison life is neither glamorous nor is it sugar-coated and this is perhaps its biggest strength. It is instead a harsh reminder of the state of the American penal system and the brutality that it breeds.
8 Rome (8.7)
By modern standards it may not seem like a lot, but at the time, the $100m that HBO and the BBC spent on the production of the first season of Rome was an astronomical amount. Judging by the end product, some may argue that it was a good investment. Whether or not HBO would agree with this though is another matter entirely.
Thanks in large to its historical accuracy and a gripping narrative, the show performed fairly well in the ratings. Unfortunately, however, not quite well enough to justify its exorbitant production costs. When HBO’s initial agreement with the BBC came to an end, the decision was made to cancel the series after just two of its five planned seasons.
7 Six Feet Under (8.7)
Six Feet Under tackles some pretty meaty themes. At its core though, it is a show about living with death. It’s therefore incredibly fitting that so much of the show takes place at a funeral home. The toll that being surrounded by loss can take on a person is explored in great depth and watching how each character chooses to deal with this is incredibly relatable.
Nathaniel’s death may serve as the catalyst, but the flaws which present themselves in each of the Fisher family are seemingly buried within them long before. Their disfunction is explored not only through their relationships with each other, but also the romantic relationships that they pursue throughout the series. In the end, it all serves as one big reminder of our mortality and the show’s ending wraps this up perfectly.
6 Westworld (8.7)
While the hosts’ revolution may have been incredibly predictable, the events that led to it were no less captivating. The reality that Westworld‘s writers created is as believable as the hosts which inhabit it. All of the little touches combine perfectly to create something that grabs the audience’s attention and refuses to let them look away.
As the hosts evolve, the tragedy of their lives becomes a reality and it’s at this moment when viewers are forced to reflect on the abuse that they’ve suffered throughout the park’s history. When the fuse of their revolution is finally lit, it’s difficult not to root for them and this feeling only intensifies as Delos’ true intentions are revealed.
5 The Sopranos (9.2)
Dr. Melfi once remarked that Tony only allows people to see what he wants them to see. While this may have been true of the mobster, it is not a criticism that could ever be levied against the show. The Sopranos provides viewers with a window into a world that is steeped in secrecy and decorates it with stories based on the real-life experiences of those who reside therein.
As a piece of television it is remarkable, but its true strength lies in its observations of the impact that a life of crime can have. Tony’s personal journey serves as the driving force behind the show’s progression, but it’s through its exploration of how his actions affect the lives of his families that it really earns its stars. The show finds a way to humanize even the most inhumane of people and does so without ever attempting to disguise their true nature.
4 The Wire (9.3)
Its second season perhaps lets it down a little, but The Wire is a great piece of television that everybody should watch at least once. Rather than relying on fantasy or tragedy, it draws its inspiration from those that society has left behind. Given the subject material, that in itself is the tragedy.
The impact that drugs can have on impoverished areas is something that people sometimes need to see in order to believe. In that respect, the show was a real eye-opener for many. The lives that its characters live are unfathomably tragic making it hard not to feel sympathetic in spite of their numerous crimes. The story is gripping, the cast fantastic and the show an absolute classic.
3 Game Of Thrones (9.3)
Few could have expected Game of Thrones to blow up the way that it did and yet, over the course of just a few months, a relatively obscure book series became one of the most talked-about television shows on the planet. With so many outstanding performances from hugely talented actors, it’s perhaps easy to see why.
Unfortunately, the show became a victim of its own success. As its popularity grew, so too did the expectations of viewers. After the show progressed beyond the source material, however, it struggled to deliver. Its collapse was as sudden as its rise, with the show’s final season being one of the most disappointing of all time.
2 Chernobyl (9.4)
Chernobyl had absolutely no right to be as good as it was. Sure, the story on which it is based is a harrowing one and provided some excellent material. The way that it was told, however, was truly sublime. The environmental damage of a nuclear disaster is easy to imagine, but the personal tragedy that goes along with it is something that only those who experience it could ever fully understand.
The show forces viewers to care about these characters, to feel their frustrations and fears, and watch as their lives collapse around them. There are no happy endings, just harsh realities. When all is said and done, it paints a picture that bears all the hallmarks of a masterpiece. It might not be easy to look at, but it’s just as difficult to look away.
1 Band Of Brothers (9.4)
Band of Brothers pulls no punches when it comes to its depiction of war. At times it can be difficult to watch, but it serves as a poignant and timeless reminder of the harsh reality of war. It’s not something to watch and be entertained, but instead a window into a dark period of humanity’s past in which brave men were forced to give their lives for freedom.
The show won seven Emmy awards and the Golden Globe award for Best Miniseries or Television Film. Most importantly, perhaps, its lasting legacy will be the reminder that it serves as to the futility and tragedy of war.
![\"IT電腦補習](\"http://itteacheritfreelance.hk/test/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo2-2.png\"){kind=logo}
www.itsec.hk
www.itsec.vip
www.itseceu.uk
Leave a Reply