50 best TV shows on HBO Max November 2020: ‘Friends,’ ‘Insecure’
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6 new and returning shows coming to tv this fall include “Fargo” on FX and “Ratched” on Netflix.
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There’s more than just “Friends” on HBO Max. We swear.
The new service has made a name for itself as the exclusive streaming home for Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey and Ross, but it has a deep library of great TV beyond our “Friends.” HBO Max combines original TV shows and films with the entire library of HBO and many series from its corporate siblings such as TNT, TBS and CNN. So you’ll find “Friends,” sure, but also series like “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” “The Sopranos” and new “Looney Tunes” cartoons.
But although its archive of TV is deep and exciting, there are plenty of duds mixed in with critically acclaimed and Emmy-winning series. We’ve picked the 50 best series to watch in November 2020, from reality to documentary to children’s shows to dark dramas (listed in alphabetical order).
More: 50 best TV shows to watch on Netflix right now
1. “Angels in America”
HBO’s 2003 adaptation of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, an allegorical examination of the AIDS crisis and LGBTQ life in the 1980s, is absolutely mesmerizing. Its outstanding cast, including Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson and Jeffrey Wright, makes it an absolute classic.
Anthony Bourdain with a member of his film crew in Jerusalem for “Parts Unknown” in 2013. (Photo: CNN)
2. “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown”
The travel and food show was always a thoughtful exploration of culture and cuisine, and its 12 seasons, which originally ran on CNN, became even more poignant and touching after the death of chef Bourdain in 2018.
3. “The Bachelor” franchise
If the bachelors and bachelorettes of ABC’s long-running reality dating franchise can find love in a hopeless place (like in front of millions of TV viewers), then there’s hope for the rest of us, too.
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4. “Band of Brothers” and ”The Pacific”
Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, these two World War II set miniseries are exquisite. Like Spielberg’s lauded “Saving Private Ryan,” the HBO series capture the epic scale of war but are measured and realistic in the costs and sacrifices of soldiers and bystanders.
5. “Barry”
In HBO’s black comedy as dark as Batman’s cape, Bill Hader plays a depressed hitman who finds new purpose taking acting classes in L.A. A concept that sounds too out there to work is pulled off thanks to Hader; Henry Winkler; and Anthony Carrigan, whose dumb mobster NoHo Hank is a breath of lightness the show sorely needs.
Review: Bill Hader makes the wild and weird ‘Barry’ wonderful
Quinta Brunson and Robin Thede in “A Black Lady Sketch Show.” (Photo: HBO)
6. “A Black Lady Sketch Show”
Created by Robin Thede and produced by Issa Rae, HBO’s tiny-but-mighty sketch comedy series is knee-slappingly hilarious. Its talented Black lady comedians excel in sketches that are unique to their experiences and universal in their humor.
More: The 50 best TV shows to watch on Amazon Prime right now, from ‘Fleabag’ to ‘Psych’
7. “Being Erica”
In this charming Canadian series, a woman (Erin Karpluk) who feels as though she has made all the wrong choices in life is given the chance by a magical “therapist” to go back in time and change them, though those trips to the past don’t always have the result she intends. It may sound hokey, but it’s an insightful character portrait.
8. “The Big Bang Theory”
CBS’ hangout sitcom starring Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco was often TV’s most popular show for a reason – its big, broad humor and nerdy characters are comforting and familiar.
9. “The Boondocks”
With a stunning voice cast (Regina King! John Witherspoon!) and provocative material, this Adult Swim animated series was woefully underrated when it aired from 2005-2014. But hopefully its new home on HBO Max, which streams the original seasons and has commissioned two new installments, will bring the adaptation of Aaron McGruder’s comic strip the acclaim it deserves.
Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) gets to the core of the Chernobyl disaster. (Photo: Liam Daniel/HBO)
10. “Chernobyl”
11. “Curb Your Enthusiasm”
Larry David’s dry, meta comedy, in which he plays a fictionalized version of himself, is a reliable source of humor for his fans. Whenever he returns to HBO for a new season, David is ready to poke fun at his peculiarities and neurosis.
Ranked: Larry David of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and his fellow masters of comedic discomfort
12. “Deadwood”
Creator David Milch’s masterpiece of a Western, which originally aired on HBO for for a criminally short three-season run in the 2000s, is one of TV’s all-time best series, and a 2019 revival movie didn’t disappoint.
Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole), The Doctor (Jodie Whittaker), Graham O’Brien (Bradley Walsh) and Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill) on “Doctor Who.” (Photo: Sophie Mutevelian/BBC/BBC Studios 2018)
13. “Doctor Who”
With a time machine, a screwdriver and a plucky spirit, there is no limit to where (or when) the Doctor (currently embodied by Jodie Whittaker) can take you in this British sci-fi institution.
14. “Doom Patrol”
The best superhero show on TV right now is this irreverent team-up show that originally streamed on DC Universe. Starring Alan Tudyk, Brendan Fraser, Timothy Dalton, Matt Bomer and more, the series steers clear of tired tropes and fake optimism for a gritty-but-not-exhausting version of superheroics.
15. “Enlightened”
If you liked Laura Dern in “Big Little Lies,” you’ll love her razor-sharp, nearly unhinged role as Amy Jellicoe in this two-season HBO series from creator Mike White. A cringe dramedy that never goes too far (but gets very, very close), the smart series sees Dern turn in one of her best performances.
16. “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
While a dramatic reboot of Will Smith’s seminal NBC comedy is coming to streaming service Peacock, HBO Max has the original six seasons of the sitcom about a teen (Smith) from West Philadelphia (born and raised) who moves in with his rich relatives in California.
“Friends” cast (clockwise from top left): Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Courteney Cox Arquette as Monica Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller. (Photo: LANCE STAEDLER/NBC)
17. “Friends”
More than two decades after it premiered, “Friends” remains a cultural institution and reliable source of delight and laughs. Its long afterlife in cable reruns and streaming (it was on Netflix for years before it moved to its new HBO Max home) has introduced it to new generations. It may be a cliché, but it is nice to spend some time with our “Friends.”
18. “Game of Thrones”
At any moment during its eight seasons and 73 episodes, “Game of Thrones” could be the best or worst series on TV, but when it was at its peak, there was nothing else like it. A full exploration of this complex series reveals impeccable acting, gorgeous costuming and an expansion of our collective ideas about what TV can achieve.
More: The 50 best TV shows to watch on Hulu right now, from ‘Fargo’ to ‘Buffy’ to ‘Pen15’
19. “Girls”
Lena Dunham’s 20-something women in New York series, which ran from 2012-2017, was controversial and had its creative ups and downs over its six seasons, but overall the HBO comedy is a smart portrait of what being young was like in the Obama-era economy and culture.
20. “Harley Quinn”
Cuoco gives voice to this animated version of the DC Comics villain (and sometimes anti-hero) that Margot Robbie brought to life on the big screen. As wonderful as Robbie’s performance is, the DC Universe series is a smarter, more dynamic portrait of Harley, with superb scripts and an excellent supporting voice cast, including Lake Bell, Alan Tudyk and Christopher Meloni.
21. “High Maintenance”
This HBO anthology series offers slices of New York life from the perspective of its one constant character: a weed dealer. Regardless of who he is visiting, each episode is tight and funny with authentic dialogue and gorgeous cinematography.
22. “I May Destroy You”
British actress and writer Michaela Coel broke out in the U.S. with her beloved Netflix comedy “Chewing Gum,” but “I May Destroy You” is where she truly triumphs. An imperfect but vital examination of sexual assault and consent in the modern world, Cole’s performance is heartbreaking and vivid.
More: ‘I May Destroy You’: How HBO’s tragicomedy brilliantly depicts sexual assault trauma, consent
“Insecure” (HBO) with Issa Rae (Photo: HBO)
23. “Insecure”
Issa Rae crafts a distinctly millennial and hilarious series in this HBO comedy about a Black woman in Los Angeles who, as she approaches 30, begins to question her life decisions, including her long-term boyfriend.
24. “In Treatment”
HBO’s therapy-set drama is primed for binge-watching, even if it aired from 2008-2010, before we widely used that term. Each episode of this drama sees its therapist protagonist (Gabriel Byrne) hold sessions with his different clients, while seeking his own counseling. (A new version, with Uzo Aduba as the therapist, is due in 2021.)
25. “John Adams”
Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney anchor HBO’s historical miniseries that brought one of the architects of the American Revolution to life almost a decade before “Hamilton” would do the same (albeit with music) for Alexander Hamilton. Never stodgy or stuffy, “John Adams” is a biopic that may gloss over some of history but is a gripping fictionalized narrative.
26. “The Jinx”
True-crime documentaries are so prevalent and popular in the current TV culture that they’re almost tired and cliche. But the stunning, horrific tale weaved by HBO’s 2015 docuseries, and the alleged and controversial “confession” at its conclusion, make “Jinx” an unparalleled achievement in the genre.
27. “Leaving Neverland”
Among the many true-crime documentaries of late about sexual assault allegations, this one – about two men who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse when they were children – stood out. Wade Robson and James Safechuck were given a platform on HBO to tell their harrowing stories, and director Dan Reed is unflinching as he captures the pain and suffering of the men and their families. Tough to watch, it’s also an eye-opening look at the lasting effects of abuse and the way the media handles allegations against powerful men.
28. “The Leftovers”
Even if the tone of HBO’s overwhelmingly somber series isn’t your style, it’s hard to ignore the level of artistry delivered over three seasons from co-creators Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta. Two percent of the earth’s population disappears without an explanation, but the story is not in the mystery but in the aftermath, the broken people forced to keep living in a world that doesn’t make any sense.
29. “Looney Tunes”
Not only are the archives of the classic children’s cartoons available on HBO Max, but the streamer has produced new installments that capture the mania and humor of Bugs Bunny and friends perfectly for the modern era.
30. “Luther”
Idris Elba is a powerhouse as the eponymous detective in this British drama. His performance, and the cat-and-mouse game he plays with psychotic killer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), have echoes of Sherlock Holmes, but Elba makes the “renegade detective” trope his own.
31. “Mr. Show with Bob and David”
Bob Odenkirk and David Cross are delightful, hilarious and unhinged in their 1995-1998 HBO sketch comedy series, considered to be one of the best sketch comedies of all time.
32. “The O.C.”
With a perfect cast, just the right amount of soap opera and gorgeous California setting, “The O.C.” was the best teen drama of the 2000s and continues be a deliciously juicy binge-watch.
33. “The Office (UK)”
Before Steve Carell made us cringe as Michael Scott, Ricky Gervais played the somehow-even-more-cringeworthy David Brent, king of his own little office, in the UK version of the series he co-created.
34. “Oz”
Brutal, shocking and groundbreaking, “Oz,” which is set at a men’s prison, was one of HBO’s earliest successes and remains vivid viewing more than 20 years later.
35. “The Plot Against America”
An alternate history drama with dire warnings about modern culture, “Plot,” based on Philip Roth’s 2004 novel, tracks what would have happened in the U.S. if Franklin Roosevelt had lost the 1940 presidential election to Charles Lindbergh. Adapted by “The Wire” creator David Simon, “Plot” evocatively brings a scary could-have-been to life.
More: HBO’s ‘The Plot Against America’ rewrites history with fascist, anti-Semitic president
“Pretty Little Liars” was originally on Freeform. (Photo: Ron Tom, ABC FAMILY)
36. “Pretty Little Liars”
Although this Freeform soapy thriller sometimes goes off the rails, early seasons are gripping and addictive, spinning delicate webs with the mystery of the disappearance of a teen girl, her left-behind friends and their mysterious harasser.
37. “Pride and Prejudice”
There’s no Mr. Darcy quite like Colin Firth. This miniseries adaptation of Jane Austen’s celebrated novel, which originally aired on PBS in the U.S., is the definitive take on “Pride and Prejudice,” thanks to Firth’s performance and its faithful, but not restricted, translation of the story from page to screen.
38. “Robot Chicken”
Stop-motion and distinctly adult humor make this Adult Swim series, created by Seth Green, one of the network’s biggest successes, gaining the show celebrity guest stars six Emmys and 10 seasons and counting in Cartoon Network’s mature programming block.
39. “Samurai Jack”
Another Cartoon Network series with plenty for adults to enjoy, “Samurai” is fun, gripping, visually daring and has a loyal cult fanbase.
40. “Search Party”
This surreal comedy (which originally aired on TBS but jumped to HBO Max) is both relatable and infinitely absurd. A group of 20-somethings, led by Alia Shawkat (“Arrested Development”), gets over involved in the disappearance of a former classmate, leading to hilarious, horrifying and morbid discoveries.
41. “Sesame Street”
A 50-year institution for a reason, there is no children’s show quite like “Sesame Street,” which has both old PBS episodes and new HBO installments available to stream.
42. “Sex and the City”
Although it may be a bit dated, “Sex and the City” remains a classic sitcom, both for the magnetism and performances of its four leads: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall and Kristin Davis. Dating in New York may have more apps and fewer cosmopolitans now, but “Sex” still captures the uncertainty of putting yourself out there, looking for love and affection.
43. “The Sopranos”
HBO’s New Jersey mobster drama that launched a thousand antihero knockoffs still has punch (pun intended) two decades after its debut.
44. “South Park”
Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s adult animated series may not, in current episodes on Comedy Central, have quite the same bite it did in its heyday during the mid 2000s, but it is still a generational touchstone and one-of-a-kind satire of American life.
45. “The Thick of It”
Before Peter Capaldi was “Doctor Who” and before Armando Iannucci created “Veep,” the pair collaborated on this searing British political satire, both hilarious and known for containing nearly 50% profanity in any given scene.
46. “True Blood”
HBO’s Louisiana vampire series has everything you need: big-name talent (Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgård, Joe Manganiello), wild plots (fairies! psychics! humidity!) and a whole lot of blood (synthetic or otherwise).
47. “True Detective”
If you ignore the subpar second season, HBO’s crime anthology series has two compelling mysteries, and two superb casts, for your viewing pleasure. In particular Mahershala Ali shines in Season 3 as a Black detective working in the 1980s.
48. “Veep”
Some of the political satire’s bite faded in later seasons as our world has become more absurd and shocking, but that doesn’t dull the sharpness of star Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ performance.
49. “Watchmen”
HBO’s very loose adaptation of the graphic novel has blossomed into one of creator Damon Lindelof’s best series, and from the man behind “Lost” and “The Leftovers,” that’s some achievement. The series has a superb cast – including Emmy-winner Regina King – that elevates smart scripts that get better as the season progresses. Lindelof and his writers find surprising ways to bring the superhero story from the 1980s into today’s culture, helping “Watchmen” upend the comic book formula once again.
50. “The Wire”
Touted by many as the best TV show of all time, writer David Simon’s meticulous crime drama is gorgeously wrought and acted by the likes of Dominic West, Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan.
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