The Best TV Shows on HBO Max

I almost forgot how "new streaming service day" went down. Today's introduction of WarnerMedia's HBO Max was...interesting. We've already broken it all down for you, but if you want to experience HBO Now on HGH, you should be firing up HBO Max at some point today. It's probably the truest competitor to what Disney+ offered during the last insane "new streaming service day".

While we're cross the "what's the point of HBO Now?" bridge when we come to it, you really should spend some time diving into HBO Max. For those of you who are really about this streaming life, the juggle of services to fully satiate your entertainment hunger can be real. With HBO Max, you're not only getting the best of HBO, but you're getting loads of legacy content like Friends and many of your favorite HBO original series, as well as the libraries of Cartoon Network, [adult swim], Studio Ghibli, Turner Classic Movies, the DC Universe, and much more. It can be overwhelming, but that's where we come in (as per usual) to help ease you into HBO Max's core shows. The forever binges that are baked into the service from Launch.

Here is a look at the best TV shows you can stream right now on HBO Max, day one.

'Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Twelve seasons, 104 episodes

Genre: Travel, food

We all know that when you travel to a new land, you should experience culture the way the locals do. The late Anthony Bourdain lived that, showing us the beauty in any space via the cuisine they stuff their faces with. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series for the foodie who wants to experience everything the world has to offer. —khal

'The Boondocks'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Four seasons, 55 episodes

Genre: Satirical anime

Aaron McGruder's adult swim series The Boondocks found a new way to build on a strong idea, which was The Boondocks comic strip series McGruder'ed ran for 10 years (1996 until 2006, a year into the adult swim series' run). McGruder's love of anime meant that he was OK with there being longer periods of time between seasons, as he'd have to wait for the art to come back for critiquing. It was amazing that the series could be so topical—it tackled the R. Kelly trial in Season 1. Many also see it as being as prophetic as The Simpsons has been, but that's kind of what the medium was designed for. So many memorable moments—they brought Martin Luther King back to life! They remixed Charlie Brown Christmas!—the hope is that the two seasons The Boondocks will be getting on HBO Max this fall continue the tradition. —khal

'The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Six seasons, 148 episodes

Genre: Sitcom

The series that made Will Smith a household name, Fresh Prince finally has a home. It's interesting if you trace the Hollywood backstory on how a show that was made at NBC Studios and aired on NBC is owned by WarnerMedia in 2020. Before Martin Lawrence linked up with him to blow the roof off the box office with their Bad Boys franchise, Will Smith was kicking up dust in his Jordan 5s and charming the American mainstream with every new episode. He brought hip-hop to the living room in a new way, the cool AF prankster we saw grow into a man. It'd been seen on TBS before, and Warner Video dropped the home releases back 15 years ago, but its dope to have all of the episodes in one place for heads to raise their kids right on some old hip-hop sitcommery. —khal

'The Jetsons'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Three seasons, 75 episodes

Genre: Animated comedy, sci-fi

This is low-key what they thought today would look like in the '60s, if there was some kind of nuclear holocaust or something. Whatever you believe the series to really be about, it is definitely a hilarious look at a suburban family living in future times. Flying cars, robot maids, dog-walkers, it truly had it all, but the wild shit the family got into while surviving is worth the stay. —khal

'Luther'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Five seasons, 20 episodes

Genre: Crime, drama, thriller

After you've binged The Wire (which is also on HBO Now!), if you still need more Idris Elba, we'd recommend turning on Elba's BBC series Luther, where Elba really showcases his leading-man stature. For real; if you questioned if he could tackle the mantle of James Bond, Luther answers them all, and puts on a dope show of proving Elba's worth as a leading man. It's also a dope thriller to boot!

'The O.C.'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Four seasons, 92 episodes

Genre: Teen drama

The blueprint for 21st-century teen content—encompassing melodrama yes, but also reality, i.e. Laguna Beach. None have done it better than the original. Season 1, from a classic pilot to a flawless finish and 27 episodes and 0 misses in between, is what earned it a place in the TV pantheon. It’s true nothing that follows matches those highs, but by then you’ll be too in love with the characters to care that much. Just consider skipping Season 3. —Frazier Tharpe

'The Office'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Two seasons, 14 episodes

Genre: Sitcom, mockumentary

The don to one of the greatest modern comedies on American television, Ricky Gervais' The Office is a force to be reckoned with. A light lift (it doesn't overstay its welcome over two seasons) when it comes to binging, it's a real treat for those of you who love the American Office but never watched the British original. The first episode should look VERY familiar. —khal

'Rick & Morty'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Four seasons, 40 episodes (currently on the air)

Genre: Sci-fi sitcom

While we're not sure when the Season 4 finale will hit HBO Max—they are pretty good at same-timing HBO stuff so this could be the same model?—we know that Rick & Morty has legions of fans. It's a truly quirky sci-fi animated series with loads of inside jokes, pop culture references, and some heart when it wants. Being able to have all of this show in one handy place might open a weird pocket in our universe inhabited by jokers asking for Szechaun sauce at McDonald's. —khal

'Space Ghost Coast to Coast'

Link to watch: Watch Now

Series length: Eleven seasons, 110 episodes

Genre: Late-night talk show, comedy

While Elmo occupies the new late-night host position on HBO Max, we'd hope that he at least took a look at Cartoon Network's Space Ghost Coast to Coast for some inspiration in the art of late-night talk show interviews. Using archival Space Ghost footage and a left-field wit, this series was about the scatterbrained interviews, but really peaked when the cast and crew of the show would start in-fighting. Perfect munchie show, TBH. —khal