John Adams and Band of Brothers are the ones I've liked the best, if they count. I've liked a lot of stuff on HBO but not particularly loved much. I suspect my favorite HBO series is still to be made...maybe that Trent Reznor thing...
Best HBO Series
- Thread starter Lapis Exilis
- Start date
It was a "movie" in serial form, but I'd go with Band of Brothers.
I'm looking forward to "In Treatment" returning at the end of this month. That's a really great show.
I really disliked John Adams, felt kind of boring and all the hero worshiping of founding fathers was a snooze fest to me as a Canuck.
My vote goes for the Wire. Besides the West Wing I've yet to find a TV show that constantly challenges me and has informed me of all the issues. The Wire's ability to go beyond the headlines and giving us an unflinching view truly makes it the best HBO series.
I also really liked Generation Kill too.
Gotta say I disagree there - I liked the way you met people, made a slight connection and never saw them again, or they were killed soon after. That was part of the reality of the war for many of those men, and imho improved the realism of the show. In the book, Ambrose mentions quite a number of these people who were involved in Easy Company's war for only a matter or days or weeks.
doubleohfive
Fleet Admiral
Curb Your Enthusiasm is excellent, and really the only show to maintain a consistent level of quality through it's entire run.
I've only seen the first few years of The Sopranos and Entourage, and if we're judging solely on "early years" then those two would be up there as well. True Blood is pretty fantastic too.
I've only seen the first few years of The Sopranos and Entourage, and if we're judging solely on "early years" then those two would be up there as well. True Blood is pretty fantastic too.
The Wire without a doubt, closely followed by The Sopranos. I don't think any other show has been able to portray urban decay and the failure of social institutions as poignantly or intelligently as The Wire did. Truly outstanding television that never underestimates the intellect of the viewer.
Honourable mentions to Deadwood, Carnivale and Six Feet Under.
Honourable mentions to Deadwood, Carnivale and Six Feet Under.
Rett Mikhal
Captain
I vote for Rome. Six Feet Under is good from what I've seen. I've seen the last episode and it is pretty much perfect.
I really miss Rome. What a shame we only received two seasons. I tried watching the Starz knock-off Spartacus and it was honestly the worst program I had ever seen.
I really miss Rome. What a shame we only received two seasons. I tried watching the Starz knock-off Spartacus and it was honestly the worst program I had ever seen.
This is mine, hands down.
I'm very happy to see so many mentions of "Dream On". I watched the whole series this past year and it holds up very well. I think it's a largely forgotten show, but based on my experience watching it, I'm sure it was influential on many cable TV shows we have today on HBO and other channels. The way it used profanity, sex, and pop culture references was quite surprising for an early nineties series, and unlike many shows today, it used those things in ways that were creative and clever rather than simply gratuitous or lazy.
I was also impressed by how consistently smart, entertaining, and unpredictable the people behind the show were able to make a show with a premise as seemingly limited as 'single guy dates a different girl almost every week while sharing custody of his son with his ex-wife'. It sounds cliche, but despite the familiarity of the situation and the number of sex scenes, it was a surprisingly sweet and thoughtful show much of the time.
"Dream On" also had its fair share of Star Trek alumni. There's a very fun episode where the main character has sex with a woman played by Gates McFadden all over her mansion, he's kidnapped at one point by a brother and sister burglar team that includes Scott Bakula, and Brent Spiner appears as a wacky tech head (that particular episode wasn't very good, but it was fun to see him anyway). Ricardo Montalban's cameo as himself at one point was cute, too.
I was also impressed by how consistently smart, entertaining, and unpredictable the people behind the show were able to make a show with a premise as seemingly limited as 'single guy dates a different girl almost every week while sharing custody of his son with his ex-wife'. It sounds cliche, but despite the familiarity of the situation and the number of sex scenes, it was a surprisingly sweet and thoughtful show much of the time.
"Dream On" also had its fair share of Star Trek alumni. There's a very fun episode where the main character has sex with a woman played by Gates McFadden all over her mansion, he's kidnapped at one point by a brother and sister burglar team that includes Scott Bakula, and Brent Spiner appears as a wacky tech head (that particular episode wasn't very good, but it was fun to see him anyway). Ricardo Montalban's cameo as himself at one point was cute, too.
Rett Mikhal
Captain
I forgot Band of Brothers was originally an HBO thing. Chock that one up on the list, as well. It's tough picking between that and Rome.
Code:
Six Feet Under is my favorite. It was kind of insane at times but captured life and death perfectly.
That Starz knockoff is horrible! It's beyond horrible.
I like how True Blood isn't even talked about here.
Rett Mikhal
Captain
Amen to that. I stopped watching when I saw this set:
Good gravy, miss lady! That's the worst CGI I've ever seen! The entire series is plagued by this, along with some terrible acting and a story that makes no sense and has no purpose.
Good gravy, miss lady! That's the worst CGI I've ever seen! The entire series is plagued by this, along with some terrible acting and a story that makes no sense and has no purpose.
Another vote for Band of Brothers and a new one for From the Earth to the Moon.
I really enjoyed Curb Your Enthusiasm and Band of Brothers/Generation Kill. I have some that ducked my radar that I need to check out The Wire, Deadwood, Carnivale, Six Feet Under and Boardwalk Empire.
I have only seen a few so I have to reserve final judgment but Eastbound & Down is cracking me up. Funniest stuff I've seen in a while though I suspect it's going to only really appeal to a select few.
I have only seen a few so I have to reserve final judgment but Eastbound & Down is cracking me up. Funniest stuff I've seen in a while though I suspect it's going to only really appeal to a select few.
You know why it's popular? Lots of tits and blood. One of my coworkers loves this show so much, he's beginning to think it's the best show ever.Amen to that. I stopped watching when I saw this set:
Good gravy, miss lady! That's the worst CGI I've ever seen! The entire series is plagued by this, along with some terrible acting and a story that makes no sense and has no purpose.
True Blood is an excellent show, but it's still ongoing.
(And Spartacus fucking rules btw)
I agree. Can't really include it in a 'best series' if it's still running.
I said The Wire but I loves me my True Blood, yes I do.
This. On both counts. Too bad for Whitfield, btw.
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