3 thrilling HBO Max shows to watch this week (August 17-23)

Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek Published Aug 18, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Derek Malcolm has been covering the worlds of tech and entertainment for more than two decades. Before coming to How-To Geek in 2025, Derek was a contributing editor and writer for the A/V and Home Theater section at Digital Trends, where he wrangled and wrote everything from what to watch on Netflix to reviews, explainers, and guides on the latest Bluetooth speakers, turntables, projectors, and other A/V gear. Based in Toronto, Derek graduated from Humber College's Journalism program in 1999, after which he started covering the worlds of music, movies, TV, and celebrity for publications such as TV Guide, Hello! magazine, and Inside Entertainment. He then got the bug for covering tech and gadgets in 2006, when he served as editor-in-chief of Canadian tech magazine Connected for more than a decade. An avid skier, when all the snow's gone Derek can be found at home spinning vinyl with his daughter or cheering on his favorite F1 team, McLaren. Sign in to your How-To Geek account August has been building up to this on HBO Max, and it's finally here. Lanterns was one of the streaming service's most anticipated new series of the year, expanding James Gunn's new DCU further, and bringing Hal Jordan to prestige TV—it's this week's top pick. American subscribers to the service now have something new to look forward to in the 9:00 p.m. time slot vacated by House of the Dragon. But that's not all I've got in store for you on this week's list. America's favorite pasty-white, red-headed comedian continues his jet-setting life, and I've also included a fantastic adult-animated DC series that makes a great companion to all that green, glowy stuff. 3 Conan O'Brien Must Go (Season 3) Third season, four new countries, all Conan It's safe to say that Conan O'Brien has left his much-publicized, turbulent late-night career in the dust. The comedy legend is not only a Mark Twain Prize winner and an inductee of the Television Academy's Hall of Fame, but these days his comedic talents are being funneled into a top-rated podcast and this, his Emmy-winning HBO Max travel show, Conan O'Brien Must Go. If you're a fan of the first two seasons, you'll be on board for season 3, which arrives August 21. Jetsetting around the globe to meet up with listeners who called in to the podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend (I guess he really does), the new season sends the ginger beanstalk off to the Netherlands, Morocco, the Philippines, and, the first stop on the tour, India, a destination he'd been chasing since his Conan Without Borders travel specials. In each country, Conan visits with the listeners, inviting himself into their homes, intruding on their families, and fully experiencing the local customs, which, as you can imagine, often goes off the rails in awkward ways only Conan O'Brien can conjure. His total willingness to make an ass of himself and absolute commitment to the bit make the show a delight to watch. It's also a pretty solid travel show, with gorgeous scenery and cultural insights. Conan O'Brien Must Go Release Date April 18, 2024 Network HBO, Max Cast Conan O'Brien, Jordan Schlansky, Taika Waititi, Matt Gourley, Sona Movsesian, José Arroyo, Abby Howells, Javier Bardem, Liam Neeson, Vin Diesel, Jason Statham Directors Mike Sweeney Writers Conan O'Brien, Jessie Gaskell, Mike Sweeney, Matt O'Brien, José Arroyo Main Genre Documentary Creator(s) Conan O'Brien Producers Jason Chillemi, Sarah Federowicz, Mike Sweeney, Jessie Gaskell, Matt O'Brien, José Arroyo Seasons 3 Executive Producer(s) Conan O'Brien, Jeff Ross 2 Creature Commandos The animated squad that kicked off the new DCU Creature Commandos Release Date December 5, 2024 Network Max Cast Indira Varma, Sean Gunn, Alan Tudyk, Zoe Chao, David Harbour, Frank Grillo, Peter Serafinowicz, Jake Tapper, Tony Cavalero, Viola Davis, Maria Bakalova, Anya Chalotra, Flula Borg, Michael Rooker, Robbie Daymond, Keith Ferguson, Piotr Michael, Derek Phillips, Maury Sterling, Paul Ben-Victor, Joe Zieja, Steve Agee, Stephanie Beatriz, Linda Cardellini, Keston John Directors Matt Peters Franchise(s) DC Main Genre Animation Creator(s) James Gunn Producers Dean Lorey, James Gunn, Peter Safran, Sam Register, Rick Morales Seasons 1 I had never heard of this dark and edgy adult-animation HBO Max series until it jumped out at me as an accompaniment to the service's marquee series this month, Lanterns. Algorithms are good for something, I guess. Creature Commandos, it turns out, opened Chapter One of James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe—before Superman, before Peacemaker season 2, and part of the same chapter as Lanterns—back in December of 2024. It has a whopping 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it's well deserved. Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your KnowledgeName that DC Universe movie or TV showTrivia challenge Heroes, villains, and secret identities — can you name the DC project from just a few clues? HeroesVillainsTV ShowsMoviesDCU Begin This HBO Max series follows a foul-mouthed antihero who is forced to work with a government task force called Project Butterfly after the events of The Suicide Squad. What show is it? ATitansBHarley QuinnCPeacemakerDTask Force X Correct! Peacemaker debuted on HBO Max in January 2022 and was created by James Gunn. John Cena reprised his role from The Suicide Squad, and the show was a massive hit that helped pave the way for the new DC Universe. Not quite—the answer is Peacemaker. The show stars John Cena as Christopher Smith, a man who believes in peace so much he's willing to kill anyone for it. It was the first live-action DC series developed by James Gunn. Continue In Superman (2025), who directed the film that serves as the first major release in James Gunn's rebooted DC Universe? AZack SnyderBJames GunnCMatt ReevesDJ.J. Abrams Correct! James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, wrote and directed Superman (2025). It marks a fresh start for the character in the new DCU continuity, separate from the Snyderverse films. Not quite—the answer is James Gunn. As co-CEO of DC Studios, Gunn chose to kick off the new DC Universe himself by directing the Superman reboot, which stars David Corenswet as Clark Kent. Continue Which actor plays Clark Kent / Superman in the 2025 DCU reboot? AHenry CavillBTaron EgertonCDavid CorenswetDGlen Powell Correct! David Corenswet was cast as the new Superman for the DCU reboot. The young actor, known for his roles in Pearl and Hollywood, beat out a large pool of candidates to take on the iconic role. Not quite — the answer is David Corenswet. Henry Cavill previously played Superman in the Snyderverse, but the new DCU continuity called for a fresh face. Corenswet was announced in the role in 2023. Continue The 2021 film The Suicide Squad featured a ragtag group of villains sent on a mission to destroy a giant alien starfish called Starro. Who directed that film? ADavid AyerBJames GunnCPatty JenkinsDTodd Phillips Correct! James Gunn directed The Suicide Squad in 2021, bringing his signature irreverent humor to the DC world. The film was a soft reboot of the 2016 Suicide Squad and featured a mostly new cast alongside a few returning characters. Not quite—the answer is James Gunn. David Ayer directed the original 2016 Suicide Squad, but Gunn took over for the 2021 follow-up. His version was much better received by critics and audiences alike. Continue Lanterns is a new HBO Max series described as a True Detective-style mystery set in the DC Universe. Which two Green Lanterns are confirmed to be the main characters? AHal Jordan and John StewartBGuy Gardner and Kyle RaynerCAlan Scott and KilowogDSimon Baz and Jessica Cruz Correct! Lanterns focuses on Hal Jordan and John Stewart, two of the most iconic Green Lanterns in DC Comics history. The show is meant to tie directly into the broader DCU narrative and connect to the upcoming Superman film. Not quite—the answer is Hal Jordan and John Stewart. The show is being developed as a prestige HBO Max drama with a detective thriller tone. Both Lanterns are classic characters from the comics, and their partnership should make for compelling television. Continue 2026's Supergirl was based on a celebrated comic book run. Who wrote the original comic series the film draws from? AGeoff JohnsBTom KingCGrant MorrisonDBrian Michael Bendis Correct! Tom King wrote the Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic miniseries, illustrated by Bilquis Evely. It was critically praised for its emotional depth and reimagining of Kara Zor-El as a more complex, world-weary hero. Not quite — the answer is Tom King. His Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow comic run from 2021 to 2022 was widely acclaimed and became the direct source material for the DCU film adaptation starring Milly Alcock. Continue In Peacemaker, what is the name of the comedic eagle that serves as Christopher Smith's animal companion? ALibertyBEaglyCTalonDFreedom Correct! Eagly is Peacemaker's loyal bald eagle sidekick and one of the most unexpectedly beloved characters in the show. The eagle's affectionate bond with Peacemaker provided some of the series' funniest and most heartwarming moments. Not quite—the answer is Eagly. The CGI eagle became a fan favorite almost immediately after the show premiered. Eagly's devotion to Peacemaker—including hugging him like a person — became one of the show's signature running gags. Continue Which actress plays Kara Zor-El / Supergirl in the 2026 DCU film? ASasha CalleBSydney SweeneyCMilly AlcockDAnya Taylor-Joy Correct! Milly Alcock, best known for playing young Rhaenyra Targaryen in House of the Dragon, was cast as Supergirl in the DCU. Her casting was widely praised, with fans excited to see her bring the same intensity to Kara Zor-El. Not quite—the answer is Milly Alcock. Sasha Calle played a version of Supergirl in The Flash (2023), but that film was set in a different continuity. Alcock took on the role for the new DCU in Supergirl See My Score Challenge CompleteYour Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again Obviously, you don't need to watch this before Lanterns (there's no character or plot overlap), but it's a wild storyline all the same. After the shutdown of Task Force X in Peacemaker season 1, A.R.G.U.S. director Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) exploits a loophole in the rule about no longer using human prisoners for the project. She recruits a volatile group of non-human inmates from the Belle Reve prison for supervillains, to protect a princess from an Amazonian sorceress. Dubbed Task Force M (voiced by a powerhouse ensemble cast), the squad includes The Bride (Game of Thrones' Indira Varma), Eric Frankenstein (Stranger Things' David Harbour), and Dr. Phosphorus (Resident Alien's Alan Tudyk), with Rick Flag Sr. (Peacemaker's Frank Grillo) in charge. Binge all seven now, while you wait for season 2, expected in 2027. Creature Commandos Release Date December 5, 2024 Network Max Cast Indira Varma, Sean Gunn, Alan Tudyk, Zoe Chao, David Harbour, Frank Grillo, Peter Serafinowicz, Jake Tapper, Tony Cavalero, Viola Davis, Maria Bakalova, Anya Chalotra, Flula Borg, Michael Rooker, Robbie Daymond, Keith Ferguson, Piotr Michael, Derek Phillips, Maury Sterling, Paul Ben-Victor, Joe Zieja, Steve Agee, Stephanie Beatriz, Linda Cardellini, Keston John Directors Matt Peters Franchise(s) DC Main Genre Animation Creator(s) James Gunn Producers Dean Lorey, James Gunn, Peter Safran, Sam Register, Rick Morales Seasons 1 1 Lanterns A Nebraska murder draws in the veteran Green Lantern James Gunn is getting closer and closer to firing on all cylinders with his new DC Universe. On the theatrical side of things, The critical and box-office smash of Superman was swiftly swatted down by the bomb that was Supergirl, but thankfully, on the TV end, with hits like Peacemaker and the above-mentioned Creature Commandos, things look much brighter. And with the inclusion of Gunn's latest on HBO Max this past weekend, it all got a nice, green glow. Lanterns replaced House of the Dragon on Sunday to rave reviews. So far it's being compared to True Detective, with a superhero slant, and that's pretty spot on. The time-jumping series follows veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler), who's getting on in years and is reluctantly training his own replacement, ex-Marine John Stewart (Rebel Ridge's Aaron Pierre). The murder mystery part kicks in early, when a shooting at a football game in Nebraska has Hal convinced there's someting alien bhind it. The Excellent Kelly MacDdald (Boardwalk Empire) supports as the small-town sheriff caught in the middle. So far, so good. The 90%-rated series will have eight episodes, airing weekly on Sundays, wrapping October 4. Lanterns Release Date August 16, 2026 Network HBO Cast Aaron Pierre, Kyle Chandler, Nathan Fillion, Kelly Macdonald, Jason Ritter, Garret Dillahunt, Nicole Ari Parker, Ulrich Thomsen, Poorna Jagannathan, Sherman Augustus Showrunner Chris Mundy Directors James Hawes Writers Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof Franchise(s) DC Universe Main Genre Sci-Fi Creator(s) Tom King, Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof Producers Breannah Gibson Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) MAX Release Window 2026 Executive Producer(s) James Gunn, Peter Safran, Ron Schmidt, Damon Lindelof, James Hawes, Chris Mundy, Tom King A super lineup of shows James Gunn's Lanterns is, of course, the big buzz this week on HBO Max. But you have to admit that Conan O'Brien is kind of like a stringy superhero, with (and to borrow from The Simpsons here) a shock of hair, red, like the fires of hell! Whatever heroes you choose this week, you can also check back to How-To Geek for more streaming recommendations. Subscription with ads Yes, $10.99/month Simultaneous streams 2 or 4 HBO Max is a subscription-based streaming service offering content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, and more. In 2025, the service re-branded itself as HBO Max after having previously cut "HBO" from its name. Live TV Live sports available in Standard and Premium plans Price Starting at $10.99/month or $109.99/year