These 4 under-the-radar HBO shows will give you a reason to rush home from work

Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek Published Sep 19, 2026, 12:15 PM EDT T.M. Amrita is a writer and tech enthusiast with experience as a news reporter covering technology, artificial intelligence, and gadgets. A journalist at heart, she found a soft spot for technology reporting during her tenure as a reporter at The Hindu Businessline, where she covered topics like the economy, data, and personal finance. She has published more than 250 news stories, tech guides, and opinion articles. Outside of technology, she is a passionate poet and brings her interest in learning new things to her work as a writer. Amrita is also a student of design and interface development, and likes to take on passion projects in her free time. Sign in to your How-To Geek account HBO Max has no shortage of shows that everyone is into, but some of its best series are not exactly the household names that dominate every streaming conversation. Dig a little deeper into the platform's catalog, and you will find plenty of shows that deserve more attention than they get. These four shows are very diverse, ranging from a relaxing comedy to a grimy period drama and a futuristic drama that is gripping to watch. If your evenings have turned into scrolling through the same old recommendations, these are worth giving a shot. Somebody Somewhere Finding your way back home Somebody Somewhere doesn't need an overly complicated premise to pull you into its world of grounded characters. Bridget Everett plays Sam, a woman living in her Kansas hometown who has never really felt like she fits the version of life everyone around her seems comfortable with. She's also dealing with loss, and singing (something she had pushed away) slowly gives her a way back to herself. Sam eventually finds her people among a group of equally out-of-place locals, particularly Joel, and that's where the show really settles into itself. It isn't interested in manufacturing huge twists in every episode. Most of the drama comes from friendships, family problems, awkward conversations, and all the small things that somehow feel much bigger when you're the one going through them. Everett makes Sam incredibly easy to root for, but the show's quieter sense of humor is probably what I enjoyed most. Conversations feel like actual conversations, characters are allowed to be messy without becoming caricatures, and even its sadder moments rarely make the series feel heavy. If you're after something you can put on after a long day without switching your brain completely off, this is an easy one to get attached to. The Deuce Go old-school with New York City Long before Times Square was filled with a bustle of giant billboards, tourists, and over-the-top characters, The Deuce takes us back to its much grittier 1970s version. Created by David Simon and George Pelecanos, the drama follows the rise of New York's commercial pornography industry and the people caught up in the money, crime, and exploitation of the circle. James Franco plays twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino, whose polar personalities eventually bring them into the orbit of organized crime, but Maggie Gyllenhaal's Candy steals the show. Working independently as a sex worker, she begins looking at the emerging adult-film business as a possible way to take greater control over her future. The Deuce isn't exactly a light weeknight watch, but the show takes its time building the colorful world around its characters, and the vivid golden age of 1970s New York City that it is set in is a remarkable anchor. It's messy, uncomfortable, and even bleak at times, but definitely worth a watch. The Deuce Release Date 2017 - 2019-00-00 Network HBO Max Cast James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal Directors David Simon Writers David Simon Seasons 3 Story By David Simon Streaming Service(s) MAX We Are Who We Are Growing up can get complicated Luca Guadagnino's We Are Who We Are is a teen drama that takes its time with both character development and plot. The coming-of-age drama focuses on Fraser, a shy 14-year-old who moves from New York to a U.S. military base in Italy with his mothers, Sarah and Maggie. Before he knows it, he grows close to Caitlin, another teenager on the base working through her own problems and questions about her identity. The eight-episode miniseries follows their friendship alongside themes like first love, family issues, sexuality, and the bubble of familiarity that comes with growing up on an American military base far from home. Jack Dylan Grazer and Jordan Kristine Seamón lead the younger cast, with Chloë Sevigny and Alice Braga nailing their roles as Fraser's mothers. Every episode does not exactly race toward some huge reveal, but the beauty of the show lies in its conversations and characters. That slower pace may not work for everyone, but if you like the atmosphere of slow burns, then We Are Who We Are is a must-watch. We Are Who We Are Release Date 2020 - 2020-00-00 Network HBO Cast Armie Hammer, Kid Cudi, Jack Dylan Grazer, Jordan Kristine Seamón, Chloë Sevigny, Alice Braga, Spence Moore II, Francesca Scorsese, Benjamin L. Taylor II, Faith Alabi, Corey Knight, Tom Mercier, Donatella Bellama, Jay Paul Bullard, Michael Wilkes Butrum, Renata Rocco, Donatella Veronese, Federico Penzo, Andrea Ampo, Filippo Quezel, Vittoria Bottin, Heather Rockel, Tomeka Campbell Turley, Gaia Schiralli, Lisa Lazzaro Directors Luca Guadagnino Writers Francesca Manieri, Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Giordano Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Luca Guadagnino, Paolo Giordano, Francesca Manieri, Sean Conway Producers Ron Bozman Seasons 1 Executive Producer(s) Elena Recchia, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Lorenzo Mieli, Luca Guadagnino, Mario Gianani, Nick Hall, Riccardo Neri, Sean Conway Years and Years The future is nearer than you think One of the most interesting and underappreciated shows on HBO right now is Years and Years. The thriller starts unremarkably, with an ordinary British family gathering for the birth of a baby. But then time begins to move, politics gets stranger, technology evolves, and the world around the Lyons family becomes really difficult to recognize. The six-part miniseries spans 15 years while focusing on how those societal changes affect one family. Russell T Davies brings a blend of family drama and near-future science fiction, following siblings Stephen, Daniel, Edith, and Rosie as Britain goes through political, economic, and technological transitions. Running parallel to their story is the rise of Vivienne Rook, an outspoken businesswoman turned politician played by Emma Thompson. Instead of spaceships and distant centuries, the show takes things from our reality and nudges them forward just enough to make the audience feel slightly on edge about the possibilities. This is a miniseries that you may just find yourself finishing in one sitting after a long day, but it may be very well worth the binge-watching session. Cast Emma Thompson, Anne Reid, Rory Kinnear, Jessica Hynes, Russell Tovey, Ruth Madeley, T'Nia Miller, Lydia West, Jade Alleyne, Maxim Baldry, Glen McCready, Julia Sandiford, Mary Nightingale, Simon McCoy, Callum Woolford, Julie Peasgood, Reeta Chakrabarti Main Genre Drama Seasons 1 Discover more shows If you want to find more shows like these on HBO Max, I'd start with the Max Originals and HBO Max collections sections rather than the main homepage. The platform's older series can get pushed pretty far down once newer releases arrive, so searching for specific genres or tropes can also be useful. 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