6 HBO Shows That Are Far Better Than Their Reputation Suggests
Collider has published a list highlighting HBO series it argues are unfairly overlooked or misjudged, despite deserving recognition among the network's best output. The piece contends that HBO's reputation for prestige drama can work against shows that break from convention, with dense storytelling or bleak early episodes leading some series to be dismissed as confusing or overly grim before viewers give them a fair chance.
The article opens its ranking with "We Own This City" (2022), the David Simon and George Pelecanos miniseries about corruption in the Baltimore Police Department, which it says was wrongly labelled convoluted due to its non-linear structure spanning 2003 to 2018. It also discusses "Tokyo Vice" (2022–2024), noting the show faced scepticism before release over casting choices and doubts about the accuracy of its source memoir. The full list features six shows in total, each defended as better than its critical or public reception suggested.
- Collider names six HBO shows it says are underrated
- "We Own This City" wrongly dismissed as too confusing, article argues
- "Tokyo Vice" faced doubts over casting and source accuracy before airing
New here? Start with this
HBO is a US television network known for prestige dramas such as The Sopranos and The Wire, shows that combine serious storytelling with high production values and have shaped how critics and viewers think about "quality television". Because of this reputation, HBO series are often held to a particularly high standard, and shows that stray from familiar formats can be judged harshly or overlooked if they do not immediately click with audiences.
This background comes from a piece by Collider, an entertainment website that regularly publishes ranked lists and retrospectives about film and television. The article in question revisits a set of HBO shows the site argues were misunderstood or undervalued at the time, often because of complicated timelines, slow-burning plots or dark subject matter that put some viewers off before the shows found their footing.
Among the programmes discussed are We Own This City, a 2022 miniseries about police corruption in Baltimore from the makers of The Wire, and Tokyo Vice, a crime drama based on a journalist's memoir that ran from 2022 to 2024. Pieces like this matter mainly as cultural commentary and viewing guidance, reflecting ongoing debate about how television shows are judged on release versus how they are seen in hindsight.