Collider writer Liam Gaughan has compiled a list of ten HBO shows that he argues are far better than their reputations suggest, spotlighting series that were underappreciated or overlooked when they first aired. The piece frames HBO as a network known for cinematic, high-quality television, while noting that not every series becomes a phenomenon like Game of Thrones or a cultural touchstone like The Sopranos. Gaughan contends that many of these older shows have aged well and are now more accessible than ever, making them worth revisiting despite the time commitment involved.

The ranking counts down from number ten, with the visible entries including Perry Mason (2020–2023), praised as a stylish neo-noir legal drama starring Matthew Rhys that improved in its second season; Westworld (2016–2022), described as possibly HBO's most ambitious series, though its planned five-season arc from showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy was cut short; and Bored to Death (2009–2011), a comedy said to have arrived before its stars Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis became more prominent. The article positions these as undersung achievements that reward viewers willing to seek them out.