These 10 Forgotten HBO Shows Have Zero Weak Seasons

When the discussion of prestigious television is brought to the table, HBO is often called the gold standard. The network has delivered some of the best and brightest in entertainment. From major hits like The Sopranos to fantasy epics such asGame of Thrones, HBO gifted audiences quite a few big-budget, global hits. But of course, there also exist the quieter HBO gems that may have never dominated pop culture like the previously mentioned icons, but still stand as extraordinary shows that never faltered in their quality.

Ranging from the emotionally complex family saga, Big Love, to the politically charged real-world drama, Show Me a Hero, HBO has consistently delivered series that exemplify unwavering creative vision, tight storytelling, and powerful performances—even if they’re sometimes forgotten by audiences. Compiled on this list are forgotten HBO shows that host absolutely zero weak seasons between them.

1

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

This haunting HBO drama masterfully explores faith and grief, delivering an emotionally devastating watch that remains criminally underseen. The Leftoversfollows police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) and those around him, attempting to cope with life after the “Sudden Departure.”

The Leftovers maintained intense and completely fearless storytelling across three masterful seasons. Hosting no weak episodes, the series features brilliant acting, fantastic writing, and a thematic depth worth talking about. Though The Leftovers is often cited as one of the greatest series brought to screens, it never truly found a large audience. Suffering average ratings and having never genuinely reached mainstream status, The Leftovers remains a criminally underrated gem that delivers three flawless seasons that never dip in quality.

2

‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)

Boardwalk Empireis a lavish, Prohibition-era crime epic that feels dangerous, rich, and incredibly cinematic.The series, set in the 1920s Atlantic City, focuses on the rise of Enoch “Nucky” Thompson (Steve Buscemi), a politician-turned-gangster.

Boardwalk Empire produces quite the sprawling tale of politics and organized crime in the roaring twenties. The series delivers five incredible seasons that push it high in the ranking of brilliant dramas. Boardwalk Empire consistently provides top-tier acting, writing, and production. The HBO series was able to win multiple Emmys as it wowed critics with its cinematic depth and scope. Even so, Boardwalk Empire has been horrendously forgotten, overshadowed by much flashier contemporaries. While it never truly reached pop-culture phenomenon heights, Boardwalk Empire is a beautifully crafted crime saga with zero bad seasons.

3

‘Oz’ (1997–2003)

This brutal HBO prison drama laid the groundwork for today’s best of television. Oz, an unflinching prison series, is set in the fictional Oswald State Penitentiary—nicknamed “Oz”—and follows an experimental unit called “Emerald City,” managed by the idealistic warden Tim McManus (Terry Kinney), who hopes to rehabilitate the inmates.

Oz is an immaculately acted work of art that dives deep into survival, power struggles, and morality behind bars with a rather profoundly honest portrayal. Over the course of six impactful seasons, the series pushed boundaries and never wavered in its quality. With its raw storytelling and consistent high-quality with each season, the show paved the way for many other impactful later series. Unfortunately, Oz aired before many of HBO’s bigger hits and never reached mainstream heights, ensuring many younger viewers have no idea the show even exists. Still, Oz remains a masterful landmark that truly set the standard in prestigious TV.

4

‘Big Love’ (2006–2011)

Big Love is a bold family drama that deserves far more recognition than it’s ever received. The drama series centers on a polygamist household in modern Utah, led by a suburban father of three who lives a secret life as a polygamous Mormon with three wives.

With five seasons under its belt, Big Love delivered a brilliantly acted series rife with heartfelt drama and quite a bit of humor. The show excellently tackles taboo topics with nuance and empathy, yet Big Love never ranked very high and continues to be overlooked despite its fantastic quality. With the series airing around the time of much flashier hits, Big Love became a notably underrated and truly appreciated gem. With absolutely no weak seasons, the series, with its original premise, stands as a gripping long-form drama that never lost its narrative momentum.

5

‘Carnivàle’ (2003–2005)

This HBO fantasy may have been quite short-lived, but its masterful storytelling is definitely worth remembering. Carnivàle, set in the 1930s Dust Bowl America, focuses on young fugitive Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl), who joins a rundown carnival where he discovers he has uncanny healing powers, and goes on to be mentored by carnival seer Samson (Michael J. Anderson). Meanwhile, in California, Methodist minister Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown) is suffering from terrifying visions.

Carnivàle delivered two entrancing seasons, featuring layered storytelling and a moody atmosphere. Every episode held audiences captive, with one installment in particular being lauded as the most horrifying thing seen on television. Sadly, the show was abruptly cancelled on a cliffhanger, never getting to explore its rather intriguing story. Though Carnivàle is so rarely spoken of, it still has a few fans who hail it as a cult classic with an unbroken streak in quality.

6

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

The Night Of is a gripping HBO crime series that is equal parts tense and equal parts immersive. The eight-part drama follows a shy Pakistani-American college kid, Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed), who, after a one-night stand, wakes up accused of her brutal murder.

The Night Of may be only a single season, but it’s a tightly plotted one, celebrated for its realism and intense suspense. The show is often lauded as one of the greatest HBO miniseries from beginning to end. The Night Of even earned itself critical acclaim and awards, yet it still flew under the radar with audiences. In the years since the show’s debut, it has only become increasingly overlooked. Despite that, The Night Of remains a forgotten masterclass in taut, intelligent thrillers.

7

‘Barry’ (2018–2023)

This dark HBO comedy is a true standout that remains sharp from beginning to end. Barryfocuses on the depressed Midwestern ex-Marine turned hitman, Barry Berkman (Bill Hader), who discovers an insane passion for acting after traveling to Los Angeles for a job, and accidentally walking into an acting class.

Barry is one of HBO’s absolute best and boasts the rare feat of maintaining exceptional quality all throughout its run. After ending on its own terms, with four tightly woven seasons, Barry solidifies its place as one of HBO’s most flawless modern classics. Even though the series was not a big blockbuster hit and still remains infrequently discussed, make no mistake, it is a model of consistent storytelling rife with suspense and humor, worth diving into.

8

‘Show Me a Hero’ (2015)

Show Me a Herois a true-story political miniseries that happens to be one of HBO’s most underappreciated shows. The six-episode drama, set in the 1980s, centers on the young politician Nick Wasicsko (Oscar Isaac), who becomes the mayor of Yonkers and finds himself tackling heaps of trouble due to the federal court order to build public housing in white middle-class neighborhoods.

Show Me a Hero is a nuanced look at how prejudice, idealism, and fear collide in local government. It’s a riveting and well-crafted watch that wields severely strong episodes. The series may be a short one, but it skillfully portrays the consequences of capturing power. Although Show Me a Hero never amassed the attention it deserved, eventually fading into the background in favor of bigger hits, the series does stand as an intelligent, character-driven story that hosts zero weak installments.

9

‘The Pacific’ (2010)

This period epic is a ten-episode war saga that features relentless precision and emotional power. Based on the real memoirs of Marines, The Pacificfollows the main characters, Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), Eugene Sledge (Joseph Mazzello), and John Basilone (Jon Seda), as they persist through brutal battles against Japan.

The World War II miniseries is not for the faint of heart, as it depicts combat with unflinching realism and has a habit of totally immersing its viewers. The Pacific is a short bout of entertaining brilliance and features pretty intense but spectacular episodes. The captivating miniseries even has eight Emmys under its belt, lauded for its binge-ability and overall top-tier production. Regardless, the series sadly never did match up to HBO’s beloved show Band of Brothers, which debuted a decade before. Now, The Pacific is simply a forgotten memory that remains one of HBO’s best.

10

‘Station Eleven’ (2021–2022)

Station Eleven is a poetic post-apocalyptic HBO drama so beautifully crafted that it hosts zero weak episodes. The limited series, based on Emily St. John Mandel’s novel, chronicles a devastating flu pandemic that collapses civilization, weaving between timelines—the chaos of the collapse and life 20 years later among the remnants of society.

Wielding a surprising amount of hope and heart, Station Eleven is quite the unexpected beauty for newcomers. Through elegiac storytelling, the show brilliantly explores art, loss, and the capabilities of human connection persisting beyond the end of the world. The series is often hailed as one of the greatest shows of the 2020s by its fans, but despite its near-universal acclaim, the show never truly became a mainstream hit in viewership. These days, Station Eleven is known as an underrated gem that is not only deeply rewarding but also consistently fantastic.