# HBO Recommends **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2008, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659 "2008-12-04T13:04:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/1 "2008-12-04T13:04:04Z")
Ok, so I’ve hit halfway through Oz fourth season and I’m seeing the decline start which I read about (I suspect the perils of having more than 8 episodes a season). I’m halfway through The Wire Season 4, but the end is in sight for that one. Every HBO show I’ve watched has been excellent (ok, maybe not bothered with the likes of Six Feet Under), so I want more… Being from the Uk, I’ve never really had choice of watching some (Don’t know where Oz showed, and Wire was Sky Satellite only), so I’d like opinions on those I can see from the wikipedia… I’ve watched Rome, Deadwood, Band of Brothers, Arrested Development, Mr Show and Sopranos. Still watching Oz, The Wire, Curb your enthusiam and Entourage… What do people think of: Big Love Cathouse From Earth to the moon Generation Kill The Hitchhiker In Treatment John Adams John from Cincinnati True Blood Have I missed anything worth mentioning? Anything from Showtime worth a go (Dexter is only one I watch from there at moment)? ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/2 "2008-12-04T13:15:01Z")
Big Love: Good, but if I were a polygamist, I would be pretty pissed off. Except for a few characters, they are portrayed as morally bankrupt people. Cathouse: Sucks. Generation Kill: Excellent, but it takes a few liberties with the book. The Hitchhiker: Twilight zone wannabe from the '80s. Not that good. John Adams: Didn’t see it but I think it won a bunch of Emmys John from Cincinnati: Weird. I believe it was cancelled. True Blood: Very cool. Great titles. Not enough sex. 🙂 I have to say that I didn’t love the season ending. Have I missed anything worth mentioning? Anything from Showtime worth a go (Dexter is only one I watch from there at moment)? Weeds is good and Californication is good if you can get past the implausibility of every good looking woman in LA throwing herself at David Duchovny. FWIW, Rob ---
**Author:** ![singular1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@singular1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/singular1)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/3 "2008-12-04T13:26:58Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Six Feet Under IMHO missing this one is a big mistake. One of HBO’s finest series (although it did have it’s weird spots), and hugely worth you time and effort. > [@Smid](#): > > Big Love Anxiously awaiting the third season. It’s a great look at a lifestyle you probably know nothing about. Fascinating. > [@Smid](#): > > In Treatment Meh. I gave it a few tries - I got nothing. And I _love_ Gabriel Bryne. > [@Smid](#): > > John Adams Pretty good. An in depth look at the birth of our country. Not really my cuppa, but I stuck with it all the way. > [@Smid](#): > > John from Cincinnati Unless you have endless free time and are looking for an alternative to counting the vertical lines of grout in your kitchen tile, do not bother with this. It doesn’t come to and end, it just stops with no resolution or explanation, leaving you dangling in midair like a surfer. Avoid at all costs. > [@Smid](#): > > True Blood Real fun! I love this series, and it just ended the first series. It was so successful that HBO is rushing the second season into production for a summer return, with the DVD opening in May. This is from the same guy that put out Six Feet Under, which would be a good way to pass the time until then!😉 > [@Smid](#): > > Have I missed anything worth mentioning? Anything from Showtime worth a go (Dexter is only one I watch from there at moment)? I’m assuming you watched The Sopranos, so all I can add is Deadwood. Although it ended a little abruptly, it is second only to the Sopranos. The dialog alone is worth your time, but the story and setting is beautiful. I hesitate to recommend Carnivale, but I enjoyed what I saw. The problem with that is the same as John From Cincinnati - it just stopped, when there was obviously more story to tell. But I loved the characters and the atmosphere. YMMV. If you’re up for grins, Flight of the Conchords is a lot of fun. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/4 "2008-12-04T13:51:20Z")
The only one I’m familiar with from your list is “From the Earth to the Moon”. If you’re at all interested in the Apollo program, it’s very good. Each episode is told from a different point of view or in a different genre. It mainly focuses on the personalities involved, from the scientists and technicians to the astronauts to the astronauts’ wives. Some great performances, good special effects, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/5 "2008-12-04T14:04:40Z")
(Six Feet Under) > [@singular1](#): > > IMHO missing this one is a big mistake. One of HBO’s finest series (although it did have it’s weird spots), and hugely worth you time and effort. This suffered from the presentation in the uk. Very late at night and intermittently. I think I caught a couple of episodes but didn’t understand a thing which was going on. This, however, doesn’t usually stop me, but nobody else I know watches it so its now on the recommend list… > [@](#): > > I’m assuming you watched The Sopranos, so all I can add is Deadwood. Although it ended a little abruptly, it is second only to the Sopranos. The dialog alone is worth your time, but the story and setting is beautiful. Yep. Watched it till the end. Took me ages to watch Rome, cos thats effectively why Deadwood was cancelled - To pay for Rome Season 2. > [@](#): > > I hesitate to recommend Carnivale, but I enjoyed what I saw. The problem with that is the same as John From Cincinnati - it just stopped, when there was obviously more story to tell. But I loved the characters and the atmosphere. YMMV. I tried the first episode and didn’t get it. However, thats not a reason not to try again. As an aside, I often “don’t get” the first episode of most of the HBO shows. They start from such a high level that you tend to go “Eh?” Then watch the episode again. Did this with Rome, Deadwood, Entourage and The Wire… ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/6 "2008-12-04T15:08:54Z")
From the Earth to the Moon is very good if you’re interested in the Apollo program. Cathouse is awful and fascinating at the same time. The first season of Six Feet Under was great. It was okay after that. Big Love and John Adams are good. I was disappointed in True Blood, which I had been eagerly anticipating. From Showtime, Penn & Teller’s Bullshit is pretty entertaining, as long as you happen to agree with the stance they’re taking in a particular episode. ---
**Author:** ![sweeteviljesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@sweeteviljesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweeteviljesus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/7 "2008-12-04T15:15:13Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > From Showtime, Penn & Teller’s Bullshit is pretty entertaining, as long as you happen to agree with the stance they’re taking in a particular episode. How did I forget that one? It was the reason I subscribed to Showtime in the first place. It is also pretty entertaining if you don’t have a dog in a particular fight, like the episode about Mt. Rushmore. It probably helps that I am pretty libertarian leaning. I just hope they don’t try to claim that the gold standard is cool. Rob ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/8 "2008-12-04T15:28:48Z")
Don’t forget [Carnivale](http://www.hbo.com/carnivale/about/index.shtml)! It kind of stumbles in the second season (and there are only two seasons), but the first season was wicked awesome. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/9 "2008-12-04T15:51:03Z")
I own _Deadwood_ and _The Wire_ and rewatch often – those series hold up well, even though _Deadwood_ seems a bit florid compared to _The Wire_. I’ve learned not to watch them close together, or else I just end up yelling at Swearengen: “Talk plain, dammit!” If I could afford it, I’d own _Carnivale_, even though it ended too soon, and _Rome_, definitely. _John Adams_ was excellent. Another one I liked was _The Comeback_ with Lisa Kudrow. It was painful but funny, sorta like _Curb Your Enthusiasm_. _True Blood_ is fun, but one viewing is enough. _John from Cincinnati_ had three intriguing episodes and turned to shit. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/10 "2008-12-04T20:05:19Z")
**John Adams** and **Generation Kill** are both excellent. **Big Love** had a good first season and a better second season, eagerly awaiting season 3. **True Blood** is pulpy fun and definitely worth watching, but not as good as many of the other shows listed here. **John From Cincinnati** is a mess. It has a few good points, but is generally not worth the time, imho. One you didn’t mention is **Tell Me You Love Me** , which I couldn’t make it through more than 2 episodes of. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/11 "2008-12-04T21:52:15Z")
Definitely recommend _Six Feet Under_ and _The Comeback_. If you like Ricky Gervais-esque humor surrounding awkward, embarrassingly self-delusional behavior – as well as some surprisingly poignant moments – the latter is a must-see. Lisa Kudrow is amazing. It’s a one-season series but it concludes well. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/12 "2008-12-04T22:01:54Z")
Speaking of Ricky Gervais, I love **Extras**. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/13 "2008-12-04T22:40:23Z")
I loved _Generation Kill_. If it on DVD, I want it for Xmess. It was outstanding. My brother loved _John from Cincinnati_, but he’s weird. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/14 "2008-12-05T02:13:43Z")
Heh. I went to Costco after posting to this thread, and scored both seasons of **Rome** for $10 off each season! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/15 "2008-12-05T02:19:42Z")
I love HBO series (most of them!) In order of preference: 1. Rome 2. Deadwood 3. Extras 4. Flight of the Conchords (those four are darn near tied) 5. Six Feet Under 6. Big Love 7. True Blood 8. In Treatment ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/16 "2008-12-05T03:18:04Z")
> [@EJsGirl](#): > > My brother loved _John from Cincinnati_, but he’s weird. 😉 So he’s the one… From the Earth to the Moon and The Wire will always be two of my all time favorites in any media category. I loved Six Feet Under, though its last season progressively pissed me off, but then they made me bawl like a baby in the finale, the bastards. Rome was wonderful too, even if it did kill Deadwood too soon, which I’d rank right behind The Wire. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/17 "2008-12-05T03:21:12Z")
Two big, big thumbs-up for \*\*From the Earth to the Moon \*\*and **Generation Kill**. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/18 "2008-12-05T04:50:18Z")
I think you need to distinguish between HBO Mini-Series and HBO Original Programming. The Mini-Series are generally outstanding. **Band of Brothers** is one of the finest things ever put on TV. **From Earth To The Moon** is simply epic and if you have even a passing interest in history and science it’s incomparable. **Generation Kill** was very good. It’s not on the level of Band of Brothers, but it’s a very interesting modern look at war and a interesting group of characters. **John Adams** was a terrific period piece but thought parts of it got a little too PBS/Nova-like towards the end. The early scenes where they debated declaring independence were hugely powerful though. There are others and off the top of my head I can’t think of any that were disappointing. The Original Programming was more hit-or-miss. The Half-Hour Comedy Series tend to be short lived failures for the most part, even if some are critically acclaimed and cult favorites. **Entourage** is a favorite of mine. I see that it’s not for everyone, but as a single guy it’s in my wheelhouse. **Lucky Louie** was a short lived, vulgar sit-com filmed on a live stage that was very unique. I found it hilarious but it didn’t last. **Flight of the Conchords** is very popular if you like quasi-British style humor, filled with absurdity and sarcasm. **Curb You Enthusiasm** has been hilarious but it’s a little too thick with “awkward comedy” for my liking. Though, I’m in the minority on that I think since it was so successful. The Hour Dramas have been more successful, and are generally worth the time even if some are a tad over rated. **The Sopranos** is a classic. **The Wire** is one I never got into, but it’s universally said to be great. **In Treatment** was painful to watch, and fucking dull. **John From Cincinnati** was a clusterfuck. Spare yourself the grief. **True Blood** is fun, great if you are a vampire fan. The characters are pretty badly developed and unlikable and I found the story deteriorating as the season ended but I watched anyways. It was very popular so it’s safe to assume that it’ll be around for a while. **Rome** was one of their best. The fact that it was intentionally short-lived makes the story feel happily complete and satisfying. **Tell Me You Love Me** had moments, but it was a little too melodramatic to last. It was a bit self-serious. **Six Feet Under** is a show I’ve always hated, but people around here love the thing. Decide for yourself I suppose, it’s worth trying since many people love it more than words. **Deadwood**. See Six Feet Under. **Big Love**. See Deadwood. Then there’s the Reality Shows. **Cathouse** is kind of it’s own thing. It’s a quasi-Reality show set in a real brothel. It can be entertaining and it’s got lots of sex and nudity, but it’s got no story arc and is something of a freak show at times. **Taxicab Confessions** was pretty revolutionary and many of the episodes were simultaneously hilarious, sad and erotic. Very worth watching. **Autopsy with Dr. Baden** is better than any CSI/Law And Order show ever made. Occasionally it’s a little gruesome with the real-live footage, but it’s educations and compelling. **Real Sex** is stupid, perverted fun. Half the people in there should _never_ be seen naked but the depths of human sexuality is entertaining. It’s pretty damned dated though. I know I felt out a bunch but I have to run. More often than not an HBO show is worth trying. One thing I feel safe saying is that the shows are consistent. If you don’t like the first 4 episodes it’s safe to assume that you won’t like the rest and vice versa. Some of the long running ones have peaks and valleys, but there just aren’t that many that last long enough to jump the shark. FTR, Arrested Development was never an HBO show. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/19 "2008-12-05T05:47:12Z")
My personal opinions, as a great fan of HBO’s stuff: Big Love: Second season is better than the first. I like it a lot. Can’t wait for Season 3. Cathouse: Entertaining as hell, as a somewhat sleazy sociological insight. I always watch this when there’s an ep on because I find it sort of fascinating. In Treatment: Outstanding. Excellent ensemble cast (Gabriel Byrne, Dianne Wiest, Blair Underwood, notably, but everyone was good), great writing. Glynn Turman won an Emmy for his guest appearance, which had me in tears. Definitely watch. John Adams: Excellent. Acting is top-notch. It’s amazing how they got David Morse to look so much like Washington. John from Cincinnati: Do not waste your time. True Blood: Entertaining but sometimes annoying. I don’t regret watching it but it’s not a favorite. Extras: Excellent, cringe-inducing humor. Ricky Gervais is the king of embarrassment humor. One you didn’t mention is Tell Me You Love Me. My husband hated it and couldn’t believe I watched it, because there was so much angst and whining, interspersed with explicit sex scenes. It grew on me and I ultimately found it pretty insightful, and kinda scary in a banal way. It was painful to watch, though. I didn’t really love any of the characters. So, overall, I am ambivalent about this one. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659/20 "2008-12-05T06:18:18Z")
I haven’t read the other reviews (intentionally) so pardon any repetition (and I’ve omitted the ones I haven’t seen): Big Love- one of my favorite shows, though as it progresses I lose respect for almost all the characters. Best performance in the show is Harry Dean Stanton as the corrupt old patriarch Roman Grant (who corruption and all I respect more than lead character Bill Henrickson- he’s a sneaky unhderhanded bastard but at least Roman makes no bones about who and what he is to the outside world and couldn’t give a damn about their approval). Currently the only sympathetic character really is the first wife (and perhaps her older daughter). Worst thing about the show is the unanswered questions: exactly why did he enter polygamy (I know it had to do with second wife Nicky nursing his first wife, but the details aren’t given- why was he back at the compound in the first place?) or “Bill’s father [Bruce Dern] has 5 wives, shouldn’t he have a lot more kids than the 2 boys and the girl who died?” (when he’s expelled from the compound for a while only his wives come with). Big plus: the most despicable teen she-villain in recent memory, 80 year old Roman’s fiancee Rhonda. She’s more fun than Joan Collins ca. 1984. Overall grade of A-. Cathouse- the fact I’m gay may have a lot to do with my “eh…, interesting but not compelling” opinion. From Earth to the Moon- liked it. Drags in places, but when it works it works well. Overall grade of B. The Hitchhiker- individual episodes I’d give A’s to, most I could take or leave. John Adams- I was very disappointed in this one. I just never found it that engaging and didn’t really feel I really understood him anymore than I did before (I just knew more about his life [things like his daughter dying or his adventures in Amsterdam]). I liked Laura Linney’s Abigail better than Giamatti’s Adams (even though I usually really like Giamatti’s work). I thought the zeitgeist was well captured though, and there were some nice touches: I loved the scenes of Adams working in the unfinished White House as paper’s being hung and the room’s filled with smoke from kilns and what not; I took it as a stubborn “by God I’m the president and I’m going to live in the President’s Mansion!” on Adams’ part. Plus, even though Giamatti far more resembled him, there is but one Adams and William Daniels is his vessel. Overall grade: B- John from Cincinnati- I know I’m in the minority here, but I’ve _never_ been able to get into this show at all. I can’t even give it a grade because I can’t watch it- not that it’s terrible, I just can’t get invested. True Blood- I’ve only seen 3 eps. but I plan to get it on DVD (Netflix) the sec it comes out. I haven’t read the books I should ad; those who have say it’s very different. (Hijack: is Ryan Kwanten gay IRL [openly, I mean]? I was curious because I’ve seen him on the covers of a couple of gay magazines.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hbo-recommends/475659.md?page=2)