You shouldn't end 2024 without watching these unreal HBO shows

EntertainmentStreamingYou shouldn’t end 2024 without watching these unreal HBO showsHBO had a banner year in 2024, and these are the highlightsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

HBO had a banner year in 2024, and these are the highlights

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Sky / HBO)

House of the Dragon Season 2

(Image credit: Sky / HBO)

Jump to category:1. True Detective: Night Country2. House of the Dragon3. The Penguin4. Dune: Prophecy5. Industry6. Hacks7. Curb Your Enthusiasm

When you want quality TV, that static-noise HBO logo at the start of a show is a surefire sign that you’re in for a treat. HBO’s taken a couple of decades to establish that reputation, one that some of thebest streaming serviceson the planet still doubtless envy.

Whether you’re in the US watching through Max, in the UK using Sky Atlantic or a Now TV Entertainment pass, or in another region accessing HBO through your local license holder, 2024 has been a bumper year for the network. It’s released a heap of shows, many of them excellent – so I’ve gathered the seven that I think should have been on your radar, to put them there belatedly. To head off any controversy at the pass, these are also in no particular order!

True Detective: Night Country

True Detective: Night Country | Official Trailer | Max - YouTubeWatch On

True Detective: Night Country | Official Trailer | Max - YouTube

Sometimes when you look back on the year that was, you can forget to go back far enough – and for this one, you have to head all the way back to January 2024, when the latest anthology season ofTrue Detectivearrived. Starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, it brought the series back to its very best.

Featuring a string of unexplained murders, just as you’d hope, the show oozed unease and tension, with its protagonists feeling constantly vulnerable in the face of a cultish conspiracy that they couldn’t always grasp clearly. It looked amazing, too, and surged to a phenomenal conclusion.

House of the Dragon (Season 2)

House of the Dragon Season 2 | Official Trailer | Max - YouTubeWatch On

House of the Dragon Season 2 | Official Trailer | Max - YouTube

Some criticised this season ofHouse of the Dragonfor treading water, and while it’s true that it ended with a pretty similar array of strategic positions, there were some unbelievable moments along the way. Some big characters bit the dust, crucially, and there were extremely tense sequences.

The Penguin

The Penguin | Official Trailer | Max - YouTubeWatch On

The Penguin | Official Trailer | Max - YouTube

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Dune: Prophecy

Dune: Prophecy | Official Series Trailer | Max - YouTubeWatch On

Dune: Prophecy | Official Series Trailer | Max - YouTube

It’s set ages before the original book and those two films, concerning itself with how the Bene Gesserit order of, well, space witches established its power and influence. That involves a lot of manoeuvring and not a little bargaining, but also fending off threats from other factions, which makes for a fun balance of interests to watch.

Industry (Season 3)

Another returning show in 2024 wasIndustry, and it actually felt like this might have been the year it broke out into a more mainstream sort of success. Part of that might have been casting some more big names, with Kit Harington’s new character Henry Muck generating headlines in particular.

A lot of that was down to his bedroom proclivities, a subject thatIndustryhas never shied away from, but he’s also a great actor in this sort of drama. If you want to get a sense of what the very worst traders get up to, this is a portal to a dark world of amoral action.

Hacks (Season 3)

Hacks Season 3 Trailer - YouTubeWatch On

Hacks Season 3 Trailer - YouTube

Hacksis proof that the HBO treatment can apply to almost any industry – including ones you barely knew existed, like the world of comedy writing. It turns out that the biggest stars don’t always perform material they wrote themselves, as depressing as that might sound.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 12)

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12 | Official Trailer | Max - YouTubeWatch On

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12 | Official Trailer | Max - YouTube

One of the best and most beloved comedy series of all time drew to a close this year, with the final season ofCurb Your Enthusiasm. It’s a testament to just how brilliant this painfully cringe-inducing series has been that Larry David might just be better-known for it than for creatingSeinfeld, another comedy titan.

This final season might not actually be the show’s must cutting ever, but its latter stages are actually extremely touching for anyone who’s been watching for years (as so many have). Expect more unbelievably awkward standoffs, incredibly niche complaints and downright deathly misunderstandings.

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The ultimate full-body gym workout for beginners, according to a fitness expertWant to hit the gym to build strength and muscle, but don’t know where to start? This workout can help

Want to hit the gym to build strength and muscle, but don’t know where to start? This workout can help

Kindle Colorsoft review

Amazon upgrades Kindle Colorsoft already – new model addresses customer complaintsAmazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display

Amazon’s full-colour e-reader fixes a problem that was plaguing its display

The Studio on Apple TV+

My most anticipated Apple TV+ show gets another tantalising teaserThe Studio gets a minute tease

The Studio gets a minute tease

With Love, Meghan on Netflix

Is this the most insufferable Netflix trailer of all time?Meghan Markle has a show coming

Meghan Markle has a show coming

Ghost of Tsushima Legends series

One of PlayStation’s best exclusives to become unlikely new action seriesGhost of Tsushima will get a new adaptation

Ghost of Tsushima will get a new adaptation

Cassandra on Netflix

Netflix’s sci-fi horror series looks astonishing in full trailerCassandra looks like a slow-burn horror

Cassandra looks like a slow-burn horror

Reacher Season 3

My favourite Amazon Prime Video show gets a rip-roaring S3 trailerReacher is back, and having bigger fights than ever

Reacher is back, and having bigger fights than ever

The Penguin

Huge award wins show you can’t afford to miss these HBO showsIt’s a hit-factory, with some unreal TV in the last year

It’s a hit-factory, with some unreal TV in the last year

Unforgiven

I hadn’t seen this Oscar-winning Western classic – now it’s a favouriteUnforgiven is an all-timer for genre fans

Unforgiven is an all-timer for genre fans

The Kardashians S6 on Hulu

Love it or hate it – one of the biggest ever reality shows is to returnThe Kardashians are coming

The Kardashians are coming

True Detective: Night Country#

House of the Dragon (Season 2)#

The Penguin#

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True Detective: Night Country

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The Penguin

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Dune: Prophecy

Industry (Season 3)

Hacks (Season 3)

Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 12)