There's something supremely therapeutic about sinking into the couch after a long day at the computer or on the job site—and getting lost in a great TV show.HBO Max has spent decades making sure you have something good to watch when you do, but we're here to make sure you find it.For this week (April 20 to 26), I've brought three seriously compelling picks—a gorgeous and sprawling prequel series to an epic sci-fi franchise, a nightmare origin story for another huge movie franchise that you shouldn't watch alone, and a cringe-comedy mockumentary show currently having its best season yet.
3 Dune: Prophecy The origin story of one of cinema's most iconic trilogies The third installment of Denis Villeneuve's cinematic powerhouse trilogy won't be hitting theaters until December this year, so there are a few things you should get done before then (you have time).Apart from watching parts one and two of the feature films again (and again, if you're diehard), you must watch this excellent HBO prequel series, While it's not based directly on Frank Herbert's legendary original science fiction novels, it is part of the same cinematic universe as the Villeneuve films and is considered canon.Plus, it's excellent.
What makes Dune: Prophecy so compelling is that it offers the origin story for the Dune world's biggest families and insight into how they rose to power.Set 10,000 years before Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides, and shortly after the fall of the "thinking machines," the Emmy-nominated series delves into the origins of the mysterious Bene Gesserit order of all-female truthsayers and how their control over the emperors and political figures of the universe begins to grow.It follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen (Emily Watson and Olivia Williams), and their struggles to gain power, including against the enigmatic Desmond Hart ( Travis Fimmel), a mysterious man who claims to have been given mind-controlling powers from a sand worm on Arrakis.
has been praised for its visual effects and costume design, and while critics didn't love it (it has a 65% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a gorgeous and worthy addition to the greater cinematic world of .Season two is reportedly in post-production, with no official word on when it will be coming to HBO Max.Dune: Prophecy TV-MA Sci-Fi Adventure Fantasy Drama Release Date November 17, 2024 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY Cast Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Jodhi May, Travis Fimmel, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, Chris Mason, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Chloe Lea, Josh Heuston, Edward Davis, Tabu, Yerin Ha Showrunner Alison Schapker Directors Anna Foerster Writers Diane Ademu-John, Kevin J.
Anderson, Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert Franchise(s) Dune Main Genre Sci-Fi Creator(s) Diane Ademu-John, Alison Schapker Franchise Dune IMDb ID tt10466872 Seasons 1 TMDB User Rating 0 .0 Streaming Service(s) MAX Powered by Expand Collapse 2 IT: Welcome to Derry Not even the small screen is safe from Pennywise Speaking of origin stories, HBO Max is also home toanother excellent prequel series that does a brilliant job of delving back into the world of another huge trilogy of films—the series of horror films based on Stephen King's horrifying books centered around Pennywise the Clown.Bill Skarsgård lends his extraordinary talents to this small-screen series as well, as goes back to the fictional town of Derry, Maine, in 1962 to explore the supernatural circumstances that brought the evil, fear-eating clown to life.Like the movies, the series focuses on a group of kids targeted by the monstrous clown—including Lilly (Clara Stack), Will (Blake Cameron James), Ronnie (Amanda Christine), Marge (Matilda Lawler), and Rich (Arian S.
Cartaya)—who, also like the movies, band together to take Pennywise down.With a military conspiracy, a powerful alien entity, and generations of management by the local Indigenous tribes at play in Derry, the kids and adults alike clash as they peel back the nightmare-soaked powers of the horrific clown.Nvidia Shield TV Pro Operating System Android TV Resolution 4K The NVIDIA Shield Android TV Pro is probably the most high-end, powerful Android TV device you can buy.
It can scale all video to 4K in Dolby Vision and play games via GeForce Now.RAM/storage 3GB / 16GB Connectivity Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wi-Fi $199 at Amazon $199 at Best Buy Expand Collapse For fans of the movies, don't worry— is easily on par with the films in terms of special effects, production value, and performances (especially Skarsgård), making the series just as fear-inducing and terrifying.Welcome to Derry is truly one of my favorite series of the last year, and it will scare the hell out of you.
It: Welcome to Derry TV-MA Horror Mystery Drama Release Date October 26, 2025 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming BUY Network HBO Cast Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, James Remar, stephen rider, Matilda Lawler, Amanda Christine, Clara Stack, Arian S.Cartaya, Peter Outerbridge, Chris Chalk, Rudy Mancuso, Alixandra von Renner, Dmitry Chepovetsky, Eli Katz, Mark MacRae, Lochlan Ray Miller, Maya McNair, Maya Misaljevic, Hannah Storey, Thomas Mitchell, Chad Rook, Michael Koras, Robert Clarke, Brittany Spiteri, Sean Sansom Directors Andy Muschietti Writers Jason Fuchs, Stephen King, Austin Guzman Franchise(s) IT Main Genre Horror Creator(s) Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs Producers Anna Beben, Cherie Dimaline, Sarah Rath Seasons 1 Release Window 2025 Executive Producer(s) Andy Muschietti, Bárbara Muschietti, Bill Skarsgård, Brad Kane, Dan Lin, Jason Fuchs, Roy Lee, David Coatsworth, Shelley Meals Powered by Expand Collapse 1 The Comeback Hello, hello, hello, welcome to one of the smartest shows on TV I'd heard so much about this oddball mockumentary-style comedy by superstar Lisa Kudrow and writer Michael Patrick King that I had to check it out before its third and final season started on HBO Max late last Month.And I'm glad I did, because Kudrow is hysterical as washed-up sitcom star Valerie Cherish in , a super-funny show-within-a-show series that takes aim at narcissism and the absurdity of Hollywood.
Each widely spaced-out season (2005, 2014, and now 2026) has offered a different commentary on certain aspects of the TV industry.Season one aims at reality TV, as Valerie mounts her comeback to sitcom TV after a decade, but allows a camera crew to document the humiliating experience on a reality show, the meta-titled .Season two then targets dark dramas as Valerie is cast in a brooding HBO dramedy (with hilarious, cringey consequences), while the currently-airing season sees Val cast in the first sitcom written by AI.
Through it all, though, is Kudrow's brilliance as the perpetually optimistic and out-of-touch Valerie, as she struggles to stay relevant in a ruthless entertainment industry, and the show features a great supporting cast and fun cameos, including Malin Akerman, Seth Rogen, an dRuPaul.Season three is currently enjoying its highest praise yet, with a 97% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.The Comeback TV-MA Comedy Drama Release Date 2005 - 2026-00-00 Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming RENT BUY Network HBO Max Cast Lisa Kudrow, Lance Barber, Laura Silverman, Damian Young, Malin Akerman, Robert Bagnell, Kellan Lutz, Robert Michael Morris, Brian Delate, Eric Zuckerman, Rose Abdoo, Bayne Gibby, Lena Waithe, Matt Cook, Marla Garlin, Jackson Spidell, Tom Wade, Vanessa Marano, Jason Olive, Kimberly Kevon Williams, Willa Holland, Dan Warner, Deb Hiett, Tom Virtue, Cameron Diaz Showrunner Comedy, Satire Directors Clark Mathis, Michael Patrick King Writers Lisa Kudrow, Michael Patrick King Main Genre Comedy Creator(s) Lisa Kudrow, Michael Patrick King Producers Amy Harris, Denis Biggs, Julie Camino, Jim Klever-Weis, Tim Gibbons Seasons 3 Streaming Service(s) HBO Max Executive Producer(s) Dan Bucatinsky, Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow, John P.
Melfi Powered by Expand Collapse You always feel like you're getting something that feels more premium with HBO Max—just look at its track record with shows like , , and many, many more.Hopefully, one of the recommendations above strikes gold with your weekly viewing needs.HBO Max Subscription with ads Yes, $10.99/month Simultaneous streams 2 or 4 HBO Max is a subscription-based streaming service offering content from HBO, Warner Bros., DC, and more.
In 2025, the service re-branded itself as HBO Max after having previously cut "HBO" from its name.Live TV Live sports available in Standard and Premium plans Price Starting at $10.99/month or $109.99/year See available plans Expand Collapse
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