HBO Max: Where Your Suspicion Muscles Go to Flex (and Get Exhausted)
So, you fancy yourself a mystery buff, do you? Well, buckle up buttercup, because HBO Max is basically a hall of fame for the genre. Shadowy social circles? Check. Supernatural shenanigans? Double-check. Gritty police procedurals? Oh, they’ve *got* those. Apparently, HBO isn’t just good at making dramas; they’re apparently wizards at making you question everything and everyone.
Here’s a rundown of the best series to lose sleep over on their platform – all either *made by* or *strongly associated with* HBO because, let’s be real, they clearly have a type. (And that type is «twisty»).
The Lineup: Prepare for Binge-Watching (and Possibly Paranoia)
* The Undoing (2020): Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant being ridiculously wealthy and suspiciously perfect? Yes, please. When Elena turns up dead, things get messy fast. It’s a classic «who done it» that prioritizes style over substance sometimes, but hey, it was HBO’s biggest hit in 2020 for a reason – people *need* to know!
* Big Little Lies (2017-): Monterey, California looks idyllic… until you realize everyone is hiding something. Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman lead an all-star cast through a web of secrets that culminates in a murder. And good news: Season 3 is happening! (Because apparently one scandal wasn’t enough).
* The Outsider (2020): Stephen King meets police procedural? You betcha. A gruesome murder, rock-solid DNA evidence pointing to an upstanding citizen… and then things get *weird*. Jason Bateman and Cynthia Erivo try to make sense of it all. Be prepared for a healthy dose of the supernatural.
* Sharp Objects (2018): If you loved *Gone Girl*, rejoice! Amy Adams is brilliant as a troubled reporter returning home to investigate some seriously disturbing murders. This one’s dark, atmospheric and finally delivers on the promise of Gillian Flynn’s source material.
* Mare of Easttown (2021): Kate Winslet gives a masterclass in portraying a detective grappling with personal demons while solving a brutal crime in Pennsylvania. Seriously, this performance is worth the subscription price alone.
* The Night Of (2016): One night of partying turns into a nightmare for Nasir Khan when he’s accused of murder. Riz Ahmed and John Turturro deliver compelling performances as Naz spirals into the legal system and fights to prove his innocence.
* True Detective (Season 1 – 2014): Let’s be honest, this is peak mystery television. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are phenomenal as two detectives haunted by a decades-old case in Louisiana. The other seasons? Fine. But season one… *chef’s kiss*.
How They Picked These (Apparently)
The author assures us these shows were chosen because they’re “fun to unravel” and elicit strong reactions from viewers and critics. (And also, HBO made them). Basically, if you enjoy being kept on the edge of your seat, questioning reality, and obsessively theorizing with friends, these are your winners.
[Original Source Link](https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/2085162-best-mystery-series-on-hbo-max)
