Good luck finding a great show on Max that isn’t an HBO production. That’s because the vast majority of the programing on Max comes from the Discovery side of Warner Bros. Discovery — and when we say “Discovery,” we’re not talking about National Geographic-style documentaries. Reality shows are the order of the day, and they’ve flooded the lineup on Max to a ridiculous degree.
Fortunately, the HBO side of the company has bailed out Max in November, with two new additions, both of which are among the three underrated shows on (HBO) Max that you need to watch this month. Our final pick is a classic HBO original show that’s nearly two decades old, but it’s never been more timely than it is now.
Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new shows to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Hulu, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, the best shows on Max, and the best shows on Disney+.
Like Water for Chocolate (2024)
If you’ve seen Alfonso Arau’s 1992 adaptation of Laura Esquivel‘s Like Water for Chocolate, then you’ll be familiar with the basic story of the new TV adaptation on Max. But this is more than just a rehash of a 32-year old film. Instead, it’s a deeper look at Tita (Azul Guaita) and her would-be lover, Pedro (Andrés Baida).
Because Tita’s mother, Elena (Irene Azuela), is obsessed with a family tradition binding the youngest daughter to their mothers, she forbids Tita from marrying Pedro. In order to stay close to the woman he really loves, Pedro marries Tita’s sister, Rosaura (Ana Valeria Becerril), instead. Tita’s misfortune is paired with a supernaturally tinged gift that allows her to infuse anything that she cooks with her deepest emotions. Tita has a measure of power through this ability, but that doesn’t guarantee that she can prepare a storybook ending for herself and Pedro.
Watch Like Water For Chocolate on Max.
It’s Florida, Man (2024)
You’re no doubt familiar with those wild stories about people living in Florida. Well, most of them are probably true. HBO’s It’s Florida, Man, is a new comedy anthology series that lets real Florida residents share their strange tales, as reenacted by familiar faces from Hollywood. The stories in season 1 include Phil (Sam Richardson), a man who makes the regrettable error of saying that he’ll do “anything” to get the money to buy concert tickets. But at least Phil got to go home with two arms, unlike Eric (Simon Rex), who has a close encounter with an alligator in Florida’s swampland.
If that’s not enough to warn you off from the Sunshine State, mermaid performer Whitney (Anna Faris) recalls how she started a feud with Mia (Mary Elizabeth Ellis), a woman who is actually a practicing witch. The most recent episode details the way that former lovers Derrick (Echo Kellum) and Denver (Jon Gries) fell out, which led to a bizarre story of revenge. Anything can and will happen in Florida. You’ve just got to laugh, and possibly cancel your vacation plans.
Watch It’s Florida, Man on Max.
Rome (2005-2007)
Since Gladiator 2 is heading to theaters this month, it’s worth revisiting HBO’s Rome. Before Game of Thrones came along, this was one of the most ambitious HBO original series. Kevin McKidd and the late Ray Stevenson headlined the show as Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, respectively, a pair of soldiers serving under Julius Caesar (Ciarán Hinds) at a tumultuous time in the history of the republic.
Lucius and Titus don’t always like each other, and they’re not on the same page very often. But they have a bond from their time in the military that carries them through a rise and fall that mirrors the fate of Rome itself. The show truncates some of the actual history to keep its major players involved, but Titus and Lucius are the reason to keep watching the series through the end of its two-season run.
Watch Rome on Max.
