Top HBO Max Picks

Betty

This short and sweet six-episode series follows the lives of a group of five teenage girls as they take on the City of New York - skateboards always on hand. We watch as this group of betties navigate the trials and tribulations of having to endure skatepark drama, girlhood, and toxic masculinity on top of it all. Despite the obstacles that may come in their way, Janay, Kurt, Honeybear, Indigo, and Camille always have each other’s backs, ultimately proving the test of true friendship and female empowerment. 

Betty is the perfect, feel-good kind of show to watch during the chill and laid-back summer months. It’s the type of show that leaves you wishing you could be a part of a girl gang like the betties - one that is determined, self-assured, and effortlessly cool in every which way. Moreover, this series paints the perfect type of summer where everyone is just having the time of their lives, skating around New York City with no particular plans or sights in mind. Not to mention, this idealized summer dream is further emphasized through the show’s use of a vibrantly colorful wardrobe, picturesque cinematography, and synthy soundtrack. Though a lot of this show is arguably just girls aimlessly skating around, living their lives day-by-day, I still 100% loved it. I’ve always had a soft spot for these kinds of “nothing really happens” shows and movies (think of Lady Bird, Before Sunrise, and The Florida Project) and Betty is just another addition to this expansive favorites list of mine.

Industry

Industry is a British television drama series that centers around a group of ambitious young graduates who are competing for a permanent position at Pierpoint & Co., one of London’s leading and most prestigious investment banks. Among this group of interns are Harper Stern, Yasmin Kara-Hanani, Robert Spearing, Gus Sackey, and Hari Dhar. Throughout the season, these graduates face the pressures and turmoils of working in the fast-paced, ruthless industry of international finance. 

Though I’ve never been particularly interested in the world of stock exchange, investment, and banking, I was surprisingly hooked onto this series after watching just the first episode. I was particularly captivated by Industry’s focus on confronting relevant issues such as gender, race, class, and privilege in the workplace. On a similar note, I was also compelled by how the show explored these different identities and how they intersect with one another, ultimately creating a unique set of multi-dimensional characters and situations that feel very authentic - as if these people and circumstances could truly exist in real life. 

One character that exemplifies this idea of multi-dimensionality is Daria Greenock - the Vice President of Cross Product Sales at Pierpoint & Co. What makes her character so interesting is how the show presents her as an empowering, empathetic professional that Harper could always turn to for guidance, while also illustrating her ambitiously manipulative side as demonstrated by her participation in the toxic work culture as a means to further her own personal gains, blatantly contradicting her supposed goal to foster a healthy work environment. Or to put it in other terms, Daria is basically the epitome of “girlboss, gatekeep, gaslight” (though I’m not going to lie, she is still probably my favorite character because of this reason). Truthfully told, I was honestly left wondering who I should have been rooting for and against, considering that every single character had morally ambiguous motives and practices, but this actually made the series that much more riveting. So, if you’re in the mood for some workplace drama, grit, and tension, I would highly recommend you watch Industry ASAP. 

Genera+ion

Generation is an edgy and unabashedly queer American teen series. This coming-of-age narrative tells the story of a diverse group of high school students living in Southern California as they explore their identities through themes such as friendship, sexuality, and gender expression. Told through a series of interconnected character perspectives, this HBO original series takes a jab at deciphering what it’s like to be a Gen Z teenager in today’s modern age.

When reading up on this show, I noticed that many critics have been drawing comparisons between Generation and its related HBO counterpart Euphoria. Although both of these series narrate the lives of high school students coming to terms with their own persons, the two could not be any more different. In one Entertainment News interview with the leading star, Justice Smith contends "there's kind of a darkness that Euphoria focuses on and explores.” In contrast, Generation plays on these adolescent themes with a much more light-hearted and playful approach, which is further visually conveyed through the bright and vibrant cinematography. Another aspect that I personally love about the show is its use of location shooting. Of course, there are already plenty of movies and shows that have filmed in and around Los Angeles, but it was an even cooler experience seeing lesser-used locations on screen that I have been to many times before (fun fact, I have actually been in the exact mall restroom that featured a certain “period cramp” scene). I also appreciated the accurate use of social media and costume design that was apparent throughout the entire series. In many of these high school shows, this is something that Hollywood can never quite get right, so I truly thank the 19-year-old director Zelda Barnz for accomplishing this difficult task. 

One of the main elements that really resonated with me was the ethnically diverse cast. It’s great to finally see more and more underrepresented groups depicted in relatable content such as Generation. It’s definitely one step closer towards Hollywood becoming more inclusive and creating roles for more POC. And with the unfinished business that the show left off on, I am so excited to see how Part 2 of Season 1 will play out. So if you’re planning on just starting the series now, you have enough time to catch up before the final few episodes premiere on June 17!

We Are Who We Are

Set in an American military base located in Chioggia, Italy, this coming-of-age drama explores stories of transition and shifting identities. Mainly told through the perspectives of 14-year-olds Frasier and Caitlin/Harper, we watch as these two army brat teens navigate through the process of self-discovery and acceptance, all while living overseas. 

Watching We Are Who We Are for the first time was an experience like no other. It was truly special watching Frasier and Caitlin grow and support one another as they each went through the process of discovering their identity. This special bond between the two is especially fermented through Fraiser’s open and unwavering support of Caitlin’s gender exploration. For example, Frasier shows his love and affection towards Caitlin by offering them his own clothes, shaving their head, and even acting as their wingman when they go on dates. And though it is never fully revealed if Frasier and Caitlin’s relationship was romantic or just platonic, the show emphasizes just how unique and rare the connection they have is. The artist Blood Orange also contributes to the beautiful coming-of-age themes of We Are Who We Are through songs like “Time Will Tell,” as well as his own score which he composed just for the show. Together, these musical elements perfectly blend into the show’s core themes of figuring out one’s own identity and self-expression. I especially loved the final episode when Frasier and Caitlin go through the wringer just so that they can see Blood Orange live in concert in Bologna. Though you’ll have to watch it for yourself to get the full effect, this final episode - as well as the rest of the series - visually and musically illustrates all the messiness and beauty that comes with growing up and discovering yourself. 

I May Destroy You

After a seemingly fun night out at a London bar, the next day turns sour as Arabella has trouble remembering what happened to her. However, through the love and support of her closest friends, Terry and Kwame, she slowly starts to pick up the pieces needed to heal after being able to recall the events of the night that she was raped. 

I May Destroy You is an unsettling, yet beautiful and witty performance brought by Michaela Coel - the leading star and mastermind behind this important sexual violence and consent story. In this British drama television series, Coel shares her personal experience as a survivor of sexual assault by opening up about the challenges with coping and moving forward in life. For example, the show emphasizes how Arabella’s sexual assault continues to detrimentally affect significant aspects of her life: her love life, career, goals, health, as well as relationships with both friends and family. However, Coel also incorporates a great level of humor and wit in the midst of these deep and difficult topics. One of my favorite moments was when Arabella did a Google search for “How to write quickly” (because, same). I also laughed out loud when Arabella went on a live stream for a corrupt Vegan company declaring, “the climate crisis is real, my hair is not, and I love chicken,” which was followed by her removing her wig and taking a big bite out of a chicken wing. Overall, I found myself watching and rewatching I May Destroy You over and over thanks to the raw and thought-provoking performances brought by Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu (Kwame), and Weruche Opia (Terry). Not to mention, it was also quite refreshing hearing these dark, but very important topics be talked about from the perspectives of a predominantly Black and Brown cast. Above all, I May Destroy You just goes to show how the movie and television industry is in dire need of diversity in terms of both storytelling and casting.