4 Underrated HBO Thriller Series You Need to Watch

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HBO is known for its high-quality shows in all kinds of genres, but some truly great thrillers haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. This is a bit unexpected, considering HBO has produced some of the most captivating thriller series recently. For example, Mare of Easttown, starring Kate Winslet, features a surprising killer reveal that viewers are still talking about, and the season finales of The White Lotus consistently generate buzz and discussion.

While HBO is known for its popular shows, it also has a lot of fantastic, lesser-known thriller series. It’s surprising these shows haven’t gotten more attention, considering they often feature well-known actors, are based on popular books, or have received great reviews. If you love thrillers, these shows are definitely worth checking out.

The Outsider (2020)

While not all movies and shows based on Stephen King’s work are hits, they usually draw a large audience, as seen with recent projects like the Welcome to Derry series and The Monkey starring Theo James. This makes the 2020 HBO series The Outsider stand out, particularly considering its impressive cast including Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn, and Cynthia Erivo.

Unlike many Stephen King adaptations that focus on horror, The Outsider is a gripping psychological thriller. The story begins with the murder of a young boy in a small Georgia town, and suspicion immediately falls on his Little League coach, Terry Maitland. However, as Detective Ralph Anderson investigates, the evidence against Maitland becomes questionable, leading him to seek help from the experienced investigator Holly Gibney.

As a big Stephen King fan, I really appreciated how The Outsider started as a gritty police investigation before diving into the supernatural. It let the characters breathe and the actors – seriously, the performances are fantastic! – really shine. Honestly, it’s a bit of a slow burn, and if you’re expecting instant scares like in some other King adaptations, you might be disappointed. But if you stick with it, The Outsider is genuinely one of the best thrillers HBO has put out in recent years. It’s worth the investment, trust me.

Love & Death (2023)

Despite having a compelling true-crime story and starring Elizabeth Olsen (known for her role as Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), the HBO Max miniseries Love & Death surprisingly didn’t generate much buzz when it was released in 2023. It had all the elements of a good thriller – a tight-knit community, hidden relationships, and a shocking murder.

The series is based on a real-life story and stars Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery, a Texas housewife who has an affair with her friend and fellow church member, Allan Gore (played by Jesse Plemons). The affair tragically culminates in the violent axe murder of Allan’s wife, Betty (Lily Rabe), and Candy is subsequently charged with the crime and put on trial.

While reviews for Love & Death were mixed, Elizabeth Olsen’s acting received widespread acclaim, and Jesse Plemons earned an Emmy nomination. The show may have been overshadowed by another recent take on the Candy Montgomery story, Candy, starring Jessica Biel and Melanie Lynskey, and it didn’t initially gain much attention. Now that Love & Death is available on Netflix, though, it has a chance to reach a wider audience.

The Undoing (2020)

While The Undoing was a huge hit for HBO in the UK, it didn’t make much of an impact in North America. This drama, set amongst the wealthy elite of New York City, features Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant as Grace and Jonathan Fraser, a married couple with a son named Henry (played by Noah Jupe).

The Frasers appear to have an idyllic life, but everything unravels for Grace when a mother from Henry’s school is found dead, and Jonathan, who recently disappeared, becomes the main suspect. If you enjoyed Nicole Kidman’s previous suspenseful TV series where she plays a wealthy woman in a troubled marriage, you’ll find The Undoing showcases her at her best.

It’s possible this explains why the miniseries hasn’t gained as much recognition as it should have. When The Undoing first aired, critics weren’t very impressed, and it was often compared to Nicole Kidman’s earlier and more successful HBO series, Big Little Lies. Since then, Kidman has appeared in several similar shows, including Netflix’s The Perfect Couple, which may have caused The Undoing to fade even further from memory.

Sharp Objects (2018)

Image courtesy of Everett Collection

Sharp Objects is a gripping and unsettling Southern Gothic thriller, and it’s a shame it got overlooked in HBO’s older content. Featuring incredible performances from Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson, it’s truly one of their best works.

Similar to the hit 2014 movie Gone Girl, Sharp Objects is based on a novel by Gillian Flynn. The HBO series also boasts a talented team: Marti Noxon, known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created the show, and the acclaimed director Jean-Marc Vallée (who also worked on Big Little Lies) directed all of the episodes.

In a compelling drama, Amy Adams stars as Camille Preaker, a journalist struggling with self-harm. She returns to her troubled hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate the murders of two young girls. While there, Camille stays with her mother, Adora (played by Patricia Clarkson), and their already strained relationship quickly intensifies, creating a highly charged atmosphere.

Critics loved everything about Sharp Objects, including the acting, surprising plot twists, and creepy mood. Amy Adams even won a Golden Globe for her performance, but the show surprisingly faded from public discussion. That’s unfortunate, because it’s truly one of the best thriller series HBO has ever produced.

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2025-12-07 15:19