HBO Max is one of the best streaming services on the market. It is loaded with quality programming that lives up to their slogan: "It's not TV, it's HBO." As we enter 2022, new shows are coming to the network, and by extension, HBO Max.
This year is shaping up to be a good one for the streaming service in terms of what it's bringing to the table. We're going to be treated with a prequel series to Game of Thrones with House of the Dragon, a new adaptation of the comedic and heavy-hitting satire, The Boondocks, a stark look at true-to-life crime and corruption with We Own This City, and much more.
'The Baby'
Following in the tradition of horror classics like The Omen and Rosemary's Baby, Lucy Gaymer and Siân Robins-Grace have made The Baby. The two have been working behind the scenes on TV for years. Gaymer has worked on shows like Fleabag, The Widow, Gap Year, and True Horror in various capacities. Robins-Grace has a similar experience and served as the co-executive producer for the show Sex Education for its first two seasons.
Michelle de Swarte is in the lead role as Natasha, a 38-year-old who is "unexpectedly landed with a baby" according to Deadline. Not only does the child put Natasha's life on pause, but the baby is also a devilish omen: Natasha's baby is "controlling, manipulative and with violent powers." The series is expected to examine the role of being a mother and the constraints it can put on women through the lens of horror-comedy.
'We Own This City'
David Simon seems to be able to do it all: showrunner, author, journalist, TV writer. The acclaimed creator of The Wire and Homicide: Life on the Street is delving once more into the criminal underbelly of Baltimore with We Own This City. For We Own This City, Simon is working with frequent collaborator and writer, George Pelecanos, and the director behind King Richard, Reinaldo Marcus Green. They will be telling the true story of rampant corruption within the Baltimore Police Department. The limited series is based on the book We Own This City: A True Story of Crime, Cops, and Corruption by Justin Fenton.
According to HBO's website, the limited series will be about Baltimore's Gun Trace Task Force and the subsequent "corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work." Jon Bernthal plays Wayne Jenkins, the police officer at the center of the scandal: he headed the task force that would steal from citizens and drug dealers alike. In addition to Bernthal, Josh Charles, Jamie Hector, and more will star in the series.
'DMZ'
An enduring premise for alternate history fiction is, "what if the United States entered a second civil war?" DMZ, a comic book series written by Brian Wood and published by Vertigo imagined exactly that, telling a story of a split United States, with the country fighting an internal war against the secessionist Free States movement. Both parties are locked in a bitter stalemate in New York City, with Manhattan Island being declared the titular DMZ (demilitarized zone). The comic strip is primarily told from the perspective of reporter Matty Roth.
HBO has adapted the comic strip as an HBO Max original miniseries. The miniseries will run for four episodes, having been written by Roberto Patino and directed by Ava DuVernay and Ernest Dickerson: DuVernay directed the first episode and Dickerson directed the remainder of the series. The miniseries slightly deviates from the comic's story, instead of following Alma (Rosario Dawson), a medic who transforms into a symbol of hope while searching for her lost son.
'The Staircase'
Based on the French docuseries Soupçons by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, The Staircase is about the real-life case and trial of novelist Michael Peterson (Colin Firth), who is accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen (Toni Collette), after her body is found at the foot of the staircase in their home. de Lestrade's series followed Michael his defense team, and the subsequent trial, and it can be inferred that this new series by Antonio Campos and Maggie Cohn will follow in its footsteps.
If you have the time to read up on the case and trial, it's an incredibly fascinating one. From the incredibly unusual circumstances of Kathleen's death to the prosecution airing out Peterson's dirty laundry and citing the sudden death of a family friend as evidence, to the defense bringing on one of forensic science's most important figures, Henry Lee, to assist with the case, the Peterson trial was extraordinary. Campos and Cohn will hopefully be able to craft a series that is compelling, informative, and respectful to the parties involved in the case.
'Julia'
Julia Child was an icon: as a chef, an author, a teacher, an entertainer, and even as an OSS officer in World War II. It would be an understatement to say that she lived a full life. HBO Max will be bringing her life to the small screen with the aptly titled biographical series Julia, with Sarah Lancashire in the leading role, and David Hyde Pierce as her husband Paul Cushing Child.
The plot details of the series are currently unknown: as of writing the show's IMDB synopsis just states: "The life of Julia Child." Each episode (sans pilot) is named after a French dish, which is fitting considering Child's role in introducing French cuisine to the American public. Another work focusing on Child's life was released just last year, also titled Julia, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West.
'Smiling Friends'
Down in the dumps? Can't shake the blues? Then the Smiling Friends are here for you! Smiling Friends is an adult animated series created and written by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack. The series follows the titular company's best two employees: the cynical and grounded Charlie (Hadel) and the optimistic and naïve Pim (Cusack) as they try to get their clients to smile. The series premiered on Adult Swim on January 10th.
Smiling Friends has a madcap approach to comedy. The show blends natural dialogue and reactions with surreal and over-the-top scenarios for a winning combination. The show also uses a rich variety of mediums and styles, going beyond purely hand-drawn animation and incorporating live-action bits, claymation, computer animation, and more. Adult Swim has confirmed on Twitter that the series will be heading to HBO Max on February 9th, so catch it there when it lands.
'Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin'
Adapted from the book series of the same name by Sara Shepard, Pretty Little Liars was a huge franchise is in its heyday. It tells the story of a high-school clique that is torn apart when their leader goes missing, and who is subsequently threatened by a mysterious figure simply known as "A." The show maintained high (if gradually declining) ratings across its seven-season run, starting in 2010 and concluding in 2017. It spawned two spin-offs that were well received but canned due to low ratings. The third time's the charm with this most recent spin-off, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
The plot for this new series follows in the footsteps of the original: on IMDB it states, "Twenty years ago, a series of tragic events almost ripped Millwood apart. Now, in the present day, a brand-new set of Little Liars finds themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant." Hopefully, this latest iteration of the series will have the staying power that the other two did not.
'House of the Dragon'
It's been years since the Game of Thrones finale aired, but the franchise's momentum doesn't seem to be letting up. House of the Dragon is a spin-off series of the show, and it takes place roughly 200 years before the main events of the series. House of the Dragon was adapted from a portion of Fire & Blood by George R. R. Martin, the author from which the entire franchise was adapted.
The book is an incredibly detailed history of the Targaryen dynasty, one of the most powerful families to ever grace Westeros. They came from across the ocean and subjugated the country with their fire-breathing dragons. Specifically, the House of the Dragon will be focusing on the beginning of the family's decline and will feature an all-star cast including Paddy Considine, Emma D'arcy, Olivia Cooke, and Matt Smith, amongst others. Viewers should expect complex and enthralling political intrigue as well as plenty of "Fire and Blood."
Already Cancelled: 'The Boondocks'
The Boondocks are back. Or, rather, were supposed to be back. Cedric Yarbrough, the voice actor for the character Tom DuBois, revealed that the series will not be going forward. The Boondocks started as an acclaimed yet controversial syndicated comic strip created by Aaron McGruder. The strip, made notable for how it fearlessly tackled American politics and racism, was then adapted into a full-fledged series on Adult Swim, helmed by McGruder and featuring the voice acting talents of Regina King and John Witherspoon, amongst others.
McGruder left at the start of the fourth season due to not being able to reach "a mutually agreeable production schedule" with the network, and the series ended after its conclusion. It seems, as of writing, misfortune has struck again and the series will not be continuing or returning in the near future.