Some series end, but remain forever in memory. They are the ones that we don’t forget, that we watch again at random times and that with each new marathon, reveal different layers, as if they were other stories. HBO Max brings together a catalog full of this type of production: titles that marked an era, provoked intense debates and won over entire generations of viewers. Check out five series on the platform that are worth every second — and awaken that irresistible desire to watch it again.

1. Game of Thrones

Few television phenomena have come close to the impact of “Game of Thrones”. Created by DB Weiss and David Benioff and based on the work of George RR Martin, the series adapted “A Song of Ice and Fire” over eight seasons and 73 episodes, between 2011 and 2019. The plot takes place in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, where noble families wage a relentless war for the Iron Throne while a threat supernatural grows beyond the great Northern Wall. With Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage in the cast, the series was known for the grandeur of the battles and a soundtrack that became instantly recognizable. The seasons are considered by a large part of the public and critics to be television at the highest level — and are worth the full marathon.

2. Friends

There are series that mark generations, and there are Friends. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, the American comedy aired between 1994 and 2004, over ten seasons and 236 episodes. The plot follows six friends trying to make it in New York: Rachel, the spoiled girl who leaves her fiancé at the altar; Monica, systematic and passionate about cooking; Ross, the paleontologist abandoned by his wife; Chandler, with a mysterious profession; Joey, the frustrated actor; and the eccentric Phoebe.

Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer form one of the most synergistic casts in television history. Fun fact: before being called Friends, the series had names like Friends Like Us, Six of One and Insomnia Cafe considered during development. The main cast decided that the tenth would be the last season — and, years later, some of the actors admitted that perhaps they should have continued.

3. Big Little Lies

Based on the book by Liane Moriarty and created by David E. Kelley, the series premiered in 2017 and made an immediate impact with its combination of drama, suspense and a great cast. The plot follows three mothers whose children They start to study together in kindergarten and, behind apparently perfect lives, they hide secrets that take them to extremes — including murder.

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman star in the production, with performances that earned awards and critical recognition. The first season is especially celebrated for the way it approaches domestic violence with sensitivity and intelligence, gradually revealing the layers of each character. With just seven episodes in the initial season, it’s a rewarding marathon of the platform’s catalog.

4. Mare of Easttown

Created by Brad Ingelsby and directed by Craig Zobel, the 2021 production follows Mare Sheehan, a detective from a small Pennsylvania town who investigates the murder of a local resident while trying to keep his own life together. Kate Winslet delivers a performance that is considered one of the highlights of her career, receiving awards and praise for the way she builds a character full of flaws, humanity and determination. With seven episodes that captivate you from start to finish, the series is one of those series in which not everything is as it seems, with the pieces only falling into place at the end – and which makes the viewer want to start all over again as soon as it ends.

5. The Last of Us

Based on the acclaimed franchise videogame created by Neil Druckmann, the series dystopian from HBO follows a future devastated by an outbreak caused by a mutant fungus that transforms human beings into hostile and dehumanized creatures.

Decades after the collapse, the few survivors live in government-controlled quarantine zones or roam a hostile world. It is in this scenario that Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to transport young Ellie out of the oppressive zone where she lives — and the discovery that she may be immune to the virus changes everything. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star in the series, created by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin. Fun fact: both Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal have already been part of the Game of Thrones universe, playing Lyanna Mormont and Oberyn Martell respectively.