3 HBO Max Shows Worth Rewatching This Week

Key Takeaways

• Chernobyl's five-part miniseries arrives at its most relevant moment: the 40th anniversary of the 1986 disaster
• Game of Thrones franchise expansion continues with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms drawing 26 million viewers per episode
• His Dark Materials offers a complete three-season arc for uninterrupted viewing

Ask anyone to name the greatest TV series of all time, and HBO titles will dominate the conversation before you can say "You know nothing, Jon Snow." From The Sopranos to The White Lotus, HBO set the bar that every other network still tries to clear. Their library runs deep with prestige television, both new and classic.

This week's viewing picks feel almost too well-timed. One is a sobering historical drama whose real-world subject just marked its 40th anniversary. Another is the fantasy phenomenon that redefined prestige television, and it just received exciting spinoff news. The third is a gorgeous multi-world steampunk saga with three seasons ready for the taking.

Chernobyl: A Haunting Miniseries for the 40th Anniversary

April 26, 2026, marked 40 years since the worst nuclear disaster in history. That makes Craig Mazin's five-part HBO miniseries required viewing this week.

When Chernobyl premiered in May 2019, it stunned critics and audiences with its devastating account of the 1986 catastrophe, the cleanup efforts that followed, and the people caught in the middle. The series centers on Soviet scientist Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), who led the investigation; Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård), sent to downplay the incident until he witnessed the devastation; and nuclear physicist Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson), working to expose the truth.

“What was attracting me and driving me was this comment about the cost of lies and how our disconnection from truth is incredibly dangerous.”

— Craig Mazin, Creator of Chernobyl

Mazin, who later created The Last of Us, crafted a stark, jaw-dropping depiction of the meltdown and explosion that released a radioactive plume across much of the Northern Hemisphere. The miniseries examines not just the technical failure but the political decisions that amplified the disaster's human toll.

Game of Thrones: The Franchise That Keeps Expanding

The original Game of Thrones remains the fantasy phenomenon that redefined what prestige television could be. Its series finale still holds the record for single-day viewership at 19.3 million. But the timing for a rewatch this week comes from fresh franchise news.

The newest prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, is pulling 26 million global viewers per episode in 2026. George R.R. Martin confirmed the expansion isn't slowing down.

“Apart from The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, there are other Game of Thrones spinoff projects in development... five or six series; and I'm not developing them alone.”

— George R.R. Martin, Author and Executive Producer

If you've been meaning to revisit Westeros from the beginning, or you want context before diving into the latest spinoffs, now is the time. The original eight seasons cover Jon Snow's journey from the Wall to the Iron Throne, with enough political scheming and dragon fire to fill several weeks of viewing.

His Dark Materials: A Complete Steampunk Fantasy

Philip Pullman's trilogy adaptation offers something increasingly rare in streaming: a complete, finished story. Three seasons, no cancellation cliffhangers, no waiting for renewal announcements. The whole arc is there.

The series follows Lyra Belacqua across parallel worlds, through steampunk technology and daemon companions, into questions about consciousness, authority, and growing up. It's dense material that rewards attention. With all three seasons available, you can settle in for the long haul without wondering if the story will ever conclude.

Max's Growing Library

Max reached 131.6 million global subscribers by the end of 2025, driven largely by international expansion. That subscriber base keeps the prestige content flowing. Whether you're revisiting old favorites or catching up on series you missed, the library runs deep enough to keep you occupied well past this week.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes is HBO's Chernobyl?

Chernobyl is a five-part miniseries. The entire story unfolds across five episodes, making it easy to complete in a weekend.

Is His Dark Materials finished on HBO Max?

Yes. All three seasons adapting Philip Pullman's trilogy are complete and available on Max. The story has a definitive ending.

How many Game of Thrones spinoffs are in development?

George R.R. Martin confirmed five or six Game of Thrones spinoff projects are currently in development, in addition to House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

What is the 40th anniversary of Chernobyl?

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred on April 26, 1986. April 26, 2026, marks the 40th anniversary of the worst nuclear disaster in history.

Source: How-To Geek