Once praised, now forgotten: 10 HBO shows, including Hung and Rome, are perfect from start to finish

A risky comedy premise

In Hung, Thomas Jane plays Ray Drecker, a school sports coach whose house is badly damaged by fire. Without insurance to pay for repairs, he turns to sex work to earn money, with help from his friend Tanya, played by Jane Adams.

Anne Heche portrays Ray’s former partner, and Stephen Amell joins in the third season as a younger rival. The comedy-drama follows Ray’s effort to rebuild his life through a business called Happiness Consultants, while finding humor in a difficult situation.

A world after departure

The Leftovers stars Justin Theroux as Kevin Garvey, a police chief living through the aftermath of a sudden event that removes two percent of the world’s population. He and his family try to make a life amid social breakdown and the rise of groups with competing beliefs.

Paterson Joseph plays Henry “Holy Wayne” Gilchrest Jr., who presents himself as Jesus’s second coming and manipulates people who trust him. The series began with a dark tone before changing focus in later seasons; although it was not a major hit during its original run, it later gained a devoted following.

Rome’s grand historical scope

Rome follows Roman soldiers Lucius Vorenus, played by Kevin McKidd, and Titus Pullo, played by Ray Stevenson, during the Republic’s transformation into an empire. Some characters draw on historical figures, while much of the plot is fictional.

The HBO production, made with partners in the UK and Italy, attracted substantial audiences and received awards and praise. Its high costs brought the series to an end after two seasons, rather than the five originally planned.

A true-crime miniseries

The crime remained undiscovered for more than a decade while the couple carried on with their lives. The series presents the case as a striking story rooted in real events.