Every new HBO drama premieres to high expectations—higher, for better or worse, than any other network. And while the premium cable powerhouse has an insanely successful series in Game of Thrones, its identity as the go-to prestige programming hub is in flux (and, indeed, that may be purposeful on the part of the executives, since “prestige” has garnered more and more backlash in recent years from viewers searching for the next new thing, much like many of the characters in Vinyl). True Detective’s second season was a critical flop. The Leftovers’ second season was television artistry at its finest, but
↧