Here Are the Best TV Shows to Stream this Weekend on HBO Max, Including ‘The Seduction’

If you’re browsing Max for something fresh, the service has a slate of new and notable series—spanning glossy HBO dramas, sports documentaries, reality survival, and kid-friendly animation—that landed recently and are ready to queue up right now. Below are ten timely picks prioritized by the newest arrivals first, with a tilt toward HBO and Max originals where possible, followed by other standouts with strong hooks or established followings. Each blurb gives you the essentials—premise, key creatives, and what to expect—so you can jump in without fuss. Happy streaming!

‘Alex vs ARod’ (2025)

This three-part sports docuseries charts Alex Rodriguez’s path from prodigy to Yankees star while examining the controversies that defined parts of his career. Directed by Gotham Chopra, it blends new interviews with extensive archival footage to frame pivotal on- and off-field moments. Teammates, managers, journalists, and family help contextualize suspensions, reputation shifts, and post-retirement reinvention. The series is framed to contrast the public “A-Rod” with the private “Alex.”

‘The Seduction’ (2025– )

Set in 18th-century Paris, this period drama follows a young Marquise de Merteuil as she maneuvers for power amid duels of wit and desire with the Vicomte de Valmont. The ensemble includes Anamaria Vartolomei, Diane Kruger, Vincent Lacoste, Lucas Bravo, and Noée Abita. Marketing materials position it as an HBO Original that reimagines characters and intrigues inspired by ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses.’ Expect courtly strategy, reputational gambits, and high-society stakes.

‘Ângela Diniz: Murdered and Convicted’ (2025)

This Brazilian HBO miniseries dramatizes the 1976 killing of socialite Ângela Diniz and the sensational trials that followed. Marjorie Estiano stars opposite Emílio Dantas, with Antônio Fagundes portraying jurist Evandro Lins e Silva. The narrative draws on the investigative podcast ‘Praia dos Ossos,’ foregrounding legal arguments and media dynamics from the era. Direction comes from Andrucha Waddington, with scripts by Elena Soárez, Pedro Perazzo, and Thais Tavares.

‘Survival of the Beast’ (2025– )

Explorer and survivalist Max Djenohan studies how animals thrive in extreme habitats and translates those tactics into practical human survival lessons. Episodes combine wildlife cinematography with field demonstrations to unpack stalking, water-finding, shelter strategies, and heat management. Locations span diverse ecosystems, emphasizing adaptation and resilience. The format pairs expert commentary with applied takeaways in each scenario.

‘Fatal Engineering’ (2025– )

This docuseries investigates high-profile engineering failures and the design, human, and oversight breakdowns behind them. Incidents are reconstructed through expert analysis, digital modeling, and forensic breakdowns to illuminate how small miscalculations can cascade into disaster. The show traces decisions from concept to operation, highlighting best practices and gaps in safeguards. It’s geared to viewers seeking accessible technical insight from real-world cases.

‘Expedition Files’ (2024– )

Josh Gates revisits famous enigmas—alien encounters, disappearances, and puzzling artifacts—using new testimony and modern analyses. Episodes re-examine primary sources, test competing theories, and bring in specialists across forensics, aerospace, and history. The goal is to separate lore from verifiable findings while surfacing fresh leads. Its case-file structure complements the host’s globe-trotting investigative style.

‘In the Eye of the Storm’ (2024– )

Built from first-person footage, emergency audio, and eyewitness accounts, this series reconstructs natural disasters in near real time. Each episode intercuts mobile video and surveillance feeds with expert commentary to map decisions and conditions as events unfolded. Survivors and responders provide context on preparedness, risk, and the science behind severe weather. The result is a high-intensity, timeline-driven look at natural hazards.

‘Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking’ (2024– )

Teams of pastry pros compete on Wizarding World sets, crafting large-scale, story-driven desserts inspired by creatures, spells, and iconic scenes. Hosted by twins James and Oliver Phelps, the series features guest appearances from franchise alumni along with a judging panel focused on execution, flavor, and thematic presentation. Challenges often require intricate chocolate work, sugar sculpture, and cinematic theming. Episodes emphasize both technical patisserie and showpiece spectacle.

‘Let’s Go, Bananas!’ (2024– )

This animated family comedy follows three households as seen—and narrated—by their kids, spinning short, high-energy stories about school, siblings, and big feelings. Created by Tim Bain and Dustin Ferrer, it uses quick cuts, playful cutaways, and musical stings to keep the pace lively. Episodes focus on relatable kid logic and imaginative solutions to everyday problems. The voice performances bring a sketch-comedy rhythm to each vignette.

‘The Last Woodsmen’ (2024– )

Set in the Pacific Northwest, this unscripted series tracks veteran logger Jared Douglas and his crew as they fell massive, high-value trees in remote terrain. Production spotlights technical rigging, weather and wildlife challenges, and the economics of harvesting rare specimens. Episode descriptions emphasize dangerous, specialized labor and the logistics of modern timber work. It comes from a production team with a track record in wilderness-industry docuseries.

Tell us which picks you’re pressing play on first—and what we missed that others should add to their weekend watchlist—in the comments!