Maxhas had some time to settle in for streaming audiences, and while the initial rollout wasn’t flawless, it’s still a decent start for the controversial rebrand. Following this rebrand, a plethora of additional content has been added to the service — along with removing plenty of other content, but that’s neither here nor there. Most notably, a wide swath of Discovery brand content, from TLC dating shows to endless competitions from Food Network, is now available to watch on Max. It’s so wide it’s actuallyoutnumbering everything else on Max.
If you care more about prestige television than its easy-viewing counterparts, you may feel inclined to outright ignore this massive influx of content. But we encourage you to not be so hasty. Underneath the piles of generic house-flipping shows and survival competitions are some interesting shows from Discovery’s past and present worth looking at. We’ve assembled a few examples from Discovery Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, and more as some of the best Discovery shows currently streaming on Max.
MythBusters Is a Classic Science Series
MythBustersis to Discovery whatStranger Thingsis to Netflix: a flagship series immediately identifiable with its parent network.MythBustersjust so happens to be equal parts educative and entertaining as well.
Following the professional duo of Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, as well as a “B-team” featuring the late Grant Imahara later in the series,MythBustersis simple yet highly addicting. Over the course of a single episode, a handful of myths ranging from common beliefs to crazy stories are put to the test, either being “busted” as being fictitious or “confirmed” as being real. The scientific method and plenty of debatably-necessary explosions punctuate one of Discovery’s longest-running and most iconic shows, makingMythBustersessential viewing if you’re looking toremedy a boring afternoon.
Anthony Bourdain Travels the Culinary World
Before his tragic passing in 2018, Anthony Bourdain dazzled and entertained in his various culinary travels. If you haven’t ever seenAnthony Bourdain: No ReservationsorAnthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, which aired on the Travel Channel and CNN, respectively, you can stream both shows in their entirety on Max.
Related:Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown: The Best Episodes, Ranked
Carried by both Bourdain’s intriguing personality and theexotic locations he visits, these shows would be the subject of multiple Academy Award wins and nominations, showcasing not only the various cuisines across the world but providing an intimate look at the cultures that curate them. In fact, you may be surprised at how much of a focus there is on everything other than food. Every episode manages to tell a different story, and for a series that can easily fall into a repetitive formula, it’s an outstanding feat to accomplish over years and years.
BattleBots Is Exactly What it Sounds Like
BattleBotsleaves little to the imagination. Did you ever want to see remote-controlled machines duke it out in a controlled environment? If so,BattleBotsis the show for you.
Robots of all shapes and sizes are grouped into appropriate weight classes before being tossed into a giant enclosure, with each one being controlled by their respective “drivers” on opposing sides. From there, sparks will fly, and debris will be tossed as saws, flamethrowers, hammers, and whatever else you may think of clash inglorious gladiatorial combat. Despite the machines being pretty minuscule compared to the robots inReal Steel,BattleBotsis a genuinely engaging series for all ages. You can either watch the original series, which follows a tournament-style format, or its multiple spin-off shows featuring returning champions.
Iron Chef America Is Surprisingly Good
Originally created in 1993,Iron Chefremains a beloved cooking competition adored for its extravagant presentation, charming storylines, and memorable challenges. Spurred by the success of the series through syndication, Food Network would throw their own spin on this classic series withIron Chef America, featuring both Alton Brown as a commentator and Mark Dacascos as the show’s charismatic host.
Related:The Best Cooking Competition Shows, Ranked
As the fictitious nephew of Chairman Kaga, the host ofthe originalIron Chefseries, Dacascos hosts the Kitchen Stadium with a number of “Iron Chefs,” ready to take on any challenger in a culinary competition. There’s just one caveat: every competition has a required ingredient, revealed to both contestants only minutes before they begin cooking.Iron Chef— and subsequently,Iron Chef America— would inspire multiple imitators and successors, including the ultra-popularChoppedseries, also available on Max.
Dr. Pimple Popper Started as a Web Series
Putting an off-putting title aside, there’s something genuinely compelling about Sandra Lee’sDr. Pimple Popperseries. Whether it’s the unyielding positivity found within our titular doctor, Sandra Lee, or her genuineenthusiasm for dermatology,Dr. Pimple Popperis easily one of the most interesting shows on TLC. Although, if you’re not into dermatology — and a lot of “detailed” close-ups — you may want to steer clear.
If you don’t mind the human body, however,Dr. Pimple Popperis an interesting examination of the various afflictions our largest organ can often form. It’s done so with the utmost respect for Lee’s patients, as you’re often given a glimpse at their lives before and after their procedures. Just be wary of what you’re getting into.
