Controversial Political Comedy Series Being Hidden From New Audiences
If you’re a fan of The Sopranos, Game Of Thrones, or Curb Your Enthusiasm, you’re well aware of the fact that HBO has a reputation for producing some of the best original shows to ever hit the small screen. Unfortunately, some series don’t reach the massive acclaim of the aforementioned multi-season hits, and spend the remainder of their lives languishing as hidden gems for a small coterie of super-fans. One such HBO original show is 2015’s The Brink, which is currently not available to watch on any major streaming service.
Political Comedy At Its Best
The Brink was a criminally underrated political comedy series created and developed for television by Kim and Roberto Benabib, who later went on to launch the Paramount+ original series 68 Whiskey. Legendary comedy filmmaker Jay Roach also headed the production as an executive producer, and directed the pilot episode. The Brink stars an all-star cast of incredible comedic performers, including Jack Black, Tim Robbins, Pablo Schreiber, Maribeth Monroe, Iqbal Theba, Carla Gugino, and former The Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi.
Multiple Engaging Narratives
The Brink centers on a trio of characters who each have a hand in preventing a full-scale World War, despite never meeting one another on-screen. Jack Black stars as a bumbling Foreign Service officer who must work alongside Pakistani locals to get close to a newly-appointed tyrannical ruler of the nation, just as the tyrant threatens to release his arsenal of nuclear weapons onto civilian populations from around the world.
Meanwhile, an American fighter pilot who has been downed overseas must do everything he can to protect the technology and payload of his craft from being commandeered by foreign terrorists, all while fighting to find his way home.
Tim Robbins In Top Form
The real star of the show however, is Tim Robbins, who expertly portrays the binge-drinking, womanizing, Secretary of State, who struggles to mitigate the nuclear disaster from Washington D.C., all while remaining one step behind the action. The Brink closed out its first season with a neat narrative bow that wraps up the action in a satisfying conclusion, though it still left some room for further exploration. HBO green-lit another season as the show was airing weekly episodes, only to rescind their renewal and cancel the program a few months later, much to the chagrin of The Brink‘s small but dedicated fanbase.
A Hit That Never Had A Chance
Personally, I thought this show was going to be a massive hit, and not just because I followed along as each episode aired weekly. The Brink‘s nuanced storytelling offered the political satire of a show like Veep, combined with the underhanded backstabbing of Game Of Thrones, ultimately occupying a wholly unique space on HBO’s acclaimed lineup.
Slipped Through The Cracks
GFR SCORE
Global politics have only continued to spiral out of control since The Brink first aired, meaning the series is probably even more fulfilling to watch today, nearly a full decade after its initial release. I’d love to confirm this theory with a quick 5 hour-long rewatch of the entire show, but I can’t since the big-wigs at HBO have decided that the series isn’t fit for the Max streaming library.
Clearly, The Brink is one of many incredible original projects that has slipped through the cracks at the premium network, which is a crying shame. If you somehow find a way to watch this hilarious show, definitely take the opportunity.
