Do you ever feel like the question “What are you watching right now?” is a test of your intelligence?
Like you need to prove your taste by watching something not too mainstream — but still high-quality enough to earn a little prestige?
If you’re looking for that clout boost this month, the Watch With Us team has an HBO Max series recommendation for you. Check out It’s A Sin, an underrated British limited series that caused shockwaves throughout the U.K. when it first aired.
Here’s why we think it deserves a spot on your October 2025 watchlist.
‘It’s A Sin’ Sheds Light on a Dark Time That Could Easily Be Forgotten
It’s A Sin, originally a Channel 4 series written by Russell T Davies (Queer as Folk, Doctor Who), follows a group of close friends — mostly gay men — living together in London during the AIDS crisis between 1981 and 1991.
The show highlights the rampant misinformation surrounding HIV and AIDS at the time, as well as the emotional toll of the epidemic on those who were sick and the loved ones who cared for them. We’re now fortunate to live in an era where HIV is much more manageable than once thought possible, but It’s A Sin remains a vital reminder of the fear, resilience and compassion that defined that period.
The Diverse Cast Captures the Reality of the AIDS Crisis
The main cast of It’s A Sin consists of five flatmates — Ritchie (Olly Alexander), Jill (Lydia West), Ash (Nathaniel Curtis), Colin (Callum Scott Howells) and Roscoe (Omari Douglas) — who move into an apartment they dub “The Pink Palace” in 1981.
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Their friendship forms the emotional backbone of the series, showcasing different perspectives shaped by gender, race and social class. Across five episodes, we see how denial, activism, caregiving and tragedy intertwine in deeply human ways. The performances are exceptional, with Alexander in particular giving a heartbreaking portrayal of lost youth and unfulfilled promise. The supporting cast also features powerhouse performances from actors like Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry.
The Show Had a Tangible, Real-World Impact
In 2021, the year the series premiered, the U.K. saw a documented surge in HIV testing — particularly after an episode aired during National HIV Testing Week, according to HIV/AIDS nonprofit the Terrence Higgins Trust. This remarkable shift underscores the power of television to create social change, prompting awareness and action beyond the screen.
HBO has had a reputation for creating the best shows on TV for decades. HBO Max may have diluted the brand, but that reputation is largely intact. Some shows like And Just Like That have proven to be more popular as hate-watches, but there have already been some great HBO Max series this year that […]
Few shows can claim to have had such a measurable real-world effect, and It’s A Sin stands as proof that emotionally resonant storytelling can save lives.
It’s A Sin isn’t always an easy watch, but that’s what makes it essential. Equal parts political and personal, the series balances heartbreak with joy and loss with love, ensuring that the people who lived — and died — through the AIDS crisis are never forgotten. For a show that educates, moves and inspires, this is the one to stream on HBO Max this October.
