If you've ever found yourself deep in a rewatch of Six Feet Under or Brothers & Sisters, wishing for a new show with that same messy, heartfelt family dynamic, you might want to pay attention. HBO Max is rolling out How To Survive Without Me, a new drama series that comes straight from the minds of one of Hollywood's most influential queer couples: producer Greg Berlanti and his husband, former pro-footballer Robbie Rogers.
This marks the first time the pair, who have been married since 2017, have officially co-created a series together, and the premise alone feels like it's in very capable hands.
So, what's the story?
The series centers on the De Angelis family, who are sent into a tailspin after the death of their matriarch, Beverly. She was the glue, the one who knew how to navigate everyone's complicated lives. Without her, they start to fall apart. But, in a twist that feels both comforting and a little bit controlling, Beverly has left behind a final, elaborate plan to keep guiding them from beyond the grave. To unlock her last 'masterpiece,' the family has no choice but to stick together and face whatever life throws at them next.
It’s a setup ripe for the kind of emotional, character-driven storytelling that Berlanti has built his career on, from Everwood to the sprawling Arrowverse.
A Cast You'll Recognise
The cast is stacked with familiar faces. Ray Romano is stepping in as the family patriarch, with Rita Wilson playing the posthumously-present matriarch, Beverly. They're joined by Kaley Cuoco (The Flight Attendant) and Joshua Jackson (who we've loved since Dawson's Creek), ensuring there's plenty of talent to carry the emotional weight.
The extended family includes a whole host of actors, including Julia Schlaepfer, Jack Ball, and Tommy Dewey, promising a full and chaotic family tree to get invested in.
Why This Is One for Our Watchlist
Let's be real: a show co-created by Greg Berlanti and Robbie Rogers is immediately on our radar. Berlanti has been a quiet force for LGBTQ+ representation on screen for decades, weaving queer characters and storylines into mainstream television. Rogers himself made history as one of the first openly gay men in major league sports. Their collaboration on a project this personal feels significant.
The comparisons to Six Feet Under and Brothers & Sisters aren't just PR fluff. Both shows were notable for their nuanced, complex portrayals of family life and featured prominent, well-developed gay characters that many of us grew up with. If How To Survive Without Me can capture even a fraction of that spirit, we're in for a treat.
HBO Max has ordered a full 15-episode first season, signalling a strong belief in the project. It's part of a strategy to create more consistent, year-round programming—a bit like the old days of network TV, but with that HBO quality. For us, it just means we'll have a new family to get obsessed with, hopefully for a good while to come.
