Max: Are Any Discovery Shows Worth Watching?

With the bulk of Max's content now devoted to the Discovery-brand content, what shows of theirs are really worth watching?

Max has 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 actually outnumbering 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 to Discovery what Stranger Things is to Netflix: a flagship series immediately identifiable with its parent network. MythBusters just 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, MythBusters is 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, making MythBusters essential viewing if you're looking to remedy a boring afternoon.

Before his tragic passing in 2018, Anthony Bourdain dazzled and entertained in his various culinary travels. If you haven't ever seen Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations or Anthony 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 the exotic 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 leaves little to the imagination. Did you ever want to see remote-controlled machines duke it out in a controlled environment? If so, BattleBots is 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 can think of clash in glorious gladiatorial combat. Despite the machines being pretty minuscule compared to the robots in Real Steel, BattleBots is 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.

Originally created in 1993, Iron Chef remains 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 with Iron 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 of the original Iron Chef series, 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-popular Chopped series, also available on Max.

Putting an off-putting title aside, there's something genuinely compelling about Sandra Lee's Dr. Pimple Popper series. Whether it's the unyielding positivity found within our titular doctor, Sandra Lee, or her genuine enthusiasm for dermatology, Dr. Pimple Popper is 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 Popper is 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.

Sean Shuman graduated from Northern Virginia Community College with an Applied Associate's Degree in Information Systems Technology. His true passion, however, has always been writing.When he's not contributing to Movieweb, Sean can be found playing video games, cooking, or listening to NoMeansNo -- the greatest Canadian cultural export next to Rush.