TV series
A noir-rotic comedy
Jonathan Ames, a young Brooklyn writer, is feeling lost. He's just gone through a painful break-up, thanks in part to his drinking, can't write his second novel, and carouses too much with his magazine editor. Rather than face reality, Jonathan turns instead to his fantasies — moonlighting as a private detective — because he wants to be a hero and a man of action.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Sep 5, 2026
Bored to Death is available to stream on HBO (Via Hulu), HBO Max, HBO Max (Via Amazon Prime), and YouTube TV in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
Jonathan Ames, a young Brooklyn writer, is feeling lost. He's just gone through a painful break-up, thanks in part to his drinking, can't write his second novel, and carouses too much with his magazine editor. Rather than face reality, Jonathan turns instead to his fantasies — moonlighting as a private detective — because he wants to be a hero and a man of action.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Broken up after his breakup with his girlfriend Suzanne, Jonathan Ames reads through Farewell My Lovely, his favorite book by Raymond Chandler. Enlivened by the novel, Ames places an online advertisement as an unlicensed private investigator. His first unwitting client who seeks his services is a 19-year-old girl looking for her missing sister.
Directed by Alan TaylorGuest stars Olivia Thirlby
Episode 2
As Jonathan tries to mend his relationship with Suzanne, another case falls onto his lap. This time, he is tasked by a woman named Jennifer to gather proof of her boyfriend Gary's infidelity. Jonathan, who learns his new client loves to drink as much as he does, tracks down Gary and stumbles upon an unsatisfying outcome.
Directed by Alan TaylorGuest stars Olivia Thirlby
Episode 3
While attending a New York film society function, George introduces Jonathan to a filmmaker, who asks him to rewrite a screenplay. Later, he goes out with a party girl and leaves the script at her home, which happens to be a shrink's office. Jonathan asks Ray to pose as a patient to recover the script. Meanwhile, George encounters his ex-wife and her smug new husband.
Directed by Michael LehmannWritten by Jonathan AmesGuest stars Jim Jarmusch, Oliver Platt, Denis O'Hare, Laila Robins, Vanessa Ray, Jessica Blank, Katheryn Mcgaffigan
Episode 4
Jonathan is hired to reclaim a kid's stolen skateboard from the neighborhood bully while Ray helps out a lesbian couple who wants to start a new family. George tries to woo a young publicist at the opening of a new restaurant in Brooklyn.
Directed by Tucker GatesGuest stars Parker Posey, E.J. Bonilla, Rosie Benton, Bebe Neuwirth
Episode 5
A recently-paroled Russian enlists the services of Jonathan to search for the object of his infatuation, a songstress known only as "The Lonely White Dove." He checks out the bar where she sings and convinces Suzanne, Ray, and Leah to have dinner there the following night without revealing his primary intention. George gets in touch with his feminine side to boost his magazines' dipping sales.
Directed by Paul FeigWritten by Donick CaryGuest stars Olivia Thirlby
Episode 6
Jonathan is enlisted to retrieve a sex tape that a female escort is using to extort money from a married New Jersey man. With Ray and George in tow, Jonathan ends up in a motel room with the escort, who attempts to blackmail him as well. Can the very stoned Ray and George save Jonathan's neck before the woman's enraged brother breaks it?
Directed by Adam BernsteinWritten by Martin GeroGuest stars Patton Oswalt
Episode 7
Concerned over the sudden disappearance of the two lesbians who have been buying his sperm, Ray enlists Jonathan to help him track the couple down. After breaking into their apartment, Jonathan learns the pair has flown the coop--but not without leaving behind a clue that both shocks and intrigues Ray. Meanwhile, George ignores Jonathan's warnings by publishing a disparaging editorial about Richard Antrem (Oliver Platt), sending his publishing rival into a fit of rage at the local watering hole.
Directed by Nicole HolofcenerWritten by Donick CaryGuest stars Samantha Bee, Oliver Platt, John Hodgman, Jenny Slate, Olivia Thirlby, Bebe Neuwirth
Episode 8
Having picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Richard – and having thwarted a blackmail bid aimed at getting Jonathan to take a dive – the Edition team gear up for a tripleheader boxing challenge against their GQ rivals. But with the bouts only hours away, the women in their lives offer some compelling reasons why winning isn’t everything.
Directed by Paul FeigWritten by Martin Gero, Jonathan AmesGuest stars Oliver Platt, Laila Robins, John Hodgman, Jenny Slate, Sarah Vowell, Michael Chernus, Jack A. O'Connell, Todd Barry
Episode information updated Sep 18, 2026
Jason SchwartzmanJonathan Ames
Zach GalifianakisRay Hueston
Ted DansonGeorge Christopher
Heather BurnsLeah
Jim JarmuschSelf
Parker PoseyMichelle Whiting
Kevin BaconHimself
Amy SpangerKitty
HBOUnited States
Dakota PicturesUnited States
3 Arts EntertainmentUnited States
