HBO Max Is Using Astrology to Recommend Shows

Astrology isn’t exactly my forte. I don’t know what “Mercury in retrograde” means. And the only “Big 3” that matters to me played for the Boston Celtics. But I do know I’m always looking for great titles to add to my streaming queue. I’m also always on the lookout for ways to convince my astrology-loving wife to watch shows I love. Fortunately HBO Max’s zodiac quiz can help me with both. It uses your sign and astrological preferences to design a watchlist just for you.

A purple quiz webpage with signs from the zodiacHBO Max

The Max Astrologer Quiz promises “cosmic streaming with a personalized watchlist curated by the stars.” With just a couple of questions it provides HBO Max titles it believes you will like. The quiz itself is fast and easy to use. Even if you’re like me and don’t know anything about astrology.

All you have to do is enter your name and birthdate (sans year). It then gives you your sun sign and a quick synopsis for what it reveals about you. For me, a Libra, it says I am “harmonious” and “fair.” As well as “overthinky” and “snarky.” I don’t like how much I generally agree with those last three. However, I have no idea what the first one means.

From there the quiz asks which of two planets you are “drawn” to. Because apparently the “Zodiac universe is ruled by planetary energy.” It gave me Venus, for “harmony and love,” and Saturn, for “ambition and discipline,” to chose from. I opted for Venus, to possibly discover what it means to be “harmonious.” The next page then said Mercury is out of retrograde. Which is… bad? Good?

A metal 3D model of the solar system with the sun and planetsHBO

Either way, that page asked “What are you seeking?” I had to choose between “connection” and “motivation.” I guess I’m motivated to find connections, so I went with the one that comes first. That’s all I had to do to get gave a watchlist of: Mrs. Fletcher, I May Destroy You, Rurouni Kenshin, and the only one of the four I’ve ever seen before, Veep. If I had chosen “connection” instead, I still would have ended up with the first two. Along with Sleight and How to With John Wilson. The latter of which I love.

How accurate is this? I have no idea! But I guess to find out I’ll have to finally watch Mrs. Fletcher. You don’t a crystal ball to predict I’ll like a show with Kathryn Hahn.

If I love it, though—and if this quiz gets my wife to finally watch The Wire—I might finally figure out what’s going on with Mercury’s Big 3.

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