The best Prime Video shows
Prime Video has a whole host of goodies free to subscribers.
Along with Amazon Prime comes its streaming service, Prime Video — and a whole host of goodies. Whether it's original content, TV shows or movies, the platform has a robust catalog of content that could keep you occupied for days. But where to start? Well, friends, if you're looking for some show recommendations we have just the thing!
The Boys
The Boys took the world by storm with its first season. In a surprising turn of events, its sophomore offering was somehow even better received. The series follows Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) and his band of outcasts as they try and take down the nefarious Supers who try to present themselves as the heroes of humanity. Behind it all is the nefarious Vought International and their very special Supe drug Compound-V.
Hunters
Based in 1977, Hunters follows a group of Nazi hunters living in New York City. Early on, they discover that a group of surviving Nazi war criminals are planning a Fourth Reich in the United States. During their attempt to hunt down the Nazis, the hunters discover Operation Paperclip. Said operation is based on the very real Operation Paperclip in which the United States government worked to relocate German scientists. Logan Lerman and Al Pacino both put together stellar performances as Jonah Heidelbaum and Meyer Offerman in this bloody — and sometimes offensive — series.
Lore
Lore feels like one of the best-kept secrets in the horror genre right now. The series, based on Aaron Mahnke’s podcast of the same name, follows the anthology format with each new episode telling a unique story. Those stories tie into, you guessed it, tales of folklore. It combines documentary footage with the usual cinematic scenes you’ve come to expect out of scripted content and brings some real spooky stories to the table. The series only has two seasons, so this one is an easy commitment for anyone who’s not looking to dive into anything too deep.
Good Omens
People can underestimate just how hard adaptations can be. You have to please two sets of people: the stalwart fans who know everything about the book and those who are brand-new to the story. Because of that, more often than not, at least one of those parties goes home a little bit disappointed. That is not even close to the case with Good Omens. The series, based on Neil Gaiman’s masterpiece with the same name, follows Crowley (David Tennant) and Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) as they decide just what it is they’re going to do about the end of the world. Do they get involved? Do they let humanity go extinct? As an angel and a demon, you can imagine the two unlikely best friends have some varying opinions and motives. If the show weren’t already stunning enough, Tennant and Sheen ended up being truly ineffable casting as well.
The Man in the High Castle
Just to get it out of the way, The Man in the High Castle might seem a little too “real” for some right now. However, that doesn’t take away from this incredibly produced series. The story features an alternative reality, in which the Nazis won WWII. Their victory throws the world into dystopia — focusing largely on the United States. Germany and Japan split the states into the Greater Nazi Reich and the Japanese Pacific States. Meanwhile, a kind of neutral zone exists somewhere around the Rocky Mountains. The “new” world is turned on its head when protagonists find footage of the Nazis losing the war. The series has wrapped up now (totaling in four seasons) so you will, at the very least, have closure should you decide to tackle this exceptional look at what things could have been like had we lost.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
If you need a breath of fresh air, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is likely to be exactly what you’re looking for. The series is a balm. We follow Miriam "Midge" Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) as she navigates life after her mediocre ex-husband left her for his secretary. In the immediate aftermath, a drunk and despairing Midge returns to the comedy club at which her now-ex once tried to perform. She delivers a knock-out impromptu set that sets the scene for the rest of the series. It’s the type of show that’s smart enough to resonate with everyone in one way or another, but it's especially recommended for women and all the single mothers out there.
The Expanse
Isn’t it nice to think of a future where humans manage to colonize the solar system? The Expanse explores the idea, but it’s also not afraid to illustrate the very real dangers that humanity would find itself in if such a scenario came about. We’re not talking Lost in Space monster issues, either. We’re talking conspiracies and cold wars and all the ways that humans fail themselves pretty regularly. And, yeah, there is a space monster here and there!
Fleabag
Home of the Hot Priest (Andrew Scott) and, well, Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), Fleabag follows its title character as she finds her footing after a tragedy. The London-based dramedy is every bit as dry and witty as you’d expect. What a lot of viewers weren’t anticipating, however, was the depth that would come out of a series that shows a grief-ridden woman — who spurns anyone who tries to make an emotional connection with her — falling in love with a priest. Fleabag also happens to be based on Waller-Bridge’s one-woman play (in 2013) of the same name.
The Tick
Remakes are hard. Live-action remakes are even harder — but the truth is that The Tick was never really given a fair shake. The live-action adaption of Ben Edlund’s comic book “The Tick” (and the cartoon series of the same name) was widely agreed to be stellar by both fans and critics. The problem is, the number of fans and critics that actually watched the show was far too small. We follow our invulnerable hero in his bright blue suit as he defends his city from anyone who dares threaten it. He and his trusty sidekick Arthur (Griffin Newman) fight the nasties of the underworld and take on their arch-nemesis, The Terror (Jackie Earle Haley), in order to keep their friends and neighbors safe. Honestly, how could we let go of Peter Serafinowicz as The Tick?
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Amelia is an entertainment Streaming Editor at IGN, which means she spends a lot of time analyzing and editing stories on things like Loki, Peacemaker, and The Witcher. In addition to her features and editorial work, she’s also a member of both the Television Critics Association and Critics Choice. A deep love of film and television has kept her happily in the entertainment industry for 7 years.