From new shows like Expats and Hazbin Hotel to classics like Spin City and Freaks and Geeks, these are the best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now.
Nicole Kidman stars in Expats, a gripping drama based on the Janice Y. K. Lee novel The Expatriates. The series follows a group of American expatriates who all live in an affluent community in Hong Kong. Their lives become intertwined and linked by tragedy, and each person is on the brink of a breakdown.
The series explores the complications when your personal problems are never just your own. The series follows one woman grieving the disappearance of her child, another who is dealing with the inevitable breakdown of her marriage, and finally, a young woman trying to make a living in the bustling gig economy. Observational, emotional, and tense, Expats is a look into how privilege plays into every situation.
Did we really need another adult animated sitcom? If the positive response for Hazbin Hotel is any indication, the answer is an emphatic yes. This musical comedy centers around Charlie Morningstar (voiced by Erika Henningsen), the princess of Hell. She’s a typical Gen-Z-er, seeing the best in everyone and believing she can rehabilitate these lost souls to grant them permission to enter Heaven. She calls her rehab facility Hazbin Hotel, and it’s where she gives demons a shot at redemption before they are killed in the next annual purge.
Naturally, there’s an antagonist, and that’s “Radio Demon” Alastor (Amir Talai), who joins her cause and helps her run the hotel, but secretly it’s just to amuse himself with the ridiculousness of her idea. Described as vibrant, colorful, fast-paced, potty-mouthed, and even sometimes grotesque by critics, Hazbin Hotel is a fabulous addition to the mix.
Follow the residents of the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, as they deal with everyday challenges centered around a high school football team. Friday Night Lights earned multiple Emmy awards and nominations during its run.
While Friday Night Lights is, at its core, a sports drama, it’s really a show about family, coming-of-age, and the typical issues facing residents of a close-knit rural community in the U.S. Bottom line: You’ll love it if you love football and will appreciate it even if you don’t. Based on H.G. Bissinger’s nonfiction book, Friday Night Lights is one of those shows with a message, tone, and depiction of everyday challenges that’s timeless and relatable to people from all walks of life. All five seasons of Friday Night Lights can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
For those who enjoy the political maneuvering and messy military battles of shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, but want something a bit more grounded, Vikings is sure to please. A down-to-earth historical fantasy saga, Vikings chronicles the rise of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) from farmer to legendary warrior. Ragnar sails around Northern Europe searching for plunder, accompanied by his warrior wife, Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), and other allies.
Vikings is a grim series, drawing on the legends surrounding Viking raids in the Middle Ages. Although not the most historically accurate show, Vikings does maintain a grittier aesthetic than some of its fantasy contemporaries; there’s a lot of blood and a lot of mud. Once you work your way through the six seasons, check out the sequel series Vikings: Valhalla on Netflix.
The character first popularized on-screen by Tom Cruise on the big screen is now on TV in the Amazon original action show Reacher. Except this time, Alan Ritchson (Smallville) plays Jack Reacher, the former U.S. Army major who has moved on to travel the U.S., looking for whatever odd jobs he can find to take down bad guys.
The series is based on the Lee Child book series, and like the first movie, season 1 of Reacher focuses on the storyline from the debut novel Killing Floor. After being arrested for a murder he did not commit, Reacher finds himself embroiled in a conspiracy. In season 2, the story is based on the events in the book Bad Luck and Trouble. With danger at every turn, it’s a thrilling ride all the way through.
Dominic West (The Crown), Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, and Joshua Jackson shine in this drama about extramarital affairs and the emotional toll they can take on everyone involved. Through the 5 seasons, all of which are available to stream this month, each episode is broken into two parts, with the first part told from the perspective of one person and the second half from another.
The Affair uniquely captures the complexity of situations, including memory bias and motivations. The series was widely praised and though it shifts more to psychological drama in later seasons, The Affair keeps the intensity and emotions running high throughout.
With a star-studded cast and Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead universe, behind it, it’s no surprise that this Amazon original series has received rave reviews. While it’s an animated superhero series, Invincible isn’t a show to watch with the kids. As per Kirkman’s signature style, there’s a lot of violence and gore. At the heart of the story is Mark Grayson (voiced by Beef‘s Steven Yeun), the teenage son of the world’s most powerful superhero, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). Once Mark turns 18, he begins to develop his own superhero skills and must balance becoming Invincible with being a typical teenage boy, as well as learning the truth about his dad.
Keep an ear out for the members of the Guardians of the Globe superhero team, loosely based on the Justice League, all of whom are voiced by Walking Dead cast members, past and present. Also lending their local talents to the series are A-listers like Zachary Quinto, Gillian Jacobs, Walton Goggins, Seth Rogen, Mark Hamill, Mahershala Ali, and Zazie Beetz.
Fans of The Boys will want to put Gen V on their radar. The superhero series spin-off follows a group of students at the Godolkin University School of Crimefighting who are tasked with competing in various battles as part of the deadly, special powers-filled curriculum. The goal? To see who is worthy of becoming a member of the next generation of supes for Vought International.
The series has an entirely new main cast but there will be cameo appearances from a handful of fan-favorite characters from The Boys. Expect the same bloody gore and political satire while exploring the idea of how Vought gets its greedy, selfish grips on young supes in training. Each one has their own unique superpowers, and combined with the drive and determination to succeed (and survive), and the naivety about what’s in store, Gen V will get the blood boiling at the absurdity of it all.
In 2033, people who are near death can be “uploaded” into virtual reality afterlives of their choosing; but it will cost their families a pretty penny. These VR afterlives are run by six tech firms, setting up a new kind of corporate competition over human death. When Los Angeles party boy Nathan’s (Robbie Amell) self-driving car crashes, his girlfriend uploads him into the luxurious Lakeview digital afterlife.
