7 Prime Video Shows With No Bad Seasons
Prime Video offers access to tons of classic movies and TV shows as well as a fantastic slate of originals. Not every original hits it out of the park, but there are some really good ones. Some have already ended and others continue with seasons coming in the new year.
From action to comedy, subversive plots to animation, there’s a show that will meet you where you are and whatever mood you’re in. Many of these shows are highly bingeable as well. So, even with multiple seasons, you’ll easily get through them by watching an episode or two a night over a few weeks. Two of these shows spawned spin-off series (another a movie) that are worth checking out, too.
‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019)
The concept behind Fleabag was born from Phoebe Waller-Bridge‘s one-woman show, which she turned into this two-season, 12-episode tragicomedy. She stars as the woman known only as the title name, a free-spirit navigating life in London. As she explores work, dating, and finding herself, Fleabag often breaks the fourth wall to speak to the audience watching at home.
The show is one of the most perfect sitcoms of the last 25 years. It’s brilliant and thought-provoking, drawing you into Fleabag’s thoughts as though you’re on this journey with her. Unique and absurd at the same time, the show pushes the envelope with some especially controversial scenes. But deep down, it’s a beautifully written exploration of grief, trauma, and pain.
‘Reacher’ (2022–Present)
If you want to sink your teeth into an episodic series that feels more like an elongated action movie, Reacher is a good choice. Every season tells a compartmentalized story as Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) arrives in a new state and inevitably gets caught up in a murderous mess. Filled with intense action and sometimes graphic violence, the action crime series is one of those rare gems that gets better with every season.
It’s popcorn entertainment with a hero, a sidekick, and villains in every episode, so there’s an element of comforting predictability. As long as you go in with the right expectations, you’ll love the show and its wonderfully choreographed fight scenes, rotating casts and bad guys each season, and those tender and sweet moments that endear you to Reacher. Once you finish the four seasons to date, check out the first season of the spin-off series Neagley, centered around Reacher’s trusted confidante Frances Neagley (Maria Sten). It’s just as good, if not better, with more emotional depth but the same level of action.
‘Jack Ryan’ (2018–2023)
Similarly to Reacher, Jack Ryan is a wild ride of action, conspiracies, and crime. The political action thriller is based on the writings and character of Tom Clancy. It stars John Krasinski as the title character, a CIA analyst who ends up on the field again, using his former experience as a U.S. Marine to take down bad guys. What makes Krasinski’s version of Ryan so interesting is that he’s not a bulky tough guy. He uses his smarts versus machismo, and it’s refreshing to see. But make no mistake, he can also kick butt.
The series explores complex topics like ethics. It’s unafraid to depict messy situations that leave Ryan having to make decisions that could compromise his integrity. Running to completion for four seasons with a total of 30 episodes, there’s a lot of ground to cover. But every season is intriguing with edge-of-your-seat tension. If you finish, and you’re itching for more, check out the sequel movie Jack Ryan: Ghost War.
‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ (2017–2023)
A forgotten Prime Video gem, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel stars Rachel Brosnahan as Midge Maisel, a 1950s housewife whose life is upended when her husband reveals that he wants a divorce so he can, in the most clichéd way possible, run off with his secretary. Unsure of what to do with her life, Midge unloads a drunken rant on stage when she stumbles upon open mic night at a local bar. As it turns out, she has a tremendous gift for stand-up comedy. This catches the eye of the venue’s manager, Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein), who thinks she can make Midge a star (and reap the benefits of doing so as well).
The period comedy drama, one of the great Prime Video shows you’ll wish you watched sooner, explores feminist topics. It’s interesting to see a female lead trying to break into a male-dominated space during such a different time. It’s also a sweet story about female friendship and finding your own path, goals, and sense of self. Plus, it’s as bitingly funny as it is heartwarming, every season keeping you in stitches. The series ran for five successful seasons and ends poignantly, taking you through every chapter of Midge’s rediscovery.
‘The Boys’ (2019–2026)
If you want a show that really pushes the envelope, not to mention very obvious political views, and isn’t afraid to get messy and gruesome while doing it, check out The Boys. It sounds unappealing, but the satirical superhero series is, beneath the surface, as smart as it is graphic. The story is set in an alternate world where superheroes live among regular humans. But these modified humans don’t use their super strength, special skills, and high intellect to help. They’re egotistical, arrogant people who do the bidding of a corporation that manages them. This angers Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), a former military man with a chip on his shoulder and a perpetual scowl. Butcher has a personal vendetta against them, particularly Homelander (Antony Starr). This fuels him to start a group of misfit fighters, each with a particular set of skills, to fight back. He calls them The Boys.
The show is a heavy satire of superhero culture. Each of the main characters is a parody of a known superhero: Homelander, for example, is a twisted version of Superman while A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) is a parody of The Flash. But the overarching story is a powerful social and political commentary on the state of the world. You can draw your own conclusions after watching, but the parallels become increasingly obvious through each season. There’s also the short-lived two-season spin-off Gen V that exists in the same universe and same timeline. The Boys will make you cringe and laugh, but also make you stop and think about the messages it’s trying to deliver.
‘Invincible’ (2021–Present)
From Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead comics on which that show is based, Invincible might be animated, but it’s certainly not for kids. The essential adult animated superhero series is violent, graphic, and vulgar. Based on the comic book series, it’s about Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), the son of the world’s most powerful superhero, Omni-Man (J. K. Simmons), who is balancing coming-of-age with the necessity to follow in his father’s footsteps and fight evil forces.
Brilliantly written and graphically intense and compelling, the show’s four seasons to date have made Invincible a cultural phenomenon. Already renewed for fifth and sixth seasons, the show has welcomed a long list of voice acting guest stars, from Seth Rogen to LeVar Burton, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Jonathan Groff. Bloody, action-packed, and fun, the show maintains an impressive 99% Rotten Tomatoes critics score, with consistent ratings throughout its seasons. It’s clearly one of the best comic book adaptations on television.
‘Fallout’ (2024–Present)
Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, Fallout has been solid through its first two seasons to date. The story mirrors the video game closely, beginning with Lucy (Ella Purnell) leaving her underground bunker for the first time to search for her kidnapped father. What she uncovers is a world above unlike anything she has known to date.
It’s a post-apocalyptic story told with a wonderfully high-tech backdrop and fantastic acting from the entire cast, which also includes Walton Goggins as The Ghoul. The focus shifts among various groups, from those remaining in the bunker to eccentric people and creatures roaming the Earth, members of the Brotherhood of Steel, robots, ghouls, and more. The 16 episodes so far tell a compelling story, with each season shifting the narrative in a meaningful way that builds up the main storyline. The near-perfect Prime Video thriller series will hook you in the first five minutes.
Fallout
- Release Date
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April 10, 2024
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan
- Directors
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Frederick E. O. Toye, Wayne Che Yip, Stephen Williams, Liz Friedlander, Jonathan Nolan, Daniel Gray Longino, Clare Kilner
