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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThere is no single definitive ranking of the best TV shows on Prime Video: critics, audience scores, and editorial lists weigh different things. This guide offers 20 picks across comedy, crime, superhero satire, science fiction, and fantasy, with notes to help you choose by mood. Availability varies by country, and a title may require a separate rental or purchase rather than be included with a Prime subscription.
How this list defines the best Prime Video shows
This is a curated guide, not a claim that one show is objectively best. The selection balances strong critical attention, range of genres, distinctive premises, and accessibility to different kinds of viewers. TV Guide describes its own mix as including recent releases, Prime Video originals, critics’ favorites, classics, diverse voices, and editor recommendations; Rotten Tomatoes’ list focuses on originals and displays critic and audience scores that can change over time. Those approaches illustrate why rankings differ. TV Guide’s guide and Rotten Tomatoes’ originals list are useful additional perspectives.
The 20 recommendations below are organized by viewing mood rather than ranked. Check your local Prime Video listing before starting: the live browse page reviewed for this guide is localized to Belgium, and catalog availability can differ by territory. A title appearing in a recommendation list does not establish that it is included with a subscription where you live.
What should I watch on Prime Video? 20 picks by mood
Sharp comedy and drama
- Fleabag — A sharp, intimate comedy-drama for viewers who like wit alongside emotional vulnerability. Rotten Tomatoes’ August 2026 guide placed it at the top of its list and showed a 100% Tomatometer and 92% Popcornmeter at the time. Those are snapshots, not guarantees that every viewer will agree. See the Rotten Tomatoes guide.
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — A period comedy-drama about a woman pursuing stand-up comedy. It suits viewers looking for fast dialogue, performance, and a historical setting rather than action-led plotting.
- Good Omens — A comic fantasy about an angel and a demon navigating the end of the world. Try it for a lighter, character-led alternative to large-scale epic fantasy.
- Transparent — A family comedy-drama centered on a Los Angeles family confronting personal revelations and long-running tensions. Its appeal is in its character focus and complicated relationships.
Action, crime, and suspense
- Reacher — A direct, muscular action-crime series following Jack Reacher, a former military policeman who solves crimes. It adapts Lee Child’s paperback novels; TV Guide reported four seasons in its August list, though season counts and catalog presentation can change. If the character clicks, the source novels are a natural next step. TV Guide’s Reacher listing.
- Bosch — A detective drama for viewers who prefer methodical investigations and a grounded crime-story tone. It is a good counterpoint to the more heightened action of Reacher.
- Jack Ryan — A geopolitical action thriller built around a CIA analyst drawn into field operations. Choose it for international stakes and espionage rather than a contained case-of-the-week mystery.
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith — A spy story that mixes danger with relationship comedy, making it a fit for viewers who want action but also care about the central partnership.
Superheroes, but not the usual kind
- The Boys — A dark, violent satire about compromised superheroes and the vigilantes trying to expose them. Its unusually explicit violence makes it a poor fit for viewers seeking family-friendly superhero adventure. GamesRadar’s overview.
- Invincible — An animated superhero series that combines coming-of-age storytelling with brutal action. Animation does not mean a children’s show here; expect graphic violence.
Science fiction, from wastelands to deep space
- Fallout — Post-apocalyptic science fiction set in the world of Bethesda’s video-game franchise. A vault dweller ventures into a wasteland shaped by nuclear war; the story can work for newcomers as well as people who know the games. Amazon said the series drew 65 million viewers in its first week in 2024, describing it as Prime Video’s most-watched debut that year; that is an Amazon-published figure, not an independently audited measurement. Amazon’s announcement.
- The Expanse — A six-season science-fiction story about humanity spread across the solar system, political conflict, and competition over resources. It rewards viewers willing to follow dense world-building and an unfolding ensemble plot. GamesRadar’s overview.
- Upload — A science-fiction comedy about a digital afterlife and the people who manage it. Pick it when you want speculative ideas with a lighter, satirical tone.
- Tales from the Loop — Reflective science fiction built around strange technology and human-scale stories. It is better suited to a contemplative mood than a fast-moving action binge.
Epic fantasy and adventure
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — A large-scale fantasy set in Tolkien’s world, for viewers who want mythology, sweeping landscapes, and an expansive cast. Reception is divided: Rotten Tomatoes’ guide showed a strong critic score and a much lower audience score when reviewed, so its scale and style may not work equally well for everyone. See the Rotten Tomatoes guide.
- The Wheel of Time — A fantasy adventure with a broad ensemble, a prophecy-driven quest, and an elaborate invented world. It is a natural option if you want a sustained story rather than a standalone adventure.
- Carnival Row — A fantasy-noir setting of mythical creatures, social conflict, and investigation. Its blend of genre elements makes it a less conventional choice than a straightforward quest story.
More distinctive worlds and formats
- Undone — An animated psychological drama that uses a distinctive visual style to explore memory, family, and reality. Choose it for something intimate and formally unusual.
- Homecoming — A psychological thriller built around uncertainty, institutional secrecy, and shifting perspectives. It fits viewers who prefer tension and mystery to spectacle.
- The Underground Railroad — A historical fantasy drama that reimagines the Underground Railroad as a literal railway, combining an alternate-history premise with a serious account of slavery and its violence. Approach it as intense, weighty viewing rather than light entertainment.
How to check whether a show is included in your Prime membership
Prime Video’s catalog and storefront are territory-specific. A listing can refer to a subscription-included title, a rental, or a purchase, and the same show may be presented differently across countries or over time. Before committing, open the title in your country’s Prime Video app or website and check the offer shown on its page. The Prime Video browse page reviewed for this guide is localized to Belgium, so it should not be treated as a worldwide availability check.
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Why Prime Video lists and scores can disagree
Recommendation lists use different filters, and score systems capture different audiences. Rotten Tomatoes distinguishes critic and audience scores; neither is a substitute for the other, and both can change as reviews or ratings accumulate. Platform rankings are also tied to a particular territory and moment. Use scores as context, then pick based on the show’s premise, tone, and the kind of viewing experience you want.
Amazon’s own guide defines an Amazon Original as “shows and films produced or co-produced exclusively for Prime Video.” That describes how the platform uses the label; it does not by itself tell you whether a title is currently included in your local subscription. Amazon’s Prime Video guide.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
