Amazon Prime Video is one of the most successful streaming services, and the company’s lineup of new and exciting TV shows in 2024 are some of the best original content of the year. With access to familiar IPs within a variety of genres,Prime Video appeals to a wide array of viewers with its diversity of projects.Recently, it appears thatThe Rings of Powercould be Amazon’sGame of Thronesreplacement, and this is only one of many series that aired a new season in 2024. The acclaimed fantasy show is one of many works that draw viewers in.
Thebest TV shows streaming on Amazon Prime Videoare made up of the streamer’s backlog of older content as well as its original shows. This year, many of the most watched and fan-favorite series are new pieces of TV that Prime put out in 2024. While the quality of a TV show isn’t determined by its budget,it helps that Prime has access to many resources and amazing filmmakerswho can elevate their projects to be the best possible product. If the lineup of 2024 is any indication, the following years will see Prime put out even better work.
Expats
Cast
Based on the novel by Janice Y. K. Lee, Expats is a drama series created by Lulu Wang for Prime Video. The series follows a group of women from different backgrounds living in Hong Kong as they deal with the unexpected aftermath of a chance encounter.
Over the past few years, Nicole Kidman has transitioned into more roles on television, with projects likeBig Little LiesandThe Undoing, andExpatsis her most recent addition to the miniseries oeuvre. However, Kidman isn’t the only actor who shines inExpats. Sarayu Blue and Ji-young Yoo join Kidman, and the three women make up the central trio of expats who reside in Hong Kong.The series begins with Margaret’s (Kidman) son going missing,and the lives and relationships of everyone involved slowly unravel from there.
Based on the novel by Janice Y.K. Lee,Expatsis a slow and deliberate drama that lets the audience feel the isolation, loneliness, and intense privilege of its main characters.
Based on the novel by Janice Y.K. Lee,Expatsis a slow and deliberate drama that lets the audience feel the isolation, loneliness, and intense privilege of its main characters. There are some moments whenExpatstruly interrogates wealth and entitlement within the story.Unfortunately, at times, the series is bogged down with its commitment to empathizing with its characters without fully critiquing their behavior in such high positions of status. However,Expatsdelivers its story with style, and the actors consistently elevate the narrative.
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Outer Range
Created for Amazon Prime Video, Outer Range is a Sci-Fi and Western television series that began in 2022. The series was created by Brian Watkins and stars both Imogen Poots and Josh Brolin. The premise sees a Wyoming rancher trying to care for his farm and keep his land safe when a strange void shows up in one of his pastures.
Outer Range’s strongest season might be its last on Prime Video, but the sci-fi Western starring Josh Brolin went out on a high note. After a spell-binding first season that left the audience guessing until the very end,Outer Rangegot to lean into its science fiction elements and commit to the mysterious world of time travel that season 1 hinted at.Much ofOuter Rangeis also about family legacy and the pressures of maintaining power and control over how you will be remembered.
Many unresolved storylines from Outer Range season 2 will never come to fruition because of its cancelation, as season 2 effectively set up a path forward for the show.Outer Rangewas a great example of how neo-Westerns have a place on television,and the story makes a great case for the blending of genres moving forward. Brolin is an effective anchor for the show and keeps the viewer tethered to his storyline as the series tackles weighty and compelling subject matter.
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Outer Range Season 3: Cancelation & Everything We Know
Prime Video’s mind-bending series Outer Range posed a lot of interesting questions in it sophomore season, but fans won’t be getting any answers.
Reacher
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former military police investigator, as he navigates civilian life. Without a phone and carrying minimal belongings, Reacher drifts across the country, experiencing the nation he once served, and encounters intriguing challenges along the way.
Alan Ritchson was always the ideal candidate to take on the iconic role of Jack Reacher,but audiences and critics didn’t know it until Prime’sReacherseason 1 dropped in 2022. 2024 saw the release ofReacherseason 2, and the latest installment of the franchise is even more exciting. Other adaptations have tried to capture the magic of Lee Child’s book series, butReacheris the first to do it justice and create an action show that appeals to all kinds of viewers because it’s so entertaining.
Its action sequences are consistently well choreographed and innovative, andReacherseason 2 only increases the stakes and tension set up by the series' first outing.
While there are plenty ofTV shows likeReacherto watchwithin the action and espionage genres,the series consistently beats its competition and transcends the moniker of “dad show.“Reacheris fun and revels in the overpowered nature of its main character. However, it’s also a genuinely strong piece of television that audiences and critics are taking notice of. Its action sequences are consistently well choreographed and innovative, andReacherseason 2 only increases the stakes and tension set up by the series' first outing.
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My Lady Jane
My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a “what if” style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII’s son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.
Blending fantasy with history and featuring romantic leads with outstanding chemistry,My Lady Janequickly became one of thebest period romance TV shows ever made. Based on the novel of the same, Prime’sMy Lady Janeis a magical reimaging of the life of Lady Jane Grey during the Tudor era in England.Emily Bader plays Jane and is joined by Edward Blumel as her love interest, Guildford,and their dynamic setsMy Lady Janeapart from other romance series, as does the fantastical elements and high-stakes storyline.
Critics and audience members have been flocking to supportMy Lady Janeafter its cancelation, withGeorge R.R. Martin commenting thatMy Lady Janeseason 2should happen. The fact that Prime cut the series short is a shame, but fortunately,My Lady Janeleft off with a conclusion that resolved many of the central plot linesso audiences can return to the series and watch a satisfying ending. Due to its quality and strong fanbase, appreciation forMy Lady Janewon’t fade anytime soon.
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The Boys
The Boys is a gritty and subversive take on the superhero genre, focusing on a group of vigilantes who confront powerful superheroes abusing their abilities, exploring themes of corruption and moral ambiguity in a world where heroes are not always what they seem.
The Boysseason 4 was the most explosive installment of the dark superhero series yet. It features a great arc for Billy the Butcher and the rest of the Boys. By the conclusion ofThe Boysseason 4,the central characters are in more trouble than ever, and an intense battle has been foreshadowedfor the series' final season. Each character is on a new path to revenge, as Homelander gains more power and the path to victory gets more limited.
ThoughThe Boysis a fantasy series, its storylines reflect the real anxieties and disillusionment of the present day, which is why it continues to connect with audiences.
As the series has progressed,The Boyshas gone deeper into the narratives of political corruption and the dangers of corruption within corporations and law enforcement. ThoughThe Boysis a fantasy series, its storylines reflect the real anxieties and disillusionment of the present day, which is why it continues to connect with audiences. ThoughThe Boyswill conclude after season 5,it’s been one of Prime Video’s best-performing series since its premiere in 2019.
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Them
The new story centers on LAPD Homicide Detective Dawn Reeve, who is assigned to a new case: the gruesome murder of a foster home mother that has left even the most hardened detectives shaken. Navigating a tumultuous time in Los Angeles, with a city on the razor’s edge of chaos, Dawn is determined to stop the killer. But as she draws closer to the truth, something ominous and malevolent grips her and her family…
After a disappointing reception ofThemseason 1, also referred to asThem: Covenant,the follow-up season had the opportunity to take advantage of the show’s anthology format.Them: The Scaredid just that and completely altered the series to incredible results. The series is in conversation with the experiences of Black Americans in L.A. throughout U.S. history, with each season taking on a different period. While the stories in both seasons are compelling, a lot of the credit for the show’s recent success has to be paid to the actors.
Deborah Ayorinde stars in both seasons but is unrecognizable, as she completely disappears into her new character and environment in season 2.The setting of Los Angeles in the early 1990s sharply differs from the original 1950s period,but this strong choice was exactly what the show needed. Though it’s set in the past,Themfeels remarkably urgent and relevant, reflecting the issues of the present day with nuance and thrilling imagery. As a horror series,Themisn’t afraid to scare the audience, and the tension the story builds is skillfully executed.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
When taking on a project as high-profile asThe Rings of Power, it’s impossible to please every viewer, as the dedicated fans ofThe Lord of the Ringshave differing views and expectations about the incredible fantasy story. AfterThe Rings of Powerseason 1 divided audience members and critics alike, it was important for the series to come back stronger than ever, with a plan for the future of the series. So far,The Rings of Powerseason 2 has proved itself and shown that the series is finding its footing and evolvinginto a great show.
WhileThe Rings of Powerwill always be divisive because of its source material and legacy, it’s impressive that the series attempts to distinguish itself from the original books and movies.
WhileThe Rings of Powerwill always be divisive because of its source material and legacy, it’s impressive that the series attempts to distinguish itself from the original books and movies. By reinterpreting the characters and stories of Sauron’s rise to power in Middle-earth,The Rings of Powerasserts its independence within Tolkien’s universe and stands apart from the many adaptations of his work.This means thatThe Rings of Powerhas the opportunity to surprise and delight audiences with deliberate and innovative changes to the material.
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Report On The Rings Of Power’s Future Shows Amazon’s 5-Season Plan Is Too Big To Fail
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power already has two seasons under its belt but a new report shows that more seasons are very likely.
Invincible
Based on the comic book character by Robert Kirkman, Invincible follows Mark Grayson, a seventeen-year-old who leads a seemingly average life save for the fact that he lives behind the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. Mark goes on to develop superhuman abilities, but he must also learn that his father’s legacy isn’t as glitzy and glamorous as he’s been led to believe.
The wait forInvincibleseason 2 was agonizing after the incredible cliffhanger season 1 left off on. However,Invincibleseason 2 proved well worth the wait, as Mark’s journey is only just beginning. With intricately designed animation and new villain arcs that have already started fleshing out the world ofInvincible, the series leveled up the stakes and plotlines established in the first outing. Though it premiered in two parts,Invincibleseason 2 saw the conflict between Mark and his father, Omni-Man, reach new heightsas Mark attempts to fulfill the role of superhero as Invincible.
Superhero TV series are more popular than ever, butInvincibleisn’t like the other shows within the genre. It proves time and again thatanimation is the only medium that could bring the gore and action of the story to life.Additionally, the characters are vividly embodied by the voice actors. Though it will be some time beforeInvincibleseason 3 hits Prime Video, audiences have plenty of time to return to the first two seasons and watch the narrative unfold all over again.
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Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a 2024 TV series about John and Jane, two lonely strangers who abandon their past lives and identities to become partners both in espionage and marriage, navigating their complex personal and professional lives together.
It’s no surprise thatDonald Glover’s action drama seriesMr. & Mrs. Smithis a sharp and well-written piece of television,as the actor and creator of the series is behind amazing works of TV likeAtlanta. ThoughMr. & Mrs. Smithshares the same name as the 2005 film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, it couldn’t be more different in tone and execution. Glover is joined by Maya Erskine, and the actors play a pair of spies who are partnered together by their company and must masquerade as a married couple.
Mr. & Mrs. Smithfeatures sleek technology and globe-trotting adventures that audiences have come to associate with the spy genre, but it also gives a new insight into the everyday lives of spies.
Of course, it doesn’t take long for them to start falling in love due to their cover, and this starts to interfere with their work and futures.Mr. & Mrs. Smithfeatures sleek technology and globe-trotting adventures that audiences have come to associate with the spy genre, but it also gives a new insight into the everyday lives of spies. Even in its most dramatic moments,Mr. & Mrs. Smithretains its funny edge and manages to balance high-stakes thrills with the mundane realitiesof learning to partner with someone in work and life.
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Fallout
Set 200 years after an apocalypse, Fallout follows residents of luxury shelters as they re-enter a post-nuclear world. Confronted with a bizarre and violent landscape, the series explores the stark contrasts between their sheltered existence and the harsh realities of the outside universe.
TheFalloutTV show had a lot of pressure riding on its success, as Prime Video was taking a risk in adapting the beloved video game series. Though viewers have been responding well to video game TV shows, as HBO’sThe Las of Uswas one of the biggest hits of 2023, there’s always a chance that the interpretation of the game’s story won’t live up to audience expectations. Luckily,Falloutexceeded many viewers' hopes for the series and established itself as a series that will continue to spark high viewership numbers for years to come.
Falloutwas such a smash hit because it didn’t adapt the story of the game beat by beat. Instead, the series took the world of the games and created new characters and stories that brought the nuances ofFalloutto life seamlessly. The news ofFalloutseason 2’s world expansionindicates that the next installment of the series will fulfill the promise of introducing even more monsters and technologies from the games. However, even without the Easter eggs and incredible worldbuilding,Falloutis memorable because of its incredible characters, led by Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, and Aaron Moten.
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