The Best Shows on amazon Prime Video Right Now (January 2024)

All the holiday shopping is done, and you probably worked your way through some new shows during the holiday break. Now that the new year has begun, it’s time to look at what else to watch during your spare time. The best shows on amazon Prime Video include series that were recently introduced. But don’t discount legacy series from this decade and earlier, too. Think everything from L.A. Law to Friday Night Lights.

If you’re looking to sink your teeth into an old show you never got around to watching, amazon Prime Video has a wealth of them from which to choose, dating back decades. There are new shows, too, including thrilling amazon Originals like Gen V, Reacher, and I’m A Virgo.

Classic Favorites

For those who enjoy revisiting old favorites, classic shows like Friday Night Lights (2006) and Vikings (2013) are now available to stream on amazon Prime Video. These series have stood the test of time and continue to captivate audiences with their timeless storytelling and compelling characters.

Friday Night Lights

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. All five seasons of Friday Night Lights can be streamed on amazon Prime Video.

Vikings

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 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.

amazon Originals

amazon Prime Video is also home to a variety of captivating amazon Originals, including Gen V, Reacher, and I’m A Virgo. These shows offer fresh, original content and showcase the talent of today’s top actors, directors, and writers.

Gen V

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. 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.

Reacher

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.

I’m A Virgo

Absurdist comedy about a 19-year-old Black man who stands 13 feet tall. Cootie is played by Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight, When They See Us), who actually stands about 5 feet, 8 inches. The illusion of height is achieved through the use of old-school camera tricks (think Will Ferrell in Elf), not CGI. I’m a Virgo follows Cootie as he comes out of hiding for the first time to join a society he knows nothing about, with the support of a new group of welcoming teenage friends. Meanwhile, there’s a vigilante superhero trying to make the city right by using brute force against minor criminals, and Cootie has attracted his attention. It’s a unique coming-of-age story like no Other that will have you laughing the whole way through.

Other Must-Watch Series

Aside from the aforementioned classics and amazon Originals, amazon Prime Video also boasts a wide range of other must-watch series that cater to diverse interests. From classic family dramas to gripping psychological thrillers, there’s something for everyone on the platform.

7th Heaven

Remember 7th Heaven, that family drama from the mid-1990s that stars Jessica Biel among its large ensemble cast? All 11 seasons are available to stream this month so fans can relive the complex lives of the Camden family. Reverend Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) is the patriarch, a Protestant minister raising seven children with his wife, Annie (Catherine Hicks). With their kids ranging from adults with kids of their own to babies, family life is chaotic, to say the least. The series is praised for its honesty and the importance the storylines place on family bonds, making it the perfect show to watch with the family. The series deals with heavier topics at times, like premarital sex and peer pressure, but each issue is handled gracefully, with a solid moral lesson worth learning.

Invincible

With a star-studded cast and Robert Kirkman, the 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.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

If you want to watch a star being born, stop what you’re doing and immerse yourself in Rachel Brosnahan’s work as Miriam “Midge” Maisel on the 1950s-set comedy The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Midge is a housewife who pursues a career in stand-up comedy after her husband, Joe Maisel (Michael Zegen), unexpectedly leaves her. After a drunken, impromptu, and mile-a-minute stand-up set that ends with Midge being arrested, hard-nosed venue employee Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein) takes Midge under her wing in hopes of molding a diamond in the rough. The show has won numerous well-deserved awards, solidifying its place among the best period comedy-dramas you can watch right now.

The Grand Tour

For car enthusiasts or Top Gear fans not satisfied by that show’s new hosts, The Grand Tour is a welcome return to form. The trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond reunite for a show that is very similar in format to Top Gear. Episodes often feature studio segments and test drives on the show’s test track, the “Eboladrome.” As with Top Gear, the best episodes are the ones where the hosts venture to foreign lands, testing unique vehicles on unfamiliar terrain. This includes The Grand Tour: Eurocrash, where they take a 1,400-mile journey across Central Europe in a Japanese Al Capone gangster car.

Bosch

Titus Welliver plays Los Angeles homicide detective Harry Bosch in this amazon Studios original series based on Michael Connelly’s series of novels. The first season of the critically acclaimed series has Bosch standing trial for the killing of a serial murder suspect while simultaneously confronting his past when a cold case involving a missing boy suddenly heats up again.

Conclusion

With an impressive lineup of classic favorites, gripping amazon Originals, and diverse must-watch series, amazon Prime Video offers something for every viewer’s taste. Whether you’re in the mood for a historical fantasy saga like Vikings, a gritty comedy-drama like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or an animated superhero series like Invincible, there are plenty of options to keep you entertained for hours on end. So, as you dive into a new year, be sure to add these top shows on amazon Prime Video to your watch list and enjoy hours of exciting, thought-provoking, and compelling entertainment right at your fingertips.

Source: digitaltrends