Can you ever watch too much TV? The answer to that is a resounding “no”. But deciding what to watch? That’s the trickier part. It’s easy to waste valuable viewing time scrolling through the algorithm’s recommendations, with nothing standing out as worthwhile.
That’s why I’m here to help. I’ve got three superb shows that are ready to stream on Amazon Prime Video. I’ve watched and enjoyed them all, and I hope you do too.
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Ludwig
There is no shortage of crime and mystery shows, but that’s not a problem when they’re as good as Ludwig. The British show stars David Mitchell as John Taylor, a creator of puzzle books. He’s happiest at home by himself, away from the complexities of other people—unlike his identical twin brother James, who is a detective chief inspector and lives with his wife Lucy (Anna Maxwell Martin) and son Henry (Dylan Hughes). However, when James goes missing, John’s routine is thrown into disarray because Lucy asks him to help uncover what happened.
That involves John going to work and pretending to be his brother, which is as amusing as it sounds. While the plan is for John to look for clues at the police station, he quickly gets wrapped up in murder investigations, using his in-depth knowledge of puzzles to crack the case—much to the astonishment of his colleagues. Ludwig nicely balances the wider mystery of James’ disappearance with a crime-of-the-week format; you don’t feel shortchanged when John gets sidetracked because it’s fun and gripping.
The show strikes a great balance between drama and comedy. It’s never overwhelmingly dark, nor is it too ridiculous. This is thanks to the writing and the pitch-perfect performances from Mitchell, Martin, and the rest of the cast. It’s also very bingeable. You’ll speed through the six episodes in a flash—and you’ll be pleased to hear that a second season is currently filming.
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The Boys
The Boys is a Prime Video original series based on the comic book of the same name. It’s a superhero show, but it might not be what you’re expecting. Rather than the nobility that guides iconic characters like Superman, The Boys features a group of superpowered people called The Seven who are corrupt and use their powers however they please. They work for a corporation called Vought International that controls their public image and markets them as heroes.
A vigilante group of humans, led by Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher, sets out to take down and expose The Seven. The show is hilarious and dark, and there is a lot of action and over-the-top violence. It also brilliantly satirizes things like celebrity culture, corporations, and politics. Alongside Urban, the ensemble cast features the talents of Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, and Erin Moriarty, to name a few. There isn’t a weak link, and you can sense the fun they must have making the show.
If you end up enjoying The Boys, you should also check out Gen V, a spin-off show that launched in 2023. It’s about young superheroes who attend a special crime-fighting school, hoping to prove themselves worthy of joining The Seven. The second season launches soon, so now is the ideal time to jump in.
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Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Jack Ryan is a character that is no stranger to the big screen, with the likes of Harrison Ford and Chris Pine taking on the role. But Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan is the first TV series dedicated to the CIA agent, here played by John Krasinski. If you only know the actor from The Office, you may wonder whether he is convincing as the lead—the answer is a resounding yes. Krasinski’s Jack is intelligent, brave, and resourceful, but the actor makes him feel grounded and an everyman.
Jack starts out as a CIA analyst working from his desk, but he ends up in the field after he discovers financial transactions he believes are linked to terrorism. He proves himself more than capable and, over the course of four seasons, becomes involved in all manner of twisty, high-stakes missions across the globe. He reports to his boss James Greer, played by the effortlessly charming Wendell Pierce, and often works alongside Mike November, a former agency worker turned contractor played by Michael Kelly.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan has plenty of high-octane action sequences, but it’s also an intelligent political thriller. Although the show concluded satisfyingly in 2023, a sequel film is currently in development. There are also plans for a spin-off series starring Michael Peña, who appeared in the fourth season of the main show as a deadly CIA operative.
If you blast through these three shows, you’ll be pleased to know that there is plenty more entertainment coming to Prime Video in September. If you’re unsure what to press play on, come back next week because I’ll have another great selection of shows to send your way.
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All of these series, along with plenty of other original and licensed movies and shows, are available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.