Brought to you by Amazon.
Buckle up and prepare to engage binge-watching mode.
Choosing a new TV series to watch can be a stressful business. Do you trust online reviews and follow the crowd? Or do you ask your mates, even though your best friends have recommended some serious TV turds over the years?
Well, help is at hand. Amazon Prime Video are constantly adding to their line-up of great TV shows and original series so we decided to check out what they had to offer. With Amazon Prime Video’s free trial, you can’t really go wrong.
If you want to take the trial and check out their selection, here are some Amazon Prime Video shows that we’d definitely recommend.
1. Mr Robot
What is it: Elliot (Rami Malek) is a wide-eyed cyber vigilante with a tenuous grip on reality and a burgeoning drug problem. He finds himself going down the rabbit hole when he gets involved with an underground hacker group led by Mr Robot (Christian Slater).
Why watch it: Mr Robot throws you into a world of hackers, delusions and twisting plotlines that will keep you constantly guessing. It’s a dark, clever show that’s driven by the brilliant performances of Slater and Malek.
2. American Gods
What is it: This Amazon Original is based on Neil Gaiman’s best-selling book. It follows Shadow (Ricky Whittle), an ex-con who gets hired as a bodyguard for Wednesday (Ian McShane). But everything is not quite what it seems.
Why watch it: American Gods is a slow burner that draws you deeper and deeper into its stylised world of gods and myths as the season goes on. The visual flourishes, dark humour and brutal undertones make it a weird but fascinating show and McShane is terrific as the spider at the centre of the web.
3. Vikings
What is it: Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) is a Viking with ambition. This show dives into the bloody world of Vikings but the burning fire at the centre of it is Ragnar’s ambition and bloody-minded charisma.
Why watch it: It’s Vikings doing what Vikings do. Plundering, looting, war, pagan stuff – What’s not to love? Some great casting, the Wicklow setting and its believable plot lines do a great job of transporting you back to a bygone age.
4. The Grand Tour
What is it: The Top Gear trio emerged from the scandal of cold cuts and minor scuffles to return with this monster of a car show. This Amazon Original sees them go back to what they do best on an even bigger scale.
Why watch it: People tend to love or hate Clarkson, May and Hammond but fans will love this show. It’s got cars, stunts and adventures but what ties the whole thing together is the unmistakable chemistry between the three leads.
5. The Man in the High Castle
What is it: What if the Nazis won? This shows takes that intriguing premise and presents an alternative view of what America would be like if the bad guys won the Second World War.
Why watch it: The show backs up a clever concept with a smart script, complex characters and some accomplished world building. It’s great at building suspense and the subplots and themes help to create a chilling vision of what could have been.
6. Preacher
What is it: This adaptation of a famous comic book follows a Texas preacher (Dominic Cooper), his ex (Our own Ruth Negga) and an Irish vampire (Joseph Gilgun) who set out in search of God. Yeah, it’s as crazy as it sounds!
Why watch it: Preacher manages to make its wild plot all sound pretty reasonable through a combination of good acting, black humour and its own unique charm. If you want something different and you’re not easily offended, this is the show for you.
7. Goliath
What is it: This quirky legal drama from David E Kelley stars Billy Bob Thornton as a disgraced lawyer whose latest case might just offer him some redemption.
Why watch it: Billy Bob Thornton is one of our favourite actors and he brings his effortless screen presence to his role as a legal anti-hero. A strong supporting cast includes William Hurt and Maria Bello and the show manages to make each episode a self-contained burst of entertainment while moving the overarching plot forward.
8. The Missing
What is it: Tony (James Nesbitt) is obsessed with finding his young son who disappeared during a holiday in France. It’s a psychological study of how a trauma can impact on a person’s life.
Why watch it: The harrowing premise of the show can make it a tough watch at times but it takes you on a journey through loss, guilt and mystery. It’s full of suspense and you’ll be hooked as it peels away the layers at the heart of the story.
9. The Americans
What is it: Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Philip (Matthew Rhys) are a couple with two children who live outside Washington. The twist? They’re also Russian agents who carry out secret missions while using their American family as a cover.
Why watch it: The show’s 80s Cold War setting is brilliantly realised and it gives you a real sense of what it’s like to live a lie in the service of a political ideology. The spy work, internal conflicts of the two spies and challenges/risks of their job make for fascinating and tense viewing.
10. The Night Manager
What is it: This John LeCarre adaptation was one of last year’s big hits with good reason. It’s a quality espionage thriller with a stellar cast that includes Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddlestone and Neil Morrissey.
Why watch it: This is cinematic television with a sweeping scale, great writing and quality actors. Expect tension, mystery and cat-and-mouse dealings as the series drags you into the world of spy craft and international intrigue.
Amazon Prime Video offer a free trial if you want to check out their fantastic selection of TV shows and movies, original shows and exclusive content. You can also avail of a very low introductory price of €2.99 per month for the first six months. And you can cancel anytime. For more information, check out their website.
Brought to you by Amazon.
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