Web streaming is supposedly the future of media entertainment, and as such more and more companies are starting their own streaming services to maintain relevance. Companies like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, and Apple are investing billions of dollars into their respective streaming platforms to produce the best original content in order to attract the most people.
While Netflix might arguably have the best original series and movies, Amazon's "Prime Video" service has a clear advantage in terms of sheer volume with the largest streamable library available online. Of course, just mass-producing originals isn't going to be enough, they need to be good as well. While a Rotten Tomatoes rating isn't an absolute definitive unit of measurement for how good or bad a series really is, it can provide a good enough estimation.
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The Boys (2019) - 90%
Superhero satire shows/movies certainly aren't an original concept, but few excel in the genre as well as The Boys. With stellar performances from its star-studded and foul-mouthed cast of Antony Starr and Karl Urban, the show might not break any new grounds but it is every bit as entertaining as anything could possibly get.
In a world filled with good-natured Marvel and DC superheroes, The Boys asks the question, "What if the superheroes whose duty it is to protect are the real bad guys?".
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Patriot (2015) - 91%
Spy thrillers are a dime a dozen, but Patriot's real charm lies between its layers and layers of comedy-drama. Starring The Invisible Man actor Michael Dorman, the plot revolves around a certain "intelligence officer" John Tavner who goes on an undercover mission to Iran to prevent them from gaining nuclear power.
Created by The Pursuit of Happyness screenwriter Steven Conrad the series sits with a respectable 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.1/10 on IMDb.
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Red Oaks (2014) - 93%
Red Oaks is something of a homage to the sex-comedy era of the 1980s, in the same way that Stranger Things is a tribute to the sci-fi and pop culture of the late 1900s.
Featuring an ensemble cast of Hollywood veterans Jennifer Grey, Paul Reiser, and Curb Your Enthusiasm actor Richard Kind, it's a coming-of-age comedy-drama about a college student David Myers (not related to Michael Myers). Across its three seasons, the show follows David and his various experiences with the people around him in a Jewish country club.
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Mozart in the Jungle (2014) - 94%
Based on oboist Blair Tindall's memoir of the same name, Mozart in the Jungle explores the modern world of classical music from the point of view of two up and coming musicians. Developed by The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola's son Roman Coppola, the show won a Golden Globe for Best Television Comedy.
It's not a suspense-filled thriller or blockbuster action series like many of Amazon Prime's successful projects, but what little attention it has gained from critics and fans praise its sweet and wholesome storytelling.
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Forever (2018) - 94%
The boredom of everyday life and its repetitiveness is a theme commonly explored in film and TV, as something nearly everyone can relate to on a personal level more or less. In Forever, married couple Oscar and June Hoffman, played by recurring Saturday Night Live actors Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen, decide to go on a ski trip for a break from the dull lives.
This escapade of theirs ultimately ends in the husband's death, followed by the wife's death a year later, and the premise of the story centers around their bittersweet experience in the afterlife.
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The Tick (2016) - 95%
While it may look like just another one of the seemingly hundreds of superhero-related media out there, under the surface The Tick has a lot more to offer. While the generic good guys vs bad guys plot is still there, it's how it is represented and showcased that truly brings out the comedy and gusto of this show through the performance of its lead actors.
It was nothing short of a miracle how Amazon managed to create such a successful television series based on such a relatively obscure character.
Stream The Tick on Amazon Prime
Sneaky Pete (2015) - 96%
A crime-drama about an ex-convict who adopts the identity of his cellmate to escape from the consequences of his past criminal life, Sneaky Pete also ranks as one of Amazon's most expensive original series. Recurring Friends actor Giovanni Ribisi can be found in the lead role as "Sneaky" Pete himself, alongside The Umbrella Academy star Marin Ireland as a supporting character.
After going strong for 3 whole seasons, House creator David Shore and Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston's (who also appears as a villain in the show) brainchild Sneaky Pete was canceled by Amazon.
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Bosch (2015) - 97%
Police procedural Bosch is the third crime-drama on this list, which goes to show how popular the genre it is among Amazon originals. One of their longest-running shows, the fact that it has avoided getting axed truly speaks of its credibility, which is a common phenomenon when it comes to web streaming services.
Based on the best-selling book series by American author Michael Connelly, it stars Lost and Deadwood actor Titus Welliver in the lead as detective Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch (quite a mouthful).
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Undone (2019) - 98%
Believing that animated media are only for children is an idea that is as old fashioned as it can get in 2020. Audiences possessing such beliefs will never get to experience gems like Undone.
Featuring Alita: Battle Angel actress Rosa Salazar, it tells the story of a woman who gains the ability to manipulate time and uses it to investigate her father's death while battling her own demons. The series was created by the same creative team behind Netflix's legendary BoJack Horseman, considered one of the best cartoons of the decade.
Stream Undone on Amazon Prime
Fleabag (2016) - 100%
Fleabag will forever be a shining example of the fact that sometimes all that is needed to create good entertainment media is just a single person with a lot of heart and skill. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is at the very core of the show, as the writer, creator, and lead star.
Fleabag's story is a story of the heartbreak of losing a friend, stuffed with raw humor complimented by a ton of profanity and sexuality, none of which seem excessive but blend rather perfectly. It's one of the few TV shows with a 100% rating, and people who've watched it will understand why.
Stream Fleabag on Amazon Prime
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