Top 10 Amazon Original TV Shows

With solid reviews, a devoted following, and a charismatic lead actor whose face you recognize but just can’t seem to place, “The Tick” is easily one of Amazon’s best exports to date. The show is about a young accountant who befriends a superhero called The Tick and together they fight crime in The City. Rocking a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Tick” is the kind of show that never takes itself too seriously, constantly on the hunt for the next gut-busting joke or offbeat action sequence. Lead actor Peter Serafinowicz shines in a role he was born to play.

A two-time Golden Globe winner after just one season, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is the period dramedy you should be watching, but probably aren’t. The series takes place in 1950s New York City and follows the career of unlikely female comic Miriam “Midge” Maisel. Featuring a star-making performance from lead actress Rachel Brosnahan, a wit-laced script, and a wholly unique plot, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” bandwagon is definitely worth hitching a ride on. We understand Amazon hasn’t been making original content all that long, which if nothing else is a testament to how good this show truly is.

The fact that “Red Oaks” aired its last episode in October of 2017 is both a curse and a blessing. The bad is that it’s no longer on the air, the good is that newcomers can binge-watch this hilarious 80s themed comedy to their heart’s content. The show takes place at a posh New Jersey country club and follows the awkward comedic exploits of David, a college student and the club’s tennis pro. Equal parts family drama and sex-comedy, “Red Oaks” is loaded with former 80s mainstays, such as Jennifer Grey and Paul Reiser, but with enough fresh faces to make it feel totally new. This is easily one of the funniest shows Amazon has ever produced.

For a show that’s been on the air for multiple years and whose protagonist is a relentless detective who’ll do anything to get the job done, not enough people seem to know about “Bosch.” Thankfully, we’re here to set you on the right path. Set in L.A., the show follows detective Harry Bosch as he solves an ever-increasing series of brutal crimes. While Titus Welliver isn’t your typical leading man, he seems more than comfortable taking the reigns of this critically acclaimed police procedural. A solid throwback to the noir cop shows of yesteryear, “Bosch” is one you don’t want to miss.

Following their much-publicized departure from the long running and critically acclaimed British series, “Top Gear,” speculation abounded as to what Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May would do next. The answer, as it turns out, was “The Grand Tour.” The show follows the trio around the world as they drive and debate high-end vehicles of all shapes and sizes. As per usual, the guys bring their unusual and sometimes controversial brand of comedy to each and every episode. Thus making “The Grand Tour” not just informative, but entertaining as well. Amazon appears to have struck gold with this series!

You can tell your show is working when it takes home the Golden Globes for Best Television Series – Comedy and Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy in the same year. “Mozart in the Jungle” accomplished this feat in 2016 thanks to the plethora of incredible talent both on-screen and off. The quietly successful program about a New York City orchestra conductor and his young protégé is both wholly entertaining and deeply moving. It will make you laugh, cry, and cheer, no small feat for a 30-minute show. Lead actor Gael García Bernal is a sight to behold and is supported by a fantastic cast that includes Malcolm McDowell and Saffron Burrows.

“One Mississippi” is an Amazon original about a woman recovering from breast cancer who returns home after her mother passes away unexpectedly. It may have been hard to discern from that description, but the show is actually a comedy and a funny one at that. While the humor is often of the deadpan variety, it is infused with life nevertheless thanks to lead actor and co-creator Tig Notaro, who based the show on her own life experiences. Viewers are invited to come along for the ride as Tig navigates both her grief for her mother’s passing as well as her own personal troubles. Again, we swear this is a comedy. Just check it out… you’ll thank us.

Stealing this list’s award for the most disturbing sounding plot description is “The Man in the High Castle,” which is set in an alternate version of 1960s America where Japan and Germany have won WWII and each taken a portion of the country for themselves. Based on a novel by Philip K. Dick, the show had a strong debut, becoming the most-watch Amazon original in the service’s history at the time. Since then, the show has been nominated for numerous awards and been hailed as one of the most inventive series on television today. If you haven’t already done so, add this show to your “must watch” list.

Being bad has never felt so good. Such is the feeling you’ll get while watching this Amazon original series. The show stars long-time character actor Giovanni Ribisi as Marius, a recently released con man who escapes his past by donning the identity of his former cellmate. The brainchild of “House” creator David Shore and “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston, “Sneaky Pete” has been kicking ass and taking names since being released in 2015, with the first season currently holding a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A tightly woven narrative peppered with fleshed out characters you love one minute and hate the next, “Sneaky Pete” is a winner through and through.


Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

“Patriot” (2015-)

“Catastrophe” (2015-)

“Comrade Detective” (2017-)

Undoubtedly the most decorated show in Amazon’s history, what with its two Golden Globes, eight Primetime Emmys and numerous other awards; “Transparent” is must-watch TV that’ll have you laughing and crying in equal measure. Filled with timely themes, fantastic writing and even better performances, the story follows an LA family as they learn that their father is transgender. While series lead Jeffrey Tambor left the show amid scandal in 2017, don’t let that deter you from checking out this great – and important – piece of work: “Transparent” is genuine, riveting, bar-raising television that makes the Amazon subscription worth it on its own.