Prime Video has sci-fi TV shows you’re looking for. I know that sounds like hyperbole, but stick with me here. You’re probably used to finding the must-watch genre shows at places like Netflix, Disney Plus and even Apple TV Plus. Those streaming services are packed with good stuff, but the Amazon-owned streamer should not be slept on.
If you’d rather not put your brain through the ringer, there are lighter options on the platform, too. You can find a cool animated anthology, a futuristic rom-com and a tech-inspired comedy about the afterlife from the creator of The Office in the below roundup of the streamer’s best sci-fi shows.
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Read more: Prime Video: The 29 Absolute Best Shows to Watch
Fallout is a fun, kinetic, action-packed video game adaptation that upholds the vibe of Bethesda’s iconic franchise while also charting a new course, story-wise. You don’t need to be familiar with the games to enjoy this show. Sure, there are loads of cool Easter eggs for fans to appreciate. But Fallout was made with a broader audience in mind. And thanks to the killer performances by the cast — Walton Goggins and Ella Purnell are perfect — and the detailed world-building, you won’t want to miss taking this wild ride into the Wasteland.
If you’re looking for a hospital drama with otherworldly flair, may I suggest giving The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy a spin? It’s like Grey’s Anatomy if every patient were from another planet — which, of course, means all sorts of odd conditions and neuroses to deal with. It’s funny, heartfelt and original, which ticks all the boxes for me.
From The Office to Parks and Recreation and The Good Place, Greg Daniels has extensive experience bringing game-changing comedies to the small screen. In Upload, he brings his quirky sensibilities to the afterlife with a program that posits that, in the near future, tech companies will offer virtual resorts where the consciousnesses of the recently deceased can enjoy a heavenly forever vacation. That is, of course, if they can afford it.
The Expanse is The Little Engine That Could of science fiction TV shows. The series explores a future reality where humanity successfully colonized the solar system. It began as a scripted original series on SyFy but after three seasons, the network dropped the ax on the program. Thankfully, Amazon swooped in to save it from cancellation. Over its six-season run, the series found its legs and audience, blossoming into an intelligent, riveting sci-fi drama.
Inspired by the narrative art book by Swedish retro-futuristic artist Simon Stålenhag, the series balances the sleek aesthetic of a tech-heavy future world with the quiet quaintness of rural America. Jonathan Pryce and Rebecca Hall deliver standout performances in this quirky, slow-burn sci-fi series.
If Yellowstone and The X-Files had a baby, it’d probably be Outer Range. The sci-fi Western follows Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin), the patriarch and owner of the Abbott family ranch. His family lives in the wake of the unexplained disappearance of his daughter-in-law. When a stranger comes to stay with the family, Royal must reckon with his past, present and potential future. This would be it if you’re looking for a trippy series grounded in its writing and stellar performances.
Thematically, Night Sky feels reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Cocoon. The slow-burn series, which lasted only one season, stars J.K. Simmons and Sissy Spacek as an aging married couple grappling with the trials and tribulations of their golden years. Also, a mysterious portal to a strange planet exists beneath their shed. This sentimental mystery box series explores aging and mortality in a surprisingly heartfelt way — thanks to the engaging performances of the two leads.
Inspired by Robert Kirkman’s comic series of the same name, Invincible follows Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), an ordinary high school kid who happens to be the son of Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) — the most powerful superhero on the planet. When Mark exhibits special abilities, he discovers the unfortunate truth about who his father is and the insidious things he’s done. This animated series is beautifully designed, well-written and wonderfully acted. It’s seen by many as the best superhero show on TV, and for good reason.
Prime Video took a big swing with Dead Ringers. This updated twist on David Cronenberg’s cult horror classic finds Rachel Weisz in the dual-starring role as doctors Elliott and Beverly Mantle. Their drive to push the health care envelope throws medical ethics to the wind. The result is a program that never shies away from exploring topics like big pharma’s control over women’s health, antiquated reproductive practices, body autonomy and so much more.
The rotoscoping animation used in Undone offers a dreamlike tapestry for the audience to take in. One could easily view the show as an ethereal work of art but there’s also deep substance here. The show follows Alma (Rosa Salazar), a troubled 20-something whose life is turned on its head after she suffers an accident. As her reality shatters itself into something else, she must fight to make sense of her trauma. Part mystery, part thriller and part family drama — it’s safe to say that Undone is unlike any TV show you’ve seen before.
Source: CNET.
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