Best TV shows to watch on Amazon Prime Video UK

While the first season of this horror anthology drew a mixed response from viewers and critics, the long-awaited second edition has enjoyed a warmer reception with its dark and suspenseful tale.

Them: The Scare takes us to Los Angeles in the early 1990s, where detective Dawn Reeve (Deborah Ayorinde) is tasked with finding the person responsible for the gruesome murder of a foster mother. However, there's more to this case than she could ever have imagined – and it isn't long before a sinister force begins to target her and her family.

The new season has been praised for its powerhouse performance from Ayorinde, who co-stars opposite screen legend Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) and singer-songwriter Luke James (The Chi). Meanwhile, its handling of ever-present themes such as institutional racism and generational trauma has also been highly lauded.

This being an anthology, you could dive straight into the new episodes if you'd prefer, although there is one connecting element that becomes present towards the end of season 2.

Counting down the days until James Gunn's reinvention of Superman hits cinemas? Us too.

One way to tide yourself over would be to dive back into The CW's Smallville, which is available in full on Prime Video and chronicles the early years of a certain Clark Kent (Tom Welling). Like any 'monster-of-the-week' show, not every episode is gold, but there are plenty of great characters to get invested in across the ten-season run.

The early episodes boast a particularly compelling dynamic between Clark and Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), who begin as friends, but gradually morph into the bitter rivals we know from the DC comic books. As the show goes on, expect plenty of superhero cameos, including early attempts at Aquaman (played by Reacher's Alan Ritchson, no less) and Blue Beetle.

One for the nostalgics!

Love him or loathe him, there's no getting away from Mr Jeremy Clarkson, with the latest season of his farming docuseries proving just as popular as the first two. This time, the broadcaster made it his mission to settle a family of pigs on Diddly Squat, while also trialling various methods of making money from an unused plot of land.

Expect ups and downs, mischief and arguments, and plenty more entertaining banter between Clarkson and his Diddly Squat co-worker Kaleb Cooper. The show has already been renewed for a fourth season, so this won't be our final update about life on the farm.

David Craig

Believe it or not, The Good Doctor was one of the most-watched shows on US network television during its first three seasons, but never found quite the same popularity on these shores. That's despite the star being recognisable Brit talent Freddie Highmore, who shot to fame as a child in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Finding Neverland before graduating to more adult roles with Bates Motel.

He plays Shaun Murphy, a medical doctor with autism, and his performance has been heralded as one of the show's strongest assets – even earning him a Golden Globe nomination in 2018. That said, The Good Doctor's portrayal of autism hasn't been without its detractors, with some arguing that it leans heavily on media tropes rather than offering a truly realistic exploration.

It's an element worth considering before deciding whether to watch, but American viewers clearly found a lot to like, propelling the show to seven seasons and more than 120 episodes.

David Craig

Whether you tune into the football each week or haven't watched a match in years, there's no denying that there's something about a good sports documentary that can easily captivate viewers. They're definitely having quite the moment as of late on streamers, and Prime Video has just treated Manchester United fans to a new three-part series chronicling one of the team's biggest career highs.

99 takes us back to the team's historic treble-winning season when they won the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League across 10 days in 1999. Featuring exclusive interviews from some of the key players, viewers are set to go on quite the journey through time as we relive those moments and get a look at some of the vital moments in spectacular detail.

Morgan Cormack

Hacks has become a firm favourite among critics since its debut. The showbiz comedy stars Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian whose popularity is starting to wane. On a mission to revitalise her act, Vance reluctantly teams up with a “cancelled” young comedy writer named Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder).

It makes for a dynamite comedy pairing as the two take an instant disliking to one another but are forced to stick together for the sake of both their careers. The show just earned another round of Emmy nominations to go with last year’s wins, so be sure to catch up on the first two seasons now.

With a second season about to debut on Prime Video, now is the perfect time to catch up on this western/sci-fi mash-up, starring acclaimed actor Josh Brolin. The series follows rancher Royal Abbott, who discovers a strange dark void at the edge of his land in Wyoming.

It's a slow burn show, and not for those seeking immediate sci-fi thrills or quick, easy answers to many of the mysteries it poses. However, with such a brilliant cast including Brolin, Imogen Poots and Lili Taylor, as well as the asking of some profound questions at its core, it's well worth watching for genre fanatics and general viewers alike.

James Hibbs

A post-apocalyptic drama that's funny and incredibly well put together? Sign us all the way up. In the same way that viewers didn't need to be up to scratch with The Last of Us, don't be afraid to get stuck right into Fallout if you've not had a chance to play the game.

While the video game is known as one of the world's greatest, the series follows on 200 years after the apocalypse when people rushed into vaults to stay safe if they could so afford. When one of them, Lucy, is forced to return to the surface, there are some big shocks in store as she discovers the wasteland waiting for her.

Morgan Cormack

Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead, Minari) leads this animated series adapted from the comic book of the same name by The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman. The stellar Invincible cast also includes JK Simmons, Sandra Oh, Gillian Jacobs, Walton Goggins and Zazie Beetz, in case you needed any more incentive to tune in.

Yeun’s Mark Grayson is just a normal teenager – except for the fact that his father, Nolan (Simmons), is the most powerful superhero on the planet. But Mark’s life grows more complicated when he begins to develop powers of his own – and learns a dark secret about his family.

Morgan Cormack

One of Prime Video's earliest original programmes, The Man in the High Castle ran for four seasons and made waves when it first arrived, but its viewership and interest dropped off somewhat over time. In truth, the quality of some of the episodes did the same, but that doesn't mean it's not worth revisiting the earlier seasons, if only for the intriguing concept.

Part alternate history, part sci-fi, it was based on the novel by Philip K Dick and centred around a group of people living in North America following the Second World War, but in this universe, the Axis Powers of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan won the war and took control of the territory.

When this series works, it really works, and that is in no small part thanks to some incredible production design and some terrific performances from the likes of Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans and particularly Rufus Sewell.

James Hibbs

With rumours of either a third film or a revival seventh season on the cards, Downton Abbey continues to make headlines almost 10 years after the series ended - and it's not hard to see why. While Bridgerton has recently put a new and much-loved spin on the period drama genre, Downton remains one of the most iconic historical costume dramas of all time, having amassed a huge fanbase across its run.

The show also helped to either launch or bolster the careers of its incredible cast, which included the likes of Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dan Stevens and even the iconic Maggie Smith. Full of messy drama, historical landmarks and steamy romances, the show has had a cultural impact like very few others, and won a huge number of awards during its initial run. All six seasons are available to stream now.

James Hibbs

The first three seasons of this BBC school sitcom are now available to stream on Prime Video, and while the recent revivals of a fourth and fifth season have been more successful than many may have expected, it's still true that this really was the show's golden era.

This is in no small part due to the star power of Jack Whitehall, who not only created the show but also played the lead role of Alfie Wickers, the most incompetent yet largely well-meaning teacher imaginable. The jokes come thick and fast, with the likes of Mathew Horne and Harry Enfield also providing memorable turns, but the show also has a real heart and characters that you can truly root for.

James Hibbs

It's no easy feat following in the footsteps of your series creator and hit novelist father, but Charlotte Coben goes out on her own in this new series that has comedy, thriller and mystery all built into one. While the new series does suffer from its share of uneven pacing and perhaps trying too hard to be quirky, the series is a great watch if you're looking for something altogether different to shake up your schedule.

Overall, it's a series all about living with grief as we follow Elliot (Bilal Hasna) and Jess (Vivian Oparah) who are bonded by the trauma of losing Peter, the twin brother of Jess and also who happens to be Elliot’s first love. It's an intriguing tale of navigating your twenties, friendships and trying to figure out what happened to Peter – and one thing's for certain, you won't be bored watching this series.

Morgan Cormack

Prime Video are slowly but surely bringing out some animated hits, but this latest addition to the streamer may just usurp them all. The new series follows Dr Sleech and Dr Klak as they tackle all kinds of medical and alien-related problems. With everything from anxiety-eating parasites to deep-space STIs, this series obviously focuses on the medical tasks at hand but has the sci-fi tones of Rick & Morty, while also being very hilarious.

We can't forgo mentioning the terribly star-studded cast in the series as well, with the likes of Natasha Lyonne, Keke Palmer, Stephanie Hsu and more all lending their voices for the show. If you're looking for a slightly random hoot of a watch, then look no further.

Morgan Cormack

Recreating a film as a TV series is no easy feat but actually, this re-imagining of Mr & Mrs Smith has done a great job of taking what you thought the series was going to end up being and flipping it on its head.

The series follows two people who are employed by a secret spy organisation to complete dangerous missions for a big sum of money. Glover and Maya Erskine star as newly appointed John and Jane Smith who, in the midst of these missions, start to develop real feelings for each other. The love story is a sweet one, interspersed with some tense action sequences, but the series also packs a punch with its star-studded cast, that will take you by surprise almost as much as how watchable this series is.

Morgan Cormack

If you’ve seen Nicole Kidman in the likes of Big Little Lies or The Undoing, you’ll know she does a frazzled, wealthy mother character rather excellently – and since all of these roles feel very similar tonally, the real gems of Expats are more in the performances from her co-leads, Sarayu Blue and Ji-young Yoo.

These three women each represent a different facet of the expat community in Hong Kong in 2014 and, set against the political backdrop of the time, the series also gives a voice to the underrepresented domestic workers who have come to the wealthy city with hopes for more. Class and privilege are interrogated with detail, while the cinematic feel of the show will keep you engaged throughout.

Morgan Cormack

This Western series, a collaboration between the BBC and Prime Video, was one of the most acclaimed shows of 2022, picking up both BAFTA and BAFTA Craft Awards nominations and garnering some exceptional reviews. Plus, it stars Emily Blunt, Chaske Spencer, Rafe Spall and Toby Jones, among others – what’s not to like?

It’s a thrilling revenge story which goes to some dark places, but is also rooted in a deep exploration of character. It is one of the most visually striking Westerns ever put to screen, too, with bold, bright colours to contrast some of the darker subject matters. It flew somewhat under the radar when it first aired on the BBC, but is definitely worth checking out.

James Hibbs

Alan Ritchson follows in the footsteps of Tom Cruise (no mean feat) to take on the titular role of the military veteran in Amazon’s new adaptation of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels. RadioTimes.com‘s review says the drama is “cleverly plotted, perfectly paced and isn’t short of depth”.

Now, we’re back for season 2, and it picks up two years after season 1 – with Jack trying to lead a more peaceful life. That is until he’s made aware of the chilling fact that members of his former army unit have been killed one by one, so it’s up to him and his former teammates to investigate.

Morgan Cormack

If Nathan Fielder’s buzzy new comedy-drama The Curse, co-starring Emma Stone and Benny Safdie, has piqued your interest, you might want to go all the way back to the show that put the Canadian comic on the map.

Nathan for You is a hilarious documentary-style series in which Fielder attempts to help struggling businesses to overcome whatever issue is plaguing them – the catch is: his suggestions range from terrible to utterly bizarre.

Often, the situation will escalate in ways you would never have imagined, with the comedian’s deadpan, somewhat sociopathic character standing hilariously in contrast with whatever chaos is unfolding around him.

David Craig

As The Grand Tour appears to be winding down, the presenters that front the show are splintering off into their own separate endeavours. And while travelogue series Our Man in… isn’t quite the juggernaut that Clarkson’s Farm can boast to be, it is nevertheless a sizeable hit in its own right.

Now in its third season, the latest episodes see James May on an epic journey across India, while the first two outings sent him to Japan and Italy respectively. In each case, he meets locals, samples cuisine and experiences some of the breathtaking sights that each country has to offer.

It makes for a fun and easy watch, whether you’re looking for travel tips or simply fond of May’s down-to-earth presenting style.

David Craig

John Krasinski may have seemed like a left-field choice to play Tom Clancy’s hero Jack Ryan when he was first cast, but boy did he quickly prove any naysayers wrong. Over four high-octane seasons, Krasinski made the role his own, while a supporting cast including Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish and Michael Kelly made the world feel fleshed out and each episode a joy to return to.

The plots were as twisty as you would hope for from a spy series such as this, and things were brought to a satisfying conclusion at the end of the final season – bar a potential spin-off for Michael Peña’s Domingo Chavez. All in all, if you’re looking action and spy thrills, you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

James Hibbs

Fargo is back on our screens for its much-anticipated fifth season, which will once again be set in a different place and time period. This time around, we’re in Minnesota and North Dakota and the year is 2019, with the show following seemingly typical Midwestern housewife Dorothy ‘Dot’ Lyon (Juno Temple), who is suddenly plunged back into the life she thought she’d left behind.

Like previous seasons, expect a fair share of chaos, suspense and dark humour peppered throughout – and with episodes dropping weekly, season 5 is set to keep you on the edge of your seats right on into 2024.

Morgan Cormack

While it’s likely to be a marmite show, 007: Road to a Million is not without its defenders. The first project to come out of Amazon’s acquisition of MGM is a reality competition in which a selection of Bond fans tackle nerve-shredding challenges in pairs – all for a chance of winning up to £1 million.

Overseeing the contest is none other than Brian Cox, fresh off his Succession buzz, who slips into a villainous character known as The Controller. His presence adds an air of both novelty and prestige to the proceedings, which in reality aren’t far off a glammed-up version of Race Across the World or I’m a Celebrity.

If you’ve enjoyed those similar shows, this one may well be worth a go. But if you’re not a reality fan and the idea of a Bond show without Bond makes your skin crawl – well, this might not be for you.

David Craig