Best Amazon Prime Video shows to watch in 2022

There are so many streaming services and great shows available nowadays that it can be tough to choose what to watch. Amazon Prime Video is a streaming service that gives Amazon Prime subscribers access to a bevy of amazing shows beyond getting free shipping for orders and monthly free PC games.

If there are shows that aren’t available in your region, fret not, full access to the entire Amazon Prime Video catalogue will be within reach by using a VPN service.

Here are some of the best exclusive titles in Amazon Prime Video’s catalogue to watch or re-watch in 2022:

The Boys

Recently, superhero shows have become more subversive in their approach, with titles such as Peacemaker questioning the very concept of what makes a hero.

Amazon’s adaptation of the award-winning The Boys comic books by Garth Ennis was and still is a fresh perspective on the genre, offering an alternative look at how the glory and power of being superheroes can corrupt. With Season 3 slated for release in June 2022, this is an accessible, dark, and hyper-realist take on superheroes with a lot of bloody Hollywood-style action that is sure to be a good time.

The Expanse

If superheroes aren’t your thing, then perhaps some Game of Thrones-level political intrigue and drama in the far reaches of outer space might be.

That’s exactly what The Expanse does. The critically-acclaimed show based on the novels of the same name by James S. A. Corey follows a ragtag group of space faring scoundrels as they find themselves unwittingly embroiled in a conspiracy which is on the verge of war in an era where the Solar System has been colonised by humanity.

Having just concluded its final season, Season 6, in January 2022, this is a series that you can binge from start to finish, without being left hanging and hungry for more in the end.

Good Omens

Neil Gaiman’s work has always been lauded for being the most outstanding and out of this world (literally), and his novel Good Omens is no exception. Good Omens also happens to be a TV series on Amazon Prime Video, and a damn good one at that.

The story follows two friends, the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and the demon Crowley (David Tennant), who set out together to prevent the coming of the Antichrist and Armageddon from razing Earth, as well as Heaven and Hell.

This show is only six episodes long, but it’s six very memorable episodes that will leave you wanting more. Plus, Frances McDormand is the voice of God, while opposite him is Benedict Cumberbatch as Satan.

Hanna

Hanna is a curious blend of bloody psychological thriller and coming-of-age drama, revolving around the story of a teenage girl raised in the forest as she attempts to avoid the pursuit of an undercover CIA agent.

It’s got a good bit of both genres and does a decent job of landing somewhere in the middle. Definitely worth watching if you’d like to see more of something like X-23 in 2017’s Logan.

Hunters

For fans of the legendary Al Pacino, there’s plenty more of the veteran actor in one of his very rare TV series roles in Hunters.

Taking centre stage as Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter Meyer Offerman, Pacino delivers an aggressively satisfying performance in typical fashion, in a show that is as equally aggressive and violent. That said, Hunters is also rife with some well-timed comedy — a hallmark in a show executive-produced by Jordan Peele.

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Invincible

In 2021, Invincible, the animated series adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s comics by the same name, shows us another unpredictable and unique take on superheroes.

By focusing more on the father-son relationship at the core of the story, Invincible brings a more personal angle compared to The Boys while being just as brutal and gory. With the show renewed for Seasons 2 and 3, this is a show that’s bound to satisfy the superhero connoisseur.

Jean-Claude Van Johnson

A TV series so meta it’s not even funny. Well, it kinda is, especially when it features Jean-Claude Van Damme as Jean-Claude Van Damme, making fun of himself in six half-hour episodes and generally not giving a fly at all. Jean-Claude Van Johnson is funny and unabashed, and even though the series is already cancelled, it is still sure to provide a good chuckle every now and then.

The Legend of Vox Machina

The Critical Role animated series is full of irreverent humour, vibrant characters, and unapologetic levels of violence. As a series based on the freeform and emergent narratives of tabletop role-playing games, the characters aren’t goody-two-shoes.

They are, first and foremost, adventurers who care more about their survival than some nebulous idea of righteousness. For fans of Dungeons & Dragons, this is a must-watch series.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debuts on Sept 2, 2022, and it is going to present a side of Middle-earth that’s set thousands of years before the events of the original trilogy.

With a jawdropping production budget of roughly US$465 million per season, this is one expensive series with a huge cast. This could be the series that’ll bring Tolkien’s seminal fantasy world back to life again for viewers, and one thing’s for sure – it’s going to be epic.

Reacher

An adaptation of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series of novels, Reacher is a drama series that was just renewed for a second season following its success and popularity.

The series follows a former military police investigator who travels the country and explores the nation he once served before reaching the small town of Margrave, Georgia where he finds a community grappling with its first homicide in 20 years. This is one action-packed series that’s equal parts mystery and action, making for an intriguing watch.

Star Trek: Lower Decks

While the Star Trek franchise is known primarily for its live-action series and movies, the classic sci-fi franchise offers enough narrative space to explore an animated comedy series too.

Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the low-ranking support crew of the starship U.S.S. Cerritos in the year 2380 and the hilarious situations the crew get into. With Season 3 expected to premiere mid-to-late 2022, this series can be a nice chaser after binging the heavier titles on this list.

The Tick

Rounding off this list is, interestingly, another superhero show. This time, it’s the live-action adaptation of the iconic comic book character from the 1980s. Light-hearted and full of energy, this show is highly entertaining across its two seasons. Peter Serafinowicz carries the show as the titular invincible blue bug, full of spunk and wit. 

The Tomorrow War

The core premise of this 2021 military sci-fi action film has a mix of present-day soldiers and civilians are sent to the future to fight aliens. With Chris Pratt playing the protagonist, Dan Forester, this is a film that presents a scenario where the odds are stacked against humanity.

Still, with the grit and inventiveness that have come to define humanity’s monumental moments, we see how the characters rise above the occasion and overcome the seemingly insurmountable.

Upload

When it comes to sci-fi, while it’s often set in the future, much of it is really talking about the present. With Upload, that’s especially true, as the comedy-drama series satirises the absurdities of today by exaggerating them into the future. Season 2 of the series will premiere on March 11, 2022, and if you’re up for a show that’s thought-provoking while making you laugh, look no further.

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The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time is based on the beloved Robert Jordan novel series, and presents an epic fantasy world with all the political intrigue, magic, and grand themes about destiny that the fantasy genre do so well. Given the sprawling nature of the story, viewers can look forward to the continued building up of the mythology when Season 2 is released.

This is but a sampling of what Amazon Prime Video has to offer, and it goes to show just how high-quality the catalogue is. Also, if there are shows on this list you want to watch but can’t access due to the region you’re in, fear not. With a VPN service, there’s nothing that can stop you from catching any of these shows.

Happy binge-watching!

This article was first published in Geek Culture.