#the tricky ones are the season five and fight the future category

[freckleslikestars]

As a rough guide, how much interest would there actually be if I were to finish making this X Files Trivial Pursuit that I started last year?

I’ve just been looking at prices to get them made, and found a couple of places that are viable options for printing, but obviously the price varies depending upon how many decks are ordered, so I was wondering if it was something people were actually willing to pay for (a deck of 100 cards would be anywhere between £12 and £21 depending on how many people wanted them - cheaper the more people wanted them, obviously)

It would be something that you’d have to play either on an already owned trivial pursuit board (if you don’t have one you can get them pretty cheap second hand at charity shops/ebay/facebook marketplace) or without a board like the other fan versions of the game are played, with a colour die, which, again, are pretty easy to find second hand or DIY (though tbh you could just use a standard D6 and have pink questions as one, blue questions as two, etc.), because as soon as you start adding game boards it gets even more expensive.

Like...is an X Files Trivial Pursuit something people would be interested in buying? Like, just paying the cost of production + shipping?

[chibrary]

The Chrimer: 2015, F3.

Everyone loves a good rivalry.

Charles and Max's karting history could-- and probably will-- be their own primer, but for Charles' 2015 season only one part really matters: Max jumps from F3 to F1. This casts a long shadow on Charles as his childhood karting rival.

Charles spends most of the year getting asked about seeing Max compete at the highest level of motorsport, like in this segment from a South China Morning Post article about the 2015 Macau Grand Prix:

For his part, however, Leclerc is keeping the focus on what’s right in front of him, rather than on what the horizon might offer as he sets out to tackle the tricky Guia circuit for the first time, knowing, of course, the greats of racing who have gone out there before him and still with comparisons to former VAR – and current Formula One – star Max Verstappen ringing in his ears. “I am taking things step by step,” says Leclerc. “I want to arrive in Formula One when I am more than ready and Formula 3 is a good choice in that I can learn and develop. And I raced Max all through my karting years and we fought each other at the finish, so I have always had the comparisons with him and I am okay with them.”

The jump to F3 is a last minute surprise: Charles had originally been tipped for a full-time Eurocup spot. Eurocup would have been more of the Formula Renault 2.0 level of competition Charles had experienced the previous year; F3 was considered a promotion.

In an interview, Charles was asked why he decided on F3 instead of Eurocup:

"After the season of last year, my manager and I thought that it would be better to jump to F3! Firstly, there are 3 races per weekend and 11 weekends so we drive a lot and so we gain a lot of experience! Then loads of drivers were planning to do it! And I felt really good in the car and the tests went well."

Surprisingly, Charles picks to race for Dutch team Van Amersfoort in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship like Max did the previous year. He essentially steps into his former rival's spot, replacing Max as team leader and taking his former engineer. This was allegedly on Jos Verstappen's suggestion, but there isn't much reference to that connection out there that I could find.

This doesn't help the comparisons.

Formula Scout-- in their 2015 Driver Profile of Charles-- would write:

Leclerc marked himself out as a real prospect in karting – so much so he topped our 2012 ‘karters to watch‘ feature, ahead of Verstappen. But it’s never a foregone conclusion that a successful karter will make a successful car racer. [...] Those performances suggested he would be capable of stepping up to F3, particularly as his old rival Verstappen had made it look easy and didn’t have the benefit of a year of car racing experience. And so he has proven to be. It’s still early days, but Leclerc has so far been the class of a large crop of rookies and taken the fight to proven F3 winners with multiple years of experience already under their belt. His early performances are on a par with what last year’s star rookies Esteban Ocon and Verstappen were doing – in fact, his record of two wins and five podiums from the first six races replicates the 2014 champion’s start. If he keeps it up, he will deserve to be held in the same high esteem as them a few months down the line.

They would ultimately summarize Charles' future as so:

While he’s got plenty in common with his old karting rival and Van Amersfoort F3 predecessor Verstappen, a lesser reputation and sensible management mean he’s unlikely to be making the jump straight up to F1 next year. He will therefore need to sustain this impressive form into an intermediate category like GP2 in order to make the grade.

Even with the comparisons to Esteban and Max, Charles still appears to be able to joke with both at the beginning of the season.

This lightheartedness would be needed, especially when Max was the special F1 driver guest for one of Charles' podiums:

Charles would start the season strong. As a rookie, Charles would top the morning running at the pre-event test of the opening round weekend by nearly half a second.

In true Charles fashion, he's unable to take the W:

"A good day," said Leclerc at the end of the test, after reviewing the results and drawing conclusions. “We have learned a lot, both about the set-up for qualifying and for the race. However, this does not mean that I am automatically one of the leading drivers this weekend as well, testing and racing are two different things. But needless to say, it's my goal to do it."

He would bring this momentum into winning in Silverstone, Hockenheim, Spa-Francorchamps and Nuremberg. I find the races themselves a little dull to break down race-by-race, but if you're interested.. an anon has provided video of every race here.

Charles would explain that:

“We arrived at the first race quite confident but obviously there were still had doubts from some people who didn’t know me when I arrived for testing. We were really fast from the first race which was a bit of a surprise because I was a rookie among all these experienced drivers so they didn’t really expect me. But from another point of view we were prepared, we worked hard and after testing it wasn’t that much of a surprise for us, how we went. We were quite confident.”

However... Charles' season would become inconsistent after a crash in Zandvoort with Lance Stroll would damage his chassis in a way that could never be correctly repaired.

Jules would pass the next week.

Charles would only podium once more during the remaining season, five months later in Macau.

He is quoted as saying:

“It is a good result, but I am never happy when I'm not first. Since I was a child I was never happy when I wasn't first. So, it is the still the same.”

Charles would end up finishing the season in fourth place behind Felix Rosenquist, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Jake Dennis. He'd still have 4 wins, 13 podiums, 3 pole positions and 6 fastest laps, making him the rookie champion over future F1 competitors George Russell, Lance Stroll and Alexander Albon.

Formula Scout would summarize his season:

VAR, like most, couldn’t keep up with Prema in the later part of the season but Leclerc seemed to lose some individual sparkle too. That’s forgivable for a teenage rookie though, particularly with the early-season highs becoming impossible to match. And no young racer should have to say goodbye to a life-long friend and mentor mid-season. Leclerc might not have been champion but he was F3’s standout talent in 2015.

Even with the issues in the later half of the season, he was still tapped to go into GP3 with Todt's team, ART Grand Prix. And he had some lighthearted moments:

(Behind the scenes footage here.)

One of the most lasting legacies of this season, though, is how it would set up the rest of Charles' career.

Charles did go into 2015 with very few sponsors outside of Todt. In a pre-season assessment, Formula Scout summarizes his off-track relationships:

No doubt assisted by the Bianchis’ tutelage, Leclerc signed with Todt Jr’s All Road Management firm in 2011. At present, Leclerc has no ties to F1 teams, but through his work with Felipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado and Bianchi, Todt has dealt with most of them and will be very well-placed to get his protege a role when the time comes. A potential stumbling point is that most F1 teams are already overflowing with some serious sub-F1 prospects, but if he continues to impress as he’s doing at the moment, they could begin falling over each other to find a space for him. Funding-wise, Leclerc benefits from partners usually tied to Todt’s projects, and watch maker Richard Mille (currently a sponsor of the Lotus F1 team) is his loyal main backer. And you’d imagine that being billed as a future F1 star from Monaco could well tempt some further future investment.

Lance Stroll would spend most of his single-seaters career against Charles as the Ferrari-backed driver until 2015, when he left to take a development driver role with Williams.

By this point, the Ferrari Driver Academy was heavily scrutinized to the point where it was speculated that they would do away with the initiative entirely. While Red Bull's junior program had brought Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kyvat to its senior team, no driver from the FDA had successfully made the jump. At the end of 2015, Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene decided to appoint a new head and restructure the program entirely.

Charles was rumored to be the next addition to the Ferrari Driver Academy in November 2015 as part of these changes; by December, articles were already talking as if the signing was inevitable.

In 2020, Charles would talk about visiting Maranello for the first time-- not as a friend of Jules'-- that year with his father:

I went with my father to Maranello (the home of Ferrari). I was 17 years young and extremely shy. I was scared because I didn't know if I was good enough to be included in the programme.

He was. He would end up impressing Ferrari in his two days of testing.

They would announce Charles as a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016, setting up both his next year and the rest of his career.

[muthaz-rapapa]

Possible Precure Concept #1

So! We’ve hit the halfway mark for KiraPre. Good time as any to start guessing at what next year’s concept and themes would be by searching for hints in the ED sequence, examining the new title logo when it’s revealed and so on.

That’s not what this post collection is about, though, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if you want to read/discuss those theories.

Me, I like waiting for the official details and leaks cuz the anticipation is fun. Even if the season doesn’t really live up to expectations, the suspense and hype before the first episode airs is always a thrill. :D

But that doesn’t mean I don’t think up ideas of what future Precure could be in the meantime. In fact, the following is one of a few loosely thought-up concepts I’d very much like Toei to use if even a part of it ever crosses their minds:

(cut for length, ohh~ boy)

Concept #1: Goddesses

Assuming we’re continuing the pattern of having the Cures be called as something other than “legendary warriors”, I think “goddesses” are a solid option they can take. It evokes a strong, feminine image which is a nice level up from the more juvenile ones like princesses and patissieres. Well, Toei makes them look more juvenile than they really are anyway.

Oh, and it can be a nice little shout-out for borrowing/recycling something from a previous season (in this case - see below motifs - Cure Muse and maybe even Cure Felice/Mother Rapapa). I mean, Toei does it all the time (like Y!5GoGo’s Flora –> Go!Pri’s Cure Flora, etc) so why not?

The thing is the design. Because when the word “goddess” comes to mind, I tend to think of a woman or a young lady/maiden rather than a middle-school girl and it seems unlikely that Precure will stray too far away from that age area. Although, they did age up the Mahou Girls and Cure Ace when they transformed which was nice so maybe they can try that again with this idea.

Hmm…there’s also the fact that this franchise has to remain primarily cutesy for its merchandise and I’m not sure how I’d feel if the kiddy commercial aspect overwhelms everything else too much. I always think these things should be balanced so it can sell well as toys while still be aesthetically pleasing (like Sailor Moon and Card Captor Sakura’s goodies and stuffs). You know what I mean?

But that’s outta my hands and not really a big concern. What I am concerned about is the story, which is where the narrative themes and motifs come in.

Suggested Motif(s) + Possible Themes:

Seasons, Nature –> Coming of Age (?), Environmentalism (???)

I’ve seen a couple of fanseries that are based on the four seasons. Frankly, that’s like, the perfect motif. It’s specific enough, it hasn’t been touched on before in canon continuity as an essential part of any main story, AND you already have a clear head-start on four character outlines/profiles.

Now the tricky part is how to play it hand-in-hand with a narrative theme. Because honestly, the seasons that manage to do that turn out to be the strongest seasons ever (ex. Heartcatch, Go!Pri). Motifs that work closely to support and reinforce the main theme not only gets the message across much more effectively but enhances the story quality as well. Also, it helps if the theme has some depth itself so that the events in the story can expand on it through multiple perspectives and such.

But most importantly, they’ve got to be compatible. So when I think of “seasons”, I think of a year. A lot can happen in year, especially personal growth, gaining experience, maturity. Again, perfect. The span of a season covers a year the Cures spend together. During that time, we should get our promised character development. Start out in spring from square one, then a year later around the end of winter, see how far they’ve come since the beginning. Whether it can be referred to as a “coming of age” story really depends on how well it’s written but truthfully, it shouldn’t be hard to do so decently.

Good or great? Yea, that’s a difficult standard to meet strangely enough. Decent? That’s more manageable. Don’t aim too high so quickly.

As for the environmentalism bit, I was thinking less a theme than a mechanism. Like the villains can be out to destroy the world by letting pollution run amok and the Cures do their usual thing, protecting the beauty of nature, yada yada yada. Maybe they can even have a limit on their magical powers, too. Y’know, like Smile, where it’ll run out if they use too much of it at once. It would make a nice change of pace than always waiting for Deus Ex Machina to kick in. Ooo, also, it would push the team to conserve energy and strategize on how they should fight which consequently means THE RETURN OF PHYSICAL COMBAT YEARGH! *pumps fist*

Erhem… I was a little afraid if this would seem too propaganda-ish, though. Because Precure needs to be, first and foremost, an enjoyable show for its target audience. Not some lecture trying to guilt trip kids into feeling bad for not recycling and stuff. But I also don’t think there’s any harm in raising awareness and letting people, especially children, become more informed about the deteriorating conditions of the environment. You can certainly have something that’s fun and educational simultaneously. You just need to write it well. So really, why not?

Again, these are just loose thoughts collected in one place. I don’t necessarily need to see all these things packaged together. I just think they might work well together.

Next idea!

Fine Arts (visual arts, performing arts, literature, etc) –> Creativity, Cultural Learning and Interpretation, Art Conservation (these are not so much as themes as they are topics)

Technically, it’d be more accurate to relabel this as the “muse” concept instead of “goddess” if we’re dealing with the arts.

Anyways, considering that a lot of past Cures possessed an abundant amount of talent in a couple of those fields (music, in particular), wouldn’t it be great if we can have a team that’s full of them? One Cure for each type of art? Like one can specialize in painting, another can be an actor, another can be a writer, etc. The choices are endless.

But the best thing about this concept is that we’d get to see the Cures work at their passions constantly and consistently throughout the season. It wouldn’t just be a one-episode thing where that topic is never brought up again in later episodes. We’ll actually need to see the Cures make progress towards their goals, projects, whatever. That would mean more character focus a therefore, lots of character development.

Again, I’m all for a kid’s show that can be educational and fun (and inspirational) at the same time. And the fine arts category is more than big enough to cover all those traits. Plus, it’s a very appealing idea because well, it’s art. Think of everyone practicing art. Think of all the references they can make to the thousands of masterpieces out there. Think of all the facts and trivia you never knew. Think of ALL the Cures being incredibly knowledgeable for once and not just one out of three or five. Fuck yea, I am all for intelligent girls showing off their brains and skills! *pumps fist twice*

As for narrative theme, hmm, I can’t quite think of anything that would go well with this concept besides creativity. Obviously, it would be a different kind of creativity than KiraPre’s, which is more centered on decorations and confectionaries. This, on the other hand, is a lot more study-related and involves a lot of interpretation and introspection before/while applying said creativity to art.

But still, hmm, it needs a little more of…something to really fill it out.

…lol, I’m making this more complicated than it should be. It’s a kid’s show for god’s sake! xD;

So sue me. I can’t help it, I’m older after all. I like things that are a little more complex. *shrug*

Well, anyways, my biggest reason for supporting this concept is because I want to see more variety in the characters instead of the usual archetypes we get (and everyone being smart, that too). I think this should help a little in making their individual personalities more distinctive, at least.

Plot-wise, it’s pretty much the same as always. Maybe it can be like a weird combination of Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne and KiraPre where the villains draw negative energy by corrupting the art and the meaning behind it, which affects the civilians and the rest happens as you expect it would. Then the Cures come in, purify the monster-of-the-week, everything returns back to normal, the girls learn something new, alright good work everybody, enjoy your weekend! *promptly exits*

Yeeaaa…I spent more time on this than I should’ve and I still got like two more to share.

GDI, if I had the money, I’d make my own magical girl shows. I don’t need Toei, lol |D;

[ciathyzareposts]

Game 335: Prophecy of the Shadow (1992)

               Prophecy of the Shadow

United States

Strategic Simulations, Inc. (developer and publisher)

Released in 1992 for DOS

Date Started: 24 June 2019               SSI began as a wargame company, and their best games��principally the Gold Box series and the Wizard’s Crown series–have always reflected those roots. Nonetheless, by 1992, the company seemed to be on a mission to dominate, or at least compete in, every RPG sub-genre. Eye of the Beholder and its sequel were their answers to the first-person, real-time category, while Shadow Sorcerer took inspiration from British axonometric titles. Neverwinter Nights had virtually no competition online, and they were entering the console realm with Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun. The company’s streak of 22 published RPGs between 1991 and 1994 has never been broken on the personal computer. 

Prophecy of the Shadow is so blatantly the company’s answer to the Ultima VI that it’s a wonder they didn’t license the “look and feel” from Lord British the way they did for Questron. It’s got the same mostly-top-down-but-slightly-oblique perspective, the same row of icons with keyboard backups (even most of the icon symbols are the same), the same targeting of enemies and objects with a cursor, the same keyword-based NPC dialogue, and the same continuous scrolling movement through a landscape that desperately wants you to think it’s not just tiles but really is.            

Character creation even has some Ultima IV-style questions.

          But just like Ultima clones from independent developers with a lot fewer resources, Prophecy of the Shadow lacks a lot of Ultima’s complexity. To start, you control only one character. The box puts an exclamation point after the game’s single-character nature, as if that by itself is a good thing, as if other developers were sitting around thinking, “Gee, it never occurred to us to allow the player to control just one guy.” It also greatly simplifies the inventory–the protagonist can wield one object at a time and can wear nothing at all–and it runs dialogue by feeding the keywords to you. (In many ways, it’s more like Origin’s Times of Lore, which used an early version of the U6 interface, than Ultima VI.) Whether by intention or limitation, it’s clearly geared towards the RPG novice.            

The game map shows a small world. I already explored the northwest island.

            None of this means that it’s a bad game. There’s always a place for an easy, familiar title telling a new story. Here, the story is probably the game’s best feature. It calls upon familiar tropes without being overly cliched or obviously based on a single source. Told mostly in the form of the naive protagonist’s journals, the backstory casts the character as an apprentice mage in a world where magic is outlawed. In infancy, he washed ashore on the island of Bannerwick, which I gather is part of the larger kingdom of Ylowinn. This is a world in decline. Every season, the crops get smaller and plants go extinct. Mines are exhausted of ore. Civilization itself seems to be coming apart at the seams; when the local ferry to the mainland breaks down, no one bothers to repair it. A princess named Elspeth was supposed to take charge on her 18th birthday, but she mysteriously disappeared, leaving the land in the hands of the regent Cam Tethe, who blames a conspiracy of mages for the disappearance and spends more time hunting them than searching for Elspeth.             

An NPC delivers part of the backstory.

         The townsfolk distrusted a baby who managed to survive the sea unscathed, so it was left to the local healer, Larkin–himself regarded with suspicion–to raise and tutor the child. The child of course becomes you. You’ve had so little contact with the outside world all your life that when you head into town at the beginning of the game, no one knows who you are.           

“Yeah! I hope you find . . . him!”

         In the game’s opening moments–so sudden as to be comical, particularly with the accompanying scream–Larkin is assassinated by a thrown dagger, leaving the protagonist to bury him in the back yard. With his dying breath, Larkin tells his ward to “get the text of the prophecy from Berrin,” as “it must go to the council in Silverdale,” which is on the mainland.           

The main character’s master dies in the opening scenes.

                   In these opening moments and almost all the NPC dialogues that follow, we see that Prophecy of the Shadow was on the cutting edge of what would become the early- and mid-1990’s worst trend: the use of full-motion video (FMV) instead of computer animation (or just static graphics). Naturally, the subjects of these animations were whoever was sitting around the developers’ offices and not actual actors. Blessedly, it only seems to have been about five years before developers realized this was not the wave of the future, and I don’t remember seeing FMV after about 1998, though of course there are a lot of titles I haven’t played.           

A little FMV upon entering the inn.

         Character creation is a simple process of giving your name and sex. A few role-playing questions set your initial values for health, magic, and agility. Health and magic are both attributes and pools of points, and the maximum goes up with successful actions (swinging weapons and casting spells), which is a bit different than the Ultima titles. These attributes automatically regenerate, albeit slowly, as long as you have food. If you run out of magic points, you can still cast spells, but they draw directly from your health.

A row of icons–all, blessedly, with keyboard equivalents–defines how you interact with the world: look, attack, cast a spell, enter, drop, search, use, give, and rest. “Search” on Larkin’s door mat revealed an iron key to his house, but all I can do there is spend the night.              

Using the L)ook command–and learning a new piece of vocabulary.

           As I began the game, the passages through the forest around Larkin’s house naturally guided me to his neighbor, Berrin, who related that rumors have already spread that I killed Larkin. He gave me the key to Larkin’s workshop but otherwise wouldn’t help me (including giving me the prophecy) until I could prove my innocence. Behind Berrin’s house, incidentally, are two gravestones–his wife and son–both “killed by guardsmen.” I wonder if that bit of backstory will later come out.

Larkin’s workshop was accessed through an underground hatch near the house. There, I found a book of spells and a “lead catalyst.” You have to be holding a catalyst in your hands to cast a spell, and I guess lead is the lowest-level catalyst. The book had four spells: “Incendiere” is a basic fire blast that strikes one target; “Curare” is a healing spell; and “Memoria” and “Repetere” are a pair of mark/recall spells that let you designate a point and later warp back to it.

Using the game map as a guide, I eventually made my way to town, where I found about half a dozen NPCs, including some generic “peasants.” You converse by selecting keywords on the left side of the screen. As the NPCs respond, more keywords appear. Today, the local news was that the sheriff had caught Robin One-Eye, a famed bandit whose gang lives in the woods north of town. I was able to visit Robin One-Eye in jail but he just taunted me.          

Getting lore from a local. Where did a bunch of programmers get access to so many actors who look like unwashed peasants with bad facial hair?

        I also heard some talk of Larf the Terrible, a gnome wizard who lives in a tower to the east. There was a note in Larkin’s workshop that a circle of mages expelled Larf for necromancy. I suspect that either Robin or Larf is responsible for Larkin’s death, and I’ll somehow need to prove it to get off the island.

The local shop had some weapons and other items that were outside my price range, although the innkeeper was willing to pay me 10 silver for odd jobs. I repeated this option about 8 times before he finally said he had nothing more for me to do. I bought a sling and a torch but spent most of my money on food.

Outside of town, I started encountering bandits. Attacking is a matter of hitting “A” (or the attack button) and then moving the cursor to your foe. If you have a melee weapon equipped, you can only target the 8 squares around you. (Well, technically you can target your own square, but the game just admonishes you not to attack yourself.) If you have a missile weapon, you can aim anywhere in the visible window. Missile weapons are tricky because enemies will typically move out of the square before the missile reaches them, meaning that you really want to attack the square in the direction they’re going. It strikes me that missile weapons are going to be mostly useless in this game. There simply isn’t enough distance in the view window, and enemies close the gap too fast.

You can cast a spell instead of attacking by using the spell catalyst–or, if it’s already equipped, hitting the M)agic button. At the outset, I only had “Incendiere,” which kills most enemies in a couple of castings, but two castings cost 20 magic points out of the 45 I started with.

If you choose to fight with a weapon, your health occasionally goes up a point. If you cast spells, your magic pool occasionally goes up a point. This is the game’s approach to “character development.”          

My health increases as I kill a bandit.

         Slowly, I explored the rest of the island. It turned out there were two major indoor areas to explore: the bandit camp and Larf’s tower. You need a rope from the former to access the latter. I needed a password to enter the bandit camp, which required me to trudge back to town and buy Robin One-Eye a bottle of white zinfandel before he would tell it to me: ZINFANDEL.            

Why does zinfandel have such a bad reputation? I rather like it.

         The bandit camp was one small level and one large level. I had to kill a bunch of bandits. I rather like the game’s search function. If you wander over to a chest, a dead body, or just an interesting area, you hit S)earch, and the game tells you what you find. It’s rather tolerant in its distance allowance, so you don’t have to hit the command every step. A lot of what you find are notes, journals, and other writings that flesh out the game’s lore.

The bandit camp held a few healing potions, a rope, a rapier (better than the starting dirk), a magic potion, and several black potions. The black potions are acid that damage you when you drink them, so I’m not sure what good they do. Late in the dungeon, I fought and killed a “mage killer,” who was carrying a “death warrant” for Larkin.              

The “T,” of course, probably stands for “Tethe.”

            A book called The Joy of Pies held a treasure map that directed me to a specific square from one of the stone heads on the island. There, I found a chest with several pieces of jewelry.

By now, I was running up against the inventory limit, which dogged me the rest of the session. It became clear that you want to drop most items as soon as their utility is done, including keys and notes. Actually, a better idea is probably selling them to the general store, because the store keeps sold items in their inventory and will re-sell them to you in case you made a mistake. The problem is that you constantly have to leave locations and trudge back to the general store. I ended up selling most of the black potions because I couldn’t find any use for them and they were preventing me from picking up other things. I also sold all the jewelry I found, assuming it was for that purpose.              

A few too many things in my backpack.

           Showing the death warrant to the sheriff cleared my name, and showing it to Berrin prompted him to give me the prophecy on a vellum scroll. I read the prophecy. Larkin’s notes indicted that “most of it has already come to pass.”            

And it shall come to pass that in the day, the end of all days, a Shadow will come forth from the wilderness. The Lord of the Shadows, the Bringer of Darkness, the Master of Death. At his hand, Evil will arise anew. Green fields will wither, and a plague will smite the land. Cry mothers for your children, for when you see these things, know ye that the fate of the world hangs in the Balance.

              It’s probably going to turn out that Cam Tethe is the Lord of the Shadows, but it would be nice if the game had some kind of twist on the standard template, like maybe it’s me (I did kind-of come out of the wilderness). Either way, I had to get off the island. Since the ferry was broken, I turned to the only place I hadn’t explored: Larf’s tower. It sits in a ruined heap on the coast, near a graveyard where a ghost wanders. I tried talking to him, but it didn’t work.           

Maybe later, I’ll find a “Seance” spell.

         A rope gets you into the basement of the tower, which turned out to consist of five levels. Every one is dark, so you need a light source. The game keeps track of torches as a statistic, along with food and silver, rather than as inventory items, but you need a flint and steel in your inventory to light them. An alternative is to purchase a lamp and lamp oil, the latter of which is also tracked as a statistic. It would be a waste of inventory space, I gather, to have both a lamp and flint and steel.           

Arriving in the dungeon.

         The levels of Larf’s tower were full of evidence of Larf’s macabre experiments, including zombies that I had to kill. His notes indicated that he was more than a necromancer: he was a serial killer, having captured living subjects for many of his rituals. These notes also said that he eventually created an undead butler to serve him, but the creature went insane, stole something called a “translocation rod,” and hid it in a lower level of the tower. Larf was apparently making plans to destroy the creature when it attacked him in his bed at night, killing him and leaving his severed head behind.            

Later, I killed the butler, Jeffers, with fireballs.

          This scene is graphically illustrated, and it’s worth making a note that the graphics are detailed enough that they can show rather than just tell evocative stories like this. This hasn’t been true of many games up until now, but it’s good to see it becoming more common. We’ll of course see another murder scene with the same level of gruesome detail in the upcoming Ultima VII.         

The gruesome scene.

         I eventually killed the butler–the hardest creature in the game so far–with a few “Incendiere” spells. I recovered the rod, which allows transportation to the mainland when used between a couple of stones northwest of the tower. I also had the option to take Larf’s head. I have it for now, but I ‘m not sure if there’s any long-term use for it. Other treasure included a better catalyst (platinum), a magic weapon called a “Dirk of Sharpness,” and a scroll that gave me the “Inlustare” (light) spell.             

Now I guess I can eschew both lamps and torches.

          I used the rod in the right location and found myself transported to the mainland. I explored a while before concluding that I was in the northern part of the map, near the town of Glade. Larkin insisted that the prophecy had to get to Silverdale, to my southeast, but I’m tempted to go to the northern tip to the town of Malice and work my way systematically down to Silverdale.

So far, it’s been an inoffensive little game, but I wonder if there was really much of a market for a “lite” RPG. Were there legions of gamers in 1992 thinking, “I’d really like to play role-playing games, but they’re just too complicated“? I guess we’ll see when we check the reviews. I can’t imagine this one will take more than three entries, but perhaps it has some tricks up its sleeve.

Time so far: 4 hours

source http://reposts.ciathyza.com/game-335-prophecy-of-the-shadow-1992/

[currenthealtheventsblog-blog]

Best Amazon Prime TV shows (May 2019): the best series to watch this month

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Best Amazon Prime TV shows (May 2019): the best series to watch this month

Amazon Prime Video is on a roll. The streaming service adds exclusive Tv shows and fresh new episodes to its TV catalogue every week. Although that means you& apos; ve always got plenty of old favourites and new series to binge on, it means it can be tricky to choose which one to pick next. But this list is here to help induce that selection a little bit easier.

Amazon Prime Video is part of the Amazon Prime membership, which means a lot more than just super fast deliveries these days.

For starters, there’s Prime Music, Audible freebies, the Kindle Lending Library, lots of photos storage and the chance to stream great movies and Tv indicates through Prime Video, which is Amazon’s answer to an on-demand streaming service.

Although Amazon has a huge back catalogue on its Prime Video service, there are lots of mediocre TV alternatives too, which might fool you into thinking they’d be worthy of a watch, as well as lots of genuinely terrible ones, which we& apos ;d prefer you didn& apos; t waste your time on at all.

We& apos; ve collected together a huge selection of TV presents for you to choose from, including shiny new series through to Amazon& apos; s own original depicts.

In our guide you& apos; ll detect our pick of the best Amazon Prime TV shows that are currently on offer. We have options for fans of thrillers, jaw-dropping sci-fi, comedy lovers and those who enjoy nothing more than a fantasy police drama.

Coming Soon: Although this list is full of great TV shows, there are always some tantalising new series on the horizon that we can& apos; t wait to watch. You& apos; ll have to wait until the very end of May( May 31, to be exact) but this spring is all about Good Omens, the TV depict adaptation of the magical volume from the fantastical intellects of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. This month also welcomes the darkly funny season 2 of Fleabag( May 17 ), as well as the third season of Sneaky Pete( May 10 ).

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Get your free 30 -day Amazon Prime trial

Amazon has been developing and creating titles itself over the past few years, which are called Amazon Originals or Amazon Original Series.

These homegrown TV depicts are arguably some of the best that the Amazon Prime Video service has to offer( believe The Tick and Transparent ), which you can watch instantly when you have Amazon Prime access. There are many more shows you can watch through Amazon too of course, but some of these have to be purchased in order for you to start streaming.

We& apos; ll be keeping this list constantly updated- if any paid proves become free that we feel need to be included, they& apos; ll be added too. Scroll through to see our picks that we& apos; ve divided up into the following categories: drama, comedy and thriller.

If you can only watch one …

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Tick

The Tick is a superhero TV show with significant differences. It& apos; s chock full of brightly-coloured heroes, sarcastic villains, excellent narratives and fantastic wordplay. Unlike the sagas in Marvel movies, the heroes and scoundrels in The Tick feel like they belong to our world. They& apos; re messy, funny and attain lots of terrible decisions. Luckily, the present was renewed for a second season, which manages to be even smarter, slicker and more heartwarming than the first, with noteworthy performances from Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman in the lead roles as The Tick and, erm, Arthur.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

Check out our in-depth Amazon Prime Video reviewFancy a movie? Then our best Amazon Prime movies feature is for youWant to see what the challenger is doing? Then check out best Netflix TV showsThese are the best movies on Netflix UK

Amazon Prime or Netflix? Check out our comparing video below!

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Absentia

If you& apos; ve had a Stana Katic shaped pit in your life since Castle ended in 2016, you& apos; ll be glad to know she& apos; s starring in a brand new series on Amazon Prime. Katic takes up the role of FBI agent Emily Byrne who, six years after being proclaimed dead, returns to the world and has to try and piece her life and memory back together.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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New Season Added: The Expanse

Arguably the best sci-fi show since Battlestar Galatica, The Expanse is based on the series of novels by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. It& apos; s set in a future where humans have colonised most of the solar system, but there are big divisions between the occupants of Earth, Mars and& apos; Belters& apos ;, who reside on space station beyond the asteroid belt. It& apos; s full of politics, heart-wrenching emotional narratives and some of the most breath-taking scenes of outer space we& apos; ve ever seen. If you& apos; re a fan of sci-fi, you& apos; ll love this.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Alias

US action series Alias ran for five seasons between 2001 and 2006 and fans will be happy to hear every single episode is available to stream on Amazon Prime Instant Video right this instant! Created by J. J. Abrams, the Tv reveal starrings Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, a double agent who is working for the CIA, but also posing as an operative for an organisation called SD-6, which is a big criminal and espionage network.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

Update: Alias is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it& apos; s no longer free. You& apos; ll have to pay PS2. 49 per episode, or buy a whole season for PS13. 99.

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Tom Clancy& apos; s Jack Ryan

The long-awaited latest re-imagining of Tom Clancy& apos; s Jack Ryan is now available on Amazon Prime, with the fantastic John Krasinski( best known for his role in the US version of The Office) playing CIA analyst Ryan. The show has received largely positive reviews and it& apos; s definitely worth giving the first few episodes a watch, particularly if you& apos; re a fan of political dramata, the Jack Ryan stories or Krasinski.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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Ray Donovan

Set in LA, Ray Donovan is a drama about a guy called, you guessed it, Ray Donovan, who is a fixer for a top statute firm in the city. That entails he gets caught up in all kinds of drama, like menaces, bribes and every other kind of shady activity you can imagine.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 6

Update: Ray Donovan is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it& apos; s no longer free. You& apos; ll have to pay PS2. 49 per episode, or buy a whole season for PS13. 99.

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New Season Added: American Gods

Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and brought to the screen by the ever-excellent Bryan Fuller, American Gods is an existential look at what would happen if divinities were to walk the earth.

Starring Ricky Whittle( who has built the transition from Hollyoaks to Hollywood with ease) and Ian McShane, the show is both bizarre and brazen, cultish and controversial. It may take a while to figure out just what the hell is going on, but this is one smart, celestial slice of amusement that& apos; s already got us hooked.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 2

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Animal Kingdom

Looking for a new crime drama to get stuck into? Animal Kingdom could be what you& apos; re looking for. The depict follows adolescent J Cody who moves in with extended relatives in Southern California after the death of his mother. Far from being boring, Cody discoveries his relatives live a wild life of excess and it& apos; s all funded by crime.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Black Sails

Johnny Depp may have spend the latter half of his career persuading the world that pirates all seem, stench and talk like a Rolling Stone but we prefer Black Sails& apos; interpreting. Exclusive to Amazon Prime, Black Sails treats the pirate legend with a touch more reality and this is pretty much all down to Shakespearean thesp Toby Stephens.

Number of seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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New Season Added: Bosch

With 20 -something novels to mine for source material, Bosch is a character that was always destined for the small screen. Created by Michael Connelly but brilliantly brought to life by performer Titus Welliver, the series follows the exploits of LA Homicide detective Harry Bosch and features enough grit to pave the longest of driveways.

This is no surprise – the series has been created by Eric Overmyer, who was part of the graduate that made The Wire. Bosch is another show that has been put together by Amazon Studios – proving that streaming services are becoming just as powerful as the HBOs of the world when it comes to producing compelling drama.

Bosch Season 5 has now landed on Amazon Prime, continuing the saga of Harry Bosch and it comes with a nice uplift in quality too, building season upon season to become one of our favourite proves on Prime at the moment.

Number of seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

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Goliath

Billy Bob Thornton superstars as a washed-up lawyer looking for a big break who stumbles on to a big case that may well give him the solace he needs. Made by David E Kelly who loves a bit of courtroom drama, having already created Boston Legal, The Practice and Ally McBeal, the present works well as a standalone series but there& apos; s talk that it may get a second season. Goliath is part of Amazon& apos; s Original series of Tv shows.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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The Good Fight

If you were a fan of US legal and political drama The Good Wife, then you& apos; re going to love The Good Fight. It& apos; s set one year after the events of the final episode of the The Good Wife and this time transformations the focus of the tale to Diane Lockhart.

Season one has been a success and now the second season is available to stream via Amazon, but unfortunately it& apos; s not free. But while you either wait for it to become free( it may take a while) or wait to decide whether it& apos; s worth it, catch up on the first season now to help you construct your mind up.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3( The 3rd season is available, but you& apos; ll have to pay for it .)

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Hand of God

Last seen in Sons of Anarchy, Ron Perlman has moved from the mad world of biker gangs into the stranger world of statute. Perlman plays a vice-riddled barrister who, after agony a breakdown, starts to believe he is a messenger from god.

The full first season for Hand of God arrived on Amazon Prime, after a successful pilot. A second season is also available, which will sadly be the last as Amazon has decided to not renew the depict. This is a shame as it may not be a light-hearted ride – but it is one drama that takes dark turn after dark turn and is all the better for it.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels sounds like it should be a Sons of Anarchy rival, about motorcycle gangs or the like. But it’s actually centred on the construction of the US’s First Transcontinental Railroad. The first season begins soon after the assassination of President Lincoln and from there the display plays out like a western, indicating myriad sides of the railway being built – from slaves to their owners, to the money me behind the strategy. It’s a show that’s been a massive hit for AMC – dropping just behind The Walking Dead in their ratings for original shows.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 5

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The Last Tycoon

F Scott Fitzgerald may be known for The Great Gatsby and Tender Is The Night but The Last Tycoon – his last and unfinished novel – is perhaps his most ambitious piece of work. It peels away the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in the& apos; 30 s to show a period when backstabbing was the norm, fascism was on the rise and everyone had an unbelievable amount of money. Kelsey Grammer is superb as movie mogul Pat Brady, while Matt Bomer is also great as Monroe Stahr, the up and coming cinema exec who wants to make it big. The Last Tycoon is occasionally flawed but it& apos; s a sumptuous watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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The Looming Tower

The 8th episode of The Looming Tower are now available on Amazon Prime Video, but despite the fact there still aren& apos; t many compared to most Tv presents, it hasn& apos; t stopped this narrative of threat and politics from proving to be a hit. Based on the book by the same name, it& apos; s about the unease around Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden in the 1990 s, as well as the rivalry between the CIA and FBI.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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Downton Abbey

Like watching fictional posh people live their lives in early-twentieth century opulence? You& apos; re not alone- millions of people tuned in to Downton Abbey during its TV run, and it& apos; s now available to stream in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video.

Following the trials and tribulations of the Crawley family on the titular Downton Abbey estate, it& apos; s a kitchen sink drama of kinds- except all the cutlery is made of silver, and it& apos; s an army of maids doing the washing up.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 7

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Masters Of Sex

Yes, Masters Of Sex could have ended up being a Mad Men rip-off when it first arrived in 2013 but thanks to the brilliance of Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan the present soon elevated above being a copycat.

Sheen is Dr William Masters, a fertility expert who turns his hand to researching the world of sexuality. Turns out researching sexuality means having a lot of it, which would all be rather gratuitous if it wasn& apos; t wrap in some of the most intelligent script work around.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Outlander

Game of Thrones with kilts and period travelling, Outlander was a solid show in its first season – by the second it was a great one. Based on the eight-book series by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is about Claire Randall, a nurse who is transported from 1945 to 1743, where she fulfils a Scottish outlawed and a simmering romance ensues. Given it’s shot in the Scottish highlands, the reveal appears fantastic, is well acted and should be your next binge watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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The Path

Aaron Paul is back on Tv, thanks to The Path. And while his role might not be as enticing as Jesse in Breaking Bad, The Path is decent enough. Revolving around the Meyerist movement, and its’ not a cult/ definitely a cult& apos; cult, the show is a gripping and beautifully shot look at what happens when people truly believe.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Rogue

Now in its fourth season, Rogue has matured into a great crime drama. While it may not be the Sopranos in its scope, it has a realness to it that builds the violence that& apos; s shown on the screen hit home hard. Thandie Newton starrings a Grace Travis, an undercover sleuth who is trying to balance being a wife and mother with the illicit affair of a crime boss. Gritty stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete& apos; s plot maybe a little cliche – a con man presumes the identity of someone else to try and make a new break in the world – but Giovanni Ribisi is superb as Marius, the titular character and there& apos; s plenty of intrigue to keep you glued to this new Amazon Original.

Interestingly, the show is co-created by Bryan Cranston which makes him the streaming monarch, dedicated he& apos; s done so well with Breaking Bad on Netflix. Don& apos; t expect Sneaky Pete to be as intense as Breaking Bad – it& apos; s a crime caper, yes, but it doesn& apos; t take itself too seriously.

The third season of the show is coming on May 10, 2019.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Startup

Not content with becoming a Hobbit, starring in the Marvel universe or playing Dr Watson, Martin Freeman goes back to his Tv roots for Startup – a great look at what happens when a bunch of tech entrepreneurs create something that is much bigger than they ever thought it would be. It may occasionally be too gritty for its own good, but it& apos; s great to see Freeman hamming it up as the big bad.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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UnREAL

UnREAL focuses on the fictional goings-on behind the scenes of a fictional reality indicate. It& apos; s a show that holds a infringe mirror up to the vacuous and plentiful reality shows that litter Tv channels at the moment and actually goes into some instead dark territory. Yes, it& apos; s melodramatic and will wave numerous moral flags at you while you are watching it, but it& apos; s nonetheless engrossing television.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Transparent

Anything Netflix can do, Amazon Prime can do better it seems, especially when it comes to winning a Golden Globe. Netflix may have constructed history by being the first streaming service to win a Golden Globe, courtesy of the acting talents of Kevin Spacey in House of Cards, but Amazon went and topped this by winning the Best TV Show prize in 2014 for Transparent.

It was much deserved. Transparent is everything you want in a Tv depict. It& apos; s heartwarming, funny and packs a real punch about a topic that doesn& apos; t get enough attention: transgenderism. Jeffrey Tambor& apos; s Maura Pfefferman is a television character we hope will be around for a long time.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Comedy

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Fresh Off the Boat

The critically acclaimed series based on the memoirs of chef and food personality Eddie Huang is back for a fourth series. The reveal follows the hip-hop preoccupied Eddie and his family as they reconcile their Taiwanese roots with their new life in Florida, where they have moved to open a cowboy-themed restaurant.

Funny and heartwarming, Fresh Off the Boat is not only totally binge-able, but it also represents an important milestone in the portrayal of Asian-American families on the small screen.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Black-ish

Black-ish is brilliant. Not brilliant-ish, but brilliant. It& apos; s just made by two Nightly Show writers and is about adman Andre, who thinks his kids aren& apos; t, er, black enough because they& apos; ve lived in the very white suburbs all their life. This entails a( auto) crash course in black culture ensues. Two seasons of the present are on Amazon Prime and it& apos; s well worth a watch, filled with the warm humor ABC has brought to the world with the likes of Modern Family and The Goldbergs.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Casual

The final eight episode season of Casual is now available on Amazon Prime. It& apos; s about a freshly divorced single mother who lives with her friend and daughter. The slapstick drama is about dating, romance, households and all kinds of other modern dramata with a funny, and sometimes dark, spin. It& apos; s received a fair bit of critical acclaim over the years, but won& apos; t be returning for a fifth season. So enjoy it while you can!

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Catastrophe

From the minds of Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney comes one of the funniest, most well-written sitcom in years. The plot is slight: a one-night stand turns into a relationship once Sharon announces she is pregnant. But the series contains some of the most cut-to-the-bone humour assure on Tv. Combine this with a nice slab of pathos – nestled among many a sexuality joke – and what you have is a modern classic.

The third series, which recently aired on Channel 4, is now available on Amazon Prime Video – it features the last ever performance from the imitable Carrie Fisher.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Comrade Detective

Comrade Detective is a weird gem on Amazon. Starring Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the show is a parody of gritty American buddy cop indicates and Communist Propaganda from the Cold War.

It& apos; s an unusual combination, but it works. Each episode is presented as though it& apos; s a remastered real episode of a lost Romanian Communist Propaganda series from the 80 s which was used to entertain and promote Communist ideals. The entire demonstrate was filmed in Romania with Romanian actors and then dubbed over by Tatum and Gordon-Levitt.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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New Season Added: The Tick

We like a dark twisting on the superhero genre as much as the next person, and The Tick delivers it: it& apos; s about an accountant with mental health issues, who may or may not be a superhero – it could all be in his head. Peter Serafinowicz is the eponymous Tick, and despite that rather sombre-sounding plot outline, this is a black and surreal comedy worth trying out.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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The Grand Tour

Clarkson, Hammond and the other one are back for Grand Tour: Season 2. Well, we kind of knew that they would be as they all have massive contracts that mean we will be seeing quite a few seasons of the Definitely Not Top Gear But Quite A Bit Like Top Gear show. This season watches Clarkson drive a fast auto, Hammond drive a faster automobile and virtually die, and the other one drive a fast vehicle substantially slower than the rest. If you enjoy watching middle aged men burn rubber in the middle of the desert, like a scene out of Mad Max: Fury Road, then “theyre for” you. And if we haven& apos; t quite convinced you yet – Gizmodo offered up this quote about the display: “Some humen doing stuff for no clearly defined reason.” Lovely stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3( new episodes weekly)

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I Love Dick

Graduating from Amazon Originals pilot to fully fledged TV present, I Love Dick is a great subversive watch. The demonstrate superstars Kevin Bacon and is based on the celebrated book that looks at a married couple who are having marriage issues and their relationship with college professor, Dick. Bacon is on top form as the charismatic Dick and the show& apos; s multiple POV storytelling( Rashomon style) works well.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video TV: 1

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New Season Added: The Last Man On Earth

Not many people can find the funny in the post-apocalypse, but Will Forte has managed it with The Last Man On Earth. He writes and superstars in this comedy where he is the only survivor on earth after a virus kills everyone else. The casting is brilliant, with the likes of January Jones and Kristen Wiig join him on his adventures and there’s a handful of decent cameos too – including Will Ferrell and Jon Hamm in season 3.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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The League

Created by Jeff and Jackie Schaffer and starring Mark Duplass, The League is very much a US focused comedy – based around a group of friends in an American Fantasy Football league – but don’t let that put you off as it’s nearly always hilarious. The durations the group go to to win The Shiva – the league trophy – is great to watch, as is there balancing of trying to win week in week out with their normal lives. All seven seasons of the indicate are available on Prime Video.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 7

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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

A new series from Gilmore Girls creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel tells the story of 1950 s Jewish homemaker Miriam Maisel. After her husband confess he& apos; s been having an affair, Midge drunkenly gets on stage at a comedy club and discovers that she& apos; s utterly hilarious. In a time when women aren& apos; t encouraged to be publicly funny, Midge seeks her new-found comedic talent in the male-dominated stand up comedy world.

Seasons to watch on Amazon Prime: 2

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Mad Dogs

The UK version of Mad Dogs was a breath of fresh air when it first aired. Well, the first season was then it all ran a little too strange. This remake – green-lit from Amazon& apos; s burgeoning Originals series – takes the best from the UK version and mixtures it with a plot that& apos; s a little easier to follow and humour that& apos; s more laugh out loud than pitch black.

The premise is the same: a bunch of mates go and visit one friend at his luxury villa to celebrate his early retirement, only for assassination, mayhem and mind-boggling plot growths to ensue. A touch of genius is the recasting of Ben Chaplin. While he played the rich, retiring Alvo in the UK version here he gets to try his luck in a bigger and better role.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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Mozart in the Jungle

Now into its fourth series, Mozart in the Jungle was this surprise winner at the 2015 Golden Globes, where it won Best Comedy Series. The show is a comedy set in the strange world of classical music. Gael Garcia Bernal plays young conductor Rodrigo who replaces a retiring conductor played by Malcolm McDowell. Based loosely on a true story and created by the likes of Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola, it& apos; s well worth a watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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Parks and Recreation

Parks and Rec is a joy of a display. Originally seen as a quasi spin-off of the Office – using the same documentary style camerawork, awkward pauses, asides to camera – it soon grew from an amusing first season, about the goings on in the parks department of Pawnee, to a slapstick phenomenon that spanned a fantastic seven seasons. It& apos; s not just the script that induces it great, it& apos; s also the characters – headed up by the ever-brilliant Amy Poehler.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 7

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Seinfeld

Seinfeld is comedy gold. It’s the sitcom that was self reflexive and knowing. It was about Jerry Seinfeld who was played by Jerry Seinfeld but was playing a version of himself. It’s a similar trick Larry David used when spinning off his character for the present Curb Your Enthusiasm. He even took it a step further to make a whole season of Curb dedicated to bringing back Seinfeld. Over nine seasons this show, which is essentially about nothing, will captivate you, build you laugh and think. It’s fantastic.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 9

Thrillers

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New Season Added: The Americans

The Americans was cruelly mishandled when it originally came to UK TV, so we are glad it was eventually discovered a decent place to reside. The show is a cracking crime period thriller that are consistent with the exploits of a couple of KGB agents posing as US citizens around the time Ronald Reagan became US president.

It may occasionally flit between the ridiculous and the sublime but you would expect nothing more from a show that& apos; s main conceit comprises characters duelling with duality. The& apos; 80 s setting is fantastic, too, though there aren& apos; t enough shell suits for our liking.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 6

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The Crossing

This sci-fi thriller has a really interesting premise. A group of refugees trying to escape a war arrive in an American town looking for somewhere to live. The sci-fi twist? They seem to be from 180 years in the future. Gasp! The story centres around a local sheriff, a federal agent and a mum looking for her missing daughter. It& apos; s full of conspiracy, mystery and there might be a superpower or two thrown in for good measure. But shh, we don& apos; t want to spoil anything.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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The Exorcist

There has been an influx of TV adaptations of movies recently, with many of them actually making the mark. The ones that succeed the most are those that take the topic/ feeling of the films they are adapting and go in their own direction – Fargo is a perfect example of this. Another example is The Exorcist. Although it takes a couple of episodes to get going, the TV series is a decent spin-off of the movie, with merely a slither of a thread attaching the two.

Don& apos; t anticipate full-on scares, as this is definitely a slow burner. But when the exorcisms come( and there are a few) they will send a chill down your spine. The show is now into its second season, too, so you can watch the first season with the knowledge that the tale of terror is set to continue.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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The Fall

Before he was whipping up a storm as Mr Grey, Jamie Dornan played an effortlessly charming and equally chilling serial murderer in The Fall, a fantastic Irish drama that deserves all the acclaim it gets.

Dornan is Paul Spector, a care worker who has a sideline in killing female. To help way him down, hard-nosed detective Stella Gibson( Gillian Anderson) heads to Belfast to try and capture the murderer. The Fall is a perfect blend of intelligent scripting, nuanced acting and a fantastic premise. Knowing who the killer is from scene one amps up, rather than releases, the depict& apos; s tension.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Fear The Walking Dead

Fear The Walking Dead is a show that tries its hardest to be more than a spin-off. Set in Los Angeles, the reveal follows high school guidance counselor Madison Clark( a brilliant Kim Dickens fresh from Treme) and English teacher Travis Manawa( Cliff Curtis) as they adapt to a life after the& apos; zombie& apos; outbreak. The show is slow paced, each episode is an hour and there& apos; s a 90 -minute pilot, but it manages to approach the Walking Dead world in a wholly different way.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Halt And Catch Fire

Now in its fourth season, Halt And Catch Fire is another surefire hit by AMC – the folks that brought us Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Set around a fictionalised version of the computer revolution of the 1980 s and the rise of the web in the& apos; 90 s, Catch Fire is a fantastic look at how technology has improved all our lives, while virtually tearing apart the innovators at the same time.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Hap and Leonard

Filmed in Baton Rouge and based on the stories of Joe Lansdale, Hap and Leonard is a great swampy noir thriller of a show that’s based on the relationship of two friends and the sometimes violent rubs they get into. James Purefoy and Michael K Williams are superb as the pair, one a Vietnam vet, the other a draft dodger. Set in the 80 s, the show is similar to Cold In July, the movie from the same writer and is only six episodes long, so perfect for a binge watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

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Haven

Stephen King has had a rocky journey to the big and small screen. For every adaptation that works( Misery, Shawshank Redemption ), there’s a dozen that don’t( The Langoliers, Under The Dome TV show ). Haven is a strange one – it’s a show that started as an adaptation of a Stephen King short story, The Colorado Kid, and has mutated into a love letter to King and his tales. Over the course of five seasons, the depict has becomes a great watch – especially if you are a King fan and can spot the many references.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

Update: Haven is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it& apos; s no longer free. You& apos; ll have to pay PS2. 49 per episode, or buy a whole season for PS13. 99.

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Into The Badlands

Into The Badlands is a heady mix of brilliant martial arts and high drama as developed fighter Sunny( Daniel Wu) takes a group of people on a distorted road trip-up through the mystic badlands, a post-apocalyptic landscape some 500 years after a devastating war. There& apos; s plenty of bite in each episode, and it also contains some of the best fighting seen on television.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Mr Robot

It was an agonising wait for Mr Robot in the UK – the first season had all-but ended in the US before we even got a sniff of it. But its popularity meant that there was something of a bid war to see who would show it in the UK. Amazon, Netflix and other more traditional broadcasters fought for it, is confirmed that even bean counters can see the worth in counter culture.

Amazon won in the end and is the perfect place for a show that focuses on the exploits of hacker Elliot( a superb Rami Malek ). Mr Robot is Fight Club for the Tor generation, lifting a lid on a world where what Linux kernel you use is not just a badge of honour but a way of life.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

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The Man In The High Castle

There have been a number of successful Amazon pilots that have constructed it to a full series but none have the epic potential that Man In The High Castle has. This Philip K Dick adaptation is finally available to creek – with all episodes ready for your consumption. High Castle imagines what the world would be like if Germany had won World War II and the Nazis had taken global control. Turns out it& apos; s a bit worse than us all driving around in VW Beetles and wearing Hugo Boss coats.

Season 2 is now available and expands on the mythos. Given this is a cautionary tale about what could happen when the hard right takes over America, things suddenly don& apos; t feel too far fetched.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

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Preacher

Amazon of a Preacher, man! Preacher is the next big comic-book adaptation and my divinity it& apos; s good. It takes the deranged feel of the graphic fictions and translates it well to the small screen. Dominic Cooper is great as small-town preacher Jesse Custer who, inhabited by a strange spirit, starts to do God& apos; s work in a small America town with his ex girlfriend( a brilliant Ruth Negga) and an Irish vampire, played by Misfits& apos; Joe Gilgun as his cohorts.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Ripper Street

For a show that’s immersed in murder, it’s pleasing to note that we all have Amazon to thank for breathing new life into Ripper Street. After two series of the display, which focuses on the lives of the East End of London in the 19 th Century where there is a copycat Jack the Ripper on the loose, it was cancelled by the BBC. Amazon decided there was enough fan love out there, thankfully, and revived the reveal for three more series. Great acting masks some of the hokier moments of the script but this is all good, grizzly fun.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 5

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Sons Of Anarchy

Seemingly always vying for the top spot of Best Recently Finished Drama( we may have made up that awarding) with Breaking Bad, Sons Of Anarchy is a long brooding menace of a show that deserves your attention. Centred on a motorcycle gang that live by their own rules( you can probably guess what their name is from the title) the show is positively Shakespearean in its storytelling and will have you gripped from episode one.

While Ron Perlman steals the display as Clay, Charlie Hunnam& apos; s Jax is one of the best tortured spirits you will see on any television show. All seven seasons of the depict are now streaming on the service.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 7

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Vikings

If you have any interest in Norse mythology then the name Ragnar Lothbrok will mean a whole lot to you. Basically he was a king and powerful ruler that was a right git to the English and the French.

Vikings is a series that tracings his Norse-based goings on with enough charm and scope to take on Game of Thrones in the sword and sandals stakes. Yes it takes a number of liberties with its source material but the acting is top class, as is the cinematography in a historical romp that& apos; s now deservedly in its fourth season – the second half of which is now available.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

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The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead has been reanimated more days than the zombies that harruange the working group on survivors we have all come to know and love. Initially created with Frank Darabont at the helm, he left after the first season then his replacement was eventually replaced and their replacing replaced.

With this in mind, it& apos; s astonishing that not only has the prove consistently managed to improve season after season it has become one of the most successful series ever. Yes it sometimes slumps along slower than a zombie with its legs hacked off but give it time and it will reward you with more drama than you can shake a bloody stump at.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 9

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The X-Files

The X-Files was one of the first shows that embraced event Tv. Yes, it had many& apos; monster of the week& apos; storylines but creator Chris Carter managed to produce a nine-season long myth arc that maintained spectators coming home for more. That and the brilliant casting of David Duchovny as Fox Mulder and the ever-excellent Gillian Anderson and Dana Scully. With a new 10 th season on the horizon, Amazon has put all nine previous seasons on to Prime – all remastered in widescreen. Lovely stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 9

The best of the remainder, and coming soon

All or Nothing

We definitely recommend you get stuck into All or Nothing, a football documentary that follows Manchester City behind-the-scenes during the Premier League winning and record-breaking 2017/2018 season. It& apos; s an 8-part series that features all kinds of exclusive footage, from locker room pep talks with coach Pep Guardiola, and a look at the players& apos; lives off and on the pitching. It& apos; s a must-watch for everyone from die-hard Man City fans to even those with a vague interested in footy.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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Batman: The Animated Series

You& apos; ve watched all the Nolan and Burton Bat flicks, and you& apos; re wisely avoiding the new Batfleck cinemas. If you& apos; re still hankering for a Batman fix, you were able to do far, far worse than jumping into Batman: The Animated Series. Kicking off back in 1992, it bridges the gap of the Burton aesthetic and the comic book series, and is regarded by Batman fans as having perhaps the definitive onscreen take over the Dark Knight.

It& apos; s ostensibly a kids cartoon, but the ongoing storylines are captivating and stylishly noir-like in delivery. And to cap things off, the voice casting is superb- Kevin Conroy is an assuredly-good Batman( reprising the role for the recent Batman: Arkham games ), while Star Wars& apos; own Mark Hamill is a fantastically unhinged Joker.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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Grand Prix Driver

This new Amazon Original documentary takes viewers underneath the glitz and glamour that is the surface of Formula 1, to explore the inner-workings of the 2017 McLaren team. Narrated by Michael Douglas, this documentary follows rookie driver Stoffel Vandoorne over four episodes, as he and his team prepare for the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship.

Season on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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Grimm

Merge a fairy tale fantasy with a police drama and you get Grimm. It& apos; s all about Nick Burkhardt, a detective based in Portland in the US who detects he& apos; s a Grimm. Which basically entails he& apos; s a kind of mystical protector who must keep the peace between humans and beasts called Wesen. As you might expect, a lot of the characters are inspired by Grimms& apos; Fairy tale, but the present depicts from many other sources too to create a story that& apos; s a little like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but with fairy tale creatures.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 6

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Coming Soon: Good Omens

From the genius literary and fantasy intellects of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett comes the Tv adaptation of their magical volume Good Omens. Starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen in the lead roles of a demon and an angel, the tale is told over six parts and is anticipated to be the hottest new Tv demonstrate this Spring.

Release Date: May 31, 2019

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Coming Soon: Fleabag( Season 2)

Fleabag season 1 altered everything we knew about comedy, transgressing the fourth wall and bringing the very authentic, laugh out loud funny and, at times, wholly heartbreaking private moments of the lovable but deep flawed lead character to our TV screens. Season 2 was a huge hit when it first aired earlier this year, and you can relive all the& apos; sexy clergyman& apos; magic on Amazon soon.

Release Date: May 17, 2019

Read more: techradar.com

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Best Amazon Prime TV shows (May 2019): the best series to watch this month

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Best Amazon Prime TV shows (May 2019): the best series to watch this month

Amazon Prime Video is on a roll. The streaming service adds exclusive Tv presents and fresh new episodes to its TV catalogue every week. Although that means you& apos; ve always got plenty of old favourites and new series to binge on, it entails it can be tricky to choose which one to pick next. But this list is here to help construct that option a little bit easier.

Amazon Prime Video is part of the Amazon Prime membership, which means a lot more than just super fast deliveries these days.

For starters, there’s Prime Music, Audible freebies, the Kindle Lending Library, lots of photos storage and the chance to stream great movies and Tv shows through Prime Video, which is Amazon’s answer to an on-demand streaming service.

Although Amazon has a huge back catalogue on its Prime Video service, there are lots of mediocre TV options too, which might fool you into thinking they’d be worthy of a watch, as well as lots of genuinely terrible ones, which we& apos ;d prefer you didn& apos; t waste your time on at all.

We& apos; ve collected together a huge selection of TV shows for you to choose from, including shiny new series through to Amazon& apos; s own original shows.

In our guide you& apos; ll detect our pick of the best Amazon Prime TV shows that are currently on offer. We have options for fans of thrillers, jaw-dropping sci-fi, comedy fans and those who enjoy nothing more than a fantasy police drama.

Coming Soon: Although this list is full of great TV depicts, there are always some tantalising new series on the horizon that we can& apos; t wait to watch. You& apos; ll have to wait until the very end of May( May 31, to be exact) but this spring is all about Good Omens, the Tv display adaptation of the magical volume from the fantastical minds of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. This month also welcomes the darkly funny season 2 of Fleabag( May 17 ), as well as the third season of Sneaky Pete( May 10 ).

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Get your free 30 -day Amazon Prime trial

Amazon has been developing and creating titles itself over the past few years, who the hell is called Amazon Originals or Amazon Original Series.

These homegrown TV proves are arguably some of the best that the Amazon Prime Video service has to offer( believe The Tick and Transparent ), which you can watch instantaneously when you have Amazon Prime access. There are many more shows you can watch through Amazon too of course, but some of these have to be purchased in order for you to start streaming.

We& apos; ll be keeping this list constantly updated- if any paid proves become free that we feel need to be included, they& apos; ll be added too. Scroll through to see our pickings that we& apos; ve divided up into the following categories: drama, comedy and thriller.

If you can only watch one …

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The Tick

The Tick is a superhero TV show with a difference. It& apos; s chock full of brightly-coloured heroes, sarcastic villains, excellent tales and fantastic wordplay. Unlike the sagas in Marvel movies, the heroes and rogues in The Tick feel like they belong to our world. They& apos; re messy, funny and construct lots of terrible decisions. Luckily, the display was renewed for a second season, which manages to be even smarter, slicker and more heartwarming than the first, with noteworthy performances from Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman in the lead roles as The Tick and, erm, Arthur.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

Check out our in-depth Amazon Prime Video reviewFancy a cinema? Then our best Amazon Prime movies feature is for youWant to see what the rival is doing? Then check out best Netflix TV provesThese are the best movies on Netflix UK

Amazon Prime or Netflix? Check out our comparison video below!

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Absentia

If you& apos; ve had a Stana Katic shaped hole in your life since Castle ended in 2016, you& apos; ll be glad to know she& apos; s starring in a brand new series on Amazon Prime. Katic takes up the role of FBI agent Emily Byrne who, six years after being proclaimed dead, returns to the world and has to try and piece her life and memory back together.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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New Season Added: The Expanse

Arguably the best sci-fi show since Battlestar Galatica, The Expanse is based on the series of fictions by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. It& apos; s set in a future where humans have colonised most of the solar system, but there are big divisions between the occupants of Earth, Mars and& apos; Belters& apos ;, who reside on space station beyond the asteroid belt. It& apos; s full of politics, heart-wrenching emotional stories and some of the most breath-taking scenes of outer space we& apos; ve ever seen. If you& apos; re a fan of sci-fi, you& apos; ll love this.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Alias

US action series Alias ran for five seasons between 2001 and 2006 and fans will be happy to hear every single episode is now ready to stream on Amazon Prime Instant Video right this instant! Created by J. J. Abrams, the Tv indicate starrings Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, a double agent who is working for the CIA, but also posing as an operative for an organisation called SD-6, which is a big criminal and espionage network.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

Update: Alias is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it& apos; s no longer free. You& apos; ll have to pay PS2. 49 per episode, or buy a whole season for PS13. 99.

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Tom Clancy& apos; s Jack Ryan

The long-awaited latest re-imagining of Tom Clancy& apos; s Jack Ryan is now available on Amazon Prime, with the fantastic John Krasinski( best known for his role in the US version of The Office) playing CIA analyst Ryan. The indicate has received largely positive reviews and it& apos; s definitely worth devote the first few episodes a watch, particularly if you& apos; re a fan of political dramata, the Jack Ryan stories or Krasinski.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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Ray Donovan

Set in LA, Ray Donovan is a drama about a guy called, you guessed it, Ray Donovan, who is a fixer for a top statute firm in the city. That entails he gets caught up in all kinds of drama, like threats, bribes and every other kind of shady activity you can imagine.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 6

Update: Ray Donovan is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it& apos; s no longer free. You& apos; ll have to pay PS2. 49 per episode, or buy a whole season for PS13. 99.

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New Season Added: American Gods

Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and brought to the screen by the ever-excellent Bryan Fuller, American Gods is an existential look at what would happen if deities were to walk the earth.

Starring Ricky Whittle( who has built the transition from Hollyoaks to Hollywood with ease) and Ian McShane, the show is both bizarre and brazen, cultish and controversial. It may take a while to figure out just what the hell is going on, but this is one smart, celestial slice of amusement that& apos; s already got us hooked.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 2

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Animal Kingdom

Looking for a new crime drama to get stuck into? Animal Kingdom could be what you& apos; re looking forward to. The depict follows adolescent J Cody who moves in with extended relatives in Southern California after the death of his mother. Far from being boring, Cody discoveries his relatives live a wild life of excess and it& apos; s all funded by crime.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Black Sails

Johnny Depp may have spend the latter half of his career convincing the world that pirates all look, stench and talk like a Rolling Stone but we prefer Black Sails& apos; interpretation. Exclusive to Amazon Prime, Black Sails treats the pirate legend with a touch more reality and this is pretty much all down to Shakespearean thesp Toby Stephens.

Number of seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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New Season Added: Bosch

With 20 -something novels to mine for source material, Bosch is a character that was always destined for the small screen. Created by Michael Connelly but brilliantly brought to life by actor Titus Welliver, the series follows the exploits of LA Homicide detective Harry Bosch and features enough grit to pave the longest of driveways.

This is no surprise – the series has been created by Eric Overmyer, who was part of the alumni that created The Wire. Bosch is another show that has been put together by Amazon Studios – proving that streaming services are becoming just as powerful as the HBOs of the world when it comes to producing compelling drama.

Bosch Season 5 has now landed on Amazon Prime, continuing the saga of Harry Bosch and it comes with a nice uplift in quality too, building season upon season to become one of our favourite presents on Prime at the moment.

Number of seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

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Goliath

Billy Bob Thornton stars as a washed-up lawyer looking for a big break who stumbles on to a big case that may well give him the solace he needs. Made by David E Kelly who loves a bit of courtroom drama, having already made Boston Legal, The Practice and Ally McBeal, the display works well as a standalone series but there& apos; s talk that it may get a second season. Goliath is part of Amazon& apos; s Original series of TV shows.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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The Good Fight

If you were a fan of US legal and political drama The Good Wife, then you& apos; re going to love The Good Fight. It& apos; s set one year after the events of the final episode of the The Good Wife and this time shifts the focus of the narrative to Diane Lockhart.

Season one has been a success and now the second season is available to stream via Amazon, but regrettably it& apos; s not free. But while you either wait for it to become free( it may take a while) or wait to decide whether it& apos; s worth it, catch up on the first season now to help you induce your intellect up.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3( The 3rd season is available, but you& apos; ll have to pay for it .)

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Hand of God

Last seen in Sons of Anarchy, Ron Perlman has moved from the mad world of biker gangs into the stranger world of law. Perlman plays a vice-riddled barrister who, after suffering a breakdown, starts to believe he is a messenger from god.

The full first season for Hand of God arrived on Amazon Prime, after a successful pilot. A second season is also available, which will sadly be the last as Amazon has decided to not renew the demonstrate. This is a shame as it may not be a light-hearted ride – but it is one drama that takes dark turn after dark turn and is all the better for it.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels sounds like it should be a Sons of Anarchy rival, about motorcycle gangs or the like. But it’s actually centred on the construction of the US’s First Transcontinental Railroad. The first season begins soon after the assassination of President Lincoln and from there the demonstrate plays out like a western, indicating myriad sides of the railway being built – from slaves to their owners, to the money me behind the strategy. It’s a show that’s been a massive hit for AMC – dropping just behind The Walking Dead in their ratings for original shows.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 5

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The Last Tycoon

F Scott Fitzgerald may be known for The Great Gatsby and Tender Is The Night but The Last Tycoon – his last and unfinished fiction – is perhaps his most ambitious piece of work. It peels away the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in the& apos; 30 s to show a period when backstabbing was the norm, fascism was on the rise and everyone had an unbelievable amount of money. Kelsey Grammer is superb as movie mogul Pat Brady, while Matt Bomer is also great as Monroe Stahr, the up and coming cinema exec who wants to make it big. The Last Tycoon is occasionally flawed but it& apos; s a sumptuous watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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The Looming Tower

The 8th episode of The Looming Tower are now available on Amazon Prime Video, but despite the fact there still aren& apos; t many compared against most Tv presents, it hasn& apos; t stopped this narrative of threat and politics from proving to be a hit. Based on the book by the same name, it& apos; s about the unease around Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden in the 1990 s, as well as the rivalry between the CIA and FBI.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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Downton Abbey

Like watching fictional posh people live their lives in early-twentieth century opulence? You& apos; re not alone- millions of people tuned in to Downton Abbey during its TV run, and it& apos; s now available to stream in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video.

Following the trials and tribulations of the Crawley family on the titular Downton Abbey estate, it& apos; s a kitchen sink drama of sorts- except all the cutlery is made of silver, and it& apos; s an army of servants doing the washing up.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 7

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Masters Of Sex

Yes, Masters Of Sex could have ended up being a Mad Men rip-off when it first arrived in 2013 but thanks to the brilliance of Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan the present soon elevated above being a copycat.

Sheen is Dr William Masters, a fertility expert who turns his hand to researching the world of sex. Turns out researching sexuality entails having a lot of it, which would all be rather gratuitous if it wasn& apos; t wrap in some of the most intelligent script work around.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Outlander

Game of Thrones with kilts and time traveling, Outlander was a solid show in its first season – by the second it was a great one. Based on the eight-book series by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is about Claire Randall, a nurse who is transported from 1945 to 1743, where she satisfies a Scottish proscribe and a simmer romance ensues. Given it’s shot in the Scottish highlands, the prove seems fantastic, is well acted and should be your next binge watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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The Path

Aaron Paul is back on Tv, thanks to The Path. And while his role might not be as enticing as Jesse in Breaking Bad, The Path is decent enough. Revolving around the Meyerist movement, and its’ not a cult/ definitely a cult& apos; cult, the show is a gripping and beautifully shot look at what happens when people genuinely believe.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Rogue

Now in its fourth season, Rogue has matured into a great crime drama. While it may not be the Sopranos in its scope, it has a realness to it that attains the violence that& apos; s shown on the screen hit home hard. Thandie Newton stars a Grace Travis, an undercover sleuth who is trying to balance being a wife and mother with the illicit affair of a crime boss. Gritty stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete& apos; s plot maybe a little cliche – a con man presumes the identity of someone else to try and make a new break in the world – but Giovanni Ribisi is superb as Marius, the titular character and there& apos; s plenty of intrigue to keep you glued to this new Amazon Original.

Interestingly, the show is co-created by Bryan Cranston which builds him the streaming king, devoted he& apos; s done so well with Breaking Bad on Netflix. Don& apos; t anticipate Sneaky Pete to be as intense as Breaking Bad – it& apos; s a crime caper, yes, but it doesn& apos; t take itself too seriously.

The third season of the show is coming on May 10, 2019.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Startup

Not content with becoming a Hobbit, starring in the Marvel universe or playing Dr Watson, Martin Freeman goes back to his TV roots for Startup – a great look at what happens when a bunch of tech entrepreneurs generate something that is much bigger than they ever thought it would be. It is sometimes be too gritty for its own good, but it& apos; s great to see Freeman hamming it up as the big bad.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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UnREAL

UnREAL focuses on the fictional goings-on behind the scenes of a fictional reality indicate. It& apos; s a show that holds a break mirror up to the vacuous and plentiful reality shows that litter TV channels at the moment and actually goes into some rather dark territory. Yes, it& apos; s melodramatic and will wave numerous moral flags at you while you are watching it, but it& apos; s nonetheless engrossing television.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Transparent

Anything Netflix can do, Amazon Prime can do better it seems, especially when it comes to winning a Golden Globe. Netflix may have induced history by being the first streaming service to win a Golden Globe, courtesy of the acting talents of Kevin Spacey in House of Cards, but Amazon ran and topped this by winning the Best TV Show prize in 2014 for Transparent.

It was much deserved. Transparent is everything you want in a Tv reveal. It& apos; s heartwarming, funny and packs a real punch about a subject that doesn& apos; t get enough attention: transgenderism. Jeffrey Tambor& apos; s Maura Pfefferman is a television character we hope will be around for a long time.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Comedy

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Fresh Off the Boat

The critically acclaimed series based on the memoirs of chef and food personality Eddie Huang is back for a fourth series. The show follows the hip-hop preoccupied Eddie and his family as they reconcile their Taiwanese roots with their new life in Florida, where they have moved to open a cowboy-themed restaurant.

Funny and heartwarming, Fresh Off the Boat is not only altogether binge-able, but it also represents an important milestone in the portrayal of Asian-American families on the small screen.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Black-ish

Black-ish is brilliant. Not brilliant-ish, but brilliant. It& apos; s just made by two Nightly Show writers and is about adman Andre, who thinks his children aren& apos; t, er, black enough because they& apos; ve lives in the very white suburbs all their life. This entails a( vehicle) crash course in black culture ensues. Two seasons of the display are on Amazon Prime and it& apos; s well worth a watch, filled with the warm humour ABC has brought to the world with the likes of Modern Family and The Goldbergs.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Casual

The final eight episode season of Casual is now available on Amazon Prime. It& apos; s about a newly divorced single mom who lives with her brother and daughter. The slapstick drama is about dating, romance, families and all kinds of other modern dramata with a funny, and sometimes dark, twist. It& apos; s received a fair bit of critical acclaim over the years, but won& apos; t be returning for a fifth season. So enjoy it while you can!

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Catastrophe

From the minds of Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney comes one of the funniest, most well-written sitcom in years. The plot is slight: a one-night stand turns into a relationship once Sharon announces she is pregnant. But the series contains some of the most cut-to-the-bone humour seen on Tv. Combine this with a nice slab of pathos – nestled among many a sexuality joke – and what you have is a modern classic.

The third series, which recently aired on Channel 4, is now available on Amazon Prime Video – it features the last ever performance from the imitable Carrie Fisher.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Comrade Detective

Comrade Detective is a weird gem on Amazon. Starring Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the show is a parody of gritty American buddy policeman indicates and Communist Propaganda from the Cold War.

It& apos; s an unusual combining, but it works. Each episode is presented as though it& apos; s a remastered real episode of a lost Romanian Communist Propaganda series from the 80 s which was used to entertain and promote Communist ideals. The entire display was filmed in Romania with Romanian actors and then dubbed over by Tatum and Gordon-Levitt.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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New Season Added: The Tick

We like a dark twisting on the superhero genre as much as the next person, and The Tick delivers it: it& apos; s about an accountant with mental health issues, who may or may not be a superhero – it could all be in his head. Peter Serafinowicz is the eponymous Tick, and despite that instead sombre-sounding plot outline, this is a black and surreal slapstick worth attempting out.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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The Grand Tour

Clarkson, Hammond and the other one are back for Grand Tour: Season 2. Well, we kind of knew that they would be as they all have massive contracts that mean we will be seeing quite a few seasons of the Definitely Not Top Gear But Quite A Bit Like Top Gear show. This season considers Clarkson drive a fast auto, Hammond drive a faster vehicle and virtually die, and the other one drive a fast car considerably slower than the rest. If you enjoy watching middle aged men burn rubber in the middle of the desert, like a scene out of Mad Max: Fury Road, then “theyre for” you. And if we haven& apos; t quite convinced you yet – Gizmodo offered up this quote about the reveal: “Some men doing stuff for no clearly defined reason.” Lovely stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3( new episodes weekly)

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I Love Dick

Graduating from Amazon Originals pilot to fully fledged TV prove, I Love Dick is a great subversive watch. The indicate starrings Kevin Bacon and is based on the celebrated book that looks at a married couple who are having marriage issues and their relationship with college professor, Dick. Bacon is on top form as the charismatic Dick and the reveal& apos; s multiple POV storytelling( Rashomon style) works well.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video TV: 1

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New Season Added: The Last Man On Earth

Not many people can find the funny in the post-apocalypse, but Will Forte has managed it with The Last Man On Earth. He writes and stars in this comedy where he is the only survivor on earth after a virus kills everyone else. The cast is brilliant, with the likes of January Jones and Kristen Wiig join him on his adventures and there’s a handful of decent cameos too – including Will Ferrell and Jon Hamm in season 3.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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The League

Created by Jeff and Jackie Schaffer and starring Mark Duplass, The League is very much a US focused comedy – based around a group of friends in an American Fantasy Football league – but don’t let that put you off as it’s nearly always hilarious. The lengths the group go to to win The Shiva – the league trophy – is great to watch, as is there balancing of trying to win week in week out with their normal lives. All seven seasons of the prove are available on Prime Video.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 7

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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

A new series from Gilmore Girls creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel tells the story of 1950 s Jewish homemaker Miriam Maisel. After her husband confess he& apos; s been having an affair, Midge drunkenly gets on stage at a comedy club and discovers that she& apos; s utterly hilarious. In a period when women aren& apos; t encouraged to be publicly funny, Midge seeks her new-found comedic talent in the male-dominated stand up comedy world.

Seasons to watch on Amazon Prime: 2

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Mad Dogs

The UK version of Mad Dogs was a breath of fresh air when it first aired. Well, the first season was then it all went a little too strange. This remake – green-lit from Amazon& apos; s burgeoning Originals series – takes very good from the UK version and mixtures it with a plot that& apos; s a little easier to follow and humour that& apos; s more laugh out loud than pitch black.

The premise is the same: a bunch of mates go and visit one friend at his luxury villa to celebrate his early retirement, only for murder, mayhem and mind-boggling plot developments to ensue. A touch of genius is the recasting of Ben Chaplin. While he played the rich, retiring Alvo in the UK version here he gets to try his luck in a bigger and better role.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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Mozart in the Jungle

Now into its fourth series, Mozart in the Jungle was this surprise winner at the 2015 Golden Globes, where it won Best Comedy Series. The show is a comedy set in the strange world of classical music. Gael Garcia Bernal plays young conductor Rodrigo who replaces a retiring conductor played by Malcolm McDowell. Based loosely on a true narrative and created by the likes of Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola, it& apos; s well worth a watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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Parks and Recreation

Parks and Rec is a joy of a indicate. Originally seen as a quasi spin-off of the Office – utilizing the same documentary style camerawork, awkward pauses, asides to camera – it soon grew from an amusing first season, about the goings on in the parks department of Pawnee, to a slapstick phenomenon that spanned a fantastic seven seasons. It& apos; s not just the script that stimulates it great, it& apos; s also the characters – headed up by the ever-brilliant Amy Poehler.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 7

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Seinfeld

Seinfeld is comedy gold. It’s the sitcom that was self reflexive and knowing. It was about Jerry Seinfeld who was played by Jerry Seinfeld but was playing a version of himself. It’s a similar trick Larry David used when spinning off his character for the show Curb Your Enthusiasm. He even took it a step further to make a whole season of Curb dedicated to bringing back Seinfeld. Over nine seasons this prove, which is essentially about nothing, will captivate you, make you laugh and think. It’s fantastic.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 9

Thrillers

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New Season Added: The Americans

The Americans was cruelly mishandled when it originally came to UK TV, so we are glad it has finally discovered a decent place to reside. The show is a cracking crime period thriller that follows the exploits of a couple of KGB agents posing as US citizens around the time Ronald Reagan became US president.

It may occasionally flit between the ridiculous and the sublime but you would expect nothing more from a is demonstrating that& apos; s main conceit comprises characters duelling with duality. The& apos; 80 s defining is fantastic, too, though there aren& apos; t enough shell suits for our liking.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 6

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The Crossing

This sci-fi thriller has a really interesting premise. A group of refugees trying to escape a war arrive in an American town looking for somewhere to live. The sci-fi twist? They seem to be from 180 years in the future. Gasp! The tale centres around a local sheriff, a federal agent and a mum looking forward to her missing daughter. It& apos; s full of conspiracy, mystery and there might be a superpower or two thrown in for good measure. But shh, we don& apos; t want to spoil anything.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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The Exorcist

There has been an influx of TV adaptations of movies recently, with many of them actually reaching the mark. The ones that succeeded the most are those that take the theme/ feeling of the movies they are adapting and go in their own direction – Fargo is a perfect example of this. Another instance is The Exorcist. Although it takes a couple of episodes to to go in there, the Tv series is a decent spin-off of the movie, with only a slither of a thread attaching the two.

Don& apos; t anticipate full-on scares, as this is definitely a slow burner. But when the exorcisms come( and there are a few) they will send a chill down your spine. The show is now into its second season, too, so you can watch the first season with the knowledge that the narrative of terror is set to continue.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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The Fall

Before he was whipping up a blizzard as Mr Grey, Jamie Dornan played an effortlessly charming and equally chilling serial killer in The Fall, a fantastic Irish drama that deserves all the acclaim it gets.

Dornan is Paul Spector, a care worker who has a sideline in killing woman. To help track him down, hard-nosed detective Stella Gibson( Gillian Anderson) heads to Belfast to try and capture the murderer. The Fall is a perfect blend of intelligent scripting, nuanced acting and a fantastic premise. Knowing who the killer is from scene one amps up, rather than releases, the present& apos; s tension.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Fear The Walking Dead

Fear The Walking Dead is a show that tries its hardest to be more than a spin-off. Set in Los Angeles, the indicate follows high school guidance counselor Madison Clark( a brilliant Kim Dickens fresh from Treme) and English educator Travis Manawa( Cliff Curtis) as they adapt to a life after the& apos; zombie& apos; outbreak. The show is slow paced, each episode is an hour and there& apos; s a 90 -minute pilot, but it manages to approach the Walking Dead world in a wholly different way.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Halt And Catch Fire

Now in its fourth season, Halt And Catch Fire is another surefire hit by AMC – the folks that brought us Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Set around a fictionalised version of the computer revolution of the 1980 s and the rise of the web in the& apos; 90 s, Catch Fire is a fantastic look at how technology has improved all “peoples lives”, while nearly tearing apart the innovators at the same time.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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Hap and Leonard

Filmed in Baton Rouge and based on the stories of Joe Lansdale, Hap and Leonard is a great swampy noir thriller of a show that’s based on the relationship of two friends and the sometimes violent scrapes they get into. James Purefoy and Michael K Williams are superb as the pair, one a Vietnam vet, the other a draft dodger. Set in the 80 s, the show is similar to Cold In July, the movie from the same writer and is only six episodes long, so perfect for a binge watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

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Haven

Stephen King has had a rocky journey to the big and small screen. For every adaptation that works( Misery, Shawshank Redemption ), there’s a dozen that don’t( The Langoliers, Under The Dome TV show ). Haven is a strange one – it’s a show that started as an adaptation of a Stephen King short story, The Colorado Kid, and has mutated into a love letter to King and his stories. Over the course of five seasons, the demonstrate has becomes a great watch – especially if you are a King fan and can spot the many references.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

Update: Haven is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it& apos; s no longer free. You& apos; ll have to pay PS2. 49 per episode, or buy a whole season for PS13. 99.

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Into The Badlands

Into The Badlands is a heady mix of brilliant martial arts and high drama as developed fighter Sunny( Daniel Wu) takes a group of people on a distorted road trip-up through the mystical badlands, a post-apocalyptic landscape some 500 years after a devastating war. There& apos; s plenty of bite in each episode, and it also contains some of the best fighting seen on television.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Mr Robot

It was an agonising wait for Mr Robot in the UK – the first season had all-but ended in the US before we even got a sniff of it. But its popularity meant that there was something of a bidding war to see who would show it in the UK. Amazon, Netflix and other more traditional broadcasters fought for it, proving that even bean counters can see the worth in counter culture.

Amazon won in the end and is the perfect place for a show that focuses on the exploits of hacker Elliot( a superb Rami Malek ). Mr Robot is Fight Club for the Tor generation, lifting a lid on a world where what Linux kernel you use is not just a badge of honour but a way of life.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

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The Man In The High Castle

There have been a number of successful Amazon pilots that have built it to a full series but none have the epic potential that Man In The High Castle has. This Philip K Dick adaptation is finally available to river – with all episodes prepared for your consumption. High Castle imagines what the world would be like if Germany had won World War II and the Nazis had taken global control. Turns out it& apos; s a bit worse than us all driving around in VW Beetles and wearing Hugo Boss coats.

Season 2 is now available and expands on the mythos. Given this is a cautionary tale about what could happen when the hard right takes over America, things suddenly don& apos; t feel too far fetched.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

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Preacher

Amazon of a Preacher, man! Preacher is the next big comic-book adaptation and my deity it& apos; s good. It takes the deranged feel of the graphic novels and translates it well to the small screen. Dominic Cooper is great as small-town preacher Jesse Custer who, occupied by a strange spirit, starts to do God& apos; s work in a small America town with his ex girlfriend( a brilliant Ruth Negga) and an Irish vampire, played by Misfits& apos; Joe Gilgun as his cohorts.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Ripper Street

For a show that’s steeped in murder, it’s pleasing to note that we all have Amazon to thank for breathing new life into Ripper Street. After two series of the depict, which focuses on the lives of the East End of London in the 19 th Century where there is a copycat Jack the Ripper on the loose, it was cancelled by the BBC. Amazon decided there was enough fan love out there, thankfully, and resurrected the show for three more series. Great acting masks some of the hokier moments of the script but this is all good, grizzly fun.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 5

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Sons Of Anarchy

Seemingly always vying for the top spot of Best Recently Finished Drama( we may have made up that award) with Breaking Bad, Sons Of Anarchy is a long brooding menace of a show that deserves your attention. Centred on a motorcycle gang that live by their own rules( you can probably guess what their name is from the title) the show is positively Shakespearean in its storytelling and will have you gripped from episode one.

While Ron Perlman steals the prove as Clay, Charlie Hunnam& apos; s Jax is one of the best tortured spirits you will see on any television depict. All seven seasons of the demonstrate are now streaming on the service.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 7

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Vikings

If you have any interest in Norse mythology then the name Ragnar Lothbrok will entail a whole lot to you. Basically he was a king and powerful ruler that was a right git to the English and the French.

Vikings is a series that traces his Norse-based goings on with enough charm and scope to take on Game of Thrones in the sword and sandals stakes. Yes it takes a number of liberties with its source material but the acting is top class, as is the cinematography in a historical romp that& apos; s now deservedly in its fourth season – the second largest half of which is now available.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

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The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead has been reanimated more hours than the zombies that harruange the group of survivors we have all come to know and love. Initially created with Frank Darabont at the helm, just leave after the first season then his replacing was eventually replaced and their replacing replaced.

With this in mind, it& apos; s amazing that not only has the indicate consistently managed to improve season after season it has become one of the most successful series ever. Yes it sometimes slumps along slower than a zombie with its legs hacked off but give it hour and it will reward you with more drama than you can shake a bloody stump at.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 9

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The X-Files

The X-Files was one of the first shows that espoused event TV. Yes, it had many& apos; ogre of the week& apos; storylines but creator Chris Carter managed to produce a nine-season long myth arc that maintained viewers coming back for more. That and the brilliant casting of David Duchovny as Fox Mulder and the ever-excellent Gillian Anderson and Dana Scully. With a new 10 th season on the horizon, Amazon has put all nine previous seasons on to Prime – all remastered in widescreen. Lovely stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 9

The best of the rest, and coming soon

All or Nothing

We definitely recommend you get stuck into All or Nothing, a football documentary that follows Manchester City behind-the-scenes during the Premier League winning and record-breaking 2017/2018 season. It& apos; s an 8-part series that features all forms of exclusive footage, from locker room pep talks with coach Pep Guardiola, and a look at the players& apos; lives off and on the pitching. It& apos; s a must-watch for everyone from die-hard Man City fans to even those with a vague interested in footy.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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Batman: The Animated Series

You& apos; ve seen all the Nolan and Burton Bat flicks, and you& apos; re wisely avoiding the new Batfleck movies. If you& apos; re still hankering for a Batman fix, you could do far, far worse than jumping into Batman: The Animated Series. Kicking off back in 1992, it bridges the gap of the Burton aesthetic and the comic book series, and is regarded by Batman fans as having perhaps the definitive onscreen take over the Dark Knight.

It& apos; s ostensibly a kids cartoon, but the ongoing storylines are captivating and stylishly noir-like in delivery. And to cap things off, the voice casting is superb- Kevin Conroy is an assuredly-good Batman( reprising the role for the recent Batman: Arkham games ), while Star Wars& apos; own Mark Hamill is a fantastically unhinged Joker.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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Grand Prix Driver

This new Amazon Original documentary takes spectators underneath the glitz and glamour that is the surface of Formula 1, to explore the inner-workings of the 2017 McLaren team. Narrated by Michael Douglas, this documentary follows rookie driver Stoffel Vandoorne over four episodes, as he and his squad prepare for the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship.

Season on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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Grimm

Merge a fairy tale fantasy with a police drama and you get Grimm. It& apos; s all about Nick Burkhardt, a detective based in Portland in the US who discovers he& apos; s a Grimm. Which basically entails he& apos; s a kind of mystical protector who must keep the peace between humans and creatures called Wesen. As you might expect, a lot of the characters are inspired by Grimms& apos; Fairy Tales, but the prove describes from many other sources too to create a story that& apos; s a little like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but with fairy tale creatures.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 6

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Coming Soon: Good Omens

From the genius literary and fantasy minds of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett comes the Tv adaptation of their magical book Good Omens. Starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen in the lead roles of a demon and an angel, the tale is told over six parts and is anticipated to be the hottest new TV display this Spring.

Release Date: May 31, 2019

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Coming Soon: Fleabag( Season 2)

Fleabag season 1 altered everything we knew about comedy, transgressing the fourth wall and bringing the very authentic, laugh out loud funny and, at times, altogether heartbreaking private moments of the lovable but deeply flawed lead character to our TV screens. Season 2 was a huge hit when it first aired earlier this year, and you can relive all the& apos; sexy clergyman& apos; magic on Amazon soon.

Release Date: May 17, 2019

Read more: techradar.com

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Best Amazon Prime TV shows (May 2019): the best series to watch this month

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Best Amazon Prime TV shows (May 2019): the best series to watch this month

Amazon Prime Video is on a roll. The streaming service adds exclusive TV shows and fresh new episodes to its TV catalogue every week. Although that means you've always got plenty of old favourites and new series to binge on, it means it can be tricky to choose which one to pick next. But this list is here to help make that choice a little bit easier. 

Amazon Prime Video is part of the Amazon Prime membership, which means a lot more than just super fast deliveries these days. 

For starters, there’s Prime Music, Audible freebies, the Kindle Lending Library, lots of photos storage and the chance to stream great movies and TV shows through Prime Video, which is Amazon’s answer to an on-demand streaming service. 

Although Amazon has a huge back catalogue on its Prime Video service, there are lots of mediocre TV options too, which might fool you into thinking they’d be worthy of a watch, as well as lots of truly terrible ones, which we'd prefer you didn't waste your time on at all.

We've collected together a huge selection of TV shows for you to choose from, including shiny new series through to Amazon's own original shows. 

In our guide you'll discover our pick of the best Amazon Prime TV shows that are currently on offer. We have options for fans of thrillers, jaw-dropping sci-fi, comedy lovers and those who enjoy nothing more than a fantasy police drama. 

Coming Soon: Although this list is full of great TV shows, there are always some tantalising new series on the horizon that we can't wait to watch. You'll have to wait until the very end of May (May 31, to be exact) but this spring is all about Good Omens, the TV show adaptation of the magical book from the fantastical minds of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. This month also welcomes the darkly funny season 2 of Fleabag (May 17), as well as the third season of Sneaky Pete (May 10). 

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Get your free 30-day Amazon Prime trial

Amazon has been developing and creating titles itself over the past few years, which are called Amazon Originals or Amazon Original Series.

These homegrown TV shows are arguably some of the best that the Amazon Prime Video service has to offer (think The Tick and Transparent), which you can watch instantly when you have Amazon Prime access. There are many more shows you can watch through Amazon too of course, but some of these have to be purchased in order for you to start streaming. 

We'll be keeping this list constantly updated – if any paid shows become free that we feel need to be included, they'll be added too. Scroll through to see our picks that we've divided up into the following categories: drama, comedy and thriller.

If you can only watch one…

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The Tick

The Tick is a superhero TV show with a difference. It's chock full of brightly-coloured heroes, sarcastic villains, excellent stories and fantastic wordplay. Unlike the sagas in Marvel movies, the heroes and villains in The Tick feel like they belong to our world. They're messy, funny and make lots of terrible decisions. Luckily, the show was renewed for a second season, which manages to be even smarter, slicker and more heartwarming than the first, with noteworthy performances from Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman in the lead roles as The Tick and, erm, Arthur. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

Check out our in-depth Amazon Prime Video reviewFancy a film? Then our best Amazon Prime movies feature is for youWant to see what the rival is doing? Then check out best Netflix TV showsThese are the best movies on Netflix UK

Amazon Prime or Netflix? Check out our comparison video below!

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Absentia 

If you've had a Stana Katic shaped hole in your life since Castle ended in 2016, you'll be glad to know she's starring in a brand new series on Amazon Prime. Katic takes up the role of FBI agent Emily Byrne who, six years after being declared dead, returns to the world and has to try and piece her life and memory back together. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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New Season Added: The Expanse

Arguably the best sci-fi show since Battlestar Galatica, The Expanse is based on the series of novels by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. It's set in a future where humans have colonised most of the solar system, but there are big divisions between the occupants of Earth, Mars and 'Belters', who reside on space stations beyond the asteroid belt. It's full of politics, heart-wrenching emotional stories and some of the most breath-taking scenes of outer space we've ever seen. If you're a fan of sci-fi, you'll love this.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Alias

US action series Alias ran for five seasons between 2001 and 2006 and fans will be happy to hear every single episode is available to stream on Amazon Prime Instant Video right this instant! Created by J. J. Abrams, the TV show stars Jennifer Garner as Sydney Bristow, a double agent who is working for the CIA, but also posing as an operative for an organisation called SD-6, which is a big criminal and espionage network.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

Update: Alias is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it's no longer free. You'll have to pay £2.49 per episode, or buy a whole season for £13.99.

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Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan

The long-awaited latest re-imagining of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan is now available on Amazon Prime, with the fantastic John Krasinski (best known for his role in the US version of The Office) playing CIA analyst Ryan. The show has received mostly positive reviews and it's definitely worth giving the first few episodes a watch, particularly if you're a fan of political dramas, the Jack Ryan stories or Krasinski. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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Ray Donovan

Set in LA, Ray Donovan is a drama about a guy called, you guessed it, Ray Donovan, who is a fixer for a top law firm in the city. That means he gets caught up in all kinds of drama, like threats, bribes and every other kind of shady activity you can imagine. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 6

Update: Ray Donovan is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it's no longer free. You'll have to pay £2.49 per episode, or buy a whole season for £13.99.

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New Season Added: American Gods

Based on the novel by Neil Gaiman and brought to the screen by the ever-excellent Bryan Fuller, American Gods is an existential look at what would happen if gods were to walk the earth. 

Starring Ricky Whittle (who has made the transition from Hollyoaks to Hollywood with ease) and Ian McShane, the show is both bizarre and brazen, cultish and controversial. It may take a while to figure out just what the hell is going on, but this is one smart, celestial slice of entertainment that's already got us hooked. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 2

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Animal Kingdom

Looking for a new crime drama to get stuck into? Animal Kingdom could be what you're looking for. The show follows teenager J Cody who moves in with extended relatives in Southern California after the death of his mother. Far from being boring, Cody finds his relatives live a wild life of excess and it's all funded by crime.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3 

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Black Sails

Johnny Depp may have spent the latter half of his career convincing the world that pirates all look, smell and talk like a Rolling Stone but we prefer Black Sails' interpretation. Exclusive to Amazon Prime, Black Sails treats the pirate legend with a touch more reality and this is pretty much all down to Shakespearean thesp Toby Stephens.

Number of seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

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New Season Added: Bosch

With 20-something novels to mine for source material, Bosch is a character that was always destined for the small screen. Created by Michael Connelly but brilliantly brought to life by actor Titus Welliver, the series follows the exploits of LA Homicide detective Harry Bosch and features enough grit to pave the longest of driveways.

This is no surprise – the series has been created by Eric Overmyer, who was part of the alumni that created The Wire. Bosch is another show that has been put together by Amazon Studios – proving that streaming services are becoming just as powerful as the HBOs of the world when it comes to producing compelling drama.

Bosch Season 5 has now landed on Amazon Prime, continuing the saga of Harry Bosch and it comes with a nice uplift in quality too, building season upon season to become one of our favourite shows on Prime at the moment. 

Number of seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

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Goliath

Billy Bob Thornton stars as a washed-up lawyer looking for a big break who stumbles on to a big case that may well give him the solace he needs. Made by David E Kelly who loves a bit of courtroom drama, having already created Boston Legal, The Practice and Ally McBeal, the show works well as a standalone series but there's talk that it may get a second season. Goliath is part of Amazon's Original series of TV shows.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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The Good Fight

If you were a fan of US legal and political drama The Good Wife, then you're going to love The Good Fight. It's set one year after the events of the final episode of the The Good Wife and this time shifts the focus of the story to Diane Lockhart.

Season one has been a success and now the second season is available to stream via Amazon, but unfortunately it's not free. But while you either wait for it to become free (it may take a while) or wait to decide whether it's worth it, catch up on the first season now to help you make your mind up.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3 (The 3rd season is available, but you'll have to pay for it.)

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Hand of God

Last seen in Sons of Anarchy, Ron Perlman has moved from the mad world of biker gangs into the stranger world of law. Perlman plays a vice-riddled barrister who, after suffering a breakdown, starts to believe he is a messenger from god.

The full first season for Hand of God arrived on Amazon Prime, after a successful pilot. A second season is also available, which will sadly be the last as Amazon has decided to not renew the show. This is a shame as it may not be a light-hearted ride – but it is one drama that takes dark turn after dark turn and is all the better for it.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels sounds like it should be a Sons of Anarchy rival, about motorcycle gangs or the like. But it’s actually centred on the construction of the US’s First Transcontinental Railroad. The first season begins soon after the assassination of President Lincoln and from there the show plays out like a western, showing myriad sides of the railway being built – from slaves to their owners, to the money me behind the scheme. It’s a show that’s been a massive hit for AMC – falling just behind The Walking Dead in their ratings for original shows.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 5

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The Last Tycoon

F Scott Fitzgerald may be known for The Great Gatsby and Tender Is The Night but The Last Tycoon – his last and unfinished novel – is perhaps his most ambitious piece of work. It peels away the glitz and glamour of Hollywood in the '30s to show a time when backstabbing was the norm, fascism was on the rise and everyone had an unbelievable amount of money. Kelsey Grammer is superb as movie mogul Pat Brady, while Matt Bomer is also great as Monroe Stahr, the up and coming film exec who wants to make it big. The Last Tycoon is occasionally flawed but it's a sumptuous watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

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The Looming Tower

The 8th episode of The Looming Tower are now available on Amazon Prime Video, but despite the fact there still aren't many compared to most TV shows, it hasn't stopped this tale of threat and politics from proving to be a hit. Based on the book by the same name, it's about the unease around Al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden in the 1990s, as well as the rivalry between the CIA and FBI.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

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Downton Abbey

Like watching fictional posh people live their lives in early-twentieth century opulence? You're not alone – millions of people tuned in to Downton Abbey during its TV run, and it's now available to stream in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video.

Following the trials and tribulations of the Crawley family on the titular Downton Abbey estate, it's a kitchen sink drama of sorts – except all the cutlery is made of silver, and it's an army of servants doing the washing up. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 7

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Masters Of Sex

Yes, Masters Of Sex could have ended up being a Mad Men rip-off when it first arrived in 2013 but thanks to the brilliance of Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan the show soon elevated above being a copycat.

Sheen is Dr William Masters, a fertility expert who turns his hand to researching the world of sex. Turns out researching sex means having a lot of it, which would all be rather gratuitous if it wasn't wrapped in some of the most intelligent script work around.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

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Outlander

Game of Thrones with kilts and time travel, Outlander was a solid show in its first season – by the second it was a great one. Based on the eight-book series by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is about Claire Randall, a nurse who is transported from 1945 to 1743, where she meets a Scottish outlaw and a simmering romance ensues. Given it’s shot in the Scottish highlands, the show looks fantastic, is well acted and should be your next binge watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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The Path

Aaron Paul is back on TV, thanks to The Path. And while his role might not be as enticing as Jesse in Breaking Bad, The Path is decent enough. Revolving around the Meyerist movement, and its ‘not a cult / definitely a cult' cult, the show is a gripping and beautifully shot look at what happens when people truly believe.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

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Rogue

Now in its fourth season, Rogue has matured into a great crime drama. While it may not be the Sopranos in its scope, it has a realness to it that makes the violence that's shown on the screen hit home hard. Thandie Newton stars a Grace Travis, an undercover detective who is trying to balance being a wife and mother with the illicit affair of a crime boss. Gritty stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

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Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete's plot maybe a little cliche – a con man assumes the identity of someone else to try and make a new break in the world – but Giovanni Ribisi is superb as Marius, the titular character and there's plenty of intrigue to keep you glued to this new Amazon Original. 

Interestingly, the show is co-created by Bryan Cranston which makes him the streaming king, given he's done so well with Breaking Bad on Netflix. Don't expect Sneaky Pete to be as intense as Breaking Bad – it's a crime caper, yes, but it doesn't take itself too seriously. 

The third season of the show is coming on May 10, 2019. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Startup

Not content with becoming a Hobbit, starring in the Marvel universe or playing Dr Watson, Martin Freeman goes back to his TV roots for Startup – a great look at what happens when a bunch of tech entrepreneurs create something that is much bigger than they ever thought it would be. It may occasionally be too gritty for its own good, but it's great to see Freeman hamming it up as the big bad. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

UnREAL

UnREAL focuses on the fictional goings-on behind the scenes of a fictional reality show. It's a show that holds a broken mirror up to the vacuous and plentiful reality shows that litter TV channels at the moment and actually goes into some rather dark territory. Yes, it's melodramatic and will wave numerous moral flags at you while you are watching it, but it's nonetheless engrossing television.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Transparent

Anything Netflix can do, Amazon Prime can do better it seems, especially when it comes to winning a Golden Globe. Netflix may have made history by being the first streaming service to win a Golden Globe, courtesy of the acting talents of Kevin Spacey in House of Cards, but Amazon went and topped this by winning the Best TV Show prize in 2014 for Transparent.

It was much deserved. Transparent is everything you want in a TV show. It's heartwarming, funny and packs a real punch about a subject that doesn't get enough attention: transgenderism. Jeffrey Tambor's Maura Pfefferman is a television character we hope will be around for a long time.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Comedy

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Fresh Off the Boat

The critically acclaimed series based on the memoirs of chef and food personality Eddie Huang is back for a fourth series. The show follows the hip-hop obsessed Eddie and his family as they reconcile their Taiwanese roots with their new life in Florida, where they have moved to open a cowboy-themed restaurant. 

Funny and heartwarming, Fresh Off the Boat is not only totally binge-able, but it also represents an important milestone in the portrayal of Asian-American families on the small screen. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Black-ish

Black-ish is brilliant. Not brilliant-ish, but brilliant. It's made by two Nightly Show writers and is about adman Andre, who thinks his kids aren't, er, black enough because they've lived in the very white suburbs all their life. This means a (car)crash course in black culture ensues. Two seasons of the show are on Amazon Prime and it's well worth a watch, filled with the warm humour ABC has brought to the world with the likes of Modern Family and The Goldbergs.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Casual

The final eight episode season of Casual is now available on Amazon Prime. It's about a newly divorced single mother who lives with her brother and daughter. The comedy drama is about dating, romance, families and all kinds of other modern dramas with a funny, and sometimes dark, twist. It's received a fair bit of critical acclaim over the years, but won't be returning for a fifth season. So enjoy it while you can!

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Catastrophe

From the minds of Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney comes one of the funniest, most well-written sitcom in years. The plot is slight: a one-night stand turns into a relationship once Sharon announces she is pregnant. But the series contains some of the most cut-to-the-bone humour seen on TV. Combine this with a nice slab of pathos – nestled among many a sex joke – and what you have is a modern classic.

The third series, which recently aired on Channel 4, is now available on Amazon Prime Video – it features the last ever performance from the imitable Carrie Fisher.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Comrade Detective

Comrade Detective is a weird gem on Amazon. Starring Channing Tatum and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the show is a parody of gritty American buddy cop shows and Communist Propaganda from the Cold War.

It's an unusual combination, but it works. Each episode is presented as though it's a remastered real episode of a lost Romanian Communist Propaganda series from the 80s which was used to entertain and promote Communist ideals. The entire show was filmed in Romania with Romanian actors and then dubbed over by Tatum and Gordon-Levitt.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

New Season Added: The Tick

We like a dark twist on the superhero genre as much as the next person, and The Tick delivers it: it's about an accountant with mental health issues, who may or may not be a superhero – it could all be in his head. Peter Serafinowicz is the eponymous Tick, and despite that rather sombre-sounding plot outline, this is a black and surreal comedy worth seeking out.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Grand Tour

Clarkson, Hammond and the other one are back for Grand Tour: Season 2. Well, we kind of knew that they would be as they all have massive contracts that mean we will be seeing quite a few seasons of the Definitely Not Top Gear But Quite A Bit Like Top Gear show. This season sees Clarkson drive a fast car, Hammond drive a faster car and nearly die, and the other one drive a fast car considerably slower than the rest. If you enjoy watching middle aged men burn rubber in the middle of the desert, like a scene out of Mad Max: Fury Road, then this is for you. And if we haven't quite convinced you yet – Gizmodo offered up this quote about the show: "Some men doing stuff for no clearly defined reason." Lovely stuff. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3 (new episodes weekly)

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

I Love Dick

Graduating from Amazon Originals pilot to fully fledged TV show, I Love Dick is a great subversive watch. The show stars Kevin Bacon and is based on the celebrated book that looks at a married couple who are having marriage issues and their relationship with college professor, Dick. Bacon is on top form as the charismatic Dick and the show's multiple POV storytelling (Rashomon style) works well.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video TV: 1

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

New Season Added: The Last Man On Earth

Not many people can find the funny in the post-apocalypse, but Will Forte has managed it with The Last Man On Earth. He writes and stars in this comedy where he is the only survivor on earth after a virus kills everyone else. The cast is brilliant, with the likes of January Jones and Kristen Wiig join him on his adventures and there’s a smattering of decent cameos too – including Will Ferrell and Jon Hamm in season 3. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The League

Created by Jeff and Jackie Schaffer and starring Mark Duplass, The League is very much a US focused comedy – based around a group of friends in an American Fantasy Football league – but don’t let that put you off as it’s nearly always hilarious. The lengths the group go to to win The Shiva – the league trophy – is great to watch, as is there balancing of trying to win week in week out with their normal lives. All seven seasons of the show are available on Prime Video. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 7

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

A new series from Gilmore Girls creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel tells the story of 1950s Jewish housewife Miriam Maisel. After her husband confesses he's been having an affair, Midge drunkenly gets on stage at a comedy club and discovers that she's utterly hilarious. In a time when women aren't encouraged to be publicly funny, Midge pursues her new-found comedic talent in the male-dominated stand up comedy world. 

Seasons to watch on Amazon Prime: 2

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Mad Dogs

The UK version of Mad Dogs was a breath of fresh air when it first aired. Well, the first season was then it all went a little too strange. This remake – green-lit from Amazon's burgeoning Originals series – takes the best from the UK version and mixes it with a plot that's a little easier to follow and humour that's more laugh out loud than pitch black.

The premise is the same: a bunch of mates go and visit one friend at his luxury villa to celebrate his early retirement, only for murder, mayhem and mind-boggling plot developments to ensue. A touch of genius is the recasting of Ben Chaplin. While he played the rich, retiring Alvo in the UK version here he gets to try his luck in a bigger and better role.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Mozart in the Jungle

Now into its fourth series, Mozart in the Jungle was this surprise winner at the 2015 Golden Globes, where it won Best Comedy Series. The show is a comedy set in the strange world of classical music. Gael García Bernal plays young conductor Rodrigo who replaces a retiring conductor played by Malcolm McDowell. Based loosely on a true story and created by the likes of Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola, it's well worth a watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Parks and Recreation

Parks and Rec is a joy of a show. Originally seen as a quasi spin-off of the Office – using the same documentary style camerawork, awkward pauses, asides to camera – it soon grew from an amusing first season, about the goings on in the parks department of Pawnee, to a comedy phenomenon that spanned a fantastic seven seasons. It's not just the script that makes it great, it's also the characters – headed up by the ever-brilliant Amy Poehler.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 7

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Seinfeld

Seinfeld is comedy gold. It’s the sitcom that was self reflexive and knowing. It was about Jerry Seinfeld who was played by Jerry Seinfeld but was playing a version of himself. It’s a similar trick Larry David used when spinning off his character for the show Curb Your Enthusiasm. He even took it a step further to make a whole season of Curb dedicated to bringing back Seinfeld. Over nine seasons this show, which is essentially about nothing, will captivate you, make you laugh and think. It’s fantastic.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 9

Thrillers

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

New Season Added: The Americans

The Americans was cruelly mishandled when it originally came to UK TV, so we are glad it has finally found a decent place to reside. The show is a cracking crime period thriller that follows the exploits of a couple of KGB agents posing as US citizens around the time Ronald Reagan became US president.

It may occasionally flit between the ridiculous and the sublime but you would expect nothing more from a show that's main conceit comprises characters duelling with duality. The '80s setting is fantastic, too, though there aren't enough shell suits for our liking.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 6

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Crossing

This sci-fi thriller has a really interesting premise. A group of refugees trying to escape a war arrive in an American town looking for somewhere to live. The sci-fi twist? They seem to be from 180 years in the future. Gasp! The story centres around a local sheriff, a federal agent and a mum looking for her missing daughter. It's full of conspiracy, mystery and there might be a superpower or two thrown in for good measure. But shh, we don't want to spoil anything.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 1

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Exorcist

There has been an influx of TV adaptations of movies recently, with many of them actually hitting the mark. The ones that succeed the most are those that take the theme/feeling of the films they are adapting and go in their own direction – Fargo is a perfect example of this. Another example is The Exorcist. Although it takes a couple of episodes to get going, the TV series is a decent spin-off of the movie, with just a slither of a thread attaching the two. 

Don't expect full-on scares, as this is definitely a slow burner. But when the exorcisms come (and there are a few) they will send a chill down your spine. The show is now into its second season, too, so you can watch the first season with the knowledge that the tale of terror is set to continue.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 2

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Fall

Before he was whipping up a storm as Mr Grey, Jamie Dornan played an effortlessly charming and equally chilling serial killer in The Fall, a fantastic Irish drama that deserves all the acclaim it gets.

Dornan is Paul Spector, a care worker who has a sideline in killing woman. To help track him down, hard-nosed detective Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) heads to Belfast to try and capture the murderer. The Fall is a perfect blend of intelligent scripting, nuanced acting and a fantastic premise. Knowing who the killer is from scene one amps up, rather than releases, the show's tension.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Fear The Walking Dead

Fear The Walking Dead is a show that tries its hardest to be more than a spin-off. Set in Los Angeles, the show follows high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (a brilliant Kim Dickens fresh from Treme) and English teacher Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis) as they adapt to a life after the 'zombie' outbreak. The show is slow paced, each episode is an hour and there's a 90-minute pilot, but it manages to approach the Walking Dead world in a wholly different way.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Halt And Catch Fire

Now in its fourth season, Halt And Catch Fire is another surefire hit by AMC – the folks that brought us Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Set around a fictionalised version of the computer revolution of the 1980s and the rise of the web in the '90s, Catch Fire is a fantastic look at how technology has improved all our lives, while nearly tearing apart the innovators at the same time. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Hap and Leonard

Filmed in Baton Rouge and based on the stories of Joe Lansdale, Hap and Leonard is a great swampy noir thriller of a show that’s based on the relationship of two friends and the sometimes violent scrapes they get into. James Purefoy and Michael K Williams are superb as the pair, one a Vietnam vet, the other a draft dodger. Set in the 80s, the show is similar to Cold In July, the movie from the same writer and is only six episodes long, so perfect for a binge watch.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Haven

Stephen King has had a rocky journey to the big and small screen. For every adaptation that works (Misery, Shawshank Redemption), there’s a dozen that don’t (The Langoliers, Under The Dome TV show). Haven is a strange one – it’s a show that started as an adaptation of a Stephen King short story, The Colorado Kid, and has mutated into a love letter to King and his stories. Over the course of five seasons, the show has becomes a great watch – especially if you are a King fan and can spot the many references. 

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

Update: Haven is still available via Amazon Prime Video, but it's no longer free. You'll have to pay £2.49 per episode, or buy a whole season for £13.99.

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Into The Badlands

Into The Badlands is a heady mix of brilliant martial arts and high drama as trained fighter Sunny (Daniel Wu) takes a group of people on a twisted road trip through the mystical badlands, a post-apocalyptic landscape some 500 years after a devastating war. There's plenty of bite in each episode, and it also contains some of the best fighting seen on television.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Mr Robot

It was an agonising wait for Mr Robot in the UK – the first season had all-but ended in the US before we even got a sniff of it. But its popularity meant that there was something of a bidding war to see who would show it in the UK. Amazon, Netflix and other more traditional broadcasters fought for it, proving that even bean counters can see the worth in counter culture.

Amazon won in the end and is the perfect place for a show that focuses on the exploits of hacker Elliot (a superb Rami Malek). Mr Robot is Fight Club for the Tor generation, lifting a lid on a world where what Linux kernel you use is not just a badge of honour but a way of life.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Man In The High Castle

There have been a number of successful Amazon pilots that have made it to a full series but none have the epic potential that Man In The High Castle has. This Philip K Dick adaptation is finally available to stream – with all episodes ready for your consumption. High Castle imagines what the world would be like if Germany had won World War II and the Nazis had taken global control. Turns out it's a bit worse than us all driving around in VW Beetles and wearing Hugo Boss coats.

Season 2 is now available and expands on the mythos. Given this is a cautionary tale about what could happen when the hard right takes over America, things suddenly don't feel too far fetched.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Preacher

Amazon of a Preacher, man! Preacher is the next big comic-book adaptation and my god it's good. It takes the deranged feel of the graphic novels and translates it well to the small screen. Dominic Cooper is great as small-town preacher Jesse Custer who, inhabited by a strange spirit, starts to do God's work in a small America town with his ex girlfriend (a brilliant Ruth Negga) and an Irish vampire, played by Misfits' Joe Gilgun as his cohorts.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 3

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Ripper Street

For a show that’s steeped in murder, it’s pleasing to note that we all have Amazon to thank for breathing new life into Ripper Street. After two series of the show, which focuses on the lives of the East End of London in the 19th Century where there is a copycat Jack the Ripper on the loose, it was cancelled by the BBC. Amazon decided there was enough fan love out there, thankfully, and revived the show for three more series. Great acting masks some of the hokier moments of the script but this is all good, grizzly fun.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 5

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Sons Of Anarchy

Seemingly always vying for the top spot of Best Recently Finished Drama (we may have made up that award) with Breaking Bad, Sons Of Anarchy is a long brooding menace of a show that deserves your attention. Centred on a motorcycle gang that live by their own rules (you can probably guess what their name is from the title) the show is positively Shakespearean in its storytelling and will have you gripped from episode one.

While Ron Perlman steals the show as Clay, Charlie Hunnam's Jax is one of the best tortured souls you will see on any television show. All seven seasons of the show are now streaming on the service.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 7

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Vikings

If you have any interest in Norse mythology then the name Ragnar Lothbrok will mean a whole lot to you. Basically he was a king and powerful ruler that was a right git to the English and the French.

Vikings is a series that traces his Norse-based goings on with enough charm and scope to take on Game of Thrones in the sword and sandals stakes. Yes it takes a number of liberties with its source material but the acting is top class, as is the cinematography in a historical romp that's now deservedly in its fourth season – the second half of which is now available.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 5

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead has been reanimated more times than the zombies that harruange the group of survivors we have all come to know and love. Initially created with Frank Darabont at the helm, he left after the first season then his replacement was eventually replaced and their replacement replaced.

With this in mind, it's amazing that not only has the show consistently managed to improve season after season it has become one of the most successful series ever. Yes it sometimes slumps along slower than a zombie with its legs hacked off but give it time and it will reward you with more drama than you can shake a bloody stump at.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 9

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

The X-Files

The X-Files was one of the first shows that embraced event TV. Yes, it had many 'monster of the week' storylines but creator Chris Carter managed to produce a nine-season long mythology arc that kept viewers coming back for more. That and the brilliant casting of David Duchovny as Fox Mulder and the ever-excellent Gillian Anderson and Dana Scully. With a new 10th season on the horizon, Amazon has put all nine previous seasons on to Prime – all remastered in widescreen. Lovely stuff.

Seasons on Amazon Prime: 9

The best of the rest, and coming soon

All or Nothing

We definitely recommend you get stuck into All or Nothing, a football documentary that follows Manchester City behind-the-scenes during the Premier League winning and record-breaking 2017/2018 season. It's an 8-part series that features all kinds of exclusive footage, from locker room pep talks with coach Pep Guardiola, and a look at the players' lives off and on the pitch. It's a must-watch for everyone from die-hard Man City fans to even those with a vague interested in footy.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 1

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Batman: The Animated Series

You've seen all the Nolan and Burton Bat flicks, and you're wisely avoiding the new Batfleck films. If you're still hankering for a Batman fix, you could do far, far worse than jumping into Batman: The Animated Series. Kicking off back in 1992, it bridges the gap of the Burton aesthetic and the comic book series, and is regarded by Batman fans as having perhaps the definitive onscreen take on the Dark Knight.

It's ostensibly a kids cartoon, but the ongoing storylines are captivating and stylishly noir-like in delivery. And to cap things off, the voice cast is superb – Kevin Conroy is an assuredly-good Batman (reprising the role for the recent Batman: Arkham games), while Star Wars' own Mark Hamill is a fantastically unhinged Joker.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 4

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Grand Prix Driver

This new Amazon Original documentary takes viewers underneath the glitz and glamour that is the surface of Formula 1, to explore the inner-workings of the 2017 McLaren team. Narrated by Michael Douglas, this documentary follows  rookie driver Stoffel Vandoorne over four episodes, as he and his team prepare for the 2017 Formula 1 World Championship. 

Season on Amazon Prime Video: 1

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Grimm

Merge a fairy tale fantasy with a police drama and you get Grimm. It's all about Nick Burkhardt, a detective based in Portland in the US who discovers he's a Grimm. Which basically means he's a kind of mystical guardian who must keep the peace between humans and creatures called Wesen. As you might expect, a lot of the characters are inspired by Grimms' Fairy Tales, but the show draws from many other sources too to create a story that's a little like Buffy The Vampire Slayer, but with fairy tale creatures.

Seasons on Amazon Prime Video: 6

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Coming Soon: Good Omens

From the genius literary and fantasy minds of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett comes the TV adaptation of their magical book Good Omens. Starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen in the lead roles of a demon and an angel, the story is told over six parts and is anticipated to be the hottest new TV show this Spring. 

Release Date: May 31, 2019

Image Credit: Amazon Prime Video

Coming Soon: Fleabag (Season 2) 

Fleabag season 1 changed everything we knew about comedy, breaking the fourth wall and bringing the very authentic, laugh out loud funny and, at times, completely heartbreaking private moments of the lovable but deeply flawed lead character to our TV screens. Season 2 was a huge hit when it first aired earlier this year, and you can relive all the 'sexy priest' magic on Amazon soon.

Release Date: May 17, 2019

Read more: techradar.com

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

The Future of The Colts Head Coaching Position, Part Two

Click here to read part one.

Let’s now look at the in-house candidates and the more likely NFL coordinator candidates. In-house would probably be Joe Philbin or Rob Chudzinski, both former head coaches with decent standings in the organizations. However, I would advise against both of these options for a head coach, they are both parts of the current problem and have failed in their previous stints, and will most likely be more of the same than an actual improvement. The Colts need a new message and voice, not a similar voice with an old message, and both of the candidates provide the latter.

Next would be coordinators; personally, I would like either a special teams coach, like Belichick and the Harbaughs, or an offensive coach to help this team. The NFL is transitioning to offensive-minded head coaches, with the likes of Kyle Shanahan, Dirk Koetter, and Adam Gase gaining head coaching jobs over their defensive-minded counterparts. These types candidates are found in the likes of Josh McDaniels and Jim Bob Cooter. McDaniels is a tricky one, he seems to be a phenomenal minded coach, but as shown in his last stint with Denver, Belichick’s assistants usually don’t prosper in the NFL. McDaniels may have changed for the better by this experience, but he may not want to leave the Patriots until Brady and Belichick retire.

Jim Bob Cooter is a fun one. He has been part of the resurgence of Matthew Stafford’s career, but isn’t trendy or overwhelmingly successful like Gase and Shanahan. That could change this season, but as of right now he is a bit of an unknown.

With a special teams coordinator, you usually get a well-rounded coach that preach fundamentals and discipline without over-focusing on just one side of the ball. Dave Toub is the ideal candidate in this category, and the most likely candidate if they fire Chuck. First off, Chris Ballard came from the Chiefs, so he knows all about the man. Ballard also was rumored to prefer Toub when coming to Indy, thus its safe to say he would pursue his former associate if there were an opening. Toub has been an assistant to Andy Reid, and besides his time management issues, is a brilliant and successful head coach, so working under Reid will most likely to be a plus. He also learned from John Harbaugh in his Philly stint, another special teams coach with great NFL success. From 2004-2011 he was the ST coordinator for the Bears, mostly under coach Lovie Smith, who may not be the most excellent coach, but he is still a well-respected one by his peers and experts. Toub is also extremely successful at his job earning ST coach of the year award in 2006, overseeing the tremendous special team groups featuring Devin Hester. In Kansas City, he oversaw the development and success of Tyreek Hill and that special teams. Toub is my pick out of the likely candidates for head coach.

The Colts are entering a crucial time; Luck is in his prime and coming off an injury, a wrong head coaching decision could doom his career in futility or raise it to all-time heights. Irsay made an unbelievably great signing with Chris Ballard, and now he and Ballard will have to make one more, and it starts with axing Chuck Pagano. Now, I have bashed Pagano a lot in this analysis, but the team owes a lot to him. Pagano did install a great locker room and helped inspire a lot of the early magic this team had, and that cannot be overlooked. He united a team and fan base together for years, helping to build immense trust in their savior QB, but his time has run its course. The team does not need good vibes and optimism anymore; Luck alone brings that, the Colts need a coach who can raise the level of this team to new heights. The reality is the old guard of the AFC is on its way out, Brady, Rivers, and Roethlisberger have only a few years at most left, and that will open the door for the Colts to fight the other upstart teams in the AFC for dominance. The Colts used to be that dominant team in not just the conference, but the NFL, and with the right man at the helm, the can regain that throne sooner rather than later.

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AROUND COVER32 The Colts nearly blow a fourth quarter lead, hold on against the 49ers

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Texans must cope with another season-ending injury to J.J. Watt in loss to the Chiefs

What to make of the Titans backup quarterback situation Fantasy Football: Easy Peasy Week 6

[yahoo-puck-daddy-blog]

Winners and Losers of NHL Draft 2017

CHICAGO – The 2017 NHL Draft weekend in Chicago has come to an end. There were some stunning trades. There were some interesting picks in a tricky draft. There were winners and there were losers, at least in a hasty first glance.

Let’s start with the obvious: The New Jersey Devils won the lottery, and hence are an automatic winner in selecting Nico Hischier at No. 1, for he loves to hockey.

But what about the rest of the weekend in the Windy City? Here’s how Puck Daddy saw the winners and losers:

WINNER: Gary Bettman

The commissioner has basically become a wrestling heel at the NHL Draft, knowing his very presence will draw heat from the crowd. But Bettman took it to another level in Chicago: At one point, with the boos during his opening remarks present but tepid, Bettman told the crowd “c’mon, you can do better than that.” And the floodgates of jeers opened. He’s become self-aware! This is dangerous! 

LOSER: Fun In General 

Holy [expletive] was that tedious. Brief, but tedious. The big Chicago moves happened hours before the draft. There weren’t rumors flying on Day One, of the “OMG THOSE GMs ARE TALKING!” variety. Little drama, even less intrigue. The most exciting thing that happened in the first round was when Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane showed up on stage for the Blackhawks. Yes, the most exciting thing involved Jonathan Toews. That’s all you need to know.

WINNER: Cales and Coles

Big weekend for Cales. You have Cale Makar, going to the Colorado Avalanche at No. 4. And Cale Fleury, gong at No. 87 to the Montreal Canadiens. Then you had Kale Howarth going at No. 148 to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and that kid better have some sick salad in the NHL.

Oh, but let’s not sleep on Coles! There was Cole Fraser at No. 131 to the Detroit Red Wings and Cole Hults at No. 134 to the Los Angeles Kings and Cole Guttman to the Tampa Bay Lightning at No. 180. Big weekend for Coles, too. 

LOSER: D’Artagnans

Alas, D’artagnan Joly, taken at No. 171 by the Calgary Flames, was in fact the only D’artagnan elected in the 2017 NHL Draft. Try harder, parents of Canada.

WINNER: Finland Blue

Finland had an impressive draft, continuing to trend upward as a hockey power. The Finns had 14 players selected, including No. 2 overall pick Patrik Laine. In 2017, they had 23 players selected, including six in the first round and six in the second, which was a record for Finland. Somewhere, Teemu smiles.

LOSER: The Green Room

Eh, sometimes you try something new and it doesn’t click. The NHL went with a Green Room for the draft like the NBA, keeping some of the top prospects there instead of in the stands. The previous format produced better moments and nothing close to the cringe moment that was Klim Kostin being stuck in that room to the bitter end:

Klim Kostin there's a tech guy in the back wrapping up cables. don't do this stupid green room idea again @NHL lol pic.twitter.com/EC256MLoA5

— kms davis (@blueorangesign) June 24, 2017

He would go at No. 31 to the St. Louis Blues.

Speaking of which …

WINNER: St. Louis Blues

The Blues wanted Jori Lehtera and his two years at $4.7 million annually the heck off their cap. Vegas didn’t take him. So they went the trade route, and pulled off a coup: Dealing him to the Philadelphia Flyers with the No. 27 overall pick and a conditional first-round pick for Brayden Schenn.

Then they traded Ryan Reaves, a fourth line enforcer, to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with the No. 51 pick for Oskar Sundqvist and the No. 31 pick, which they used on Kostin, the No. 1-rated skater among European players by the NHL’s Central Scouting who slid down the draft board due to an injury.

Meanwhile, they snagged Robert Thomas, a playmaking center from OHL London, at No. 20, and had a strong draft after that.

LOSER: Jim Rutherford

He traded a first-round pick and a roster player for a 30 year old that plays less than nine minutes a game, is a fighter in a league with no fights anymore and is Ryan Reaves. If there wasn’t so much goodwill built up for Rutherford, this would be Zac Rinaldo Trade 2.0.

But hey, at least now with an enforcer on the roster, the Penguins can finally challenge for the Stanley Cup.

 WINNER: Stan Bowman

Cap strapped and contractually obligated, the Chicago Blackhawks general manager got creative and aggressive to get better in the short term and really set up his team in the long term. Getting Brandon Saad gives them cost certainty for four years and could reenergize Jonathan Toews. And talking to people here, there’s a lot of love for the Connor Murphy acquisition. They have to make the Marian Hossa money disappear, and Patrick Kane needs a new linemate – Alex DeBrincat? – but Bowman did well here.

LOSER: Detroit Red Wings 

The consensus weakest draft of 2017, for a team that can’t afford a dud. They had the quantity, but not the quality:

Michael Rasmussen was a reach at No. 9, an attempt by Ken Holland to find his Holmstrom or Franzen 2.0 at a time when the League’s going smaller and more skilled. As for the rest of the draw, everyone we pestered about “who had the worst draft?” inevitably circled back to what the Red Wings did. As Scott Wheeler put it:

The worst draft of the weekend, by a landslide, belongs to the Red Wings (relative to my ranking). Keith Petruzzelli the only good pick.

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) June 24, 2017

That’s about what was said here in Chicago as well.

WINNER: Vegas Golden Knights

Look, when you have 12 picks, including five in the first two rounds, you’re bound to find some players. What GM George McPhee and his scouting staff did was exceed expectations. Centers Cody Glass and Nick Suzuki were absolute coups in the first round. Erik Brannstrom of Sweden could end up being a Torey Krug type. Their later picks were admirable too. Really strong first class for the Knights. 

LOSER: Jim Benning, Poker Player

Please note that the Vancouver Canucks had a really strong draft overall, including a potential goalie of the future in Mike DiPietro in the third round. But as the story goes here in Chicago: Vegas wanted Cody Glass. They were prepared to trade up from No. 6 to get him. The top four picks were all standing pat. Benning and the Canucks were at No. 5. Golden Knights GM George McPhee said he was going to flip a second round pick for that flip-flop of firsts, but discovered he didn’t need to when he was literally told who Vancouver was drafting at No. 5. (One assumes by Vancouver.) So he knew Glass would be there at six, and kept his second-rounder. The art of negotiation, folks. 

WINNER: This Shirt

  LOSER: That Nameplate

Rough start to Tippett’s Panthers career pic.twitter.com/J3YvNDCM3U

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 24, 2017

WINNER: Philadelphia Flyers

While we don’t love Lehtera, getting two first rounders in that Schenn swap is a ridiculously good return. They used the one in this draft on Morgan Frost at No 27, who has playmaking skills if not exactly love for the Flyers. In Nolan Patrick at No. 2, they get the second best forward in the draft and a better goal scorer than the guy who went No. 1. The aggressive trade to select Isaac Ratcliffe at No. 35, the Matthew Strome pick at No. 106 … just a really great two days from Ron Hextall and company. 

LOSER: Matt Duchene 

The Colorado Avalanche center continues to live in limbo, as no one stepped up to make a trade for him and now Joe Sakic is making noise that Duchene may be back with the Avalanche next season.

WINNER: Small Guys

Players like Tyler Johnson and Johnny Gaudreau have made the world safe for those of smaller stature, as eight players in the first two rounds were 5-foot-10 or shorter. In the case of Kailer Yamamoto, taken by the Edmonton Oilers at No. 22, he was the shortest player ever drafted in the first round at 5-foot-7 and three quarters.

LOSER: Artemi Panarin

The winger put up incredible numbers in his first two NHL seasons on Patrick Kane’s line, breaking 30 goals in each season. At last check, Patrick Kane is not on the Columbus Blue Jackets. (And for the Jackets, they go from Saad making $6 million for four years to Panarin making $6 million for the next two years before free agency.)

WINNER: New York Islanders

Credit where it’s due with Garth Snow. Getting Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome was a strong move to bolster the Islanders’ offense. And while dealing defenseman Travis Hamonic to the Calgary Flames will impact the defense, getting back first and second-round picks in 2018 and a second rounder in either 2019 or 2020 is the kind of haul that can net even more top six talent to play around John Tavares.

LOSER: New York Rangers

Along with the Red Wings, the team most frequently mentioned in the ‘WTF?’ category for its draft performance. Lias Andersson at No. 7 (acquired in the Derek Stepan trade with Arizona) was a total reach for a player whose primary upside appears to be a chance to get to the NHL rather soon. Two North Americans among seven picks, a collection of gambles and head-scratches according to the punditry on site.

WINNER: Arizona Coyotes

The first part of the week, everyone was wondering what the hell was going on with the Coyotes, after they bungled the departure of both Shane Doan and coach Dave Tippett. But then they traded for Niklas Hjalmarsson, Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta, had a strong draft, and GM John Chayka was back to boy genius status.

LOSER: Eight Year Contracts For 30-Year-Olds

Locking up T.J. Oshie for $5.75 million against the cap is just dandy. He’s proven he can work in a top line role, does a lot of really good things for you and is a generally pleasant person to be around.

T.J. Oshie at 30 years old for $5.75 million over eight years is … vomit. Consider some of the other names recently making that level of cap hit on long-term deals: Patrick Sharp, Dustin Brown, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and Andrew Ladd. That’s a lot of regret there.

But this is a great contract if your owner already knows there are going to be compliance buyouts in the next lockout.

Who were your winners and losers in the draft?

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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