Amazon Prime Must See TV: Lockdown Edition

If you’re a Prime member, there is a ton of great content for you to watch at no additional cost. What better time to dig into some new shows than while on lockdown?

​The problem is, it can be tough to make the perfect pick! I’m gonna help you find the best from three different categories: 

1. Family Friendly
2. Hidden Gems
3. Wonderful and Weird

​Family Friendly Choices
Family movie nights are the perfect stay-at-home activity. These lesser known films are the perfect ‘new’ movie to keep your kids (and you parents) entertained. 

Rango

Let’s start off with an awesome animated movie for the whole family to enjoy. This movie was released in 2011 and features the voices of Timothy Olyphant, Abigail Breslin and Johnny Depp.

I LOVE this film, and I’m not the only one! One of the first things I do whenever I’m picking a film is to check out the reviews of other users. This one got an average of 4.5 stars out of over 2,000 users and a 7.2 rating from IMDB, seems like a good report to me! 

​Since this video was released by Paramount, it had a less splashy release than it’s Disney and Pixar owned counterparts. This could work in your favor! The older release date means there is a chance your kids haven’t even seen it yet! ​

Clue

I gotta go way back for this one, released in 1985!

This murder mystery film that is based on the classic board game is a who’s who of comedic actors. The classic features Madeline Kahn, Eileen Brennan, Martin Mull, Christopher Lloyd and of course the one and only, Tim Curry!

This film is hilarious and has great reviews, it is the perfect family friendly watch!

​My wife and I actually watched this film long before having kids and loved it - now that we can share the film with our kids it is even more fun! ​

Antartica A Year On Ice

Typically, I’m not a big documentary guy, but I’ll make an exception with this one! Yet another film included with your Prime membership with incredible reviews.

This is a super interesting film which was filmed over the course of 15 years. It tells the story of the people who work and live in Antarctica; you’ll learn how they maintain the land, perform research, coexist with the wildlife, and survive the extreme weather conditions. 

​Not only is it a beautifully filmed piece, it is incredibly eye opening - you cannot go wrong with this one!

Hidden Gems
These Amazon originals might not be on your radar, but they should be!

The Expanse

This is one of my very favorite shows of any kind. It originated as a Sci-Fi original series where it aired for its first three seasons, but it was then cancelled due to the expensive filming budget. 

Good news! Amazon swooped in and rescued the show and filmed the fourth season, and now all seasons are available with your Prime membership!

This is the perfect show to binge watch without getting sick of it! If I had to explain it, I’d say it is kind of like Game of Thrones but in space. The show features a huge cast of characters and many different factions fighting each other, but there is a looming threat that will bring them all together.
It is beautifully written and shot and features some really amazing effects too! No wonder it earned an 8.5 IMDB rating.

​The most recent season was just dropped at the end of 2019, so now is the perfect time to get caught up on this show. The characters are great and the writing is awesome, even if you don’t like sci-fi, I think you’ll like this; it is simply great TV!

Patriot

So here’s the thing about Patriot, it went for two seasons before being cancelled, so two seasons is all we’ll get. If you’re not wild for short term relationships, this might not be for you; but I absolutely love this show!

The name of the show does not do justice to the creative and interesting content the episodes have to offer. On the surface, the plot follows a young CIA agent who is working to stop Iran from going nuclear.

The main character is working in Europe while dealing with his PTSD using folk music. It is dark, comedic, quirky, and unlike anything else out there! 

​If you’re willing to take a risk on my recommendation here, it will be worth it! 

ZeroZeroZero

As of April 2020, this is a brand new show, but I think in a few months we’ll all be talking about it.

This show follows a shipment of drugs as it traverses the world and shows us what happens when something goes wrong with that shipment. The plot spans countries, families, and ethnicities in this massive storyline.

If you were a fan of the 2000 film Traffic, you’ll like this show, they are very similar styles!
You should know, the show is rated TV-MA (just like the cocaine business). There is a lot of violence, but it really is an awesome series!

​It is just released and already receiving awesome reviews, this is a trend you’ll want to be a part of.

Weird and Wonderful
Black Mirror and Twilight Zone fans - this part is for you! These types of shows are not for everyone, but if you like something a little mind-bending, I think you’ll like these ​picks!

Tales from the Loop

This is a brand new Amazon Original, which starts with multiple stories that are seemingly unrelated. Of course, as the show goes on, you’ll start to see a little thread of relation.

The wonderful Jonathon Pryce is in this show, so that is just another bonus! 
The plot is inspired by paintings by Simon Stalenhag; this is the first time I’ve ever seen a series based on paintings, just another awesome factor to this great series!

​It is definitely sci-fi, and it really makes you question the nature of reality. With that being said, I did find it a bit slow moving in the beginning, but when you stick with it, it really pays off!

Homecoming

Do you prefer stories that seem normal and get progressively stranger? Homecoming is for you! 

This is another Amazon original with an awesome cast, featuring Bobby Canavale and the amazing Julia Roberts. The show currently has only two seasons available to watch, but it was already nominated for three Golden Globes!

​As you progress through the show, reality begins to take on a fluid state which really keeps you getting more drawn in with every episode. Be warned - this show will make you mistrust every scene you watch!

Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dream

Back to sci-fi again here! Philip K. Dick is a very famous sci-fi author who wrote short stories that have been the inspiration for many sci-fi films. Blade Runner and Total Recall were both created based on Philip K. Dick’s short stories. 

What’s better than one movie about one short story? A ten episode series about multiple short stories!

​This series is out-there, trippy and mind bending, so if that is your thing, you’re gonna love it!

That’s it for my top picks on Prime during this lockdown, I hope they help you stay entertained!

I’ve gone even more in depth on these shows in my most recent YouTube video which you can watch here. 

​I’m working constantly to create new content to help inspire and entertain, so check back often to see what I'm up to!