With summer beginning, many of you probably have a lot more free time on your hands. If you don’t want to get bored this summer, try watching some of these binge-worthy shows on Amazon Prime!
When you first look at this list, you’ll probably think I have the strangest taste in TV shows ever, but there’s no need to limit yourself to one genre! I think everyone can find a show on this list that they fall in love with.
Survivor
The most famous reality TV show ever, and one of the longest-running, Survivor has been on air since the year 2000. A group of sixteen or more castaways are sent to an island or remote location to outwit, outplay, and outlast, against harsh environments, tough challenges, and each other. Every season is memorable, with interesting casts, exciting twists, and compelling strategy and gameplay, not to mention how funny it is to watch opposite personalities clash. After the entire cast has been voted off, the sole survivor wins one million dollars, not too shabby right? Survivor seasons 1, 3, and 12-28 are available for free with an Amazon Prime membership right now!
Transparent
In my opinion, Transparent is the best Amazon original show. It’s moving, emotional, poignant, and shows every aspect of humanity, from the good to the ugly. Jeffrey Tambor plays a 70-year-old transgender woman coming out after living nearly her entire life with a secret. Immediately, her adult children and ex-wife must come to terms with the revelation that the man they thought they knew is actually a woman. Everyone’s life is thrown upside down, and suddenly they begin to question their own selves in many different ways. Transparent explores humanity in a way that’s not afraid to ask tough questions, and I love that about it. It doesn’t shy away from anything, from topics such as sexuality to the struggles of marriage, everything is examined closely and unabashedly. Every season of Transparent is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is one of the longest-running science fiction shows in history. It began airing all the way back in the 1960s and is still airing new episodes today. After taking a few years off in the 90s, Doctor Who returned and rebooted in 2005 to dazzle audiences everywhere and cement itself as one of the greatest sci-fi shows ever made. Meet “the Doctor,” an alien known as a timelord from the planet Gallifrey. He’s been flying across the universe for hundreds of years in his ship known as the “Tardis,” a bright blue police box that’s bigger on the inside. The Doctor has had many incarnations, being played by a dozen different actors over the years. Each doctor has his own unique personality and brings his own flavor to the show, keeping things fresh. Never has time travel and scifi been so much fun. Doctor Who seasons 1 (2005 reboot) through 9 are available for free on Amazon Prime.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
I recently watched three seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race all in the course of a week — it’s that entertaining! Before you go off thinking that this show is about racing cars, let me tell you that it’s about drag queens, otherwise known as female impersonators. Yes, it’s a show about men dressing as women, and it’s fantastic and fascinating. RuPaul, perhaps the most famous drag queen of all time, hosts the show and judges its contestants, a group of men competing for the title of America’s Drag Superstar, a huge supply of cosmetics, and one hundred thousand dollars. They compete in all kinds of challenges to win the competition, from designing stunning gowns and flaunting their figures on the runway, to singing, to dancing, and even acting. If you didn’t think drag was a serious art form before watching the show, you’ll definitely think so afterwards. RuPaul’s Drag Race is a ton of fun, and I don’t think you should miss out on it. Seasons 5 through 7 are available for free on Amazon Prime.
Orphan Black
Tatiana Maslany plays nearly every character on this show. You heard me right! She plays all kinds of characters, from a soccer mom with a struggling marriage in the suburbs, to a lesbian hipster scientist, a mentally ill Russian woman, to a posh British business woman, and even a trans man at one point. She is a superb actress whose talent absolutely shines. Her acting alone is enough to make the show worthwhile. Orphan Black is about a woman named Sarah, an orphan and an outsider who witnesses the death of a woman who looks just like her. Her life unravels as secrets are revealed and worlds are turned upside down. You’ll have to watch to find out why there’s a lot of women who look like Sarah! Seasons 1 through 4 is available for free on Amazon Prime.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
My goodness, where to begin with this show? Avatar has a special place in my heart for being a huge part of my childhood. I grew up with it, and it holds so many wonderful memories and warm nostalgia. I am not simply nostalgic for it though. It still holds up as perhaps the best children’s animated show ever created, and unlike many other children’s shows, Avatar is just as appealing for adults as it is for young children. It tells the story of a young boy who has been trapped in ice for over a hundred years. When he is discovered by two young teens, he quickly finds out that he is the last surviving member of his nation, the Air Nomads, after they were wiped out in a war by the Fire Nation. The boy, Aang, is the Avatar, the hero who must learn how to bend the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water, to stop the Fire Nation and restore peace to the world. He is the only person who can learn how to manipulate each element and the only person who can possibly save the world. Does is sound compelling yet? It really is. Trust me. Seasons 1 through 3 is available for free on Amazon Prime.
American Horror Story
American Horror Story is straight-up creepy. It’s unsettling, uncomfortable to watch at times, and sometimes it truly is horrific. Everything weird and messed up in the world is put out for display on this show, it’s an exhibit of gruesome imagery and the stuff of nightmares. Take your pick from demons, ghosts, vampires, witches, or even serial killers dressed as clowns. (That clown sentence just gave me the chills.) Each season of American Horror Story is a standalone story, though many actors return throughout seasons, playing new characters. One season takes place in a mental asylum, another at a circus full of “freaks,” and another in a hotel ran by a vampire played by Lady Gaga. This show doesn’t shy away from the bizarre, and will often do all it can to push you to your limits. Can you handle a trip into this horror? I guess you’ll have to find out. Seasons 1 through 5 are available for free on Amazon Prime.
The Amazing Race
It’s no secret that I like reality shows as you can see. I like to refer to the Amazing Race as Survivor’s cousin. They air on the same channel and often feature a few of the same faces. The Amazing Race has a group of people who must travel around the entire world, searching for clues, completing challenges, and racing to the finish line to win one million dollars! Watch tension build, emotions erupt, and relationships being put to the test when a million dollars are at stake. And watch the beautiful scenery. The locations on this show alone are almost enough to warrant watching it, as the whole world is visited and explored throughout its seasons. The contestants on the show aren’t just tourists, but they sometimes must get uncomfortably familiar with their foreign environments, from eating strange food, to participating in unique customs and traditions. It’s all a lot of fun to watch, and it’s a lesson in learning about other cultures. Seasons 1 through 25 are available for free on Amazon Prime.
The Bachelor
21 seasons and still going strong, as well as spawning equally entertaining shows such as The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, The Bachelor is one of the most entertaining shows on TV. Does watching a group of more than a dozen women competes for the love of one man sound crazy? It sure is, and that makes it so much fun to watch! There’s a lot of drama, hilarious moments, awkward moments, and heart-pounding romance. Watch the group travel to exotic locations all over the world and go on dream-worthy dates with the always gorgeous bachelor. Even if the premise of the show is a bit insane, the franchise has actually had happy endings, with several of its couples ending up married and still together. Currently, none of the seasons are available for free to stream on Amazon Prime, but they are available for affordable prices.
