Seasons: 2
Starring: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson
Description: A star-studded group of voice actor friends starts to livestream their Dungeons and Dragons games, and before long, it turns into one of the biggest corporations in the nerd timeline. Then, their first campaign gets turned into an animated show, with themselves providing the voices.
Why it’s a keeper: Featuring the best moments of the show’s dynamic early arc, the Briarwoods, it’s given fans of the series more to love and give people who didn’t know what they were missing an entry into the fun of life play. The motley crew of adventurers then have to take on a group of chromatic evil dragons in the second season. The boring moments are cut out, and the acting is amplified to make better use of the best voice actors in the business.
The Greatest Show Never Made (Best)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Jonathan Smith, Emily Dalton
Description: It’s 2002, and everybody wants reality TV stardom. A group of British kids sell homes, quit jobs, and end relationships in order to join a reality TV show that, unfortunately, doesn’t actually exist. This documentary series picks up with the poor saps twenty years later to see how their lives have turned out.
Why it’s a keeper: By combining archive footage and bizarre recreations of the show that never happened, this series is an amazing watch, even if you aren’t interested in what happened to the kids. It seems almost unrealistic, which is a great way to portray a reality TV series that was just a scam. It turns out there are few things as unrealistic as reality TV.
Vikings (Best)
Seasons: 6
Starring: Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Gabriel Byrne, Clive Standen, Gustaf Skarsgard, George Blagden
Description: Inspired by the real-life Norseman Ragnar Lodbrok, “Vikings” is a family saga that documents the adventures of the Vikings who have decided to go beyond the bounds of their hardscrabble homes in Norway. Historical elements combine with action to create a show that is hard to look away from.
Why it’s a keeper: Six seasons show us just how explosive the Dark Ages were, even if there weren’t any actual explosions. We get to see all kinds of places, such as a civil war in Norway, the battle to take over England (also seen in the Netflix show “The Last Kingdom”), and other groups that are journeying as far as Northern Africa. If you like history or fights, it’s a good pick.
The Underground Railroad (Best)
Seasons: 1
Starring: William Jackson Harper, Will Poulter
Description: Based on the Pulitzer-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, this small series follows the book’s plot closely. A work of historical fiction, it reimagines the figurative underground railroad that helped slaves escape to the Union as an actual railroad that runs underground, complete with secret station agents.
Why it’s a keeper: Plenty of great performances pin this showdown as one to enjoy. There’s also the true noble idea of the show: helping people escape awful slavery during a conflict. It has an immediate high-level pitch that will have a lot of people tuning in. This makes it easy to focus on the action and not on a convoluted plot. That’s how you get a show off the ground, people: make the central idea simple.
Invincible (Best)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Steven Yeun, Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons
Description: Mark, a teenage son of a famous superhero finally – FINALLY – finds he has superpowers, but with that, and teenage life, he’s also learning his father isn’t the man he says he is. Mark tries to keep an interested girl on the hook and prove what it takes to be a hero.
Why it’s a Keeper: The show seems to set up a certain kind of feeling and constantly subverts it. Viewers are treated to shocking scenes in the very first episode, and they don’t stop there. Some incredible memes have popped out of it, and the power of the story as we discover who Mark’s father really is is perfectly done. The new second season promises more of the same.
The Devil’s Hour (Best)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Jessica Raine, Peter Capaldi, Nikesh Patel
Description: Peter Capaldi is famous for playing the Doctor, and this show pokes some fun at his old role, but he is anything but heroic here. He joins Jessica Raine as the two leads on this murder mystery/thriller with a dash of the supernatural thrown in to taste. Raine’s character, Lucy, is the main focus, as she wakes at the same time every night with harrowing visions, and those same nightmares get her closer to a ghastly murder investigation.
Why it’s a keeper: Both Raine and Capaldi have drawn attention to themselves thanks to their performances. Capaldi, in particular, has given life to a chilling character that keeps the audience guessing for the entire run of the show. A gritty six-part show has never felt so short.
The Legend of Vox Machina (Best)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson
Description: A star-studded group of voice actor friends starts to livestream their Dungeons and Dragons games, and before long, it turns into one of the biggest corporations in the nerd timeline. Then, their first campaign gets turned into an animated show, with themselves providing the voices.
Why it’s a keeper: Featuring the best moments of the show’s dynamic early arc, the Briarwoods, it’s given fans of the series more to love and give people who didn’t know what they were missing an entry into the fun of life play. The motley crew of adventurers then have to take on a group of chromatic evil dragons in the second season. The boring moments are cut out, and the acting is amplified to make better use of the best voice actors in the business.
Daisy Jones and the Six (Best)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Camila Morrone
Description: Over the span of ten years, this show follows the formation, heights, and downfall of a fictional sixties band. Singer Daisy meets a band led by Billy Dunne, and her lyrics and soulful singing help propel the band to stardom. However, it’s the old story of rock and roll – the rigors of touring, relationships gone sour, and the ever-present problem of illegal substances starts to drag the band down.
Why it’s a keeper: Taking inspiration from the legendary folk-rock band Fleetwood Mac, the tone of the era is perfect, with the tumultuous sixties sometimes taking center stage. Let’s also talk about the soundtrack, which absolutely nails the powerful emotions that the music of the decade was famous for. It was released as its own album by the “band” itself.
The Power (Best)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Toni Collette, John Leguizamo, Toheeb Jimoh
Description: Gender roles are constantly being discussed, but what happens when the gender that has traditionally been on the bottom suddenly gains an inexplicable power? That’s the setting of “The Power,” which shows us one possible result of every woman in the world, young and old, rich and poor, gaining the ability to generate and discharge electricity.
Why it’s a keeper: Global and societal power starts to shift, as it so often does, but never on this kind of scale. Some women want to use their new ability to do good, some want it to gain power, and some want to use it to cause destruction. It’s full of talk about the changing of gender roles and the places of the sexes in society, all underpinned with yet more superpowered shenanigans.
I’m a Virgo (Best)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Jharrel Jerome, Olivia Washington, Brett Gray
Description: Cootie, played by Jharrel Jerome, is your regular nineteen-year-old, other than the fact that he’s thirteen feet tall. After being raised in secret, he’s thrust into the spotlight when his unbelievable size is discovered. He now has to experience the outside world for the first time. There’s also Cootie’s idol, a man known as The Hero, a superhero that seems like he’s right out of “The Boys.”
Why it’s a keeper: It’s a surreal show with plenty of unexpected comedy, funny sights, and plenty of social commentary and sharp political messages from creator Boots Riley, who was also in charge of “Sorry to Bother You,” which very well might top the list when it comes to surreal political commentary. It really has to be seen to be believed.
Gen V (Best)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo Patrick Schwarzenegger
Description: As a spin-off of one of Amazon Prime’s previous hits, “The Boys,” “Gen V” had a lot of attention on it. It didn’t disappoint. Though it only has one season so far, it stays in line with the parent show’s twisted nature. It at first seems like it would be “Harry Potter” for superheroes, but it quickly turns into something much more dangerous as the college-aged superpowered characters battle for a chance at joining the big superhero team in the universe of the show.
Why it’s a keeper: Featuring the trademark ultraviolence that the show gave us and the bad choices that college students are famed for, this show amps things up in a big way. There are plenty of creative superpowers to watch on the screen, too.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (BEST)
Seasons: 5
Starring: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub, Jane Lynch
Description: 1950s housewife "Midge," Maisel found a voice on stage, and between performing for bohemian crowds at Greenwich Village's The Gaslight Cafe and toasting her wedding, the crowd seems to love Maisel!
Why it's a keeper: Writer-director Amy Sherman-Palladino caught everyone's attention when she wrote a story about a 1950s housewife. Apart from the witty writing, it's actress Rachel Brosnahan's outstanding performance that makes the show as compelling as it is rowdy!
Fleabag (BEST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Olivia Colman, Sian Clifford, Bill Paterson, Brett Gelman, Hugh Skinner
Description: "Fleabag" stars the ever-so-talented Pheobe Waller-Bridge, who is also the show's creator. Set in London, it tells the story of a young woman in an endeavor to navigate modern life in the city. The show is hysterical and dirty and manages to depict grief and loneliness accurately.
Why it's a keeper: Co-produced by Amazon and England's BBC Three, each of the show's seasons has six half-hour episodes that viewers soak in and savor before they end. If we're lucky, Waller-Bridge will continue on her path of becoming one of the leading creative voices of her generation!
Transparent (BEST)
Seasons: 5
Starring: Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Gaby Hoffmann, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, Kathryn Hahn
Description: "Transparent," starring Jeffrey Tambor, centers around a character who decides, late in life, to transition into a woman. We see how her decision affects her family through the pain of an older woman realizing she's wasted much of her life as a man. The drama tells its story in a way that dignifies its deeply flawed, multifaceted characters.
Why it's a keeper: "Transparent" is tragic and heartbreaking at times and triumphant at others. The beautifully heartbreaking and heartbreakingly beautiful series is a must for anyone interested in this moment of cultural history.
Undone (BEST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, Siddharth Dhananjay, Daveed Diggs, Bob Odenkirk
Description: A reality questioning, funny, compelling, and heartbreaking story about Alma, who was involved in a near-fatal car accident. After waking from the coma she was in, she has gained the ability to communicate with her late father, Jacob, who says he was murdered because he researched time travel.
Why it's a keeper: "Undone" is Amazon's first episodic TV series to utilize the surreal technique that is Rotoscope animation. Raphael Bob-Waksberg and Kate Purdy created a series that, put simply, has it all. "Undone" is so good it's hard to stop watching - bring on the binge!
The Boys (BEST)
Seasons: 3
Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Tomer Kapon
Description: The show follows a world where superheroes are commodified into action figures and take part in heroic publicity stunts so that the powerful corporation that owns them can market and monetize on them.
Why it's a keeper: Let's be real, who doesn't love superheroes misbehaving? "The Boys," based on the comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, introduces an eclectic cast of supernatural humans. Ahead of the show's premiere, Amazon renewed "The Boys" for a second and third season.
Homecoming (BEST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Julia Roberts, Bobby Cannavale, Stephan James, Janelle Monáe, Joan Cusack
Description: Adapted from the podcast of the same name, "Homecoming" follows Heidi Bergman. Portrayed by Julia Roberts, Bergman tries to piece together the reason behind leaving Homecoming, the treatment center for veterans she worked at as a therapist. Years later, working as a waitress, Heidi realizes that there's a lot more to the story than what she's been telling herself.
Why it's a keeper: "Homecoming" is a well-executed mystery that avoids a lot of the pitfalls of mystery shows. It is a visually aesthetic exploration of trauma and the conflict between the human heart and mind.
Bosch (BEST)
Seasons: 7
Starring: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino, Lance Reddick, Sarah Clarke, Madison Lintz
Description: "Bosch" is a police procedural television series produced by Amazon Studios, starring Titus Welliver as LAPD detective Harry Bosch. His investigations of a sadistic serial killer become an escape for the officer, who is also an Afghanistan veteran. As the series progresses, his investigations also serve as a healing process.
Why it's a keeper: "Bosch" manages to maintain the series' mastery over mystery throughout its seasons. Thanks to its solid acting and breathtaking moments, the series was renewed for a seventh and final season in early February 2020.
Catastrophe (BEST)
Seasons: 4
Starring: Sharon Horgan & Rob Delaney
Description: "Catastrophe"'s leads portray two single people who are forever intertwined when she accidentally becomes pregnant following a fling while he's in London on a business trip. The show is a rom-com in reverse; there's a pregnancy, then a marriage, and then they get to know each other to see if they can fall in love.
Why it's a keeper: Amazon knew what they were doing when they bought the exclusive streaming rights to the British sitcom. "Catastrophe" involves an ever-so-obvious culture clash -- he's American, and she's British -- and the constant bickering between the two makes the show all the more enjoyable.
I Love Dick (BEST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Hahn, Griffin Dunne, Roberta Colindrez, Lily Mojekwu
Description: Based on the memoir of the same name, "I Love Dick" tells the story of Chris, an unsuccessful New York City-based artist who follows her husband, Sylvère, to Marfa, Texas. Sylvère takes a research fellowship in Marfa, and upon their arrival, Chris becomes obsessed with her husband's fellowship sponsor, Dick. Her feelings for Dick become articulated in undelivered letters to him, which are filled with her explicit desires.
Why it's a keeper: Simply put, "I Love Dick" is "adult" in the best way. It's a smart, funny, and provocative exploration of sexuality and gender roles. The series was canceled after just one season, but the season is one worth watching!
Sneaky Pete (BEST)
Seasons: 3
Starring: Giovanni Ribisi, Marin Ireland, Shane McRae, Libe Barer, Efrat Dor
Description: "Sneaky Pete" follows Marius Josipović, a released convict who acquires the identity of his cellmate, Pete Murphy, to avoid his past life and the gangster he once robbed. Pete (Marius) then "reunites" with Pete’s estranged family, who have no reason to suspect he’s not their beloved Pete.
Why it’s a keeper: Bryan Cranston and David Shore created this outstanding crime drama series. The show is suspenseful, smart, and was cast perfectly. "Sneaky Pete" has it all: drama, comedy, and crime, and is definitely worth the watch.
Mozart in the Jungle (BEST)
Seasons: 4
Starring: Lola Kirke, Gael García Bernal, Saffron Burrows, Bernadette Peters, Peter Vack
Description: "Mozart in the Jungle" was inspired by oboist Blair Tindall's 2005 memoir of her professional career in New York. The series stars García Bernal as Rodrigo, a character based on famous conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
Why it's a keeper: The comedy-drama series was developed by Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, Alex Timbers, and Paul Weitz. "Mozart in the Jungle" became a fan favorite, and the show's writers and producers made it accessible even to those who aren't the most significant classical music fans!
Too Old to Die Young (BEST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Miles Teller, Cristina Rodlo, Augusto Aguilera, Nell Tiger Free, Jena Malone
Description: "Too Old to Die Young" follows a grieving police officer, Martin Jones, who spirals into a world of crime, filled with working-class hitmen. Jones finds himself amid cartel assassins sent from Mexico, Russian mafia captains, and Yakuza soldiers.
Why it's a keeper: The provocative yet colorful television series stars Miles Teller and Augusto Aguilera. The show is "Breaking Bad" and "Twin Peaks" on steroids in the best way possible if you ask us!
Red Oaks (BEST)
Seasons: 3
Starring: Craig Roberts, Josh Meyers, Jennifer Grey, Richard Kind, Ennis Esmer, Gage Golightly, Oliver Cooper
Description: Set in Red Oaks, a fictional country club in a New Jersey suburb, the show follows David, a college student working at the club, enjoying the summer before it ends. "Red Oaks" follows David's life with subplots focusing on his family, friends, and coworkers.
Why it's a keeper: When "Red Oaks" first premiered, it was underrated and went completely unnoticed. The show manages to find fresh humor in a seemingly familiar premise. And slowly but surely, word got out about the intelligent, raunchy '80s-style comedy.
One Mississippi (BEST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Tig Notaro, Noah Harpster, John Rothman
Description: This autobiographical adaption of Notaro's life, "One Mississippi," tells Notaro's painful story of battling two deadly illnesses: breast cancer and CDI. Finding humor in darkness is one of the comedian's talents, so when she added the death of her mother to the script, the depressing addition to the story wasn't at all surprising.
Why it's a keeper: After the pilot episode received positive feedback from Amazon's audience, the show was picked up for a first and second season. The show balances honesty and drama and is everything we could ever want in a series.
The Tick (BEST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Peter Serafinowicz, Griffin Newman, Yara Martinez, Valorie Curry, Brendan Hines,
Description: The Tick is a superhero in a blue tick suit who arrives at the city to help fight crime and uncover the mysterious figure behind the city's underworld. He befriends a nervous young man, Arthur, who becomes his sidekick. Together, they come to the understanding that the supervillain they thought was dead is still pulling strings...
Why it's a keeper: When comic book fans heard that Amazon was producing "The Tick," only one thought came to mind: "Would anybody be able to fill the shows of original live-action star Patrick Warburton?" The answer is yes! Peter Serafinowicz managed to nail the airheadedness that is...the Tick.
Free Meek (BEST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Meek Mill, Jay-Z, Van Jones, Swizz Beatz
Description: The true-crime docuseries examines American rapper Meek Mill's ongoing battle with the U.S. justice system following his disputed conviction in 2007. The five-part series includes interviews with the rapper and his family, as well as fellow rapper and friend Jay-Z, Black Lives Matter activist Tamika Mallory, and many more.
Why it's a keeper: The show's viewers thought it was an eye-opening, educational documentary, and we have to say that we agree. Free Meek" was produced by Mill's record label, Roc Nation, and the Intellectual Property Corporation, and you can tell time and effort went into eloquently telling his story.
The Expanse (BEST)
Seasons: 6
Starring: Thomas Jane, Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper
Description: "The Expanse" is an American science fiction television series based on a series of novels of the same name, written by James S. A. Corey. The premise of the show takes place hundreds of years into the future after the human colonization of the solar system. The series follows a diverse group of antiheroes as they are guided across the solar system and find themselves at the center of the most significant conspiracy theories in human history.
Why it's a keeper: Over the years, "The Expanse" has received praise for its character development, visuals, and political narrative. Though we aren't famed television critics, we couldn't agree more!
Night Sky (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Sissy Spacek, J.K. Simmons, Chai Hansen
Description: The Yorks are an unassuming, small-town couple who hide an incredible secret. A portal to a faraway planet has appeared beneath the shed in their backyard, and they routinely travel to the silent and unoccupied alien world as a way to get away from their boring lives.
Why it’s lukewarm: While not a bad show, it’s clear that “Night Sky” tries to do a little too much with the limited time it has, pacing problems abound in the show, and there are a couple of weird writing quirks that might trip you up. That said, there are plenty of clever sci-fi elements, and the veteran actors know how to put forward a good performance.
Blade of the Immortal (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Kenjiro Tsuda, Ayane Sakura, Nozomu Sasaki
Description: The very first original animal series from Amazon started with flying body parts, and it got more violent from there. It follows the sixteen-year-old Rin and her bodyguard, who is cursed with immortality. Combining cerebral anime like “Serial Experiments Lain” and samurai shows like “Samurai Champloo,” it certainly grabs your attention.
Why it’s lukewarm: For people who are used to an excessive amount of gore (and we’re talking really excessively), this show will be a nice thing to watch. For those who aren’t used to people getting cut in half on the regular, it’s going to be a hard anime to swallow. You’ll have to buckle up for a gory ride no matter what. It’s ruthless, and for those looking for something to cheer them up, it’s not the correct option.
Truth Seekers (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Nick Frost, Simon Pegg, Malcolm McDowell, Samson Kayo
Description: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost once again come together to make some comedy, and this time, it’s a combination of “The X-Files” and shows like “Ghost Hunters.” They star as broadband installers who double as paranormal investigators who find themselves being followed by ghostly events and sights.
Why it’s lukewarm: The show has plenty of fun moments and lots of the comedy chops that the two main actors have shown us since they got together in “Spaced,” but the show as it is remains a little light. It’s billed as a horror/comedy, but there isn’t much horror to be had, and the laughs don’t always land for every viewer. Other comments tell us that it just wasn’t up to the standards that we had gotten used to from the duo.
The Hunters (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Al Pacino, Logan Lerman, Jerrika Hinton
Description: Grindhouse Fun combines with Al Pacino’s inimitable acting style to create a show about Nazi hunting as a group of people hunt down members of the Third Reich that are living in seventies America. It has to be good if it was able to convince Al Pacino to make the move to TV, right?
Why it’s lukewarm: The show isn’t terrible by any means, but you have to be in a grindhouse state of mind to be able to enjoy it. The show is also a little unexpected. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but sometimes it keeps you from getting comfortable. Still, the show has plenty of power to give to people who are able to tough it out and plenty of catharsis.
Them (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill
Description: The period piece “Them” has a black couple move into a white neighborhood during the fifties with their young daughter, and before long, the white neighbors are terrorizing them, trying to get them to move out. There also seems to be something a little supernatural going on, which just adds to the mystery.
Why it’s lukewarm: The setup almost seems like it’s old hat by now. The black people move in, and the white people don’t like it. While the production is slick, there just isn’t enough new and interesting to keep people watching. The show is also EXTREMELY brutal, which turned off a lot of audience members and critics. Throw in a dash of staid “Stepford Wives” elements, and you have a show that just doesn’t do enough to separate itself from the pack.
Utopia (So-So)
Season: 1
Starring: John Cusack, Rainn Wilson, Sasha Lane
Description: A group of misfits and comic nerds discover that the comic “Utopia” is predicting the end of the world. There’s conspiracy, thriller elements, and a couple of big names to add to the show’s appeal. It was first a Channel 4 sci-fi thriller that was passed around before the adaptation finally came out on Amazon.
Why it’s lukewarm: The timing was poor. It’s a story about the government lying about a plague and making fake vaccines, and it came out in the fall of 2020. Seriously, talk about a bad release date. It also takes itself a little too seriously for people to enjoy without a wink and a nod to the audience. Black comedy has to have a subtle hand sometimes, and this one was going at it pretty heavy.
Panic (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Olivia Welch, Mike Faist, Jessica Sula
Descriptions: Take the idea of “Hunger Games” and pit a bunch of teens against each other, except it’s in present-day Texas. Based on Lauren Oliver’s 2014 YA novel, “Panic” mysteriously organizes a game for graduating seniors of a high school, competing in dares to get their ticket out of the small town.
Why it’s lukewarm: “Panic” seems to think that everybody who watches the show will get squicked out with even a little bit of blood and can’t seem to stop coddling its audience. It also seems to be a little more interested in boosting the star power of Ray Nicholson than actually creating a good show. Check it out if the premise seems interesting, but it certainly isn’t the best thing Amazon has ever made.
Gary Busey: Pet Judge (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Gary Busey, Shadoe Stevens, Ian Abramson
Description: If Gary Busey is in a project, you can bet it’s going to be kind of weird. Him dressing up like a judge and handing out judgments to pets is no different. Busey has to figure out court cases that feature made-up pet disputes.
Why it’s Lukewarm: The show is goofy, there’s plenty of good writing, and it neither takes itself too seriously nor references its strange idea too much, but at the end of the day, it’s just Busey being Busey in yet another odd place. It’s really strange, and if you don’t like that kind of strangeness, it isn’t going to trip your trigger all that much. Mostly, it just feels out of place on Amazon.
The Wheel of Time (So-So)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Daniel Henney
Description: Based on the immense series begun by Robert Jordan and completed by Brandon Sanderson, this series is fantasy action at its most okay. While fans of the series were excited to see the books portrayed on the screen with all the energy of the “Game of Thrones” show, the first season proved to be far more of an adaptation than a translation of the books themselves.
Why it’s lukewarm: The visuals were a highlight, but many simply found the show to be boring. Not everybody agreed, but it’s hard to come up with something that is more damning for a show than it is simply boring. If you love it, great, and if you hate it, you might keep watching because you hate it. But boring? There are lots of other things to fill your time.
The Rig (So-So)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Iain Glen, Emily Hampshire, Martin Compston
Description: Just looking at the show and not reading anything, you might think this show is about someone on an oil rig. Well, yes, but it does a little more than that. It turns out to have supernatural elements that try its hardest to be an engaging piece of television. A strange fog cuts off the eponymous oil rig from civilization, and then there are inexplicable deaths and equipment failures.
Why it’s lukewarm: The cast keeps the show from falling too far, but the rather “The Happening” style message the show tries to make just doesn’t hit most people. It can be pretty heavy-handed at times, which just makes it come off as silly to a lot of viewers.
Modern Love (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey, Andy García, Dev Patel, Caitlin McGee
Description: Leave it to Amazon to adapt "The New York Times'" most tear-jerking weekly column into an anthology series with an all-star cast. The show portrays sketches about love, romantic and otherwise, in New York City.
Why it’s lukewarm: The show's primary focus is its ability to make you weep, and it received slight criticism for its lack of diversity. Unsurprisingly, the series was renewed for a second season, and we're willing to give it a second chance.
The Man in the High Castle (SO-SO)
Seasons: 4
Starring: Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls, Joel de la Fuente
Description: "The Man in the High Castle" takes place in a parallel universe where the Axis powers win World War II. The United States is divided into the Japanese Pacific States to the west, San Francisco as the capital, and the Greater Nazi Reich in the east, with New York City as the regional capital. The series takes place in 1962 and follows characters whose destinies become intertwined.
Why it's lukewarm: Although its plot is somewhat unwieldy, "The Man in the High Castle" has an intriguing premise that blossomed into compelling new directions—obviously accompanied by stunning visuals and strong performances.
Patriot (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Michael Dorman, Kathleen Munroe, Kurtwood Smith, Michael Chernus
Description: Different from any CIA show you've ever seen, "Patriot" follows the emotionally unstable state of John Tavner. The agent poses as a piping engineer so he can travel to Europe to prevent Iran from obtaining full nuclear capabilities. The show follows the complications that arise along the way of Tavner's mission.
Why it's lukewarm: "Patriot" manages to be dark yet often funny; some may even call it quirky. Although its risks don't always pay off, the show is still worth watching.
Alpha House (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: John Goodman, Matt Malloy, Clark Johnson, Mark Consuelos
Description: The series follows Republican Senators who spend their days in Capitol Hill and their nights in a row house they rent together. Their primary purpose in life is to do as little work as possible. The political satire was created by Garry Trudeau and went strong for two seasons.
Why it's lukewarm: Throughout the show's two seasons, there were cameos from Hollywood's most celebrated veterans and politicians alike, which made for a refreshing series. Though many viewers wanted to love "Alpha House," they felt like the show was high-jacked with an agenda.
Carnival Row (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne, Andrew Gower, Simon McBurney, Tamzin Merchant, David Gyasi,
Description: "Carnival Row," a neo-noir fantasy, is a show about an alternate urban universe in which the world of humans and the world of fairies are always at war with each other. The show's main stars, a fairy portrayed by Cara Delevigne and a human detective, played by Orlando Bloom, are caught in a love/hate relationship.
Why it's lukewarm: We're not sure what audience this show is aimed for, but if it sounds like your cup of tea, you're going to want to give this show a chance!
Comrade Detective (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring the Voices of Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Jason Mantzoukas, Chloë Sevigny, Jake Johnson, John DiMaggio
Description: Okay, hang tight for a moment while we try to explain this ambitious Amazon endeavor. "Comrade Detective" is a Romanian buddy-cop action set in the 1980s. With a Communist backdrop, it's a Romanian production. It is dubbed in English by an all-star cast, including Kim Basinger, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Chloë Sevigny, Mahershala Ali, and many, many more.
Why it's lukewarm: "Comrade Detective" takes history and humor and mixes them up to create a bizarre cluster of familiar detective stories. Sometimes, it hits; other times, it misses. But no one can deny the all-star cast.
Crisis in Six Scenes (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Woody Allen, Miley Cyrus, Rachel Brosnahan, John Magaro, Elaine May
Description: Woody Allen's six-segment series is set in the 1960s and follows a middle-class suburban family who is visited by Lennie Dale, a left-wing radical who is wanted by the FBI.
Why it's lukewarm: Though "Crisis in Six Scenes" did not change television history, it did manage to advance the narrative that TV is the new movie. While Woody Allen's humor is a little old-fashioned, the show manages to be funny and gives Miley Cyrus room for an excellent performance.
Forever (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Fred Armisen & Maya Rudolph
Description: "Forever" follows Oscar and June, a married couple that has reached stagnation. For the past 12 years, the couple has lived a comfortable but predictable life, having the same conversations and eating the same meals. That's until June talks Oscar into shaking things up...
Why it's lukewarm: "Forever" is not everyone's cup of tea. To understand and appreciate the show thoroughly, you have to be an appreciative existentialist. The show explores what paradise looks like for different people, and the first season feels like an appetizer for what's to come, which is why it is so unfortunate that Amazon decided not to pick it up for a second season.
Good Omens (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: David Tennant, Michael Sheen, Miranda Richardson, Michael McKean, Jack Whitehall, Jon Hamm
Description: Based on the 1990 novel of the same name, "Bad Omens" was co-produced by Amazon Studios and BBC Studios. The six-episode series stars an all-star ensemble cast led by David Tennant, Michael Sheen, and Jon Hamm - as well as Frances McDormand as the voice of God. "Bad Omens" follows an angel and demon whose lives are threatened by the approaching apocalypse. The duo has to team up to prevent a war between heaven and hell.
Why it's lukewarm: Like the book that inspired it, the show is packed with quirky and sharp humor. The downside is that while Tennant and Sheen are incredibly engaging, there is something about their chemistry on screen that doesn't seem to work.
The Feed (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring: David Thewlis, Guy Burnet, Nina Toussaint‑White, Michelle Fairley
Description: "The Feed" takes place in London in the near future and follows Lawrence Hatfield and his family. Hatfield invented an omnipresent technology called The Feed. The Feed, implanted into everyone's brain, enables people to share information, emotions, and memories. Things take a haunting twist when the new technology falls into the wrong hands, and users become murderous. Hatfield's family is driven apart as they struggle to control the monster they have created...
Why it's lukewarm: "The Feed" isn't telling a story we haven't heard before. Just open a newspaper or the internet, and there are thousands of articles about social media addiction. The actor's performances are outstanding. It's just the storyline isn't anything new...
Goliath (SO-SO)
Seasons: 4
Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, William Hurt, Maria Bello, Olivia Thirlby
David E. Kelley, the king of legal dramas, blessed us with the old-school legal thriller that is: "Goliath." The show is filled with flawed characters and a compelling storyline. Billy Bob Thorton, who won a Golden Globe for the role, portrays Billy McBride, an alcoholic has-been lawyer who gets his hands on a case against a big tech firm.
Why it's lukewarm: The beauty of "Goliath" is that it's not trying to be anything other than a well-made television show about morally questionable good guys, bad guys, and a solid cast! So it's neither the best nor the worst. It just is!
Ted Bundy: Falling For a Killer (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Molly Kendall & Elizabeth Kendall
Description: We're all familiar with the Ted Bundy story by now, right? This five-episode documentary series looks into the serial killer's crimes from a female perspective. For the first time, Bundy's long-term partner, Elizabeth Kendall, her daughter Molly, and other survivors open up to tell their stories. The show uncovers the profound way Bundy's psychological hatred of women came into contact with the feminist movement and the culture wars that impacted the 1970s.
Why it's lukewarm: They cracked the case 15 minutes into the 1st episode. Though the show received critical acclaim and praise, some will say watching it may be a waste of time. What do you think?
Tales from the Loop (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Rebecca Hall & Jonathan Pryce
Description: "Tales from the Loop" is a science fiction drama television series based on the art book by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag. The series premiered on Amazon in 2020 as all eight episodes of the first season were released simultaneously. The show follows the lives of the residents in Mercer, Ohio, a fictional town. Mercer is home to an underground facility known as the Loop, where researchers attempt to make the impossible possible.
Why it's lukewarm: "Tales from the Loop" somehow builds up a particular promise of adventure that doesn't seem to pay off. Though the show is cinematically stunning, many will argue that it lacks a plot line.
The Grand Tour
Seasons: 5
Starring: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May
Description: If you loved "Top Gear" and have never seen "The Grand Tour," boy, you are in for a treat! "The Grand Tour" takes "Top Gear" to the next level with more lavish production and out-of-this-world vehicles. The cast travels around the globe for specialty episodes, including one in Dubai featuring sand buggies and involving charitable efforts in Mozambique.
Why it's lukewarm: The show combines auto-journalism with goofing off -- as the hosts pick fun at each other regularly. If you like cars, you need to watch this show! If you aren't a car fan, this show is a major snooze-fest!
All or Nothing (SO-SO)
Seasons: 5
Starring: Various Sports Leagues
Description: "All or Nothing" is a sports documentary series in which each season covers a professional sports franchise in various sports leagues—debuting in 2016, the series films undercover, following the practices, operations, and competitions without the knowledge of the athletes being taped. Season five of the Emmy-Award-winning series follows the Philadelphia Eagles the season following their Super Bowl championship.
Why it's lukewarm: If you want to get up close and personal with your favorite sports players, this show's tailor-made for you. If you're not a big sports fan, this is one you may prefer to pass up.
James May: Our Man In Japan (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: James May
Description: "James May: Our Man in Japan" follows journalist James May as he travels by land, air, sea, and even go-kart exploring Japan. The travel documentary's production started in March 2019, as the show was filmed over three months. The show was released in 2020 and presented a linear journey as May travels from the north end of Japan, through Sapporo and Tokyo, to the south island.
Why it's lukewarm: The show is exactly what you expect from May. Though it's funny and on point, it's swift to jump from topic to topic, and with just six episodes - it's a quick watch. Don't expect too much information like a documentary; it's more of a themed road trip.
The Widow (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Alex Kingston, Babs Olusanmokun, Louise Brealey
Description: When a woman’s husband mysteriously disappears, it’s up to her to find out the truth of the matter and see if he’s still alive. Her path takes her to the Congo, where she has to discover the truth about the man she loves. Is it a relationship worth saving?
Why it’s a stinker: A better question would be if it’s a show worth saving. While the idea of hunting through a jungle to find a husband is a good one to start out with, it becomes too melodramatic to hold anyone’s attention for long. It’s called inaccurate, annoying, and ridiculous. It goes hard into the strong woman trope, and it proves yet again that it’s far easier to do that trope poorly than it is to do it well.
Britannia (Worst)
Seasons: 2
Starring: David Morrissey, Kelly Reilly, Nikolaj Lie Kaas
Description: The history of the land of Britain is long and bloody, and this show brings us all the way back to 43 A.D. Britannia is full of warring tribes such as the Celts. There are also the invading Romans who seek to dismantle any resistance that stands in their way.
Why it’s a stinker: Detractors have a lot to say, and they’re prepared to say it. The acting is poor, the stories are boring, and there’s far too much butchery. And even the historical aspects of the shows are buried by the bad parts. There are even reports of it being so bloody that people were getting sick to their stomachs. If the show was better, maybe, but it’s hard to say yes to that with a poor show.
The ABC Murders (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: John Malkovich, Rupert Grint, Andrew Buchan
Description: It’s 1933, and famous detective Hercule Poirot has received letters threatening murder. The sender only signs them “A.B.C.” Poirot finds that he has to take matters into his own hands since all his old friends at the police department have retired or passed away. Suspense abounds as Poirot has to track down this killer before the bodies start to pile up.
Why it’s a stinker: The big problem is that John Malkovich is just a boring Poirot. He might have tried to give it some gravitas, but he mainly just comes off as half-asleep. The rest of the story keeps things dull, and it also has a bit too much Tarantino in it, if you know what we mean. Too bloody, too morose, not enough life.
Four More Shots Please (Worst)
Seasons: 3
Starring: Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari, Gurbani, Maanvi Gagroo
Description: Four gal pals try to make sense of life in modern-day India. They deal with all the standard stuff: romances, conflicts between work and life, their ambitions, and their anxieties. Every one of them has baggage that they can help each other carry.
Why it’s a stinker: There are apparently a lot of reasons why you should avoid this show. Despite being touted as feminist and starring four women, it’s been called demeaning to women. The four women are toxic, selfish, and obsessed with themselves; the plots are shallow, the acting is bad, the dialogue is bad, and so on. Honestly, we’re amazed that this show was able to have three seasons.
Mammals (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: James Corden, Melia Kreiling, Sally Hawkins
Description: The complexities of modern marriage and fidelity are explored in this dark comedy from an award-winning writer and starring James Corden. The show is about what happens when you’ve found “The One.” Have you really found the one? Aren’t we all just mammals when we get right down to it?
Why it’s a stinker: One of the biggest immediate problems with the show is that it stars James Corden, who we are assured is not actually a real person, just an experiment that has Hollywood trying to make a star and failing miserably. The show also drags quite a bit of the time, and the tone is hard to discern, no matter what is going on. Plus, remember, James Corden. Not a great start.
Jungle (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Junior Okoli, Chas Appeti, Kurban Kassam
Description: A combination of UK rap culture and crime drama brings a show like never before. In near-future London, a pair of young men try to improve their lives but end up constantly facing the consequences of their actions. It’s a musical that has tons of rap, and characters are constantly speaking in rhymes.
Why it’s a stinker: First off, it has the same title as the Daniel Radcliffe movie from 2017, so just finding it is a hassle. Second, it’s obvious immediately that some members of the cast are a lot better at rapping than others. These actors have a hard time carrying their weight, eliciting groans every time they take the stage. There’s plenty of style in the show, just not enough substance.
Tell Me Your Secrets (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, Hamish Linklater
Description: Originally written as a show for TNT, this show purports to be a complex thriller revolving around three mysterious characters that have intersecting motives. Emma is a woman who is in love with a dangerous killer, John is a former serial predator looking for redemption, and Mary is a grieving mother obsessed with finding her missing daughter.
Why it’s a stinker: With rug-pulls, timeline-shifting plot points, and oodles of melodrama, the show is just too in the weeds for its own good. The secrets that are promised in the title are barely worth the time the show gives them, and it’s clear this series languished on the shelf for too long before Amazon Prime picked it up.
Solos (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Uzo Aduba, Nicole Beharie, Morgan Freeman
Description: A seven-part anthology series that explores what it means to be human through a fantasy and science-fiction lens, “Solos” has some big names like Anne Hathaway, Anthony Mackie, Helen Mirren, and more. Each one has its own little story; there’s plenty of slick production and some fun high-concept science-fiction ideas.
Why it’s a stinker: Just like with so many pieces of art, the writing is terrible. The actors and actresses have to do their best with overwritten globs of text, mostly thanks to writer David Weill. Every confession has to be full of tears; there are far too many current-year pop-culture gags and despite the show’s best attempt at “Black Mirror” episodes, none of them are able to get elevated above even middling.
I Know What You Did Last Summer (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Madison Iseman, Bill Heck, Brianne Tju
Description: An adaptation of the famous slasher series from the late nineties, this series has basically the exact same plot as the original movie, with a group of teen friends being stalked by a killer a year after they witness a fatal accident. Is that a spoiler? We’re not sure anymore.
Why it’s a stinker: Critics called the show, a whole eight episodes, a tough slog. Even the original movie isn’t an amazing film, and it drags. Stretching that plot out to eight forty-five-minute episodes makes this one a snoozer you can easily miss. In addition, the dialogue seemed out of touch. Pairing up the teens of today with slashers just doesn’t seem to mesh that well.
The Terminal List (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Chris Pratt, Constance Wu, Taylor Kitsch
Description: Navy SEAL Commander James Reece decides to turn to vengeance as he investigates the mysterious murder of his entire platoon. He applies everything he’s learned after spending all that time in the military’s most elite group, hunting down the people responsible.
Why it’s a stinker: Somehow, this show was able to strip Chris Pratt of his unique charisma and replace it with almost nothing. It has a certified rotten score on Rotten Tomatoes. It becomes little more than a by-the-book revenge story that also doesn’t portray the military all that well. It’s earned genuinely terrible reviews except on Amazon (and it’s hard to trust those), and this show has little more to offer than something to throw on for the big Pratt fan in the family.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Worst)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Morfydd Clar, Robert Aramayo, Sophia Nomvete, Markella Kavenagh
Description: “The Rings of Power” takes us back thousands of years into the history of Middle-Earth, long before there was ever a Hobbit to destroy the One Ring and save the world. We get to see battles between elves and monsters and how the world of “Lord of the Rings” was formed.
Why it’s a stinker: No, “The Rings of Power” isn’t a terrible show, but it clearly didn’t know how to best present its source material – of which there wasn’t a great deal in the first place. It doesn’t have the sincere movie magic of Peter Jackson’s first trilogy, and character choices have turned people away from the show.
Hunters (WORST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Al Pacino, Logan Lerman, Josh Radnor, Jerrika Hinton, Kate Mulvany
Description: If you're into history, drama, and Al Pacino, this next one is for you. The series inspired by real events, "Hunters," follows a group of Nazi hunters in New York City in 1977. The diverse band of Nazi hunters learns hundreds of Nazis fled to the United States. When they learn that there's a conspiracy to create a Fourth Reich in the U.S. - they seek to aim for justice and get revenge.
Why it's a stinker: With a solid cast and an even stronger sense of justice, there's something about "Hunters" that somehow feels "off" to us. Perhaps season two will manage to do the show with a promising premise justice?
Lore (WORST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Aaron Mahnke, Robert Patrick, Holland Roden, Colm Feore
Description: Amazon has given us an anthology hybrid horror-docuseries that provides us with a taste of vampires, werewolves, possessed dolls, and more. Blending dramatic scenes, animation, archive, and narration, "Lore" reveals the hidden truths behind our favorite horror legends. The series combines both documentary and cinematic footage to tell horror stories and their origins.
Why it's a stinker: As a podcast, "Lore" was highly addictive. As a television show, it didn't succeed at truly distinguishing itself in any way. Pass!
The Dangerous Book for Boys (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Chris Diamantopoulos, Drew Logan Powell, Kyan Zielinski, Erinn Hayes, Gabriel Bateman
Description: Based on a book by the same name, Bryan Cranston co-created this six-episode comedy-drama series that had everyone feeling sentimental in a fraction of that time. The show tells the story of brothers who, along with their mother, are trying to process the death of their father. Their father left behind a dangerous book that transports the boys into a magical world that serves as a sort of family therapy.
Why it's a stinker: Amazon had the chance to take an amazingly creative idea and use it to set them apart from other streamers. Instead, the final product turned out to be a generic network television show, which is why it didn't come as much of a surprise when Amazon announced that they had canceled the series after one season.
Absentia (WORST)
Seasons: 3
Starring: Stana Katic, Matthew Le Nevez, Patrick Heusinger
Description: The series tells the story of Emily Byrne (Stana Katic), an FBI agent who disappears without a trace and is declared dead in absentia. Six years later, she reappears, clinging to life, with absolutely no recollection of the years that she was missing. All this time, the FBI believed she had been killed by the serial killer she had been hunting at the time of her disappearance. Now, Byrne sets out to reclaim her identity and family and resume her life.
Why it's a stinker: We're just going to come out and say it, "Absentia" is as basic as it gets. The production didn't take any risks, leaving its lead and somewhat intriguing mystery plot treading water.
Jean-Claude Van Johnson (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Moisés Arias, Kat Foster, Phylicia Rashad
Description: "Jean-Claude Van Johnson" follows martial arts and action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme, portraying himself. Pretty solid up until now, right? Well, that's when the story takes an exciting twist! It is revealed that Van Damme's movie career and personal history are all a cover story! The "actor" is a secret agent known as Jean-Claude Van Johnson. He goes undercover with the help of his assistant and make-up specialist - his handler and weapons master, respectively.
Why it's a stinker: Unfortunately, as unexpectedly satisfying and refreshing as the show's original pilot was, there was very little to say and not much story to tell after its release. That being said, "Jean-Claude Van Johnson" is not one of Amazon's best productions.
Jack Ryan (WORST)
Seasons: 4
Starring: John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish, Dina Shihabi
Description: The political spy thriller follows CIA analyst Jack Ryan as he is thrown from the security of his desk job into the field after he discovers a string of suspicious bank transfers that are being carried out by a rising Islamic extremist named Suleiman.
Why it's a stinker: The show is predictable, to say the least. For some reason, throughout the second season, the show's producers and writers toned down its characters' moral complexities, and we were left with a straightforward spy show. Boo!
Hand of God (WORST)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Ron Perlman, Dana Delany, Garret Dillahunt, Alona Tal
Description: It's hard to describe the premise of "Hand of God" in short, but we're going to try anyway. The show follows Pernell Harris (Rob Perlman), a judge who is accused of murdering a police officer. Following his son's recent suicide, Harris suffers a breakdown and believes God is compelling him to follow a path of vigilante justice. The once-corrupt judge becomes a born-again Christian and joins the Hand of God, an evangelical church.
Why it's a stinker: Though "Hand of God" boasts a talented cast and fascinating premise, neither is enough to overcome the lack of worthwhile drama or impactful thrills.
Doctor Thorne (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Tom Hollander, Stefanie Martini, Alison Brie, Harry Richardson
Description: This three-part television adaptation of the 1858 Anthony Trollope novel by the same name follows Mary Thorne, who grows up under the guardianship of her uncle, Dr. Thorne. Mary spends many of her formative years in the company of the Gresham family, a family that lives on a neighboring estate. Their lives seem fine until the Gresham family's financial woes disrupt Mary's peaceful life, and her past comes back to haunt her.
Why it's a stinker: Those who loved "Downton Abbey" were excited, to say the least, when its creators announced "Doctor Thorne.” Unfortunately, the show is a minor canvas compared with “Downton Abbey."
Good Girls Revolt (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Genevieve Angelson, Anna Camp, Joy Bryant, Erin Darke, Hunter Parrish, Chris Diamantopoulos,
Description: The "Mad Men"-Esque series follows a group of young female researchers working at News of the Week magazine in 1969. Many of these researchers were more talented and better educated than their male counterparts, and yet, they were paid less. The women realized just how much lower their pay was, and though their writings were accepted, the stories were published only under the men's names.
Why it's a stinker: We were expecting a revolution, and we didn't get one, which was a total bummer. The show may have managed to discover a stronger voice in the second season but never got the chance to, as it was canceled after one season.
Z: The Beginning of Everything (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Christina Ricci, David Hoflin, David Strathairn
Description: "Z: The Beginning of Everything" is a bite-sized adaptation of Therese Anne Fowler's "Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald." The show presents a fictionalized version of the life of American writer and socialite Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald in the 1920s. The show's first and only season follows her marriage to the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, who is not yet famous.
Why it's a stinker: The series suffers a formless storyline and over-the-top characterizations and failed to make a second season, which doesn't come as much of a surprise considering "The Last Tycoon's" failed attempt to succeed.
The Last Tycoon (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Matt Bomer, Kelsey Grammer, Lily Collins, Dominique McElligott, Enzo Cilenti, Mark O'Brien, Rosemarie DeWitt
Description: The pre-World War II show takes place in 1936 Hollywood. "The Last Tycoon" follows studio exec Monroe Stahr, studio head Pat Brady, and Brady's daughter, Celia, a young woman trying to make her way into the industry.
Why it's a stinker: As you may have guessed, the glamorous "The Last Tycoon," based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's unfinished last novel, was an expensive production! While time, money, and a lot of attention went into production, the show's writing is not persuasive, and the final product is, how do we put this lightly... sort of substance.
Mad Dogs (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Ben Chaplin, Michael Imperioli, Romany Malco, Steve Zahn, Phil Davis
Description: "Mad Dogs" focuses on the angst of a group of 40-something underachieving men who become caught in a vacation from hell. After the old friends gather to celebrate an early retirement in Belize, a series of unfortunate events unfold, exposing dark secrets and, you guessed it...murder!
Why it's a stinker: Like every TV show with four male leads, the plot is a cocktail of testosterone and poor decision-making. Let's be honest. It's a stale midlife crisis tale, one we've seen one too many times.
Hanna (WORST)
Seasons: 3
Starring: Esme Creed-Miles, Mireille Enos, Noah Taylor, Dermot Mulroney, Joel Kinnaman
Description: When the 2011 movie version of "Hanna," starring Saoirse Ronan, was released, the world went crazy over the eponymous teen who grew up in the woods. The story got extended into an Amazon series and told the story of Hanna, 15, who lives in a forest in a remote part of Poland.
Why it's a stinker: Following the series' release, "The New York Times" called the show "genetically modified. The movie was suspenseful and full of action, but the show somehow seems like a stretched-out version of a story that's already been told.
Betas (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Joe Dinicol, Karan Soni, Charlie Saxton, Jon Daly
Description: Before there was "Silicon Valley," there was "Betas." The show's characters find themselves in a race with time to find an "angel" -- someone to invest in their dream. The four computer geeks are trying to get their new dating app funded and launched.
Why it's a stinker: Unfortunately, "Betas" doesn't seem to hold a candle to HBO's "Silicon Valley." Time after time, the show attempts (and fails) to shine a spotlight on the exciting side of the tech scene, with episodes repeatedly focusing on sex and drugs.
The Romanoffs (WORST)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Anton Sanko, David Carbonara, Giona Ostinelli, Sonya Belousova, Marcelo Zarvos
Description: The anthology series features an ensemble cast that differs from episode to episode and is a study of the worst kind of people, the kind who manipulate into giving their existence a little more meaning.
Why it's a stinker: There were high expectations for Matthew Weiner's follow-up to "Mad Men," yet somehow, it wasn't the fun, light series many expected. If you're in the mood to watch horrible people make fools of themselves, "The Romanoffs" is for you!