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Recommended (and Not) Viewing on Prime
I thought I’d do you the favor of listing some more quick Amazon Prime Video recommendations so you don’t have to waste your time wading through mediocre productions. This is assuming our tastes align, but have I gone wrong before?
You’re welcome.
I sifted through the mountain of Dickens productions to find these gems:
Dickensian– 10-Episode Series- Highly Recommended. I kept scrolling past this one, and then decided to try it. Dickensian, for me, was one of those transporting, elevating pieces of entertainment. It brings together a number of Dickens’ characters for an original story arc, a murder mystery, but so much more than that formulaic genre. It’s really about people, about human nature and what individuals will do to get what they want, at others’ expense. Some pursuits are petty, some are avaricious, and unfortunately all feel true to life. It’s also about sacrifices and the remarkable lengths that some will go to ensure that right wins in the end. And there is another truth explored: that real honesty–difficult reality brought to the light–is loving and cleansing, even to those who do not want to be reached.
Although sometimes dizzying with its carousel of plots and characters, and at times lacking subtlety in final resolutions, this is a beautifully filmed, scripted, and acted series. It is also great fun to recognize Dickens’ characters, made to live again in new stories that are nonetheless respectful of their original source material. And the men and women I don’t know–Jaggers, for instance, and Honoria–have sparked my curiosity so that I will have to look them up. Bucket of the Detective, who might be an original Dickensian creation, is odd, clever, and warm-hearted enough to be one good reason I revisit the series every few years.
Oliver Twist-(1985) 12-Episode Series-Recommended. Because this is more than three decades old, I was skeptical about the production value. But while it does somewhat have the feel of being filmed on a stage, and costumes and sets are not always convincing, the acting and script are solid, and I found myself getting absorbed in spite of myself. I realized that this Oliver is one of my favorite Dickens TV adaptations to date.
David Copperfield (1999) 4-Episode Miniseries- Recommended. This is colorful, well-acted, and well produced, with funny and kind, evil and tragic characters. The actors are appealing, and the film sets beautiful. I would watch it again just for the wallpaper at the great aunt’s house–just splendid.
Our Mutual Friend 6-Episode Series- Recommended. Yet another Dickens adaptation, this production is a little hard to follow at the beginning, and actually more than a little creepy. Yet the story is not without hope, and the engaging, compelling actors won me over.
Movies with some real historical context that I enjoyed for their unusual settings and production values: Thousand Pieces of Gold and The War Bride. Both have their coarse, gritty details, but made me appreciate the predicaments of the characters.
Next, here are some that are okay picks if nothing else is on:
The Indian Doctor– This series, featuring an Indian couple in the 1960’s who took the doctor’s post in a small Welsh town, is a great concept, with charismatic main actors and beautiful filming. I got mostly through the third season, but have not yet returned to finish it due to over-the-top humor and obnoxious, cliched story arcs.
The Special Needs Hotel: This reality show about a hotel set up to train young people with autism, Down syndrome, and other special needs impresses the viewer with the effectiveness of the program and the kindness of the staff. There are some segments that are gems, such as one resident supported as he plans his big birthday party while practicing phone communication. But it is a reality show, so some awkward love scenes are clearly staged, to the detriment of the actors, perhaps, and for sure the discomfort of the viewers. In another big puzzler, the residents are offered alcohol at their dance parties. However, should a second season be offered, I would watch it.
Home Fires: This series about families left at home in an English village while World War II raged abroad had me electrified. I was delighted to discover a second season, to live again with characters who loved their families and struggled through physical and emotional challenges. Later, however, it felt like the stories burned less brightly, their moral core dampened by BBC writers once again. The series was then consumed in an abrupt blaze, a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers that was never resolved due to cancellation of the show. Watch at your own risk.
Aristocrats: Six episodes cover the lives of four sisters, English nobility from the 1700’s who make disappointing choices and still have to live with themselves. The series attempts to capture the long sweep of their lives, and so makes a jarring turn at the end, when main actors are replaced by older ones in order to more convincingly show these men and women in their dotage.
BBC’s Emma (2009 miniseries, currently offered through Britbox): I thought I would love this production, featuring Romola Garai. Every time I started watching it, it seemed superfluous given all the current Emma movies out there. It does have its charming, aesthetically pleasing, engaging side, good for dark winter evenings. However, I thought Garai came across too pouty and spoiled, making her Emma not likable enough to carry the scenes with Knightley.
Here are some to not bother with, in my opinion:
The Darling Buds of May: Cute concept, beautiful setting, and engaging acting, but the series celebrates excessive drinking and nontraditional living arrangements with lots of winks and merriment.
Lorna Doone: This was just meh for me. Two young people from opposing sides–one a daughter of a violent clan of outlaws–meet and carry on a dangerous connection. I stopped watching it, so I can’t tell you much else. It didn’t offer much depth to keep me watching.
Wild at Heart: Although some reviewers loved the series, I never finished the first episode. It sounds interesting: a family in England goes to South Africa and ends up staying to run a game reserve. But I thought the story details a little shallow and more suited to younger viewers.
What’s your list? Help us out and save us time by recommending your favorites and steering us away from less worthy material.
Published in Entertainment
Since you’re including channel subscription options ….
If you love English villages and beautiful scenery, I would recommend Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages and Penelope Keith’s Hidden Coastal Villages. Both are available for watching with a subscription to Acorn TV’s channel option. There are 3 seasons (a total of 12 episodes) of Hidden Villages and 1 season (3 episodes) of Coastal Villages. As I said, gorgeous scenery and I love Ms Keith’s sense of humor. Definitely, in my opinion, a fun way to do some armchair traveling.
I need a thumbs up or down on the “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” There’s a divide in the household as to whether to go there. No pressure, but my marriage may depend on it.
A couple of other series I’ve enjoyed watching through this option:
Murdoch Mysteries — 12 seasons available for watching; another season is currently in production and will probably be added to the lineup eventually
Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries — all three seasons available for watching
As with any series, I enjoyed some of the shows’ episodes more than others. But overall, I found both to be a fun way to relax and while away some time. (And if you’d like to watch them without going through Amazon, Acorn TV also has its own stand-alone streaming site.)
Totally agree with you about Lorna Doone. I was disappointed when I tried to watch it–It is just flat. For the ones to watch, you forgot to mention Little Dorrit with Claire Foy, wonderfully compelling and engrossing. Also, Tess of the D’Ubervilles is one I found engaging.
My husband and I both liked this.
Agree about not bothering. We tried to watch this, but I could barely make it through the first episode – just very contrived and every plot point obvious from a mile away.
Ok the bestest one that you must binge on is “Absentia”
Stars Stana Katic – you may remember her from “Castle” TV series a few years ago. Excellent thriller TV.
I find that Prime is mostly just a warehouse for old tv shows that I already know and liked, for example “Elementary” a Sherlock Holmes modern adaption that stars Lucy Liu as Doctor Watson. I know I was a bit weirded out about it, being part of the gender swap fad that began a few years ago – but it works. Its really good for a modern Sherlock Holmes.
“Justified” is another example of this and “Stargate SG1”. I find that most of the Prime original content, I dont like. “Bosch” being the exception – especially when Jeri Ryan shows up in the 4th season to play the “Bad Guy”.
We really liked the first couple (three?) seasons of Justified. But the later ones just got really grim and dark and full of grisly murder scenes and psychopathic drug dealers, etc. Had to quit.
Yes, over time, Justified became more violent. I notice that TV series often evolve on the scale of violence or language and nudity, if they last more than 2 seasons.
One of my favorite scenes from the show (season 1, I think):
From later a season:
I like that as a character Raylan evolved. I really dislike tv shows that put their heroes through traumas and they remain unaffected. They shrug off sudden violent death with a witty quip and move on as if they don’t need consoling. Makes me think that tv cops come from a special school of psychopaths.
I liked the characters, but couldn’t tolerate the excessive profanity. A disappointment.
The Miss Fisher series is also available on Netflix streaming.
My Amazon original recommendations:
Other things on Amazon:
Thank you, @Amy Schley, for your thorough list. I have been curious about this one for a long time–now I will try it:
Russia 1 does a nice job with costume drama. They also have a series on Ivan the Terrible and one on Sophia, the reason the czars called Moscow the third Rome.
To follow on a few comments above:
I saw the first couple of episodes of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and, despite the high acclaim, I hated it. The profanity for one, the gratuitous boob display in episode one or two, and the terribly annoying stereotypical 1960s Jews portrayal (I did not take it in an affectionate way, as can often be the case with stereotype portrayals) made 3 strikes for me and I never went back.
I’ll add a vote for “Absentia,” too. Very interesting and mysterious–I ended season one not sure of the truth. I see that season 2 has just been added. Good!
On the other hand…for Russian costume dramas, I can’t recommend Detective Anna enough. It has an interesting premise (she sees dead people vs. the mysterious, handsome scientific and skeptical detective newly come to town), gorgeous settings, sumptuous costumes, and some very interesting and multidimensional characters. The lead actors were quite good, too. 56 episodes and I might just watch it again.
I have Ekaterina in my queue and will have to take a look at it before it disappears. One of my frustrations with Prime is how often things just stop being included without warning. Then again, new things pop up.
Another series I watched and enjoyed immensely was “Merlin.” About, well, Merlin and the young heir apparent Prince Arthur. Features Anthony Head (of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame) as Uther Pendragon.
Having skipped TV for nearly 20 years (mid 70s to mid 90s) and never having had cable, I’m catching up on some oldies. All of the various Star Trek incarnations, from TOS (which I saw back in the ’60s) to Enterprise (which I rather liked, a minority opinion, I understand). I’m kind of binge-watching “Frasier,” which is very well written–often like farce in timing–and great fun. I’m also watching the original “Addams Family” very slowly–an episode here and there–savoring it. I saw it the first time around and it shaped my ideas of home and family at age 6 or so and they’ve endured.
Also catching up on any of the BBC crime or period shows I can get without paying for another service. That’s where the frustration with the dropped access came in. I had shows (“Foyle’s War,” for one) saved to watch at a later date and suddenly they were only available behind a paywall. I did manage to see “Quantum Leap” (great show!) before it slipped away.
I haven’t seen any current TV since Downton Abbey went off the air (still available on Prime, though!) and I’m not much interested compared to the alternatives available on Prime. Unfortunately, it’s just too easy to get sucked into wasting hours watching episode after episode of whatever, to the detriment of sleep and productivity. On a 7″ screen, no less!
Ive already seen season 2, I was watching for them as they aired on TV. The story went into areas where I wouldn’t have taken it to, but its a good story line – The one thing I really liked about it is that traumas all wear on the characters.
Hey Swatdeeka, I don’t watch much TV or movies but, I must say, IMHO, you are a heck of a writer.
We have enjoyed another Australian import (as was Miss Fisher) that has five seasons. It is The Doctor Blake Mysteries. When my wife & I watched (awhile ago now) it was included with Prime. A fine British police series not yet mentioned is DCI Banks. Again, it was included with Prime at the time we watched it.
Our thanks to all who have contributed. We have been running out of things to try but now our list has been replenished!
Thank you, Yehoshua!
Of the shows mentioned above, this is the only one listed which absolutely delighted us, and added value to our Amazon Prime subscription.
Of course there’s raw language, a must for a truthful show pivoting on the comedy club scene of this era. (Lenny Bruce is a character, and Miriam “Midge” Maisel is sort of a Joan Rivers on her way up.) A big plot point in season one comes out of actual arrests made in comedy clubs for obscenity. Lenny Bruce’s routine eventually involved reading court transcripts.
But this is no low down, pointlessly raw sketch show like you see today, with vulgar language and improper behavior going unchallenged. Far from it. The whole point is the contrast between the inhibited 1958 world and what came immediately thereafter. It’s an origin story for the 1960’s.
Midge is leading a double life, holds down a day job in B. Altman’s department store, and summers the Catskills with her straight-laced family. (The beautiful period costumes, sets, and locations ring true, too.) My wife is Jewish and points out that Midge’s family is sort of atypical for New Yorkers of that time. They’re upscale German Jews, and Midge’s father Abe Weissman (played by Monk‘s Tony Shalhoub) is a proper university math professor described as “imposing, intense, and always just a little bit angry.” So just imagine him finding out what his daughter is doing at night. For that episode alone, in season two, it’s worth watching the whole series. Thumbs up!
I loved the first season, yet to watch 2nd. It’s well written, witty, laugh out loud, and very creative!!
Thank you for the recommendations! I will add to my future viewing!
I enthusiastically second the recommendation for Dickensian. It was fantastic, and such a bummer that it only survived two seasons. I especially loved the relationship between Nancy and Fagin from Oliver Twist in one of the best scenes of acting I watched all year. Maybe Amazon Originals will pick it up someday. I want to see what they can do with Our Mutual Friend.
I thought Home Fires started off great, but then divulged into a kind of anti-war soap opera with a typical BBC style, stealth homosexual character brought in to make some kind of social commentary. It’s unfortunate that the BBC always seems to go that route eventually instead of just telling a good story.
Although I watched it on PBS when the production first played on television, for the past few days I’ve been re-watching all the seasons of Downton Abbey. In my opinion, it’s one of the best series ever. Not only is it entertaining, but it’s also very educational about the social and economic changes that came about in Britain as a result of World War I.
Some other Amazon Prime favorites:
Bosch – Titus Welliver plays Michael Connelly’s L.A. homicide detective Harry Bosch. Complex characters, excellent cast. Stories stretch across entire seasons and the seasons connect. I prefer standalone episodic series, but here patience pays off well.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan – Huge Tom Clancy fan here. The Hunt for Red October is as pure an anti-Commie major production as you’ll ever see, and maybe that’s why it reruns forever to loyal audiences. After Hunt, however, it seemed to me (and to the late Mr. Clancy) like Hollywood was doing everything in its power to excise the author’s politics from its Jack Ryan sequels. Not so much this Amazon Prime production, I’m glad to report!
White Dragon – a Hong Kong-set international thriller which begins with a Hitchcockian premise, then the pulse-pounding danger and violence keeps escalating for eight episodes.
The Jury – a fine six part British drama where the jurors are as interesting as the case itself.
D.C.I. Banks – Excellent 2010-2016 detective series starring Stephen Tompkinson, based on the novels by Peter Robinson. (No, not that Peter Robinson.)
Blue Bloods – the early years are the best of the CBS drama, and seasons 1-6 are included with Prime. So is the entirely of NYPD Blue, our favorite television drama of all time.
We also couple a subscription to BritBox within Amazon Prime. Reruns of well remembered BBC/Masterpiece Theater/Mystery favorites come with BritBox, and so do these gems:
Scott & Bailey – They made five seasons of this Manchester-based police drama, in which the leading roles in front of and behind the camera are played by women. Just our opinion, but aside from the aforementioned Blue and Foyle’s War, there’s no police drama in its class. The great writer Sally Wainwright (Last Tango in Halifax, Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack) wrote the first few seasons, and you will come to love the cast: Suranne Jones, Lesley Sharp, and Amanda Bullmore.
Maigret – This 2016-17 drama starring Rowan Atkinson as the 1950’s Paris detective of the Georges Simenon novels is absolutely superb. Just four episodes, but each is memorable. It came and went quickly from some PBS affiliates here. Yes, that Rowan Atkinson, but he’s an accomplished dramatic actor, too, and this is a carefully formed, understated performance.
Upstart Crow – A half-hour sitcom set in 1592 about a struggling young bard searching for story material. Quite funny, more so if you get the references. Put that education to use!
I had a cold last week, and while I was siting home I started watching The Expanse. That’s a really great show. I was really sucked in almost immediately. I watched one-and-a-half of three seasons while under the influence of Nyquil. Great combo; I recommend them.
THERE’S ANOTHER SEASON??!!
Oh, I’ve been curious about that show.
My parents like this one, too. I need to try it.
Thank you for all the recommendations.
No, you’re right. There was only one. Sorry. I think IMDB maybe said there were two or something like that.