Whoever said patience is a virtue clearly wasn't thinking about the agony of waiting a full week in between episodes of your favourite TV show. Call us greedy, but there's no greater creature comfort — especially when it's freezing outside and the sun's set before you've even left the office — than diving deep into a new series and indulging that impulse to say, "Just one more episode before bed".
Binge-watching makes it easy to breeze through a series, so we're always on the lookout for fresh content — whether it's a critically acclaimed new release that's backed by major buzz, or that underrated gem our friends have been raving about for years. If you've got a Prime Video account through Amazon, you're in luck: There's plenty of both ready to stream right now.
Below, we've rounded up the shows — some new, some less so — that deserve to be on your pop culture playlist, and not simply because each and every one is dominated by female leads. And if you decide to sacrifice sleep and social commitments in favour of gulping down a full 10-episode series in one go, you'll get no judgement from us. Some shows are just too good to sit on.
All shows featured are available to watch on Prime Video.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Even if you haven't yet caught The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, you've no doubt heard about its rave reviews and pile of awards — including Golden Globes for Best Musical or Comedy TV Series and Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series for lead Rachel Brosnahan. And did we mention that it comes from the creator of Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino?
Set in late '50s New York City, the charming and quirky show stars Brosnahan as Midge Maisel, a picture-perfect Jewish housewife and mother who rocks the boat when she decides to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. The bold move kicks off a lot of controversy, but it's impossible not to root for Midge as she crashes the male-dominated ranks of comedy and interacts with fictionalised portrayals of real-life comedic legends.
Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video.
The Bold Type
The fictional women's glossy Scarlet is the backdrop for this soapy story about three twentysomething friends who are making major girlboss moves in the magazine industry. Jane (Katie Stevens) is a newly promoted writer who wants to be the next Joan Didion but needs to be nudged out of her creative comfort zone; Kat (Aisha Dee) is the fearless social media director who will go the extra mile for a story; and Sutton (Meghann Fahy) is the longtime assistant who's torn between financial prudence and the pursuit of her fashion editor dreams.
Also in the mix: Relationships, work dramas, and the age-old struggle of trying to find your footing — and your voice — when you're just starting out in your career.
Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video.
Outlander
If you've got a soft spot for time travel, star-crossed romance, historical fiction, and men in kilts, ye cannae go wrong with Outlander, the small-screen adaptation of Diana Gabaldon's hugely popular book series of the same name. Having just wrapped its third series, the drama follows the story of Caitriona Balfe's brilliant and brash Claire, a feminist former World War II nurse who finds herself transported to 18th-century Scotland and the loving embrace of hunky Highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). One catch: She's already married to a nice English chap who's been left behind in 1946.
Political intrigue, vicious battles, and some of the steamiest bedroom scenes known to man ensue. Scottish history's never been more fascinating — or sexier.
Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video.
Casual
Valerie (Michaela Watkins) is a soon-to-be divorcée with a teenage daughter who loves to push boundaries (Tara Lynne Barr's Laura) and an emotionally stunted younger brother (Tommy Dewey's Alex) who has let them take over his LA bachelor pad.
Though the dramedy, which will air its fourth and final series later this year, is ostensibly about Valerie and Alex's co-dependent forays into the hilariously shallow and, sadly, totally relatable LA dating scene, the dynamic between mother and daughter fosters the meatiest moments. While Valerie struggles to rediscover her sexual self in the wake of her marital breakdown, headstrong Laura grapples with slut-shaming, sexual experimentation, and other coming-of-age conflicts.
Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video.
UnREAL
If you're a sucker for dating shows but always wonder just how much of reality TV is actually real, have we got the show for you. Having just unveiled its third season, UnREAL offers a juicy behind-the-scenes look at the fictional set of Everlasting, a ratings hit in the vein of The Bachelor.
Turns out, the path to reality romance is strewn not with rose petals but with pushy producers, edited footage, and manipulation. Trust: The cutthroat tactics of producers Rachel Goldberg (Shiri Appleby) and Quinn King (Constance Zimmer) and on-set intrigue will guarantee that you never watch a reality show the same way again.
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