70 Hidden Gem Series on Amazon Prime Video | Rotten Tomatoes

TAGGED AS: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Undone

(Photo by © Amazon Prime Video)

70 Hidden Gem Series on Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is one of the most overwhelming streaming services out there: it’s overflowing with viewing options for Prime members, from originals to recent hit network and cable series to old-school classics. And then there’s the stuff you can pay for – which is basically everything.

To help you cut through the clutter, the Rotten Tomatoes staff trawled through Amazon Prime Video’s options to uncover 75 series we think are hidden gems worthy of your streaming queue. These are not the streamer’s highest-profile hits – if you need to be reminded that The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel exists, check out our guide to the very best Amazon Prime series – but great and interesting shows that have flown under the radar, or which you might not know were available with your Prime subscription. (And we stuck to the shows available with Prime, leaving out shows you need to purchase or rent.)

In this guide, you’ll find Prime originals the critics loved but which haven’t gotten the attention we think they deserve (Hanna, The Tick, Britannia); acclaimed “peak TV”-era shows you may be surprised to find available with Prime (The Wire, Hannibal); classics you may be even more surprised to see here (The Outer Limits, The Addams Family, 3rd Rock from the Sun); and some foreign gems (British comedy Peep Show, French thriller The Returned).

We’ve divided the list up by genre to help you find the right show for your mood. And while many of the selections have multiple seasons, we linked to the page for each show’s first season because, well, that’s generally the best place to start and get a sense of whether the show is right for you. For more info on each show, and to read reviews, click into the show title.

For now, happy bingeing, and we hope you find something surprising and special in the list below.

Found a hidden gem on Amazon Prime Video that’s not on our list? Let your fellow fans know in the comments. 

Comedies

Chuck: Season 1 (2007)
89%

#80
Adjusted Score: 92000%
Critics Consensus: A smart mix of workplace comedy and spy thriller conventions, Chuck is funny, sharply paced, and deftly written.
Starring: Zachary Levi, Adam Baldwin, Yvonne Strahovski, Joshua Gomez
Directed By: Josh Schwartz, McG

Awkward.: Season 1 (2011)
95%

#76
Adjusted Score: 95640%
Critics Consensus: Smartly written, well acted, and emotionally resonant, Awkward captures the anxiety of teenage life with wit and insight.
Starring: Ashley Rickards, Beau Mirchoff, Molly Tarlov, Jillian Rose Reed
Directed By: Lauren Iungerich

The Tick: Season 1 (2016)
90%

#75
Adjusted Score: 93034%
Critics Consensus: Likeable characters add realism and heart to the tongue-in-cheek humor and high-octane action that fuels The Tick.
Starring: Peter Serafinowicz, Griffin Newman, Jackie Earle Haley, Valorie Curry
Directed By: Ben Edlund, Barry Josephson, Barry Sonnenfeld, Wally Pfister

Monk: Season 1 (2002)
100%

#74
Adjusted Score: 100919%
Critics Consensus: Monk is a pedestrian procedural anchored by an extraordinary star performance, with Tony Shalhoub bringing both beguiling eccentricity and rich humanity to the titular detective.
Starring: Tony Shalhoub, Ted Levine, Bitty Schram, Jason Gray-Stanford
Directed By: Robert C. Thompson, Nick Marck, Dean Parisot, Kevin Inch

Jean-Claude Van Johnson: Season 1 (2016)
70%

#73
Adjusted Score: 71114%
Critics Consensus: Jean-Claude Van Damme parodies his own martial arts image with world-weary grace, but this series' scattershot laugh ratio and limited production value could leave viewer reaction as split as the star's thighs.
Starring: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Kat Foster, Moises Arias, Phylicia Rashad
Directed By: Peter Atencio, Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Jean-Claude Van Damme

Peep Show: Season 1 (2003)
100%

#72
Adjusted Score: 100097%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Robert Webb, Olivia Colman, Matt King, Sophie Winkleman
Directed By: Jeremy Wooding, Andrew O'Connor, Sam Bain, Jesse Armstrong

Cougar Town: Season 1 (2009)
48%

#72
Adjusted Score: 50681%
Critics Consensus: Courteney Cox is a strong lead, but too often Cougar Town overdoses on attempts at edginess while ignoring its potentially interesting ideas.
Starring: Courteney Cox, Busy Philipps, Dan Byrd, Christa Miller
Directed By: Bill Lawrence, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Mike McDonald

The Office: Season 1 (2001)
100%

#71
Adjusted Score: 102183%
Critics Consensus: With a first season that altered the TV comedy landscape, the original British version of The Office proves the most mundane parts of daily life can be as hilarious as they are cringeworthy.
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Mackenzie Crook, Lucy Davis, Martin Freeman
Directed By: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Anil Gupta, Jon Plowman

A Bit of Fry & Laurie: Season 1 (1989)
--

#70
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Stephen Fry, Dimitri Andreas, Hugh Laurie, Charles Laurie
Directed By: Roger Ordish

Red Oaks: Season 1 (2014)
80%

#69
Adjusted Score: 81290%
Critics Consensus: Red Oaks offers an affectionate nod to 1980s sex comedies that -- largely thanks to a talented ensemble cast -- finds fresh humor in its familiar premise.
Starring: Craig Roberts, Paul Reiser, Jennifer Grey, Richard Kind
Directed By: Steven Soderbergh, Joe Gangemi, David Gordon Green, Gregory Jacobs

Psych: Season 1 (2006)
55%

#68
Adjusted Score: 57152%
Critics Consensus: Its premise is sure to draw comparisons to Monk, and Psych's lead character is an acquired taste at best.
Starring: James Roday Rodriguez, Dulé Hill, Corbin Bernsen, Timothy Omundson

3rd Rock From the Sun: Season 1 (1996)
42%

#67
Adjusted Score: 43065%
Critics Consensus: A likable cast and charming concept couldn't save 3rd Rock from the Sun from the critics, but it would later prove to be more than a Mork and Mindy knockoff.
Starring: John Lithgow, Jane Curtin, Simbi Khali, Kristen Johnston
Directed By: Bonnie Turner, Terry Turner

Dead Like Me: Season 1 (2003)
69%

#66
Adjusted Score: 70194%
Critics Consensus: Dead Like Me is a required (after)taste, but the series' acidic wit and wry observations about the simple pleasures of life and death overcome the deficit in likable characters.
Starring: Ellen Muth, Mandy Patinkin, Laura Harris, Rebecca Gayheart

The Addams Family: Season 1 (1964)
100%

#64
Adjusted Score: 100970%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Carolyn Jones, John Astin, Jackie Coogan, Ted Cassidy
Directed By: David Levy, Sidney Lanfield, Jerry Hopper, Jean Yarbrough

Dramas

Patrick Melrose: Miniseries (2018)
90%

#51
Adjusted Score: 94585%
Critics Consensus: Patrick Melrose is a scathing indictment of British high society's inherited dysfunction, cruelty, and the wealth that enables them. The Crown this ain't.
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Dainton Anderson, Holliday Grainger, Jessica Raine
Directed By: Edward Berger, Rachael Horovitz, Michael Jackson, Adam Ackland

Mankind: The Story of All of Us: Miniseries (2012)
83%

#60
Adjusted Score: 75125%
Critics Consensus: Mankind offers a surface-level glance at humanity's origins, but the breadth of history covered will intrigue all Sapiens tuning in.
Starring: Josh Brolin
Directed By: Jane Root, Ben Goold, Julian P. Hobbs, Paul Cabana

Forever: Season 1 (2018)
95%

#59
Adjusted Score: 97119%
Critics Consensus: Forever is a gently harrowing and mirthful dive into the ennui of matrimony, elevated by Maya Rudolph's dazzling turn of not-so-quiet desperation.
Starring: Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Jason Mitchell, Hong Chau
Directed By: Alan Yang, Alan Yang, Matt Hubbard, Tim Sarkes

Britannia: Season 1 (2020)
76%

#58
Adjusted Score: 79014%
Critics Consensus: Brilliantly bonkers, Britannia's duplicitous characters and campy fantasy won't be for everyone, but those looking for less-serious swords and sorcery may enjoy its spellbinding madness.
Starring: David Morrissey, Kelly Reilly, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Liana Cornell
Directed By: Sheree Folkson, Christoph Schrewe, Luke Watson, Susan Tully

The Last Post: Season 1 (2017)
64%

#57
Adjusted Score: 64460%
Critics Consensus: The Last Post is old fashioned to a fault and features too many anachronisms to claim historical authenticity, but the series does provide a pleasing dose of escapism.
Starring: Jeremy Jones, Jessie Buckley, Ben Miles, Stephen Campbell Moore
Directed By: Margery Bone, Elwen Rowlands, George Faber, Mark Pybus

Patriot: Season 1 (2015)
82%

#56
Adjusted Score: 82442%
Critics Consensus: Patriot is dark, quirky, and often funny -- and although its risks don't always pay off, the series is still savvy and inspired enough to watch.
Starring: Michael Dorman, Terry O'Quinn, Michael Chernus, Kathleen Munroe
Directed By: Steve Conrad, Steve Conrad, James D. Parriott, Glenn Ficarra

Too Old to Die Young: Season 1 (2019)
72%

#55
Adjusted Score: 74684%
Critics Consensus: Grim and graphic, Too Old to Die Young is stylish, but its languid story does little to justify its violent tendencies-- though fans of Refn's may find enjoyment in its neon laden misery.
Starring: Miles Teller, John Hawkes, Augusto Aguilera, Jena Malone
Directed By: Ed Brubaker, Nicolas Winding Refn

The Durrells: Season 1 (2016)
94%

#54
Adjusted Score: 94089%
Critics Consensus: The Durrells in Corfu is crisp and confident, offering viewers an escape into dreamy scenery and a witty performance by star Keeley Hawes.
Starring: Keeley Hawes, Josh O'Connor, Milo Parker, Callum Woodhouse
Directed By: Steve Barron, Lee Morris

Thirteen: Miniseries (2016)
88%

#53
Adjusted Score: 88090%
Critics Consensus: Thirteen gives a well-worn premise an intriguing facelift with haunting execution and compelling performances across the board.
Starring: Jodie Comer, Richard Rankin, Valene Kane, Aneurin Barnard

The Fosters: Season 1 (2013)
90%

#51
Adjusted Score: 90427%
Critics Consensus: Boasting a charming cast, a sly sense of humor, and a whole lot of heart, The Fosters is a smart and insightful look at contemporary family life.
Starring: Teri Polo, Sherri Saum, Jake T. Austin, Hayden Byerly
Directed By: Jennifer Lopez, Bradley Bredeweg, Peter Paige, Joanna Johnson

Little Women: Miniseries (2017)
82%

#48
Adjusted Score: 83523%
Critics Consensus: Heidi Thomas' Little Women miniseries offers a charming, intimate, and decidedly loyal adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's original story.
Starring: Emily Watson, Maya Hawke, Willa Fitzgerald, Kathryn Newton
Directed By: Vanessa Caswill, Colin Callender, Lucy Richer, Heidi Thomas

Brideshead Revisited: Miniseries (1981)
83%

#47
Adjusted Score: 83436%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Diana Quick, Simon Jones
Directed By: Charles Sturridge, Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Little Dorrit on Masterpiece: Season 1 (2014)
100%

#46
Adjusted Score: 100115%
Critics Consensus: With a sterling cast and plenty of juicy drama, Little Dorrit is a superb adaptation.
Starring: Claire Foy, Matthew Macfadyen, Judy Parfit, Tom Courtenay

Vanity Fair: Miniseries (2018)
89%

#45
Adjusted Score: 91119%
Critics Consensus: Olivia Cooke's brilliant portrayal of the feisty and scheming Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair makes this adaptation of Thackeray's classic novel more relatable for a 21st century audience.
Starring: Olivia Cooke, Johnny Flynn, Claudia Jessie, Simon Russell Beale
Directed By: James Strong, Gwyneth Hughes, Jonathan Entwistle, Tom Mullens

Victoria on Masterpiece: Season 1 (2016)
80%

#44
Adjusted Score: 81561%
Critics Consensus: Strong performances by Jenna Coleman and Rufus Sewell hint at Downton-esque potential for Victoria, but the narrative falls just shy of that soapy mark.
Starring: Jenna Coleman, Rufus Sewell, Peter Firth, Catherine H. Flemming
Directed By: Oliver Blackburn, Tom Vaughan, Sandra Goldbacher

Fantasy, Horror, and Supernatural

True Blood: Season 1 (2008)
63%

#43
Adjusted Score: 66309%
Critics Consensus: It's unabashedly soapy and it occasionally wavers in its social commentary, but True Blood is a gory, sexy genre romp with a strong supporting cast.
Starring: Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley
Directed By: Alan Ball

The Adventures of Merlin: Season 1 (2008)
55%

#42
Adjusted Score: 56962%
Critics Consensus: This reimagining of Arthurian legend fails to conjure much excitement with its chintzy visual effects and soporific drama, but at least Colin Morgan imbues the titular wizard with an enchanting charm.
Starring: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson
Directed By: Jeremy Webb, James Hawes, Ed Fraiman, Stuart Orme

Lore: Season 1 (2017)
69%

#40
Adjusted Score: 69727%
Critics Consensus: Subtle and spooky, Lore's horror-laden history lessons take on new life on the small screen, though it sticks too closely to the podcast's original format to truly distinguish itself.
Starring: Aaron Mahnke
Directed By: Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Gale Anne Hurd, Brett-Patrick Jenkins

In the Flesh: Season 1 (2013)
94%

#38
Adjusted Score: 94213%
Critics Consensus: In the Flesh exists within several genres, growing into profound entertainment that haunts as it entertains.
Starring: Luke Newberry, Harriet Cains, Emily Bevan, Steve Evets
Directed By: Jonny Campbell, Hilary Martin

Hannibal: Season 1 (2013)
82%

#37
Adjusted Score: 85851%
Critics Consensus: Hannibal caters to an intellectual audience that prefers plenty of gore in its psychological thrillers, with a polished presentation of madness.
Starring: Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas
Directed By: Bryan Fuller, Martha De Laurentiis, Sara Colleton, Jesse Alexander

Teen Wolf: Season 1 (2011)
69%

#36
Adjusted Score: 70030%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to a charismatic lead in Tyler Posey and some dark, biting humor, Teen Wolf is a pleasant summer surprise, even if it does tread familiar ground.
Starring: Tyler Posey, Crystal Reed, Dylan O'Brien, Holland Roden
Directed By: Jeff Davis, Marty Adelstein, Michael Thorn, René Echevarria

Grimm: Season 1 (2011)
55%

#35
Adjusted Score: 56967%
Critics Consensus: Moody and dark, Grimm gives supernatural fantasy a TV procedural sheen.
Starring: David Giuntoli, Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch, Silas Weir Mitchell
Directed By: Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, Jim Kouf, David Greenwalt

The Returned: Season 1 (2012)
100%

#34
Adjusted Score: 101942%
Critics Consensus: A pleasant change from typically gory zombie shows, The Returned is a must-see oddity that's both smart and sure to disturb.
Starring: Yara Pilartz, Jenna Thiam, Frédéric Pierrot, Anne Consigny

Mysteries and Thrillers

Endeavour: Season 1 (2013)
70%

#30
Adjusted Score: 49935%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Abigail Thaw, Sean Rigby, Shaun Evans, Lavinia Bertram
Directed By: Craig Viveiros, Colm McCarthy, Edward Bazalgette, Tom Vaughan

Picnic at Hanging Rock: Miniseries (2018)
79%

#29
Adjusted Score: 82353%
Critics Consensus: Natalie Dormer charms in Picnic at Hanging Rock, a stylish retelling of an Australian classic -- though convoluted sub-plots at times distract from its otherwise tantalizing delights.
Starring: Natalie Dormer, Samara Weaving, Madeleine Madden, Lily Sullivan
Directed By: Jo Porter, Anthony Ellis, Penny Win, Michael Rymer

Grantchester: Season 1 (2014)
100%

#28
Adjusted Score: 57251%
Critics Consensus: Grantchester is an easygoing sleuthing series that is satisfying as it is gentle, with a likable partnership between James Norton and Robson Green at its heart.
Starring: James Norton, Robson Green, Morven Christie, Tessa Peake-Jones

Fortitude: Season 1 (2015)
81%

#27
Adjusted Score: 81905%
Critics Consensus: Fortitude's fine cast, deliberate pacing, and chilling setting provide the show with more than enough of the titular quality.
Starring: Stanley Tucci, Richard Dormer, Michael Gambon, Christopher Eccleston
Directed By: Simon Donald, Jeff Skoll, Holly Hines, Patrick Spence

The Night Manager: Miniseries (2016)
91%

#50
Adjusted Score: 94290%
Critics Consensus: The Night Manager's smart writing and riveting story are elevated all the more by Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston's captivating performances.
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Hugh Laurie, Tom Hollander
Directed By: Susanne Bier

The Kettering Incident: Season 1 (2016)
67%

#26
Adjusted Score: 64433%
Critics Consensus: The Kettering Incident pushes the boundaries of high-stakes, gripping mystery, albeit occasionally at the expense of deeper character development.
Starring: Elizabeth Debicki, Matthew Le Nevez, Henry Nixon, Alison Whyte
Directed By: Rowan Woods, Tony Krawitz

Mad Dogs: Season 1 (2016)
67%

#65
Adjusted Score: 67921%
Critics Consensus: Mad Dogs boasts exciting twists and a rich landscape, but occasionally squanders its talented actors on stale midlife-crisis observations.
Starring: Ben Chaplin, Michael Imperioli, Romany Malco, Steve Zahn
Directed By: Cris Cole, Shawn Ryan, Marney Hochman, Andy Harries

Agatha Christie's The ABC Murders: Miniseries (2018)
71%

#25
Adjusted Score: 72873%
Critics Consensus: The ABC Murders liberally adapts the famed Agatha Christie mystery while retaining its thrilling spirit, thanks in part to the sly performance of John Malkovich, who inhabits Hercule Poirot with enough wizened panache to win over those who were skeptical of his casting.
Starring: John Malkovich, Rupert Grint, Andrew Buchan, Eamon Farren
Directed By: Alex Gabassi, Basi Akpabio, James Prichard, Sarah Phelps

Escape at Dannemora: Season 1 (2018)
88%

#49
Adjusted Score: 91925%
Critics Consensus: Escape at Dannemora's slow pace demands patience, but those willing to wait will be rewarded with a chilling mystery that provides the perfect showcase for its talented cast -- especially so for the incredible Patricia Arquette.
Starring: Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Benicio del Toro
Directed By: Ben Stiller

Ordeal by Innocence: Miniseries (2018)
94%

#24
Adjusted Score: 95788%
Critics Consensus: A classic British period piece that takes its time, Ordeal by Innocence will satisfy Agatha Christie fans and novices alike.
Starring: Bill Nighy, Anthony Boyle, Anna Chancellor, Morven Christie
Directed By: Sandra Goldbacher, Basi Akpabio, James Prichard, Sarah Phelps

Luther: Season 1 (2010)
91%

#63
Adjusted Score: 92447%
Critics Consensus: Gritty and ambiguous, Luther is a captivating drama bolstered by a powerhouse performance from Idris Elba in the title role.
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Steven Mackintosh, Indira Varma
Directed By: Sam Miller, Stefan Schwartz, Phillippa Giles, Brian Kirk

The Mentalist: Season 1 (2008)
60%

#23
Adjusted Score: 62366%
Critics Consensus: The setup and episodic storytelling is far from original, but The Mentalist distinguishes itself from other procedurals mostly due to the talents of Simon Baker.
Starring: Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman
Directed By: Bruno Heller, David Nutter, Chris Long, Martha Mitchell

The Fall: Season 1 (2013)
96%

#22
Adjusted Score: 96641%
Critics Consensus: Less sensationalistic and more provocative than most police procedurals, The Fall is unapologetically sexy with pressure-building tension driven by plausible characters and motifs.
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, John Lynch, Bronagh Waugh

Strike Back: Project Dawn (2011)
75%

#83
Adjusted Score: 75562%
Critics Consensus: Strike Back doesn't have much depth, but still offers a solid fix for viewers seeking an explosive espionage thriller.
Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Philip Winchester, Amanda Mealing, Eva Birthistle
Directed By: Trevor Hopkins, Paul Wilmshurst, Michael Casey, Andy Harries

Hanna: Season 1 (2019)
67%

#82
Adjusted Score: 69684%
Critics Consensus: A gritty reimagining of the 2011 film, Hanna adds new wrinkles to the mythology and texture to the titular assassin -- though the series' long-winded journey may try the patience of viewers who want their violent fables concise.
Starring: Esme Creed-Miles, Joel Kinnaman, Mireille Enos, Joanna Kulig
Directed By: David Farr, Tom Coan, Jo Ann Alfano, Andrew Woodhead

The Pale Horse: Miniseries (2020)
79%

#21
Adjusted Score: 81038%
Critics Consensus: Though The Pale Horse bristles with brutal thrills, it's convoluted mystery at times sedates the suspenseful proceedings.
Starring: Rufus Sewell
Directed By: Sarah Phelps

Line of Duty: Season 1 (2012)
100%

#19
Adjusted Score: 37713%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Lennie James, Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Kate Ashfield
Directed By: David Caffrey, Simon Heath, Stephen Wright, Greg Phillips

Unforgotten: Season 1 (2015)
73%

#18
Adjusted Score: 41352%
Critics Consensus: Though at times heavy-handed in its observations, Unforgotten's procedural premise is elevated by its humane approach.
Starring: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill
Directed By: Andy Wilson, Sally Haynes, Chris Lang, Laura Mackie

Science-Fiction

Undone: Season 1 (2019)
98%

#17
Adjusted Score: 102384%
Critics Consensus: A kaleidoscopic existential crisis, Undone bends the rules of space, time, and rotoscoping to weave a beautifully surreal tapestry that is at once fantastical and utterly relatable.
Starring: Rosa Salazar, Angelique Cabral, Bob Odenkirk, Constance Marie
Directed By: Noel Bright, Steven A. Cohen, Tommy Pallotta, Raphael Bob-Waksberg

Thunderbirds: Season 1 (1965)
100%

#78
Adjusted Score: 101182%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Peter Dyneley, David Graham

Humans: Season 1 (2015)
89%

#16
Adjusted Score: 91193%
Critics Consensus: Humans is a mature, high-octane thriller offering emotional intrigue and thought-provoking suspense that should prove irresistible to sci-fi fans while remaining accessible enough to lure in genre agnostics.
Starring: William Hurt, Will Tudor, Katherine Parkinson, Tom Goodman-Hill

The Outer Limits: Season 1 (1963)
92%

#15
Adjusted Score: 93492%
Critics Consensus: Not content to settle for Twilight Zone knockoff status, The Outer Limits set the bar for gruesome monster anthology series and stands the test of time.
Starring: Philip Abbott, David McCallum, Robert Culp, Scott Marlowe
Directed By: Leslie Stevens, John Brahm, Gerd Oswald, Leslie Stevens

Counterpart: Season 1 (2017)
100%

#14
Adjusted Score: 102253%
Critics Consensus: Tense and gripping, Counterpart is an absorbing thrill-fest led by J.K. Simmons' multi-faceted dual lead performance.
Starring: J.K. Simmons, Olivia Williams, Harry Lloyd, Ulrich Thomsen

Defiance: Season 1 (2013)
61%

#13
Adjusted Score: 61284%
Critics Consensus: Defiance is watchable for its keen loyalty to science fiction and a well-told story.
Starring: Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran
Directed By: Kevin Murphy, Mike Nelson, Michael Taylor, Rockne S. O'Bannon

Stargate Atlantis: Season 1 (2004)
67%

#12
Adjusted Score: 67178%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Joe Flanigan, Torri Higginson, Rainbow Sun Francks, David Hewlett
Directed By: Brad Wright, Robert C. Cooper, Joseph Mallozzi, Martin Wood

Farscape: Season 1 (1999)
100%

#11
Adjusted Score: 101295%
Critics Consensus: Filled with humor and heart, Farscape effortlessly blends sci-fi set pieces and Jim Henson creations to create a space epic as thoughtful as it is thrilling.
Starring: Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Anthony Simcoe, Virginia Hey
Directed By: Brian Henson, Kris Noble, Rockne S. O'Bannon, Robert A. Halmi

Reality and documentaries

The Planets: Season 1 (2017)
100%

#9
Adjusted Score: 66385%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Michael J. Massimino

RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 1 (2009)
78%

#1
Adjusted Score: 78004%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Santino Rice, Merle Ginsberg, Bob Mackie, Debra Wilson

()
--

#8

Lorena: Season 1 (2019)
82%

#6
Adjusted Score: 85251%
Critics Consensus: Fascinating and frustrating, Lorena's ample footage and fresh perspective on a long-mocked moment provide welcome context and vindication to the woman at its center -- even if its reenactments don't quite measure up.
Starring: Jovanna Valladares
Directed By: Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Steven J. Berger, Joshua Rofé

The Innovators: The Men Who Built America: Season 1 (2012)
62%

#4
Adjusted Score: 60794%
Critics Consensus: The Men Who Built America is hampered by a narrow view of greatness and unconvincing reenactments, but the sheer breadth of pioneering personalities covered makes for a compelling enough history lesson.
Starring: Campbell Scott, H.W. Brands, Mark Cuban, Donny Deutsch
Directed By: Russ McCarroll, Paul Cabana, Stephen David

All or Nothing: The Arizona Cardinals (2016)
--

#1
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus:
Starring: Jon Hamm
Directed By: Jordan Levin, Ross Ketover, Pat Kelleher

Thumbnail image: Nick Wall / ©AMC/Kudos/Channel 4, © Amazon Prime Video, ©MTV/Viacom