Prime Video has been home to some of the best shows and series on streaming for quite some time now. Between long-time favorites like The Boys and critically acclaimed limited series like Daisy Jones & The Six, the streamer has launched several brilliant titles over the years. While some of them have grown to become mainstream pop culture icons, others have sadly been buried under their more popular and successful counterparts, becoming little more than blink-and-miss cult hits. Luckily, even the most obscure shows can stage a comeback if they impact the right audience, like these seven miniseries.
Though faded and forgotten, these shows are perfect for their genre, packing depth and quality in their limited runtimes. Some of these are shows that enjoy a niche but dedicated following, while others are rarely heard of, but what they all have in common is a high bar for quality that is not often seen in the world of streaming. So, without further ado, here’s our handpicked selection of near-perfect Prime Video miniseries that practically nobody remembers anymore.
1
‘Tales from the Loop’ (2020)
Whenever there is mention of extraordinary sci-fi shows, Tales from the Loop is often on the list, and yet, the Prime Video drama has never found mainstream recognition. Developed by Nathaniel Halpern and based on the neo-futuristic art book by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, the series revolves around the interconnected lives of people living around an enigmatic machine called The Loop, exploring the uncanny events that take place in their lives. Jonathan Pryce, Rebecca Hall, Paul Schneider, Duncan Joiner, Daniel Zolghadri, and more appear as notable characters.
Surreal and eerily calming, Tales from the Loop is a completely distinct masterpiece of sci-fi art and abstract storytelling. The show addresses thought-provoking themes like the future of humanity and the human perception of time with a hopeful narrative and unique visual tone and style that successfully captures the mood of the original artworks. Released in 2020, the series was positively received by critics and nominated for an Emmy, but since then, Tales from the Loop has largely faded from public memory. Nevertheless, this enigmatic and brilliantly conceived sci-fi series remains a forgotten gem of the early pandemic era that’s always worth revisiting.
2
‘Solos’ (2021)
Created by David Weil in his second television project, Solos is a sci-fi anthology drama that follows seven individual stories about shared human experiences and connection. The stories are connected via an overarching plot of memory theft and existential themes, but each individual story deals with separate subjects like time travel, memory tech, artificial intelligence, deep space exploration, robot replicas, and more. The ensemble cast features Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Anthony Mackie, Uzo Aduba, and Dan Stevens in main roles.
A thoughtful exploration of the human condition, Solos explores dark, emotional, and psychological themes through the lens of future technology and hard sci-fi, similar to Black Mirror. Unfortunately, Solos was nowhere near as successful as the British sci-fi anthology and has only remained a forgotten but highly experimental Prime Video original that doesn’t often get the credit it deserves for its dramatic narrative. However, with its deeply character-driven story, ambitious production, and compelling performances, Solos might just resonate with fans of niche sci-fi dramas.
3
‘The Kettering Incident’ (2016)
An Australian sci-fi mystery drama created by Victoria Madden and Vincent Sheehan, The Kettering Incident revolves around a young woman named Anna, who left her titular hometown in Tasmania as a teenager after the mysterious disappearance of her best friend. Years later, when Anna returns to a dilapidated Kettering and simultaneously another teenager goes missing, her return causes a stir, prompting Anna to seek the truth. The main cast stars Elizabeth Debicki, Matthew Le Nevez, Henry Nixon, Damon Gameau, Damien Garvey, and Sacha Horler.
Moody, atmospheric, and haunting, The Kettering Incident is heavily reminiscent of Nordic sci-fi noir gems like Katla or Equinox, where creepy supernatural motifs meet small-town sci-fi mysteries and psychological complexities. During its run, the miniseries met with mixed reviews but was praised for the standout performance by Debicki and for the intense mystery at its heart. However, the show was untimely canceled after just the one season and has since faded almost entirely from popular memory, making it one of the most obscure gems you could stream on Prime Video.
4
‘War & Peace’ (2016)
A British series adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s 1869 novel directed by Tom Harper and written by Andrew Davies, War & Peace revolves around two Russian aristocratic families as they navigate life during the Napoleonic Wars. The series focuses on the lives and ambitions of Pierre, Andrei, and Natasha, played by Paul Dano, James Norton, and Lily James, respectively, who must overcome personal struggles and societal expectations during a tumultuous and unstable time. The show also features Tuppence Middleton, Jessie Buckley, Callum Turner, and Jack Lowden as other principal characters.
The second-ever BBC production of the 19th-century literary classic, 2016’s War & Peace may not exactly be a match for the 1972 adaptation starring Anthony Hopkins, and in all fairness, it cannot fully capture the depth and intensity of the original in just six episodes. However, the miniseries is still a masterful production in its own right, and it’s arguably a better watch for modern audiences, with its compact storytelling and a balance of heart and humor. Despite the critical acclaim it received upon its release for its sweeping visuals and strong performances, War & Peace has since become a heavily underrated historical TV show that’s forgotten by all but the most dedicated genre fans.
5
‘Three Pines’ (2022)
Created by Emilia di Girolamo, Three Pines is an adaptation of Canadian author Louise Penny’s mystery novels featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Quebec Police Force. Starring Alfred Molina as Armand Gamache, the eight-episode series follows the inspector as he solves seemingly unsolvable cases with his lateral perspectives on seemingly ordinary things, while navigating his own complicated history. Rossif Sutherland, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Tantoo Cardinal, Clare Coulter, and Sarah Booth play other main roles.
Introspective and thoughtful, Three Pines is unique in its storytelling, themes, and atmosphere, and often heavier than the original novels. The series stands out with its tender tone and poetic setting and an inspector who is kind and wise, contrary to what is most expected of detectives and cops in TV shows. When it was first released, Three Pines received positive reviews and praise for its intelligent and melancholic mysteries, favorably compared to shows like Broadchurch, but it was canceled shortly after, which may have played a part in its relatively obscure status.
6
‘The Girlfriend’ (2025)
Directed by Robin Wright and Andrea Harkin, with Wright also starring in a lead role, The Girlfriend is a twisted psychological thriller created by Naomi Sheldon and Gabbie Asher that’s adapted from Michelle Frances’ 2017 novel of the same name. The series follows Wright’s Laura Sanderson, an affluent art gallery owner in London, whose seemingly perfect life begins to unravel when she meets her son’s new girlfriend, Cherry, and suspects her motivations. Olivia Cooke stars as the titular character, with Laurie Davidson, Waleed Zuaiter, Tanya Moodie, and Leo Suter in other key roles.
While it’s not unique in its themes of mother-versus-girlfriend power struggles and obsessive control, The Girlfriend stands out in its execution of those motifs. Projected through alternative perspectives of the central characters, the narrative shuffles between protectiveness and toxicity, each delivered through chilling performances by Wright and Cooke. Despite its critical acclaim for Wright’s direction and the cast’s chemistry, The Girlfriend almost instantly faded from popular discourse, though a planned follow-up miniseries, The Boyfriend, could reignite its fortunes.
7
‘The English’ (2022)
Written and directed by Hugo Blick, The English is an easily overlooked Prime Video production that flew under the mainstream radar, despite its stellar cast and strong story. Set in the 1890s, the series tells the story of the titular Englishwoman, Lady Cornelia Locke, who travels to the Old American West seeking revenge for her son’s death and discovers a shared history with Sgt. Eli Whipp, a member of the Pawnee Nation, whom she meets along the way. Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer star as the two central characters, with Ciarán Hinds and Toby Jones in other key roles.
Artistic and slow-burning, The English is a very well-made revisionist Western drama that unfolds in a way that would perhaps appeal to a very specific kind of audience. The striking cinematography and compelling performances by Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer, however, are pretty universally appealing. Critically acclaimed for its cast and production, The English may not be as widely known as it ought to be, but it remains a hidden gem of the genre that is worth discovering by new fans.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2022
- Network
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BBC Two
- Directors
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Hugo Blick
