3 riveting Prime Video shows to watch this weekend (July 31-August 2)

Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To Geek Published Jul 31, 2026, 1:45 PM EDT As an entertainment enthusiast, Keeley is a streaming content author and expert at How-To Geek with over a decade's experience writing about film and television. Her focus is on streaming content lists and guides. Keeley also writes film and television reviews, recaps, features, and lists for Loud and Clear Reviews, and she writes streaming content features for Pocket-Lint. Her reviews are featured on Rotten Tomatoes, and she also has bylines at Collider and Fansided Entertainment's Show Snob and Bam Smack Pow divisions. If she's not in front of the TV, dissecting content with her husband, you can just wait one minute—she'll be right back. Sign in to your How-To Geek account When it comes to summer binges, I prefer a riveting series over anything else. In a world where our minds are constantly focused on multiple things at a time, there's nothing better than tuning all that out with something completely engrossing that keeps me hooked. This weekend’s show picks are riveting to the max, complete with relentless narrative tension, complex characters, high stakes, and even a little humor. Our top Amazon Prime Video pick of the weekend is an Emmy-nominated sci-fi thriller sure to keep you glued to your screen. 3 Being Human Supernatural drama full of dark humor Based on the BBC series of the same name, Being Human features three 20-something roommates who are each trying to live normal human lives while keeping a major supernatural secret from the rest of the world. One is a vampire, one is a werewolf, and the other is a ghost. Quiz 8 Questions · Test Your KnowledgePrime Video mysteries and thrillersTrivia challenge Think you know your Prime Video whodunits and edge-of-your-seat thrillers? Put your knowledge to the test. ThrillersMysteryCharactersPlot TwistsOriginals Begin In the Prime Video series Reacher, what is Jack Reacher's former military rank? AColonelBCaptainCMajorDSergeant That's right — Jack Reacher held the rank of Major in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. His investigative skills and imposing physicality stem directly from that elite background, making him a formidable force in every town he drifts through. Not quite. Jack Reacher was a Major in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps. The show leans heavily into his military investigative background as the reason he can dismantle criminal conspiracies almost single-handedly. Continue In the Prime Video psychological thriller Homecoming, what is the secret purpose of the Homecoming facility? ATraining soldiers for black ops missionsBAdministering memory-erasing drugs to soldiersCRunning a government witness protection programDTesting experimental PTSD therapy on civilians Correct! The Homecoming facility, run by the shadowy Geist corporation, was covertly drugging returning soldiers with a memory-suppressing compound. The show, starring Julia Roberts, masterfully peels back this conspiracy layer by layer. Not quite. The dark secret is that Homecoming was dosing soldiers with a drug designed to erase traumatic memories — without their informed consent. This ethical horror forms the spine of the show's gripping first season, starring Julia Roberts. Continue Who plays Detective Chief Inspector Cassie Stuart in the crime drama Broadchurch, which streamed on the platform in many regions? ASuranne JonesBKeeley HawesCOlivia ColmanDNicola Walker Well done! Olivia Colman plays DI Ellie Miller in Broadchurch — a role that helped cement her status as one of Britain's finest dramatic actors long before her Oscar win for The Favourite. Her chemistry with David Tennant drives the entire series. Actually, the answer is Olivia Colman, who plays DI Ellie Miller in Broadchurch. Her emotionally raw performance alongside David Tennant became one of the most celebrated partnerships in British crime drama history. Continue In the Prime Video thriller series The Boys, what is the name of the corporation that controls and manages the superheroes? AOmni CorpBVought InternationalCApex IndustriesDCompound V Ltd That's correct! Vought International is the powerful mega-corporation behind the superheroes in The Boys. It's a sharp satirical stand-in for real-world conglomerates that use PR, branding, and political influence to hide deeply corrupt operations. Not quite — the corporation is called Vought International. It's central to the show's biting satire, depicting a world where superheroes are essentially brand assets managed by a ruthless corporation willing to do anything to protect its image. Continue In the Prime Video limited series The Widow, what is the central mystery that protagonist Georgia Wells is trying to solve? AWhether her husband faked his death in a plane crashBWho murdered her sister in the CongoCThe identity of a serial killer targeting expats in AfricaDWhy her husband disappeared after a government mission Correct! Georgia, played by Kate Beckinsale, becomes obsessed with finding the truth after spotting a man she believes is her supposedly dead husband on a news broadcast from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The show blends grief, conspiracy, and survival thriller elements. The central mystery is whether Georgia's husband actually survived the plane crash he was presumed to have died in. Kate Beckinsale plays Georgia, who spots a man she believes is her husband in a news clip and travels to the Congo to uncover the truth. Continue In the Prime Video series Jack Ryan, which actor plays the title role of CIA analyst Jack Ryan in the first two seasons? AMichael B. JordanBJohn KrasinskiCChris PineDJoel Edgerton Spot on! John Krasinski, best known for playing Jim Halpert on The Office, takes on the role of Jack Ryan with surprising gravitas. His portrayal presents Ryan as an everyman analyst thrust into deadly field situations, staying close to Tom Clancy's original vision. The correct answer is John Krasinski, who plays Jack Ryan in the first two seasons. It was a significant departure from his comedic Office persona, and many fans were won over by his grounded, intellectual take on the iconic Tom Clancy character. Continue The Prime Video anthology series Night Sky features an elderly couple who discover a mysterious chamber beneath their farmhouse. What does the chamber contain? AA portal to another planetBA cryogenic sleep facilityCA buried alien spacecraftDA wormhole to the future Right! Irene and Franklin York, played by Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons, have kept secret for years a chamber that contains a portal transporting them to a distant, seemingly uninhabited planet. The show uses this sci-fi mystery as the backdrop for a deeply human story about aging and connection. The answer is a portal to another planet. Sissy Spacek and J.K. Simmons play an elderly couple who have quietly guarded this incredible secret for years, using the portal to visit a barren alien world — until mysterious strangers begin to disrupt their lives. Continue In the Prime Video espionage thriller Citadel, what is the name of the global spy agency that Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh worked for before it was destroyed? ACitadelBManticoreCPantheonDCerberus Correct! The agency is literally called Citadel, and its destruction at the hands of the criminal syndicate Manticore sets the entire story in motion. Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas star as the two agents who must piece together their erased memories to stop a global threat. The agency is called Citadel — which is also the show's title. After Citadel is wiped out by the villainous Manticore syndicate, agents Mason Kane and Nadia Sinh must recover their suppressed memories to fight back, with Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in the lead roles. See My Score Challenge CompleteYour Score / 8 Thanks for playing! Try Again Set in Boston, Sam Witwer (Smallville) stars as Aidan Waite, a charming vampire fighting his blood addiction, and Sam Huntington (Rosewood) stars as Josh Levison, a werewolf dealing with an excruciatingly painful monthly transformation. Meaghan Rath (Hawaii Five-O) plays their house ghost, Sally, who is desperately trying to cope with her death and interact with the physical world. As the misfit family works to make their impossible lives feel grounded, threats from hostile vampire factions, government or religious scientist hunters, and the internal danger of losing control of their monster sides pull them back into the dangerous supernatural underworld. The show aired at a time when pop culture was plagued by an onslaught of vampires and werewolves sweeping women off their feet, but thanks to Being Human, we were offered a fresh take on familiar monsters. What makes the show both riveting and clever is its delicate balance of sharp, dark humor, emotional depth, and a unique premise. Though they’re supernatural beings, their struggles are relatable, and their bonds are strong. The show also features a distinctive tone that avoids any cheesy melodrama, making it a standout mix of genuine horror and witty comedy. Being Human Release Date 2011 - 2014-00-00 Network SyFy Cast Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington, Kristen Hager, Gianpaol Venuta, Connor Price, Mark Pellegrino, Deanna Russo Showrunner Toby Whithouse Directors Toby Whithouse Writers Toby Whithouse Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Jeremy Carver, Anna Fricke Seasons 4 Story By Toby Whithouse Streaming Service(s) Amazon Prime Video Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System $411 $450 Save $39 Connection Type Auxiliary 2 Patriot High-stakes espionage thriller with deadpan comedy Boasting a 91% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes, Patriot is an incredibly riveting drama series doubling as a masterclass in tone, mixing high-stakes espionage with deadpan comedy and existential dread. Michael Dorman (For All Mankind's Joe Pickett) stars alongside Michael Chernus (Severance) and Terry O’Quinn (Lost). John Tavner (Dorman) is a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative living a turbulent life while dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). How does he cope? He vents about his trauma and top-secret missions by singing incredibly specific, melancholy folk songs at random open-mic nights. When he receives an assignment requiring him to prevent Iran from going nuclear, John finds himself undercover as a mid-level worker at a Milwaukee industrial piping company, where he must also move covert funds for a political goal. Rather than fast-paced action, the show relies more on a unique, slow-burn tension and long, unbroken takes with meticulous framing to lock viewers into its deliberate rhythm. Every time John tries to solve a problem, a bizarre new complication arises, yielding, at times, breath-holding suspense over watching this deeply wearing protagonist try to keep a fragile situation from collapsing. If you’re a fan of shows like Fargo and Better Call Saul—shows that got remarkably better after their first season—then Patriot should be your next binge. Patriot Release Date 2015 - 2018-00-00 Network Prime Video Cast Chastity Dotson, Gil Bellows, Julian Richings, Terry O'Quinn, Chris Addison, Jay Abdo, Michael Dorman, Marika Engelhardt, Jaclyn Hennell, Antoine McKay, Nikolas Kontomanolis, Lauren Delfs, Andy Cameron, Kurtwood Smith, Michael Chernus, Kathleen Munroe, Chris Conrad, Hana Mae Lee, Aliette Opheim, Bill Lake, Ed Kross, Rosalie Craig, Shane Francis Smith, Griffin Kane, Paul Rae Directors Ted Griffin Writers Steven Conrad Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Steven Conrad Producers Glenn Ficarra, Marc David Alpert Seasons 2 1 Person of Interest Emmy-nominated sci-fi vigilante thriller Jim Caviezel (Sound of Freedom) and Michael Emerson (Evil) star in Person of Interest, a thrilling techno-suspense drama about a presumed-dead former CIA agent who teams up with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes. During its five-season run, the series earned a 92% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes. Harold Finch (Emerson) is a billionaire software genius who has created a program that employs pattern recognition to determine the individuals who will soon commit violent crimes. When his path crosses with that of presumed-dead former CIA agent John Reese (Caviezel), the two join forces as a vigilante crime-fighting team. Together, they use Reese’s covert-operations training and Finch’s money and cyberskills to stop crimes before they happen. The show’s status as a riveting watch comes from its clever case-of-the-week procedural format, smart writing, and prophetic themes. When combined with high-stakes action, deep moral dilemmas, sharp character dynamics, and mind-bending AI surveillance plots, it brilliantly becomes an expansive, serialized techno-thriller narrative about free will and rogue AI. Person of Interest Release Date 2011 - 2016-00-00 Network CBS Cast Jim Caviezel, Michael Emerson, Kevin Chapman, Taraji P. Henson, Amy Acker, Sarah Shahi, John Nolan, Enrico Colantoni, Paige Turco, Marci Fine, Barrett Doss, Jonathan Sale, Elizabeth Marvel, Wrenn Schmidt, Al Sapienza, Robert John Burke, Brett Cullen, Carrie Preston, Camryn Manheim, Natalie Zea, Alan Dale, Valentina de Angelis, Linda Cardellini, James Carpinello, Malik Yoba Showrunner Greg Plageman Directors Chris Fisher, Richard J. Lewis, Fred Toye, Jeffrey G. Hunt, Stephen Surjik, Kenneth Fink, Stephen Williams, Helen Shaver, Alrick Riley, Charles Beeson, Kate Woods, Kevin Bray, Stephen Semel, Jeff T. Thomas, Sylvain White, Alex Zakrzewski, Brad Anderson, Clark Johnson, Colin Bucksey, David Semel, Dennis Smith, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, James Whitmore Jr., Jeffrey Lee Gibson Writers Jonathan Nolan, Denise Thé, Greg Plageman, Amanda Segel, David Slack, Melissa Scrivner-Love, Dan Dietz, Sean Hennen, Lucas O'Connor, Patrick Harbinson, Michael Sopczynski, Nic Van Zeebroeck, Tony Camerino, Andy Callahan, Ray Utarnachitt, Sabir Pirzada, Ashley Gable, Amy Berg, Jacey Heldrich Creator(s) Jonathan Nolan Producers Bryan Burk, Athena Wickham, Kathy Lingg, Joshua Levey, Stephen Semel Seasons 5 Story By Greg Plageman, Jonathan Nolan Streaming Service(s) Prime Video, MAX Executive Producer(s) Greg Plageman, J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan, Bryan Burk A thrilling experience, guaranteed Whether it’s supernatural drama, high-concept sci-fi, or quietly subversive storytelling that glues you to your screen, each of these shows delivers a uniquely riveting experience, proving that TV entertainment doesn’t have to fit a mold to be compelling. If you’re looking for different series that challenge, entertain, and make a lasting impression, this trio is more than worth the watch. Before August gets too far underway, be sure you don’t miss any major releases from Prime Video’s July lineup first. Subscription with ads Yes, via Prime membership or $9/month Simultaneous streams 3 Live TV No Price Included with Amazon Prime subscription ($15/month or $139/year) or $9/month standalone