Which Amazon Instant Video Original Series Are Good?

Amazon has released the pilots for their original series for free on Amazon Instant Video and asked the viewers to decide which pilots should go to series. Here are the reviews of their comedy line-up.

Zombieland

This serialized version falls short of its movie counterpart, but is still passable entertainment.

The Good

The opening scene was amazing and done just as well as the movie. The “zombie kills of the week” are still funny. Watching zombies attack and gruesomely kill bystanders is a twisted treat.  It holds true to the theme of the movie.

The Bad

Bad acting and a cast that does not compare to their movie counterparts lessen the experience. The ultra silly feel of the show makes it seem like a parody of the movie. The blatant advertisements written into the story are also very distracting.

Those Who Can’t

This edgy comedy about the antics of three dysfunctional high school teachers is filled with laughs and dark humour.

The Good

The characters have a diversity of extreme personalities which are captivating on their own. Watching full grown men plot revenge against a student by framing him for drug possession is surprisingly satisfying.

The Bad

The remaining faculty members that make up background characters are cliché and will probably become annoying in the long run. Characters like these include the always asleep ageing teacher and the ex soldier who carries flasks disguised as phones and binoculars.

Alpha House

The series follows a group of republican senators who share a house in Washington D.C., and it is the most promising pilot in the Amazon line up.

The Good

John Goodman headlines the show and they even managed to get Bill Murray for a cameo. The dialogue is witty and given nuance by the cast. The lives of these conservative senators provide both interesting and funny material such as campaigning against a sure to win opponent and a gay bashing senator who is constantly pressured to prove his “manliness”.

The Bad

There are not many laughs in the episode. It felt like the episode was hinting at what great things could happen in the show but only gives you a small taste of it.  

Supanatural

This animated series about low class divas who moonlight as adventurers and save the world. It was the most surprising achievement in the Amazon lineup.

The Good

The mix of minimum wage divas who work in mall and supernatural entities bent on destroying the world is an unlikely yet winning combination. The evil crystal skull attempting to commence Armageddon was funny for its inventive trash talk and penchant for melting faces with its laser eyes. The episode is filled with references to Indian Jones and Gremlins. Appearances by a homeless lady are increasingly strange, shocking and funny.

The Bad

The main characters are still very annoying at times and might take some getting used to.

Betas

This series about beta testers trying to sell their product seems like a winner, but in the end was humourless and empty.

The Good

The shows concept is original with a group of programmers competing to become the next Mark Zucherberg.

The Bad

Poor dialogue and a not so interesting cast make it a bore. The language of the mobile app generation over shadows the comedy and makes it feel like a routine comedy disguised as something new and improved. Whatever was supposed to be funny about the show did not shine through in the pilot episode.