5 Shows You Should Watch This Holiday Season on Amazon Prime
By: Melissa Chu
Tags: Fun, Entertainment, Television, Amazon, Life

The holidays are around the corner. For most of us, that means curling up in front of a TV.

According to a 2020 study in the UK, people watch 22.5 hours of TV per week on average. During the holiday season, that number jumps up to 25.75 hours of watching TV. Picture that: we spend three and a half more hours per week glued in front of the television during the holidays than any other time.

It shouldn’t be surprising that people watch more TV during the holidays. The weather isn’t as conducive to outdoor activities, we have more spare time, and shows get released around this time of year.

Sure, a good book can be entertaining, educational, and overall better for you. But TV shows are easy to consume, dynamic, and can even be a group activity. No wonder we love sitting on the couch and flipping on the remote.

There’s a lot to be said about a good show. A show can be thought-provoking, inspiring, or uplifting. It can change the way you think and maybe even the way you approach everyday life.

Amazon Prime has been releasing a number of interesting shows, some of which are exclusive to the subscription. If you don’t have it, you can watch using their 30-day free trial.

Here are 5 shows on Amazon Prime to watch this season:

Set between the 1960s to 1980s, Small Axe is an anthology series by Steve McQueen that tells the stories of people in London’s West Indian community who rally against a system designed against them. As the proverb goes: “If you are the big tree, we are the small axe.”

Based on historical events, the individuals go through pain and hardship to fight against discrimination and racism. At the same time, the show portrays the liveliness of their community through family gatherings, people cooking meals, and friends laughing over drinks. The meeting of all these elements, big and small, combine to create a powerful force.

This visually stunning documentary on the bottom of the world talks about its landscape and the people who live there. The beautiful cinematography and time lapses during the day and night show how a place filled mostly with ice and snow can go through so many shifts.

Beyond the scenery are the people, many of whom aren’t scientists, that spend extended periods of time in this cold climate. Interviews provide a close-up look at their day-to-day lives, including the type of work they do, their joys, and their struggles. This documentary helps you appreciate how Antarctica has remained largely the same since over a century ago, making it a place unlike any other.

Far off in the future, humans have colonized the solar system. Mars has become an independent power of its own. The two superpowers, Earth and Mars, are engaged in a cold war as they compete for precious resources. Thus begins the premise for the multi-season show The Expanse.

This show is rich in its storytelling, from its individual characters to human dynamics and conflict. There’s also an incredible amount of world-building, shown by the challenges and intricacies of living in outer space. This show is great for anyone to watch, sci-fi fan or not.

This documentary follows a group of people who live in the Siberian Taiga. It shows life in the Taiga from spring to winter, demonstrating what everyday life is like and the work that needs to be done in each season. Life in the Taiga follows a steady rhythm, where there is a time and place for each type of work and celebration.

Life may seem harsh for these people, who rely on the land and usage of basic tools to trap and hunt. But there’s also a sense of freedom in being self-reliant. Are they truly “happy people”? You watch and decide.

If you’re looking for a fun, adventurous show that involves dogs and their owners, this one’s for you. Twelve teams compete in a series of challenges across the world to get to the finish line, where $750,000 is at stake. The show focuses on the bond between dogs and people, and how both are willing to go above and beyond for the other.

Each episode takes place in a different city, where all the action is set amidst beautiful urban and nature backdrops. The tail wags, smiling faces, and people working with their dogs make this a feel-good show. The Pack is a breath of fresh air that’s exciting and invigorating, especially in a time when many of us are at home and facing personal challenges.

What’s On Your List?

These shows are notable for the feelings they provoke, each in their own way. But they’re only a few of the interesting shows that are original and exclusive to Amazon Prime.

Hopefully, you’ll watch something this season that makes you reflect, respond, and even see the future in a brighter way. Because in the end, that’s why we watch television: to incite a change within us, no matter how big or small.

What’s on your watch list these days?

Melissa Chu writes about creating great work and successful habits at JumpstartYourDreamLife.com. To plan your goals and achieve them, you can grab the guide How to Get Anything You Want.