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It's the weekend and we've picked out three terrific TV shows for you to get lost in. If you're planning a quiet few days at home then any one of these three shows will keep you amused and entertained.
Bait leads our selection this week. The new comedy, which stars Riz Ahmed, is one of our most anticipated new shows and it does not disappoint. It's backed up by all seven seasons of classic '00s thriller series The Shield, and the lesser known but still good Arthurian adventure The Winter King.
New to Prime Video to stream this weekend
Bait
Available: US/UK
Bait is one of the year's buzziest new shows and it starts this week on Prime. Riz Ahmed stars as Shah Latif, a rapper-turned-actor living in London who is auditioning to be the next James Bond. Doing so, however, triggers upheaval in his life, as well as a crisis of confidence that sends him spiralling into insecurity.
Created and co-written by Ahmed himself, Bait is part showbiz satire and part semi-autobiographical comedy (Ahmed, of course really was on several lists of potential Bond actors a few years back). It's sharply-observed stuff, with some proper belly laughs, as well as some moments of genuine drama. Plus, the way it uses Bond tropes to tell this very personal story is inspired.
Watch Bait.
The Shield
Available: US/UK
All seven seasons of this superb crime thriller are now on Prime Video. The Shield is sometimes seen as a forerunner to Breaking Bad and it's easy to see why. It follows a squad of LAPD officers in the fictional (and crime-ridden) Farmington district of LA. The team, led by Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) try to keep a lid on the gang-violence and drug trafficking, but they're almost as corrupt themselves.
The Shield may not seem quite so unique in today's TV landscape but at the time it was a revelation and the show is still more than worth watching for its compelling characters, sharp writing, and some gut-punch twists.
Watch The Shield.
The Winter King
Available: US/UK
This underrated historical drama only ran for one season, but it's very much worth your time. Based on the novel of the same name by Sharpe-creator Bernard Cornwell, this is a gritty retelling of Arthurian legends. It follows Arthur Pendragon (Iain De Caestecker) as he is banished by his stern father Uther (Eddie Marsan). Eight years later he is called back by Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) to help try and save the kingdom.
The Winter King takes some liberties with Cornwell's source material, but largely in the purposes of telling an enjoyable yarn, one full of intrigue and action. Sadly, the show was not renewed for a second season, but the full 10-episode series is available to stream now.
Watch The Winter King.
Get more from your weekend with GamesRadar+
Recommendations for what to watch on Prime Video this weekend has come via Will Salmon, GamesRadar's Streaming Editor. Will has been writing about film, TV, and comics for the last 20 years in the pages of SFX magazine, Horrorville, Comic Heroes, and online here. If you still need a hand with what to watch this weekend, here's a little quiz to help:
Looking for something else to watch? Check out our guides to the best Prime Video shows, the best Netflix shows, and the best Paramount Plus shows.
