Entertainment
Prime Video’s 100% RT Hit Just Beat a New Crime Series at Its Own Game
Young Sherlock had all the ingredients to be Prime Video’s next big hit. It presented a fresh take on Sherlock Holmes, showcasing Hero Fiennes Tiffin‘s detective and his friendship with his future enemy, James Moriarty (Dónal Finn). It was co-created by Guy Ritchie, who’d previously worked on a pair of Sherlock Holmes films starring Robert Downey Jr. Young Sherlock also topped the streamer’s Top 10 TV shows list in its first week of release, showcasing plenty of promise. However, it’s in fierce competition with another Prime Video hit, as Invincible just returned with its fourth season.
At the time of writing, Invincible currently sits at the #3 spot on Prime Video’s Top 10 TV shows, while Young Sherlock has made it back to #1, according to FlixPatrol. Still, this shows that fans are still hooked on the adventures of Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) and are willing to tune in whenever a new season drops. It’s not just superhero fans who love Invincible, though. Each season has received sky-high scores on Rotten Tomatoes; Season 4 currently boasts a perfect score of 100%. This shows that Invincible isn’t just the flavor of the month, but a crown jewel in Prime Video’s library.
‘Invincible’ Has Become A Smash Success for Prime Video
Invincible made waves when it premiered five years ago, since it was unlike any other superhero show. In the same spirit as the original comics by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, it beautifully subverts the tropes viewers have come to expect from superhero media while also delivering buckets of bloody violence. Kirkman, who serves as co-showrunner alongside Simon Racioppa, has also referred to Invincible as a “second draft” of the comics — meaning that some characters receive a much-needed update while the story often shifts thanks to being in a new medium. Case in point: this week’s episode, “Hurm,” is based on a story that Kirkman never got to in the comics.
Invincible has taken one of the best parts of its source material to heart, building a long-running storyline over four seasons. From the very first episode, Mark Grayson’s father, Nolan (J.K. Simmons), was revealed to be an agent of the tyrannical Viltrumite Empire, which had designs on conquering Earth. Each season has also brought Mark into conflict with a different Viltrumite, and now Season 4 is set to adapt the iconic “Viltrumite War” from the comics, which pits him against the Viltrumites’ Grand Regent Thragg (Lee Pace). In an age where streaming shows are canceled before they can reach their full potential, Invincible is rewarding its audience’s investment.
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‘Invincible’ and ‘Young Sherlock’ Show That Prime Video’s Best Shows are Genre-Focused
Invincible and Young Sherlock‘s domination of the streaming charts continues a trend of Prime Video’s biggest shows being genre fare, using a combination of star power and concept to hook viewers. Other shows that have benefited from this approach include Fallout, The Legend of Vox Machina, and The Boys, which often top Prime Video charts whenever they drop new seasons. While Prime Video often drops splashy Comic-Con panels and timed activations to promote their series, word of mouth and a built-in audience are often responsible for their chart-topping success, proving that consistency is a streamer’s secret weapon in the TV landscape.
Invincible also has time on its side. When asked how long it would take for the series to fully adapt the events of the comic, Robert Kirkman told Polygon that he’s willing to go as long as it takes:
“I’m trying not to pin it down to a number, because it is somewhat of a moving target. I think in the seven-to-eight-season range seems like it would be enough. But there could be some things we move through a little faster, some things we expand. If we’re fortunate enough to go for a good long time, I think that would be enough to cover the entire comic.”
Such a number is unheard of in the current streaming landscape, but it speaks to how Invincible has earned enough trust among fans and critics to sustain a healthy run. Young Sherlock and other shows in the streaming space should look to it as an example.
- Release Date
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March 26, 2021
- Network
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Amazon Prime Video
- Franchise(s)
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Invincible
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