Entertainment
The Perfect ‘Gilmore Girls’ Replacement Is Ready to Binge on Prime Video
There’s a new show at the top of Prime Video’s TV rankings: Laura Kittrell’s prequel comedy Elle: From the World of Legally Blonde. Starring Lexi Minetree as a younger version of Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods, the show follows the iconic character as a teenager in the 1990s, navigating life as a Seattle high school student, years before she arrived at Harvard Law School. While the series has had mixed reviews, audience reception has been brilliant. But if that’s not quite what you’re in the mood for, there are still plenty more options to check out on the platform. Without further ado, here’s a look at three great shows that we think you should binge on Prime Video this week.
For more recommendations, check out our list of the best shows and movies on Prime Video.
1
‘Hart of Dixie’ (2011–2015)
Created by Leila Gerstein, Hart of Dixie is a comedy-drama series starring Rachel Bilson as Dr. Zoe Hart, an aspiring New York heart surgeon whose career takes a turn for the worse. Leaving the big city, she moves to Bluebell, Alabama, to work as a general practitioner, struggling to connect with her patients while navigating a complicated personal life. Besides Bilson, the show also stars Jaime King, Cress Williams, Wilson Bethel, Scott Porter, Tim Matheson, Kaitlyn Black, and more.
Hart of Dixie premiered on The CW in September 2011, receiving largely mixed reviews from critics. Later seasons, however, were much better received, and the show ultimately ended with a highly acclaimed fourth season. While the show isn’t particularly fresh, it delivers classic rom-com tropes in a comforting, feel-good story, making it an easy and enjoyable binge-watch and a great pick for Gilmore Girls fans. Unfortunately, the ratings declined steadily from season to season, and the show was ultimately canceled. Though it has become largely forgotten in the years since, Hart of Dixie is an underrated show that has a way of growing on you.
2
‘The Rig’ (2023–2025)
A British supernatural sci-fi thriller show, The Rig is the first Amazon Original filmed entirely in Scotland. Created by David Macpherson, the series revolves around an oil rig in the North Sea, where scientist Rose Mason (Emily Hampshire) discovers startling anomalies after an unnatural fog carrying mysterious spores starts infecting the crew members. Hampshire and Iain Glen lead the cast, with Mark Bonnar, Rochenda Sandall, and more in key roles.
The Rig’s first season, released in January 2023, was quite favorably received by critics, though it remained very under the radar with audiences. Its second season, which premiered in 2025, lifts the series to new heights, with stronger writing and character development that earned it greater attention and acclaim. Though its plot may be somewhat predictable, The Rig is an atmospheric and gripping eco-thriller with engaging performances and an enjoyable take on the isolation horror subgenre, making it a great watch for horror fans.
3
‘Criminal Minds’ (2005–Present)
Created by Jeff Davis, Criminal Minds is an iconic CBS police procedural that revolves around a group of criminal profilers working for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. The show follows these agents as they use behavioral analysis and profiling to catch suspects, attempting to dive deeper into their minds so they can stop killers before they strike. The series has had a massive star-studded cast over the years, featuring Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Lola Glaudini, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, A. J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Aisha Tyler, and more across seasons.
Easily one of the most successful TV crime shows of all time, Criminal Minds has been a consistent success almost since the time it aired its very first episode in 2005. Though the show originally wrapped up with Season 15 in 2020, the series was revived as Criminal Minds: Evolution in 2022. Now a massive media franchise that includes multiple spin-offs, Criminal Minds is undeniably a landmark of contemporary television, and with its 20th season in the works, now’s the perfect time to catch up on its storied history.
- Release Date
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September 22, 2005
- Showrunner
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Erica Messer
- Directors
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Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Rob Bailey, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, John Gallagher, Douglas Aarniokoski, Guy Norman Bee, Larry Teng, Nelson McCormick, Alec Smight, Charles S. Carroll, Rob Spera, Charles Haid, Diana Valentine, Rob Hardy, Tawnia McKiernan, Bethany Rooney, Karen Gaviola, Sharat Raju, Thomas Gibson, Aisha Tyler, Anna Foerster, Gloria Muzio, John Terlesky
- Writers
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Bruce Zimmerman, Virgil Williams, Edward Allen Bernero, Janine Sherman Barrois, Chris Mundy, Simon Mirren, Debra J. Fisher, Kimberly A. Harrison, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Karen Maser, Oanh Ly, Stephanie Sengupta, Aaron Zelman, Kirsten Vangsness, Erica Meredith, Andi Bushell, Holly Harold, Alicia Kirk, Jeff Davis, Randy Huggins, Edward Napier, Jayne A. Archer, Chikodili Agwuna
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