Seasons: 1
Starring the Voices of Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Jason Mantzoukas, Chloë Sevigny, Jake Johnson, John DiMaggio
Description: Okay, hang tight for a moment while we try to explain this ambitious Amazon endeavor. “Comrade Detective” is a Romanian buddy-cop action set in the 1980s. With a Communist backdrop, it’s a Romanian production. It is dubbed in English by an all-star cast, including Kim Basinger, Channing Tatum, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Chloë Sevigny, Mahershala Ali, and many, many more.
Why it’s lukewarm: “Comrade Detective” takes history and humor and mixes them up to create a bizarre cluster of familiar detective stories. Sometimes, it hits; other times, it misses. But no one can deny the all-star cast.
Forever (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Fred Armisen & Maya Rudolph
Description: "Forever" follows Oscar and June, a married couple that has reached stagnation. For the past 12 years, the couple has lived a comfortable but predictable life, having the same conversations and eating the same meals. That's until June talks Oscar into shaking things up...
Why it's lukewarm: "Forever" is not everyone's cup of tea. To understand and appreciate the show thoroughly, you have to be an appreciative existentialist. The show explores what paradise looks like for different people, and the first season feels like an appetizer for what's to come, which is why it is so unfortunate that Amazon decided not to pick it up for a second season.
Crisis in Six Scenes (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1
Starring: Woody Allen, Miley Cyrus, Rachel Brosnahan, John Magaro, Elaine May
Description: Woody Allen's six-segment series is set in the 1960s and follows a middle-class suburban family who is visited by Lennie Dale, a left-wing radical who is wanted by the FBI.
Why it's lukewarm: Though "Crisis in Six Scenes" did not change television history, it did manage to advance the narrative that TV is the new movie. While Woody Allen's humor is a little old-fashioned, the show manages to be funny and gives Miley Cyrus room for an excellent performance.
Carnival Row (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: Orlando Bloom, Cara Delevingne, Andrew Gower, Simon McBurney, Tamzin Merchant, David Gyasi,
Description: "Carnival Row," a neo-noir fantasy, is a show about an alternate urban universe in which the world of humans and the world of fairies are always at war with each other. The show's main stars, a fairy portrayed by Cara Delevigne and a human detective, played by Orlando Bloom, are caught in a love/hate relationship.
Why it's lukewarm: We're not sure what audience this show is aimed for, but if it sounds like your cup of tea, you're going to want to give this show a chance!
Alpha House (SO-SO)
Seasons: 2
Starring: John Goodman, Matt Malloy, Clark Johnson, Mark Consuelos
Description: The series follows Republican Senators who spend their days in Capitol Hill and their nights in a row house they rent together. Their primary purpose in life is to do as little work as possible. The political satire was created by Garry Trudeau and went strong for two seasons.
Why it's lukewarm: Throughout the show's two seasons, there were cameos from Hollywood's most celebrated veterans and politicians alike, which made for a refreshing series. Though many viewers wanted to love "Alpha House," they felt like the show was high-jacked with an agenda.