Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!
On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK.
In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
2025 was an excellent year for television. Need proof? Just look at the catalog of series on Prime Video. Filled to the brim with new series and returning favorites, the year featured a loaded lineup of some of the best shows of the year. From freshman underdogs like Overcompensating to sophomore season sensations like Gen V, Prime Video was stacked.
Beyond the great programming, Prime Video also made headlines with the shocking cancellations of certain shows, including The Wheel of Time and Étoile, which was originally picked up for a two-season order. Nevertheless, they still made this list! It’s time to celebrate the great year of the streamer in the world of series.
10 ‘The Wheel of Time’ Season 3 (2021-2025)
Adapting book four, The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan, for Season 3, The Wheel of Time picked up right after the previous season’s defeat of Ishmael (Fares Fares). With the Forsaken loose in the world, the threats against the Light are multiplying. The White Tower stands divided, the Black Ajah run free, old enemies return to the Two Rivers, and the remaining Forsaken are in hot pursuit of the Dragon, including Lanfear (Natasha O’Keeffe), whose relationship with Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski) will mark a crucial choice between Light and Dark for them both. The toughest test is facing the Darkness within themselves. With fans and critics alike finding Season 3 to be the best yet, showrunner Rafe Judkins helped the series reach great heights.
Remaining as one of the top-tier fantasy series across all streamers, The Wheel of Time’s third season grew upon the momentum it built in the first two seasons and allowed it to breathe, improving the pacing tremendously. With such rich characters, with Rosamund Pike serving as the foundation, there was still much more to explore. Sadly, the series was cancelled by the streamer, despite loyal popularity. As Pike told Collider, “I think we’re possibly victims to the terrible churn factor of people wanting to show that ‘We’ve got a new show.’ It’s all about what’s new.”
9 ‘Invincible’ Season 3 (2021-)
Bringing Robert Kirkman’s Image Comics characters to life for a third season, Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) has to accept major changes in his life as he’s forced to face his past and future while discovering how much further he’ll need to go to protect the people he loves. Contemplating the weight of heroism, Invincible’s Season 3 gave the titular character the full scope of heroism. Rather than focusing on universe-ending plot lines, Invincible focused on the ensemble cast to truly spread their wings and find their own way in their overwhelming universe.
If you’re looking for emotional depth in your adult superhero cartoon, the writing team delivered in Season 3. Mark’s journey, though rich with internal struggle, of debating the morality of heroism, the ethics of killing, pushed the season to the top. But fret not, there was enough action and bloodshed to go around. Even with major high-highs and deep low-lows, it was still a masterclass in world-building. Prime Video very much paid a pretty penny as some big stars lent their voices to the action, including Aaron Paul as Powerplex, Simu Liu as Multi-Paul, and Kate Mara as Becky Duvall.
8 ‘Étoile’ (2025)
Here comes the entry of a great show that did not deserve to get cancelled after its first season. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, Étoile watched as two elite, world-renowned ballet companies — Ballet Theater in New York and the Ballet National in Paris — swap their most talented stars, their danseur/danseuse étoile. Putting a spotlight on the resulting culture shock and internal struggles as artists adapt to new environments and companies navigate their unconventional partnerships, Étoile was made for entertainment insiders and dance lovers at heart.
With the creators of Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, there was an innate comfort to the writing and world-building, matching the energy of their previous successes. With a solid ensemble led by Luke Kirby as Jack McMillan, Gideon Glick as Tobias Bell, and Charlotte Gainsbourg as Geneviève Lavigne, the series was a feel-good series in a time when twisted, gripping thrillers and mysteries tend to take focus. An ode to ballet and the difficulty of the arts to maintain their place of grandeur during tight financial strains, in reality, Étoile’s fate was almost too on pointe. Pun intended.
7 ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Season 3 (2022-2025)
It’s over! The coming-of-age teen romance has finally reached its conclusion. Well, at least until the movie. After three seasons, the Jenny Han drama finally told us which Fisher boy Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) would spend her life with. The Summer I Turned Pretty’s third season gave viewers a four-year time jump as it focused on Belly during her college years as she and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) decide to get married. Though not everyone is on board, Belly must navigate head and heart as the boy of her dreams, Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney), is still a temptation of her heart. With more Taylor Swift songs to narrate the action, The Summer I Turned Pretty went on a world tour beyond Cousins Beach and the summer house.
Not since Twilight have we seen fans go so hard for a specific team led by a romantic lead. Whether you’re Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, the final season brings a new sense of maturity to our action as the kids we saw as teens are now adults forced to make tough life decisions. Though the focus was on the love triangle per usual, the secondary characters did extraordinary work, notably Rain Spencer as Belly’s best friend, Taylor, and newcomer Isabella Briggs as Denise, Jeremiah and Steven’s (Sean Kaufman) co-worker. A dizzying series of emotional angst led us to a happily-ever-after.
6 ‘The Better Sister’ (2025)
If you’re looking for a twisted family thriller that might make your own family drama look weak, look no further than The Better Sister. Created by Olivia Milch, Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks play estranged sisters, Chloe and Nicky, who find themselves coming together when Chloe’s husband, Adam (Corey Stoll), who happens to be Nicky’s husband, is murdered, and their son Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan) is arrested for his murder. A dense drama that puts morals to shame, The Better Sister proves no one is ever innocent in the past, present, or future.
Just when you think it couldn’t get weirder, The Better Sister says, “hold my beer.” The series is tightly-plotted, though there are moments you have to wonder if it was a twist just for twist’s sake. Examining the well-off and pretty privileged, using Kim Dickens’ detective Nan as the outider trying to solve the crime, The Better Sister’s main mission is to examine whether blood is thicker than water and how keeping secrets can cause a domino effect. Depending on how you feel about the individual characters, the ending might leave you frustrated. But if you seek out a journey that will keep you guessing until the bitter end, The Better Sister provides just that.
5 ‘Ballard’ Season 1 (2025-)
For all those Bosch fans feeling a major void in their lives, Prime Video had a spin-off worthy of Michael Connelly’s novels. Starring Maggie Q as Detective Renée Ballard, Ballard brings the character first seen in Bosch: Legacy into the spotlight for her own adventure. After taking command of the LAPD’s newly formed cold case unit of the Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD), Ballard reopens long-dormant investigations, uncovering a web of corruption and cover-ups that reach deep into the police department itself.
Blending episodic cold-case mysteries with a season-long serialized arc involving a mysterious conspiracy, Ballard continues the legacy through a new lens and a compelling lead character. The series still maintains the integrity of Bosch while living on its own, creating its own unique identity. A strong procedure, Ballad is destined to be as good, if not better, than its predecessor. Maggie Q has established a wonderful foundation for her character, giving her the chance to soar high in the future.
4 ‘Reacher’ Season 3 (2022-)
Jack is back and better than ever! In Reacher’s third season, Alan Ritchson’s titular character travels to Maine in search of a deadly foe from his past and ends up entangled with rogue DEA agents, dangerous killers, and a mysterious family business. He agrees to bring down suspected drug smuggler Zachary Beck (Anthony Michael Hall) by going undercover as the bodyguard of Beck’s son, Richard (Johnny Berchtold). Reacher delves into the dark heart of a rug-importing business that is a front for an arms trafficking enterprise led by Xavier Quinn (Brian Tee), an enemy from his past. The journey forces him to balance his desire for revenge against his need to finish his mission.
Based on the seventh book, Persuader, the season is a major improvement over Season 2. To say that Reacher finally got to fight against a worthy opponent is an understatement. Filled with brutal and enthralling action sequences alongside a thrilling plot, the season was triumphant thanks in part to Ritchson’s emotionally tinged run. Through the intensity, Ritchson captured the emotional turmoil his character faced. A return to form, giving book fans something to cheer on with some improvements through adaptation, Season 3 may have been the best one yet.
3 ‘The Girlfriend’ (2025)
Its mother-versus-partner is the dangerously addictive The Girlfriend. Based on Michelle Frances’ novel, Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke star as the warring factions. Laura (Wright) is convinced her son’s new girlfriend, Cherry (Cooke), is a manipulative gold digger with a dark past. Switching from both women’s perspectives, The Girlfriend tackles obsession, jealousy, and the blurred line of protection and paranoia.
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The juicy psychological thriller is one of the strongest of the year, thanks to the powerhouse performances from the lead actresses. The storytelling style works to keep viewers on their toes, forcing them to decide who to believe and trust. The wonderful power struggle, with Laurie Davidson’s Daniel in the middle, provides a gripping, concise six episodes. It’s a twisty, soapy story that makes for an exceptional binge, leaving you gobsmacked and yelling at your screen.
2 ‘Overcompensating’ Season 1 (2025-)
The year of television brought us an array of great titles, but the little show that could was Overcompensating. Written by and starring Benito Skinner, the college-centric comedy follows Benny, a former high school football star and valedictorian from Idaho, as he begins college at Yates College. Benny navigates new friendships and bold crushes as he tries to present a machismo front to hide himself as a gay man. Brought to life by an exceptional ensemble cast, Overcompensating spoke to millennial hearts with a Gen Z scope.
Sharply written and well performed thanks to a sensational ensemble cast, the series became the underdog show of the year. On the surface, it’s a campus comedy about friendship, but there’s more to these alluring stories. Skinner’s coming out story, based on his life, is still relevant. It’s an important narrative to present that’s done with precision, care, and warmth. As we await a second season, there’s so much more for Overcompensating to explore. The opportunities are endless.
1 ‘Gen V’ Season 2 (2023-)
Is it possible that the spin-off is upending its predecessor? It’s quite possible! Gen V’s sophomore season was exceptional to say the least. As America adjusts to Homelander’s (Antony Starr) reign at Godolkin University, the second season follows Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair), Jordan (London Thor and Derek Luh), and Emma (Lizzie Broadway) return to Godolkin University after months of suffering, where a new dean (Hamish Linklater) trains Supe students to be powerful soldiers. On the brink of war between humans and Supes, the team discovers a secret program from the ’60s that could change everything. And, somehow, Marie’s mysterious past is a part of it.
Balancing real grief and witty dark humor, Gen V is bloodier and gorier than ever. With new additions to the cast certainly didn’t replace the tragic loss of Chance Pedromo, but they did help expand upon the story in a tasteful manner. That said, between Linklater’s exceptional villainous turn and Ethan Slater’s Thomas Godolkin late-game twist, Gen V is no longer a companion series; it’s essential viewing. Sinclair continues to prove that Marie is one of the most compelling Supes in the entire The Boys universe. We’re anxiously awaiting to see where Marie goes next. And let’s just hope it’s to take down Homelander in the main series.
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Gen V
TV-MA
Drama
Action
Comedy
Science Fiction
Release Date September 28, 2023
Network Prime Video
Showrunner Michele Fazekas
Directors Nelson Cragg, Clare Kilner, Philip Sgriccia, Sanaa Hamri, Shana Stein, Steve Boyum
Cast
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Writers Craig Rosenberg
Franchise(s) The Boys
Genres Drama, Action, Comedy, Science Fiction
Main Genre Action
Seasons 2
Producers Jessica Chou
Creator(s) Craig Rosenberg, Evan Goldberg, Eric Kripke
Streaming Service(s) Prime Video
Executive Producer(s) Eric Kripke, Jason Netter, Seth Rogen, Neal H. Moritz, Garth Ennis, Evan Goldberg, Ken F. Levin, Erica Rosbe, James Weaver
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