You may not have noticed because of all the quality TV shows at your fingertips lately, but we’ve been living in a golden age of action TV shows for a while now. Where the pay cable network Cinemax once reigned supreme with dramas like Strike Back, Amazon’s Prime Video now stands tall and proud, thanks to equally addictive shows like Reacher and Jack Ryan. But what we think of when we think about “action shows” has evolved along the way. There is the more traditional fare: the high-octane dramas with massive set pieces that many refer to as “dad TV.” But then there are shows that focus on character and personal narratives that just happen to also feature incredible action sequences. Of course, then there are the shows that easily do both, like the Cinemax-turned-Max series Warrior, which recently began streaming on Netflix, allowing it to reach a wider audience. To celebrate this wonderful age in which we’ve found ourselves, Paste has rounded up the 10 best action shows you can watch right now, whether you’re a dad or not.
Banshee
You’ve never seen a show like Banshee (unless, of course, you’ve already seen Banshee, in which case you understand the sentiment). The pulpy Cinemax drama is, in some ways, the pinnacle of the genre. The show follows Lucas Hood (Antony Starr), an ex-con recently released from prison who assumes the identity of a recently-deceased small-town sheriff in order to remain close to his former lover (Ivana Miličević) and the teenage daughter he never knew he had. But as Hood begins doling out his own style of justice—much to the chagrin of his deputies—the Jonathan Tropper-created series ramps up the action and drama to meet him blow for blow. The show’s pedal-to-the-metal approach to storytelling gives it enough momentum to barrel through wall after wall after wall like a wild cartoon. But what’s even more impressive is its ability to balance the relentless action and expertly choreographed fight scenes found in every episode with instantly memorable characters, all with unique identities and competing interests, and compelling storylines that feature everything from Ukrainian gangsters seeking vengeance and conflicts with the local Native American population, to a local kingpin (Ulrich Thomsen) whose Amish roots make for one of TV’s best and most distinctive villains. Wildly ambitious from start to finish, Banshee truly has it all.
Reacher
If you’ve already binged Banshee, Reacher should be next on your list. The popular Prime Video series, which is adapted from Lee Child’s books, has a lot in common with the Cinemax drama, from a charismatic leading man who operates with his own sense of ethics, to adrenaline-fueled action sequences, to a surprisingly well-deployed sense of humor. But if Banshee operates at an 11, Reacher is a more manageable seven. Alan Ritchson stars as Jack Reacher, a veteran of the Army’s military police who now travels the country with nothing but the clothes on his back, delivering justice when and where it’s needed. With few exceptions, the show’s supporting cast is new each season, a reflection of Reacher’s nomadic lifestyle. The first season explores corruption and crime in small-town Georgia (which really helps sell the Banshee comparison), while the second moves the action to New York and finds Reacher reuniting with members of his old unit to investigate the disappearance and murder of some of their own. This built-in ability to reinvent itself each season is one of the show’s greatest assets, as it keeps things fresh in a genre that sometimes feels overly familiar.
Warrior
Based on the writings of Bruce Lee and set during the Tong Wars, Warrior is one of the finest examples of the action drama to date, and one of the most distinct in terms of style and tone. The series, which also hails from Banshee’s Jonathan Tropper, stars Andrew Koji as Ah Sahm, a martial arts prodigy who becomes a hatchet man for one of San Francisco’s tongs upon his arrival in the United States in the late 1870s. He soon discovers the sister (Dianne Doan) he crossed the ocean to find has become the leader of a powerful rival tong, setting the stage for ongoing familial conflict that rivals the political and racial tensions of the era that turned the city into a powder keg. With multiple entry points, well-choreographed fights, and some of the best action sequences you’ll ever find on the small screen, Warrior is must-see TV.
Strike Back
Strike Back was proof of concept for successful action shows on the small screen. Originally a Sky One drama starring Andrew Lincoln and Richard Armitage, the series was softly rebooted when Cinemax came aboard in Season 2 as a co-producer, and it took off from there. Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton star as elite soldiers working for a covert operation known as Section 20, taking on would-be terrorists in feature film-worthy shootouts and combat sequences that prove there is room for high-stakes action on TV. But the show also balances its adrenaline-fueled story with emotionally resonant moments that never shy away from the human cost of war and the toll it takes on those who survive. Strike Back initially rode off into the sunset in 2015, but when Cinemax returned to its action roots two years later, it revived the series with a new cast, elevating it from a two-handed bromance to an ensemble drama by introducing more women and developing its supporting characters to be more than expendable targets. Strike Back is the rare series that knew what it was from the start, and that allowed it to become better than it had any right to be. Now that it’s signed off (again), television is a little less exciting without it.
Spartacus
One of Starz’s biggest early hits, the oiled-up, testosterone-fueled Spartacus began with Blood and Sand, which focused on the historic gladiator (and a historic amount of male nudity) and his loyal rebellion of freed slaves growing stronger as Roman troops readied themselves to fight back. Tragically, star Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with cancer after filming the first season, and Starz filled in the production gap with the prequel miniseries Spartacus: Gods of the Arena. Whitfield died in 2011, but the series continued on with a new lead, Liam McIntyre, for the follow-ups Vengeance and War of the Damned. Stylized battle sequences defined the series, but it also picked up more heart and substance as it continued. —Allison Keene
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Based on the best-selling series of Tom Clancy novels, Jack Ryan has turned out to be the modern version with staying power. Ben Affleck and Chris Pine played the namesake character in some early 2000s film flops (which of course came after the seminal 1990s run of Clancy adaptations of The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger). This version consistently delivers classic “Dad TV” thrills capable of keeping you at the edge of your seat. Propelled by world-ending stakes and a no-nonsense, plot-driven approach, Jack Ryan is a big budget political thriller, even if its genre conventions might be as well worn as those old Clancy paperbacks at times. If nothing else, the show is a testament to the fact John Krasinski is a bona fide action star, an impressive evolution from his days wooing the receptionist on The Office. Jack Ryan is the perfect vehicle to showcase just that, while still delivering thrills and capers compelling enough to keep us coming back for more. —Trent Moore
The Punisher
With all due respect to Daredevil, which kicked off the Marvel shows formerly of Netflix, it’s the series’ two-season spinoff The Punisher starring Jon Bernthal as the titular vigilante who can barely contain his rage that arguably deserves your attention. Few shows deliver exciting action and bone-crunching violence alongside emotionally resonant ruminations on grief and morality, but that’s exactly what The Punisher does, especially in the first season, which explores Frank Castle as a husband and father after introducing fans to the so-called Punisher in Daredevil. By turning the show into a character study, the writers elevate The Punisher beyond its superhero roots and turn it into a compelling drama that tackles topics like veterans affairs, gun control, and mental health. That might not be for everyone, but if you’re looking for an action show with a bit more meat on its bones, The Punisher checks all the boxes.
Into the Badlands
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From production design to costuming to choreography and stunts, Into the Badlands brings its audience a mythology-rich tribute to classic Hong Kong action cinema and wuxia films that is the closest thing we’ve ever seen on TV to a serialized version of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I’m not here to necessarily make a case for the plot; the show paints in broad, pulpy strokes, with faction-vs.-faction scheming and power plays that draw clear inspiration from the dueling houses in Game of Thrones. It lifts the tropes of classic Shaolin Temple films, full of students studying secret techniques and harnessing ancient, mystical forces to avenge slain family members. It gives us a cast of characters whose loyalties and rationalizations are in a constant, soap-operatic flux. Its morals are on the simple side. But its visuals? Its costumes? And, my God, its action sequences? I’m not sure there’s ever been a show with better fight scenes on TV. Into the Badlands delivers crackling, hyperkinetic, bloody sequences of flying fists, acrobatics and swordplay: It’s a gift from the heavens. —Jim Vorel
The Boys
Based on the bloody comic book co-created by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys is Amazon’s entry into the superhero genre. However, it takes a wildly different approach to the subject batter: it’s a satire following a team of vigilantes led by Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) as they attempt to take down superheroes, or supes, who’ve been commercialized by a massive corporation and are never held accountable for their actions. Adapted for TV by Supernatural‘s Eric Kripke and co-starring Banshee‘s Antony Starr as the sociopathic superhero Homelander, the series is darkly funny, bold in its storytelling, and is responsible for some of TV’s most outrageous moments. It brings style and flair to the increasingly familiar action that tends to saturate superhero fare, and the show only seems to get bigger and better as it goes.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith proves there is something for everyone on this list. Co-creators Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane reimagine the popular 2005 film of the same name for this addictive series that mixes romantic comedy with action and international intrigue. Glover and Maya Erskine star as two strangers who take jobs at a mysterious spy agency and find themselves in an arranged marriage, complete with new identities as John and Jane Smith, and a jealousy-inducing brownstone in Manhattan. While some shows prioritize out-of-this-world action at the expense of the overall narrative, Mr. & Mrs. Smith often uses high-stakes action to enhance its characters’ emotional arcs, as John and Jane find themselves falling in love over the course of their many missions. It’s yet another example of how television has expanded upon what action shows can and should be. It helps that it’s also fantastic.
Kaitlin Thomas is an entertainment journalist and TV critic. Her work has appeared in TV Guide, Salon, and Gold Derby, among other places. You can find her tweets about TV, sports, and Walton Goggins @thekaitling.
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