Modern Action TV Shows to Watch

 

The 10 best action series (that you can watch on Netflix, Amazon, HBO, Disney+ and more)

10. 'Money Heist' (Netflix) 

'Money Heist' | Trailer | Netflix

What it's about : The mysterious character known as "The Professor" has finished planning the biggest robbery ever planned . To carry out the plan, he decides to recruit a gang made up of very different people with nothing to lose in life and they will be in charge of entering the National Mint and Stamp Factory . There they will have to create as much money as possible and then take it away. However, the police will not make it easy for them.

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Why you should watch it : The creators of La casa de papel are fully aware of how overused the theme of robberies is, so by trying to give it a twist, they manage to bring something different and original. In this large-scale robbery, the robbers will be more human than criminal and their objective will also be to make friends with their own hostages and win over public opinion. Because at the end of the day, they are making money without hurting anyone . With a photography in which the color red and the adrenaline-pumping action become the icing on the cake of a good script,  La casa de papel manages to captivate you from the first chapter to the last minute.

9. ' Into the Badlands ' (Amazon Prime Video) 

Daniel Wu in 'Into the Badlands' Amazon Prime Video

Seasons: 3

Number of episodes : 32

What it's about : Modern civilization came to an end in the far future when a string of catastrophes destroyed the planet as we know it. Following a period of anarchy, society transitioned into a new form of feudalism, in which the most powerful and vicious would gain control. The resource shortage in the new desert region known as the Badlands is governed by seven competing barons who use their troops, or Clippers, to enforce their regulations. One of them is Sunny, a legendary warrior who will go off on an odyssey with his apprentice in an attempt to rescue the locals.

Why you should watch it : From the same studios that created blockbusters like  Breaking Bad and  The Walking Dead , Into the Badlands features atmospheric cinematography and filmmaking  that's heightened by exemplary pacing and soundtrack. The fight scenes are also standouts, of course. 

8. ' Sons of Anarchy ' (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+) 

'Sons of Anarchy' Netflix

Seasons: 7

Number of episodes : 92

What it's about : The series follows a motorcycle club operating illegally in the fictional town of Charming , California. There, Jackson "Jax" Teller, one of the youngest members of the group, begins to question the functioning of the group and his own actions.

Why you should watch it :  Sons of Anarchy 's greatest asset  is that anything can happen . Literally. The biker club becomes the show's main draw, making viewers want to join their cause and justify their actions. Plus, the cast (led by a ecstatic Katey Sagal ) and the epic endings to each episode always leave you wanting more.

7. ' The Boys ' (Amazon Prime Video) 

'The Boys' | Season 1 | Amazon Prime Video

Seasons: 2

Number of episodes : 16

What it's about : In a world where superheroes are actually a representation of the dark side of celebrity and fame , a group of vigilantes who call themselves "The Boys" will try to stop them. Regardless of the risks that may exist, the protagonists will do everything possible to stop the heroes from harming society.

Why you should watch it : The Boys ' premise  is more real than it seems, going so far as to question what would actually happen if superheroes existed and whether they would end up being a mere marketing product. When they appear in movies, they tend to be idealized in every sense, polarizing to the extreme who the good guys and the bad guys are. However, this series proposes a different vision, showing the human side of these unattainable beings through a very particular humor and a use of violence that leaves you speechless on more than one occasion. 

6. 'Vikings' (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO)

'Vikings' | Season 1 | HBO

Seasons : 6

Number of episodes : 89

What it's about : Legend has it that the young Viking warrior Ragnar Lothbrokk , a direct descendant of the god Odin. Embodying the Nordic traditions of his people, Ragnar will rebel to become the king of the Viking tribes , and to do so he will have to initiate raids in England, all of them accompanied by his family and his warriors.

Why you should see it : Just for its historical accuracy and how faithful it tries to be to the reality of the people it portrays,  Vikings  is a highly recommended option. Michael Hirst  's series ( The Tudors ) can help you understand in a more visual way what the Vikings were really like , without falling into clichés and in an interesting way. As if that were not enough, the photography is spectacular and the landscapes that appear in the series seem to take on a life of their own , acquiring a certain symbolism that adds to the mysticism of Viking society. 

5. ' Daredevil ' (Netflix) 

'Daredevil' | Season 1 | Netflix

Seasons : 3

Number of episodes : 39

What it's about : Since he was a child, Matt Murdock has always been blind and now that he is an adult, he is leading a double life. Matt fights injustice in New York , in the morning practicing law and at night as the superhero Daredevil.

Why you should watch it : Although we are used to a more colorful type of stories aimed at all types of audiences, Marvel opts for a darker and more violent tone in  Daredevil , leaving aside the division between good and bad and giving rise to the idea that the complexity goes beyond that. In this series, one of the productions that the House of Ideas made for Netflix, the protagonist does not try to solve problems that affect all of humanity, but is someone more earthly and willing to go down to the suburbs to fight the evil of the night.

4. ' Banshee ' (HBO) 

'Banshee' | Season 1 | HBO

Seasons: 4

Number of episodes : 38

What it's about : An ex-convict thief  decides to continue his criminal activities by using the identity of the sheriff of Banshee. However, his life will not be any calmer than before, and he will continue to be pursued by the mobsters he had already betrayed in the past.

Why you should watch it : With a fairly frenetic and varied pace,  Banshee leaves no room for boredom , including action scenes of all kinds that keep the viewer glued to the screen. In addition, the series manages to maintain the intrigue even after its episodes have ended, incorporating post-credits scenes that are important for the narrative development.

3. '24' ( Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ ) 

'24' Netflix

Seasons:  9

Number of episodes : 192 

What it's about : As a member of the Los Angeles counterterrorism team, Jack Bauer consistently conducts operations that challenge any threat to his nation's security. Bauer was a tireless worker who always went above and beyond to accomplish his goals in the assignments he was given. The kidnapping of the agent's wife and daughter in the first season causes his life to take an unforeseen turn. The first African-American to run for president of the United States, Senator David Palmer, is blackmailed into killing Bauer.

Why you should watch it : The first series to explore the moral grey areas of the post-9/11 universe was about to premiere on the infamous day the Twin Towers fell.  24  revolutionised television thanks to its radical format, which anchored the 24 episodes of each of its seasons in the 24 hours of a day in which the future of the planet was at stake. The real-time action, constant twists, charisma galore and debates about the use of torture and violence in the series made the Fox production one of the most important series of the decade. Its fifth season, the most celebrated by fans and critics, even won the Emmy for best drama series. 

2. ' Peaky Blinders ' ( Netflix, Amazon Prime Video ) 

Cillian Murphy stars in 'Peaky Blinders' Netflix

Seasons : 5

Number of episodes : 30

What it's about : Set in the city of Birmingham after World War I, a family of gangsters are in charge of running a horse betting shop . The ambitious head of the gang ends up attracting attention with his dangerous activities, causing the Royal Irish Police detective to be sent from Belfast to clean up the city and put an end to them.

Why you should watch it : Inspired by some real-life people,  Peaky Blinders avoids the classic dualism of good and bad , instead presenting characters who are opposite but equal at heart. In addition to that, Peaky Blinders also stands out for its impeccable gray-toned photography, its visual set pieces  and a dramatic development that goes further than it might seem at first glance. 

1. ' Gangs of London ' ( Starzplay )

'Gangs of London' | Season 1 | starzplay

Seasons : 1

Number of episodes : 9

What it's about :  Finn Wallace has been the most powerful criminal in London for 20 years until his mysterious death , which is believed to have been a murder. Finn will be relieved by his son Sean Wallace  with the help of Ed Dumani, irremediably affecting the world of international crime. This is when Elliot Finch joins the alliance, ceasing to be the coward he always was and helping Elliot infiltrate the inside of the largest criminal organization in London.

Why you should watch it : Few series can compare to the television debut of Gareth Evans , the visionary director of Raid , its sequel and Apostle .  Gangs of London  stands out above all for its spectacular, adrenaline-fuelled direction, incorporating constant sequence shots and plenty of action and violence that is incorporated through the most rehearsed of choreographies. In addition, not only are some of the cases based on real events, but the viewer is also given the opportunity to see London from a completely different point of view .