Prime Video’s 8-Part Sci-Fi Masterpiece From The Batman’s Matt Reeves Is A 10/10 Hidden Gem

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Prime Video has become a surprisingly strong choice for science fiction fans, but many haven’t discovered the fantastic series Tales from the Loop. It’s particularly notable because Matt Reeves, the director of The Batman, was an executive producer, and the series was created and written by Nathaniel Halpern.

Prime Video has a growing collection of science fiction shows. Fans can look forward to the second season of Fallout starting December 17th, and the fifth season of The Boys arriving in April 2026. Plus, the platform is already known for The Expanse, a critically acclaimed sci-fi series often compared to Game of Thrones.

If you’re looking for a short but captivating series to watch over a weekend, check out the 2020 sci-fi show, Tales from the Loop. It features Keanu Reeves as an executive producer, is adapted from a fantastic book, and stars a very impressive cast.

What Is Tales From The Loop About?

Premiering on April 3, 2020, Tales from the Loop is a science fiction series on Prime Video set in the town of Mercer, Ohio. Mercer was built around a top-secret underground physics lab called the Mercer Center for Experimental Physics—also known as the Loop. At the Loop, scientists work to achieve the impossible, and their experiments frequently cause unusual events, such as objects floating in the air or even time travel.

While The Loop shares a similar vibe and 1980s setting with Stranger Things, that’s where the comparison stops. Unlike Stranger Things’ focus on action and monsters, Tales from the Loop is a slower-paced, more thoughtful series.

Despite its slow pace, Tales from the Loop isn’t dull. The Prime Video series focuses on the lives of the people in Mercer, especially Russ (Jonathan Pryce), the creator of the Loop, and his family – his son George (Paul Schneider) and George’s wife, Loretta (Rebecca Hall).

If you enjoy science fiction that unfolds gradually and thoughtfully, you’ll likely love Tales from the Loop. The show is beautifully acted and explores big, philosophical questions about life, the universe, and everything, all within a uniquely crafted sci-fi world. Unlike many sci-fi stories, it doesn’t rely on a single villain but focuses on deeper themes.

How Tales From The Loop Compares The Source Material

Similar to many classic science fiction shows, Tales from the Loop began as a work of art. It’s based on the 2014 art book of the same name created by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag. He also wrote the graphic novel The Electric State, which became a Netflix movie in 2025 featuring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt.

Simon Stålenhag’s Tales from the Loop is best described as a visually driven art book rather than a traditional novel with a clear storyline. Nathaniel Halpern brilliantly translates the book’s thought-provoking and atmospheric qualities into his work, Ebaster. In a 2020 interview, Halpern discussed his adaptation process.

The Prime Video series and the original art book weren’t exactly the same, but the changes worked well. As author Halpern explains, the show focuses more on the characters than the book does. He also moved the story’s location from the Swedish countryside to the American Midwest. Despite these differences, the series beautifully captures the spirit of Stålenhag’s work.

Tales From The Loop Is One Of Prime Video’s Most Underrated Series

It’s disappointing that Tales from the Loop isn’t more widely recognized as one of the best sci-fi shows on Prime Video, considering how intelligently written and immersive it is. Unlike many other sci-fi series that rely on special effects and familiar storylines, this show uses those elements to enhance stories about relatable, well-developed characters. The focus is on the people, not just the science fiction ideas.

Beyond the compelling story, Tales from the Loop is visually breathtaking. The show often resembles a beautiful painting, and the evocative, somewhat sad music by Philip Glass and Paul Leonard-Morgan makes the experience even more immersive.

Unfortunately, Tales from the Loop didn’t receive enough promotion to reach a larger audience. With so many original shows being released on Prime Video in 2020, the series created by Matt Reeves seemed to get overlooked.

Released near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – a time when people weren’t eager for stories that made them think about difficult questions – Tales from the Loop is still highly recommended, especially for fans of science fiction.

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2025-12-17 02:19