amazonDrama fans, rejoice: new shows are coming to Amazon next year for your perusal.

Amazon announced today that it has given the green light for pilot episodes of a pair of one-hour dramas for its Prime Instant Video service, which are expected to air in early 2014. After the pilots air, Prime Video users will be able to give feedback on which show they want to see produced, in much the same way that Amazon handled pilots for its comedy and children’s offerings earlier this year.

Compared to that “harrowing” process, which included 14 shows, Amazon Prime viewers will have far fewer offerings to choose from. In both cases, it seems viewers will be getting something familiar. “Bosch” is based on the Harry Bosch series of novels from Michael Connelly, while “The After” comes from X-Files writer Chris Carter.

It’s a clear play by the Seattle-based retailer to compete with Netflix’s own stable of original content, and it seems that as of right now, both companies are working from the same playbook when it comes to dramas–leveraging big names and existing intellectual property to produce what they hope will be a hit.

While Netflix has struck it big with offerings like “Orange is the New Black” and “House of Cards,” Amazon hasn’t gotten its originals off the ground yet. But already, the competition is fierce. “House” already won an Emmy, and the critical reception for “Orange” almost certainly puts it in the running for next year’s television awards.

The bar for online drama is set fairly high. It’s up to Amazon to deliver.

Previously on GeekWire: Amazon greenlights 5 TV series after ‘harrowing exercise in online democracy’

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