Apple TV is known for its popular shows like Severance, Ted Lasso and The Morning Show. If those are the only titles you’re familiar with, I have news for you: Apple’s streamer is jam-packed with excellent TV shows. And no, I’m not exaggerating.
Apple TV has been around for more than five years now and it has steadily churned out quality titles. The issue is, you’ve probably never about of any of them.
This is because of Apple’s marketing strategy. The streamer rarely promotes its movies and shows and prefers to operate on an organic discovery model. It’s all about word of mouth, here. I suppose this way of doing business makes the service feel like a best-kept secret in the streaming TV game. However, if you’re looking for something to binge, you may feel a bit lost. I’m here to help with that.
Aside from the shows I mentioned above — and Seth Rogen’s Emmy-winning comedy The Studio, which is absolutely a must-watch — did you know Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy hosts his own Emmy-nominated travel show? That’s here. As is Jason Momoa’s groundbreaking Polynesian-led drama about the unification of the Hawaiian Islands. And you best believe I included Apple’s most-watched series of all time, Pluribus, to the roundup.
I’ll be updating this list regularly, so please check back for additions. I’ve compiled a separate guide of Apple TV’s best sci-fi TV shows. So check that out when you’re done here.
What happens when a pandemic grips the globe, making everyone extremely happy? That’s the question at the center of Pluribus, Vince Gilligan’s latest TV project. The series, now the most-watched Apple TV show ever, follows a relatively unhappy woman named Carol (Rhea Seehorn) as she navigates this unsettling new reality. Can she find a way to save the world? Or will she eventually become a part of this odd hive mind?
Down Cemetery Road
This conspiracy thriller, inspired by Mick Herron’s first novel in his Zoë Boehm series, begins when a child goes missing after a house fire. A concerned neighbor (played by Ruth Wilson) forms an unlikely partnership with Zoë (the books’ titular private investigator, played by Emma Thompson) to look for the kid. In the process, a conspiracy is uncovered, leading the duo down an unexpectedly dark path.
Mr. Scorsese
This five-episode documentary series shines a light on the personal and professional life of filmmaker Martin Scorsese. I was surprised by how heartfelt and engaging this series turned out to be. If you’ve ever wondered how Scorsese became the legendary director he is today, this program is for you. Aside from hearing the stories directly from the man’s mouth, the show features never-before-seen footage and interviews with Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster and Sharon Stone.
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy
The lack of Anthony Bourdain’s presence on TV has led me to flounder for a worthy host to fill the void. I didn’t expect Eugene Levy to be that guy. It’s all in the title of the show. He’s not a fan of traveling — but he’s taking himself out of his comfort zone and the result is an informative, heartwarming and entertaining series.
We all know about Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Apple has turned that historical event into a conspiracy thriller that is well worth your time. Manhunt, which is based on the book Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, throws us into the chase to track down John Wilkes Booth. Anthony Boyle, Tobias Menzies, Hamish Linklater, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh and Patton Oswalt star.
Trying follows Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), a couple who can’t have a baby. So, they move to adopt. But the process isn’t that simple — especially when you throw their off-beat families and daily chaos into the mix. Trying is a lot of things: a romance, a comedy, a drama. Whatever you want to call it, the Apple TV series is a thoroughly enjoyable watch.
Slow Horses
Slow Horses is the first television series starring Gary Oldman, and that detail, in and of itself, should be enough to get you to tune in. The program is inspired by Mick Herron’s Slough House book series and follows Jackson Lamb (Oldman) and his crew of low-level spies as they face espionage challenges and criminal conspiracies in each season. Three of the show’s five seasons have a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which it absolutely deserves.
Taron Egerton is Dave, an arson investigator, and Jurnee Smollett is Michelle, a police detective, who team up to track down a duo of arsonists wreaking havoc on their community. Smoke is a brooding drama series inspired by true events. There’s a twisty mystery fueling this program, and it boasts a strong cast, which also includes Greg Kinnear, Anna Chlumsky, John Leguizamo, Rafe Spall and Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine.
If you thought the return of Happy Gilmore was the only golf comedy worth watching, think again. Stick stars Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill, a jaded ex-golfer who is given a second chance at the sport in the form of a 17-year-old golf prodigy named Santi (Peter Dager). If you’re looking for another feel-good sports series like Ted Lasso, you should definitely give this show a shot.
