Apple TV+
- Apple TV+ has released some of the best TV shows in recent years, including "Ted Lasso" and "Silo."
- "Dickinson," "Severance," and "Shrinking" have also earned critical acclaim.
- Here are the 11 best Apple TV+ original series to watch right now.
Home to hits like "Ted Lasso," "Severance," and "Shrinking," Apple TV+ has cemented its reputation as a destination for critically acclaimed shows in recent years.
"Silo," starring Rebecca Ferguson, Common, Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, was one of the standout series from Apple TV+ this year. The dystopian drama (based on the bestselling novel by Hugh Howey) follows an engineer (Ferguson) living in a massive underground silo who's tasked with investigating a murder.
Whether it's a sci-fi series like "Silo," cheeky historical fiction like "Dickinson," or an outstanding psychological thriller such as "Severance," Apple TV+ has plenty of stellar options available to watch right now. Here are the 11 best shows to check out now, in no particular order.
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Starring Hailee Steinfeld as the titular poet Emily Dickinson, Apple TV+'s historical drama is unapologetically anachronistic — the show, which ran for three seasons and ended in 2021 — features modern-day hits from Billie Eilish, Mitski, G Flip, A$AP Rocky, and more.
"Dickinson" breathes new life into the biography of its title character and includes an impressive roster of cleverly-cast guest stars and its stellar main cast to keep things modern. Ziwe as Sojourner Truth, Wiz Khalifa as Death, John Mulaney as Henry David Thoreau, and Zosia Mamet as Louisa May Alcott are particularly inspired choices.
Overall, "Dickinson" is a must-watch for fans of the poet and those looking to learn more about Emily's life through an irreverent but moving historical drama.
Apple TV Plus
Anyone who's ever wondered what their therapist's personal life is like will probably enjoy "Shrinking," a hilarious and emotional new comedy starring Harrison Ford and Jason Segel. Grieving the recent death of his wife, therapist Jimmy (Segel) decides to take an unorthodox approach with his patients going forward, much to the consternation of his colleague Paul (Ford).
Segel and Ford are an absolute treat together, and watching Jimmy's journey through grief and acceptance, while not always easy, is definitely a fulfilling experience.
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Mind-bending, mysterious, and well-acted, "Severance" tells the story of dutiful employee Mark (Adam Scott), who works at a biotech company, and is completely unaware of his actions outside of work. Mark's consciousness is separated into his "innie" — while he's working — and his "outtie," when he's off the clock. But after learning about mysterious forces at play via his outside self, Mark slowly begins to unravel the mystery of his corporate life.
The thrilling story at the heart of "Severance" automatically makes it a must-watch, but Scott's incredible performance truly takes the show above and beyond.
Apple TV+
Odds are you've probably already watched "Ted Lasso," Apple TV+'s hit starring Jason Sudeikis as an American football coach tasked with overseeing an English soccer team. But this classic fish-out-of-water comedy is beloved for a reason: it features a nuanced yet earnest performance from Sudeikis as the title character and an equally stellar supporting cast as well. Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift, and Juno Temple are especially delightful.
Fans of both the British and American varieties of football can find something to love in "Ted Lasso," but really, the show will likely charm the pants off of anyone who gives it a watch.
Jessica Kourkounis/Apple TV+
Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, and Rupert Grint star in this chilling drama, which follows a couple (Ambrose and Kebbell) grieving the recent accidental death of their infant son. Things take a turn for the spooky, however, after the couple "replaces" their dead son with a realistic doll, and hire a nanny to care for said doll.
M. Night Shyamalan serves as the showrunner for "Servant," and anyone familiar with the acclaimed director won't be surprised to learn that "Servant" features shocking twists and supernatural elements, much like Shyamalan's other works. It's not for everyone, but the twisted story at the center of "Servant" makes for truly compelling television.
Apple TV Plus
Another massive hit for Apple TV+, "The Morning Show" stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston as two journalists working at a major broadcast news show. Trouble strikes the network after a cohost (Steve Carrell) is accused of sexual misconduct, calling to mind the #MeToo movement, and in later seasons, the show focuses on other timely topics like COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.
"The Morning Show" blends real-life issues with some memorable acting from Aniston and Witherspoon and continues to be one of Apple TV+'s standout series.
Apple TV+
The sprawling family epic "Pachinko" follows numerous generations of a Korean family as they move to Japan and attempt to make a new life there. "Pachinko" is an exploration of generational trauma and privilege, and also portrays the tensions between Japanese people and Koreans in the early 20th century.
In addition to its compelling themes and intricate storyline, the cast of "Pachinko" — particularly Youn Yuh-jung and Jin Ha — are exceedingly talented, effortlessly bringing the show's stories to life.
Apple TV+
Based on the bestselling science fiction book series by Hugh Howey, "Silo" follows Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson), a no-nonsense engineer living in the bowels of a mysterious silo structure. The remnants of humankind have been relegated to this underground cavern after the Earth became uninhabitable — or at least, that's what the inhabitants of the Silo are told. Juliette is thrust into a mystery involving the Silo's leadership and her murdered lover.
The concept of a group of people living (somewhat) peacefully in an underground cavern is fascinating enough, but add in murder, conspiracy, and some excellent acting from Ferguson and costar Common, and "Silo" becomes more than just an entertaining series — it's perhaps one of the best new shows to premiere this year.
Apple TV+
Brie Larson stars in this heartfelt and surprisingly relevant period drama based on the popular novel about Elizabeth Zott, a talented young chemist fighting for respect amid sexist attitudes at her workplace. Later, Elizabeth hosts a successful cooking show but still finds herself dissatisfied with the status quo.
"Lessons in Chemistry" explores issues that are still relevant today. In addition to its timely exploration of topics like sexism and attitudes towards working single mothers, Brie Larson's impeccable performance makes "Lessons in Chemistry" an even more enjoyable show.
Apple TV+
Fans of musicals won't want to miss "Schmigadoon!," which features original music and eye-catching choreography in nearly every episode. The show follows two worn down doctors from New York (Cecily Strong and Keegan Michael Key) who inadvertently stumble onto a magical town that's perpetually trapped in a Golden Age musical, a là "The Music Man" or "Brigadoon," where the show gets its name. A roster of talented musical theater stars, including Kristin Chenoweth, star on the show, in addition to Strong and Key.
"Schmigadoon!" is definitely satire, but it frequently pays homage to the musical theater genre, and eagle-eyed fans will enjoy spotting familiar tropes and storylines from classic musicals. And if cheerful shows like "Oklahoma!" aren't your thing, just wait until the second season, which is inspired by the darker, sexier musicals of the '60s, '70s, and '80s, like "Chicago."
Apple TV+
Based on the 2013 novel of the same name, "Shining Girls" follows an archivist named Kirby (Elisabeth Moss) trying to come to grips with her new reality following an assault. After uncovering a murder with a similar MO to her own attack, Kirby decides to assist in the investigation.
"Shining Girls" jumps between timelines, and Kirby's distortion of reality is experienced firsthand by viewers as well. While it may be tricky to follow at times, Moss' superb acting make the show a must-watch.
Apple TV+ history
Apple TV+ has evolved to become a must-have streaming service. When Apple first jumped into the streaming space in November 2019, it touted prestige originals with big-name stars, but the shows landed with a whimper, and there were only a select few of them.
The tech giant's bread and butter is in Apple products, and its services are more of an extension of those.
If Apple can drive customers through its products to its services — including iCloud, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and more — then that's a bonus.
Apple's streaming service is already feeling the benefit of soccer superstar Lionel Messi joining Major League Soccer, according to Tim Cook.
Cook said in the Apple earnings call for Q2 2023 that Apple TV+ had beaten its subscriber targets over the three months ending July 1.
But Apple and its streaming competitors don't seem to be after subscriber growth alone — they're after profitability, as evidenced by the streaming subscription price raises from Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and others in recent months.
As Business Insider's Matt Turner put it, "the great streaming giveaway is over."
from Business Insider https://ift.tt/dArbl4D
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