Despite all the major players in the streaming landscape, Apple TV+ has made a name for itself with its compelling originals. From “Severance” to “Ted Lasso,” their catalog is filled with shows that have received widely positive critical acclaim and love from their viewers. Within a relatively short period, Apple TV+ original shows have become one of the strongest contenders in the award seasons. From Hannah Waddingham to Billy Crudup, Dan Erickson to Sharon Horgan, it has allowed many artists to get their due appreciation. So, the platform has been in discussion mainly for the right reasons.
Over the years, Apple TV+ has filled its catalog with a fine body of work from several creators. However, like with any other platform, there are always bad apples. (No pun intended!). Apple has a few duds like “The Crowded Room,” “City on Fire,” or “Dear Edward.” There are also shows like “Extrapolations” or “Echo 3” that just don’t meet the expectations of its Oscar-winning artists. Nevertheless, since a new show or two is coming out every single month, it is hard to keep track of what’s good and what’s not. We all want something that won’t disappoint us. I have picked the most impressive Apple TV+ series for this list to ease this burden.
20. The Morning Show (2019-)
With Jennifer Anniston in the lead role, “The Morning Show” was bound to create a buzz. In this Apple show, Anniston plays Alex Levy, a beloved co-host of The Morning Show on a popular broadcast news platform. It shows her life going haywire after her co-host, Mitch Kessler (brilliantly played by Steve Carell), is fired amidst a sexual misconduct scandal. Alex faces severe criticism as his close friend and colleague of multiple decades. On the other hand, Bradley Jackson, a passionate, small-town field reporter, is roped in to replace Alex as the new host, which creates friction between the two.
The first season mainly follows Alex, coming to terms with these catastrophic events while confronting some personal demons. Simultaneously, it shows Bradley trying to find a footing in the new environment. Then, the second season takes place around the COVID-19 pandemic and tackles the sudden shift in the news business. Then, the third season discussed the gloomy fate of the business. They all examine Alex and Bradley’s anguish in the context of shifting cultural landscapes and explore gender politics with brutal honesty. However, it is severely underwritten when it comes to characters that aren’t white, especially in its third season. It mainly tries to examine the ingrained racism and guilt in its white characters besides the struggle of its other racial or ethnic minority characters. However, those scenes feel oddly performative, marred by melodrama, and sacrifice its initial edge.
19. Constellation (2024)
Created by Peter Harness, “Constellation” tells the gripping story of a female astronaut who returns to Earth after surviving a catastrophic accident aboard her space station, only to find herself entangled in a mysterious and bewildering reality. Upon landing, she realizes many things in her life, including her young daughter, has miraculously changed—to the point that she wonders whether it is her reality. Besides her, a couple of her colleagues start feeling a sense of dissonance. Upon digging deeper, they make a shocking discovery of their alternate selves.
Although primarily a science fiction narrative, the series works far better as a taut psychological thriller. It is yet another addition to recent original shows dealing with multiple realities. However, with its stirring exploration of loss, grief, and memory, among other themes, it becomes surprisingly gripping. The show is visually stunning and features some of the finest work by the central cast of Noomi Rapace and Jonathan Banks. Besides them, Davina and Rosie Coleman become the breakout stars, playing the role of the astronaut’s daughter.
18. Dark Matter (2024-)
Based on Blake Crouch’s sci-fi novel, “Dark Matter,” explores the possibility of entering one’s multiple realities. It mainly revolves around a physics professor, Jason (Joel Edgerton), who tries to return to his family after getting caught up in an alternate version of his life. Meanwhile, his other version, who became a successful physicist as he once desired, lives as an imposter with his wife, Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), and son. While trying to return to his real world, the ‘married Jason’ goes through various revelatory experiences that make him reflect on loss, pain, regrets, and the things that matter in his life.
While following the married Jason’s journey across his multiple realities, “Dark Matter” maintains its sense of mystery intact for most of its duration. Through Jason’s constant struggle to seek a perfect world, the show inadvertently sheds light on the inescapable truths about our lives. It slowly unpeels the layers of its characters’ psyche as they grapple with the baffling trap of possibilities and regrets. Although the writing gets a bit convoluted toward the end, there is enough food for thought beforehand to consider it a worthy part of this list.
17. Criminal Record (2024-)
Paul Rutman’s “Criminal Record” follows two detectives at different stages of their lives crossing paths with each other in connection to an old murder case. After an anonymous distress call, June Lenker (Cush Jumbo), a detective early in her career, decides to find the truth about the culprit and a possibly wrongful arrest. During this time, veteran detective Daniel Hegarty (Peter Capaldi) does everything he can to protect his legacy and not let his questionable past taint his reputation. As the investigation progresses, their racial identities become the narrative’s driving force.
The series touches upon the themes of racial prejudice and complicity that lead to the mistreatment of the unfortunate. It explores multiple perspectives toward racism that range from virtuous idealism, feigned sympathy, and blatant ignorance to self-entitled arrogance. While dealing with a grave subject matter, the series remains hard-hitting & provocative because of the remarkable acting performances by Cush Jumbo, Peter Capaldi, Tom Moutchi, Cathy Tyson, and Charlie Creed-Miles. The script makes your blood boil for all the right reasons and makes you care for a righteous fight, irrespective of the outcome.
16. Lady in the Lake (2024)
Based on Laura Lippman’s 2019 novel, “Lady In The Lake,” is a riveting suspense thriller. Created by Alma Ha’rel, the miniseries does not follow the usual trajectory of investigative dramas. Instead, it takes many creative risks, like Ha’rel’s previous projects, to keep us from the truth. The show follows two women in 1960s Baltimore, Cleo Sherwood, and Maddie Schwartz, who cross paths after the mysterious disappearance of a young girl. Maddie leaves her abusive life as a subservient wife to pursue her dream career as a journalist. Cleo pursues a way out of her present life to make better use of her intellect.
Maddie’s investigation into the young girl’s disappearance goes through a series of hiccups. Cleo’s journey has its own pitfalls. These problems do not arise due to their ineptitude but because of external factors like sexism, racism, and opportunism. The show examines these aspects in the context of 1960s America to shed light on present-day bigotry. Be it biracial relationships, patriarchal entitlement, or economic opportunism, the show analyzes these elements with enough understanding and conviction. So, while keeping us at the edge of our seats, it offers plenty of food for thought. Moses Ingram and Natalie Portman keep us invested in the drama without losing sight of the show’s culturally sensitive undertones.
Full Recap: Lady in the Lake
15. Trying (2020-2024)
Andy Wolton’s “Trying” shows a young couple in a perpetual state of trying. They are either trying to have a kid of their own, trying to make ends meet, trying to impress their foster kids, or trying to get a chance to adopt these bundles of joy. The series, created by Andy Wolton, wins you over due to its sensitive narration style reminiscent of “Ted Lasso.” The adorable duo of Esther Smith & Rafe Spall as Nikki & Jason, turn it into a charming ride through simple, everyday moments. Their adorable chemistry always keeps the viewers rooting for them every step of the way.
The series is life-affirming, warm, cuddly, sweet, passionate, kind, and forgiving. The couple’s cheerful optimism about everything in their lives is highly infectious. Their late-coming-of-age journey from careless adults to responsible parents is shown with enough care and attention to make us resonate with them. Its heartwarming rendition of seemingly inconsequential moments manages to appeal by rarely resorting to the tearjerker cliches. While being a sensitive drama, it is also filled with organic humor.
14. Mythic Quest (2020-)
“Mythic Quest” is a workplace comedy set in the gaming world. It follows a team behind one of the best multiplayer games, busy building their highly imaginative worlds while sitting inside the four walls of their office. The team’s employees range from overambitious gamers to uninspired slackers, corporate pawns, and egotistical artists. Their distinct personalities and opposing views help the show build its competitive environment. The writing manages to charm you even if the characters aren’t always conventionally likable.
“It’s Always Sunny” fame Rob McElhenney co-leads this show with Charlotte Nicdao as two game creators at different stages of their careers. Even if the show primarily focuses on their banter, it allows their characters to grow in our ever-evolving world. Besides them, the show also has some deplorable characters like an ultra-conservative power-hungry intern. However, the script utilizes them for its humor without letting it appear like a moral lesson. It deals with the heavy themes of gender, race, and power dynamics without a heavy-handed approach. Despite its comedic core, it presents its characters’ love for gaming with an equal amount of passion.
13. Lessons in Chemistry (2023)
Through projects like “Short Term 12” and “Room,” Brie Larson has made a name for herself as a gifted actress. Developed by Lee Eisenberg, Lessons in Chemistry takes it a step further, portraying a powerful feminist icon in a historical fiction setting as she challenges societal norms and redefines the role of women in science. In this period drama miniseries set in 1950s America, Larson plays Elizabeth Lott, a proficient chemist who faces several obstacles to prove her worth in a male-dominated field of science. Lott is more articulate, precise, and intelligent. Yet, her knowledge and insights are often overshadowed by her male colleagues due to blatant sexism.
After getting fired from her job, Lott receives an opportunity to be a television host. There, she is expected to confine herself to the gender stereotypes as a gentle, ideal homemaker. However, she shatters them by providing valuable insights to her viewers. Through her journey, the show explores contemporary issues in America, such as birthright and racism, which still plague the country. Based on Bonnie Garmus’ novel, it presents Lott’s inspirational portrait anchored by Larson’s neatly calculated performance. Besides her, Lewis Pullman gives a moving performance without losing the narrative’s focus. Although outstanding as a feminist narrative, the show falters while trying to explore the racial aspects of that era. The writing analyzing those details feels oddly performative and less personal.
12. Shrinking (2023-)
“Shrinking” stepped in the shoes of “Ted Lasso” to offer a similarly life-affirming dramedy with a string of disarming characters. The first season follows therapist, Jimmy (Jason Segel), who raises his teenage daughter while grieving his wife’s loss. In that delicate emotional state, he makes a radical decision to tell his patients exactly what comes to his mind and not to sugarcoat or rationalize his advice as a therapist. This new approach feels liberating to him. But to his patients, it comes with a fair share of consequences and becomes a slippery slope.
Created by Segel, Brett Goldstein, and Bill Lawrence, the show is filled with breezy and uplifting moments despite its particularly dark subject matter. It explores fatherhood through the lens of its multiple characters to lead them to relationships with honest communication and emotional maturity. Still, it oozes with good-natured, sunshiny humor backed by beautiful performances by Segel, Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford, Lukita Maxwell, and Luke Tenny. Ford infuses his dry sense of humor into his grumpy, old therapist character. Paired with Segel’s & William’s infectious energy and charisma, their banters become an absolute joy to watch!
11. Presumed Innocent (2024-)
David E Kelley’s “Presumed Innocent” is the second adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1987 novel, two decades after the Harrison Ford starrer 1990 film. Kelley’s show, starring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role, follows Rusty Sabich, a reputable prosecutor who gets accused of murdering his colleague, Carolyn Polhemus, with whom he was having an affair. The first season documents Rusty’s journey to prove his innocence through a series of revelations brought to light. Although primarily a courtroom drama, the season examines his personal and professional life to shed light on his potential motivations behind infidelity and the said crime.
Unlike the 1990 film, the first season of “Presumed Innocent” focuses more on Rusty’s family life and less on his extramarital affair with Carolyn. It does not flesh out Carolyn’s character well. Still, it examines how fame and reputation dictate our outlook toward a person known as the purveyor of justice. The script probes into Rusty’s turmoil as he tries to prove his innocence and salvage his honorable stature. It shows his battle against his colleagues and loved ones, who either become his foes or refuse to trust him. Besides Gyllenhaal, the show boasts stirring performances, mainly from Ruth Negga, Peter Sarsgaard, and Bill Camp.
Check Out: Complete Recap – Presumed Innocent
10. Black Bird (2022)
David Fincher’s “Mindhunter” paved the way for serial killer dramas that were just as cerebral as terrifying. “Black Bird” is a notable addition to this list. It offers us a peek into the mind of a deranged individual with depth and maturity. The script delves into his inner world, much like the Netflix documentary Making a Murderer, focusing on the psychological roots behind a killer’s actions rather than the graphic nature of the crimes themselves. In this Apple TV+ miniseries, we meet Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), a small-time crook who gets a fantastic offer to be freed from his 10-year prison sentence if he can get a confession from a notorious serial killer, Larry Hall.
Larry (Paul Walter Hauser) becomes our unreliable narrator in this journey that illustrates the effects of child abuse and trauma. It puts Larry and Jimmy as mirrors to unravel its thematic layers and to make us understand how conditioning plays a part in one’s personality. The writing digs deeper into their psyche and refuses to rely on a cheap technique of shock value-based theatrics. Both Egerton and Walter Hauser are fantastic in their respective roles. Moreover, with only six episodes, the show remains tight and focused, avoiding the unnecessary, indulgent filler often found in many serial killer dramas and thrillers.
9. Ted Lasso (2020-2023)
Apple TV+’s first breakout hit, “Ted Lasso,” became a sensation in no time. Its charm was too hard to ignore. It radiated with a warmth and optimism that audiences across the globe were looking for at the time of a global pandemic. After all, Jason Sudeikis brought his absolutely huggable character to life and made many feel less alone. Brett Goldstein gained the fame he rightfully deserved, and so did Hannah Waddingham and Juno Temple. The first season offered the foundation and showed an American soccer coach coaching a British football team while trying to fit in this new setting. Later, the second season explored the aspects of masculinity in this conventionally rugged sport.
While both these seasons were excellent in their own ways, the third season paled in comparison. It seemed desperate to maintain its sunny, optimistic presence based on the goodwill the first two seasons earned. In the third season, the conversations often feel inorganic and forcefully funny. Even though it explored the arcs of many other characters, they resonated nowhere nearly to the degree they did before. So, due to its sloppy third season, the show is placed lower on this list. Still, it deserves mention for introducing us to a string of unforgettable characters that will stay with the audience for years.
8. Sunny (2024-)
Rashida Jones has been acting in films and TV for over two decades. However, she has primarily worked in comical roles. Katie Robbins’ “Sunny” allows her to sink her teeth deeper into some dark material. It presents Jones as Suzie Sakamoto, grieving the sudden loss of her husband and son under mysterious circumstances. Years ago, she moved to Japan to get away from her past. She met Masa and confided in him. They got together and started a family. After he disappears, she receives Sunny, a robot Masa’s electronic company made. It can speak like a human and act as her servant and emotional support.
“Sunny” begins as a somber drama about Suzie’s despair but slowly turns into a mystery thriller as she unravels details about Masa’s personal and professional life. It leads her on a quest for truth with a series of reliable and non-reliable sources. The series utilizes cultural differences and insights to its advantage by seamlessly integrating them into the plot. It also uses Rashida’s comedic talent without losing sight of the tragedy it deals with. As an investigative thriller, it keeps you engaged and makes you look forward to every new episode. Simultaneously, it carves out distinct characters we want to know more about.
7. Hijack (2023-2025)
By this point, we have seen so many plane hijack projects that there is nothing new to discover in its structure. Often, they involve a group of surprise hijackers who put several lives at risk to achieve their ulterior motives. As a result, the whole narrative relies on the mission to evacuate the kidnapped individuals safely. George Kay & Jim Field Smith’s thriller miniseries, “Hijack,” follows a near-identical narrative of people caught in a plane hijack scenario. However, with Idris Alba’s captivating central performance, it becomes an irresistible anxiety-inducing trip.
“Hijack” follows people on the plane and the ground, trying to communicate with the perpetrators. It gradually reveals information and raises the stakes to provide a nail-biting experience. With only morsels of truth in every episode, it keeps us hooked to the screen. In this scenario, Alba plays Sam Nelson, a skillful business negotiator who emerges as an unlikely hero for the passengers while remaining an elusive figure for the hijackers. Despite being a plot-driven narrative, it is filled with ample socio-political subtext to keep us invested in the plight of its characters.
6. Drops of God (2023-)
Quoc Dang Tran’s “Drops of God” follows the lives of two characters who fight for the inheritance of Alexandre Léger, a leading figure in oenology. One of them is Camille (Fleur Geffrier), Alexandre’s daughter, who deliberately stays away from the world of wines owing to her traumatic past with him. The other is Alexandre’s disciple, Issei Tomine (Tomohisa Yamashita), who has dedicated his life to oenology against his parents’ wishes for a more conventional career path. Upon Alexandre’s death, Camille & Issei compete for the inheritance based on their knowledge of oenology.
Based on Tadashi Agi & Shu Okimoto’s manga series, “Drops of God” is filled with niche references to the discipline of wine tasting. It communicates them through scenes that examine the distinction between love, obsession, and compulsion. The series takes us through a fascinating journey to understand how these oenologists figure out the roots & the ingredients of the wines. However, it avoids devolving into aimless pandering, maintaining a clear and purposeful narrative throughout. It introduces situations we can resonate with even without knowledge of wines. It aptly presents the psychological turmoil in the lives of its perfectionist characters. So, it is impossible to dismiss it just as a ‘wine-tasting show.’
Also, Read: Drops of God (2023) Mini-Series Review: A Unique and Sleek Entertainer that Hits All the Right Notes!
5. Slow Horses (2022-)
Spy narratives are known for a thrilling mix of secrets and deceptions. They often give us an adrenaline rush either through the script details or the storytelling approach. Unlike popular espionage movies and shows, “Slow Horses” is a low-key look into the lives of secret agents. It spends more time exploring monotonous details from its characters’ lives and does not rely on this profession’s perceived ‘excitement.’ We hear many conversations that may not directly contribute to the plot’s rapid progression. Still, they help us understand more about the characters and fleshes out their quirks. For the same reason, the show stands apart in a sea of projects that bank simply on the genre tropes.
Besides being a spy thriller, “Slow Horses” is an underdog tale about a group of agents considered ‘lost causes’ AKA slow horses. These agents, driven by varying degrees of self-interest and expertise, pursue their goals shaped by personal ambitions, past experiences, and distinct behavioral traits. The show creator, Will Smith, offers an irresistible blend of their journeys and keeps it consistently entertaining. As if that’s not enough, Gary Oldman‘s scenery-chewing lead performance makes it a must-watch. Now in its fourth season, the show is finally getting its due with recognition from Emmys, among other award shows.
4. Silo (2023-)
A dystopian narrative isn’t solely meant to paint an ominous picture of a probable future but to examine the flaws in the present world. Graham Yost’s “Silo” manages to do the same through its endlessly fascinating narrative. Set in a dystopian future, the show takes place in a community living in a massive silo of hundreds of underground stories. It mainly follows Juliette Nichols, an engineer who works on the generators at one of the lowest levels of this structure. Her curiosity leads her to realize some dark secrets about the silo’s origins and the fake narratives perpetuated by those in power.
Through her investigation, the show digs deeper into the themes of power and control as hierarchy is entrenched in the silo’s structure. It poses questions about power struggles and hidden agendas that are relevant even in our contemporary world. With meticulously designed set pieces and exceptional camerawork, the show highlights the gloominess in the lives of silo citizens and becomes a visceral experience. As Nichols, Rebecca Ferguson offers a captivating performance. While intellectually rewarding, the show ingeniously builds suspense through its gradual revelations that are bound to keep you occupied until the end.
3. Bad Sisters (2022-)
Whether acting or writing, Sharon Horgan has often received well-deserved praise for her fine blend of humor and tragedy. After shows like “Pulling” and “Catastrophe,” she returned to her dark comedy roots with “Bad Sisters,” an Apple TV+ series based on Malin-Sarah Gozin’s Flemish series. Set in a small town in Ireland, it revolves around five sisters whose lives turn into a mess due to John Paul, an egocentric male chauvinist, married to one of the sisters. He expects them to be on their best behavior and projects himself as an old-fashioned, caring soul. However, under his facade lies a deceitful man addicted to power and driven by a fragile ego.
John Paul subjects these women to absolute cruelty, outright torturing his wife while humiliating others for not being ideal in his eyes. Although a revenge tale, the show embraces a dark comedic route to critique the dangers of unchecked and unquestioned patriarchal arrogance in a society that nurtures it. The script deftly handles the sensitive details while offering a deliriously heady tour through the sisters’ cathartic journey. Clares Bang skillfully plays the antagonist we would be compelled to detest. While Sharon Horgan is brilliant in the lead, she is supported by the fantastic cast of Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Eve Hewson, and Daryl McCormack.
2. Pachinko (2022-)
Based on Min Jin Lee’s novel, Soo Hugh’s “Pachinko” is an absolute tearjerker. It covers a critical chapter in Southeast Asian history through a fictional narrative based on true stories. It revolves around four generations from a Korean immigrant family in Korea, Japan, and America. Set roughly between 1915 and 1989, it mainly follows Sunja, a Korean woman; Hansu – a Zainichi Korean man; and Solomon, Sunja’s grandson, who grew up learning the ways of the Western world. It examines the turbulent history of the Koreans living under Japanese rule and the later influence of the West on both countries.
“Pachinko” offers different perspectives on war, poverty, deportation, exploitation, and other forms of discrimination. It follows profoundly evocative stories that present the power of human resilience. Although an inspirational tale with dollops of melodrama, it lacks cliches that limit similar historical narrative projects. It achieves this feat through compelling direction by acclaimed filmmakers like Kogonada and Justin Chon and gorgeous cinematography by Tár-fame Florian Hoffmeister and Ante Cheng. Besides its impeccable writing and direction, this K-drama excels due to its brilliant performances by an eclectic cast that includes Kim Min-Ha, Lee Min-Ho, Jin Ha, Soji Arai, Jimmi Simpson, Oscar-nominated Youn Yuh-Jung, and recent Emmy winner Anna Sawai.
1. Severance (2022-)
“Severance” premiered shortly after the COVID pandemic kept us locked inside. So, its dystopian narrative, set in a confined setting, was bound to give us traumatic nightmares. However, the show goes far beyond something we can simply resonate with. It introduces us to a nightmarish reality where a company’s employees must turn into their more likable versions as they enter the office. The employees lead two distinct lives, clueless to what happens in their other lives. Employees are seen as mere assets within the office parameters with no human emotion. Through this approach, the show presents a stark contrast between their plastered smiles and their miserable outside lives.
“Severance” amplifies its bleakness through its endless, brightly-lit corridors and greyish color palette. It highlights the chilling indifference in its immaculately designed environment. Theodore Shapiro’s music leads the show to become an unnerving trainwreck. The script utilizes people’s daily survival technique of code-switching to explore the crippling anxieties of living under the burden of exploitative capitalism. It discusses the themes of power and control related to wealth creation. Besides, it deconstructs the vices of capitalism in an Orwellian setting that feels scary and close to real-life corporate culture.
