Apple TV+ may be late to the streaming wars, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t arrive on the scene empty-handed. Boasting some major names and its fair share of Emmy wins and nominations, the nascent streaming service looks like it’s here to stay. While it wasn’t until Ted Lasso that the streaming service started to become a bit more mainstream, Apple TV+ has had content worth watching since its launch in November of 2019.
Whether you’re trying to make the most of their three-month extended trial for purchasing an Apple product or are simply trying to get the most of your streaming subscription, here are the best TV shows you can stream on Apple TV+ right now.
Physical (2021-Present)
Cast: Rose Byrne, Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Now in its third season, this aerobics-centric 1980s character study is better than ever. Season three of Physical shows that Rose Byrne and the writers still have plenty of uncharted territory to explore as they delve into housewife Sheila and her devastating inner voice. While this season is a bit darker than the previous two, fans of the series and Byrne’s performance will be rewarded for sticking with the series.
Strange Planet (2023)
Cast: Tunde Adebimpe, Demi Adejuyigbe, Lori Tan Chinn
Genre: Animated, Comedy
Rating: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Based on the popular webcomics by Nathan W. Pyle and co-created by Pyle and Rick and Morty’s Dan Harmon, this animated series is one of the most highly anticipated of the year for certain corners of the internet. Featuring a cast of blue aliens exploring the absurdities of everyday life, Strange Planet is sweet and humorous, just like the comics it’s based off of. Sweet, satirical, and silly, this is a show that offers plenty of comfort, making it a great extension of Pyle’s existing work as a web comic artist.
Foundation
Cast: Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell
Genre: Sci-Fi
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Based on the Isaac Asimov novels, Foundation’s second season is just as exciting as its first. Focusing on a band of exiles, this science-fiction series is full of heady ideas and monumental production value. Much like Game of Thrones, viewers are rewarded for staying the course through the complex first season in order to really reap the benefits offered by such a focus on worldbuilding. Epic, thrilling, and featuring strong performances, Foundation is another feather in AppleTV+’s cap.
The Afterparty
Cast: Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoe Chao
Genre: Mystery, Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
If you loved the first season of The Afterparty, you’re sure to be binging the second season as fast as you can. While the first season focused on a high school reunion gone-wrong, the setting for the newest season is a wedding. Featuring returning faces (Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, and Zoe Chao) as well as some new faces (Zach Woods, Anna Konkle, and John Cho, among others), the newest iteration of the genre-bending murder mystery series is just as entertaining as the first.
Hijack
Cast: Idris Elba, Neil Maskell, Eve Myles
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
One area AppleTV+ truly excels in is in releasing truly suspenseful dramas, and Hijack is yet another feather in the streaming service’s cap when it comes to thrillers. Starring Idris Elba as a corporate negotiator—and, excitingly, set in real-time across its seven episodes—this series follows the hijacking of a plane from Dubai to London and the drama that ensues. While Hijack has yet to gain the notoriety it deserves, this is one unforgettable thrill ride you’ll be happy to have hopped on early.
Silo
Cast: David Oyelowo, Rashida Jones, Rebecca Ferguson
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Silo is a series that’s flown a bit under the radar, but is well worth checking out. Set in a dystopian, toxic future, this series takes place in a giant underground silo full of regulations and rules designed to benefit its inhabitants. Of course, things are a bit more mysterious than they first appear, and the writing of Silo really makes it one of the better “puzzle box” shows since Severance. With particularly impressive production design and a strong cast to match it, every episode of Silo feels wholly engaging.
Swagger
Cast: O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh
Genre: Drama, Sports
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 2
From Kevin Durant the team that brought you Friday Night Lights comes Swagger, the story of a high school basketball prodigy named Jace who must navigate a host of pressures on his quest to achieve NBA greatness. Set in the DMV, this sports drama is full of heart, and, despite the focus on Jace’s story, winds up becoming a charming, ensemble-driven series. Anchored by authentic, compelling performances by O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Quvenzhané Wallis, Swagger proves that AppleTV+ excels at sports drama just as much as Ted Lasso proves its chops for sports comedy.
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Cast: Various
Genre: Music
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 5
Spawned from the popular segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden, Carpool Karoake: The Series has been delivering on the same premise since 2017, to the delight of viewers and music-lovers alike. Season five of this lighthearted series just dropped — and it features a ton of heavy hitters jamming out to their favorite playlists and tunes. Appearances from All Elite Wrestling, Avril Lavigne, Simu Liu, YUNGBLUD, Sandra Oh, and the D’Amelio family all make this a totally-bingeable season of celebrity musical fluff.
The Crowded Room
Cast: Tom Holland, Amanda Seyfried, Emmy Rossum
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Want to see Tom Holland stretch his acting chops and play against the nerdy, Peter Parker type that brought him to global stardom? Look no further than AppleTV+’s The Crowded Room, in which Holland plays a vulnerable young man convicted for a shocking crime in late 70s Manhattan. Featuring equally-impressive turns from co-stars Amanda Seyfried and Emmy Rossum, The Crowded Room is a twisting, turning thriller that unfolds across 10 episodes and a series of interviews that build up to form a mysterious, binge-worthy limited series.
Platonic
Cast: Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen, Luke Macfarlane
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
While the setup for Platonic feels squarely in rom-com territory (two former best friends on the cusp of mid-life crisis reconnect), the execution in this comedy/drama is totally inspired. Part of this has to do with the impressive, intoxicating, and intellectual chemistry between Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen, whose repartee anchors the show. Although it has bittersweet themes about change and growing up, the show is still quite funny, making it easy (and fun) to watch. If you enjoyed Superbad, Knocked Up, or Neighbors, you’ll likely enjoy Platonic as well.
Prehistoric Planet
Cast: David Attenborough
Genre: Documentary
Rating: TV-PG
Seasons: 2
In this Planet Earth–meets–Jurassic Park docuseries, the world of the dinosaurs comes to life in thrillingly animated visual effects and CGI. Narrated by none other than David Attenborough, this Jon Favreau–produced documentary series feels every bit as realistic as anything that you’d see on National Geographic. Fascinating dinosaurs from the land, sea, and air are followed across a variety of life events, with each episode focusing on a different biome where dinosaurs once lived. Aided by impressive digital effects and Attenborough’s soothing narration, you’ll travel from deserts and coasts to ice worlds and forests as you follow creatures like triceratops, deinocheirus, and pachyrhinosaurus.
Annika
Cast: Nicola Walker, Jamie Sives, Katie Leung
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Set in Scotland, Annika chronicles the the unorthodox and witty Annika Strandhed (played to perfection by Nicola Walker) as she heads up the Marine Homicide Unit. In between solving murders, Annika also must balance her home life and teenage daughter, adding another layer of intrigue to this short series. Across its six episodes, Annika proves that PBS and Masterpiece are the GOAT when it comes to compellingly crafted mysteries with equally compelling characters.
Royal Rumours
Cast: Jeremy Tsui, Meng Zi Yi, Ryan Zhu
Genre: Drama, Foreign
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 1
If you love foreign dramas, Royal Rumours (also known as Pretend Time or Time of Creation) is a charming story of romance and court intrigue. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Yue Xia Die Yin, Royal Rumours tells the story of an icy prince in a powerful kingdom who falls for a military general’s daughter. The male and female leads have excellent chemistry, and the story is comforting in the same way Bridgerton is for many viewers.
Salvage Hunters
Cast: Drew Pritchard, Ralph Ineson
Genre: Reality
Rating: TV-G
Seasons: 1
If you love shows like Pawn Stars or Storage Wars, you should definitely check out Salvage Hunters. Drew Pritchard is a modern treasure hunter who runs his own high-end salvage yard in the United Kingdom. In this series, Drew travels the UK in search of rare and incredible collectibles, haggling with hoarders and exploring rat-infested sheds in the process. The finds are impressive and the journeys are always surprising.
Hip Hop Homicides
Cast: Van Lathan
Genre: True Crime, Documentary
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Executive Produced by 50 Cent and Mona Scott-Young, Hip Hop Homicides dives into murders in the hip-hop community in a thrilling, investigative series. From Pop Smoke and King Von to Soulja Slim and FBG Duck, Van Lathan explores eight famous murders in the hip-hop scene. Van Lathan explores and examines leads surrounding all of these murders, while also investigating the preponderance of homicide in the community itself.
The Last Thing He Told Me
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Angourie Rice
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Fans of twisting, turning shows like HBO’s Sharp Objects and Apple’s The Undoing rejoice: AppleTV+ has launched the Jennifer Garner-helmed limited series The Last Thing He Told Me. The story centers around Hannah (Garner), a stepmother who has to connect with her teenage daughter in order to discover the truth behind her husband’s mysterious disappearance. Laura Dave’s 2021 page-turner is brought to thrilling life across seven episodes, with the tension continuing to slowly build as the season progresses. Fans of Garner will appreciate her dramatic work, as this mystery pushes her in exciting new directions.
Jane
Cast: Ava Louise Murchison, Mason Blomberg, Tamara Almeida
Genre: Kids, Family
Rating: TV-G
Seasons: 1
Looking for something kid-friendly to share with the whole family? AppleTV’s Jane has you covered. The series’ ten episodes tell the story of Jane, a nine-year-old girl who makes it her mission to save endangered animals. Imaginative, bright, and featuring a chimpanzee named Greybeard, Jane takes inspiration from her idol, Jane Goodall, to spread messages of conservation. Especially if anyone in your family loves animals, this is a show that’s sure to bring joy and conversation into your household.
The Big Door Prize
Cast: Chris O'Dowd, Gabrielle Dennis, Josh Segarra
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Did the COVID-19 pandemic cause you to reevaluate your life in 2020 and 2021? If so, then you’ll certainly find The Big Door Prize thematically resonant, as this series focuses on the appearance of a promising, mysterious machine in a small town that acts to reveal each resident’s true potential. Featuring a strong ensemble cast, this show’s first season is as charming as it is philosophically engaging. O’Dowd is especially strong and charismatic as Dusty, a high school teacher.
My Kind of Country
Cast: Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, Orville Peck
Genre: Reality
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Featuring Reese Witherspoon, Kacey Musgraves, Jimmie Allen, Mickey Guyton, and Orville Peck, My Kind of Country is a star-studded reality series documenting the search for the next big country music star. Allen, Guyton, and Peck each get their own showcase, with a diverse array of artists getting workshops on topics like collaboration, visual storytelling, and performance. Unlike other competition reality series like American Idol, there is a warmth and universality to My Kind of Country and a genuine commitment to uplifting these artists and their voices. Win or lose, you feel like everyone is really getting something from the experience.
Extrapolations
Cast: Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harington
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
This star-studded anthology about climate change tells eight interconnected stories over the course of 33 years. Sprawling and civic-minded, the star power alone mirrors what Adam McKay did with Don’t Look Up in an attempt to bring audience attention to an ever-pressing issue. Extrapolations has a cast with the likes of Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harington, Daveed Diggs, Edward Norton, and David Schwimmer going for it. Offering a mixture of intrigue, education, and drama, the series is a noble effort from AppleTV.
Ted Lasso
Cast: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Arguably the show that really helped put AppleTV+ on the map as a streaming service, Ted Lasso is now in its third (and potentially its last!) season. For the uninitiated, this series follows American football coach Ted Lasso (Sudeikis) as he tries to coach a British soccer team, learning more about leadership and himself in the process. Comforting, feel-good, and funny, it will be sad to see the series end; however, knowing it will always be there to offer a warm embrace when you need it helps illustrate the power and joy that comes from the re-watchability of streaming.
Liaison
Cast: Vincent Cassel, Eva Green, Peter Mullan
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
In Liaison, two special agents work together to fight cyberattacks while also navigating the fact that they are former lovers. Mixing classic tropes from espionage dramas of the past with a more contemporary setting makes for an interesting entry into the world of spycraft, with Vincent Cassel and Eva Green’s chemistry adding an engaging layer of intrigue to the story. While not much new ground is trodden in this political thriller, fans of the genre will certainly be entertained, thanks to a clever script and strong leading performances.
The Problem with Jon Stewart
Cast: Jon Stewart
Genre: Comedy, News
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Fans of Jon Stewart’s mix of indignation and wit and The Daily Show will be happy to check out The Problem with Jon Stewart. While not as satirical as his previous work, The Problem does manage to mine humor out of conversations with a variety of people looking to get to the root of different problems facing America. Topics in the first two seasons so far have ranged from COVID-19 restrictions to gun control, racism, gender, and climate change. Four new episodes hit March 2023.
Hello Tomorrow!
Cast: Billy Crudup, Haneefah Wood, Hank Azaria
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
One of the more inventive series to launch in recent months, Hello Tomorrow! is equal parts Mad Men meets Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. The show follows Billy Crudup as Jack Billings, a salesman hocking timeshares on the moon. Retro, yet futuristic, the entire show’s aesthetic is a sight to behold, like visiting Tomorrowland in Walt Disney World and sitting on the Carousel of Progress. Full of whimsy and striking visuals, the series also packs bite, with echoes of Glengarry Glen Ross in some of its salesman’s cynicism. If you’re looking for something that manages to be wholly unique, but still familiar, Hello Tomorrow! is an exciting show to follow.
Make or Break
Cast: Kelly Slater, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Tyler Wright
Genre: Documentary, Sports
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Now in its second season, Make or Break is an exhilarating documentary series taking you straight into the swells and breakers of professional surfing. The series follows multiple professional athletes—including pros like Kelly Slater and Tatiana Weston-Webb—as they compete for the World Championship. What makes Make or Break particularly compelling is how each athlete’s domestic life (and the sacrifices necessary to pursue surfing at such a high level) are woven into each competitor’s quest for one of the biggest surfing titles in the world.
Dear Edward (2023)
Cast: Connie Britton, Taylor Schilling, Colin O’Brien
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Rotten Tomatoes: 56% (Critics) N/A (Audience)
Following a 12-year old boy’s life as the only person to survive a plane crash, Dear Edward is heavy with a capital “H.” Whether or not you’ve been personally impacted by grief, this is a series that puts you right in the minds and emotions of its cast of characters. Across ten episodes, there is a lot of well-performed sorrow as characters (including impressive turns from Connie Britton and young Colin O’Brien) do their best to make sense of their newfound circumstances. However, amidst all of the grief and drama, Dear Edward still manages to tell a story of hope and the power of community. While not for everyone, Dear Edward has a lot to offer viewers who can handle its heavy themes.
Shrinking (2023)
Cast: Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Rotten Tomatoes: 82% (Critics), 84% Audience
What if your therapist started speaking their mind fully and unfiltered? That’s the basic premise to Shrinking, which follows Jason Segel as Jimmy, a therapist grieving his wife who starts to take a different tact with his clients. With a strong cast and echoes of Ted Lasso’s wholesome spirit (albeit amidst darker topics and drier humor), Shrinking has a lot to offer in a crowded year of streaming options. Especially for fans of comedy, this is a series worth checking out. With three episodes out (as of writing), it’s definitely not too late to jump on the Shrinking bandwagon. Or, if you’d like, wait until it’s all aired and just binge season one.
Truth Be Told
Cast: Octavia Spencer, Gabrielle Union, Mekhi Phifer
Genre: Drama, Crime
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
If you, like many other Americans, can’t get enough of true crime podcasts, then Truth Be Told is for you. With its third season just getting started, this show follows Poppy Parnell, a podcaster played by Octavia Spencer who uses her platform to pursue justice and truth. In addition to weaving together a twisty crime narrative, Truth Be Told also features engaging family drama alongside its winding mystery. Particularly thanks to strong acting from Spencer and the rest of the cast, Truth Be Told rises above some of its weaker script elements to stay an entertaining mystery series from start to finish.
The Essex Serpent
Cast: Claire Danes, Tom Hiddleston, Frank Dillane
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 1
In this mini-series starring Claire Danes as Cora Seaborne, a widow relocates to a small Essex village and hunts for a mythical sea dragon when a young girl disappears. If you’re also a sucker for pilots with missing people, you’re in luck with The Essex Serpent. Across its 6 episodes, this Apple TV+ show serves up a potent blend of supernatural intrigue and Gothic romance. For viewers who typically balk at period romances, the presence of the mythic makes this miniseries worth the chance. For those who thrive on period dramas, leading performances from Danes and Hiddleston—not to mention the series’ horror elements—make this a unique departure from familiar worlds like Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, and Jane Eyre.
The Shrink Next Door
Cast: Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Kathryn Hahn
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
A dark comedy/drama inspired by true events, The Shrink Next Door proves that Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd can balance both genres with panache. The series follows Marty Markowitz, who starts seeing Dr. Ike in order to contend with his anxiety and winds up with much more than he bargained for. Across the series’ eight episodes, the show remains a compelling, albeit uneasy, dissection of a bromance gone wrong. Thanks to strong performances from Ferrell, Rudd, and Kathryn Hahn, The Shrink Next Door is thoroughly engaging, even as its dark comedy gets a little bitter thanks to the crazy-but-true nature of the story.
Black Bird
Cast: Taron Egerton, Ray Liotta, Greg Kinnear
Genre: Crime, Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Like Netflix’s Stranger Things or HBOMax’s Game of Thrones, Black Bird is the kind of gritty crime drama that could anchor Apple TV+ as a must-subscribe platform. Taron Egerton leads a talented ensemble of actors as Jimmy Keene, a man with a 10-year prison sentence and a high stakes opportunity for freedom. If he can get a suspected killer to confess to murder, Jimmy can win his freedom, a challenge he accepts. In just six fascinating episodes, you’ll be swept up into a dizzying number of moral and ethical quandaries—and wishing you had six more episodes to binge.
The Mosquito Coast
Creator: Neil Cross
Cast: Justin Theroux, Melissa George, Logan Polish
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
In this dramatic thriller, Allie Fox (Justin Theroux), an inventor and the patriarch of an off-the-grid family, must flee the federal government to Mexico in search of a new life. If you love the rush of adrenaline that comes from some of the best white-knuckle thrillers, you’ll love the roller coaster ride that is The Mosquito Coast. Full of twists and hairpin turns, this show is perfectly bingeable. In fact, thanks to its strong writing and edge-of-your-seat performances, you’ll have a hard time not binging this propulsive series from creator Neil Cross.
Gutsy
Cast: Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton
Genre: Documentary
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Inspired by the Clintons’ book The Book of Gutsy Women, Gutsy takes inspiration from The New York Times bestseller in this docuseries following Hillary and Chelsea Clinton as they talk with and learn from a variety of powerhouse women, including Megan Thee Stallion, comedians like Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer, and activists like Dr. Jane Goodall and Quannah Chasinghorse. If you’re looking for a series that balances fun with pathos, Gutsy is worth a look. With an impressively curated list of inspirational interviewees, there is a lot to glean from each 40-minute episode—even if the Clintons can be occasionally stilted hosts.
Defending Jacob
Cast: Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell
Genre: Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
In this adaptation of the best-selling novel by William Landay, the tension is high. Defending Jacob stars Chris Evans as Andy Barber, an Assistant District Attorney who is taken off of a student’s murder case when his son is labeled a suspect. Michelle Dockery plays his wife, Laurie, who must re-examine the life she once thought she knew in the wake of secrets that continue to unravel across the limited series’ eight episodes. Part courtroom procedural, part thriller, Defending Jacob is crime drama at its best, thanks largely to the compelling source material and some truly impressive performances from Evans and Dockery.
Roar
Cast: Issa Rae, Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Featuring performances from a star-studded cast including the likes of Issa Rae, Nicole Kidman, and Cynthia Erivo, Roar showcases how anthology series can still excel in a world of limited series and serialized episodics. Based on a series of short stories by Cecelia Ahern, Roar tackles a wide range of feminist topics through an unexpected and darkly comedic lens. The titles of each episode tell you what to expect, with names like “The Woman Who Was Kept on a Shelf” and “The Woman Who Returned Her Husband,” but each title is just the tip of the iceberg. Like other anthologies such as The Twlight Zone, not every episode lands with the same weight. That being said, with such a talented team behind the series, every episode has something to offer.
Acapulco
Cast: Enrique Arrizon, Damián Alcázar, Eugenio Derbez
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 2
I recently read that Apple would do well to give Acapulco the Ted Lasso treatment, and I have to agree. This 1980s-set comedy series about a man scoring a job at Acapulco’s top resort and quickly realizing he’s bitten off more than he can chew features a winning mixture of heart, comedy, and nostalgia that so many people responded so well to in Ted Lasso, too. With a winning ensemble cast, enjoyably goofy premises and storytelling, and impressive period production design, it’s hard not to smile writing about Acapulco, much less watching it. If you’ve been sleeping on this series, do yourself a favor and check out Season 1 before the rest of Season 2 drops.
Surface
Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Miller, Veronica Wes
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
In Surface, Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Sophie, a woman with memory loss from a head injury working to piece her life back together. As the series continues, however, Sophie realizes that those helping her may not truly want what’s best for her—and that her picture-perfect life isn’t quite what it seems. With shades of Big Little Lies and Memento, Surface is a twisty thriller sure to engage fans of the genre. Aside from its compelling writing, Mbatha-Raw’s captivating leading performance alone is reason enough to hop on this rollercoaster, which evolves into a slickly crafted, albeit over-the-top, psychological thriller. Once you’ve started watching Surface, each episode will have you skipping the end credits to get to the next episode as quickly as possible.
Trying
Cast: Rafe Spall, Esther Smith, Imelda Staunton
Genre: Comedy
Rating: TV-14
Seasons: 3
After they realize that IVF isn’t working (and is expensive to boot), Nikki and Jason decide to explore adoption to form the family of their dreams. However, when it comes to facing the dysfunction and drama of their friends and family—not to mention the chaos of their own lives—Nikki and Jason aren’t quite sure they’ll be able to win over the adoption board. While this sounds like it could easily fall into the realm of drama, Trying’s winning trait is that it succeeds in being a family dramedy while still featuring a hefty dose of comedy. Hilarious, honest, and grounded by excellent performances by Esther Smith and Rafe Spall, this series (now in Season 3) is definitely a fresh take on the family comedy.
Shantaram
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Antonia Desplat, Shubham Saraf
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Rating: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
In this series set in the 1980s and based on the best seller of the same name, Lin Ford, a fugitive on the run, takes shelter in Bombay, losing himself in the city. In Bombay, he falls for a woman while working as a medic, which starts him on a redemptive journey. Fans of the novel won’t be disappointed by this adaptation, which is quite faithful to the source material and features plenty of swagger from Charlie Hunnam as the convict Lin Ford. For a while, it looked like Shantaram was going to be adapted into a feature-length film (both Russell Crowe and Johnny Depp were supposedly interested in the role of Lin), but this iteration from Apple TV+ shows that as a series the source material can really shine.
Physical
Creator: Annie Weisman
Cast: Rose Byrne, Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Seasons: 2
Rating: TV-MA
Set in San Diego in the 1980s, Physical tells the story of Sheila, a struggling housewife who finds empowerment through aerobics. While critics and audiences were mixed on this show’s first season, the second season makes excellent use of Rose Byrne and pushes the show to new heights, making it well worth looking into if you’ve yet to watch the show. Perhaps some of the critical reception was based on the fact that the show has largely been marketed as a comedy/period piece but is just as much an in-your-face look at Sheila’s own personal demons. Whatever the case, a strong leading performance and interesting premise make Physical shine as one of the more unique series to stream, something that likely wouldn’t stand a chance on “traditional” television stations.
For All Mankind
Creator: Ronald D. Moore, Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert
Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Shantel VanSanten, Jodi Balfour
Genre: Drama, History, Science Fiction
Seasons: 3
Rating: TV-MA
What would it be like if the space race never ended? That’s the fascinating question underpinning For All Mankind, an alternative history science fiction drama now in its third season on Apple TV+. Actual historical events ground much of the seasons, but where the series really excels is in its ability to balance epic scenes of space travel alongside the intimate stories of each astronaut and their family. This is no small feat, and when For All Manking is operating on all cylinders, you’ll be as engrossed with the interpersonal drama as you are scenes of galactic wonder.
Bad Sisters
Creator: Brett Baer, Dave Finkel, Sharon Horgan
Cast: Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Claes Bang
Genre: Drama
Seasons: 1
Rating: TV-MA
While Apple only categorizes Bad Sisters as a drama, don’t be fooled. If you get a kick out of Irish cynicism and are a fan of dark comedies, then you’ll find just as much laughter as intrigue in this murder mystery about tight-knit sisters under investigation by their brother-in-law’s life insurance company. An ensemble piece through and through, you’ll be as invested in the familial connections (and maybe a bit jealous that you aren’t a Garvey) as you are solving the murder mystery, a sign that the series has both depth of character and story in spades. As a showcase of showrunner and star Sharon Horgan’s considerable talents and inventiveness, Bad Sisters is a wildly original and thoroughly enjoyable ride.
