Looking for your next binge-worthy series on Apple TV? The streaming platform has quickly established itself as a powerhouse of premium content, offering some of the most innovative and compelling shows in recent years. Whether you’re new to Apple TV or a longtime subscriber searching for your next obsession, this curated list showcases the platform’s finest offerings, from psychological thrillers to workplace comedies.
1. Severance (2022-Present)
** Genre**: Psychological Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama
Plot Synopsis: In a mysterious corporate setting, employees undergo a surgical procedure called “severance” that completely separates their work memories from their personal lives. As they navigate their divided existence, they begin to uncover unsettling truths about their workplace and themselves.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator: Dan Erickson
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Director: Ben Stiller
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Main Cast: Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1 (Season 2 in production)
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Episodes: 9 episodes (approximately 55 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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14 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series
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98% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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Widespread critical acclaim for its originality and execution
Why It’s Worth Watching: “Severance” offers a uniquely haunting take on work-life balance, combining retro-futuristic aesthetics with thought-provoking commentary on corporate culture. The show’s meticulous attention to detail, from its production design to its carefully crafted mystery, creates an immersive viewing experience.
Content Advisory: Themes of psychological manipulation, mild violence, and intense situations
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: The distinctive office set was built entirely from scratch, with the maze-like corridors designed to disorient both characters and viewers. Ben Stiller spent over five years developing the project before it was greenlit.
2. Slow Horses (2022-Present)
** Genre**: Spy Thriller, Drama
Plot Synopsis: Slough House is where disgraced MI5 agents are exiled to serve out their remaining careers under the cynical supervision of Jackson Lamb. Despite their outcast status, these “slow horses” find themselves entangled in dangerous missions that test their skills and redemption.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator: Will Smith (based on Mick Herron’s novels)
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Director: James Hawes
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Main Cast: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Saskia Reeves
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 3 (Season 4 confirmed)
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Episodes: 6 episodes per season (approximately 45 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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95% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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Praised for its dark humor and stellar performances
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BAFTA TV Award nominations
Why It’s Worth Watching: Gary Oldman’s masterful performance as Jackson Lamb anchors this gritty, humorous take on the spy genre. The show brilliantly balances character-driven drama with tense espionage action.
Content Advisory: Strong language, violence, and mature themes
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: Gary Oldman almost passed on the role until he read the books and fell in love with the character of Jackson Lamb. The show’s production team works closely with former MI5 agents to ensure authenticity.
3. Silo (2023-Present)
** Genre**: Science Fiction, Drama, Mystery
Plot Synopsis: In a toxic post-apocalyptic future, thousands of people live in a giant underground silo that extends 144 stories beneath Earth’s surface. The strict regulations governing their society are claimed to protect them, but when the new sheriff begins to investigate a series of mysteries, she uncovers shocking truths about their world.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator: Graham Yost (based on Hugh Howey’s novels)
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Director: Morten Tyldum
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Main Cast: Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, Common
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1 (Season 2 confirmed)
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Episodes: 10 episodes (approximately 60 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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87% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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Praised for its world-building and performances
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Strong viewership numbers led to quick Season 2 renewal
Why It’s Worth Watching: “Silo” masterfully builds its mysterious underground world while maintaining tension throughout. Rebecca Ferguson’s compelling performance drives this ambitious adaptation that successfully brings Hugh Howey’s bestselling novels to life.
Content Advisory: Violence, intense situations, and complex themes
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: The production team built massive, fully functional sets spanning multiple stories of the silo, allowing for seamless long takes that enhance the claustrophobic atmosphere.
4. Disclaimer (2024)
** Genre**: Psychological Thriller, Drama
Plot Synopsis: A successful television documentary journalist finds her life upended when she discovers she is a key character in a novel written by a mysterious widower. As fact and fiction begin to blur, she must confront how her past actions have consequences in the present.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator/Director: Alfonso Cuarón
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Main Cast: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1
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Episodes: Limited series (approximately 60 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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High anticipation due to Cuarón’s involvement
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Strong early reviews praising its psychological complexity
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Notable for bringing together an award-winning cast
Why It’s Worth Watching: The combination of Alfonso Cuarón’s visionary directing and Cate Blanchett’s powerful performance creates a thought-provoking exploration of truth, memory, and mortality.
Content Advisory: Mature themes, psychological distress, some violence
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: This marks Alfonso Cuarón’s first foray into television series directing, with him personally directing all episodes to maintain consistent vision.
5. Mythic Quest (2020-Present)
** Genre**: Comedy, Workplace Sitcom
Plot Synopsis: Set in a video game development studio, the show follows the team behind the world’s largest multiplayer video game as they navigate the challenges of maintaining their game’s success while dealing with creative differences, ego clashes, and the ever-evolving gaming industry.
Key Creative Team:
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Creators: Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Megan Ganz
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Directors: Various
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Main Cast: Rob McElhenney, Charlotte Nicdao, Danny Pudi, F. Murray Abraham
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 3
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Episodes: 10 episodes per season (approximately 30 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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98% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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Praised for its authentic gaming industry representation
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Multiple Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations
Why It’s Worth Watching: “Mythic Quest” brilliantly combines workplace comedy with genuine insight into the gaming industry, featuring sharp writing and excellent character development that appeals to both gamers and general audiences.
Content Advisory: Adult humor, language, workplace conflicts
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: The show consulted with numerous game developers to ensure authentic representation of the gaming industry, and even created actual playable elements of their fictional game.
6. Dark Matter (2024)
** Genre**: Science Fiction, Thriller
Plot Synopsis: A Chicago physics professor finds himself thrust into an alternate version of his life, forcing him to reckon with the paths not taken and the true nature of his identity across multiple realities.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator: Blake Crouch (based on his novel)
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Director: Jakob Verbruggen
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Main Cast: Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1
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Episodes: 9 episodes (approximately 50 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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Strong early reviews for its mind-bending premise
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Praised for sophisticated handling of complex scientific concepts
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Notable for its visual effects and performances
Why It’s Worth Watching: The show offers a fresh take on the multiverse concept, grounding its sci-fi elements in emotional human drama while maintaining suspense throughout.
Content Advisory: Science fiction violence, complex themes, some intense sequences
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: The production employed multiple quantum physicists as consultants to ensure scientific accuracy while keeping the concepts accessible to general audiences.
7. Bad Sisters (2022)
** Genre**: Dark Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Plot Synopsis: Five close-knit Irish sisters find themselves entangled in a complex situation when one of their spouses dies unexpectedly. As insurance investigators close in, dark secrets and family loyalties are tested in increasingly complicated ways.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator: Sharon Horgan
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Directors: Various
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Main Cast: Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Eve Hewson
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1 (Limited Series)
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Episodes: 10 episodes (approximately 50 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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BAFTA TV Award nominations
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Widely praised for its blend of dark humor and drama
Why It’s Worth Watching: “Bad Sisters” masterfully balances dark comedy with genuine emotional depth, powered by outstanding performances from its ensemble cast and sharp writing that keeps viewers guessing.
Content Advisory: Dark themes, violence, sexual content, strong language
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: The show was filmed entirely in Ireland, with many scenes shot in Dublin and Malahide, adding authentic atmosphere to the story.
8. Shrinking (2023-Present)
** Genre**: Comedy-Drama
Plot Synopsis: A grieving therapist begins to break the rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks, leading to massive changes in both their lives and his own. As he deals with his personal loss, he finds unexpected connections and healing through his unconventional approach.
Key Creative Team:
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Creators: Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel
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Directors: Various
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Main Cast: Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1 (Season 2 confirmed)
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Episodes: 10 episodes (approximately 30 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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82% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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Praised for its balance of humor and emotional depth
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Notable for Harrison Ford’s first major TV series role
Why It’s Worth Watching: The show offers a perfect blend of humor and heart, with standout performances from both Jason Segel and Harrison Ford. It tackles heavy themes while maintaining an ultimately uplifting tone.
Content Advisory: Adult themes, language, discussions of grief and mental health
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: Harrison Ford was so impressed with the script that he agreed to join the series without reading the full season’s scripts, marking his first regular TV series role.
9. Pachinko (2022-Present)
** Genre**: Historical Drama, Family Saga
Plot Synopsis: This sweeping epic follows four generations of a Korean immigrant family across Korea, Japan, and America. The story spans multiple timelines, exploring themes of identity, family, and survival against the backdrop of historical events.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator: Soo Hugh (based on Min Jin Lee’s novel)
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Directors: Kogonada, Justin Chon
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Main Cast: Youn Yuh-jung, Kim Min-ha, Lee Min-ho, Jin Ha
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1 (Season 2 in production)
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Episodes: 8 episodes (approximately 60 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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97% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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Multiple Critics’ Choice Television Award nominations
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Praised for its cinematography and performances
Why It’s Worth Watching: “Pachinko” is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant series that brings an important historical narrative to life through intimate, personal storytelling.
Content Advisory: Mature themes, historical violence, some sexual content
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: The show features dialogue in Korean, Japanese, and English, with the production team ensuring historical accuracy in language use for each time period portrayed.
10. Black Bird (2022)
** Genre**: Crime Drama, Psychological Thriller
Plot Synopsis: Based on a true story, a convicted drug dealer is offered a chance at freedom by entering a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane to befriend a suspected serial killer and extract a confession.
Key Creative Team:
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Creator: Dennis Lehane
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Director: Michaël R. Roskam
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Main Cast: Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Ray Liotta, Greg Kinnear
Viewing Information:
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Seasons: 1 (Limited Series)
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Episodes: 6 episodes (approximately 60 minutes each)
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Platform: Apple TV+
Critical Reception:
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98% Rotten Tomatoes critic score
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Emmy Award nominations
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One of Ray Liotta’s final performances
Why It’s Worth Watching: This tense psychological thriller features extraordinary performances from its lead actors and masterfully builds suspense while exploring complex moral questions.
Content Advisory: Strong violence, disturbing themes, strong language, sexual content
Behind-the-Scenes Insight: Taron Egerton spent time with the real James Keene to prepare for his role, gaining insights into the true story that informed his performance.Conclusion
Apple TV+ continues to prove itself as a major player in the streaming landscape, offering a diverse array of high-quality shows that cater to various tastes and preferences. From the mind-bending “Severance” to the heartwarming “Ted Lasso,” these series showcase the platform’s commitment to innovative storytelling and production excellence.
For newcomers to Apple TV shows, we recommend starting with “Severance” or “Ted Lasso” as gateway series, then exploring other options based on your genre preferences. The platform’s focused approach to content means fewer options than some competitors, but consistently higher quality across its catalog.
What’s your favorite Apple TV+ show? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below, and don’t forget to check back as we update this list with new must-watch series throughout the year.