I subscribe to virtually every streaming service, and Apple TV is by far my favorite. When it comes to quality over quantity, Apple bests most others. There aren’t as many originals, but you’d have a tough time being disappointed with what you get. I could list the Apple TV original shows that I watched (or started to watch but never finished) that wouldn’t be worth your time on one hand.
That said, trying to decide which shows are the greatest of all time since the service launched in 2019 is a challenging task. Shows like The Morning Show and For All Mankind were among the first, for example. But while they are both fantastic, so many other series have come since that are arguably better. The ones that stand out do so for very specific reasons.
Why You Should Trust Me: I have been subscribed to Apple TV since it launched and have watched most (though admittedly not all) original series on the platform. In fact, some of them rank among my favorite new shows overall. I have extensive (12+ years) experience writing about and reviewing shows in every genre. I also enjoy an eclectic mix of shows: I appreciate everything from a hilarious comedy to a gripping drama, reality TV to more cerebral shows.
Honorable Mentions
‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ (2026–): I had high hopes for Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed because I’m a big fan of Tatiana Maslany after seeing her tremendous work in Orphan Black. And she, and the show, delivered. The story takes you down a dark path involving a newly divorced single mom, a murdered cam boy, an elaborate scam, and a dangerous killer. It’s the right mix of comedy and thrills to satisfy your love of both genres.
‘Trying’ (2020–Present): One of Apple TV’s underrated gems, Trying is the story of a couple, Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), who, after having trouble conceiving, decide to adopt. It chronicles the challenges of going through this process and then the later hardships (and wonderful moments) while raising a child. The show is relatable and real, which is largely why it resonates with viewers.
‘Platonic’ (2023–Present): Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen are always great together on screen, and this rings true for Platonic. They play estranged former college best friends who reconnect years later following Will’s (Rogen) divorce. As they slip back into their old ways, they realize that both nothing and everything has changed. Their co-dependent relationship begins to bleed into their respective personal and professional lives, in both good ways and bad. This is the show for anyone reaching middle age who will see a bit of themselves in each moment, and laugh heartily while watching.
‘Murderbot’ (2025): Alexander Skarsgård is brilliantly funny in this sci-fi action comedy where he plays a deadpan private security construct. It’s not technically human, but Murderbot, as it named itself, has managed to reset its programming and has acquired autonomy. While it’s assigned to work with a hapless, eccentric team, it needs to keep this a secret. But all Murderbot wants to do is binge-watch TV. Murderbot is fun and lighthearted, a perfect binge.
‘Mythic Quest’ (2020–2025)
The highly entertaining show Mythic Quest is about a video game studio trying to develop the next expansion pack for its popular video game and the challenges they face in figuring out what directions to go. The company’s creator and creative director, Ian Grimm (Rob Mac) has run-ins with the lead engineer, Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao), however, about how to move forward.
Like a modern-day workplace comedy, Mythic Quest gives you a glimpse into the world of video game development, a nerd’s paradise. Despite the show’s surprising cancellation after four seasons, the story continued with the spin-off series Side Quest.
Watch This: If you love technology and video games and appreciate a fun workplace comedy.
Skip This: If you’re not into tech and have had your fill of workplace comedies.
‘Star City’ (2026–Present)
This spin-off of For All Mankind has managed to become just as popular, if not more so, than the original show. The sci-fi drama tells the fictional story from the perspective of the Soviet Union as they work on their efforts in the space program and the big space race. At the heart is Sergei Korolev (Rhys Ifan), the chief designer. The story involves a country erupting in the wake of government secrecy, surveillance, and the hunt for a mole once it’s discovered that the Americans have acquired the Soviet lunar base plans.
Star City has been praised for its combination of political intrigue and humanization of the characters, the perfect mix of sci-fi and drama. It’s worth watching once you catch up on For All Mankind and are anxiously awaiting its sixth and final season in 2027.
Watch This: If you love stories with a political slant and alternate versions of history.
Skip This: If you want something that dives deeper into the real story, not a fictional version from an alternate reality.
‘Servant’ (2019–2023)
One of Apple TV’s first originals, Servant brings the mastery of M. Night Shyamalan to the small screen. The psychological horror, a signature genre of the filmmaker, centers around a couple, Dorothy (Lauren Ambrose) and Sean (Toby Kebbell), who hire a young woman named Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) as a nanny for their newborn baby. But when you realize the baby is actually a lifelike doll, and Leanne seems to treat it as real, your brows will raise, and your curiosity will be piqued.
Servant explores concepts of the supernatural, horror, and cults, with emotional undertones. You’ll watch this fractured family and try to figure out for yourself what’s actually going on until the main storyline is explained. From there, it’s a wild ride as you become more and more intrigued by Leanne, who she is, where she came from, and how she fits into the strange things that keep happening.
Watch This: If you love M. Night Shyamalan’s work and are interested in something with a horror slant.
Skip This: If you aren’t a fan of Shyamalan and want something shorter than this show’s four-season run.
‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ (2025–Present)
Jon Hamm seems to be in his prime era for television, and Your Friends & Neighbors is arguably his best project since Mad Men. In this dark comedy crime drama, he’s Andrew “Coop” Cooper, a successful hedge fund manager living it up as a member of the elite society. That is, until he’s fired. With a non-compete in play, he has to make money somehow. So, he resorts to stealing from his friends and neighbors. He starts small with jewelry and watches he knows they won’t miss, then moves up to rare bottles of wine and expensive paintings.
What’s so interesting about Your Friends & Neighbors is the narration as Coop relays his observations of the people in his orbit. Looking from the outside in, their ridiculously lavish lifestyles of wealth, excess, and arrogance start to look awfully absurd. Coop doesn’t feel bad about what he does because of this realization, resenting the very life he leads. Not since Dexter will you be rooting so hard for the bad guy instead of the victims.
Watch This: If you love Jon Hamm and appreciate a good crime drama with comedic undertones and a socially conscious message about wealth and greed.
Skip This: If you find the premise too unbelievable and won’t be able to get over some of the ridiculous scenarios and plot holes.
‘Slow Horses’ (2022–Present)
Gary Oldman has taken his Hollywood movie status to the small screen with this British spy thriller that’s unlike any other. The agents in Slow Horses are hapless disgraces who have been sent to the Slough House department of MI5. It’s basically where they go to do nothing because they can’t be fired but are too risky to be put out in the field. Oldman is Jackson Lamb, the reluctant leader of this fierce group of misfits.
When the group is pulled from the basement to help with a case, however, it’s time for the underdogs to shine. Through each short six-episode season of this 10/10 action thriller, you learn how this all plays out, and it just gets better and better with each one.
Watch This: If you love Gary Oldman and appreciate classic British spy thrillers.
Skip This: If you want something shorter, since this show has five seasons with a sixth and seventh confirmed as well.
‘Pluribus’ (2025–Present)
I had a strong feeling that I would love Pluribus and that it would become one of the biggest shows of the year, and I was right on both accounts. The post-apocalyptic sci-fi series from Breaking Bad‘s Vince Gilligan is both dark and humorous. It’s unlike any other show of the genre in that the virus that has overtaken Earth has made all the survivors into a hive mind of peaceful, calm, loving beings. They simply don’t have control over their own thoughts, feelings, or actions. That is, except for Carol (Rhea Seehorn) and a dozen others who are immune.
The show explores some deep topics, getting you thinking about the concept of having agency over your own life and the true cost of peace. Does it really take a hive mind for everyone to get along and live harmoniously? And, aside from losing all individuality, what’s the negative side to that? There is one, as Carol discovers. But the journey on the thought-provoking, sometimes jarring, show will leave your jaws dropped to the floor.
Watch This: If you like Vince Gilligan’s work and signature style and appreciate a post-apocalyptic story with a unique spin.
Skip This: If you’re tired of post-apocalyptic stories given the massive influx of them over the last decade or two.
‘Shrinking’ (2023–Present)
Shrinking, from the creators of Ted Lasso, will make you laugh, cry, and feel good inside. The story is somber: Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel) tragically lost his wife in a car accident. He’s navigating his grief while also trying to be there for his teenage daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell). Despite being a therapist himself, Jimmy is initially not doing a great job at either.
The perfect show with no bad seasons is about the strength of having family members and friends in your corner, and how Jimmy and all those around him work together to help one another. But as much as it is heartwarming, it’s equally as hilarious. With a fantastic cast that also includes Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford, Christa Miller, and Ted McGinley, there are scenes that will make you roll over laughing and ones that will make you cry.
Watch This: If you love Ted Lasso, as it’s a very similar show that touches on topics of mental health, too.
Skip This: If you don’t like stories that dive into heavy mental health topics with the theme of loss and tragedy.
‘The Studio’ (2025–Present)
I haven’t laughed so hard watching TV in a long time as I did with the Season 1 finale of The Studio. The satirical cringe comedy skewers Hollywood stereotypes to a tee; creator Seth Rogen is unafraid to both write about the eccentricities of actors, directors, and producers, and play one himself. He’s Matt Remick, a long-time studio executive who is finally promoted to studio head. But now, as head honcho, he finds himself facing challenges that he isn’t quite ready to take on.
The story follows Matt and his team as they try to balance the needs of arrogant actors, quirky directors, money-hungry studios, and societal sensitivities. All Matt wants to do is make quality films, but that isn’t what the movie business is about anymore. It’s an insider look into the cogs in the Hollywood wheel with an incredible guest star lineup that will be tough to top for Season 2.
Watch This: If you like Seth Rogen and comedies rooted in real-life with Hollywood types willing to parody the worst parts of themselves.
Skip This: If you’re not a Seth Rogen fan and are turned off by goofy comedies.
‘Silo’ (2023–Present)
A gripping post-apocalyptic story based on the Hugh Howey novels Wool, Shift, and Dust, Silo takes you into a future world where humanity has been pushed into elaborate underground silos where communities of survivors could live in peace as a self-sustaining society.
Silo explores the topic of control and manipulation, especially when engineer Julianne Nicholson (Rebecca Ferguson) starts to openly question and investigate things. Diving into the realm of sci-fi combined with a mystery thriller for Season 3, which will be followed up by a final Season 4, fans can’t wait to see where the story goes from here and how faithful it is to the books.
Watch This: If you love survival stories, dark shows, and post-apocalyptic dramas with a hint of sci-fi.
Skip This: If you’re over all the post-apocalyptic shows and prefer something lighter, funnier, and more uplifting.
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