Everybody knows that The Velvet Underground is one of the most groundbreaking bands hailing from America the world has ever seen. Most recent rock music documentaries use a repeated structure, but in this chronicle, the director, Todd Haynes, gets to the core of the band by making this documentary an arthouse gem.
Don’t worry. It’s still packed with tunes and the insightful tale of the rocky relationship between Reed and his fellow bandmates, except this documentary is extra trippy as it tells the story of this iconic band. It would have been so beloved by Lou Reed and company. Simply put, this might just be one of the best music docs ever produced.
Hijack
This sweet seven-episode limited series stars Idris Elba as the main character. In this thriller, a flight from Dubai to London gets hijacked by terrorists, whereby Elba acts as the intermediate. And that's the good thing about Elba's character — he is a brilliant negotiator in the business world, which makes him the perfect hero to negotiate with the hijackers.
Each episode depicts an hour of the seven-hour flight, so there's a good sense of the ticking time bomb that could go off. This is unlike the roles that Elba has played in the past, and he utterly knocks it out of the park. This could be your next watch if you're keen on an intense thriller!
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
The Oscar-winning Davis Guggenheim from "An Inconvenient Truth" directed this biographical documentary. It follows the Canadian and American activist and now retired actor Michael J. Fox, who had to put his career on hold due to an early onset of Parkinson's disease.
This production works because it encapsulates the 1980s legend's optimistic aura, whose wit and charm turn this into an uplifting tale rather than what could have been a sappy story. Guggenheim has a unique way of using classic clips of Fox to push the narrative in the right direction, and this biography will only remind you how epic Fox was and still is.
Lessons in Chemistry
This adaptation of Bonnie Garmus' novel of the same name is set against the backdrop of the '60s patriarchal society. It follows the life of the chemist, portrayed by Brie Larson, who finds herself out of work and all alone following an unexpected pregnancy. This show has a lot of drama at its core, but despite its serious intentions, "Lessons in Chemistry" also has a lot of humor.
Larson gave a stunning performance with her character's journey from zero to hero, as she ultimately gets to host a cooking show, in which she teaches the desperate housewives at the time a lot more than just cooking. The timeline may be jumpy, and the perspective may be shifting, but somehow, the messy structure creates some of the most touching moments.
Boys State
"Boys State" was probably one of the best documentaries to come out of 2020. It chronicles the 'Boys State' summer camp from Texas that the American Legion sponsors. In this annual camp, over 1000 boy high schools assemble to make their own two-party government, which gets kitted out with actual elections, voting, and, of course, smearing campaigns.
It sheds light on what the future of America could be like with the pitfalls of the current political system in the States, and it also exhibits the hyper-masculinity that defines a lot of teenage boys nowadays. Beyond all of that, the filmmaking is superbly stunning, almost making it feel like a scripted movie over an independent doc, which we think is a major compliment in this case. If you enjoyed "Kid Nation" or "Lord of the Flies," then we'd bet you're going to love this one.
Shining Girls
There is certainly a morbid quality lurking underneath the surface when it comes to Elizabeth Moss. If you are a fan of this talented actress's other performances, like in "The Handmaid's Tale," "The Invisible Man," and "Top of the Lake," then prepare for more of the same in "Shining Girls." Warning — this show is ironically named.
In short, Moss portrays a lady who is trying to track down the criminal who has already attacked her. There is one catch though — her character keeps ending up in alternate realities. The person who got her and the case itself are the only things that stay the same throughout. It goes without saying, but Moss is fantastic in the role. Oh by the way, Leonardo DiCaprio produced the show — another reason to watch it.
Swagger
"Swagger" is potentially one of the most underrated dramas that Apple has ever created. This heartfelt drama series tells the tale of a youngster as he navigates through the rough waters of possibly becoming a superstar in the world of sport. It's staggering to see the amount of people who want a piece of the young man who seems like he could be the next NBA golden boy like LeBron James.
It sounds like it could be cheesy, but to let the truth stand out, the writers of the show have ensured that melodrama wasn't too much to handle. Furthermore, the cast of the series knew exactly how to tie it all together to create this underdog of a show.
Cha Cha Real Smooth
Cooper Raiff has recently had a hot Hollywood moment. In 2022, he made it onto Variety's list of directors to keep an eye on, and he was barely even in his thirties. In 2022, the young director, writer, and actor of "Cha Cha Real Smooth" also managed to bag an Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
In this flick, he plays the lovable Andrew, who manages to earn himself a job as a party starter at a bar and bat mitzvah venue, thanks to his charismatic charm. He ends up falling in love with one of the mothers, played by the legendary Dakota Johnson. This coming-of-age dramedy is bound to render a few laughs and tears along the way for anyone who dares to give it a chance.
Physical
If you miss Netflix's iconic "GLOW," then you may find some consolation with this 80s-esque drama comedy that follows a woman who finds herself again as the aerobics mania sweeps across the country's malls. However, don't expect the cheery underdog story that we got from "GLOW." Rose Byrne's character is a quietly tortured housewife who is battling her own health problems while spending most of her days tossing nasty body-shaming slurs to other women.
She excels in this role as the antihero, breaking away from the expectations of the traditional stay-at-home housewife in her own dubiously moral way. This is something different, and even though the main character may not be likable at first, she is sure to grow on you as the story unfolds.
Black Bird
The "Black Bird" series is based on the true chronicles of a criminal, Jimmy Keene, portrayed by Taron Egerton, who went from a football star in high school to a dealer and then later became an undercover FBI agent. Keene spent time in a correctional facility with a villain, Larry Hall (portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser) who'd been suspected of committing multiple felonies.
Keene was promised an early release if he could get the villain to talk. This series has already won several awards and four Emmy nominations. Chilling and moving, this is a stunning miniseries produced by the same writer as "Mystic River" and "Shutter Island." If you're into biographical crime vibes, then you really can't go wrong with this one.
The Shrink Next Door
You know that an actor is really good when they can manage to go against the stereotypical boxes that they get placed into due to roles they have played in the past. In "The Shrink Next Door," you'll get to witness just that as two co-stars, Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd from the hilarious "Anchorman," reunite for a story that's almost a bit too bizarre to be completely fiction.
Ross Bonaime from Collider put it brilliantly: "This devastating biographical series finds just the right mix of comedy and drama, as it's hard not to laugh at the ridiculousness of this situation while also finding that the deep trauma of it all is turning out to be deeply disturbing. "The Shrink Next Door" is a consistently captivating series that pushes Ferrell and Rudd as actors in ways we've simply never seen before." We agree.
Servant
This distressing thriller started out as a story about a family that begins to unravel in the wake of a misfortune. In the first season, Dorothy, played by Lauren Ambrose, and Sean, played by Toby Kebbel, hire a nanny to care for their supposed lifelike "reborn doll" that the grieving mother Dorothy believes is her deceased son. Yes, it sounds twisted, but stay with us. After a while, the doll somehow turns into an actual baby.
As the show went on, the makers started introducing more supernatural features, and what makes this show stand out from the rest is all the small details that it boasts, such as the unsettling food design and the rich wallpapers in the family's home. The fourth and final season aired at the beginning of 2023, and it's not too late to catch it now.
Home Before Dark
The Emmy Award-winning "Home Before Dark" begs the question of who exactly this series was created for. This show is based on the real-life tales of Hilde Lysiak, a young reporter who puts her journalism skills (that she learned as a youngster from shadowing her dad) to the test after her family moves to a small town that's bursting with all sorts of secrets.
This show is full of thematically difficult material as well as a lot of adorable moments. It's pretty rare to see such a great father/daughter duo as what Jim Sturgess and Brooklyn Prince gave us in this production. This low-key seducing series is bound to captivate anyone with its mysterious and compelling plot.
Schmigadoon!
We all know how a musical comedy series has the potential to go horribly wrong, but somehow, "Schmigadoon" had all the right elements at play to break this stereotype. For the first season, Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key portray a couple that happens upon an enchanting town where everyone is stuck in a 1940s musical.
The second season shifts to the 1970s in a way that satirizes the likes of "Hair," "Chicago," and "Sweeney Todd" to name a few. Across the board, this is a smart and funny show with some striking musical performances from Broadway icons like Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, and many more.
Wolfwalkers
This animated film "Wolfwalkers" aired in 2020 and has received a hefty 33 awards and 66 award nominations, one of which was an Oscar nomination. Despite that, there's probably a really high chance that you've never seen it. This flick is based on Irish folklore from the Cartoon Saloon studio and follows the likes of the award-winning "Song of the Sea" and "The Secret of Kells," which were both also nominated for Oscars (so we also highly recommend them).
"Wolfwalkers" tells the tale of a little girl who heads from England to Ireland with her father to hunt down the last wolf pack. Along the way, she ends up befriending a girl from a tribe that turns into wolves at night. Get your popcorn and gather the family for a tender movie night.
Bad Sisters
If you're looking for a bit of grim humor with some commonalities with "Dead to Me" and "Big Little Lies," look no further. Set in Ireland, "Bad Sisters" is a dark comedy that chronicles the lives of five sisters as they navigate life after the death of one of the siblings' husbands.
The show starts at the funeral and showcases the sisters as they all have incredibly different reactions to the loss. The story unfolds over two timelines, and besides all the dark wit, there is a lot of mystery, too. This is a captivatingly sharp series from the always-excellent Sharon Horgan, and it's bound to entertain anyone who gives it a go.
Ted Lasso
If you haven't watched this show, then you have most definitely heard about it. The ad campaigns for this production went through the roof, and that isn't always a recipe for success, but in this case, it was. With "Ted Lasso," Apple managed to claim ownership of plausibly the biggest streaming comedy yet.
The show managed to earn itself a mighty 11 Emmy Awards, including an Emmy for Best Comedy, Best Directing for a Comedy, and a few Best Actor in a Comedy Series awards. The main character, Ted Lasso, is portrayed by Jason Sudeikis, and he turns out to be the hero we never knew we needed. With its third and final season having aired in 2023, this is a binge-worthy show that no one should miss out on.
Five Days at Memorial
The Oscar-winning producer John Ridley of "12 Years a Slave," and Carlton Cuse, the co-creator of "Lost," joined forces to create "Five Days at Memorial," which chronicles the appalling truths that bled out after the ravaging Hurricane Katrina had its way in New Orleans. One gets to take a peek into a hospital for five days that followed after the natural phenomena wreaked havoc and left the city without any power.
Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are attempting to clean up the natural disaster's mess in the intensive care unit. This biographical drama sheds light on the horrific scenes that came out during this period. This show is certainly not for the faint-hearted, so perhaps it's better to only watch it if you can handle the despair that comes out of a no-win situation.
The Super Models
The biggest selling point for this show may be the fact that you'll get to spend four hours with some of the most beautiful ladies to ever exist on the planet. But this docuseries has a lot more to offer than that. "The Super Models" spotlights the extraordinary careers and lives of Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington.
Viewers will get some never-before-seen footage that parades their walks to fame via the most candid interviews. They give a lot of insight into what happens behind the scenes in the cruel world of fashion as it blew up and entered the mainstream in the 90s. It's a great docuseries, but don't expect anything too deep.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
"Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" is an adventurous Sci-Fi series set after the battle between the Titans and Godzilla. This series started in 2023 and leads the cinematic monsterverse to the small screen by tracking the hidden cabal Monarch that studies and hunts massive unidentified terrestrial organisms (MUTOs).
Kurt Russel from "The Hateful Eight" plays the man tied to the Monarch in the existing timeline. Meanwhile, his actual real-life son Wyatt Russell plays the younger version of him during a flashback timeline. This series has a lot of monster potential thanks to the obliterating visuals, astounding set pieces, and an intriguing cast.
Tehran
For the most part, it seems like American television has steered away from espionage dramas on the international horizon, which once were such a buzz. But if you need to get your international spy thrill fix, then we've got just the show for you. This series follows an Israeli spy or Mossad agent, played by Niv Sultan, as she navigates Iran, the country where she was born.
Her missions include shutting down the country's plans for nuclear weapons. The show won an International Emmy for Best Drama and featured the 8-time Oscar-nominated Glenn Close from "Fatal Attraction" and "Dangerous Liaisons" for its second season.
The Afterparty
With a cast consisting of the likes of Ben Schwartz, Ken Jeong, Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, and many more, it is clear that something special was going on when "The Afterparty" was made for Apple TV+. Truth be told, the plot has shifted a little since its initial premise — a pop star gets whacked at the afterparty of a high school reunion.
The creator, Christopher Miller, is one of the hottest in the scene at the moment, and this creation of his just reinforces his status in the filmmaking world today. This hysterical mystery is unlike anything gracing our screens of late, so if crime and comedy are something that speaks to you, then perhaps this should be your next watch.
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy
There are a ton of celebrity travel shows out there, and they aren't all great, but we can vouch for this one. As the name hints, Levy would much rather be chilling at home on his couch, but here he goes to far-away treasures like the Maldives, Venice, and Finland, to name a few, which may be strikingly beautiful, but believe it or not, he will still find something to moan about.
What makes the show so special is thanks to Levy's whining it actually ends up being more of a one-man play than a travel show. It's candid, it's funny, and we can't recommend it more if you'd like to see "Schitt's Creek's" Levy try out the travel thing.
CODA
"CODA" is a story about Ruby (a child of deaf adults), who is the only one in her deaf family who can hear. It's the musical dramedy that you never know you needed! Ruby, played by Emilia Jones, needs to choose if she wants to help her family after tragedy strikes in their business or if she wants to go on to pursue her lifelong dream of attending Berkley College to study music.
Jones gives a spectacular performance in this tearjerking and crowd-pleasing flick. Oh, and we forgot to mention that it won a whopping three Oscars, which we know is no mean feat in this day and age and which also makes it the first movie from a streaming site to do so. Kudos to Apple TV+ for this accolade!
Acapulco
In this hilarious production, a young Mexican man's wildest dream comes true after he lands the job of a lifetime at one of Acapulco's hottest high-end resorts, Las Colinas. Maximo, played by Enrique Arrizon, tries to work his way up the ranks after getting started as a pool boy.
Sadly for him, he soon discovers that this so-called awesome job is far more complicated than he had bargained for. This bilingual (English and Spanish) 1980s comedy is a world in which "The White Lotus" meets "Jane the Virgin." It's sunny, it's sweet, and it even features a duo of lounge singers that whip out Spanish classics from the 80s.
The Buccaneers
This adaptation of an unfinished novel by Edith Wharton, published in 1938, will undoubtedly draw comparisons to Netflix's immensely popular "Bridgerton." It's a sort of stuffy British period piece, except they're mostly American. The story is about five young, new-money ladies who head off to London to try and catch their own decent British aristocrats for marriage. This wrinkle stands out as it is unlike any other period piece we've seen gracing our screens so far.
The raucous and rowdy behavior of the women is enough to make the posh Brits spit their tea out when encountering these new, strange, and untamed mannerisms. Behind all of the culture clashes is one hell of a love triangle and a finale that kept its darkest secrets for the very last minute. The costumes and sets used have flaunted Apple's generous budget, and the playful energy makes it a fun show to watch.
Prehistoric Planet
Most of the time, when "a nature show with dinosaurs" is made, the results are pretty mixed. It's happened a few times, and nothing has wowed us yet. That's until "Prehistoric Planet" hit the scene. Technology has finally reached a point where computers can deliver real-looking dinos that don't look artificial and sometimes even require a second glance to verify whether they are real or not.
This level of realism is crucial for the emotional impact that this show whips up. This is the closest we'll get to "Planet Earth" for dinosaurs, and this nature docu-animation has even been narrated by the Father of Nature, David Attenborough. This production has a mighty 8.5/10 rating on IMDb, so we can't urge you to watch it more!
Visible: Out on Television
Kudos to Apple TV+'s authoritative, thoughtful, and arduous summation of the LGTBQ+ community in this series. "Visible: Out on Television" might be packed with some of the best-known LGTBQ+ folks in the showbiz arena, yet they do an excellent job of figuring out how peeps from this community have been depicted on TV from its early days in the 1950s up until now.
Some of the scenes include the frantic period in the early 50s, whereby hyper-paranoid news reports declared that "gay people" were a menacing threat to society. This docuseries is basically a course that schools audiences in a methodically chronicled way through news reports, archival footage, and the like. But what makes it so credible are probably the first-person testimonials by some of the biggest LGTBQ+ stars we can think of, including Wanda Sykes, Billy Crystal, Oprah, and so many more.
Severance
Buckle up, kids, cause this series will most likely warp your brain with its clever concepts that run at full speed into the most bizarre places. Adam Scott portrays Mark, the average law-abiding citizen who works a 9 to 5 at a company that's using revolutionary processes that quite literally divide the work-life dynamic in a very peculiar way. Imagine your work self and home self had utterly different memories, concerns, and lives.
Employees at Lumon have chip implants that sever their consciousness when at work, and employees don't know what their alternate reality selves get up to, which makes it quite thrilling and eery. It's a weird show, yet it manages to interweave a complicated conspiracy that's bound to have you hooked after the first few slow episodes have surpassed.
Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me
Selena Gomez already has several streaming originals, including "The Fundamentals of Caring" on Netflix, "Only Murders in the Building" from Hulu, and "Selena + Chef" from HBO Max. But with "Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me," audiences really get to take a deeper look at who this star really is.
This documentary follows Gomez as she keeps up with the daily struggles of stardom, bipolar disorder, depression, and a diagnosis of lupus. Despite all her troubles, she turns her focus to trying to help other people who have their own fights to fight. This is a must-see for Selena fans or anyone seeking a film about finding one's own truth in a cathartic way.
The Pigeon Tunnel
The filmmaker Errol Morris, who specializes in documentaries, is well-known for scrutinizing his subjects through vigorous interrogation. With "The Pigeon Tunnel," he may have made his perfect match with writer John le Carré, who portrays the former Secret Intelligence Agent and British author known as a master of espionage.
John is known for his titles "The Night Agent," "The Constant Gardener," and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy." Morris fuses interviews with dramatic reenactments that manage to crack Cornwell's shell with one of the author's most telling talks in a final interview before his death in 2020. This documentary has gone on to win several awards and nominations for its brilliance in the world of filmdom.
For All Mankind
When you consider the premise — An alternate reality in which the Soviet Union somehow managed to land on the moon before the US of A — that in itself provides the makings of a pretty intriguing show. This sci-fi drama is undoubtedly one of the best shows on the streaming service. Technically, this sort of setup for a show should have gone wrong on so many levels, yet they have managed to defy all those expectations.
Also, consider the fact that historical figures like Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride also appear on the show. With just the right amount of drama, politics, and special effects, this show really is unlike anything we've ever seen before. If you like to speculate a little about "what if" something went down a little differently, this is the show to watch.
The Essex Serpent
All snakes but no plane. "The Essex Serpent" tells the tale of a widow, Cora, played by Claire Danes, who takes a trip to Essex to investigate the mythical stories of a serpent living in the area. This series is based on a novel by Sarah Perry in which a suspected snake hunt turns into a witch hunt when the townsfolk turn on the so-called serpent hunter after things start to go horribly wrong with her endeavors.
This six-episode limited series has a gothic undertone to it, and the storyline can be slow at times, but the performances are excellent, and it has been created beautifully. The series even went on to win a BAFTA award for costume design.
Foundation
This could possibly have been one of Apple's biggest gambles if one glances at the big budget that was spent on this science-fiction series. The show is based on Isaac Asimov's books, and one of the best parts about it is probably the stellar performance given by Lee Pace, who portrays the royal villain.
And let's not forget the ever-reliable Jared Harris, who always manages to give brilliant acts in whatever it is that he is performing in. The ambitious premise is far too complex to explain in one short blurb. But to keep it short, some exiles are attempting to rebuild their own society after a long-ruling empire has collapsed. This is definitely worth anyone's time if they enjoy hard sci-fi.
Echo 3
This series is a bit like "Strike Back," except that there is a lot more time to appreciate nature and the beauty of life in between all the chaos. This show was produced by the same Oscar-winning writer of "The Hurt Locker," Mark Boal. The tale follows a woman scientist who gets kidnapped along the Colombia-Venezuela border by rebels and the ensuing mission to get her back by her brother and husband.
Both men happen to be part of the Special Forces. We're not sure if 'questioning-life' pondering moments, emotional flashbacks, and intense action sequences all belong in the same production, but here we are. If you're eager to watch a military drama, then this is it.
The Changeling
This drama fantasy follows the life of a rare book dealer, Apollo Kagwa, portrayed by LaKeith Stanfield. Kagwa's life takes an unexpected turn into the underworld after his spouse, portrayed by Clark Backo, commits a horrifying act of violence and then suddenly goes missing.
Apollo is determined to trace down his vanished wife and is taken on a voyage through a version of New York that he didn't even know existed as he tries to find her. This series is based on a novel by Victor Lavelle of the same name and somehow managed to blend horror, fantasy, and parental drama all into one.
Trying
"Trying" is an earnestly hilarious British comedy about Jason and Nikki, portrayed by Rafe Spall and Esther Smith, who so badly want to be parents, but they are struggling to conceive. After running out of options, they turn to adoption, but with their whacky and dysfunctional friends and families on top of their messy lives, it may be tough to convince the adoption agency that they are ready for it.
This romantic dramedy goes through the whole process with unnerving honesty, ensuring you see all the good, bad, and ugly bits along the way. The two leads of the show give an effortlessly stunning performance, and seeing their on-screen chemistry makes this an enthralling show to watch.
WeCrashed
"WeCrashed" is a biographical drama that's laced with a few hints of comedy. But it is not the sort of comedy that you're probably imagining. It's more like cringe comedy coming from witnessing all the ludicrousness and out-of-touch behavior with some of the people that the series is based on.
This limited eight-part series tells the tale of the overly ambitious Adam Neumann, played by Jared Leto, and his wife Rebekah Neumann, played by none other than Anne Hathaway. The Neumanns used to be at the core of the WeWork coworking space company that crashed hard in 2019 following unearthing financial revelations. This show is based on the podcast by Wondery titled "WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork."
Truth Be Told
An Apple TV+ series with a lengthy A-list cast list is "Truth Be Told." We're talking about the underrated Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer from "The Help," who stars as an investigative reporter as well as a true crime podcaster fanatic who is on the prowl for answers. This series was first released in 2019 and has been inspired by the novel "Are You Sleeping" by Kathleen Barber.
The crafty creator Nichelle D. Tramble from "The Good Wife" is no stranger to crime dramas, and that's clear with this masterpiece that tells a captivating tale of how intricate family dynamics can get. Other incredibly talented actors that feature in this series include Gabrielle Union, Kate Hudson, and Mekhi Phifer, to name a few.
Platonic
Despite everything that "When Harry Met Sally" taught us, "Platonic" shows us that straight men and women can be plain friends with no strings attached. This charmingly clever comedy reunites the stars from "Neighbors," Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne, who reconnect as friends years after being estranged due to a fight.
Sure, they have drifted into entirely different ways of life, but upon stumbling into one another again after all those years, they instantly fall back into their friendship and find that they need each other again. Both Byrne and Rogan are brilliant on their own, but it's their top-class comedic chemistry that really elevates this show.
Shrinking
A handful of the makers from "Ted Lasso" had been plucked to create this show. It's a completely different kind of dramedy, played by a contrasting set of comedy actors. In this series, viewers get to see Jason Segel and Harrison Ford make a stunning on-screen duo. Segel plays a therapist who, after losing a family member, decides it's time to crank it up and get more honest with his patients.
This somewhat careless move gets him into quite a bit of trouble with his colleagues, played by Jessica Williams and the legendary Ford. This risky move in his career makes a lot of changes in his own life and those around him. This series has received a ton of nominations and also bagged a few wins. It's an absolute must-watch if you're looking for a pick-me-up.
Mythic Quest
This has got to be one of the most beloved workplace comedies out there today. "Mythic Quest" stars Rob McElhenney from the iconic "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," who plays a creative director of a popular massively multiplayer online role-play game (MMORPG) called "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet," that seemingly always finds itself in trouble.
This show is consistently funny, thanks to the hilarious performances by Charlotte Nicdao, David Hornsby, and Danny Pudi. It is also something of a love letter to the online game biz without making gamers the joke. If you like gaming or are just keen for a good laugh, then perhaps this could be your next watch!
Slow Horses
"Slow Horses" could be described as witty dialogue that's combined with suspenseful action. Apple was so sure that this show would be a success that they ordered four seasons from the very start and released two in the same year (2022). The cleverly dark comedy series follows a couple of British intelligence agents who have, at times, made career-ending blunders, which have resulted in the devolution to a failed Military Intelligence department.
The Oscar-winning Gary Oldman portrays Jackson Lamb, a sour head of a department that leads a bunch of banished agents who are hoping to claw their way back up to the top. The makers of this entertaining thriller knew exactly how to best utilize the cast members to tell a deeply fascinating story of agents who once had promising careers.
Little America
"Little America" is an anthology series inspired by some of the true stories featured in Epic magazine. It goes beyond the headlines to explore the romantic, funny, inspiring, heartfelt, and surprising accounts of immigrants in America. This show could not have come at a better time, as immigration is quite a relevant topic nowadays.
Usually, one expects an anthology format to be reserved for horror storytelling, but this dramedy has employed a completely different method to do an anthology series, and it has done so in the most beautiful and touching way. What's captivating about this show is its impressive way of telling so many different kinds of stories that are sure to give the audiences a deeper understanding and appreciation of the tapestry that makes up the United States of America.
Pachinko
When you have actors involved who were also part of the beautiful movie "Minari," you know you're onto a winner. This Apple TV+ series saw the incredible Justin Chon and Kogonda come together to create a truly stunning generational saga. This story is about a Korean woman who lived during the perilous time when the Japanese occupied her land.
Youn Yuh-jung, who had already won an Academy Award for her role in the aforementioned "Minari," plays the older version of the main character. We would go as far as to say that this is one of the most gripping shows in the short history of Apple TV+. Whatever they did to make this show, they should do for every other one that comes out after.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out what this one is about. Based on the classic play by William Shakespeare, "The Tragedy of Macbeth" sees the unlikely pairing of Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand at the epicenter of the classic Scottish epic. What's intriguing though is that Joel Coen (one-half of the Coen Brothers), actually directed this one. This is strange, seeing that they usually do everything together.
This flick is somewhat historical and runs in black and white only. It even managed to get three Oscar nominations, which further bolsters the credibility of this movie. If arty movies are your thing, then need we say more to convince you to watch this? Besides that, you can't really go wrong with the two-time Oscar-winning Denzel Washington, now can you?
Central Park
"Central Park" is a sweet musical animation series that has a visual style that could be compared to "American Dad," "Bob's Burgers," and the like. This series is based on the lives of the Tillerman-Hunter family in the make-believe Edendale Castle.
It revolves around the family attempting to save the famed New York park from the grips of Bitsy, an affluent grouch who intends to buy out the park to replace it with rental spaces and condos. With a star-studded cast including Stanley Tucci, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Tituss Burgess, and Kathryn Hahn, to name a few, you really can't go wrong.
Dickinson
This show is one of the founding fathers of Apple TV+, as it came out back in the good old days when Apple launched the streaming site in 2019. This program helped define the company's standing in the world of streaming, and despite being a bit of an underdog for not having garnered a massive following, it got pretty good ratings from those who did see it.
This is a period masterpiece set in the 19th century that explores the constraints of family, gender, and society from the outlook of the young Emily Dickson, an aspiring poet. Of course, it has been highly fictionalized for effects, so don't expect to get an accurate biopic of Dickinson's life, but the writing and performances are still witty and funny over its three-season run.
Silo
This sci-fi mystery is based on "Wool," a 2012 series of novels by Hugh Howey. Created by the Emmy Award-winning producer Graham Yost, it starts off with a tumultuous episode that is set in a dystopian near-future whereby the last surviving humans all live in a massive underground silo.
As things unfold, we get introduced to Juliette, the engineer played by Rebecca Ferguson, who unearths some nasty truths and murders that appear to be linked to the so-called authorities running the silo. This show is suspenseful and moody and probably only suited to those fans of hard sci-fi or Scandi noirs.
The Velvet Underground
Everybody knows that The Velvet Underground is one of the most groundbreaking bands hailing from America the world has ever seen. Most recent rock music documentaries use a repeated structure, but in this chronicle, the director, Todd Haynes, gets to the core of the band by making this documentary an arthouse gem.
Don't worry. It's still packed with tunes and the insightful tale of the rocky relationship between Reed and his fellow bandmates, except this documentary is extra trippy as it tells the story of this iconic band. It would have been so beloved by Lou Reed and company. Simply put, this might just be one of the best music docs ever produced.
The Morning Show
"The Morning Show" was the first indication that Apple was willing to splurge big in order to attract multiple A-listers to one of its launching day dramas. One can only imagine that casting Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon as the lead characters cost a pretty penny. It mostly paid off, though, because the show went on to win an Emmy award, and of course, it helped cement Apple as one of the streaming brands that hosts big names and big budgets.
The series portrays a morning news show that gets shaken up by not only the infighting that happens behind the scenes but also the #MeToo allegations that surface against one of the main anchors. "The Morning Show" hasn't quite found a place in everybody's home yet, but most agree that Billy Crudup's Emmy-winning performance was phenomenal.