How well do Apple TV+’s shows compare to the competition so far?
By D.J. Rivera
With 2019 coming to a close, let’s take a look back at Apple TV+’s slate of original series, mainly which ones you can skip and the ones you shouldn’t miss.
Apple’s new streaming service hasn’t even been around for a full year, yet it continues to make a significant impact on the competitive streaming wars. While the iPhone-seller’s platform doesn’t offer a myriad of licensed titles for subscribers to scroll through for hours on end, it does have a diverse menu of original series for viewers to enjoy.
It’s quality over quantity at Apple TV+ as the tech giant has spent a considerable amount of funds on content resulting in what many consider to be a unique lineup, to say the least. Of all the series Apple TV+ has to offer, some stand out more than others. While all of them are at different stages of their debut season, all of them have received season 2 renewals, so they will inevitably be back for more.
But how well do these programs stack up so far? Will there be anyone around to watch the followup seasons? Are audiences missing out on some genuinely engrossing content they can’t find anywhere else? Given the streaming service’s exciting run so far with its shows, all these questions deserved to be answered, and the people should know if they need to stop sleeping on Apple TV+.
The Morning Show
The Morning Show is probably the best place to start as it has had the most significant impact of all the series on the platform — and possibly of all of the programmings for 2019 given how much awards love it has been shown.
The series has been nominated for a Critics Choice award, three Golden Globes, and three SAG nominations before its first season finale. This is something not many had expected but did showcase Apple’s focus on providing its audience with high-caliber content.
The show has touched upon so many relevant issues in today’s society, which has really helped it resonate with fans. From its engrossing narrative to its exemplary performances, there aren’t a lot of reasons not to skip this one.
See
Apple’s sci-fi adventure series See continues Apple TV+’s theme of putting out series unlike anything else on TV. See was the first series to complete its weekly run, and the finale not only warps up the first season very well but also leaves some enticing cliffhangers leaving anticipation for the upcoming sophomore season at an all-time high.
The narrative here plays out like a mix of Mad Max: Fury Road, Waterworld, Game of Thrones, and A Quiet Place. The series is chock-full of warring factions, savage tribes, and diabolical villains that all must survive without their sight. The series hired consultants to make sure the actor’s movements were authentic, and the way these people interact in the world is like witnessing another world.
From the magnificently choreographed fight sequences to their intricate forms of communication, the attention to detail is on a level not seen in very many heavy hitters out there today and is, without a doubt, Apple’s biggest series overall, so far. For those looking for a series to help fill the Game of Thrones gap that love action/adventure and a vast story to explore, then look no further than See.
Dickinson
Unlike other Apple TV+ series, Dickinson released all ten episodes at launch as opposed to the traditional three the other shows debuted. The Hailee Steinfeld-starring show is Apple’s first binge-able affair, but when it’s all said and done, is it even binge-worthy?
From taking carriage rides with death to attending opium twerking parties, Dickinson is not at all what some would expect from a series about the famed historical figure. It has been described as many to be a sitcom made for millennials with its unique take.
This is not the Dickinson people remember from English class. Steinfeld makes the character her own to be a relentless, “let your freak flag fly” rebel without a care for what others think that’s a delight to watch on screen. The show brilliantly blurs the 1850s with the modern-day. This one feels like it is a bit more geared toward the younger generation and fans of Dickinson’s work looking for something new, but giving it a chance would be anything but a waste of time.
For All Mankind
For All Mankind comes from the creator of the Battlestar Galactica remake series and Starz’s Outlander. The series looks at an alternate reality where the space race kept going, and the United States did not win. Better yet, it showcases what would have happened if women were allowed to go to the moon from the start.
The way the series shows how different history would be if the US lost and the effect of having a woman in the space program is a very enthralling and enlightening thing to watch. The series also shows the impact that a NASA career can have on the families surrounding these brave men and women that venture off into the dark reaches of space.
The space sequences and scenes on the moon are awe-inspiring, and the way the Moon Cold War envelops offers some very intriguing insight into paranoia and patriotism. While this one looks like its marketed for the ladies, it has something for everyone, and its no surprise many consider it out of this world.
Servant
The series Servant is one of those shows viewers will watch and have no idea what is really going on, but they will not be able to look away from the slow-burn, thrill ride.
After an affluent couple loses their child, a therapeutic doll is given to them that ends up being replaced or transformed into an actual baby after a new nanny is hired. Whichever it is is unknown, and the fact that it isn’t addressed as a huge deal throughout only adds to the mystery. Figuring out what happened to baby Jericho is almost as enticing as figuring out what their new, possibly supernatural helper is actually up to.
Servant is one of those rare experiences where one thinks they have a grasp on what the story will be but gets constantly thwarted at each episode with a chilling new reveal. The Apple TV+ series is not for everyone, but if you are comfortable strapping in for the ride and not caring where it takes you, than Servant is right up your alley.
Truth Be Told
And then finally rounding out the impressive list of debut series is for all those true crime fanatics out there. Truth Be Told stars Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, and Lizzy Caplan, who is on double duty on this one playing twins. The Apple TV+ series plays out like a top-shelf crime re-enactments programs.
The story here follows a reporter that believes she may have helped put an innocent man in prison. She will start an investigation to uncover the truth. But the secrets she begins to reveal end up endangering her life, her loved ones, and the man she is trying to prove innocent. While it isn’t as universally appealing as the other series on the streaming service, this high-quality engrossing tale should be on every true crime fan’s watchlist.
If any of those sound like something interesting, Apple TV+ is only $4.99 a month. And at that price, consumers are getting more bang for their buck. For the latest spoilers and news on everything Apple TV+ and more on everything happening on TV, follow the Television category at FanSided.