I’m old enough to remember when Apple TV was churning out very mid-level content. Those days are long gone, however, as Apple TV has quickly developed into regular winner at awards shows.
Even when it’s not racking up the hardware, Apple TV is either moving or exciting the audience, and the company continues to push the envelope with brand new series seemingly every month.
But what are the best shows to watch on Apple TV? I’ll break down the most popular Apple TV shows, rank them, and highlight exactly why you will probably enjoy them.
1. Ted Lasso
There simply aren’t many feel good shows like Ted Lasso out there. It’s a true one-of-a-kind series, which is why it easily ranks #1 on my top Apple TV shows list.
Ted Lasso follows the emotional and inspirational journey of an American football coach (Ted Lasso), played by Jason Sudeikis, who is hired to manage an English soccer team despite not knowing anything about the sport.
Insanity, humor, and plucking of the heartstrings ensues, as Lasso’s impact on the team’s owner, players, and everyone around him is ultimately “bigger than futbol”.
The shows has won countless awards for it’s emotional depth, storytelling, and hilarity, while it’s also spawned several successful careers. It’s made stars out of the likes of Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca) and Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent), and is full of rich characters.
Feel good vibes and touching moments are littered throughout this fully engaging series that does an amazing job of making you care about every single character it features. You will be constantly entertained and you’ll be laughing along the way, and it’s the rare show where you just might even learn something that you can (or should) apply to your everyday life.
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2. Severance
Severance is quite the change-up when compared to Ted Lasso. It certainly has a stellar comedic actor in Adam Scott, but the tone and content of this show is inherently dark and introspective.
A psychological thriller about memory, identity, and loss, Severance follows Mark (Adam Scott), an employee at an ambiguous company called Lumon Industries. He and all other employees at Lumon underdog a procedure that “separates work memory from personal memory”, which proves beneficial to the sketchy company, and also helps the worker forget their real life when underground at their work facility.
While normally a standout employee, Mark begins to question his company’s ethics and slowly uncovers what is really going on – both inside his company and inside his own mind. Edgy themes, elite storytelling, and superb acting – not to mention a unique concept – power this Ben Stiller-directed Apple TV show to second place in my rankings.
3. The Morning Show
Often mirroring real life tragedy and storylines, The Morning Show dives into difficult conversations and explores various narratives and complicated relationships, all under the spotlight of the seemingly impeccable Morning Show.
Easily one of the most popular Apple TV shows you can find, it’s also without a doubt one of the best. The Morning Show follows the fall of iconic lead anchor Mitch Kessler (Steve Carrell), who loses his job due to a sex scandal.
This series takes you behind-the-scenes of the chaotic life of daytime news anchors and producers, while touching on complicated issues relating to sex, race, and politics. Jennifer Anniston and Reese Witherspoon star in this hit Apple TV series, that goes for the jugular early and keeps you guessing at every turn.
4. Shrinking
If it wasn’t clear by now, let me just say that the most popular Apple TV shows get good reviews because they have serious emotional depth. Any show can excite you with mystery or action, but it takes strong writing and top shelf acting to sell you on sheer dialogue.
Shrinking certainly does that, as it follows the life of a grieving therapist (Jason Segel), who attempts to assist his patients, while also navigating single-fatherhood after the death of his wife. Wallowing in his own depression, Segel’s character gets guidance from his therapist mentor (Harrison Ford) and takes in a troubled teen as he tries to redirect his emotions and figure a way out of his pit of despair.
As is the case with most Segel-led projects, Shrinking is equal parts revelation and pure comedy. This show will hit you in the feels and provide eye-opening clarity on numerous life issues, but it will also help you laugh at the small stuff.
5. For All Mankind
One of the best Apple TV shows you need to see is For All Mankind, which drops you into an alternate reality, while also giving you a history lesson about space and politics.
Ever wonder what would have happened if the Soviet Union had beaten the United States to the moon? With this Apple TV series, you get an inside look at that made-up timeline, where Edward Baldwin (Joel Kinnaman) is tasked with navigating Cold War tensions.
This show maps out an intricate world unlike one we’ve ever seen before, combining space, politics, history, and tense drama to give viewers a rare experience.
What is the Best Apple TV Show to Watch First?
Not sure where to start? I’d start up top with my favorite Apple TV show, and the one that is both the most popular and the most critically acclaimed.
Ted Lasso is the number one Apple TV show I suggest anytime someone asks me about programming on this app, simply because it’s flawless television. The storytelling, setting, acting, and tone are all incredibly unique and you get sucked into a cushiony world that can be both gut-wrenching and uplifting.
Of course, that’s just the best place to start. These other options made the cut for the best Apple TV shows because they’re immensely popular, and they’re all fantastic. If I had to give the nod to a second one – or you simply want darker material – then I’d give Severance my vote.
However, there are a ton of great Apple TV series out there. Slow Horses narrowly missed the cut, while Lessons in Chemistry, Silo, and Dark Matter are all top shelf Apple TV shows you should seriously consider. Honestly, if this was a top 10 Apple TV shows list, they’d have all made the cut.
But who needs the 10 best Apple TV series when you’re only looking for one to start with? I’ve given you the top five in my opinion, so hopefully that gets you headed in the right direction. Got another Apple TV show you love that I didn’t cover? Tell me about it in the comments below!
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