James Whitehead
With the copious number of streaming platforms around these days, you’re forced to be selective about what you subscribe to. Apple were rather late to the game compared to some of their competitors like Netflix or Amazon Prime. And what they also have working against them is that they don’t own any significant IP’s (Intellectual Properties), like a Disney has with Marvel and Star Wars, or Paramount does with Halo, transformers etc.
All these factors resulted in Apple being forced to adopt a different approach to their competitors, simply because they couldn’t replicate what a lot of these other studios have. Instead, Apple has spent a lot of time and money focusing on talent both onscreen and on the production side. To rival Netflix’s sheer quantity of output, they differentiated themselves with a focus on quality; a strategy that caused a slow start to subscription numbers as there simply wasn’t enough variety to keep a substantial audience subscribed. But Apple stuck to their strategy and as we sit here over 5 years later since Apple TV+’s launch. We’re starting to see the real fruit of their labor.
Over the last few years, Apple TV+ has slowly curated a significant library of competently made shows and films; showing off an impressive list of talent, willing to collaborate with the tech company turned studio. From Martin Scorsese to Ridley Scott, the biggest names in Hollywood have attached themselves to Apple in recent years which has really sped up the legitimacy of the platform. On top of these big name-driven films, the streamer now boasts a wonderful library of TV shows across a variety of genres. Something that was severely lacking in the first years. If you’ve never subscribed to Apple TV+ before, or have recently and don’t know where to start, allow me to push you in the right direction.
Below are some of my personal recommendations for shows worth watching on Apple TV+.
Presumed innocent – One of my favourite limited series in recent years, it was so successful and well-received that it is being converted, and another season is currently in production. A courtroom drama that turns into a personal murder mystery, Jake Gyllenhaal’s whole life is shaken upside down when he’s forced to face the reality of his affair.
Shrinking – The leads of Harrison Ford and Jason Segal display incredibly chemistry in tis wonderfully written comedy that deals with loss and how we communicate, from the perspective of a therapist.
For All Mankind – Based on an alternate history where the US wasn’t the first nation to land on the moon, “For All Mankind” is a fascinating sci-fi adjacent drama, about how one small change could have such a significant impact on the development of the world.
Severance – Fresh off its second season just ending, Severance has become one of the most talked about shows on the planet. It’s a slow burn at times and leaves you feeling confused for fun, but the intrigue and the mystery is crafted so well that the show will fully immerse you in this world. How would you feel if you split your personality between the person, you are at work, and the one you are the moment you leave?
The Studio – Apples latest hit comes from the mind of Seth Rogen in this painfully excruciating comedy about the everyday workings in a big legacy studio. Constantly fighting between his desire of wanting to make art and wanting to make money. Only the first four episodes of “The Studio” has been released, and our review for the first three can be found on the Hits Player, but so far, so good as the studio looks to be another big hit for the streamer.
So, there you have some shows to get you started on Apple TV+, shows that demonstrate the big names they have been partnering with, as well as the diversity in storytelling that’s has finally pushed the service into a position that is worth the subscription fees.
For more reviews and first looks, on streaming’s biggest shows, stay tuned to the TV & Film News section of our Hits Player.
All images courtesy of Apple TV+
