5 Must-Watch Apple TV+ Shows No One’s Talking About
Apple TV+ doesn’t subscribe to the same model as Netflix, which is to release as much garbage as humanly possible under the premise that there’s bound to be a gem in there somewhere.
Instead, it releases only a handful of shows and movies per month – and truth be told, they’re some of the best programming put out by any of the major streaming services.
A consequence of the quality-over-quantity methodology means that many of these Apple TV+ shows go under the radar, with only the likes of Severance and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters grabbing the headlines. However, that’s what we’re here to remedy. It’s time to give Apple its due and recognize the outstanding series that everyone should be watching.
Sugar
Colin Farrell stars in this brooding noir titled Sugar that feels like it was parked outside of Sunset Boulevard until it was time to debut on Apple TV+. In this show created by Mark Protosevich, private investigator John Sugar (Farrell) needs to investigate the disappearance of a powerful movie producer’s granddaughter. As is the case in this genre, lies and betrayals get exposed along the way as nothing is what it seems, but Sugar takes it one step further and changes genre at a critical point in the storyline. It’s one of the greatest twists in a show ever, and no one sees it coming, so that’s what makes it extra special. Sugar also features the talents of Kirby, James Cromwell, Amy Ryan, and Anna Gunn.
Monster Factory
The world of pro wrestling shows off the glitz, glamor, and appeal of all its wild and wacky characters – but it hardly peels back the curtain to see how the people climbed to these great heights of superstardom. This is where a program like Monster Factory steps in. This reality show follows the Monster Factory wrestling school run by seasoned veteran Danny Cage. Across the episodes, the viewers get to know more about Danny and his unwavering passion for pro wrestling, as well as his students who show incredible promise. The series gets real about the struggles to break into the industry and what it takes to become the next big pro wrestling superstar. That said, it leaves the audience hopeful that if these people continue to show such heart and dedication they could go very far.
The Afterparty
Who’s a fan of Knives Out? If you are, then Christopher Miller’s The Afterparty is the perfect show to binge. Each season features a specific mystery that needs to be uncovered throughout the episodes. The first season centers around a murder at a high school reunion party, while the second is all about the death after a wedding reception. Each episode provides a character’s point-of-view about what went down on the night. Expectedly, people’s versions of events differ, and that’s where the fun kicks in to find out who’s telling the truth and who’s lying. The Afterparty only lasted for two seasons, but actors like Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Dave Franco, Ken Jeong, John Cho, and Elizabeth Perkins all make appearances.
The Changeling
Based on the Victor LaValle novel of the same name, The Changeling unnerves and unsettles those looking for a juicy horror show to sink their teeth into. The story follows Apollo Kagwa (LaKeith Stanfield) who marries Emmy Valentine (Clark Backo). After their child is born, Emmy experiences struggles that are attributed to postpartum depression. Soon thereafter, she vanishes. However, Apollo resolves to find Emmy and bring her back home. His journey, though, sees him uncover secrets, mysteries, and his own past that he must face. The showrunner behind Apple TV+’s The Changeling is Kelly Marcel, whom viewers might know for her work on Venom trilogy and being one of the original writers to conceive the story blocks for Cruella.
Shining Girls
South African author Lauren Beukes captured international attention with her thrilling novel The Shining Girls. Naturally, Apple TV+ paid attention, decided to drop the “the” in the title, and turn it into an eight-part miniseries starring Elisabeth Moss. Without going into too many spoilers, Shining Girls features a number of thriller and sci-fi elements as Kirby Mazrachi (Moss) searches for an assailant who attacked her years prior. Kirby uncovers a murder that features various similar elements to her own attack and embarks down a road to figure out who it could be. This leads her down a path that stretches back many decades. Shining Girls doesn’t let you grab a breath, as it twists and turns into a riveting story that will have viewers powering through all eight episodes in one sitting.