The 10 Best Apple TV+ Shows Today

Apple TV+ entered the increasingly crowded streaming marketplace in November 2019 with an appealing pitch: 100% exclusive original programming, spearheaded by some of the entertainment industry‘s biggest names, and accessible for just $4.99 per month.

Since that launch, Apple has rapidly expanded its content library to over 100 titles encompassing all genres. The streamer‘s lineup now rivals established services like Netflix and HBO Max thanks to breakout hits like the feel-good Ted Lasso and buzzworthy thrillers like Severance. Numerous Apple TV+ shows have earned critical acclaim and awards attention.

But with so many options to choose from, what are the absolute best Apple TV+ shows available to stream right now? Here‘s our definitive ranking of the top 10 scripted Apple originals that no TV fan should miss.

A Quick Background on Apple TV+

Before highlighting the cream of Apple‘s crop, let‘s quickly recap the service‘s origins and strategy.

Apple executives had flirted with original programming for years, but officially greenlit an original content team in 2017. They poached top talent from Sony, assembled a $6+ billion annual content budget by launch time, and cut deals with A-list creators like Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, and J.J. Abrams.

The goal was to stand out in an increasingly fragmented marketplace by focusing exclusively on high-end originals. Apple TV+ launched with just nine titles compared to the thousands available on Netflix, but each one represented the tech giant flexing its financial muscles.

Fast forward three years later, and Apple TV+ boasts over 75 original series spanning dramas, comedies, documentaries, kids fare, and more. The service has over 25 million paid subscribers globally as of early 2022. And Apple Originals like CODA and Ted Lasso are major Emmy and cultural award winners.

In short, Apple‘s laser-focused original content strategy has paid off in a big way despite initial skepticism. Now let‘s look at the 10 shows carrying that success on their shoulders.

10. Central Park

From Bob‘s Burgers creator Loren Bouchard comes an infectiously joyful animated comedy about a family striving to save Central Park from a ruthless hotel heiress. The all-star voice cast breathes hilarious life into the Tillerman clan as they fend off Bitsy Brandenham‘s schemes through whimsical fantasy sequences and musical numbers. Season 3 continues finding magic in the mundane.

9. Mythic Quest

The gang behind It‘s Always Sunny in Philadelphia succeeds again with this hilarious workplace sitcom set inside a fictional video game studio. Mythic Quest effortlessly skewers the quirks of both the gaming industry and office culture while fleshing out a lovable oddball ensemble. A must-watch for gamers and comedy fans alike.

8. Ted Lasso

The smash hit feel-good comedy stars SNL alumni Jason Sudeikis as the title character: an infectiously optimistic American football coach hired to lead an English Premier League soccer club. Equal parts silly and sincere, Ted Lasso swept the 2021 Emmy Awards thanks to its huge heart, laugh out loud punchlines, and stellar cast.

7. Dickinson

Hailee Steinfeld dazzles as the immortal Emily Dickinson in this irreverent historical dramedy bringing the iconic poet‘s world to life. Blending 19th century flourishes with left-field fantasy asides and contemporary wit, Dickinson captures all the poignancy, passion, and small rebellions of its namesake‘s adolescence.

6. Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock

Jim Henson‘s beloved ‘80s series returns in fine form with this delightful reboot exclusive to Apple TV+. All the whimsy, humor, and infectious sing-alongs fans remember are back as the new generation of Fraggles embark on fresh adventures spreading joy and embracing differences. It‘s the Muppet magic modern families need.

5. Pachinko

This sprawling multigenerational Korean saga charts one family‘s resilience across four tumultuous decades. Equal parts heartrending and hopeful, Pachinko juggles a sweeping storyline with rich character drama anchored by phenomenal performances. It represents drama at its most transportive.

4. Prehistoric Planet

The BBC Studios Natural History Unit joins forces with Jon Favreau for a groundbreaking docuseries bringing dinosaurs to life as never before. Narrated by the iconic David Attenborough and leveraging state-of-the-art VFX, Prehistoric Planet makes 66 million years ago feel like yesterday through spectacular imagery and captivating drama.

3. Slow Horses

Gary Oldman leads this sublime John le Carré adaptation as the disgraced leader of Slough House: a purgatory-like MI5 outpost housing washed up spies. Razor-sharp dialogue and intricate plotting drive this stylish, twisty thriller series that improves upon an already stellar source material.

2. Servant

M. Night Shyamalan brings his trademark shocking twists to this addictive psychological thriller. A young Philadelphia couple hire a mysterious nanny to care for their infant son, only for her to unravel unsettling secrets threatening their fragile bonds. Four seasons in, Servant remains TV‘s most squirmy, unsettling ride.

1. Severance

The less said about Severance‘s mind-bending premise the better: just know it follows a mysterious corporation that surgically divides employees‘ work and personal memories. Anchored by Adam Scott‘s career-best performance, this brilliantly chilling satire will rewire your brain and leave you dying for the upcoming second season. The gold standard for psychological science fiction.

And there you have it: our picks for the 10 best shows you can stream on Apple TV+ right now, spanning acclaimed comedies, riveting dramas, transportive documentaries and more. From Emmy winners like Ted Lasso to critically hailed fare like Pachinko and Servant, Apple continues raising the bar for prestige programming.

We‘ll be excited to see their stellar lineup grow even more in the years ahead. But in the meantime, you‘ll find no shortage of brilliant television courtesy of the world‘s most valuable company flexing its creative muscles in Hollywood. Happy streaming!