What's Worth Watching on Apple TV

Apple TV has built a catalog of original shows that span drama, comedy, thriller, and limited series—many of them critically acclaimed and award-winning. Rather than scrolling endlessly, you can start with shows that have strong viewership and critical reception across different genres, so you can find something that matches what you actually want to watch tonight.

The shows listed here represent a mix of completed series you can binge and ongoing programs with new seasons. Some are best for people who like character-driven storytelling; others deliver plot-heavy mysteries or workplace comedy. Knowing what each show is actually about helps you decide faster than reading a generic description.

Key Takeaways

  • Ted Lasso is a comedy-drama about an American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team, and it won multiple Emmy Awards for acting and directing.
  • Severance is a sci-fi thriller where employees have their work memories surgically separated from their personal memories, and Season 2 is currently airing.
  • The Morning Show follows behind-the-scenes drama at a major news network and features ensemble casts across multiple seasons.
  • Apple TV also offers Slow Horses, a British spy thriller with a new season each year, and Shrinking, a comedy-drama about therapists in Los Angeles.
  • Many of these shows have completed their runs, so you can watch from start to finish without waiting for new episodes.

Character-Driven Dramas and Comedies

Ted Lasso remains one of Apple TV's most-watched originals. It follows an American college football coach who is hired to manage a professional soccer team in England—ostensibly to sabotage the team, though the story becomes something different. The show balances humor with genuine emotional depth, and the supporting cast gets substantial storylines across three seasons. If you like shows where characters grow and change, this one delivers that consistently.

Shrinking pairs a therapist dealing with grief and anger (played by Jason Segel) with his mentor (Harrison Ford) as they navigate their practice and personal lives in Los Angeles. It's lighter than a pure drama but heavier than a sitcom—think workplace comedy with real stakes. Two seasons are available, with a third confirmed.

The Morning Show centers on the on-air and behind-the-scenes dynamics of a major network news program. It's an ensemble piece with multiple storylines running through each season, and it benefits from strong acting across the cast. The show tackles workplace power dynamics and personal ambition in ways that keep the plot moving. Three seasons are complete.

Thrillers and Mystery Series

Severance is a high-concept thriller where a corporation offers employees a surgical procedure that separates their work memories from their personal memories—they literally cannot remember their job when they leave the office, and cannot remember their personal life while at work. Season 1 ended on major cliffhangers, and Season 2 is currently airing new episodes. If you like mysteries that unfold slowly and reward close attention, this is the show to start with.

Slow Horses is a British spy thriller based on Mick Herron's novels. It follows a team of MI5 agents relegated to a dumping ground department for those who have messed up their careers. New seasons arrive annually, and the show balances procedural plotting with character backstory. Three seasons are available now, with more confirmed.

Drops of God is a mystery-thriller centered on wine and inheritance—a woman inherits a wine collection and must solve puzzles left by her estranged father to claim it. The show moves between Paris and Burgundy, and it combines mystery plotting with food and wine culture. One season is complete.

Limited Series and Shorter Commitments

If you want something you can finish in a weekend, Apple TV has several limited series that tell a complete story in fewer episodes. Black Bird is a crime thriller based on true events, following a young man in prison who becomes an informant. It's eight episodes and builds tension throughout.

Prehistoric Planet is a nature documentary series about dinosaurs, using modern visual effects to show how they actually lived. Each episode focuses on a different environment and set of species. It's visually stunning and runs only five episodes, making it straightforward to watch in one or two sittings.

The Tragedy of Macbeth is a film-length adaptation of Shakespeare's play, directed by Joel Coen. If you want something different from typical TV, this is a complete story in under two hours.

Comedy and Lighter Shows

Mythic Quest is a workplace comedy set at a video game studio. It balances absurdist humor with character moments and has completed three seasons. The show doesn't require you to care about video games to enjoy it—the comedy comes from the people and their dynamics.

Physical is a dark comedy-drama set in the 1980s, following a woman building an aerobics empire while managing personal struggles. It's funny but also deals with serious subject matter, so it's not pure comedy. Two seasons are complete.

What's Currently Airing

If you want to watch something new each week rather than binge, Severance Season 2 is currently releasing episodes. Slow Horses typically releases a new season each year, so check whether Season 4 has started. Shrinking has a third season in development.

Apple TV also rotates in films and documentary series, so the catalog changes. The shows listed here represent what has strong viewership and critical reception and what you can actually watch in full right now.

How to Find These Shows on Apple TV

Once you open Apple TV, you can search by title directly in the search bar at the top of the screen. You can also browse by category—most of these shows appear under "Drama," "Comedy," or "Thriller" depending on how Apple categorizes them that week.

If you have an Apple TV+ subscription, all of these shows are included at no additional cost. If you don't have a subscription yet, Apple TV+ is a separate service from the Apple TV app itself—the app lets you watch purchased content and rent movies, but the original shows require the subscription tier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to watch these shows in any particular order?

No. Each show is standalone—you don't need to watch one before another. Start with whichever genre appeals to you most. If you're unsure, Ted Lasso is the most widely watched and easiest entry point for most viewers.

Are these shows finished, or will I be waiting for new seasons?

Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Drops of God, Mythic Quest, and Physical are complete. Severance and Slow Horses have new seasons airing or coming soon. Shrinking has two seasons available with a third confirmed.

What if I don't like heavy drama—are there lighter options?

Yes. Ted Lasso, Shrinking, Mythic Quest, and Physical all have significant comedy elements. Prehistoric Planet is purely documentary and very accessible. Start with one of those if you want something less intense.

How long does it take to watch through one of these shows?

Ted Lasso is three seasons of roughly 10 episodes each—about 30 hours total. Severance Season 1 is nine episodes. Slow Horses seasons are typically eight episodes. Most shows run between 45 minutes and an hour per episode, so you can estimate based on episode count.

Can I watch these shows if I'm not subscribed to Apple TV+?

No. All of these are Apple TV+ originals and require an active subscription. The Apple TV app itself is free, but these shows are only available through the paid subscription service.