Entertainment
The 15 Most Underrated Apple TV Shows, Ranked
With so many scripted television shows on the air, it may seem impossible for casual audiences to keep up with the mountain of series. Gone are the days of a handful of TV networks with a manageable quantity of scripted shows. Now, announcements of new streaming platforms keep coming out of the woodwork, and with them, a batch of new, intriguing scripted television shows. Understandably, many of these shows and, frankly, entire streaming platforms like Apple TV get lost in the noise.
Although a few of Apple TV’s shows are internationally beloved (say the treasured, critically acclaimed Ted Lasso, or even the comedy series Shrinking), many, often just as great, have fallen under the radar despite their great quality. This is unfortunate because Apple TV’s content development has been consistently stellar since its launch. With a collection that ranges from workplace comedies to horror, science fiction, and true crime dramas, these are Apple TV’s most underappreciated television shows.
15
‘Physical’ (2021–2023)
With Rose Byrne at its center, Annie Weisman‘s entertaining comedy TV show tackles themes of identity and self-discovery while illustrating the story of a woman struggling to find her place in the world. Sheila is a quietly unhappy homemaker who struggles with her marriage and lifelong battle with bulimia. When she stumbles upon the fascinating world of aerobics, Sheila reclaims her power and self-confidence.
This Apple TV dark comedy may not be fit for everyone’s liking. Still, Weisman’s underrated series offers viewers a believable, three-dimensional, layered protagonist (brought to life flawlessly by Byrne) that they may even relate to at some point. Part of what makes Physical a good show is the poignant messages it sends on the topics it deals with, particularly how it sheds light on the importance of embracing oneself.
14
‘The Reluctant Traveler’ (2023–Present)
For those who enjoy engaging documentaries or reality TV shows about exploring new cultures, The Reluctant Traveler is a great pick. The 2023 series centers around Levy’s journey as he visits different countries, meets different people, and enjoys some of the world’s most remarkable hotels.
The Reluctant Traveler is quite different from other reality series centering around celebrities, as it doesn’t solely focus on Levy’s experiences but also introduces interesting aspects of worldwide culture to viewers. Levy’s joy in the show as he travels around the globe and makes new connections is infectious, making the Apple TV series an enjoyable watch fit for those who like to explore new places without leaving the comfort of their homes.
13
‘Bad Monkey’ (2024–Present)
Vince Vaughn and Natalie Martinez lean against a police car in ‘Bad Monkey’.
Image via Apple TV+
Following his success co-creating Ted Lasso and Shrinking for Apple TV, Bill Lawrence set his sights on adapting Carl Hiaasen‘s 2013 crime fiction novel Bad Monkey. When a severed arm is fished out by a tourist off the coast of the Florida Keys, a suspended police detective, Andrew Yancy, is pulled into a conspiracy and corruption scandal that covers both Florida and The Bahamas.
Joining Vince Vaughn as Andrew Yancy in Bad Monkey is an ensemble of actors, including Rob Delaney, John Ortiz, Jodie Turner-Smith, and L. Scott Caldwell. Like its streaming platform colleague, Slow Horses, Bad Monkey excels at using a comical lens to approach its often very serious material. During its ten-episode first season, Bad Monkey touches on spirituality, grief, gentrification, medical corruption, and more. Vince Vaughn leads the cast with a spectacular performance that plays to all of his many strengths. His performance as the loquacious, empathetic, and intelligent Yancy is the true standout of the series.
12
‘Big Door Prize’ (2023–2024)
“What if you could find out your life’s potential?” That premise drives the two seasons of Apple TV’s The Big Door Prize. Adapted by Schitt’s Creek writer David West Read from M.O Walsh‘s novel of the same name, the show follows the events that occur after a machine mysteriously arrives in a small town and begins revealing to the residents their “life potential.” It’s a high-minded concept that the show successfully grounds via its ensemble of relatable characters.
Led by Chris O’Dowd, The Big Door Prize examines themes of unfulfillment, grief, love, life paths not chosen, predestined futures, and more, admirably never shying away from attacking heady questions. To its credit, The Big Door Prize maintained a strong grasp on its emotionality while always centering its characters’ emotional growth. Sadly, it never found an audience, but it remains one of Apple TV’s most insightful efforts.
11
‘Black Bird’ (2022)
Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser, along with Greg Kinnear, Sepideh Moafi, and Ray Liotta (in one of his final roles), combined their considerable efforts for Black Bird, Apple TV’s six-part true-crime limited series. Created by Dennis Lehane and based on the autobiographical novel by James Keen with Hillel Levin, Black Bird tells the true story of convict James Keene and how he gained the trust of convicted serial killer and rapist Larry Hall.
Black Bird is an excellent crime television show despite being criminally underseen by general audiences. Anchored by a charismatic, Emmy-nominated performance from Taron Egerton and a dark and disturbing Emmy-winning villain performance from Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird is an excellent cat-and-mouse story that shows how truly depraved and evil humans can be.
10
‘Hijack’ (2023–Present)
Idris Elba‘s Hijack plays out in real time over its seven-episode run. Elba plays Sam, a business negotiator whose seven-hour flight from Dubai to London is hijacked by an unknown group of agitators. Lupin co-creators George Kay and Jim Field Smith are behind the show. Hijack is a tense, heart-racing thriller that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats for its entire run.
The story is simultaneously told via the events in the air and on the ground, with Sam attempting to de-escalate the hijacking as well as dissuade the government officials from shooting down the plane as it heads for the heart of central London. As the various players in the story are revealed, the full scope of the conspiracy is made clear, and various professional and personal stakes are put to the test. With an original approach to its classic genre, Hijack is a riveting thriller and a worthy showcase for Elba.
9
‘Mythic Quest’ (2020–2025)
Not satisfied with one beloved sitcom, Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney teamed up with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia producer and writer Megan Ganz to create this video game studio set comedy. In Mythic Quest, McElhenney portrays Ian Grimm, the visionary creator of the titular Mythic Quest, a successful online role-playing game. For those who may not be familiar with the video game world, Mythic Quest offers a hilarious and insightful behind-the-scenes look into the industry.
Joining Ian (pronounced “Eye-In”) in the office sitcom structure are David (David Hornsby), the game’s executive director, Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao), its lead engineer, Brad Bakshi (Danny Pudi), head of monetization, C.W Longbottom (F. Murray Abraham), the game’s head writer, Jo (Jessie Ennis), David’s assistant and a couple of game testers played by Ashly Burch and Imani Hakim. Boasting a collection of excellent performances and some standout episodes, Mythic Quest appropriately balances its humor and emotions, delivering one of Apple TV’s most beloved series.
8
‘Servant’ (2019–2023)
Armed with an excitingly bonkers premise and with storied supernatural filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan serving as an executive producer and frequent director, Apple TV’s Servant is one of the platform’s most audacious offerings. Created by Tony Basgallop, the psychological horror show follows a grieving couple who hire a young nanny, Leanne Grayson, to care for their reborn doll, whom the mother believes is her still-alive son. As can be expected, Leanne’s sudden introduction to this environment leads to even stranger occurrences.
Despite receiving great praise from horror icons like Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro, Servant remained largely underappreciated during its four-season run. Along with excellent direction and a consistently eerie mood, Servant boasted noteworthy performances from its four leads: Toby Kebbell and Lauren Ambrose as the married couple, Sean and Dorothy Turner, Rupert Grint as Julian, Dorothy’s brother, and Nell Tiger Free as the young nanny thrust into this world. Eerie but refreshing, Servant is one-of-a-kind and one of Apple’s undersung crowning jewels.
7
‘Acapulco’ (2021–2025)
Cisneros, Shuman, and Winsberg‘s hilarious Acapulco depicts the dream of a young Mexican man (played by both Enrique Arrizon and Eugenio Derbez) coming true when he gets the job offer of a lifetime at a decades-old, well-respected, and preserved resort in Acapulco, which is located on a semicircular bay in Mexico. However, things get complicated when he soon realizes the job is far more troublesome than he ever anticipated.
The charming Acapulco remains one of Apple TV’s lesser-known shows and certainly deserves more love. Produced by the Emmy-winning Eugenio Derbez and featuring effective acting performances on top of an enthralling plot, this comedy series will have comedy fans hooked. It was inspired by the 21st-century Mexican film, How to Be a Latin Lover.
6
‘Schmigadoon!’ (2021–2023)
Perfect for those into the comedy, musical, and fantasy genres, this fun Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul Apple TV original follows a couple of doctors (played by the fantastic Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong) who, while on a backpacking trip, unearth a magical town in which everyone acts like they’re in a classic musical and become trapped in the musical theater universe.
While critically acclaimed — Cinco Paul, for one, took home the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the song “Corn Puddin’” — Schmigadoon! is generally an overlooked series by the streaming platform and was, unfortunately, not renewed for a third season. Nonetheless, Daurio and Paul’s show is worth watching, especially if audiences are on the lookout for an entertaining and lighthearted viewing.
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