10 great series to watch on Apple TV+

The platform of streaming Apple TV+ is not among the most popular in Brazil. And, truth be told, even in the United States, where Apple has a greater penetration, Apple’s streaming platform is not as successful.

But that doesn’t mean that Apple’s platform doesn’t have good productions. Quite the opposite, Apple TV+’s collection is full of excellent series to binge-watch. The owner of the iPhone decided to take a different path with its streaming platform. Instead of licensing hundreds of works from other studios, Apple decided to invest heavily in producing its own series. And when I say invest heavily, I’m not kidding.

Apple has invested a lot of money in Hollywood’s most renowned names, such as directors, screenwriters and actors working on its original series. And the best part is that Apple TV+ is one of the cheapest streaming platforms available to Brazilians. Below we will list 10 great series for you to watch on Apple TV+.

Before we begin, I would like to make an addition: the list below is not organized in order of importance or relevance. All of the series listed below are good.

01. Breakup

Created by Dan Erickson and directed by actor and comedian Ben Stiller, known for “Meet the Parents,” “Rupture” is one of the most intriguing series on Apple TV+. With a mix of suspense, mystery and dystopian elements in the workplace, the series has been hailed as one of the best of 2022. The cast includes Adam Scott from “Fortuna,” John Turturro from “Batman,” Zach Cherry from “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” Patricia Arquette from “The Act,” and Britt Lower from “Mr. Roosevelt.”

The plot revolves around the Lumon company, a multinational company with mysterious functions, unknown to both the external public and its own employees. This is due to the process called “rupture”, which separates the personal memories of employees from their professional lives. However, a group of workers begins to question the work they do and the life they lead outside the company. “Rupture” has an 8.7 rating on IMDb and a 97% approval rating with the “Fresh” seal on Rotten Tomatoes.

02. For All Mankind

Imagine a world where the space race never ended. “For All Mankind” takes us on an alternate history journey where the Soviet Union surpasses the United States and becomes the first country to put a man on the moon.

This event sparks a new era of space ambition, forcing NASA to compete more intensely to achieve even greater feats. The series delves into the lives of astronauts, engineers and their families, showing the adversities and triumphs of a reality where each new space launch is a chance to rewrite history.

With compelling characters and meticulous attention to historical detail, “For All Mankind” explores the nuances of a world where the boundaries of what is possible are constantly being pushed. From personal drama to geopolitical conflict, the series weaves a compelling narrative that captures both the human spirit and the political intrigue of the time.

03. Dr. Brain

Known for South Korean horror films such as “Fear” (2003) and “I Saw the Devil” (2010), Kim Jee-woon makes his series debut with “Dr. Brain”, a series that mixes science fiction and striking visual elements, distributed in Brazil by Apple TV+.

The plot follows neuroscientist Dr. Koh Sewon (Lee Sun-kyun from “Parasite”), who absorbs memories and abilities from the dead or in comas, revealing mysteries from his past. The series explores interpersonal relationships and the nature of affection through twists and fantastical premises, including brain synchronizations with animals and superhuman powers. Despite some narrative inconsistencies, “Dr. Brain” captivates with its style and approach to human emotions.

04. Silo

Effective domination of a population involves keeping them uninformed and controlling information through distraction. This tactic is evident in both real history and fiction, from classics like “Us” and “Fahrenheit 451” to recent works like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Hunger Games.”

Siloby Hugh Howie, follows this line, showing a dystopian future where humanity survives in an underground silo after the apocalypse. Juliette Nichols, an engineer who becomes police chief, begins to question her reality, facing dangerous consequences.

Graham Yost adapts “Silo” for TV, improving on the flaws of the original novel and creating complex and attractive characters, especially Nichols and his antagonist Robert Sims. The series involves a gradually revealed mystery, with a cliffhanger that leaves anyone eager for the next season.

“Silo” is a dystopian sci-fi series that combines a talented cast, tense writing and immersive production design. The series explores a world with no memory of the past or vision of the future, until Nichols possibly reveals the truth.

05. Black Bird

True crime series like Black Bird may seem similar to “Mindhunter”, but they gain depth with Dennis Lehane’s narrative.

This series explores toxic masculinity through James ‘Jimmy’ Keene (Taron Egerton), whose life is cut short when he must obtain a confession from serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) to avoid his 10-year sentence.

The adaptation of Keene’s memoir challenges the idea of ​​redemption, highlighting Jimmy’s struggle with his machismo and humanity, highlighted by Egerton’s performance. Despite its straightforward narrative structure, the series emphasizes the stories of the victims and raises moral and cultural issues while remaining true to the facts. “Black Bird” stands out for its performances and Lehane’s cohesive approach to masculinity, suggesting that it is a topic that demands continued confrontation and debate.

06. Speaking the Real

Ted Lasso is one of the most popular series on Apple TV+. And Speaking Really is, in essence, quite similar to the series mentioned above. Both series deal with therapists with personal problems.

While the first one deals with several patients, the second focuses on a widower who breaks the rules of psychology to deal with his pain. With a cohesive cast and intelligent scripts, “Falando a Real” mixes drama and comedy, exploring the complexities of the characters — from the grumpy Aul (Harrison Ford) to the always optimistic Derek (Ted McGinley). The series promises laughter and reflection, just like “Ted Lasso”, confirming that everyone faces adversity, not just us.

07. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

At nearly 10 years old, Legendary Pictures’ Monsterverse has been a moderate success with four films that have maintained box office interest despite mixed reviews. Expansion into other media was expected, given the mysterious Monarch company in the films. The series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Apple TV+ has been exploring underdeveloped parts of the Monsterverse since Godzilla (2014), focusing on the impact of kaiju on humanity and an entity that secretly studied them.

Monarch follows two brothers dealing with post-Godzilla trauma in 2015, while flashbacks to the 1950s show the origins of Monarch. The series alternates between these eras, exploring family dramas and a past love triangle. Despite having room to develop characters over the course of 10 episodes, the series wastes time on unimportant mysteries, leaving some characters underdeveloped.

The core of the 1950s stands out for its objectivity and prepares the ground for final twists and turns. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters fills in gaps in the Monsterverse and creates connections to previous films, but it needs to make its humans as compelling as the monsters for future stories.

08. Mythic Quest

Workplace comedies need innovative scripts, a captivating cast, and memorable characters to avoid monotony. That’s why there’s not a “The Office” every season. However, Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet stands out in this landscape with a fresh and hilarious take on the team behind the MMORPG Mythic Quest.

Created by Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Megan Ganz, the series balances humor well with a diverse cast, including chief engineer Poppy Li and the narcissistic Ian Grimm, as well as other quirky characters that enrich the narrative.

The series also explores relevant socioeconomic themes and genuine reflections on the gaming industry, with the collaboration of Ubisoft. With fast-paced episodes that mix comedy and criticism, “Mythic Quest” is an underrated gem that promises to entertain both gamers and non-gamers, leaving high expectations for future seasons.

09. No Ar kidnapping

Hijacking, a U.S.-UK co-produced limited series for Apple TV+, reinvigorates the hijacking genre. The series combines a classic premise with a shrewd negotiator in a stylish and realistic narrative spanning seven episodes.

Idris Elba stars as Sam Nelson, a business negotiation expert and first-class passenger who tries to defuse the situation. The series avoids slow character development in favor of accelerating tension, despite some less-than-effective subplots and simplistic solutions.

Kidnapping in the Air stands out for Elba’s convincing performance and the realism of the action scenes, despite the narrative problems. Although concluded, the series leaves open the possibility of a sequel.

10. Servant

Four years after debuting on Apple TV+, the original series Servant concluded with season four. Created by M. Night Shyamalanthe series is a thriller with a bizarre and mysterious plot that maintains suspense with good performances and characters in a dark aesthetic.

The story follows Dorothy, a reporter who lost her son and tries to overcome her grief with a realistic doll, until it turns into a living baby.

The series explores themes of grief and resurrection without rushing to answer questions, keeping the plot intriguing and not boring. We discover a resurrection cult and the involvement of the nanny Leanne, bringing meaning to the details.

The final season oscillates between calm and chaos, culminating in Leanne’s sacrifice and clarity for Dorothy, who appears sober for the first time. Servant ends with relief and a closed ending, focusing more on Dorothy than on religious or supernatural issues, providing a satisfying conclusion to the complex narrative.

Which of these series have you already watched on Apple TV+?