But quietly, Apple TV+ went from underdog to full-fledged prestige powerhouse: 72 Emmy nominations and consistent category winners. In under six years, Apple TV+ is fast becoming the one-stop shop for compelling dramas, sharp comedies, and standout documentaries. But given the amount of originals, a little guidance for where to begin can’t hurt. Presenting a countdown of the 10 best Apple TV+ shows you should be watching right this minute-from those meant for binge-watching to curl-up and watch-a-quick-episode fare.
10. The Morning Show
It’s the series that made Apple TV+ impossible to ignore, as The Morning Show dove headfirst into the cutthroat world of morning news. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon deliver powerhouse performances in this glossy drama, which is really about more than just politics in television-it’s also about ambition, betrayal, and chaos behind the cameras. Season three alone brought in 16 Emmy nominations, proving Apple’s ability to compete with the big networks.
9. Palm Royale
For viewers who love campy comedy with a satirical bent, Palm Royale strikes the perfect chord. Wiig stars as Maxine Simmons, an outsider determined to penetrate 1969 Palm Beach high society. With glittering costumes, pointed social commentary, and Wiig’s hilarious turn, it’s both stylish and clever-a combination that earned a whopping 11 Emmy nominations, including one for Wiig herself.
8. Lessons in Chemistry
Brie Larson stars as the brilliant scientist-turned-TV-cooking-show-host Elizabeth Zott in this limited series set in the 1950s. Lessons in Chemistry effortlessly balances humor, feminism, and a heartwarming drama that follows the struggle of barrier-breaking in a male-dominated world. With 10 Emmy nods, it is surely worth watching for lovers of smart storytelling with strong characters.
7. Slow Horses
Slow Horses puts British espionage together with workplace comedy. Gary Oldman leads an MI5 team of misfits, combining the tension of a spy thriller with darkly comic character work. Garnering nine Emmy nominations, including nods to Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden, it proves that spies can be both ruthless and hilariously dysfunctional.
6. Silo
This cerebral dystopian thriller has quickly shot to the top of favorite sci-fi series. Silo follows humanity’s last survivors, bunkered down deep underground, and the secrets that have been kept from them. With its intricate mysteries and drama packed with deep tension, the series won critical praise for design, music, and storytelling-prestige sci-fi at its best.
5. Pluribus
From Vince Gilligan comes this wildly inventive blend of sci-fi and character drama: Rhea Seehorn plays a novelist whose personal unhappiness coincides with a mysterious virus that turns everyone into relentlessly cheerful, hive-minded zombies. Weird, funny, and thought-provoking, it’s about individuality, artificial intelligence, and the ethics of goodness.
4. Foundation
Isaac Asimov’s epic science fiction saga gets a lavishly adapted treatment in Foundation. Charting the rise and collapse of an interstellar empire, the show boasts mind-bending timelines, breathtaking visuals, and an all-star cast led by Lee Pace and Jared Harris. Think Game of Thrones in space: dense at times but impossible to look away.
3. Masters of the Air
From the creators of Band of Brothers and The Pacific, this Second World War drama follows the 100th Bomb Group as they fly perilous missions over Nazi Germany. Starring Austin Butler and Callum Turner, the series effectively melds tense action with touching emotion. Its numerous Emmy nominations underscore the show’s technical and storytelling excellence.
2. Severance
One of the most singular shows of the decade, Severance is set in a world where your work self is surgically separated from your home self. Adam Scott stars as an employee caught in this unsettling corporate experiment. This show has gone critical, featuring surreal visuals and a haunting score supported by pitch-perfect performances. Season two deepens the mystery, making it binge-worthy for anyone who loves mind-bending storytelling.
1. Ted Lasso
Topping the list is the cultural phenomenon that’s all about optimism, kindness, and a really good mustache. Jason Sudeikis stars as an American football coach tasked with leading a struggling British soccer team. Beyond laughs and heartwarming moments, Ted Lasso has earned Emmys, Critics’ Choice Awards, and a permanent place in pop culture. It’s the feel-good series Apple TV+ needed, and then some.
Honorable Mentions
And there are even more gems outside the top 10 for Apple TV+: Shrinking (therapy comedy with Jason Segel and Harrison Ford), Black Bird (gripping prison drama), The Afterparty (genre-bending murder mystery), and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (epic kaiju action). And don’t forget about Apple’s standout documentaries, too-STEVE! and Girls State both racked up Emmy recognition. Whether you are in the mood to watch drama, comedy, sci-forran historical epic, Apple TV+ has something for everyone, and these shows prove it.