The ultimate (updated) Apple TV watching guide
Reflections #19: On making the most of your Apple TV subscription.
Need some TV-fuelled advice? Send me a letter and I’ll see how I can help in my advice column.
Okay, so you subscribed to Apple TV because you wanted to see what the Widow’s Bay hype is all about. The season finale airs next week. Then what?
Apple TV has been a fascinating experiment. The company has poured tens of billions into its original programming, which might seem like a lot, but it’s a small drop in the bucket from their perspective. Has any of it been profitable? Is it all for prestige and awards, entertainment for entertainment’s sake? Does it even matter, as long as art keeps getting made?
I’ve done a scan of their programming slate and compiled some useful guides below: My top 15 (don’t worry, Widow’s Bay makes the top five), some honourable mentions, and the shows I wouldn’t particularly recommend. If you’re at a loss for what to watch next, hopefully this helps. Besides, summer is one of my favourite times of the year to catch up on things I might have missed. Let’s get into it.
The top fifteen…
15. Land of Women (2024)
Genre: Fish-out-of-water comedy but also a crime drama somehow.
The gist: After finding out her husband owes some scary people money, Gala (Eva Longoria) makes an escape to her mother’s hometown in Catalonia, Spain. There, she gets involved in the local women-run vineyard co-op and just hopes she’s adequately off the grid. RIP this show which was so fun, queer, and a perfect summer binge.
Is it gay?: 35%
14. For All Mankind (2019–2027)
Genre: Alternate history sci-fi space drama.
The gist: What if Russia got to the moon first, effectively never ending the space race? Great character development in the first few seasons that remind me of Halt and Catch Fire. Edge-of-your-seat space sequences. The show starts slumping from season four onwards though, hence its low placement here.
Is it gay?: 30%
13. Five Days at Memorial (2022)
