Having quickly established itself as one of the world's leading streaming services, the best Apple TV+ shows include some of the most talked-about content on the internet. Apple started producing its own original material in 2016, ramping up production after launching its own streaming service, Apple TV+, in 2019. Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, including Jennifer Aniston, Harrison Ford, and Jason Sudeikis, have appeared in original programs for Apple TV+, cementing its status as a reputable brand. Before too long, Apple had its own TV shows to rival the biggest hits on streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Every new show on Apple TV+ adds to a roster that covers a wide range of genres, from comedy to science fiction to psychological thrillers. Some of its original series have put a unique spin on familiar genre frameworks, such as Dickinson, an underrated coming-of-age teen dramedy set in the 19th century. The sprawling original content library on Apple TV+ is home to feel-good comedies including Ted Lasso and Schmigadoon!, and dark, unsettling dramas like Severance. While Apple TV+'s catalog isn't as expansive as other streaming services, its more boutique approach still offers plenty of quality content, as proven by their substantial number of awards won. As such, the best TV shows on Apple TV+ are well worth closer consideration from audiences – whatever they're interested in.

For more TV streaming recommendations, be sure to check out the best TV shows on Hulu and the best TV shows on Max.

RELATED: 10 Best Documentaries on Apple TV+ Ranked

15 The Essex Serpent (2022)

2022 was Claire Danes' year for miniseries. In addition to starring in Fleishman Is in Trouble, she played the lead role in the moody gothic romance period drama The Essex Serpent on Apple TV+. Based on the Sarah Perry novel of the same name, The Essex Serpent sees widowed Cora Seaborne (Danes) leave London for Essex where she looks into whether the titular creature is real. There, she's met with hostility from the locals but develops an unlikely — and very complicated — bond with Pastor Will Ransome (Tom Hiddleston).

The mystery of whether or not the serpent is real is enough to keep any viewer tuned into the miniseries' six episodes, but it's the smoldering chemistry between Danes and Hiddleston that really makes The Essex Serpent one of Apple TV+'s best shows. Yet again, they prove themselves masters of the small screen with their astounding performances.

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14 The Morning Show (2019-Present)

Also known as Morning Wars in Indonesia and Australia, The Morning Show takes a peek behind the curtain of the world of morning TV, as the titular program's male co-anchor Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell) is accused of sexual misconduct. The Morning Show takes a frank look at both sides of the #MeToo movement in season 1 and continues with topical issues present in media. Season 2 examines the COVID-19 pandemic while season 3 sees a tech billionaire (Jon Hamm) wanting to acquire the network.

While the series isn't one of Apple TV+'s most critically acclaimed shows, The Morning Show cast members have earned widespread acclaim. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon have been nominated for several prestigious awards, with Billy Crudup taking home the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Emmy in 2020. Hello Sunshine, the production company founded by Witherspoon, is behind The Morning Show, and it joins the ranks of Big Little Lies and Little Fires Everywhere as one of the most gripping, relevant female-driven dramas on television.

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13 The Changeling (2023)

LaKeith Stanfield has proven himself as one of the most versatile actors working today, and the actor has been successful across many genres, from horror (Get Out) to surreal fantasy (Sorry to Bother You). In The Changeling, based on the Victor LaValle novel of the same name, Stanfield taps into both genres. The unique horror-urban fantasy series sees Apollo (Stanfield) and Emma (Clark Backo) living a fairy tale romance that turns upside down when Emma goes missing after their child is born, and Apollo going on a dangerous, surreal journey to find her.

While some critics may have dinged The Changeling for being a bit muddled and lacking Emma's perspective, it's one of Apple TV+'s most unconventional shows, and the risk pays off. The talented Stanfield once again proves why he's a star, playing a character that couldn't be more different from his other famous TV role, Darius in Atlanta.

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12 Mythic Quest (2020-Present)

The workplace sitcom has long been a popular TV subgenre, and though Mythic Quest isn't in the same pop culture stratosphere as The Office or Parks and Rec, it deserves to be. It centers around the day-to-day happenings and shenanigans at the studio that produces the titular video game, an MMORPG created by the arrogant Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenny). Ian frequently clashes with his socially awkward yet brilliant lead engineer Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao), but beneath their feuding is an almost sweet creative respect.

Mythic Quest is a comedy series with something for everyone. Gamers will revel in the peek behind the curtain the show offers while non-gamers will still be able to relate to the everyday frustrations of office life. In the middle of each season is a flashback episode showing the creative origin story of someone important to Mythic Quest's development. Few shows celebrate following creative dreams like Mythic Quest, and it does so in a way that is never overly sentimental or twee.

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11 Shrinking (2023-Present)

From Ted Lasso’s Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, Shrinking stars Jason Segel as Jimmy, a grieving therapist who ignores the rule book and tells his patients exactly what he thinks. Understandably, this unorthodox approach doesn't sit right with Dr. Paul Rhoades (Harrison Ford), the foil to Jimmy and senior therapist at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center.

Shrinking's potentially fraught themes are balanced by Segel's signature dry wit and goofiness, with Jimmy succeeding as both a parody and a realistic depiction of a classic trope. Undoubtedly one of Apple TV+'s best 2023 shows, Shrinking is a quirky study of grief with a huge heart and a powerful message about dealing with loss. The always reliable Segel finally got recognized for his TV talents, and earned an Emmy nomination for Shrinking.

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10 The Afterparty (2022-Present)

Put a who's who of comedy heavyweights in a room, add a murder, and you've got The Afterparty. Apple TV+'s anthology comedy series features a new cast of characters and a new shindig every season, with Tiffany Haddish reaching comedic highs as Detective Danner. Danner is the constant in the show, who returns each season to investigate the killing at the center of the story. Season 1 focuses on the afterparty of a high school reunion, while season 2 takes place the day after a wedding. The upcoming season 3 will take place after a movie premiere.

Anthology series are becoming more and more popular, and for good reason — switching out the characters means that a great idea rarely grows stale. With Haddish leading ensembles that include Ike Barinholtz, Ben Schwartz, Ilana Glazer, Dave Franco, and Anna Konkle, the laughs don't stop. For people who like their murder mysteries with a dash of hilarity, The Afterparty is the perfect Apple TV+ show.

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9 Schmigadoon! (2021-Present)

Created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio with a first season directed by Men in Black’s Barry Sonnenfeld, Schmigadoon! is a delightfully quirky musical comedy series. Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key star as Melissa and Josh, a pair of backpackers who stumble upon a town perpetually trapped in a Golden Age-style musical — only able to leave once they have found true love. Schmigadoon!'s Emmy-winning songs, creative choreography, and original concept are parodies of the 1947 musical Brigadoon, yet the show is much more than a straightforward pastiche.

Following season 1, which parodied the Golden Age of musicals from the '40s and '50s, Schmigadoon! season 2 is inspired by musicals from the '60s and '70s, highlighting the creator's ingenuity and the show's seemingly endless reservoir of inspiration. Schmigadoon! season 3 hasn't been confirmed yet, but hopefully, Josh and Melissa will find themselves trapped in a world of '80s and '90s musicals.

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8 Dickinson (2019-2021)

A revelatory riff on the traditional biopic, Dickinson offers a unique blend between period drama and contemporary coming-of-age comedy. The Apple TV original show tells the story of a young Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) as she negotiates familial relationships, sexual identity, and historical politics. In the vein of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, Dickinson may be a period series, but it's rooted firmly in the 21st century with its anachronisms of contemporary music and language.

Steinfeld gives one of her best performances in the title role, bringing a relatability to the otherwise imposing literary icon, and giving her a millennial sensibility. Some viewers may find this off-putting, but the fresh take on both the subject and the genre speaks to the themes of female agency throughout the show Though mostly snubbed for major awards, Dickinson is remarkably consistent in its high quality from start to finish.

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7 Five Days At Memorial (2022)

Based on the harrowing true story and Sheri Fink book of the same name, Five Days at Memorial recounts the five days at Memorial Medical Center in a post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans when the hospital is without power. At the center of it all is Dr. Anna Pou (Vera Farmiga), who is accused of euthanizing patients during these trying days.

Five Days at Memorial is not an easy watch, and almost all critics are in agreement about how brutal it is to sit through. However, the pundits have also been near unanimous in their acclaim for the series as a necessary watch with particular acknowledgment of Farmiga's compelling performance. This Apple TV+ miniseries may have flown under the radar, but it's a story that deserves to be told.

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6 For All Mankind (2019-Present)

An imaginative sci-fi fantasy that takes an alternative look at one of the most seminal moments in human history, For All Mankind is a thoughtful meditation on the ongoing impacts and potential missed opportunities of the space race. In the show's alternate reality, the father of the Soviet space program Sergei Korolov lived instead of dying during an operation, allowing the Soviets to reach the Moon first.

The astronauts in the For All Mankind cast are based on real-life top NASA astronauts from the late '60s, with each succeeding season taking place a decade later than the last, providing a fascinating and realistic version of the historic space race. For All Mankind's unique premise earned it recognition from the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Programming, and the Saturn Awards for Best Fantasy Television Series.

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5 Black Bird (2022)

Based on James Keene and Hillel Levin’s autobiographical novel In with the Devil and developed by Dennis Lehane, Black Bird is a crime drama miniseries about a once-promising young football star unexpectedly faced with narcotics charges that could send him to prison. Jimmy is forced to use his gift of gab to take a deal for a fully commuted sentence. The catch is that, in exchange, he must help federal authorities coax a confession out of Larry Hall — a serial killer.

Paul Walter Hauser, who plays Larry, won an award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2023 Golden Globes, while series lead Taron Egerton was nominated for Best Actor, and Black Bird itself earned a nomination for Best Limited Series. Black Bird will surely be remembered as one of the 2020s' best series, and it has more than cemented its status as one of the best shows on Apple TV+.

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4 Pachinko (2022-Present)

Based on the Min Jin Lee novel of the same name, Pachinko is an epic drama that follows four generations of a Korean family from 1915 to 1989 as they leave Korea to start a new life in Osaka, Japan. For a story that chronicles so many lives across such a large span of time, Pachinko is one of the most intimate shows on Apple TV+.

Pachinko was met with universal critical acclaim, particularly for its stunning cinematography and unmatched performances. There was an outcry when Pachinko was snubbed at the 2022 Emmys but it may have another shot to take home the awards it deserves because it is getting a second season.

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3 Bad Sisters (2022-Present)

Sharon Horgan’s pitch-black Irish comedy series Bad Sisters revolves around five siblings living in Dublin. Horgan plays Eva, the oldest sister, who comes up with the idea of murdering another sister's abusive husband, John Paul (Claes Bang). The first season sees the sisters' hilarious attempts to kill John Paul thwarted one after the other until Bad Sisters' wild season 1 ending, that leaves viewers clamoring for the sophomore installment.

With several Writers Guild of America, Critics' Choice Television Awards, and Primetime Emmy nominations, Bad Sisters is a thrilling and frequently uproarious murder mystery that proves the perfect conduit for Horgan’s acerbic wit. Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson splendidly round out the rest of the Garvey sisters as a truly magnetic ensemble – a key reason why it ranks among the best shows found on Apple TV+.

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2 Severance (2022-Present)

A unique combination of dystopian sci-fi, psychological thriller, and workplace comedy, Severance revolves around biotech company Lumon Industries, which begins an experimental work program that separates employees’ office memories from the day-to-day of their personal lives. However, Macrodata Refinement worker Mark Scout (Adam Scott) soon discovers the conspiracy behind the experiment and what's really going on at the company.

Severance was named one of the Top 10 Programs of the Year by the American Film Institute in 2022, and was also awarded by the Art Directors Guild for outstanding production design — just a handful of its multiple nominations and wins. Scott leads Severance's star-studded cast in the pitch-perfect satire of the soul-crushing corporate world. Given its brilliantly risky and mystery-driven premise, Severance season 2 will determine whether the series can remain among the best Apple TV+ shows in the future.

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1 Ted Lasso (2020-2023)

Belying its humble origins of NBC Sports promo media for the English Premier League, Ted Lasso is much better than a show adapted from commercials has any right to be, and is Apple TV+'s best show. Reprising his role from NBC Sports' Premier League promos, Jason Sudeikis shines as the endlessly optimistic coach, drafted in to lead a struggling English football team to victory. Ted may be a fish out of water, but he makes everyone around him believe in themselves, and he in turn learns a lot about who he is.

In 2021, Ted Lasso became the most nominated new comedy in Emmy history, winning seven of its 20 Primetime Emmy nominations - including Outstanding Comedy Series, as well as individual acting awards for Jason Sudeikis, Brett Goldstein, and Hannah Waddingham. The show reprised several Emmy wins in 2022 for its second season, including Outstanding Comedy and Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Sudeikis. Ted Lasso season 3 was a bit uneven, but still maintained the show's honest depiction of mental health and strong portrayal of fully-rounded female characters. It's unclear if Ted Lasso season 4 will happen for Apple TV+, but if the titular coach taught viewers anything, it's to believe.

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