What Apple TV+ shows to watch after Severance?

July 16, 2022 4:56 PM

I've never had access to Apple TV before, but recently started a free trial to watch Severance, which was excellent. Now I'm looking for what shows exclusive to Apple to watch next. Personal preferences below the fold.

I generally enjoy dark comedy-dramas (Succession, Atlanta, White Lotus, etc.) or off-beat/absurdist comedies (What We Do in the Shadows, I Think You Should Leave, South Side, The Great, Russian Doll, etc.). I also like documentaries (though less so drawn-out docuseries), nature shows, or historical dramas (Chernobyl). Less keen on anything approaching heartwarming (I watched and (mostly) enjoyed Schitt's Creek, but for me it was a bit much at points).

So, what shows exclusive to Apple should I try next? Thanks!

posted by coffeecat to Media & Arts (22 answers total)

I liked The Morning Show.
posted by primethyme at 5:05 PM on July 16, 2022 [4 favorites]

For All Mankind is excellent. It’s an alternate history series that begins with the USSR landing on the moon first. I like it for some of the same reasons I liked Chernobyl.
posted by theotherdurassister at 5:08 PM on July 16, 2022 [12 favorites]

Slow Horses. Spy thriller/drama but with a biting humor.
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 5:11 PM on July 16, 2022 [17 favorites]

For All Mankind is an alternate history show about what might have happened if Soviets landed on the moon first.

Schmigadoon might be enjoyable if you like Broadway musicals.

Watch The Sound with Mark Ronson is a neat documentary series about music production.

Ted Lasso is good, but probably too heartwarming for you if you didn't like Schitt's Creek. It's about a US football coach who ends up coaching a soccer team in the UK.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 5:11 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

I like For All Mankind as well. The Morning Show has a great cast and is beautifully done. The Problem with Jon Stewart is solid. I liked Schmigadoon even though I don't like musicals ;)

I have heard great things about Pachinko but haven't watched it yet.
posted by getawaysticks at 5:12 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

Oh, Visible: Out on Television was great too! It's about the history of LGBTQ representation on TV.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 5:13 PM on July 16, 2022

Your 'likes' are a decent match for Mythic Quest. To my mind, it's a witty and absurdist comedy that does have warm moments, but it's also kind of acidic/mean and--especially in each season's 'flashback' episode adding depth to the situation--downbeat. If you've ever played an MMO, enjoyed Community, or (more speculatively since I haven't seen it) enjoyed It's Always Sunny ..., those would be additional reasons to watch, because it's related to each of them pretty directly.
posted by Wobbuffet at 5:36 PM on July 16, 2022 [7 favorites]

I like the shows you do, and Mythic Quest (the pandemic episode is the best pandemic show I've ever seen, but the show itself is just really good), and Dickinson is great (Wiz Khalifa plays Death, if that gives you any idea). Ted Lasso was definitely heartwarming in the first season, but less so in the second (and deserved those Emmys). If Bob's Burgers is in your wheelhouse, then Central Park is also pretty fun in the same vein.
posted by General Malaise at 5:43 PM on July 16, 2022 [5 favorites]

For all mankind. For real. That’s the one
posted by capnsue at 5:44 PM on July 16, 2022 [3 favorites]

Oh on documentaries: the ones about Velvet Underground, Beastie Boys and Summer of Soul were all fantastic.
posted by General Malaise at 5:45 PM on July 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

Dickinson is fantastic. It manages to be both dark comedy-drama AND heartwarming. It's also WAY more historically accurate than you'd think it would be.
posted by rikschell at 5:53 PM on July 16, 2022 [3 favorites]

Mosquito Coast (unsure if there will be a third season, but there are currently two) and Defending Jacob were great.

Servant is entertaining, but YMMV on M. Night Shyamalan.
posted by emelenjr at 6:08 PM on July 16, 2022

Calls. It’s very weird, like Severance, and sci/fi flavored.
posted by ejs at 6:21 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

nthing Mythic Quest and Central Park.

Loot has a good ensemble cast, and Maya Rudolph shines in it.

Shining Girls is a difficult subject (trigger warning for trauma) handled well, and Elisabeth Moss is amazing.

Fraggle Rock is there for your dose of nostalgia.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 7:24 PM on July 16, 2022

Nthing Loot, which is such a good natured show that it could go hand in hand with any Michael Schur comedy series.

Also, and I hesitate to say this, if you’re good at signing up for, and then actually cancelling free trials, you can get a free month of Showtime on Apple+ and watch Yellowjackets, which should be right up your alley!
posted by Champagne Supernova at 9:21 PM on July 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

Seconding Slow Horses, the Velvet Underground doc, and nthing The Morning Show, and the bits of For All Mankind where they're actually doing exciting space stuff.

I'm with you on Schitt's Creek and am a few episodes in to Ted Lasso - I can see it might be good, like everyone says, if he becomes less unbearable.
posted by fabius at 5:54 AM on July 17, 2022

You like nature shows? Then prehistoric planet. It’s like Planet Earth level quality but dinosaurs.
posted by poxandplague at 6:12 AM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

For All Mankind! AKA, as we call it in my house because that title is dumb, Space Show. Truly some of the best character work on television.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 9:13 AM on July 17, 2022

I loved the first season of Physical. The second season premiered about a month ago and is probably equally great, but I haven't gotten around to watching it yet.

It's a dark comedy-drama starring Rose Byrne as a frustrated housewife in 1980s San Diego who discovers aerobics, which inspires her pursuit of Jane Fonda-esque VHS superstardom. TW for portrayal of an eating disorder and I need to mention that the main character's self-talk can be brutal. The secondary characters are complex and mostly delightful. Season 1 teaser for the vibes.
posted by beabop at 10:36 AM on July 17, 2022

It's a docuseries, but you can take in any episode you like: 1971 on Apple+ is great. It delves into a variety of music that was released in 1971. It is full of original footage and gives a ton of historical perspective. The series isn't well promoted, but I think everyone should watch one episode.
posted by hydra77 at 12:37 PM on July 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've watched & loved the first two episodes of Home, which is a docuseries, but self-contained anthological episodes rather than stretched-out single narrative. S1 Episode 2, about Theaster Gates and his community-oriented reimaginations of buildings on the south side of Chicago, is worth watching even as a standalone.
posted by xueexueg at 4:35 PM on July 17, 2022

Response by poster: Thanks to all the suggestions! Clearly enough there to justify subscribing for at least a month. (And the Slow Horses rec was spot on, and reminds me I forgot to mention a general affinity for British comedies).
posted by coffeecat at 4:49 PM on July 17, 2022