When it comes to must-see shows, Apple TV should not be slept on. That applies especially to sci-fi. I Streaming owned by apples they may be known by prominent forms such as Separationbut beyond this topic, there is a strong list of fantasy TV shows that you should add to your watch list.
When Apple TV dropped the “Plus” from its name, the redesign created name confusion between its platform and its hardware. Apple’s marketing strategy adds another obstacle to getting quality content. Titles on the streaming platform rely heavily on organic discovery and word of mouth, making it difficult to know which shows to watch and which to pass on.
Navigating the platform on your own can be fun, but it’s also helpful to have a curated guide, like the one I’ve included below, to steer you in the right direction.
Come for shows that combine stunning world-building, captivating performances and envelope-pushing storytelling. The variety of TV shows in the Apple TV library accomplishes all that. Shows like Pluribus, All Humanity, Murderbot and Dark Matter immediately come to mind. Hey, you can always give Severance a rewatch while you’re at it.
Below, you’ll find CNET’s guide to the best sci-fi shows you can watch on Apple TV right now. This list will be updated regularly, so be sure to bookmark it and visit it often.
Read more: The Apple TV App on Android Now Supports Google Cast. Here’s Why That Matters
Vince Gilligan’s new series is more X-Files than Breaking Bad, and that’s a good thing. The show follows a woman named Carol (Rhea Seehorn), who is caught in the middle of a global epidemic of unbridled happiness. It’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers, yet a completely different take on the idea of an alien invasion. Brilliant writing and Seehorn’s Emmy-worthy performance make this show one of my favorites of the year.
Invasion is an epic sci-fi drama about an alien invasion. What sets this series apart is its international scope. Now in its third season, the show travels around the world to offer different perspectives on the global threat. Events in the series happen in real time, which adds a sense of urgency to the mix.
An adaptation of Martha Wells’ best-selling book series, The Murderbot Diaries, has carved out a unique place in the Apple TV Plus sci-fi library. Starring Alexander Skarsgård (who brings his all) as the bot-y in question, the show follows the actions of a security bot who protects his human clients while secretly watching hours upon hours of TV. If you’re looking for action, comedy and science fiction, Murderbot delivers all three.
All six episodes of Dr. Brain is directed by Kim Jee-woon (the director behind I Saw the Devil), which pretty much tells you that this drama is going to be a dark and twisted ride. The series follows a neuroscientist named Sewon Koh, who discovers a way to hack into the memories of dead people. This is a medical breakthrough, sure, but Sewon is more focused on using this diagnostic technique to solve the mystery of a family tragedy.
Rashida Jones stars as Suzie in Sunny, an Apple TV Plus series that describes itself as a dark comedy. After Suzie’s husband and child mysteriously disappear, she is given a robot to help her through her grief. As the show progresses, Suzie begins to learn her husband’s secrets, leading the show to take a very serious turn. Presented through a slick, near-futuristic lens, Sunny feels Black Mirror-y, which is a good thing.
If Ted Lasso puts a platform for quirky comedy on the platform, Severance should be the title that solidifies Apple TV Plus as a channel dedicated to high-concept genre programming. The series follows Mark (Adam Scott), who works for Lumon Industries, a biotech company with a unique (albeit terrifying) plan to maintain the work-life balance of its employees. Ben Stiller executive produced and directed many episodes of the first season, proving once again that he is an outstanding talent behind the camera.
Good Morning! it takes place in the future when door-to-door salesmen sell real estate for the month. The world building is one of the biggest draws of the series, which unfortunately did not get a renewal for season 2. Billy Crudup, Allison Pill, Dawshane Williams, Hank Azaria and Susan Heyward make up the strong cast of the show.
What would life be like if the space race never stopped? That is the great question that Answers All Mankind. The acclaimed sci-fi drama takes place in an alternate reality where America and the Soviets compete for dominance in space. Thanks to the ever-creative vision of show creator Ronald D. Moore and the committed performances of its legendary ensemble cast, this is probably the best science fiction series you’ve ever watched.
What if we did things differently? We have all asked ourselves that question at least once throughout our lives. That question comes from Dark Matter, a high-concept twisted series based on a book by Blake Crouch. The series stars Joel Edgerton as Jason, a college professor who suffers from a strange attack that changes his life and reality. Jennifer Connelly, Jimmi Simpson and Alice Braga are his companions in a show that will keep you guessing until the end of the season.
King: Legacy of monsters
The Godzilla universe finally came to TV in this series for Apple TV. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters seeks to reveal the organization’s secrets as it connects to the monsters that plague San Francisco. Kurt Russell stars in his first role in a TV series in nearly fifty years. Here, he and his son Wyatt play military officer Lee Shaw in the 1950s and today. The monsters and Russell’s star power alone are reasons enough to sing.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Samuel L. Jackson moves away from the superhero genre to bring the themes of age and dementia to the fore. Here, he plays the role of Ptolemy Grey, an elderly man with Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to the support of an orphaned child and the ongoing research of a strange doctor, Ptolemy can re-analyze his mind to stay trapped in his life while searching for answers to his nephew’s sudden death.
Using Hugh Howey’s book trilogy as inspiration, The Beast explores a dystopian future world where the survivors of humanity live in an underground structure. A multi-classist drama fills the underground city. Population control, a murder mystery and a deadly powerful world outside keep the show popular. Rebecca Ferguson, Common and Tim Robbins lead the combined team.
Apple TV did the unthinkable in adapting Isaac Asimov’s popular sci-fi book series. But the streamer pulled it off. Jared Harris plays Hari Seldon, an exiled math professor, predicting the fall of the Galactic Empire. Lee Pace delivers a stunning performance as Brother’s Day. The space drama follows Seldon and his followers as they fight to save humanity.
Jason Momoa turns his acting chops on See. The show, created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, explores a dystopian future where humanity has lost the ability to see. Losing sight does not make people stronger in fighting, and it is truly a sight to see blind warriors wielding weapons of war. Momoa’s charisma and love shine through, making the show enjoyable, even if it’s a hard concept to believe.
Mark Protosevich, the writer behind films like Thor, I Am Legend and The Cell, created Sugar — a series that wore its love of film noir on its sleeve. Visually, Sugar is a joy. Add Colin Farrell’s soft-spoken, sympathetic undercover detective to the mix, and you have a stylish murder mystery with patience and compassion. An unexpected twist turns the show on its head later in the series, turning the story into something else entirely.
