Apple TV Plus Sci-Fi Series That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
Apple TV Plus has been around for five years now, and in that time the streamer has built a diverse library of programming. When it comes to notable streaming shows, viewers tend to flock to genre titles — whether that’s sci-fi, fantasy, or horror — and the platform is filled with must-see goodies.
Apple’s TV streaming service may still be unknown to many. Yet the Ted Lasso effect — and the record 72 Emmy nominations — has seen it gain ground on big names like Netflix and Prime Video.
Highly conceptual and original in their storytelling, each genre show I highlight below stays true to Apple’s streamlined branding and thinks differentlyIn turn, science fiction series such as Severance, Foundation and Dark Matter stand out from the rest.
Below, you’ll find CNET’s guide to the best genre shows to watch right now on Apple TV Plus. Maybe you’re in the mood for a neo-noir mystery, an epic monster battle, a real-life fairy tale or something with a scientific bent. There are choices, choices, choices. So sit back and click play.
Read more: Apple TV Plus Review: Small Library, But Quality Is Excellent
Rashida Jones plays Suzie in Sunny, a series that Apple TV Plus describes as a dark comedy. After Suzie’s husband and child mysteriously disappear, she is given a robot as a gift to help her grieve. As the show unfolds, Suzie begins to learn her husband’s secrets, causing the show to take a dark, dramatic turn. Presented through a sleek, near-future lens, Sunny feels very Black Mirror-esque. And that’s a good thing.
If Ted Lasso set the stage for quirky comedies on the platform, then Severance must be the title that established Apple TV Plus as a streamer dedicated to high-concept, genre programming. The series follows Mark (Adam Scott), who works for Lumon Industries, a biotech company with a unique (if terrifying) system for maintaining work-life balance for its employees. Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer and director on most of the first season’s episodes, proving once again that he’s a formidable talent behind the camera.
What would life be like if the space race never ended? That’s the big question answered by For All Mankind. The prestige sci-fi drama is set in an alternate reality where America and the Soviets battle for space dominance. Thanks to the ever-creative vision of show creator Ronald D. Moore and the dedicated performances of an epic cast, this is probably the best sci-fi series you’re not watching.
Elisabeth Moss has always chosen complex characters to sink her teeth into, and that trend continues in Shining Girls. Inspired by Lauren Beukes’ book, the series follows Kirby (Moss), a troubled woman who believes a recent murder is connected to a crime from her past. The mystery takes a series of twists and turns as she teams up with a downtrodden investigative journalist (played by Wagner Moura) to find answers. This unpredictable thriller should have gotten more attention when it premiered in 2022.
What if we did things differently? We’ve all asked ourselves that question at least once in our lives. It comes to life in Dark Matter, a high-concept twisted series based on the book by Blake Crouch. The series stars Joel Edgerton as Jason, a professor who suffers a strange attack that changes his life and reality. He also stars Jennifer Connelly, Jimmi Simpson and Alice Braga in a show that will keep you on your toes until the season finale.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
The Godzilla universe finally comes to TV in this Apple TV Plus series. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters attempts to uncover the organization’s secrets while confronting the monsters that razed San Francisco to the ground. Kurt Russell stars in his first TV series role in nearly five decades, as he and his son Wyatt play Army officer Lee Shaw in the 1950s and present day. The monsters and Russell’s star power alone are reason enough to tune in.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Samuel L. Jackson steps away from the superhero genre to explore issues of age and dementia. Here he plays Ptolemy Grey, an aging man with Alzheimer’s. With the support of an orphaned teenager and the progressive research of an extraordinary doctor, Ptolemy is able to regain his sanity and find closure for his own life, while also searching for answers to the sudden death of his cousin.
Inspired by Hugh Howey’s trilogy of books, Silo explores a dystopian future world where humanity’s survivors live in an underground structure. Varied class drama permeates the underground city. Population control, a murder mystery, and the potentially deadly world outside keep the show lively. Rebecca Ferguson, Common, and Tim Robbins lead the ensemble cast.
Apple TV Plus did the unthinkable by adapting Isaac Asimov’s epic science fiction book series. But the streamer did it. Jared Harris plays Hari Seldon, an exiled math professor who predicted the fall of the Galactic Empire. Lee Pace delivers a formidable performance as Brother Day. The space drama follows Seldon and his followers as they fight to save humanity.
Jason Momoa shows off his acting chops in See. Created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, the show explores a dystopian future where humanity has lost the ability to see. Losing sight doesn’t slow people’s ability to fight, however, and it’s certainly a spectacle to see blind warriors wielding weapons for war. Momoa’s charisma and passion shine through, making the show enjoyable, even if it’s a hard-to-believe concept.
Mark Protosevich, the writer responsible for films like Thor, I Am Legend, and The Cell, has created Sugar — a series that wears its love of the film noir genre on its sleeve. Visually, Sugar is a delight. Add Colin Farrell’s soft-spoken, empathetic private eye to the mix and you have a stylish murder mystery done with patience and compassion. An unexpected twist later in the series turns the series on its head, transforming the story into something entirely different.
