This November, Apple joined the streaming game by releasing its own video-on-demand web service known as Apple TV+. Instead of pulling together an extensive catalog of already existing shows for the service, though, Apple decided to debut Apple TV+ with a small selection of new, original series. From a period comedy about an American poet to an animation inspired by the Peanuts comics, the streaming service decided to cover all the bases. We're here to look at how all the new, currently released programs stack up. Rather than picking our own favorites, however, we decided to turn to IMDb for answers.
The popular movie and TV show website has assigned every Apple TV+ program a star rating. These rankings are based on the votes of registered users on a scale of 1 to 10, and they're what we'll be using to put the shows in line. With that said, it's time to get comfy on the couch, sit back, and enjoy the program. Here is how every Apple TV+ show stacks up on IMDb (at the time of this list's publication)!
Ghostwriter (4.7)
Starting us out is a reboot of the PBS children's mystery serious known as Ghostwriter. The original story follows a group of friends in Brooklyn who set out to solve crimes with the help of their ghost friend known as Ghostwriter.
The new series has a group of kids solving the mystery behind a ghost that is pulling fictional characters from novels in the neighborhood bookstore into the real world. Though the family series has been criticized for its lackluster acting, others have enjoyed the fresh take featuring kids who are in tune with the 21st century.
Oprah’s Book Club (6.1)
Oprah teamed up with Apple TV+ to bring her famous book club to the next level. The show has the popular icon interviewing the authors of her favorite books. She kicks it off by talking to Ta-Nehisi Coates, who is the writer of The Water Dancer.
The show is paced to have a new episode every two months, allowing viewers time to read the books being discussed in each episode before the next one airs. Though separate from this show, Oprah is also teaming together with Apple to create two documentaries; one about workplace sexual harassment and the other about mental health.
For All Mankind (6.7)
This sci-fi series, starring Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman, Wrenn Schmidt, Sarah Jones, Shantel VanSanten, and Jodi Balfour, continues the story of the Space Race to the moon in the 1960s. However, the drama poses the question: "What if the Space Race didn't end?"
This causes an alternate timeline to play out in which the USSR becomes the first nation to visit the moon. Meanwhile, the American crew tries to figure out how to take their own missions to the next level. The series has been bringing in positive reviews so far thanks to its solid setup and captivating story.
Dickinson (6.9)
This black comedy takes a deeper look at the life of writer Emily Dickinson. Though the coming-of-age show takes place in 19th century Massachusetts, it's full of fresh humor. It dives further into Dickinson's imagination and her attempt to be heard in a society that's designed to keep her silent.
The leading role is taken on by Hailee Steinfeld, and before the first season had premiered, the show had already been renewed for a second season. Critics have praised Dickinson for expertly merging genres and redefining who the iconic writer truly was.
See (7.7)
This sci-fi drama, led by Jason Momoa, tells of the story of humans in the future who have fully lost their sense of sight. Though the tribes of the land are forced to find other ways to communicate with each other, they're shocked when a set of twins in the Alkenny Village are born with the ability to see.
The problem comes when a queen of a competing tribe learns of this and sets her hopes on capturing the children. This has the Alkenny Village doing all they can to take down the opposing tribe and keep the twins safe. Though the critical reviews of See have come in low, the audience reviews have scored much higher. The show's strength lies within its excellent casting.
Helpsters (8.0)
This Apple TV+ preschool show has managed to bring in its fair share of positive reviews. Helpsters follows a group of monsters who help customers solve problems at their shop, thereby encouraging critical-thinking skills. They do this by considering the issues in a formulaic way and working through the steps to success.
Sure, the audience for this show is very limited. However, being that it's created by Sesame Workshop (the same team that produces Sesame Street), it's got that nostalgia factor and learning potential going for it.
The Morning Show (8.3)
Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell are the masters at not only the funny roles, but the serious ones as well. So if you thought putting them together in a drama would create some magic, you'd be correct.
Apple TV+'s biggest show, inspired by journalist Brian Stelter's book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV, tells the story of TV anchors who fight to keep their positions after a longtime worker at the company is fired for sexual misconduct. Sure, the show has its critics. But that cast? Golden.
Did we mention that Reese Witherspoon also stars in this show? Yes, you heard that right. Go stream it.
Peanuts - Snoopy In Space (8.5)
Topping off the list is this animated comedy based on the Peanuts cartoons. The new story has Snoopy becoming a cosmonaut and heading to NASA alongside his best bud, Woodstock, and the rest of the gang.
If you want that heartwarming nostalgia to flood back all at once, this is how you get it. And with 12 different shorts in the series, the fun doesn't run out quickly. So what are you waiting for? Go stream some stuff!