‘Invasion’ Apple TV+
Apple TV+ has quickly turn into home to award-winning series, but amidst the hype for hits like Ted Lasso and Severance, some quality shows fly under the radar. From gripping thrillers to thought-provoking sci-fi spectacles, the streamer has quietly been constructing a powerful library of original content. Check out these seven underrated Apple originals that deserve more love.
‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey’ (2022)
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey follows its titular character, played by Samuel L. Jackson, an ailing man forgotten by his family and lost to dementia. When Ptolemy is suddenly left without his caretaker, he’s given an experimental drug treatment that restores his memories. With his mind clear, Ptolemy can finally piece together the mystery of his past and right a serious flawed.
Beyond Samuel L. Jackson’s praised central performance, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey tackles loss and dementia with poignancy and humanity. Ptolemy’s struggle to carry onto memories and make sense of the past while fighting his own fading mind is profoundly moving. The series offers a thoughtful meditation on family, identity, and the facility of remembrance when a lot has been forgotten. Sensitively written and directed, it leverages fantasy elements to inform an emotional and meaningful story in regards to the resilience of the human spirit.
‘Invasion’ (2021)
Invasion follows different storylines across several continents because the world experiences a mysterious alien invasion. From a sheriff in rural America and a soldier within the Middle East to a Japanese aerospace engineer, the drama builds as their lives intersect (and an odd extraterrestrial threat slowly surfaces).
Invasion delivers slow suspense because the pieces of the alien puzzle come together from different perspectives. Striking visuals and robust performances elevate the fabric. While the overarching plot in regards to the alien encounter is the hook, the show also succeeds as an intimate character study, touching on themes of connection and empathy. The open-ended first season left much up within the air for more sci-fi mystery and character drama.
‘Silo’ (2022)
Silo is a dystopian thriller series set in a world where human civilization is forced to live in an underground missile silo to evade the Earth’s toxic air. They are taught to live without knowledge of their past or how they got there. When a number of brave souls begin to query the silo’s strict ideologies, they threaten to disrupt its social order and reveal deadly secrets.
Silo features an intriguing and slowly unfolding mystery. The show examines complex dynamics inside its close-quarters society. The show’s compelling story is backed by strong performances from Rebecca Ferguson, Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, Common, and Tim Robbins. For fans of psychological sci-fi stories that supply each compelling characters and ethical dilemmas, Silo deserves a glance.
‘Shining Girls’ (2022)
Shining Girls follows Kirby, a newspaper archivist in Nineteen Nineties Chicago who survives a traumatic assault. When a murder with parallels to Kirby’s attack occurs, she teams up with a veteran reporter to uncover the identity of her would-be killer, who possesses the power to time travel between a long time.
Anchored by a strong performance from Elisabeth Moss, Shining Girls delivers a suspenseful and mind-bending mystery boasting themes of trauma and resilience. The genre-bending series seamlessly shifts between the 90s, 70s, and 30s via stunning period design.
‘The Afterparty’ (2022)
In The Afterparty, a highschool reunion afterparty turns deadly when a well-liked classmate Xavier is murdered. Each episode retells the night from one other character’s perspective. As motives and secrets emerge, Detective Danner tries to piece together who killed Xavier.
The Afterparty is a murder mystery ride with a rotating perspective that breathes latest life into the classic whodunit format and surprises you with each retelling. Along with the central murder plot, the show packs in sharp comedy, guest star cameos, and many references that may delight popular culture enthusiasts.
‘Foundation’ (2021)
Based on Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi saga, Foundation chronicles the fate of the Galactic Empire, which mathematician Hari Seldon predicts will soon fall. He develops a plan to preserve humanity’s knowledge before the empire collapses into chaos. The sprawling story spans planets and generations.
Epic in scope, Foundation enthralls with stunning visuals transporting viewers across far-flung worlds. The series handles the monumental task of adapting Asimov’s complex saga, retaining the books’ thought-provoking exploration of sociology, technology, and destiny. Anchored by Lee Pace’s performance because the visionary Seldon, Foundation provides an ambitious sci-fi tale that tackles an everlasting query: Can one man’s actions change the course of history?
‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ (2022)
Hannah Hall (Jennifer Garner) forms an unexpected bond together with her sixteen-year-old stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) after her husband Owen mysteriously disappears, forsaking a note reading “Protect her.” As the 2 seek for answers about Owen, they learn dark secrets that make them query his identity.
The Last Thing He Told Me is a gripping miniseries filled with twists and revelations. Garner and rising star Angourie Rice share an authentic chemistry as a stepmother and daughter struggling through grief and uncertainty. Unreliable memories and conflicting clues entangle the central mystery, keeping viewers guessing. While the mystery intrigues, the show’s true strength is mining the complexities of family, marriage, and the rubble left behind by damaged relationships.
