Apple TV+ Might Be the Most Underrated Streaming Platform Right Now — and 2025 Proves It. While competitors like Netflix and Prime Video dominate conversations, Apple TV+ quietly delivers some of the most brilliant television around. Yet somehow, it still feels like no one is watching. But here’s where it gets interesting — what Apple lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in pure, jaw-dropping quality.
Apple’s decision to focus solely on original programming once seemed like a terrible idea. Viewers were used to endless libraries filled with familiar shows, so Apple’s carefully curated catalog looked bare by comparison. But the company’s deep pockets tell a different story. By investing astronomical sums into its productions — even spilling $20 million per episode in some cases — Apple has given directors like Ridley Scott and Martin Scorsese the freedom to create truly cinematic television experiences. The result? A lineup of shows so stunning it feels criminal to overlook them.
Here are the 10 most impressive Apple TV+ shows of 2025 (so far) — each one proof that prestige TV still thrives in the streaming era.
Dope Thief
An intense, eight-part thriller crafted by Peter Craig (co-writer of The Batman and The Town), Dope Thief turns Dennis Tafoya’s 2009 novel into a white-knuckle exploration of crime, morality, and survival. Brian Tyree Henry stars as Ray, a former addict who steals from drug dealers with his friend Manny (Wagner Moura) while posing as DEA agents. But when their latest heist intersects with a real undercover operation, things take a deadly turn. As Ray and Manny are hunted by both the law and their victims, the show evolves into a modern Shakespearean tragedy drenched in grit and chaos. With Ridley Scott directing the first episode and commanding performances from Kate Mulgrew and Ving Rhames, Dope Thief is easily one of the most visceral crime dramas of the year.
Foundation
Few series dare to dream as big as Foundation. Long deemed “unfilmable,” Isaac Asimov’s legendary sci-fi epic comes alive in a spectacular third season that’s both intellectually rich and visually monumental. This year’s addition leans into bold storytelling — from massive space battles to philosophical musings on humanity’s hubris. A new central villain ties the sprawling narrative threads together, giving fans an emotional core to grasp amid the intergalactic chaos. Lee Pace shines as the ever-charismatic emperor, delivering a surreal “Big Lebowski in space” energy that audiences can’t stop talking about. It’s science fiction on an operatic scale — daringly weird, endlessly fascinating, and visually stunning.
Murderbot
What if the world’s deadliest robot just wanted to be left alone to watch TV? That’s the irresistible premise of Apple’s hit Murderbot, adapted from Martha Wells’ beloved book series. Alexander Skarsgård plays a self-aware security android who’s hacked its control unit to gain autonomy. To hide its newfound freedom, he adopts the ironically self-given name “Murderbot.” The twist? He’s far more interested in binge-watching space soap operas than exterminating humans. Blending sharp humor with surprisingly poignant insight into loneliness and identity, Murderbot succeeds thanks to Skarsgård’s perfectly offbeat performance and clever writing that humanizes the machine. It’s part satire, part existential sci-fi — and completely binge-worthy.
Platonic
While The Studio may have earned Seth Rogen a shelf of awards, his other Apple TV+ gem, Platonic, deserves equal attention. Teaming up once again with Rose Byrne, Rogen dives into the rarity of true friendship between men and women — without the usual “will-they, won’t-they” clichés. In season two, his character Will prepares to marry an overly strict CEO, and longtime best friend Sylvia struggles with whether to tell him the truth about what everyone else sees coming. The magic of Platonic lies in its grounded humor and heart. It’s a hilarious yet touching exploration of how friendships evolve in adulthood — a reminder that growing up doesn’t mean giving up the people who know you best.
Severance
After a painful three-year wait, Severance returned with a second season that proved every minute of anticipation was justified. Set in the secretive halls of Lumon Industries, the show continues to explore what happens when your work self and real self live separate lives — literally. Adam Scott, Britt Lower, and John Turturro all return with searing performances as their characters uncover even darker truths about Lumon’s intentions. The second season’s highlights include some of the most daring episodes of television this year, cementing Severance as one of the smartest, most inventive series currently streaming. But here’s the controversial question: is Lumon truly evil, or are they simply the logical evolution of modern corporate obsession?
Slow Horses
Now five seasons in, Slow Horses continues to be the unsung hero of Apple’s lineup — a British spy series that delivers both suspense and sarcasm in equal measure. Gary Oldman reprises his role as the unkept genius Jackson Lamb, and his blend of cynicism and heart makes this season especially compelling. When terrorists infiltrate the agency via tech-whiz Roddy Ho, the ragtag Slough House team must rally once again. Slow Horses maintains its sharp British wit and character-driven emotion, making it one of the most consistently excellent shows on television. It’s proof that great TV doesn’t need flash — just razor-sharp writing and unfiltered honesty.
Smoke
Dennis Lehane returns to television following his acclaimed Black Bird with Smoke — a slow-burning procedural that transforms into a psychological inferno. Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett lead a powerhouse cast as investigators hunting down mysterious arsonists, but it’s Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine’s haunting portrayal of Freddy, a troubled fast-food worker with secrets of his own, that steals the show. What begins as a standard crime case evolves into a meditation on guilt, punishment, and redemption. Stick through the early episodes; Smoke catches fire midway through, leading to some of the most powerful television moments of the year.
Stick
It’s rare that a show about golf makes viewers emotional, but Stick manages exactly that. The sports comedy, starring Owen Wilson as the once-great golfer Pryce Cahill, balances humor and heartbreak in unexpected ways. Pryce, now a washed-up coach mentoring a young prodigy, grapples with personal loss and fading glory. Wilson’s charm and vulnerability make the series deeply engaging, while supporting performances — especially from Marc Maron — bring both humor and sincerity. Stick may appear breezy on the surface, but its emotional depth sneaks up on you. Think Ted Lasso with more heartbreak and way more sand traps.
The Studio
Crowned with a mountain of Emmy wins, The Studio is a biting satire of Hollywood’s chaos, ego, and ambition — filtered through the comedic genius of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Rogen plays Matt Remick, a well-meaning but bumbling executive trying to save a failing film studio. His attempts to balance art and business lead to some of the funniest disasters imaginable — including a misjudged Scorsese insult at the Golden Globes. The show is packed with megawatt performances from Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, and Kathryn Hahn, plus stunning single-take sequences that elevate it beyond simple comedy. It’s equal parts hilarious, cringe-inducing, and brilliant — everything Hollywood satire should be.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper’s Your Friends & Neighbors delivers a dramedy full of intrigue and irony. Jon Hamm stars as Coop, a fallen hedge-fund manager desperate to maintain his millionaire lifestyle — even if it means stealing from his social circle. Supported by Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn, Hamm brings both charm and moral ambiguity to a series that feels like a reflection of our own obsession with image and success. It’s sharp, funny, and surprisingly self-aware. And though some may see Coop as irredeemable, others might argue he’s just playing by the rules of an already corrupt game — now that’s a debate worth having.
Apple TV+ may not have the massive library of its rivals, but it’s quietly redefining what quality TV looks like. Every series on this list proves that storytelling, not sheer volume, is what truly keeps audiences hooked. But here’s the question: is Apple TV+ the future of prestige television, or will its exclusivity keep it from ever reaching the audience it deserves?
