You'd be mistaken if you think Severance is the only must-watch sci-fi TV show on Apple TV Plus. Apple's original entertainment platform has steadily churned out top-notch genre titles for years. Finally, audiences are discovering what you and I have known for a while.
The problem with Apple TV Plus is that its library is packed with high-quality programs, and it can be confusing to determine which one to click play on first. But that won't discourage you. How do I know? You could've gone to Netflix or Prime Video -- each streamer is chock-full of sci-fi goodies -- but your preferences led you here. I compiled a list of worthy shows to dig into below.
Outside the box and creative in their storytelling, each science fiction program I put on the list below stays true to Apple's stylish branding. As the company's classic ad campaign states, it "thinks different." Sci-fi shows such as For All Mankind, Foundation and Dark Matter are clear standouts on my list. Newcomers like Murderbot are keeping Apple TV Plus a must-have streamer. And, yes, there's always Severance.
Below, you'll find CNET's guide to the best genre shows to watch on Apple TV Plus right now. You could be in the mood for a neo-noir mystery, an epic monster battle or something with a scientific flair. There are choices, choices, choices -- so settle in and click play.
Read more: Apple TV Plus Review: Small Library but the Quality Is Top-Notch
Apple TV Plus Murderbot The adaptation of Martha Wells' bestselling book series, Murderbot Diaries, has already carved a unique niche in Apple TV Plus's sci-fi library. Starring Alexander Skarsgård (who delivers in everything he's in) as the murder-y bot in question, the program follows the exploits of a security bot who protects his human clients while secretly watching hours upon hours of TV. If you want action, comedy and science fiction, Murderbot delivers all three.
Apple TV Plus Dr. Brain All six episodes of Dr. Brain were directed by Kim Jee-woon (the director behind I Saw the Devil), which pretty much tells you that this show will be a dark and twisted ride. The series follows a brain scientist named Sewon Koh, who's found a way to hack into the memories of dead people. This is a medical breakthrough, to be sure, but Sewon is more focused on using this experimental technique to solve the mystery behind a family tragedy.
Apple TV Plus Sunny Rashida Jones stars as Suzie in Sunny, a series Apple TV Plus describes as a dark comedy. After Suzie's husband and child mysteriously disappear, she is given a robot to help her grieve. As the show unfolds, Suzie begins to learn her husband's secrets, leading the program to take a darkly dramatic turn. Presented in a sleek, near-future lens, Sunny feels very Black Mirror-y, which is a good thing.
Apple TV Plus Severance If Ted Lasso set the stage for quirky comedies on the platform, Severance has to be the title that cemented Apple TV Plus as a streamer devoted to high-concept genre programming. The series follows Mark (Adam Scott), who works for Lumon Industries, a biotech firm that has a unique (albeit terrifying) system to maintain its employees' work-life balance. Ben Stiller executive produces and directs most of the first season's episodes, proving once again he's a stellar talent behind the camera.
Apple TV Plus Hello Tomorrow! Hello Tomorrow! takes place in a retro-future where door-to-door salesmen sell real estate on the moon. The world-building is one of the biggest draws of the series, which unfortunately didn't get a season 2 renewal. Billy Crudup, Allison Pill, Dawshane Williams, Hank Azaria and Susan Heyward make up the show's strong cast.
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