Beyond Severance and Ted Lasso: hidden gems on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ produces excellent shows that somehow never break into the mainstream conversation the way Severance or Ted Lasso did. These three picks all share that frustrating pattern—stacked with critical praise, loved by the people who found them, and still criminally under-watched.
Between them, you get a workplace comedy, a sweeping historical drama, and an intriguing sci-fi mystery—proof that Apple’s range extends far beyond its biggest hits.
Mythic Quest (2020-2025)
Genre: Workplace Comedy | IMDb: 7.7/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Set in the chaotic offices of a video game studio, this workplace comedy follows the dysfunctional team behind a popular MMORPG as they juggle egos, deadlines, and the occasional creative meltdown. Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao have remarkable chemistry as a creative director and an underappreciated engineer who keep clashing despite (or because of) how much they respect each other.
The show takes creative risks too, sometimes dropping the main cast entirely for standalone episodes that hit harder than you’d expect from a comedy. Four seasons and it never got the cultural recognition it deserved.
Pachinko (2022-present)
Genre: Historical Drama | IMDb: 8.4/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
This multigenerational saga follows a Korean family across nearly seven decades, moving between Japanese-occupied Korea and 1980s New York with a structure that jumps timelines. Filmed in Korean, Japanese, and English, the show’s authenticity sets it apart from most American streaming productions.
Youn Yuh-jung’s performance as the older version of the lead character carries emotional weight that builds episode after episode. Despite landing on countless best-of lists, Apple has been slow to confirm a third season based on viewership—a shame for something this acclaimed.
The Big Door Prize (2023-2024)
Genre: Sci-Fi Comedy, Mystery | IMDb: 6.5/10 | Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
A mysterious arcade machine appears in a small-town grocery store, claiming it can reveal each resident’s true life potential. That single premise sends the entire town into an identity crisis. Chris O’Dowd anchors the show as a high school teacher who can’t stop wondering if he’s living up to his own potential.
It plays out more like a slow character study than a sci-fi mystery, which is part of why it works so well. If you love the small-town charm of Schitt’s Creek but want something a bit more introspective, this is your weekend watch.
