Streaming has become the background music of modern life. We put on a show while we scroll, zone out or spiral. Most of it is pretty forgettable. Comforting, sure. But meaningful? Not really.
Which is what makes Apple TV+ such a surprise.
While other platforms pump out another reboot or true crime rehash, Apple has quietly curated something different: storytelling that actually wrestles with the big stuff. Shows that engage with themes like justice, identity, grief, ambition and the systems shaping our lives. Basically, the kind of content that doesn’t just distract you—but might actually change you.
Here are 10 Apple TV+ shows that have something to say, and say it well.
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Severance
Work-life balance gets a sci-fi horror twist in Severance, a corporate satire that imagines what would happen if you could split your brain—literally—between your job and your real life. The second season just dropped, and it felt like everyone with a Twitter account was posting theories, memes or slow-mo footage of Adam Scott walking to work. But honestly? It deserved it. The show digs deep into identity, autonomy and the slow soul-crush of modern capitalism—and somehow still manages to be both unsettling and deeply moving. Believe the hype.
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Shrinking
Grief. Therapy. Emotional honesty. And Jason Segel. Shrinking is a dark comedy about a therapist who starts telling his clients exactly what he thinks and maybe healing himself in the process. Created by the minds behind Ted Lasso, the show is smart, surprisingly spiritual and sneakily optimistic about the idea that we can help each other get unstuck.
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Government Cheese
David Oyelowo stars in this surrealist dramedy about a former convict who reunites with his eccentric family and dreams of becoming an inventor. Set in 1969 but infused with a strange, dreamlike energy, Government Cheese feels almost biblical at times—especially in how it mirrors the Book of Jonah. Like Jonah, Hampton Chambers tries to outrun his failures and his calling, only to be thrown into situations that force him to confront the truth. It’s a bold, sometimes bizarre exploration of redemption, second chances and what it really means to build a future.
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The Studio
Hollywood loves to poke fun at itself, but The Studio does it with teeth. Seth Rogen plays the flailing head of a legacy movie studio trying to survive in a world where artistic ambition and brand synergy do not play nicely together. The show is hilarious, yes, but also a sharp commentary on compromise, creativity and the slow death of original ideas.
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For All Mankind
What if the space race never ended? That’s the question For All Mankind asks, but it’s really a story about who gets left behind when progress becomes the goal. Through an alternate history lens, the series tackles gender inequality, nationalism and ambition, all wrapped in sleek retro sci-fi. It’s the most thoughtful space drama you’re probably not watching.
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Truth Be Told
True crime podcasts are entertaining. But are they ethical? Truth Be Told stars Octavia Spencer as a journalist-turned-podcaster investigating whether she got it wrong the first time around. It’s a meditation on guilt, justice and who gets to tell whose story. For anyone obsessed with Serial, this one hits different and harder.
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Lisey’s Story
This Stephen King adaptation isn’t just a psychological thriller; it’s an emotional excavation. Julianne Moore stars as a widow unlocking the dark, magical world of her late husband’s mind. Grief here isn’t clean. It’s weird, terrifying and sacred. The show doesn’t explain itself, and it doesn’t need to. It’s the kind of storytelling that respects your imagination.
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Pachinko
This sweeping historical drama tells the story of a Korean family across four generations, and it’s one of the most visually stunning and emotionally powerful things on television. Pachinko doesn’t just explore trauma, resilience and identity—it lingers in them, with a sense of reverence that feels spiritual. It’s not a quick binge, but it’s the kind of story that lingers in your bones.
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Little America
Based on true stories, this anthology series highlights the everyday lives of immigrants in the U.S., but without the melodrama or stereotypes. Each episode is a snapshot of grit, heartbreak and humor, told with care and intimacy. At a time when immigration is more political talking point than human story, Little America reminds us that these lives are sacred, complex and often extraordinary.
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Extrapolations
Set in the near future, this climate change drama doesn’t pull any punches. Extrapolations imagines how our current ecological choices could shape the decades to come—socially, politically, spiritually. It’s not subtle (and it shouldn’t be). Think of it as prestige TV for people who think about recycling, compost and the end of the world in the same 10-minute window.
Sure, you could spend another night binging forgettable Netflix dating shows.
Or you could queue up something that might actually leave you thinking about your life choices.
Your call.
