Television

I was surprised to hear recently how poorly AppleTV+ is doing. I suspect it’s a branding issue more than a content issue with people possibly thinking you have to own an Apple device to watch.

For me AppleTV+ has the highest Hit to Miss ratio of all the services. Check out Silo, Slow Horses, and For All Mankind as some of my favorites you didn’t mention.

Silo is fantastic, and runs quite true to the books, at least what I remember of them.

Apple seems to put out some pretty good sci-fi shows, which I like a lot.

I've been enjoying Foundation, but it's been a really long time since I read the books, so I view it more as Game Of Thrones in future space, and don't try to correlate things with the books at all.

I don’t often discuss shows that I’ve watched with others but when I do I always feel a little awkward bringing up Apple TV because it feels like that service is tied to their phone/computer business. Like it or not there is this Apple vs Android thing that some people get weird about and I’m always worried the conversation about something on Apple TV is going to be the segue someone is waiting for to start bashing Apple which isn’t really the conversation I’m trying to have so I just don’t go there.

So far I haven’t found much on there that has interested me though. I’ve enjoyed Silo a lot and I also enjoyed Dark Matter but otherwise there hasn’t been much that I’ve really gotten into.

The problem of a minimalism based image is that there isn't any personality left to project. Apple got into streaming without a clue of what to do with it. It's not their field. Media requires expression and spectacle. Apple's minimalism, although it does express some things, it is not suited for high energy entertainment. So most of Apple's original shows are very low energy and dozy.

They also have drilled the walled garden, the golden cage, the expensive exclusivity for almost three decades of alienating marketing as well. It means that people assume they aren't allowed to even see what's available on Apple streaming unless they are already part of the ecosystem. That and the whole Apple TV, Apple TV+ brand confusion. Then people assume, correctly, that they will have to buy an Apple device and then also pay for a subscription.

Coupled with the low energy of their brand image, it makes people uninterested in what they have to offer. They see it as not worth the expensive cost of entry. This puts Apple at an impasse. Where they have to sell minimalist, exclusivity and alienation in a business that only thrives financially with colorful, inclusive and creative expression.

I don’t think there are outright BAD shows on the platform. Which is a nice change of pace from Netflix, especially.

On the topic of Ted Lasso, I actually am of the opposite opinion. I think by the third season, that show felt so forced I started to kind of dislike it. And now they want to raise its corpse from the dead for a season 4.

Shrinking, on the other hand, has moments where it feels a little fake, but overall everything feels better to me. This season that just started up has been good.

One show I couldn’t get into AT ALL was See. The premise was just dumb, and the writing wasn’t great. There’s a big battle of blind people on a foresty hill in the first episode where nothing would have gone the way it did. I don’t care how well you have adapted to not seeing, you aren’t battling on a hill blind, with blades and boulders falling down everywhere.

Severence - Brilliant in ways I can't even express. Side stories were just as compelling as the main plot. A shot burnt into my mind of Christopher Walken and John Turturro standing an abysmally lit all white hallway with expressions of wonder is emblematic of the way this show manages to contrast opposing elements.

Ted Lasso - I tried to watch this twice. Neither my wife nor I could get hook. And she's really a wonderful person.

Slow Horses - man... British shows need to add two to four more episodes to each season. I never got to know the characters really well. Despite this criticism, the act is all around good with Gary Oldman being brilliant, the story nuanced and layered, and just so many odd ball comedic moments I wouldn't have expected. Alexander the Great, His name struck fear into hearts of men.

For All Mankind - I watched season 1 and wasn't compelled enough to watch the next season. Felt a little too self important for my tastes.

Shrinking - it was okay. The main crisis felt a little forced, but the supporting characters were very interesting. The comedy worked, but it never felt really great.

Foundations - got through one episode and noped out. Not for me.

Silo - What can I say about Silo? I wanted to deeply love this show. And the mystery of it all was really good, but the themes about people and society left me confused and unsure of the greater point they were trying to make. I might watch season two, but not 100%.

Sunny - This is right up my alley. Quirky, funny, human. Too bad there won't be season 2.

That's what I've watched or tried watching. Apple TV reminds me of HBO before AT&T took them over.

I haven’t read the books so my Foundation experience is exclusively from the show, which I really enjoy. Here are some I’m unhappy with.

Big Door Prize: Interesting premise, strung along and did NOT get enough from the S01 finale, and I refuse to watch the second season.

Changeling: GREAT vibes but the end of the season did not deliver, and people who read the book said the season showed most of the book but omitted the last bit. That made me pretty angry and I will not bother with another season.

Constellation: Interesting premise kind of ruined by a stretched-out plot, bad writing, and a poor performance from some of the cast. Could not be motivated to watch another season.

Invasion: I fucking hate this show. It’s written by people with teenage brain logic, it’s acted by people who are giving student film effort at best, but it’s shot beautifully, which, for Apple, always covers a multitude of sins.

What I love: Silo is so fun. I ended up reading all the books before the second season premiered. For all Mankind is entertaining if not a bit soapy. Alt history is interesting, although sometimes bittersweet when it comes to the subject of the space race. Monarch is also fun if you just want some Godzilla/monster action content. Also it has Anna Sawai, who killed it in Shōgun (FX).

I wonder if Apple TV makes some people think the streaming service is only available on Apple devices with how strongly tied their stuff is to their hardware? Could lead to people without Apple devices not considering it because of that.

The people who already love Apple aren’t going to complain about their TV, even if it’s meh, because they probably get it as part of Apple One along with the music and news and whatever else. The Apple haters aren’t going to shit talk the shows. They’ll either not watch them or they’ll shut up and enjoy them.

Severance! Give that one a shot too. Season two is early next year.

I can see what you mean about Shrinking. But I’m actively trying to not be cynical about it. If that makes sense.