Copyright Screen Rant
Across the decade, Apple TV has gradually built a strong TV library that rivals the best streaming services, but even Apple TV's best shows don’t always trend. While its big-budget dramas and sci-fi spectacles grab headlines, some of the platform’s most rewarding stories are often the ones that slip quietly into the lineup. And over the past few months, Apple has released a handful of series that showcase how varied and confident its storytelling has become, from comedies, mysteries, and period pieces that deserve more eyes than they’ve gotten. These five picks represent the hidden side of Apple TV that fell under the radar. They’re smart, entertaining, and packed with strong performances, yet somehow they’ve stayed out of the mainstream streaming conversation. Whether you’re drawn to a slow-burn thriller, a bright comedy, or a lavish historical romance, each show here proves Apple TV’s smaller hits are worth discovering. Smoke 1 Season, 9 Episodes, Miniseries Smoke follows arson investigator Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) as he partners with Detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) to stop a pair of serial fire-setters terrorizing the Pacific Northwest. But what begins as a straightforward case quickly reveals the firebugs' identities and morphs into a cat-and-mouse chase. The series, created by the crime/mystery novelist Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island), blends Lehane’s trademark troubled protagonists and moral tension, and while the first episode appears by-the-numbers, it's worth sticking around for its sudden turn. What's familiar is really framework into something deeper and more unpredictable. Smoke is inspired by a real-life arsonist, though you might not want to read into the true events until after a couple episodes. It’s tense, visually striking, has a biting comedic edge to its tone. Fans of layered crime dramas will find plenty to love, especially the way its early twist keeps you guessing about what happens in Smoke's ending. The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin 1 Season, 7 Episodes The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin reimagines the infamous Essex Gang leader as a charmingly inept folk hero who, alongside his game, sets out to become the greatest highwayman in history while trying to escape the clutches of thief-taker Jonathan Wilde. Dick Turpin leans into Fielding’s signature Mighty Boosh absurdist humor while giving it the polish of a British period piece. It falls neatly into dinner-time viewing for those looking for an easy-to-watch comedy that lasts 30 minutes per episode. It's a shame that Dick Turpin season 2 was canceled after Fielding failed to show up on set, because its first season sits at a strong 84% Rotten Tomatoes score. But even if there won't be more Turpin in the near future, it's still seven episodes of good laughs, and Apple TV dropped its final episode, "The Night of the Werebear" in October 2025. Acapulco 4 Seasons, 40 Episodes Acapulco returned for its final season in July 2025 with the same charm and optimism that made it one of Apple TV’s most feel-good comedies. The story follows Máximo Gallardo Ramos (Enrique Arrizon) in 1980s Mexico as he works his way up from cabana boy to resort insider at the glamorous Las Colinas Hotel, all while his older self (Eugenio Derbez) reflects on how ambition and love shaped his life. Creator Austin Winsberg and his team fill every episode with sun-drenched color, quick wit, and the kind of heartfelt storytelling that makes you root for every character, and Camila Perez, Fernando Carsa, and Chord Overstreet round out a cast that radiates warmth and comedic timing in equal measure. Acapulco might not dominate Apple TV’s headlines, but if you love feel-good uplifting shows that put you in a better mood, like Ted Lasso, then this is well worth your time. It’s funny without cynicism and sweet without being sentimental; just a bright, endearing comedy that proves sincerity and earnest rags-to-riches storytelling still works. The Sisters Grimm 1 Season, 6 Episodes After their parents mysteriously disappear, sisters Sabrina (Ariel Winter) and Daphne (Leah Newman) are sent to the magical town of Ferryport Landing, a place where fairy-tale characters secretly live among humans, and what starts as a quest for answers soon turns into a full-blown battle to protect both worlds. The adaptation is a solid start with lots of potential. It's by no means a perfect first six episodes, but if renewed, The Sisters Grimm has the potential to be this generation's next multi-season animated hit. It's a fantastic premise, one that appeals to both young audiences and older fans of fables and fairy tales; the ideas are endless. It hasn’t yet become a household name, but The Sisters Grimm is one of Apple TV’s most enjoyable surprises. If you've already exhausted the best Halloween TV specials, The Sisters Grimm is worth adding to the watchlist during the festive season. The Buccaneers 2 Seasons, 16 Episodes Inspired by American novelist Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel, The Buccaneers follows a group of young American women in the 1870s Gilded Age, determined to make their mark among the British elite by securing husbands and titles during debutante season in London. The Buccaneers season 2 returned in June 2025 to continue Apple TV’s lavish reimagining of 1870s London high society, and it has the potential to join the ranks alongside some of the best historical TV shows, especially for its less serious tone. It's a much lighter version of some of the more serious period dramas like Downton Abbey, so don't go in expecting betrayals and death. Rather, The Buccaneers has more fun lavishing in the time period while tackling romance, culture clashes, and the traditional expectations of women in 19th century London.
