The extraordinary life of Antonin Carême is being made into a drama on Apple TV+. Photo: Public Domain
Antonin Carême rose from humble beginnings in Paris to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleon’s Europe. His story is coming to Apple TV+ as an eight-episode French drama.
Carême’s life had more excitement than one might expect from a chef and author, as he also served as an unwilling spy for France.
There are bigger streaming video services, but none with a higher average content ranking from critics. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple TV+ series and films earn a higher average ranking from critics than all other streaming services. So, despite its relatively limited catalog, Apple’s service offers an outsized collection of top-quality content.
Its average quality content ranking is well above Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Sylvia (played by Rose Byrne, left) and Will (Seth Rogen) are old friends trying to figure out how to be friends again on Platonic. Photo: Apple TV+
In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, we look at the Platonic, the surprisingly good comedy from stoner whisperer Seth Rogen, luminous star Rose Byrne and husband and wife writers/directors Francesca Delbanco and Nicholas Stoller.
In the show, which premiered last month on Apple TV+, Byrne and Rogen star as friends who become awkward appendages of each other’s already messy lives. Here’s why you should take a chance on Platonic.
Viewers and critics are digging "Silo" on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The dystopian sci-fi mystery Silo launched on Apple TV+ in early May, and it’s been at or near the top of the ratings charts ever since. Last week, it was once again more popular than any other streaming series.
Plus, the finale of the sports dramedy Ted Lasso put it in the top 10 as well.
★★☆☆☆
Despite starring Tom Holland, this is definitely not a Spider-Man movie. Photo: Apple TV+
New Apple TV+ thriller The Crowded Room delves into a crime committed in New York at the end of the 1970s. Spider-Man star Tom Holland plays a troubled teen whose life in a halfway house leads to murder.
The miniseries stumbles a fair bit, but when it gets the steps right it proves quite compelling. Its depiction of lowlife decadence and debauchery almost hits the mark, but Holland can’t quite live up to the task of carrying all 10 episodes.
The star-studded second season of The Afterparty will make its global debut on Apple TV+ in July. Photo: Apple TV+
The second season of an Apple TV+ series that turns a murder mystery into a genre-mixing comedy will soon return. Fresh episodes of The Afterparty premier in July.
As the trailer released Thursday shows, there’s a new mystery to solve with a fresh cast of eccentric suspects, though Tiffany Haddish and some of the other stars of season one will be back.
★★★★☆
Turns out selling bogus art to criminals isn't the smartest move. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+’s farcical neo-noir High Desert gets tied up this week as Peggy accidentally finds herself at the business end of some dangerous people’s guns. Guru Bob is kidnapped and tormented for his role in selling art forgeries to bad people, while Peggy’s quest to find Bob’s wife lands her in hot water with the Gatchi family.
The episode, entitled “A Nod Is Not a Hello,” is a raucous and funny time, even as the stakes climb higher by the minute
★★★★☆
Charlie (played by Luke Macfarlane) has a little trouble coming to terms with his "wife's boyfriend." Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ comedy Platonic finds Will and Charlie stepping outside of their comfort zones this week, at a greater cost than either imagined.
The show, about two adult friends who try to reclaim their nonsexual friendship at the start of their middle age, finds them Charlie’s wife Sylvia all keeping secrets from each other — a sure sign that everything’s going according to plan, right?
Entitled “My Wife’s Boyfriend,” it’s a surprisingly effective episode, despite all the comic games that come out of left field.
Fleur Geffrier can taste the truth of Camille Léger, her character on Drops of God. Photo: Apple TV+
The breathtaking first season of Apple TV+ drama Drops of God was deeply, compulsively consumable, just like the fine wine on the show itself. A fascinating portrait of obsessives consumed by a familial burden — and the promise of millions — the season wrapped today with a fantastic finale.
Cult of Mac spoke to lead actor Fleur Geffrier about the process of inhabiting a wine expert’s palette, the challenges and lessons she learned while making Drops of God, and how to make the internal external.
★★★☆☆
Charlie (played by Wyatt Oleff) gets a rude awakening this week. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ thriller series City on Fire runs down its best leads this week. William has escaped an attempted murder, and flees to the one place he knows he might be safe. Nicky and Sol have one more trick up their sleeve to get even. And Charlie finds some disheartening things that put him even further in jeopardy than he was a few minutes ago.
Entitled “Annus Horriblis,” it’s a fine episode, even though it gives in to some of the very silliest tendencies prestige TV has to offer.
★★★★☆
Sheriff Juliette (played by Rebecca Ferguson, left) and her deputy Billings (Chinaza Uche) try to get to the bottom of the silo's secrets. Photo: Apple TV+
Silo, the dystopian Apple TV+ series about the last survivors of civilization living in a cavernous underground structure, finds new sheriff Juliette treading on shaky ground this week. With a reluctant Paul Billings in tow, she starts intensifying her search for clues. Meanwhile, the silo’s Judicial authorities start to get mighty suspicious of her motives.
The episode, entitled “The Relic,” is a creepy and involving installment of an increasingly interesting show.
★★★★☆
Season one of Drops of God served up perfectly decanted drama. Photo: Apple TV+
As stellar Apple TV+ series Drops of God brings its first season to a close, Camille and Issei complete their last challenge in the contest to inherit their father’s estate. However, the real challenges remain ahead of them.
A final contest will test their allegiances and their strengths, but nothing will prepare them for their final trial. The Drops of God season one finale, entitled “All or Nothing,” serves as a wonderful conclusion to a surprise delight.
★★★★☆
Peggy's on the case. Sorta. Photo: Apple TV+
Off-kilter Apple TV+ comedy High Desert, which stars Patricia Arquette as con artist-turned-private-investigator Peggy Newman, takes a detour into Guru Bob’s past this week.
In the episode, entitled “Soul Retrieval,” Peggy and her ex-husband get reacquainted with the good times and the bad times that so characterized their marriage. Plus, Peggy lands her first case — if she can remember to get around to it.
The wildly entertaining comedy procedural takes a beat from the main action this week and still proves fast on its feet.
★★★☆☆
It's finally time for Ted Lasso's last game with AFC Richmond. Photo: Apple TV+
Ted Lasso, the perpetually upbeat Apple TV+ show that blindsided a pandemic-stricken world with a cocktail of optimism and inspiration, comes to a fitting close this week after a remarkable three-season run.
The Ted Lasso finale, entitled “So Long, Farewell,” finds Ted’s team AFC Richmond up against its most fierce nemesis, Rupert Mannion’s West Ham United.
With West Ham’s old coach Nate back at Richmond after an awkward breakup, will the Greyhounds have what it takes to beat the Hammers? Just how optimistic can this show be?
★★★★☆
What can go wrong when strippers and cocaine are involved? Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ comedy Platonic takes a look at the lighter side of divorce this week. The show, about two best friends who are suddenly back in each other’s lives after a prolonged absence, finds Sylvia deciding to throw Charlie a divorce party to get his mind off how well his ex is doing.
In the poignant episode, entitled “Divorce Party,” some drugs and changes of plan send Sylvia into a tailspin that makes her realize she isn’t where she wants to be anymore.
Patricia Arquette whips High Desert into a frenzy in the role of Peggy Newman. Photo: Apple TV+
In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, we’ll tell you why we’re buzzing about High Desert, the new Apple TV+ comedystarring livewire Patricia Arquette as daffy private eye Peggy Newman.
The show, created by Miss Congeniality writer Katie Ford and Grace and Frankie alums Nancy Fichman and Jennifer Hoppe, is a bawdy neo-noir set in a world of lowlifes and fake cowboys.
Here’s why you need to give High Desert the old college try.
★★★★★
Triceratops fights are a highlight of Prehistoric Planet season two. Photo: Apple TV+
Season two of Prehistoric Planet will fill the heart of any dinosaur-obsessed child with joy. And adults should watch, too — especially anyone who still thinks dinos are slow-moving, stupid creatures that are just waiting around to go extinct.
These new episodes, which Apple TV+ doled out this week, combine cutting-edge CGI with the latest in paleontology. The result is a series that’s stunningly beautiful, exciting to watch and as scientifically accurate as possible.
If you're not acquainted with the Garvey sisters, you're missing out. Photo: Apple TV+
In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, we look at Bad Sisters, the Irish black comedy that racked up awards after its spectacular first season.
The acidic series follows the five Garvey sisters, who are complicit in a crime … but not in the way it initially appears. Here’s why you need to stream Bad Sisters yesterday.
"Silo" on Apple TV+ gets more viewers than any other series on any streaming service. Photo: Apple TV+
Silo, Ted Lasso and Ghosted all showed up in this week’s lists of the most-watched streaming movies and TV shows. They offer further proof that Apple TV+ can successfully compete against Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+.
In fact, Silo currently ranks as the most popular series on any streaming service.
Get ready for loads more Peanuts, Charlie Brown -- coming soon to Apple TV+. Image: Apple TV+
If you love Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang, the kids-and-family slate Apple TV+ plans for this summer should be right up your alley (or in your dog house).
Apple TV+ said Friday you can expect two new Peanuts specials, the new series Camp Snoopy and, outside of Linus and Lucy’s world, new seasons of Duck & Goose, Eva the Owlet and the award-winning Lovely Little Farm.
Robert De Niro, left, and Leonardo DiCaprio bring plenty of star power to Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Photo: Apple TV+
The first trailer for Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon opens with bare-chested members of the Osage Nation dancing exuberantly in slow motion around an oilfield gusher. And then things get dark … really dark, really fast.
It’s a riveting first look at the movie, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, which comes to Apple TV+ this October.
★★★☆☆Still stands strong as a stirring portrait of actor Michael J. Fox. Photo: Apple TV+
New Apple TV+ documentary Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie tells the story of the charismatic actor’s life, his complicated relationship with stardom, and the degenerative disease that hit him at an early age.
Directed by Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, He Named Me Malala), it’s a fleet, funny, tragic and humane portrait of a man desperate to get everything out of his head while he still can.
Viewers and critics are digging "Silo" on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Dystopian sci-fi thriller Silo debuted on Apple TV+ Friday, May 5, and the story of the last 10,000 people on earth living in a buried silo is proving to be deeply popular among viewers and critics alike. They’re digging it.
A number of ratings services and critical sources show it at or near the top of lists ranking streaming services’ shows.