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High Desert descends into drugs and desperation [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Patricia Arquette in ★★★★☆
Peggy (played by Patricia Arquette) lets loose this week on High Desert.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+ comedy High Desert reaches its penultimate episode this week, as Peggy comes close to solving the many mysteries she’s been juggling as a first-time private investigator.

Arman and Heather squeeze Peggy for money she doesn’t have, just as her ne’er-do-well hubby Denny creates more problems for them by resuming his life of crime. Plus, the Gatchis demand answers about their missing sister. Entitled “This Doesn’t Have to Be a Tragedy,” it’s a surprisingly emotional episode of the zany noir.

3 Reasons to Watch: Platonic, the Apple TV+ comedy starring Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne

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Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen in
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.

Silo starts to give up its horrible secrets [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Avi Nash and Rebecca Ferguson in ★★★★☆
Lukas (played by Avi Nash, left) and Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) stumble upon something strange.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Silo, the hit Apple TV+ series about people dwelling in a titanic subterranean structure years after an apocalyptic event turned Earth’s air toxic, begins its final act this week.

Juliette discovers a horrible clue hidden in the memory of someone who can’t access it. And a risky mission will put her in close proximity to the one person she doesn’t want to see, but it’s now or never time in the silo.

The episode, entitled “The Flamekeepers,” is a very well-handled lynchpin episode of Silo.

City on Fire lights a fuse and hopes for the best this week [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Wyatt Oleff in ★★★☆☆
Will Charlie (played by Wyatt Oleff) ever get to the bottom of Sam's shooting?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+ drama City on Fire drops a bomb this week.

Charlie and Keith meet up under less-than-ideal circumstances, while Sam fights for her life. Nicky and Sol have one last missive for the city of New York — and the fat cat who set them up. And William has one more act left in his life as an amateur detective — and a family to reunite.

This week’s episode, entitled “The Demon Brother,” is full of engaging, but deeply ridiculous, stuff.

The Crowded Room tries to get inside a killer’s head [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆

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Episode 1. Tom Holland in ★★☆☆
Despite starring Tom Holland, this is definitely not a Spider-Man movie.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review 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.

Peggy and Guru Bob find themselves in a tight spot on High Desert [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Rupert Friend and Patricia Arquette in ★★★★☆
Turns out selling bogus art to criminals isn't the smartest move.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review 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

Things get awkward this week on Platonic [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Luke Macfarlane in ★★★★☆
Charlie (played by Luke Macfarlane) has a little trouble coming to terms with his "wife's boyfriend."
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple 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.

3 Reasons to Watch: Servant, the stunning folk horror show on Apple TV+

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Nell Tiger Free in “Servant,” now streaming on Apple TV+.
Nell Tiger Free plays creepy nanny Leanne in Apple TV+ thriller Servant.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, we look at M. Night Shyamalan’s wonderfully dark television series Servant. The show, about a supernatural nanny with designs on an upper-class Philadelphia power couple and their missing baby, attracted an amazing array of directorial talent and some amazing on-screen presences.

Here’s why you should watch all four seasons of this runaway freight train of a show.

Drops of God’s Fleur Geffrier tells stories the way a sommelier does

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Fleur Geffrier can taste the truth of Camille Léger, her character on Drops of God.
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.

City on Fire has a wet hot Hamptons summer [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Wyatt Oleff in ★★★☆☆
Charlie (played by Wyatt Oleff) gets a rude awakening this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple 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.

Silo ramps up the intrigue with a relic [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Rebecca Ferguson and Chinaza Uche in ★★★★☆
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+

TV+ ReviewSilo, 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.

Drops of God pours out an exquisite season finale [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★

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Tomohisa Yamashita and Fleur Geffrier in ★★★★
Season one of Drops of God served up perfectly decanted drama.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewAs 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.

High Desert digs into Guru Bob’s weird past [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Matt Dillon and Patricia Arquette in ★★★★☆
Peggy's on the case. Sorta.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewOff-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.

Ted Lasso finale will make a believer out of you [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Brett Goldstein, Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt in ★★★
It's finally time for Ted Lasso's last game with AFC Richmond.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewTed 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?

Drugs fuel a poignant ‘divorce party’ on Platonic [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Seth Rogen and Tre Hale in ★★★★☆
What can go wrong when strippers and cocaine are involved?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple 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.

3 Reasons to Watch: High Desert, the neo-noir comedy that Apple TV+ canceled too early

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Patricia Arquette in
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+ comedy starring 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.

Silo thrills with action and conspiracies [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Rebecca Ferguson in ★★★
Sheriff Juliette Nichols (played by Rebecca Ferguson) just keeps getting deeper down the rabbit hole of silo conspiracies.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+ dystopian sci-fi hit Silo sends Juliette out on her second day as sheriff and into a minefield this week.

The show, about the last few thousand people on earth living inside a massive underground structure, unveils more tentacles of its political conspiracy. When Juliette and her new deputy look into the murder of their predecessors, they find corruption and lies in every corner they search. The episode, entitled “The Janitor’s Boy,” is a thrilling chapter in the Silo saga.

City on Fire dishes out clues and catastrophes [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Wyatt Oleff and Chase Sui Wonders in ★★★★☆
Charlie (played by Wyatt Oleff, left) is desperate to figure out who shot his friend Sam (Chase Sui Wonders), and why they did it.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewCity on Fire, the new Apple TV+ drama about a web of connections that expands from the attempted murder of an NYU student, nears what looks like a breakthrough this week.

Charlie finds a roll of undeveloped film that’s a missing piece of the puzzle surrounding the near-death of Samantha, the object of his affection. Nicky thinks he has the upper hand, but learns he’ll always be someone’s patsy. Plus, Keith and Regan follow a lead to a dead end, and Amory starts to sweat.

Entitled “Brass Tactics,” it’s an action-packed episode with few of City on Fire’s usual misplaced steps.

Drops of God prepares for its final showdown [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita in ★★★★☆
Camille (played by Fleur Geffrier, left) and Issei (Tomohisa Yamashita) get ready for their third wine-soaked challenge.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review This week on Drops of God, the excellent Apple TV+ show about two people competing for the title of greatest sommelier on earth, Camille and Issei consider their places in the world — and in their family lines.

Issei, fuming over a secret long kept, needs to focus for the final challenge. Camille, weighing an impulsive business decision, wonders what the next step for her will be, no matter whether she wins or loses.

Patricia Arquette kicks High Desert into high gear [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Weruche Opia and Patricia Arquette in ★★★★☆
Part private investigator, part Wild West show entertainer and all hustler, Peggy (played by Patricia Arquette, right) makes High Desert a blast.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+ neo-noir comedy High Desert gets mired in criminal business and stolen paintings this week. The show stars Patricia Arquette as Peggy Newman, who’s doing some on-the-ground investigation into a missing woman and the trail of chaos she left in her wake.

Is her husband, a mutilated guru, to blame? Or the woman’s mobbed-up brothers? The episode, entitled “Get Judy off the Bed,” delivers another delirious dose of the streaming service’s newest success.

Jamie Tartt shows some heart this week on Ted Lasso [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Brett Goldstein and Phil Dunster in ★★★
Will Jamie Tartt (played by Phil Dunster, right) get his head straight this week on Ted Lasso?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewTed Lasso, Apple TV+’s most popular show, is winding down, with just two episodes left before it closes up shop (likely for good). The fish-out-of-water football coach is trying to keep his struggling soccer team from the bottom of the rankings — and himself from the bottom of his feelings.

To complicate things, Jamie Tartt goes on an existential bender this week as he prepares for a big hometown gig, and Ted and his tough-guy coach Roy Kent need to figure out how to fix their star player. The episode, entitled “Mom City,” is about as good as this show gets.

Prep to be friends with actual benefits in new comedy Platonic [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Episode 3. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne in ★★★★☆
Platonic asks, "Why can't we be friends ... again?"
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewIn new Apple TV+ comedy Platonic, Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play old pals who, after taking a hiatus from their intense friendship, learn that rekindling such a thing is a fraught proposition this far into their lives.

Created by Francesca Delblanco and Nicholas Stoller, Platonic is a lovely, lazy-day kind of a comedy that charms even when it seems like it could stand to straighten up and fly right.

3 Reasons to Watch: Bad Sisters, the outrageous Irish black comedy on Apple TV+

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Sarah Greene, Anne-Marie Duff, Sharon Horgan, Eva Birthistle and Eve Hewson in
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.

City on Fire brings its mysteries to a steady simmer [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Nico Tortorella in ★★★☆☆
William (played by Nico Tortorella) finds himself in hot water this week on City on Fire.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewNew Apple TV+ drama City on Fire, based on the book by Garth Risk Hallberg, tries to crack its central mysteries wide open this week.

William discovers he has a connection to the attempted murder of Samantha. Regan discovers she has more rats in her nest than she imagined. Charlie finds his allegiances tested as his sanity frays. Keith’s troubles are getting worse, and he still hasn’t even hit bottom.

Entitled “Land of a Thousand Dances,” it’s a good episode of the Dickensian potboiler, but it’s almost undone by rookie mistakes.

There’s a new sheriff in town this week on Silo [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Rebecca Ferguson in ★★★
New sheriff of the silo Juliette (played by Rebecca Ferguson) is on the job, and she's got disturbing questions.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ dystopian sci-fi hit Silo investigates a high-profile murder and a hero’s childhood this week.

The show, about the last people on Earth living in hellish conditions underground, follows new Sheriff Juliette Nichols as she gets wrapped up in her first homicide investigation with Deputy Marnes. Plus, it delves into her past as she remembers the circumstances under which she became a machinist.

As this show progresses, it gets a little better with each episode and each twisty plot development.