Viewers keep rallying behind the action-packed historical drama series Chief of War starring Jason Momoa. High ratings put it among the most popular series on streaming for a second week, according to two different ratings trackers.
And that’s not the only hit this week for Apple TV+. The second season of the comedy Platonic earns good ratings, too.
Chief of War battles for ratings
Jason Momoa’s star power helped launch Apple TV+. His quirky action drama series See — set in a post-apocalyptic world in which everyone had been struck blind — was among the initial offerings on Apple’s streaming service back in 2019.
And now he’s back with Chief of War, in which Momoa plays a warrior desperate to unite feuding Hawaiian islands against encroaching Western colonization.
Whether it’s the premise or the draw of Momoa’s celebrity, the new series is off to a very strong start after the August 1 premiere. Movie and TV search engine JustWatch put Chief of War in the No. 3 slot of its ratings list of the 10 most popular series in the U.S. on streaming services for the week of August 4 through August 10 (see chart below). Rival service Reelgood put the new series in the No. 7 slot of popular streaming series the week of August 7 through August 13.
Chart: JustWatch
Ratings estimates from companies like Reelgood and JustWatch are necessary because streaming services rarely reveal how many people tune in to their offerings.
If popularity isn’t enough to sway you into watching — or Jason Momoa constantly walking around with his shirt off — perhaps the 93% critics’ approval rating from the review-aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes will change your mind. And the Cult of Mac review calls it “bloody and brilliant,” and says, “The series masterfully weaves together political intrigue, cultural authenticity and human drama in ways that should captivate history buffs, cultural diversity seekers, bloodthirsty battle lovers and pretty much anyone hungry for some fresh storytelling.”
The first four episodes of Chief of War season 1 can be watched now on Apple TV+. The next is scheduled to appear on Friday.
Platonic season 2 also pulls in viewers
The Apple TV+ comedy Platonic came back for season two on August 6, and it quickly found an audience. The series stars Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, and finds humor and drama in friendships between men and women.
Apple says of the new episodes, “Platonic season two picks up with everyone’s favorite pair of best friends as they contend with new midlife hurdles, including work, weddings and partners in crises. The duo tries their best to be each other’s rock, but sometimes rocks break things.”
JustWatch put the comedy in the No. 8 slot among comedy series last week.
The first three episodes of Platonic season 2 are ready to be watched now. The next appears on Wednesday.
Enjoy these and more on Apple TV+
Streaming hits like Chief of War and Platonic, plus many others, come with a subscription to Apple TV+. The service is $9.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle.
And Apple’s streaming video service also includes a library of drama, comedies, musicals, children’s shows, nature documentaries, etc.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
