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Servant mixes horror, humor and a dubious myth [Apple TV+ recap]

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Toby Kebbell and Rupert Grint looks for clues in
Sean (played by Toby Kebbell, left) and Julian (Rupert Grint) looks for clues about Leanne's true nature.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ thriller Servant heads toward mutually assured destruction this week. Sean and Julian start believing in angels and demons. Dorothy chases down a lead. Leanne is becoming too powerful to even speak to. And a stranger from the past shows up to tell a story that the Turner family does — and does not — want to hear.

It’s a conflicting, confounding and con … ehh very good episode of the show created by M. Night Shyamalan and Tony Basgallop.

Shrinking pukes up a party — and a proposal! [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Devin Kawaoka and Michael Urie in ★★☆☆☆
Will they or won't they?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewNew Apple TV+ hit comedy Shrinking has marriage on the brain this week.

Brian is finally proposing to Charlie. That couldn’t come at a better time for Jimmy, who is not ready but suddenly has to be ready to relive the last few weeks of his marriage when old friends come over. It’s also not great timing for Gaby, who is trying to roger her way to clarity over her divorce.

Meanwhile, Paul’s upset that his daughter cares too much about him. And Jimmy’s daughter Alice and his troubled patient Sean endure an awkward moment. Even the few laughs it serves up can’t make this week’s episode of Shrinking,  entitled “Impostor Syndrome,” more than cloying and predictable.

New feature coming to Apple TV+: More ads

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Ads might come to Apple TV+
You might someday see this message on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly hired someone to grow the advertising business on its streaming video service. This is likely for ads shown during sporting events.

But it also raises the possibility that Apple TV+ might get an ad-supported tier some day. There have been hints of this in the past.

Truth Be Told turns post-trauma reality into high-stakes drama [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★

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David Lyons and Mekhi Phifer face off in a scene from crime drama ★★★★
Detective Aames (played by David Lyons, left) and Markus (Mekhi Phifer) face off over crime and lack of punishment.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ crime drama Truth Be Told takes a hard look at sexual assault in this week’s episode, entitled “From My Hand the Poisoned Apple.”

True crime podcaster Poppy (played by Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer) must bear witness to the aftermath of her friends Markus and Zarina’s awful ordeal. Their daughter was kidnapped and assaulted by millionaires who might not be held accountable for their actions.

Elsewhere, Desiree and Eva face their own crises in the wake of the police raid on the mansion. And Detective Aames finds himself caught in the middle of everything. It’s a grueling watch, to be sure, but solidly constructed.

Make or Break needs to find a way to make surfing look more exciting [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Stephanie Gilmore surfs a big wave in docuseries ★★★☆☆
The surfers' skills are staggering, but the action could look better on the screen.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewMake or Break, Apple TV+’s surfing competition series, brings its second season to a close this week, concluding this saga of the World Surfing League’s championship.

In the final four episodes, we check in on major international players and see what shakes out as they near the end of the competition season. Though the surfers’ stories all boil down to their positions in the finals, the stakes ramp up as we near the end — and the drama on the waves becomes most exciting.

Dear Edward adds more survivors to the grief-a-thon [Apple TV+ recap] ★☆☆☆☆

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Jenna Qureshi and Colin O’Brien in a scene from ★☆☆☆☆
Edward (played by Colin O’Brien, right) survived a plane crash. So why is he such a jerk?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ series Dear Edward spins in circles toward destruction and catharsis this week. The titular Edward, sole survivor of a horrific deadly plane crash, finds himself in the middle of all the grieving widows and widowers — and he’s kind of a dope.

Among the living, it’s basically a nonstop, annoying grief-a-thon. Dee Dee contemplates a future without her daughter and her money. Linda reaches out for help and hopes someone reaches back. Lacey and John realize they must come clean. Shay and Edward engage in their first fight. Adriana must make a hard choice. Steve and Amanda act out some more. Plus, we get even more characters — as if you didn’t need to catch your breath after just reading all of that.

This show’s gotta go.

Moon hucksters head for a meltdown on Hello Tomorrow! [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Billy Crudup plays Jack Billings, who's shown giving a sales presentation for lunar timeshare in a scene from Apple TV+ show ★★★★☆
Who doesn't want their own little piece of heaven on the moon?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewHello Tomorrow!, the new Apple TV+ show about a depressed Space Age huckster and his team of dreamer lackeys who are selling the moon as fast as they can, heads into stormy weather this week.

Slick salesman Jack must agree to a big little lie to cover up an even bigger lie, while his colleagues Joey and Herb face romantic crises (and Shirley’s at her wit’s end). Disgruntled customer Myrtle and fraud-buster Lester chase a big lead they must follow to achieve satisfaction.

In the episode, entitled “Forms, Appropriately Filled and Filed,” this retro-futuristic wonder is off and running to the moon.

In The Reluctant Traveler, Eugene Levy comically kvetches his way around the world [Apple TV+ review] ★★★☆☆

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Eugene Levy travels to Finland in a scene from ★★★☆☆
Just how far will Eugene Levy go for a laugh? At least as far as Finland.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review In new Apple TV+ reality series The Reluctant Traveler, Eugene Levy takes a trip around the world to face his anxieties and fears. And we get to tag along and see a little bit of how people who aren’t famous actors live.

The 75-year-old Levy, who starred in Schitt’s Creek after years of work on SCTV, wants to see the international sights before he gets a little too infirm to do so. The occasionally quite charming series, which takes Levy to a new exotic locale each episode, won’t change your life. But it’s fun to watch, and an easy enough way to while away an afternoon while you’re stuck at home.

If Pretzel and the Puppies doesn’t charm you, you’re probably dead [Apple TV+ review] ★★★☆☆

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Puppy Puck (voiced by Max Mitchell) in a scene from season two of ★★★☆☆
Cute pooches and wholesome lessons. What's not to like about Pretzel and the Puppies?
Image: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewPretzel and the Puppies, the adorable Apple TV+ kids’ show about a family of dachshunds and their gentle misadventures in their hometown of Muttgomery, returns for a second season today.

Created by relative newcomer Kim Howitt and veteran Steven Altiere (Scooby-Doo!, Dinotrux), this show serves up low-stakes lessons of acceptance and perseverance —  everything that needs to be reinforced during a child’s formative years. Plus, it’s got cute dogs animated with care. Nobody with a heart can say no to this charming animated series.

Dear Edward takes a predictable path to boredom [Apple TV+ recap] ☆☆☆

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Colin O’Brien, left, and Taylor Schilling look haggard in a scene from boring Apple TV+ drama ☆☆☆
The makeup crew owes actors Colin O’Brien, left, and Taylor Schilling an apology!
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewThis week on Dear Edward, the Apple TV+ series about the daisy chain of grief that connects dozens of people after a plane crash, survivor Edward learns that his dead brother had a secret girlfriend.

Dee Dee and her daughter have a heart-to-heart that reveals a strained relationship. Kojo and Adriana dance around each other on their way to a relationship. Lacey tries to be a mom. Amanda and Steve make some mistakes. And Edward has a falling out with Shay.

The episode, entitled “Haunted,” doesn’t prove quite as headache-inducing as last week’s. Nevertheless, Dear Edward insists on screenwriting 101 at every turn.