David Arnold’s Top 10 Shows to Watch During Your Free Apple TV+ Subscription

David Arnold, of Gimmicks and Are You My Mother fame, shares a list for TV watchers with limited time.

Congratulations on your new Apple device that you recently received! Along with it, you received complimentary access to Apple TV+ and its original programming.

Today’s deep bench of content was not so well built when the Arnold household, led by an innovator subtype Everett Rogers would term as “a bit reckless,” dove headfirst into installing a tiny Apple TV box in the den and discovering the content. We have a balanced marriage, in that my husband will buy these things just to stay on the edge of what’s new, and I will demand we get our money’s worth. That led us into watching everything the streaming service had to offer. Some were great, some were not.

We’ve continued the process of checking out shows as they enter into the rotation, so I’m excited to welcome you in with my recommendations for original series included in your new access to Apple TV+!

10. Loot (created by Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang)

It’s hard to recommend this without saying “if you like Maya Rudolph,” because she stars as recently divorced Molly Wells, the primary character of the series. Wells finds herself as the third richest woman in the world and goes to meet with the people running her foundation. And even though Rudolph is amazing, Molly is actually the least interesting part of the series. Scenes sing when we get to see the intersection between the stacked cast (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster, Ron Funches, Nat Faxon) trying to do right in the world against the extreme wealth inequality that Molly was once part of.

Laugh out loud moment: The performance Rudolph delivers as Molly after going on Hot Ones with Sean Evans is outstanding.

Biggest script miss: The show’s finale opens with foundation director Sofia chastising a rideshare driver for dehumanizing the unhoused by calling them “those people,” a term she detests; in the episode’s climax, Molly realizes she isn’t like the other billionaires, but doesn’t tell Sofia she wants to be different from “those people,” which would have been gorgeous writing.

9. The Morning Show (created by Jay Carson)

Telling the story of current events with artistry is hard and The Morning Show gets it wrong about as often as it gets it right. Outdated, boomer sensibilities invade every mention of the MeToo movement, the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. But the show isn’t about those things. It’s about working in a fucked up organization where the status quo will do anything to hang on. And that is where it gets interesting. The first season centers on Alex Levy’s (Jennifer Anniston) conflict after her on-air partner of 15 years, Mitch Kessler (Steve Carrell), is fired amidst a sexual misconduct scandal. Alex fights to retain her job as a top news anchor by impulsively choosing a new partner, Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon). The third season sags (which is a strange standard for Apple TV+ as a streaming service), but consistently strong music and scoring keep this afloat. The title credits song “Nemesis,” absolutely slaps.

Best diegetic music: A lounge singer (Rosalind Elizabeth "Rozzi" Crane) is crooning a gorgeous rendition of “Creep” while Cory (Billy Crudup) and Bradley meet for drinks.

Worst diegetic music: Cheyenne Jackson (as himself) sings a bit of “I Got Rhythm” at a charity fundraiser in Alex’s penthouse apartment. I wanted to jump off the balcony.

8. Strange Planet (created by Dan Harmon and Nathan W. Pyle)

Nathan Pyle’s androgynous beings come to life in an episode of vignettes about their lives. If you’re not familiar with these beings, they’ve been around since Pyle’s first observation comic of a couple welcoming friends in who complimented their home, with the hosts responding “we have things, we have just hidden them.” The birth of an empire. You’ll probably get tired of the schtick of the show: the characters refer to objects and circumstances which are common to us in completely different and sometimes technical ways. But despite that, the heart of the individual stories and their greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts finale works in ways that I didn’t see coming. Exceptional cast keeps the show grounded.

Strangest term from the show: “Greyscale finger bandit” referring to the universe’s version of a racoon.

Opening credits song speed: Just too fast!

7. The Reluctant Traveler (created by Eugene Levy and David Brindley)

The streaming service has a few non-fiction entries, and it was between this one and Tiny World (a Paul Rudd narrated nature documentary about tiny creatures and critters). Eugene Levy’s travelog won out for this list because it is exactly the sort of thing you can put on for any audience and enjoy. The show centers on Levy (the titular Reluctant Traveler) as he travels to unique and exciting locales that test his mettle and incredibly relatable desire to just hide in his hotel room. At only 8 episodes, it is perfectly bite sized.

Something you should do while watching: Think about the places you’d like to see and what experiences would make them memorable.

Something you should absolutely not do while watching: Look up the per night costs of the places Levy stays. Yikes!

6. Silo (created by Graham Yost)

Based on the Wool series by Hugh Howey, Silo was a surprise entry in Apple TV+’s otherwise inconsistent science fiction offering (where something like Invasion or even the Godzilla vehicle, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters are full of missteps). This series tells of a culture raised underground, with only a small view of the ruined outside world which criminals are charged to go out and clean before dying in the toxic atmosphere. As a new sheriff (Rebecca Ferguson) uncovers uncomfortable truths, the fabric of the society begins to unravel. Exceptional acting and visual style constantly keep you hungry for more.

Biggest book upgrade: A tie. Bernard is described as an unattractive weasel and is played by absolute DILF-era Tim Robbins. And Walker is gender swapped and played by the outstanding Harriet Walter.

Biggest book downgrade: The climax is much more layered in Wool and I hope that is a sign of things to come in season 2!

5. Trying (created by Andy Wolton)

Trying is a British comedy and among the first entries available on Apple TV+. It follows Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rade Spall) who want to have a baby, are unable to, and decide to adopt. While it has a bit of a slow start, every episode of season 3 is a fantastic payoff and an emotional rollercoaster. Like Lasso, Trying has a positive message during a time when we were all locked inside, and was a welcome hug.

Scene stealer: Imelda Stauton as Penny who represents the adoption agency. Instead of being an antagonist (which is how social workers are often portrayed), she is actively rooting for our heroes.

Subtitle warning: if strong British accents get to you, make sure you learn how to enable subtitles - this series has got them deep!

4. Mythic Quest (created by Charlie Day, Megan Ganz, and Rob McElhenney)

When I tried to convince people in my life to watch this, they responded “yeah, but I don’t really like video games.” Okay, I don’t really like paper, but I watched The Office, calm down. Mythic Quest follows a fictional video game studio who produces a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game. At the helm is creative director and prime narcissist Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenney) and lead programmer Poppy Li (Charlotte Nicdao) who are constantly at odds between the vision and mechanics of creating art.

No moments are wasted in the show which builds out its cast of characters and keeps tethered to heart. Unique for the series is the once-a-season diversion into an episode that explores the past of the show and its characters: in season 1 a look at the development of video games themselves in one of the best episodes of television ever, “Dark Quiet Death;” in season 2 a historical drama of three writers, one of whom goes on to work in interactive storytelling in “Backstory!”; and in season 3 a sweet telling of the childhood of Ian and Poppy with “Sarian.”

Cannot get enough of her: Naomi Ekperigin as put-upon head of human resources (becomes main cast in season 3).

Most depressed I felt in 2021: After buying an Apple TV+ subscription for a coworker, we discussed the show and I realized that I was just like Ian as a boss (sometimes, I would come into meetings and just say a couple words and expect people to make it happen, like “blood rain”).

We covered Mythic Quest’s episode “Quarantine” which was a story told through Zoom (effectively) on Gimmicks: MYTHIC QUEST goes under quarantine

3. Ted Lasso (developed by Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, and Joe Kelly)

The stranglehold that this show had on the cultural zeitgeist is not entirely unearned. The acting, pacing, writing, and direction of the first season is a thing of beauty. In case your only exposure to the show is the quoting of it’s sweeter moments by women your mother follows on Facebook who usually only post memes with Minions in them, the story is about Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis), an American football coach who has been hired on by Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham), the new owner of AFC Richmond as part of her scheme to ruin the team to spite her ex-husband.

The unique flavor that the show delivered (in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic) was that it was positive and resisted every urge to lean into trope conflicts from television. The show falls apart in season 3, weighed by the burden of resolving conflicts and widening the aperture to give time to the many characters which are worthy of our time and love.

Ideal romantic partner: Leslie Higgins. Comes up with pun-based animal names, is loyal, plays the bass, experiments with facial hair, opens his home to others. Perfect.

Symbolism is dead: The series’ antagonist in his last scene walks away in a billowy, black jacket. I’m shocked the Imperial March wasn’t playing.

We covered an episode of Ted Lasso on Gimmicks: TED LASSO takes us on a dark night of the soul

2. Severance (created by Dan Erickson)

This science fiction thriller tells the story of Mark (Adam Scott) who is a severed employee - a person who has gone through a mindwipe procedure so that who he is at work is completely separate from who he is outside of work. This is done alongside a mysterious project they work on in a retro-futuristic environment. As Mark uncovers a web of conspiracies, the stakes get deeper as the walls between work-self and life-self get thinner. Scott is fantastic and joined by Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Britt Lower and an absolutely outstanding Patricia Arquette. For everything Lost once tried to be, Severance has perfected.

Get fucking hype: Gwendoline Christie is joining for season 2.

Well, that happened: The series was released alongside a free-to-download book on Apple’s bookstore (titled “Severance: The Lexington Letter”) of obtained emails found by reporters.

1. The After Party (created by Christopher Miller)

I love a whodunnit. I love Sam Richardson. Put Sam Richardson into the role of an escape room designer suddenly drafted into solving the murder of his classmate, pop-star douchebag Xavier (excellently cast Dave Franco), before Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) makes her arrest? I’m in heaven. As Danner interviews each classmate, their story is retold in the style of a different kind of movie (action for the hypermasculine Brett, played by Ike Barinholtz; a musical for wacky sidekick Yasper, played by Ben Schwartz; or a psychological thriller for angsty weirdo Chelsea, played by Ilana Glazer). Season 2 reaches for even further heights. These shows are perfect and a joy.

Unironic song that I listened to enough to make my Spoitfy Wrapped: “Two Shots,” Yasper’s fance bop that you get two shots in life and you’ve got to take them. Featured Rex Harrison style spoken section by Richardson which is beautiful.

Give that guy a raise: Season 1’s music was composed by Daniel Pemberton, who had to produce the character themes and the main theme in the different contexts based on the film (listen to the score as you watch - this is art!).