Apple TV is about to launch its best summer lineup ever, but the streamer’s current offerings are also worth paying attention to, including two current series that are Apple’s best reviews of the year so far.
#1: Widows Bay
Widow’s Bay is the kind of show that, on paper, probably shouldn’t work. It’s a horror/comedy/thriller genre mashup with the charm of a small-town character drama.
But creator/showrunner Katie Dippold and director Hiro Murai have brilliantly brought together this unique blend of genres to deliver what critics say is “like nothing else on television.”
The show currently has an impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score based on 58 reviews. That makes it a tie for RT’s highest-rated Apple show of the year.
Widow’s Bay stars Matthew Rhys (The Americans, The beast in me) as the mayor of a charming island town that may or may not be cursed.
Here’s Apple’s official summary, followed by the trailer:
“Widow’s Bay” is a picturesque island town located 40 miles off the coast of New England. But something lies beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no Wi-Fi, spotty cell reception, and he has to deal with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. This is not the case. They find him soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and make the island a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: the tourists finally arrive. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ridiculous to be true are starting up again. “Widow’s Bay” mixes real horror with character-driven comedy.
Widow’s Bay currently has three episodes available, and more episodes will air every Wednesday until June 17.
#2: Margo has money problems
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a limited series based on the bestselling novel by Rufi Thorpe.
Its cast includes Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, Nicole Kidman, Thaddea Graham, Greg Kinnear and Marcia Gay Harden.
The comedic drama has a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score from 61 reviews, tying Widow’s Bay for the highest-reviewed Apple series this year. And while the two shows couldn’t be more different, they each offer something unique.
David E. Kelley is the creator of the series, his second Apple series alongside the hit legal thriller Presumed Innocent. Kelley is currently working on a third Apple series, The Bonfire of the Vanities, set in New York, with director Matt Reeves (The Batman).
Here is the plot summary and trailer for Margo’s Got Money Troubles:
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a bold, heartwarming and comedic family drama that follows a recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margo (Elle Fanning), daughter of a former Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and a former professional wrestler (Nick Offerman), as she is forced to navigate her way with a new baby, a growing pile of bills and a dwindling number of ways to pay them.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles currently has six episodes, with more airing on Wednesdays through May 20.
Apple TV is available for $12.99 per monthor you can get it at a discount via the Apple One plan.
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