Apple TV is about to kick off its best summer lineup ever, but the streamer’s current offerings deserve attention too, including two current series that are Apple’s best reviewed of the year so far.
#1: Widow’s Bay
Widow’s Bay is the kind of series that, on paper, probably shouldn’t work. It’s a genre mashup horror/comedy/thriller with the charm of a small town character drama.
But creator/showrunner Katie Dippold and director Hiro Murai have brilliantly pulled together that unique mix of genres to offer what reviewers say is “unlike anything else on TV.”
The show currently has an impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score from 58 critic reviews. That makes it a tie for Apple’s best-reviewed show of the year per RT.
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 quaint island town 40 miles off the coast of New England. But something lurks beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no Wi-Fi, spotty cellular reception and he must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true, start happening again. “Widow’s Bay” blends genuine horror with character-driven comedy.
Widow’s Bay currently has three episodes available, with more episodes dropping every Wednesday through June 17.
#2: Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is a limited series based on Rufi Thorpe’s bestselling novel.
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 critic reviews, tying Widow’s Bay for top-reviewed Apple series this year. And while both shows couldn’t be more different, they each offer something unique.
David E. Kelley is the show’s creator, his second Apple series alongside hit legal thriller Presumed Innocent. Kelley is currently working on a third Apple series, the NYC-set The Bonfire of the Vanities with director Matt Reeves (The Batman).
Here’s the Margo’s Got Money Troubles plot summary and trailer:
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a bold, heartwarming and comedic family drama following recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margo (Elle Fanning), the daughter of an ex-Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and ex-pro wrestler (Nick Offerman), as she’s forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them.
Margo’s Got Money Troubles currently has six episodes available, with more dropping on Wednesdays through May 20.
Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month, or you can get it discounted through the Apple One bundle.
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