Some Apple TV series work better than others, but nearly all of them are promoted with the same low-intensity approach that might give the streamer's competitors false hope. However, even without globe-spanning marketing, many of Apple's shows often find an audience during their run and receive tremendous reviews. It also helps that Apple releases new episodes weekly, unlike most major titles on Prime Video and Netflix. This gives the Apple shows time to grow, and their success isn't limited to how well they perform in the first week. This strategy has paid off handsomely this year with arguably the most acclaimed new show of 2026, which is saying something. Apple is on a hot streak thanks to the critically acclaimed Margo's Got Money Troubles and Star City.
Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for Widow's Bay Episode 9.
We’re nearing the end of the first season of Apple TV’s near-perfect supernatural series, Widow’s Bay, and fans are eager for what’s coming next. Already, the show has garnered high praise from the masterful Guillermo del Toro and drawn comparisons to the king of horror himself, Stephen King. For a streamer that’s staked its claim as the leading sci-fi television, Katie Dippold’s horror comedy not only proves Apple TV’s dedication to stellar storytelling across the board but also to meticulous attention to high-quality in all departments.
When the topic of Apple TV's best new series of the year comes up, it's legitimately acceptable to name at least four and still be considered correct. Not too long ago, the streamer debuted the comedy-drama show Margo's Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning as a young mother who turns to OnlyFans to support her family. The series received widespread acclaim and is now sitting at a "Certified Fresh" 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes. More recently, Apple unveiled its mysterious follow-up to For All Mankind, an alt-history sci-fi thriller titled Star City, which appears to have settled at a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes a few weeks into its run. Just this week, the streamer debuted the biggest show on its summer lineup, a limited series remake of Martin Scorsese's Cape Fear, which holds a 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, one title ranks head and shoulders above the rest.
Some actors can become so iconic for a specific television role that it makes it challenging for them to try anything else. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened for Matthew Rhys, who delivered one of the greatest lead performances in the history of dramatic television with The Americans, but he has gone on to do more interesting work within the last year, thanks to The Beast in Meand Widow’s Bay. While it is exciting that he can dip his toes into so many different opportunities, Rhys gave one of his greatest performances on a show that was cancelled before its time. Perry Masonis one of the most underrated HBO shows of the 21st century, and its two seasons provide a fascinating mystery that any crime buff is bound to enjoy.
Widow's Bay has been the surprise TV hit of the spring. The New England-set horror comedy has alternately tickled and terrified Apple TV viewers over the course of its first nine episodes. Now, with the season finale looming over next week like an ominous fog bank, one question has been on every fan's mind: will Widow's Bay return?
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© <p>Araya Doheny/FilmMagic</p>
Widow's Baypremiered on Apple TV back in April and has already quickly become one of the streamer's most talked-about shows. The incredibly unique series is a blend of both horror and comedy, so you'll find yourself covering your eyes in between hysterically laughing. Created by Katie Dippold, the show follows the story of a New England town called Widow's Bay that just so happens to be cursed. Each episode dives further into an aspect of the curse, offering new terrifying horror elements. Matthew Rhysplays Tom Loftis, the mayor of Widow's Bay, who is desperately trying to make the island a tourist destination — that is, before he starts becoming a target of the curse himself. Critics and viewers alike have been lauding Widow's Bay as a must-watch, but now one horror legend has deemed the show worthy of a shout-out.
It’s been five years since Netflix’s horror masterpiece debuted, and the impact has still not subsided. Midnight Mass was Mike Flanagan’s magnum opus, a limited series that follows a small religious community on a remote fishing island that becomes overrun with vampires. The horror tale was a masterclass in storytelling, charting the drama of many damaged characters as they overcome their personal flaws in the service of something bigger than themselves: fighting vampires.
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