Apple TV makes excellent shows that somehow never break into the mainstream conversation the way Severance or Ted Lasso did. These three picks all share that frustrating pattern, stacked with critical praise, loved by the people who found them, and still criminally underwatched.
Between them, you get a mystery comedy, a sweeping historical drama, and a sharp workplace sitcom, which is proof that Apple’s range goes way beyond its biggest hits. If you’re looking for something genuinely great that flew under your radar, start here.
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Mythic Quest (2020)
Genre: Workplace Comedy
IMDb rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Set inside the chaotic offices of a video game studio, this workplace comedy follows the dysfunctional team behind a popular video game as they juggle egos, deadlines, and the occasional creative meltdown. Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao have fantastic chemistry as a creative director and an underappreciated engineer who keep clashing despite (or because of) how much they respect each other.
The show takes creative risks too, occasionally dropping the main cast entirely for standalone episodes that hit harder than you’d expect from a comedy. Mythic Quest ran for four genuinely funny seasons and still never became the cultural hit it deserved to be. If you’ve ever worked on a creative team with too many strong personalities, you’ll recognize every bit of the chaos here.
You can watch Mythic Quest on Apple TV.
Pachinko (2022)
Genre: Historical Drama
IMDb rating: 8.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
This multigenerational saga follows a Korean family across nearly seven decades, moving between Japanese-occupied Korea and 1980s New York with a structure that jumps timelines. The show is filmed in Korean, Japanese, and English, and that choice alone adds a layer of authenticity rarely seen on American streaming platforms.
Youn Yuh-jung’s performance as the older version of the lead character carries an emotional weight that sneaks up on you episode after episode. Despite landing on numerous best of 2022 lists, the show’s creator has said Apple is still deciding on a third season based on viewership, which is wild (replace this word) for something this acclaimed. Nevertheless, Pachinko is the kind of slow-burning epic that rewards patience.
You can watch Pachinko on Apple TV.
The Big Door Prize (2023)
Genre: Sci-Fi Comedy, Mystery
IMDb rating: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
A mysterious arcade machine shows up in a general store of a small town and claims it can reveal each resident’s true life potential. That single premise sends the whole town into an identity crisis. Chris O’Dowd anchors the show as a high school teacher who can’t stop wondering if he is living up to his own potential, and the writing never rushes the answers. It plays out more like a slow character study than a sci-fi mystery, which is part of why it works so well. If you like the small-town charm of Schitt’s Creek but also want something a little more introspective, this underrated show on Apple TV is worth watching.
You can watch The Big Door Prize on Apple TV.
