There’s nothing wrong with a comfort watch. It’s the end of a long day, and instead of wasting hours scrolling for something to watch, you throw on a show you’ve seen hundreds of times. I know people who put on The Office to act as white noise while they sleep. The same goes for people who embark on rewatches of Game of Thrones or The Sopranos. Look, we’ve all rewatched our favorite shows. Now, it’s time to find something new.

If you’re an Apple TV subscriber, then I’d bet you’re familiar with the streamer’s biggest hits, including Severance, The Morning Show, and Ted Lasso. If you dig into Apple TV’s genre pages, then you’ll find several underrated gems worthy of your time. One of my picks is a sci-fi show that returns in July, so there’s no better time to start watching.

Criminal Record

British crime thriller featuring a terrific pairing

I don’t know what’s in the water across the pond, but the British make excellent crime shows. On Apple TV, most of the attention goes to Slow Horses, and rightfully so. Gary Oldman is excelling in the role of Jackson Lamb, the leader of Slough House. While it doesn’t garner the same press as Slow Horses, Criminal Record is worthy of your consideration, especially if you’re interested in crime dramas.

Criminal Record follows the familiar veteran-cop-and-rookie pairing. In this case, DCI Daniel Hegarty (Peter Capaldi) is the established detective, and DS June Lenker (Cush Jumbo) is the inexperienced newcomer. While investigating an old murder case, Lenker uncovers information that involves older officers, which forces Hegarty to protect several dark secrets. The two detectives form a shaky partnership that serves as a natural point of tension in this compelling drama.

Surface

There’s more to this story than memory loss

Surface has a premise you can sink your teeth into. Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars as Sophie, a woman experiencing memory loss after a traumatic head injury. Sophie’s memory lapse is attributed to a failed suicide attempt. However, Sophie learns that there is more to her story, as she attempts to piece together what happened. Perhaps she didn’t try to kill herself after all.

Surface is a psychological thriller in every sense of the word. There are twists and turns at every corner. Plus, a love triangle between Sophie, James (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), and a mysterious third character. I would say it’s an elevated version of a Colleen Hoover thriller, so it’s extremely watchable. The location change in the second season also adds an entirely new dynamic to the equation.

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tvOS

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4K

Platonic

Guys and girls can be friends, too

Neighbors is one of my favorite comedies of the 2010s. One of the strengths of the movie is the chemistry between Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. The duo reunite onscreen in Platonic, an Apple TV comedy co-created by Neighbors’ director Nicholas Stoller. Sylvia (Byrne) and Will used to be best friends, but Sylvia’s comment about Will’s wife ended their comradery.

After Will divorces his wife, it opens the door for a reunion with Sylvia. The reunited friends spend more time together as they navigate midlife crises. I love a raunchy comedy — like Pineapple Express and Bridesmaids — that utilizes the strengths of Rogen and Byrne. However, Platonic is a sweet change from the actors’ normal offerings. I love a rom-com as much as the next person, but Platonic proves that a buddy comedy pairing members of the opposite sex can be just as effective. ​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Silo

Society mysteriously heads underground

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Apple has sneakily become a great destination for sci-fi fans. Severance is one of the most popular shows on television, while For All Mankind and Pluribus garnered critical acclaim. For me, the Apple sci-fi show I gravitate toward the most is Silo, based on the novels by Hugh Howey.

In a dystopian future, society now lives underground in self-sustaining silos that extend hundreds of feet below the surface. If you go outside, you will die. Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) is an engineer who helps the Silo stay afloat. Juliette is brought into a mysterious case that involves her ex-lover’s death. I appreciate that Silo is not just a sci-fi show; it’s a murder mystery, and in season 3, it becomes a political thriller as it introduces a timeline about life before silos. Season 3 premieres on July 3, so catch up on this excellent sci-fi series.

More TV show recommendations to stream

Due to the abundance of streaming services, there are always new and returning shows premiering every week. Recent additions to streaming include Sugar season 2 and I Will Find You on Netflix. Speaking of I Will Find You, we have a guide on every Harlan Coben TV show available to stream on Netflix.

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