Apple TV+ has pushed into 2025 with ambitious storytelling and big-budget premieres. A handful of titles stood out for their craft, scope, and character work, earning a place on this year’s best‑of list. Here are ten that defined the midyear season.
Dope Thief
Centered on Ray and Manny, this eight‑episode thriller follows two friends who pose as DEA agents to pull off robberies, only to collide with real danger when real agents enter the picture. Brian Tyree Henry delivers a powerful lead performance, with supporting turns from Kate Mulgrew and Ving Rhames. A Ridley Scott‑directed opener sets a gritty, Shakespearean pace that sticks with you long after the finale.
Foundation
Season 3 broadens Isaac Asimov’s universe with sweeping scale, political intrigue, and a clear throughline that unites disparate strands. The production keeps its grand ambition, delivering large battles and memorable visuals, anchored by Lee Pace’s imperial presence. It’s a rare adaptation that pairs epic spectacle with human questions about power, trust, and survival.
Murderbot
Adapted from Martha Wells’ Murderbot Diaries, this sci‑fi centers a self‑aware security android who reclaims free will and finds a unexpectedly heartfelt purpose. Alexander Skarsgård plays the wary SecUnit with humor and warmth, supported by a strong ensemble. It’s witty, tense, and devoted to character as much as action.
Platonic
Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen star in a buddy comedy that resists rom‑com clichés while exploring deep friendship across gender lines. Season 2 ups the emotional stakes as Will’s impending marriage unsettles his long‑time relationship with Sylvia. It’s sharp, funny, and quietly moving about grown‑up life.
Severance
Season 2 deepens Lumon’s mysteries, following a quartet of innies as they navigate corporate conspiracy and personal loyalties. Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, and Zach Cherry give standout performances in a season that marries surreal humor with high‑stakes suspense. The show’s craft and momentum cement it as peak appointment TV.
Slow Horses
Gary Oldman anchors a fifth season of this wry spy thriller, as the Slough House crew confronts new threats and old rivalries. The plot threads tighten around a terrorist operation and the team’s botched brilliance, all delivered with a sly British wit. It remains one of the year’s most consistently sharp thrillers.
Smoke
Dennis Lehane crafts a taut, tightly wound miniseries about arson, investigators, and a web of secrecy. With a potent duo in Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett, the series builds momentum through twists that reward careful watching. It transforms a measured start into a gripping finale.
Stick
Owen Wilson leads a golf‑centered dramedy that leans into resilience and second chances. Pryce Cahill’s comeback arc, paired with Marc Maron’s sardonic foil, blends warmth with sharp humor. It’s a small‑scale standout that lands its emotional beats with honesty.
The Studio
This satire of Hollywood power plays with a killer ensemble, including Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Bryan Cranston, and Kathryn Hahn. It skewers the business from the inside, delivering cringe‑worthy moments and genuine heart through the team’s creative battles. The cinematography and single‑take sequences give it a distinct, breathless rhythm.
Your Friends & Neighbors
Jonathan Tropper’s dramedy follows a hedge fund insider whose life unravels after a career collapse, and a circle of friends who navigate wealth, loyalty, and temptation. Jon Hamm anchors the cast with charisma, supported by Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn in a witty, insightful look at modern relationships. It’s funny, poignant, and surprisingly revealing.
Source: Original article
