Apple TV Plus has become a powerhouse for TV drama
The streaming service made its name with Ted Lasso, but an audacious dramatic slate is the platform's raison d'être

There’s a good chance most people finally (and probably reluctantly) subscribed to Apple TV+ after Ted Lasso’s unprecedented acclaim in mid-2020, even if that meant adding to their ever-growing roster of streaming services. But the platform actually launched with big names like Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show) and Jason Momoa (See) nine months before a mustachioed Jason Sudeikis propelled Apple TV+ into the content wars.
Apple TV+ is still mainly lauded for bagging wunderkind Ted Lasso (much like Netflix is known for Stranger Things or Hulu for The Handmaid’s Tale). By extension, it’s understandable to associate Apple TV+ with its creative comedies because there’s enough to celebrate with Dickinson, Mythic Quest, and more recently, The Afterparty. But the platform has found its true niche with eclectic and exciting dramas, which have stealthily overtaken comedies as the best reason to keep your subscription, particularly in 2022.
Apple TV+’s breakout dramas range from strong awards contenders like Severance and Pachinko to hidden gems like the new seasons of Servant and For All Mankind. More recently, the streamer jumped on the true-crime bandwagon with the surprisingly stirring Black Bird. Churning out one unexpected sensation after another—each with an unflinching cast and unique narrative—proves the platform doesn’t just need to rely on superstars to salvage a shoddy script (yes, The Morning Show remains an actively terrible outlier).
The streamer’s risk-taking paid off this year with Severance, which could easily be mistaken as a workplace dramedy with a co-director like Ben Stiller and actors Adam Scott and Zach Cherry. Instead, the dynamic thriller deftly comments on corporate capitalism and the weariness of finding solace in a nine-to-five job. It successfully thwarts expectations (and allows Scott to break away from his beloved Ben Wyatt persona). And speaking of disruptive, Soo Hugh’s Pachinko is equally evocative, flourishing with adroit camerawork and beautiful performances and turning a deeply personal story of Korean immigrants into a globally resonant drama.