The 30 Best Shows on Apple TV Plus Right Now (June 2021)

1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (2021): Best Historical Music Docuseries

This eight-part historical docuseries explores the relationship between music, politics, and culture by mixing archival footage with the top tunes of the day. At the dawn of a new decade, a war waged on in Vietnam while American youth took to the streets in protest. Meanwhile, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, and dozens of other artists protested with their music.

Each episode focuses on a specific issue like civil rights, feminism, and LGBT activism. Other prominent artists featured include Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie.

Lisey’s Story: Best New Stephen King Miniseries

Lisey’s Story is a new miniseries written by master horror storyteller Stephen King. Based on his 2006 romance novel of the same name, the show follows a woman named Lisey (Joan Allen) as she deals with the loss of her husband, the elusive writer Scott Landon (Dane DeHaan).

Anyone who grew up in the 1990s probably remembers watching at least one Stephen King miniseries on television. Lisey’s Story now joins the ranks of the original It, The Tommy Knockers, The Stand, and The Langoliers; however, the acting and production are much better than King's previous made-for-TV projects.

Calls (2021): Most Creative Supernatural Anthology

Calls is more like a podcast or an old-timey radio show than your typical modern streaming series. The story unfolds entirely through phone conversations with very few visual elements. Each episode is a self-contained story, so you don't have to watch them in order.

Calls was originally a French television series, but the American version features all-new actors and writers. While each episode stands on its own, the stories have an overlapping supernatural theme.

The Mosquito Coast (2021): Wildest Run-for-the-Border Family Adventure

Have you ever wanted to drop everything and move far, far away? Allie Fox (Justin Theroux) decides to do just that when he finds himself on the wrong end of government agents. Determined to live off-grid in a houseboat in Honduras, he smuggles his wife Margot (Melissa George) and their kids across the southern border.

Inspired by the 1986 movie and 1981 book of the same name, The Mosquito Coast tells an original story set in modern-day North and Central America. The star of the show, Justin Theroux, is the nephew of Paul Theroux, the author of the original book.

Solar Opposites (2020): Best Adult Cartoon About Aliens

In a vast universe of mediocre adult cartoons, Solar Opposites shines thanks to wacky animation and wackier writing. This sci-fi sitcom follows the exploits of an extraterrestrial family exiled to Earth, as well as their pet humans, who live in the confines of a terrarium.

Solar Opposites is a Hulu original, but you can watch all of the episodes on Apple TV+. In fact, it was the most-watched show on the platform during the week of its release. The show is made by the creators of Rick and Morty, and you'll likely notice lots of parallels in the visual style and humor.

Trying (2020): Best Sitcom for Future Parents

Like a lot of couples, Jason (Rafe Spall) and Nikki (Esther Smith) want nothing more than to be good parents. Unable to conceive on their own, they plan to adopt, which turns out to be a pretty involved process. Unsure of their own parenting skills, how will the couple convince strangers that they are capable of raising a child?

Trying is a great show to watch for expecting couples or anyone who might want to be a parent one day. It accurately represents the legal complexities of adoption and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with preparing for a kid. That said, Trying is a comedy first and foremost, so it's more likely to make you laugh than cry.

Ted Lasso (2020): Best British-American Sports Comedy

Americans and Brits may speak the same language, but there are some irreconcilable linguistic differences. American Football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) finds this out the hard way when he agrees to coach a football team in London, only to learn that it's a completely different sport.

You may recognize the titular character from a series of NBC shorts promoting the network's coverage of the Premier League. Jason Sudeikis's portrayal of the lovably aloof coach captured the hearts of sports fans, and now he has his own show entering its second season.

Little Voice (2020): Best Musical Dramedy About Following Your Dreams

Bess (Brittany O'Grady) wants nothing more than to sing the songs she writes, but surviving in New York City means taking any job you can get. Meanwhile, she has multiple suitors competing for her affection, including her collaborator Samuel (Colton Ryan) and her manager Benny (Phillip Johnson Richardson).

Brittany O’Grady's musical talents truly shine in Little Voice, making Bess's magnetic personality all the more believable. While the show often borders on melodrama, the short episodes keep things from getting too heavy and always leave you wanting more.

Central Park (2020): Best Animated Musical Sitcom for Adults

Park manager Owen Tillerman (Leslie Odom Jr.) works and lives happily with his family in Edendale Castle (based on the real Belvedere Castle) in Central Park, New York. However, their happy existence is threatened when a wealthy real estate developer wants to turn their home into condominiums.

While the title may sound like a knock-off of South Park, Central Park is quite the opposite. The show is aimed at older audiences, but it's not at all vulgar or violent. The plot centers around hot-button issues like gentrification, but it's not preachy. All in all, Central Park is a fun sitcom that teens and adults can enjoy together.

Snoopy in Space (2019): Best Educational Cartoon for Kids and Adults

Revamping classic childhood characters is a big trend right with shows like Looney Toons Cartoons on HBO Max and Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse on Disney Plus. Similarly, Apple TV+ has Snoopy in Space, a brand new series of shorts starring the infamous "Peanuts" gang.

Made in collaboration with NASA, Snoopy in Space is more educational and less mean-spirited than the original Charlie Brown cartoons, which could be a positive or a negative depending on your perspective. The show is definitely aimed at young children who want to learn about outer space, so watch it with your kids.

See (2019): Best Post-Apocalyptic Action Adventure Series

In the distant future, civilization has collapsed after a pandemic robbed all humans of their sense of sight. As people begin to reorganize around a new, sightless way of life, hope is restored when twins are born with the ability to see. This miracle draws the ire of a jealous queen who sends her henchmen to abduct the children from their village.

On its surface, See seems to take inspiration from movies like A Quiet Place and Birdbox, but it has more in common with H. G. Wells's 1904 novella “The Country of the Blind," another story about a sightless society. The plot is very fast-paced, which sometimes makes it hard to follow, but there are enough action scenes to keep casual viewers entertained.

Truth Be Told (2019): Best Show Based on a Book Based on a Podcast

Who doesn't love a good murder mystery podcast, especially when it's based on true events? In Truth Be Told, renowned podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) gets tied up in a real murder investigation after learning that she might have accused the wrong man of a heinous crime. Can she crack the case and find the true culprit?

Inspired by Kathleen Barber's book Are You Sleeping?, Truth Be Told doesn't have a twist around every corner. Instead, the focus is more on the characters and their relationships. Fortunately, Spencer's strong performance carries the show even when the plot tends to drag.

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet (2019): Best Workplace Comedy About the Video Game Industry

From Parks and Recreation to Taxi, workplace comedies never seem to fall out of popularity. As the workplace evolves, so do sitcoms about them, which is why we have Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet.

In this iteration of the age-old trope, Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenney) is the director of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game who keeps running into problems: his co-workers. The show accurately portrays the pitfalls of working in the gaming industry, but you don't have to be a gamer to enjoy Mythic Quest.

Losing Alice (2021): Most Intense International Mystery Series

When an obsessive young screenwriter named Sophie (Lihi Kornowski) coaxes filmmaker Alice (Ayelet Zurer) and her actor husband David (Gal Toren) to make a movie, the couple sees it as an opportunity to revamp their careers. However, Alice starts to regret her decision as it seems that Sophie is trying to sabotage her marriage.

Losing Alice is an Israeli series that's received positive reviews from critics all over the world. There's a lot of mystery, and the plot goes back and forth through time, but it's never hard to follow. The first season will have eight episodes, with new ones arriving every Friday until February 26th.

Helpsters (2019): Best Educational Kids Show About Computer Coding

Helpsters is truly Sesame Street for the 21st century. Professional problem solver Cody and her pals teach preschoolers the basic concepts of computer coding. Kids won't learn how to make their own mobile apps. Instead, the lessons focus on logic and pattern recognition.

Helpsters is made by people who worked for Sesame Street and The Jim Henson Company, so the production is top-notch. Young kids have a higher capacity for learning than adults, so it's never too early to start practicing computer programming. You might even learn a thing or two while watching with your kids.

Servant (2019): Best Paranormal Thriller From a Hollywood Director

Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) is thrilled when she lands a cushy gig as a live-in nanny, but there's a catch: She's actually taking care of a doll that the mother (Lauren Ambrose) believes is her deceased infant son. It's a concept that's been tried before with movies like The Boy and The Truth About Emanuel, but Servant brings enough to the table to stand on its own.

While M. Night Shyamalan didn't direct or write any of the episodes, many scenes look like they could come from a Shyamalan film. Episodes are short and reveal only enough to keep you watching. A second season is set to begin on January 15th, with a third in the pipeline.

Visible: Out on Television (2020): Best Documentary Celebrating LGBTQ+ Actors

LGBTQ+ actors, filmmakers, and historians share their experiences on and off-screen in this mini-series about representation in the TV industry. Starting with The Dark Ages, each episode chronicles the slow march of progress and examines themes like homophobia, coming out, and the HIV pandemic.

In many ways, TV has shaped the LGBTQ+ movement and vice-versa. Visible: Out on Television recounts historic on-screen moments as well as what was happening behind-the-scenes. You'll see a mix of new and old interviews featuring Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Ghostwriter (2019): Best Reboot of a Cult Classic Kids Show

Reboots of 90s kids shows are all the rage right now, but Ghostwriter is an odd candidate for a modern update. Granted, the show was ahead of its time with its diverse cast and inventive story about a group of tween detectives who solve mysteries with the help of a book-obsessed specter.

The acting in Ghostwriter is great, which is owed largely to the excellent writing. Characters are three-dimensional, and the special effects are surprisingly good. After a successful first season that earned eight Daytime Emmy nominations, a second is planned for release in 2021.

For All Mankind (2019): Best Alternate History Show About the Cold War

The space race culminated in 1969 with the moon landing of Apollo 11, but what if the Soviet Union had landed there first? For All Mankind posits that America wouldn't take the "L" and move on. In an alternate version of history, the space race continues with some unexpected outcomes.

The series uses a mix of fictional and real-life characters, like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to create a plausible alternate past, present, and future. The first few episodes start with a sputter, but the ride gets back as it goes on. Stay strapped in for a new season in 2021.

Amazing Stories (2020): Best Sci-Fi Anthology Reboot

In the mid-80s, master filmmaker Steven Spielberg had an anthology TV series called Amazing Stories. It's back for a new decade, and each episode tells a self-contained fantasy story set in the modern-day. Most of the stories are original, but one episode, "The Rift," is based on a 2017 graphic novel.

The original show was inspired by the 1926 science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, believed to be the first sci-fi magazine published in America. Every episode has a different director, so if the first one doesn't hold your attention, don't be afraid to try another one.

Home Before Dark (2020): Best Portrayal of a Nosey Little Girl

Hilde (Brooklynn Prince) is a young girl trying to follow in her father's footsteps as a writer. When the family has to relocate to the father's hometown, Hilde finds herself in the midst of a new school and a new mystery, of which her father is at the center.

Although the primary star in this show is a middle-schooler, it's definitely a show geared more toward adults, with murder as the main driver of the series. It's filled with mystery and suspense, though, so adults should find it easy to slip into this little girl's world.

The Morning Show (2020): Best Morning TV Catfight

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a morning news show? The Morning Show gives a good, if somewhat dramatized, look. As one of the first shows released on Apple TV+, The Morning Show is a hit with the perfect balance of drama, rage, and self-indulgence while also tackling some heavy issues close to home for those of us in the audience.

Mich (Steve Carell) is a former morning anchor trying to get his job back. Alex (Jennifer Anniston) and Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) are sometimes friends and sometimes enemies battling a sexist establishment as they try to save a morning news show.

Truth Be Told (2019): A Delight for Obsessed Crime Podcast Fans

Poppy (Octavia Spencer) is a podcaster who helped put a man away in a case that brought her notoriety. In reviewing the case, she begins to believe that she may have helped put the wrong person in prison. However, when Poppy begins investigating the new scenario, she learns the man she put behind bars is now a member of the Aryan Brotherhood. Layering race relations on top of an American obsession with true crime, Truth Be Told should delight fans of crime dramas.

Tehran (2020): For Those Who Dream of Becoming Mossad

If espionage thrillers are your comfort media, then Tehran is sure to be a hit. When a female Mossad agent goes undercover in Tehran, she finds herself in more trouble than she anticipated and scrambles to put together a plan to get free. Though a somewhat predictable spy-in-crisis story, the backdrop of the middle east and all the challenges that come with it make for an interesting show to watch.

Dickinson (2019): A Page From Jane Austin's Book

Much like Pride and Prejudice seems to follow Jane Austin through her love life, Dickinson is meant to be an inside look at Emily Dickinson's world as she works to become a great poet.

What sets this series apart and makes it entertaining is how the characters seem to meld the modern world with mid-19th century sensibilities. Be prepared for some moments that make you stare at the screen questioningly. If you can get past that, though, this is an entertaining series, and there are rumors that season 2 will be released in early 2021.

Becoming You (2020): Here's Why You Are the Way You Are

It's no secret that early childhood development is critical, but this documentary explores how the first 2,000 days of a child's life influence who they become. The story is told through the eyes of 100 children across the globe, so buckle up and prepare to see the world in a way you haven't in a really long time.

Defending Jacob (2020): Best Creepy-and-Glad-That's-Not-My-Kid Drama

When Jacob (Jaedan Martell) is accused of murder, his father (Chris Evans) puts his career on the line to defend his son. In doing so, the emotionally exhausted father must decide which is most important: his oath to uphold the law or his duty to protect his son.

For those who are fans of crime dramas, this one is particularly well done, and as a mini-series, it's easy to sail through the episodes.

The Oprah Conversation (2020): Great for Oprah Fans Everywhere

Fans of the Oprah show, unite! Finally, Oprah has returned armed with what she does best—intimate conversation. In this new show, Oprah sits down with some premier guests to talk about everything from what's going on in the U.S. today to what drives her guests to do more. Guests like Dolly Parton, Barack Obama, and Matthew McConaughey join the show to talk with Oprah.

Earth at Night (2020): For Anyone Into Animal Drama

Animals behave differently at night, and this sweeping documentary crosses six continents to see just how differently. Learn about nocturnal animal behavior in this beautifully filmed series that draws on modern technology to push back the darkness and bring the nocturnal world into the light.