Apple TV+: 3 Original Shows I Just Watched – And Why You Should Watch Them, Too

By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.

Apple TV+, the streaming service that costs $9.99 a month, perhaps does not get enough attention for its lineup of quality original programs. While the streamer has its misses, it has produced a number of outstanding shows in the last few years. I recently watched three original shows on Apple TV+ and loved them all. Here are my capsule reviews and why I think you should watch the trio of programs as well. (Click here to get a free two-month trial subscription to Apple TV+.)

Sugar
Colin Farrell stars as a neo noirish detective in Los Angeles who’s hired to find the missing granddaughter of a Hollywood producer. The eight-episode series works well as a conventional mystery, but it has a midway twist that turns it into something completely different — and all for the good. Farrell is excellent as the detective, John Sugar, and the outstanding supporting cast includes James Cromwell as the producer, Amy Ryan as the missing girl’s musician Mom and Dennis Boutsikaris as the girl’s father. Sugar will keep you guessing and entertained from beginning to end.

Hijack
Idris Elba (The Wire, Luther) plays a master negotiator who must use his special skills to stay alive when the plane he’s on is hijacked by a somewhat dysfunctional team of terrorists. Like Sugar, Hijack doesn’t rely on conventional storylines. Just when you think you understand why the plane has been hijacked, the show peels back another layer of the onion, revealing more details about the whys and whos. Elba, who exploded onto the scene with his portrayal of the drug dealer, Stringer Bell, in HBO’s The Wire, is the best he’s ever been since that show. Like the terrorists, Elba’s character has conflicting motivations which are slowly revealed throughout the seven-episode series and the actor does a splendid job of keeping his cards close to the vest until each revelation is served. Great show, great performance.

Black Bird
Based on a true story, the six-episode Black Bird stars Taron Egerton as a drug dealer who’s sentenced to 10 years but is given an opportunity for early release if he can persuade a fellow inmate (Paul Walter Hauser) to reveal where he buried the bodies of 14 women he murdered. Black Bird is a taut and fascinating drama with outstanding performances from both Egerton and Hauser. The late Ray Liotta is also a welcome addition playing Egerton’s Dad in one of his last roles.

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.