Apple TV+ is launching this Friday, November 1st. Some viewers got a sneak peek at the first four original series coming to the streaming service: The Morning Show, See, Dickinson, and For All Mankind. This is what the reviewers have to say about the new shows. (Spoiler: the feedback is not great.)
The Morning Show
Apple describes The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, as a drama that “explores the world of morning news and the ego, ambition and the misguided search for power behind the people who help America wake up in the morning.”
While this is one of the most anticipated series from the new platform, Rolling Stone says the show “doesn’t need to exist.” Like other reports, the Rolling Stone review calls the show boring. The consensus is that the writers of the show are unclear about where the story should be going. On the upside, The Hollywood Reporter says that the show picks up after the first episode, offering more drama and character development.
It’s the actors who will bring viewers to this show and keep them watching. The storyline, which addresses the #MeToo movement and includes a rivalry between the characters played by Witherspoon and Aniston, may not be gripping, but most note the excellent performances and eye-catching look of the show as highlights.
See
See is described by Apple as a series “set 600 years in the future after a virus has decimated humankind and rendered the remaining population blind. When all humanity has lost the sense of sight, humans must adapt and find new ways to survive.”
Some reviews, including on from Apple Insider, compare the post-apocalyptic to Game of Thrones. From elaborate sets to a dramatic storyline and strong characters, the comparisons make sense. Unfortunately, most reviews also say that the show misses the mark on keeping viewers engaged in the story.
The biggest complaint of See seems to be that elements of the story just don’t make sense. How did civilization get to this point? Why, in a world set in the future, are the characters living like it’s hundreds of years in the past? When everyone is blind, how are they able to know exactly where to stab their swords in battles? While the series has already been renewed for a second season, a new creative team will be taking over and we may get answers to those questions from those who have seen the first three episodes.
Dickinson
Apple describes Dickinson as “a darkly comedic coming-of-age story, explores the constraints of society, gender and family through the lens of rebellious young poet, Emily Dickinson.”
“Glossy but confusing” is how a review from Variety describes the series. That confusion stems from the fact that Dickinson tries to cross genre lines, making it a sometimes comedy, sometimes drama, and sometimes teen series that doesn’t quite fit in any category.
Once again, reviews say that the acting in Dickinson is what saves the series. While the story seems scattered and confusing, Hailee Steinfeld plays the part of a fiery teen perfectly. And, in choice that’s so strange it sort of makes perfect sense, Wiz Khalifa plays the role of Death.
For All Mankind
According to Apple, For All Mankind “imagines what would have happened if the global space race never ended and the space program remained the cultural centerpiece of America’s hopes and dreams.”
For All Mankind attempts to create an all new reality, which is both a positive and a negative, according to reviews. Indie Wire says the series “spends most of its episodes presenting this new world in the least imaginative and most inert ways possible,” focusing too much on explaining the alternate history than building a strong story.
However, as another review from Variety points out, the story gets better as the season goes on. Eventually, viewers are familiar with the new reality and the writers get more creative in looking at the possibilities of what could have happened if the space race had taken a different turn.
Can Apple TV+ Keep Viewers Interested?
The reviews for the first four original series for Apple TV+ aren’t promising, but that doesn’t mean the streaming service is doomed to fail. There is still plenty of time for these series to develop and for creative teams to take storylines in new directions. With many Apple customers getting a free year of Apple TV+ after purchasing new Apple products, the platform can keep viewers long enough to get them on board with the new shows.
Will you be watching any of the new Apple TV+ series when the streaming service launches on November 1? Let us know in the comments!
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