PLURIBUS on Apple TV is a new Sci-Fi series with a pandemic (and alien) plot, featuring strong world-building. Just sit back and take it all in. The series premieres with its first two hour-long episodes. Read our Pluribus series review here!

PLURIBUS is a new Apple TV Original and, once again, this is a hit right out of the gate. From episode 1, I was completely on board with this new world and its miserable lead character.

The season has nine episodes, and we’re getting the first two on the premiere day. One episode would be enough to get most hooked, but it’s probably good they didn’t release the entire series, as it is very binge-worthy.

And yes, I certainly would have kept watching until the very end.

Continue reading our Pluribus series review below. Find it on Apple TV now.

Save the world from happiness?

In Pluribus, we follow Carol (Rhea Seehorn) as the most miserable person on Earth. She is needed to save the world from happiness. Oh yes, you read that right.

Maybe because “happiness” isn’t so much the right word as “oblivion”. The world has been hit by a pandemic that works instantly and makes everyone happy. Or, you know, blissfully obedient to being a “we” and working as one.

This genre-bending series is a real treat to watch. Not unlike Severance or Servant, it builds an entire world for us to enjoy in record time. A world that looks like the one we know, but has some distinct and all-consuming differences.

Alongside Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul) in the all-important lead role, the series stars Karolina Wydra (Incarnate, Sneaky Pete) and Carlos-Manuel Vesga (The Hijacking of Flight 601).

Also, we get guest stars Miriam Shor (American Fiction) and Samba Schutte (Our Flag Means Death).

A very miserable person indeed

Admittedly, the lead character of Pluribus is a very miserable person from the onset of the series. However, I would say there is a damn good reason why she soon becomes even more miserable. I mean, most anyone would be in her situation.

Also, on a personal note, I absolutely loathe that it’s a trope I’ve seen too many times (yet again!) recently. Including in an Apple TV production that has yet to be released. Just a little semi-spoiler, but it happens in the opening of the series, so not by much.

In any case, I did enjoy the overall concept of Pluribus (apart from that element), and the world-building is absolutely spectacular. It’s a pandemic plot mixed with an alien element, but not in any typical way.

A lighter version of 3 Body Problem… sort of, but not really. Pluribus is very much its own thing. Just watch it, seriously!

Will we get a season 2 of Pluribus on Apple TV?

Yes, Pluribus is one of those fairly few instances where a series has been ordered for two seasons from the onset.

This means that when the final episode of this season has aired, you won’t have to wonder if more is coming.

You already know Pluribus season 2 will come to Apple TV.

Start watching Pluribus on Apple TV now

Pluribus (or Plur1bus) comes from creator Vince Gilligan. If the name sounds familiar, it’s probably because he also created Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and wrote 30 episodes of The X Files. Oh yeah, and the 2008 superhero movie Hancock.

The title of Pluribus is also written as PLUR1BUS in the title to focus on the one among the many. Suddenly, all humans on Earth are working as one for the greater good. Not unlike an ant colony.

But the greater good of what? And what about your individual happiness? Well, you’ll have to watch Pluribus on Apple TV to find out. And you really should!

The series debuts with its two first episodes and then continues with a weekly episode. This means the final episode of season 1 is released on December 26, 2025.

Pluribus premieres globally on Apple TV on November 7, 2025.

Details

Creator: Vince Gilligan
Directors: Vince Gilligan, Gordon Smith, Zetna Fuentes, Gandja Monteiro
Cast: Rhea Seehorn, Carlos Manuel Vesga, Karolina Wydra, Miriam Shor, Samba Schutte

Plot

The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.

DOWN CEMETERY ROAD on Apple TV+ is a new thriller series with eight episodes and starring Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson. Honestly, these two should be enough for you to give it a chance. And once you start watching, you should be hooked. Read our Down Cemetery Road series review here!

DOWN CEMETERY ROAD is a new Apple TV+ series. The main genre is thriller, but we also deal with crime and conspiracy. As in a real conspiracy. The kind where the government needs to remove all evidence of their own mess. And will stop at nothing.

For the record, this series is based in the United Kingdom, so we’re in the London area. Also, Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson star in this Apple TV+ series, and they are magnificent. Truly, watching these two (both apart and together) was brilliant.

Continue reading our Down Cemetery Road series review below. Find the first two episodes on Apple TV+ from October 29, 2025.

When conspiracy is no longer a wild theory

In Down Cemetery Road, we know from very early on that an actual conspiracy is happening. Or rather, something has already happened earlier that needs to be hidden. Effectively, anyone involved with this secret must be eliminated.

Unfortunately for the British government, the people on this job are not very efficient. Sure, they may manage to “get rid of” key witnesses, but never in any elegant way. That’s why our two main protagonists suddenly find themselves caught up in said conspiracy.

WANT ANOTHER POLITICALLY DRIVEN THRILLER?

Do not miss out on Anniversary in theaters now >

When we meet Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson), she isn’t particularly happy in her life. Maybe that’s why she finds herself getting obsessed with the idea of finding a girl from her neighborhood. The girl was in a presumed gas explosion and now seems to be missing.

Something about the whole ordeal just does not sit right with Sarah. In her very strange and unorthodox approach, she soon finds herself aided by PI Zoë Boehm (Emma Thompson).

Yes, it is political… but not simple

If the government wasn’t happy with one nosey lady, these two are the last two they’d want on their tail. Sarah discovers things by accident, while Zoë is simply brilliant! It doesn’t take them long to uncover a conspiracy involving a presumed dead person still living.

While the core plot of Down Cemetery Road is political, in the sense that the government is trying to cover up its own misdeeds, it’s not simple. It also does not specify which political parties have done what. In fact, those cleaning up the mess are not the same who made it.

And isn’t that always the case? Or often, anyway?!

Also, it’s worth noting that this is a British production and the story plays out in the London area. Maybe that’s why Apple TV+ isn’t shying away from releasing it, while we are still waiting for The Savant (starring Jessica Chastain) to be released.

Start watching the Down Cemetery Road series on Apple TV now

Down Cemetery Road is based on a book by Mick Herron (Slow Horses), and was adapted for television by Morwenna Banks, who also wrote it alongside Rose Heiney. The eight episodes are directed by Samuel Donovan (Severance), Börkur Sigþórsson (Katla), and Natalie Bailey(Joe vs Carole).

Starring in Down Cemetery Road alongside Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson, who truly make this series an amazing watching experience, is a wonderful supporting cast. This includes Adeel Akhtar (Sweet Tooth), Adam Godley, Ken Nwosu (Black Doves), Tom Goodman-Hill (Baby Reindeer), Darren Boyd, Fehinti Balogun, Tom Riley, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.

This new British Apple TV series premieres with its first two episodes, and following this, you’ll be getting weekly episodes. Fair warning, they do tend to end on some pretty wild cliffhangers, so to avoid spoilers, I would tune in weekly, if I were you.

Down Cemetery Road debuts on Apple TV+ on October 29, 2025.

Details

Creator: Morwenna Banks (based on a book by Mick Herron)
Cast: Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson, Adeel Akhtar, Adam Godley, Ken Nwosu, Tom Goodman-Hill, Darren Boyd, Fehinti Balogun, Tom Riley, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett

Plot

Sarah Tucker obsessively searches for a missing neighbor girl after an explosion. Aided by PI Zoë Boehm, they uncover a conspiracy involving presumed dead still living and living dying, embroiling them in a complex web.

THE LAST FRONTIER on Apple TV+ is a thriller action series with a very intriguing premise. Unfortunately, I was not impressed.  In fact, I feel this is the most underwhelming Apple TV+ series I’ve watched so far. Read our The Last Frontier series review here!

THE LAST FRONTIER is a new Apple TV+ series with 10 episodes. It premieres with its first two episodes, and if you’re hooked by those, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy the whole season. I was not impressed much with this show.

It’s a thriller, drama, action hybrid, which usually leaves room for a little bit of everything. For The Last Frontier, this includes many characters and side stories. Too many. Well, in my humble opinion anyway.

Continue reading our The Last Frontier series review below. Start watching on Apple TV+ on October 10, 2025.

Hunting down inmates in Alaska

On the surface, The Last Frontier is about Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke) being faced with a huge task. The lone U.S. marshal is in charge of the rugged barrens of a quiet town in Alaska.

Well, the quiet part is about to end, and a very drama-fueled future is here.

The Marshal’s jurisdiction is faced with a prison transport plane crash. The plane has crashed in the remote wilderness, and while some didn’t survive the crash, dozens of violent inmates are now roaming around in freedom.

Could there be more to the accident? Well, Remnick suspects as much when he learns the plane made a pitstop earlier, and the CIA gets involved.

The Real Man™ and the Smart Woman

Overall, what annoyed me most about The Last Frontier (apart from the many side stories) was the main protagonist, portrayed by Jason Clarke. Now, I have to say I usually really like Jason Clarke as an actor, so I did not see this coming.

Unfortunately, he portrays the U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick, who is a Real Man™. You know, the kind who yells directly into the face of the woman who has been tasked with working with him.

A smart woman who is as honest as her orders allow her to be. And then some, in order to win his trust!

The kind of Real Man™ who gives an entire speech about the quality of the people living in this rural Alaskan town. Why? Because the woman commented on the fact that there wasn’t a vegetable in sight.

Now, the woman, on the other hand, is clearly someone who has lost her way in some sense and is being punished by the CIA. She’s portrayed by Haley Bennett (Swallow), and I don’t think I’m supposed to root for her, but I damn well did.

Especially after Frank Remnick had, yet again, been yelling at her that he didn’t trust her or wanted to work with her. Only to, one scene later, ask her how she’s doing.

Who’s in the cast of The Last Frontier?

Alongside Jason Clarke and Haley Bennett, The Last Frontier also has several other amazing talents in the cast. Though really, Jason Clarke is named mostly, and his character is in focus, which doesn’t sit right with me either.

Anyway, the Apple TV+ thriller series also stars Dominic Cooper, Simone Kessell, Dallas Goldtooth, Josh Cruddas, and Tait Blum. Also, a huge plus is Academy Award nominee and multi-Emmy Award winner Alfre Woodard.

For the record, I do not blame Jason Clarke for not liking this series. His character is just very stereotypical, and the storyline is choppy. Also, the initial twists are completely unrealistic.

I’m sure you’ll recognize this when the first huge “twist” comes at the end of episode 1.

Start watching The Last Frontier on Apple TV+

The Last Frontier is a new original series from co-creators Jon Bokenkamp (Taking Lives) and Richard D’Ovidio. They also executive produce alongside Clarke, Laura Benson, Glenn Kessler, Albert Kim, and series episodic director Sam Hargrave.

I’m usually very impressed by Apple TV+ series productions, but this one did not feel like an Apple production. It’s the most underwhelming Apple TV+ series I’ve watched so far. I’d much rather rewatch Servant than get a season 2 of this.

The 10-episode thriller series has its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes. This will be followed by new episodes every Friday through December 5, 2025.

The Last Frontier premieres on Apple TV+ on October 10, 2025.

Details

Creators: Jon Bokenkamp & Richard D’Ovidio
Directors: John Curran, Jessica Lowrey, Dennie Gordon, Sam Hargrave
Stars: Jason Clarke, Dominic Cooper, Haley Bennett, Simone Kessell, Dallas Goldtooth, Tait Blum, Alfre Woodard

Plot

“The Last Frontier” follows Frank Remnick (Clarke), the lone U.S. marshal in charge of the quiet, rugged barrens of Alaska. Remnick’s jurisdiction is turned upside down when a prison transport plane crashes in the remote wilderness, setting free dozens of violent inmates. Tasked with protecting the town he’s vowed to keep safe, he begins to suspect the crash wasn’t an accident, but the first step of a well-crafted plan with far-reaching and devastating implications.

THE LOST BUS on Apple TV+ is a new survival thriller based on the true story of a rescue mission during the Paradise wildfire. Paul Greengrass directs with Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera starring. Read our full The Lost Bus movie review here and watch it on Apple TV+!

THE LOST BUS is a new Apple TV+ survival thriller based on a true story. Watching the crazy ride through one of the deadliest wildfires is stress-inducing and almost feels like a workout. My pulse certainly remained high throughout.

The movie premiered at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in early September. Now, one month later, it’s out in wide release on the streaming platform. The runtime is 2 hours and 9 minutes, and no, that’s not too long.

Continue reading our The Lost Bus movie review below. Find it on Apple TV+ from October 3, 2025.

Hold on tight and remember to breathe

With The Lost Bus, we’re getting a movie that shows the very real horrors of wildfires. All aspects of wildfire, really. From the struggle to evacuate to the fire department being forced to choose between fighting fire and saving lives.

Obviously, the two are ideally closely connected. However, when a wildfire gets out of control, resources can be put to better use by getting people to safety instead.

The focus in this Apple TV+ movie is, as revealed by the title, a bus. Specifically, a school bus.

We meet the wayward school bus driver, Kevin McKay (Matthew McConaughey), who has just moved back to his childhood home of Paradise in California, when a wildfire hits.

Along with the dedicated school teacher, Mary Ludwig (America Ferrera), he goes on a mission to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno. Armed with nothing but a school bus and knowledge of the area, they face extreme danger.

Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera star

Needless to say, the subject of wildfire is one that hits close to home for anyone who has ever experienced it. The wildfire in Paradise, California, happened in early November of 2018, so it’s not that long ago at all.

The deadly campfire essentially wiped the entire California town off the map, and the town is still recovering, so in that sense, it’s still an open wound.

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE WILDFIRE?

Check out this tough read on npr.org about the repopulation >

Telling the story of the school bus driver and local school teacher, who risked everything to save 22 school kids, is one of the positive stories to come out of this tragedy. And it needs to be portrayed with respect and dignity.

Fortunately, Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera both deliver strong and organic portrayals of these two heroes. He is frazzled by life before the fire even begins, and she knows exactly what the kids need, but combined, they succeed.

I hope you’ll recognize this isn’t a spoiler.

After all, they wouldn’t make a movie about 22 kids dying during a rescue mission. However, be warned, it is still a brutal story to watch, and the worst of human nature also shows its ugly face.

On a more fun and positive note, I loved that Matthew McConaughey’s real-life son, Levi, and his mom, Kay, co-star in The Lost Bus in those very same capacities.

Watch The Lost Bus on Apple TV+ 

The Lost Bus comes from director Paul Greengrass and was inspired by real events that happened during the wildfires in Paradise, California. Of course, Paul Greengrass is no stranger to directing movies based on real tragedies.

He directed the 2006 movie United 93 about the plane that was crashed before arriving at its intended target on 9/11. I still remember watching that movie in a theater in New York City nearly 20 years ago. It was a very intense experience.

Also, he directed the Netflix movie 22 July about the Norwegian tragedy that cost more than 70 lives.

For this new Apple TV+ production, the screenplay was written by Greengrass in cooperation with Brad Ingelsby (Task, Echo Valley). The movie was based on “Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire” by Lizzie Johnson.

Among the producers, we find iconic horror filmmaker Jason Blum for Blumhouse Productions and Jamie Lee Curtis for Comet Pictures. Jamie Lee Curtis brought the project to Blumhouse after reading the book. The two also co-produced The Sticky on Prime Video.

Final words to remember: While I absolutely recommend watching The Lost Bus, I want to highlight that this is not an easy watch, but it is an important one!

The Lost Bus premieres globally on Apple TV+ on October 3, 2025.

Details

Director: Paul Greengrass
Writers: Brad Inglesby, Paul Greengrass
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, America Ferrera, Yul Vazquez, Ashlie Atkinson

Plot

From director Paul Greengrass and inspired by real events, “The Lost Bus” is a white-knuckle ride through one of America’s deadliest wildfires as a wayward school bus driver (Matthew McConaughey) and a dedicated school teacher (America Ferrera) battle to save 22 children from the terrifying inferno.

ECHO VALLEY on Apple TV+ is a new thriller starring Julianne Moore as a woman in a bad situation that keeps getting worse. Both in emotional, moral, and criminal ways. Read our full Echo Valley movie review here!

ECHO VALLEY is a new Apple TV+ thriller with a wonderful cast and a plot that keeps evolving in amazing ways. The character-driven story may seem predictable at first, but in the final act, it will deliver in several unexpected ways. Great ways, I might add!

With Julianne Moore heading the cast and being the one character we follow from start to finish, we’re off to a great start. Fortunately, the rest of the cast (even in the smallest roles with minimal screentime) is equally amazing. Even the runtime of 104 minutes works.

Continue reading our Echo Valley movie review below. Find it on Apple TV+ from June 13, 2025.

A grieving and desperate woman

As already stated, we’re in luck with Oscar winner Julianna Moore leading the cast of Echo Valley. She plays Kate, who is struggling to overcome a personal tragedy. As the sole owner of the Echo Valley farm, there is a lot of work to do.

She’s exhausted all the time, but training horses and keeping them clean and fed gets her out of bed each morning. Kate is a grieving woman, but if she thinks her life is bad now, it’s about to get a whole lot worse.

It all begins when her troubled daughter Claire (multi-Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney) returns home. Claire has been in and out of rehab. Now, she’s back for help once more.

At first, it isn’t too bad, or not out of the ordinary for Claire, but it will soon result in desperation. It escalates wildly when she shows up on Kate’s doorstep, covered in someone else’s blood. Kate must now decide just how far she will go for her child.

This will surprise you – in amazing ways!

In many ways, Echo Valley is the classic story of a parent dealing with a child addicted to drugs. Sydney Sweeney (Immaculate, Nocturne) delivers a powerful performance as the daughter, Claire. She is not likable, but she is vulnerable and very obviously still an addict.

And yes, you will want to knock sense into her. Just as her parents have tried through rehab. Many times. You just cannot help someone who isn’t ready to receive help.

This is what Julianne Moore‘s Kate is struggling to accept. Especially as she’s already dealing with her own grief. A life-altering grief that has worn her out, which means she’s ready to do whatever her daughter needs. And the daughter preys on that.

As Claire’s, we see Kyle MacLachlan (Blink Twice) in a role that’s small, but still important.

In three other key roles, we have the always amazing Fiona Shaw (True Detective: Night Country) as the best friend of Kate, who delivers so much heart to the story.

And then there’s Edmund Donovan (Your Monster, Civil War) and Domhnall Gleeson (The Patient) as people from Claire’s life of addiction. They are not good people, but these two actors deliver great portrayals of those shady elements of the story.

Watch Echo Valley on Apple TV+

The new Apple TV+ movie Echo Valley comes from BAFTA-winning director Michael Pearce (Beast, Encounter) and Emmy-nominated writer Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown).

Admittedly, I thought the trailer for Echo Valley had been too spoiler-filled and revealed most of the plot. Well, I’m very happy to say that I was wrong. This thriller has a lot more to it.

In fact, the trailer is merely what sets everything off.

The third act offers a finale that I have not been able to forget. It’s all about trying to figure out how to balance love, sacrifice, and survival. Also, it’s about the family you have versus the one you build and choose (friends, specifically). Do not miss out on this one!

Echo Valley will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on June 13, 2025.

Details

Director: Michael Pearce
Writer: Brad Ingelsby
Cast: Julianne Moore, Sydney Sweeney, Domhnall Gleeson, Fiona Shaw, Edmund Donovan, Albert Jones, Kyle MacLachlan

Plot

Julianne Moore is Kate, whose secluded life is interrupted by her troubled daughter (Sydney Sweeney) when she shows up frightened and covered in someone’s blood. As Kate unravels the shocking truth, she learns how far she’ll go for her child.

MURDERBOT on Apple TV+ is a new Sci-Fi, Thriller, and dark Comedy series starring Alexander Skarsgård in the title role. It’s a wonderful hybrid that entertains perfectly with its half-hour episodes. Read our Murderbot Season 1 review here!

MURDERBOT is a new Apple TV+ series with ten 30-minute episodes in the season. This is a wonderful genre hybrid with sci-fi, thriller, and comedy at the forefront. However, you can also expect mystery and action, so there’s plenty to enjoy.

This includes a wonderful cast led by Alexander Skarsgård in the title role. The series premieres on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes. Following this, we’ll be getting weekly episodes each Friday until the season 1 finale on July 11, 2025.

Continue reading our Murderbot Season 1 review below. Start watching on Apple TV+ from May 16, 2025.

A very self-aware android

Murdetbot is the story about a very self-aware Android made to protect humans and live a “life” of servitude. However, this particular Android is a self-hacking security construct that has managed to set itself free.

Of course, it can’t let the supposed human overlords know this. Also, as an already older (outdated even) model, there’s a need to stay under the radar to continue existing.

Murderbot is absolutely horrified by human emotion, but still can’t help but feel for the vulnerable clients it’s assigned to. Despite having actual free will, humans cannot know this. In order to seem constantly detached, Murderbot watches downloaded TV while on standby.

In fact, our sarcastic android can’t really be bothered to do much else unless directly ordered. Murderbot just wants to watch a deliciously campy futuristic soap opera. With dialogue taken from this series, it interacts with humans to find its place in the universe.

The absolutely wonderful casting of Murderbot

In this comedic sci-fi thriller, we’re getting blessed with the most wonderful cast. Obviously, Alexander Skarsgård (Infinity Pool, The Stand, True Blood) as the title character of Murderbot is all-important. And, of course, he delivers perfectly.

From his extreme sarcasm and downright fear of humans desiring eye contact all the time, to his earnest wish to keep them safe. Humans are not all good, but the bunch he’s currently assigned to protect are all good-hearted.

They’re also personal messes, but he can work with that.

Alongside the huge Swede that is Alexander Skarsgård, we have a stellar cast in all the key roles. Truly, this series manages to create fully fleshed-out characters in record time. Not least thanks to the constant inner commentary of Murderbot himself.

Or is it “Itself”?!

Anyway, the Murderbot ensemble cast includes Noma Dumezweni (The Watcher), David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil), Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna (Chloe), Tattiawna Jones (Station Eleven), and Tamara Podemski (Outer Range).

Also in wonderful cameo-like roles, we get the pleasure of actors like John Cho (Cowboy Bebop) and Clark Gregg (G20, Zero Day). Plenty to look forward to and so many wonderful Easter Egg-like pop culture references. I love it!

Watch Murderbot on Apple TV+ now

The new Apple TV+ series is based on the book “All Systems Red” by author Martha Wells. And yes, it has gone straight to my “I want to read” list because this universe works wonderfully for me.

Creators of the series adaptation are Academy Award nominees Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz. They are writers and directors on Murderbot, which they also produce – as does star Alexander Skarsgård.

Chris Weitz and/or Paul Weitz previously worked on projects like The Vampire’s Assistant (2009), Operation Finale (2018), and The Creator (2023). To name just a few of the titles that either of them has been involved with over the past decades.

Also directing some of the 10 episodes of season 1 are Toa Fraser (Sweet Tooth) and Aurora Guerrero (The Other Black Girl).

If you tend to enjoy genre hybrids and want something fun and action-fueled set in a delicious sci-fi universe, then Murderbot is perfect for you. I really hope we’ll get Murderbot season 2, so be sure to check it out and show your love for it if you enjoy it.

Murderbot season 1 premieres globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, May 16, 2025.

Details

Directors: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, Toa Fraser, Aurora Guerrero
Writers: Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz
Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, Tamara Podemski

Plot

Based on Martha Wells’ bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, “Murderbot” is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe.

THE GORGE on Apple TV+ is a Sci-Fi Monster movie with a love story at its heart. This may sound strange, but really, it’s to help get us involved before it turns into a horror story with action and adventure. A very entertaining genre hybrid. Read our full The Gorge movie review here!

THE GORGE is a new Apple TV+ Sci-Fi Monster movie starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Miles Teller as two highly-trained and efficient snipers, who get a job protecting the world. It’s oversimplifying, obviously, but that’s the core premise.

Well, okay, along with the fact that these two operatives fall in love while trying to keep us all safe. So yes, this is a romance story (which would explain the Valentine’s Day release date) combined with sci-fi, horror, action, and adventure. The runtime is just over two hours and it works.

Horror fans should also be happy to know that Scott Derrickson is directing!

Continue reading our The Gorge movie review below. Find it on Apple TV+ from February 14, 2025.

Secret mission and surprise romance

Please don’t let the “romance” element of The Gorge keep you from watching this. While I never mind a good love story in any genre, it’s often even more efficient in horror and thrillers. When there’s someone to lose, the separation and horror usually hits harder.

With The Gorge, the two highly-trained operatives from the West and the East (Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, respectively) are given a year-long mission. They are placed in guard towers on opposite sides of a vast gorge.

Where in the world this gorge is and what resides at the bottom of the gorge is unknown to both them and us. This is a highly classified mission, but something is at the bottom. The mission for the operatives – both world-class snipers who are used to working alone – is to protect the world from an undisclosed danger.

WATCH THIS IF YOU LIKED

The Netflix movie Love & Monsters – though this is much darker >

Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) is from Lithuania, and Levi (Miles Teller) is from the US. They are continuing a decade-long mission to protect the world from each side. Even during the Cold War, this mission continued because it works outside conventional political channels.

Although they are not meant to communicate, they do need to work together, so Draca quickly ignores this rule and contacts Levi. As a result, they work together even better to protect each other and the rest of the world.

The most wonderful cast

The two absolute stars are, of course, Miles Teller (Spiderhead) and Anya Taylor-Joy (The Menu). If these two didn’t work, then The Gorge wouldn’t work either. Fortunately, they deliver interesting individual characters and have good chemistry. Not just in a romantic sense, mind you.

I loved how Drasa is at least as good a soldier as Levi. In fact, in ways, she’s clearly bolder and better than him – something he also recognizes. In a world, where it’s the two of them against an unknown enemy, who wouldn’t want the best possible partner at their side?!

EASTER EGGS IN THE GORGE…

Notice the two activities Drasa and Levi engage in together: First, they’re playing chess, then they’re jamming on the drums. Anya Taylor-Joy was a chess genius in the Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit. Miles Teller was a brilliant drummer in the award-winning movie Whiplash.

The big boss sending Miles Teller’s Levi on this mission is Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Ghostbusters). Also, we have Sope Dirisu (His House, Silent Night) as J.D., the man ending his year-long mission and introducing Levi to the job. He doesn’t know much about the gorge either.

Oh, and for the record, once you [the viewer] are introduced to what’s in the gorge, the movie turns a lot darker. The “residents” of that place reminded me of something from The Last of Us in the creepiest of ways!

Watch The Gorge on Apple TV+

The new Apple Original Film is directed by Scott Derrickson, who previously gave us Sinister (2012) and most recently The Black Phone (2021) and a segment of V/H/S/85. Also, I will always adore him for The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) starring Jennifer Carpenter in the title role.

The genre-bending Apple TV+ movie comes from writer Zach Dean (The Tomorrow War), and I clearly like the way his mind works. Apparently, he came up with the idea for this movie during the pandemic lockdown. That would explain the isolation of our main characters, who are fighting an invisible enemy.

Also, I am a sucker for genre-hybrids that manage to incorporate the various genres in organic and entertaining ways. I was certainly also more entertained by The Gorge than I ever anticipated.

Sure, there are some lines and moments here and there that feel a bit heavy-handed with “stereotypical one-liners” that are a bit cringey. But that’s the kind of sci-fi monster romance horror thriller that can get away with it. Well, in my book, anyway.

Check it out on Apple TV+ and see for yourself. I can’t imagine genre fans won’t at least enjoy some parts of it. Personally, I enjoyed the combination of all its elements.

The Gorge is on Apple TV+ from Valentine’s Day, so that’s February 14, 2025.

Details

Director: Scott Derrickson
Writer: Zach Dean
Stars: Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, Sigourney Weaver, Sope Dirisu, Ruta Gedmintas, James Marlowe, William Houston, Julianna Kurokawa

Plot

Two highly trained operatives grow close from a distance after being sent to guard opposite sides of a mysterious gorge.

PRIME TARGET on Apple TV+ is a new Thriller Series with spies, lots of numbers, and much traveling in the eight episodes. It may sound strange, but it’s awesome, and very character-driven with a great cast. Read our full Prime Target season 1 review here!

PRIME TARGET is a new Apple TV+ thriller series and this one feels like a cross between The Da Vinci Code, A Beautiful Mind, and even Indiana Jones. Of course, it’s completely its own thing, but if you enjoyed any of those, you should be happy with this new series.

No doubt, the story of Prime Target can make you paranoid. But so can anything you hear or read online these days – not least via social media. And really, the storyline of this series doesn’t seem that far-fetched. Season 1 has eight episodes and premieres with the first two episodes before going into weekly episodic releases.

Continue reading our Prime Target season 1 review below. Find episodes 1 and 2 on Apple TV+ from January 22, 2025.

A very relevant conspiracy thriller

With Prime Target, we’re getting a thriller series with a conspiracy plot. Not something that’s crazy out there but rather it’s about the NSA surveilling people they expect will discover or invent a new global threat. These people are doing theoretical work but the NSA is acutely aware of the applied possibilities of this work.

The story features Edward Brooks (Leo Woodall), who is a brilliant young math postgraduate. He’s not great with people, but he’s not exactly bad either. Basically, he just works well in the world of numbers when things make sense to him. When the series begins, Ed Brooks is on the verge of a major breakthrough.

It’s a breakthrough that involves prime numbers. Others have done similar work before, but somehow they have always been stopped – either by persuasion or elimination.

If Edward Brooks succeeds in finding a pattern in prime numbers, it would mean he holds the key to the digital world. Of course, he is only interested in the theory, not the applied possibilities. However, others are and that’s why the NSA gets involved.

Well, indirectly, because nothing is simple in Prime Target. It’s not crazy complicated either, so you don’t need to worry about keeping up.

A female NSA agent, Taylah Sanders (Quintessa Swindell) has been watching mathematicians’ behavior for years and reporting back to the NSA. However, seeing one of “her” mathematicians die, she starts to worry about what the job actually entails. Soon, Taylah and Edward begin to unravel the conspiracy at the heart of everything.

Leo Woodall is perfectly cast

To me, Leo Woodall looks as lot like Sean Astin, which to this 1980s-loving girl is never a bad thing. As the Cambridge mathematician, Edward Brooks may have the face of an angel due to Leo Woodall portraying him, but the actor nails the character as well.

He’s always lost in thought and can be blind to things that the rest of us take for granted. Leo Woodall makes Ed Brooks seem relatable and likable – and even when he isn’t all that likable, it isn’t due to him purposely doing anything wrong. He is just different. And we need that in the world as well.

The casting of the Edward Brooks character is paramount to making the entire Apple TV+ series work. Fortunately, with Leo Woodall (The White Lotus, One Day) the casting is perfect. Also, Quintessa Swindell (Black Adam, In Treatment) as the young NSA agent with a solid moral compass is great casting.

So many amazing actors in this Apple TV+ series

Along with these two wonderfully cast characters, we’re being spoiled with wonderful actors in all other key roles. Most notably the amazing BAFTA Award winner Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen, Westworld), and the Danish actor is often credited as the third name, so she plays a big part in much of the story.

Also getting a lot of screentime and third billing in several episodes is Emmy Award winner Martha Plimpton (The Regime, The Goonies). She plays an NSA agent as does Harry Lloyd (Game of Thrones). In another smaller, but important, role is Fra Fee (Rebel Moon, Boys from County Hell).

Plus, Academy Award nominee and BAFTA Award winner Stephen Rea (The Crying Game), David Morrissey (The Walking Dead), Jason Flemyng (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ali Suliman (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan), and Joseph Mydell (The Eternal Daughter).

Watch season 1 of Prime Target on Apple TV+ now

Prime Target is a series created by award-winning writer Steve Thompson (Sherlock, Vienna Blood), who is also the executive producer. Laura Hastings-Smith (The Little Drummer Girl) also serves as executive producer as does writer and director Brady Hood (The One, Great Expectations), who directed all episodes.

New Regency with Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions are behind the new series and even the opening credits are gorgeous. Much like Game of Thrones, Get Millie Black, or Severance, it offers a kind of intro, you stare at and become fascinated by. For Prime Target, it’s very appropriately all about patterns.

The Night Agent season 2 is coming out the day after Prime Target premieres and the two series are great companion works. The storylines themselves aren’t similar, but the protagonists wanting to do good while being in a world where the bad people are winning with their methods, results in a similar overall vibe.

The eight-episode series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes, followed by one episode weekly every Wednesday through March 5, 2025.

Prime Target premieres on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes on January 22, 2025.

Details

Creator: Steve Thompson
Writer: Steve Thompson
Director: Brady Hood
Cast: Leo Woodall, Quintessa Swindell, Stephen Rea, David Morrissey, Martha Plimpton, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Jason Flemyng, Harry Lloyd, Ali Suliman, Fra Fee, Joseph Mydell

Plot

Prime Target features a brilliant young math postgraduate, Edward Brooks, who is on the verge of a major breakthrough. If he succeeds in finding a pattern in prime numbers, he will hold the key to every computer in the world. Soon, he begins to realize an unseen enemy is trying to destroy his idea before it’s even born, which throws him into the orbit of Taylah Sanders, a female NSA agent who’s been tasked with watching and reporting on mathematicians’ behavior. Together, they start to unravel the troubling conspiracy Edward is at the heart of.

BEFORE on Apple TV+ is a new psychological thriller series starring Billy Crystal. He is breathtaking as a psychiatrist who battles with keeping his sanity. The 10 half-hour episodes are amazing. Read our full Before series review here!

BEFORE is a new Apple TV+ series and you’ll definitely want to watch this one. Billy Crystal is amazing in the lead role, and though we know him mostly as a gifted comedian, there is none of that in this role. It’s a character-driven story and his character is in the driver’s seat!

The one downfall is that the episodes are released weekly and you’ll want desperately to binge-watch it. Each episode offers some new revealing detail that you cannot wait to dive into, but you’ll just have to wait. Sure, you can wait till all episodes are out, but that puts you in danger of spoilers. You do not want that!

Continue reading our Before series review below. The series premieres on Apple TV+ on October 25, 2024.

A grieving doctor and a struggling patient

When the Before story opens, it’s with Dr. Eli Adler (Billy Crystal) in mourning. His wife Lynn (Judith Light) recently passed away, and we see how he continues to see her and even talk to her, even though he knows she’s gone.

This is both a brilliant way of keeping Judith Light in all episodes of the series and a key element of the actual plot. As the story progresses, you’ll see that Eli and Lynn are connected to some of the other characters we meet in the 10 episodes.

Eli is a child psychiatrist who contemplates going back to work but also considers retirement. However, this decision is made for him when a troubled young boy, Noah (Jacobi Jupe) shows up at his doorstep two times.

MORE STORIES WITH TROUBLED KIDS

You may want to check out Dear Child as well >

Only after these incidents does Eli meet Noah as an actual patient, when one of his colleagues begs Eli to return to work for this one patient. Noah is struggling with a multitude of issues and seems to have a connection to Eli’s past.

As Eli does everything he can to help Noah, their bond deepens. So much so that Eli starts experiencing the same delusions that Noah struggles with. Could something supernatural be going on? And would the psychiatrist and science-trusting man even acknowledge if that was the case?!

Amazing cast but troubled production

The fact that I call this production troubled has nothing to do with the cast and everything to do with the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

It meant that the limited series started shooting in May 2023, but was halted when the strike began the following month. Filming ultimately resumed in December and finalized in January 2024.

Usually, having to halt production isn’t a big issue. However, having a young boy in one of the lead roles does present a bit of a snafu. Jacobi Jupe (younger brother of actor Noah Jupe) is amazing in Before.

However, it’s obvious that suddenly a lot of time has passed even though the scenes are supposedly only hours apart.

I really struggled with this for a little while as he looked visibly older and bigger, but his talent (and the writing of the series) helped me move past it. Maybe the weekly released episodes will also be a blessing in that area.

Alongside Billy Crystal, Jacobi Jupe, and Judith Light, we have Maria Dizzia (The Good Nurse, School Spirits) as the daughter of Eli and Lynn. Also, as Eli’s assistant, Cleo, we see Ava Lalezarzadeh (In the Garden of Tulips) deliver an intriguing portrayal.

As Noah’s foster mom, who will do everything she can for the young boy, we see Rosie Perez (Now and Then, The Flight Attendant). She’s often the beating heart of the story as she never gives up on the boy.

Finally, we also get to see Hope Davis as Dr. Jane, a respected Chief of Pediatric Neurology.

Start watching Before on Apple TV+

Before is a limited series created by Sarah Thorp. She also serves as showrunner, writer, and executive producer on the Apple TV+ series. Previous productions by Sarah Thorp include The Bounty Hunter and the 2019 movie Jacob’s Ladder, but this is something very different!

Joining Sarah Thorp as executive producers are Billy Crystal, Eric Roth (Killers of the Flower Moon), pilot director Adam Bernstein (Silo), and producing director Jet Wilkinson (First Kill, Warrior Nun).

With Before, we’re getting a layered and very character-driven psychological thriller. It’s a beast that evolves slowly and shows its true colors little by little. Whenever you think you know where it’s heading, there’s a shift or turn in the story to keep you coming back.

Before premieres globally with the first two episodes on Apple TV+ on Friday, October 25, 2024. New episodes are released every Friday until the final episode on December 20, 2024.

Details

Creator: Sarah Thorp
Directors: Adam Bernstein, Jet Wilkinson, David Petrarca, Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour, Zetna Fuentes
Writers: Sarah Thorp, Joseph Sousa, Howie Miller
Cast: Billy Crystal, Jacobi Jupe, Judith Light, Rosie Perez, Maria Dizzia, Ava Lalezarzadeh

Plot

After tragically losing his wife, child psychiatrist Dr. Eli Adler (Billy Crystal) encounters a troubled young boy who seems to have a haunting connection to Eli’s past.

DISCLAIMER on Apple TV+ is a psychological thriller series starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Based on a novel, this series adaptation comes from Oscar-winner Alfonso Cuarón. Read our full Disclaimer miniseries review here!

DISCLAIMER is a new Apple TV+ miniseries from the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. The series has seven episodes and premieres by releasing the two first. You’ll have to be patient to get to the bottom of this mystery which is full of twists and turns.

Unless, of course, you’ve read the novel it’s based on. In that case, you’ll have a pretty good idea of how it evolves as it follows the book fairly closely. We’ve watched all seven episodes of this series because Cate Blanchett is breathtaking. The series as a whole? Not so much.

Continue reading our Disclaimer miniseries review below. Find the two first episodes on October 11, 2024.

The past and present collide

In Disclaimer, we meet the acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett) when she receives a novel from an unknown author. She has made a career out of shining the spotlight on the misdeeds and transgressions of others, but now someone is focused on her.

When she realizes that the main character in this new story is about her, she is both shocked and horrified. If I stuck with repeating the official plot description, I honestly don’t feel it would do this story much justice.

However, as the plot states, she is very nervous that this book could expose her darkest secret. That’s why she tries to get in front of this disaster by doing what she can to uncover the writer’s true identity.

This, in turn, forces her to confront her past before it destroys her life and her relationships, which is exactly what she has struggled to preserve. Her husband Robert (Sacha Baron Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Kodi Smit-McPhee) mean everything to her.

Though, to be perfectly honest, I cannot fathom why. Both seem utterly useless and one of them is even extremely unpleasant. To put it mildly.

The cat and Cate… that’s the show!

The gorgeous gray cat in the Ravenscroft household, however, is a true treasure. This cat is aiming at getting top-billing alongside Cate Blanchett herself and is more interesting than Sacha Baron Cohen ever manages to be.

That abysmal wig alone is enough to drive me crazy. That’s not the actor’s fault, obviously, but his character truly isn’t very likable.

Kodi Smit-McPhee (X-Men: Apocalypse, The Power of the Dog, Let Me In) as their son, Nick (or Nicholas), delivers exactly the portrayal required. Again, the character largely isn’t very likable. And yes, I would prefer to watch that rebellious gray cat.

It’s here, there, and everywhere… no matter how many times Catherine Ravenscroft or Cate Blanchett tries to move it away. I loved it… it worked so perfectly for her character as well. The cat is a brilliant co-star really!

Cate Blanchett in yet another award-worthy performance

Overall, Disclaimer really is Cate Blanchett’s vehicle. She is breathtaking and may seem a little crazy at times, but it makes sense in the end.

Also, I simply must also mention Leila George (The Kid), who portrays the young version of Catherine Ravenscroft. Now, her scenes are something of note as well. Leila George works perfectly as a younger Cate Blanchett. In every single way!

And okay, yes, Kevin Kline and – in flashbacks – Lesley Manville also both deliver strong and memorable performances. However, I did feel Kevin Kline came close to taking it too far. I almost expected him to rub his hands together and laugh maniacally like a Disney villain.

Well, except for the scenes where he is directly across from Cate Blanchett. You’ll have to wait until the final episode, Chapter 7, for this to completely unfold. Fortunately, this is a very strong episode. Well, if you like the ending, of course.

Plus, Louis Partridge (Enola Holmes) as the young man in Catherine’s past is also very memorable in all the right ways. And finally, Indira Varma as the narrator is just gorgeous because, well, Indira Varma’s voice and acting skills are perfect for the narration of this story.

Watch Disclaimer on Apple TV+

Disclaimer was written and directed by five-time Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Children of Men). It’s based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Renée Knight, so if you’re familiar with this book, you’ll pretty much know the gist of everything.

I expected to like this a lot more than I did. With the “gripping psychological thriller”-driver and Academy Award winners Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline in the two key roles, I felt high expectations were in order.

Well, Cate Blanchett was brilliant. As was that wonderful gray cat and, especially, Leila George as the young Catherine. However, I did not enjoy all that Alfonso Cuarón did with this. Some scenes gave me borderline motion sickness from the constantly moving camera and certain choices (like that wig on Sacha Baron Cohen) gave it a weirdly fake feeling.

This definitely is not a bad limited series by any stretch of the imagination. However, I think it may suffer from not being released in one go, as people might not be intrigued enough to return week after week. They should, though, because that final episode is strong.

The story of Disclaimer is told in seven chapters (that’s “episodes” to you and me), and the final chapter comes out on November 15, 2024. Do not miss out on that one.

Disclaimer premieres with two episodes on Apple TV+ on October 11, 2024.

Details

Creator: Alfonso Cuarón
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Lesley Manville, Louis Partridge, Leila George, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Indira Varma

Plot

Acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. When she receives a novel from an unknown author, she is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets.