Apple TV+ has become home to some of the best television in recent years. Severance, Ted Lasso, and The Morning Show grab most of the headlines. But underneath these big hits, the streaming service holds many smaller shows that deserve more attention.
These hidden gems offer fresh stories, strong performances, and unique ideas. They simply got lost in the noise of so many new releases. From British comedies about adoption to Irish dark mysteries, here are five underrated Apple TV+ shows that are worth your time right now.
Trying – A British Comedy About Starting a Family
Trying is a feel-good comedy-drama set in London. The show follows Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), a young couple who discover they cannot have children on their own. They decide to adopt, but the process turns out to be much harder than they expected.
What makes this show special is its honest look at relationships. Most TV shows focus on people falling in love. Trying shows what happens after that. The couple stays together throughout the series. There is no breakup drama just to create tension. Instead, viewers watch two people face real-life challenges together.
The show also explores adoption in a way rarely seen on television. It shows the home studies, the waiting periods, and the emotional ups and downs. The supporting cast adds plenty of laughs along the way. Imelda Staunton plays a no-nonsense social worker who steals every scene she is in.
Three seasons are available now on Apple TV+. Each season has eight short episodes, making it an easy watch over a weekend.
Bad Sisters – Irish Dark Comedy With a Murder Mystery
Bad Sisters follows the five Garvey sisters living in Ireland. When Grace‘s abusive husband dies under suspicious circumstances, all five sisters become top suspects in the murder investigation.
The show balances dark humor with serious topics. One moment you are laughing at the sisters’ awkward attempts to hide evidence. The next moment you feel the weight of years of emotional pain. The writing never makes light of abuse. Instead, it shows how families protect each other when systems fail them.
Sharon Horgan, who also created the show, stars as one of the sisters. The ensemble cast includes Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, and Eve Hewson. Their chemistry makes every scene believable.
The first season tells a complete story. A second season arrived in 2024, giving fans more time with these characters. Critics praised the show for its smart writing and strong performances.
Sugar – A Detective Story With a Wild Twist
Sugar starts like a standard detective show. Colin Farrell plays John Sugar, a private investigator in Los Angeles. He gets hired by a powerful movie producer to find his missing granddaughter. The case seems normal at first. Then everything changes.
About two-thirds through the first season, the show throws a twist that nobody sees coming. Without giving too much away, Sugar is not what he appears to be. The reveal changes how you see every episode that came before it.
The show uses black-and-white clips from old Hollywood movies throughout each episode. These clips connect to what is happening in Sugar’s mind. It is a unusual storytelling choice that works surprisingly well.
Farrell gives one of his best performances here. He plays a man who feels disconnected from the world around him. The action scenes are well done, but the quiet moments stand out more.
Season one dropped in 2024. A second season is coming in June 2026. Now is the perfect time to catch up before the new episodes arrive.
For All Mankind – What If the Space Race Never Ended?
For All Mankind asks a simple question. What if the Soviet Union reached the moon first? In this alternate history, the space race between the US and Russia never stops. Each season jumps forward several years. The first season starts in the 1960s. By season four, the year is 2003 and there is already a research base on Mars.
The show combines real historical events with imagined ones. President Ted Kennedy appears instead of Nixon. Women and people of color become astronauts much earlier than in real history. The technology develops faster because both countries keep pushing to win.
What makes the show work is its characters. People come and go as the years pass. You watch them age, change careers, and deal with the consequences of their choices. The space scenes look amazing, but the human drama keeps you watching.
Four seasons are available now. Apple has confirmed a fifth season is on the way. The show does not get as much attention as other sci-fi series, but it matches their quality.
Hijack – Real-Time Thriller at 30,000 Feet
Hijack takes place almost entirely on a flight from Dubai to London. Idris Elba plays Sam Nelson, a corporate negotiator. When armed hijackers take over the plane, Sam uses his skills to try and save everyone on board.
Each episode covers one hour of the seven-hour flight. The real-time format creates constant pressure. There is no pause to catch your breath. Every decision matters. Every conversation could be the difference between life and death.
Elba carries the show with his usual charisma. But the supporting cast also delivers strong work. The hijackers are not simple villains. They have their own reasons for what they do, even if those reasons are wrong.
The first season earned Elba a Critics Choice Award for Best Actor in an Action Series. Season two recently started streaming in January 2026. This time, Sam finds himself on a crowded train in Berlin that gets taken over by hostage-takers.
“Hijack is an intensely watchable series that keeps your attention and anxiety up.” – Sherin Nicole, RogerEbert.com
The show holds a 90% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. For fans of tense thrillers, this is one of the best options on any streaming service right now.
Also Read:
Why These Shows Stay Hidden
Apple TV+ does not have as many subscribers as Netflix or Amazon Prime. This means even good shows reach fewer people. The platform also releases shows quietly compared to other services. A new Netflix show gets promoted everywhere. An Apple TV+ show might only get a small banner on the main page.
The streaming service raised its price from $9.99 to $12.99 per month in August 2025. The yearly price of $99.99 stayed the same, which works out to about $8 per month. For that price, you get access to all these shows without any ads or different pricing tiers.
These five shows prove that Apple TV+ makes quality content across many genres. Whether you like comedies, mysteries, sci-fi, or thrillers, there is something here for you. They just need more people to discover them.
Also Read: Phantom Lawyer Episode 5 Recap: Truth Blurs as a Ghost’s Accusation Turns Yi-rang Into a Suspect
For more entertainment news and streaming recommendations, visit VvipTimes daily to stay updated on the best shows you might be missing across all platforms.
