5 Recommendations for the Apple TV+ free preview weekend
Check out Apple TV+'s All-Access Pass this weekend with five recommendations of shows to prioritize.
Growing up, I was always very excited for the weekends when HBO opened its content to everyone. My family would set up our VCR and record movies all weekend long. Many of my earliest movie watches were on VHS recordings of things we grabbed during those free preview weekends.
Starting tomorrow, Apple TV+ is running a three-day preview of their streaming service free to anyone. Apple has some of the most compelling television on any streamer right now, and there are so many things to recommend, but it is still only available from January 3-5, so I am giving my best recommendations. Beth Lisogorsky also always has excellent recommendations, so I’d suggest checking out her page for additional ideas on what to watch.
Ted Lasso—This is an obvious recommendation from someone who wrote a whole book about the show, but honestly, it is the show that put Apple TV+ on the map. It is funny, smartly written, thoughtful, and empathetic. It’s one of the most wholesome shows on TV that says “fuck” a lot. Aside from the book (which you should definitely buy and read), I have written much about the show on this Substack. You can find all of my posts at this link. If a fourth season is, in fact, in the works, this is the perfect opportunity to catch up.
Disclaimer—My review of Disclaimer, by acclaimed director Alfonso Cuarón, is one of the most read pieces on my site. (Do I need to include the word "sexy" in more titles? Probably.) Each of the seven episodes is beautifully shot, expertly acted, and erotic as hell. There are twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sasha Baron Cohen, and Kodi Smit-McPhee all give fantastic performances. Not for anyone squeamish about sex or nudity. Very good for anyone who doesn’t want to get sucked into a show and then needs to pay for another streaming service, as it’s a limited series, so it’s over.
Rebecca Ferguson in "Silo," now streaming on Apple TV+. Silo—I haven’t had a chance to watch the new season of Silo yet, so take this recommendation with a grain of salt, but the first season of this sci-fi thriller is exceedingly well-done. The cast is fantastic, and the subject matter is harrowing and engrossing. Can you trust the people in charge? There are mystery boxes and conspiracy theories, but the show remains grounded in relationships you care about, not just the intrigue. It’s dark but fascinating. The new season is not quite finished, so you can catch up and get excited for seasons 3 and 4, which were just greenlit.
Shrinking—The second season of this other Bill Lawrence show that has completely overtaken my life just wrapped. Like its spiritual ancestor, Ted Lasso, this show is a gorgeous look at the human condition and how we need each other. The show follows three therapists and their friends and family outside of the practice. It shows us that tragedy isn’t negated just because you’re trained to help others and that even if you know what to do, sometimes you simply don’t. I have been thinking about this show a lot for the past few months, and that’s not a bad thing. Check out my spoiler-free Season 2 overview. If you watch, you can find all of my spoiler-filled posts about Season 2 here.
Adam Scott in "Severance," premiering January 17, 2025 on Apple TV+. Severance—No doubt the long-anticipated second season of Severance is the big push for this preview weekend. If you’re a fan of Black Mirror, especially the early seasons, this will be right up your alley. This was a show I watched with my entire family, and we absolutely screamed at the finale (in a good way). I was a little bit nitpicky about the first season because it does leave a lot unanswered, but it manages to answer enough to keep it from feeling unfulfilled. I love the exploration of what makes us “us” and how it is impossible to escape our pain. This is an incredibly bingeable show, and if anything will make you want to sign up, knowing that Season 2 drops less than two weeks after the preview weekend will do it.
Are you going to tune into Apple TV+'s free preview weekend? If so, what are you interested in watching? Do you remember free premium cable weekends back in the day?