What’s New on Apple TV + in September 2021
Although I’ve signed up for Apple TV + for a year now – mainly because my iPhone 12 Mini comes with a year of free use – I still don’t quite get it. A streaming service that has almost nothing but the scanty source content Apple has managed to create doesn’t make sense to me, not in the era of a billion competing services, not even at $ 4.99 a month.
Yes, I pay more for a few Patreon-exclusive episodes of my favorite podcasts, but when you compare them to the offerings of Netflix , Hulu, and HBO Max – heck, even Paramount + – it’s not worth it, even at half or a third of their price. On the other hand, a lot of what makes it to Apple TV + is good . The internet still keeps talking about Ted Lasso , and Mythic Quest is a great (even better?) Replacement for HBO’s Silicon Valley . The space racing saga For All Humanity is one of the best current shows that you probably don’t watch. So yes, there are good things. It’s just a question if anything good has come up lately … so let’s see what happens to Apple TV + in September.
Foundation (premiere September 24)
Let’s start with the big deal: Apple’s cost-effective, CGI attempt to monopolize prestigious TV debate with a sci-fi response to HBO’s Game of Thrones : Foundation.
Any botanist certain age can tell you why the trilogy “The base of Isaac Asimov’s” (which has grown to the trilogy after decades, but only the first three are taken into account) is important for the history of the genre – in the first place, once the fans have voted for it as for the best book. series for all time, albeit as early as 1966 (did I mention that these books are old ?). Intelligent and expansive, wrapping a vast history of the future in a relatively small number of pages, the books thoughtfully represent the future of humanity, based more on philosophical ideas than space stations and explosions, and people have tried to film them for years. I guess the TV show works too, but the thoughtfulness in science fiction also screams out niche audiences, and if the trailer has something to keep in mind, co-creators David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight ) and Josh Friedman ( War of the Worlds), Terminator: Dark Fate ) definitely seem to be squeeze as much action as they can from a premise that basically boils down to “space monks use mathematics to predict the future.” Although the trailer does look pretty, doesn’t it? I can’t decide which part I like better: the space elevator (pictured at the top of the article) or Lee Pace’s eyebrows.
Come From Away (premiere September 10)
Just in time to coincide with the grim 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, this stage adaptation of the Tony’s award-winning musical follows the events of that day and the weeks that followed, as seen by residents of a small Newfoundland town that eventually became home to thousands of air travelers. who got stuck there when their planes were deflected amidst the chaos.
As you can see from the trailer, this is pretty much a direct on-screen translation of the stage performance, Hamilton’s recent Disney +-style presentation. I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all – I’ve had the opportunity to see Come From Home on Broadway, and it’s a lot of a stage show with a small cast playing multiple roles, and the drama flows smoothly from one scene to the next. the other through hastily assembled and deconstructed sets that highlight the ever-changing chaos and uncertainty of the time. Plus, despite the dramatic backdrop, it’s truly a Canadian story at heart – the plot boils down to “a bunch of extremely polite people trying to be as welcoming as possible,” and there’s a whole song about finding enough toilet paper. You don’t want to sell it too attractively with a flashy production design. (Not that I want to underestimate it either – the filmed version has the same line-up that I saw on stage and they are phenomenal; just try to go through Me and Heaven without sobbing). I am very glad that this show and these performances have been preserved for posterity.
Morning Show (Season 2 Premiere Sept 17)
With the exception of Ted Lasso , no Apple TV + series has been able to fully capture the zeitgeist, despite titanic marketing efforts ( and production budgets ). The Morning Show probably came closest, thanks in no small part to superstars such as Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell.
The first season received mixed reviews and a muted response from viewers, at least on social media; perhaps the general public is not as fascinated by the behind the scenes of a news TV show as Hollywood imagined. However, there is soapy entertainment, as the trailer for the second season makes clear:
Will the second season improve enough to secure a third season, especially given that this is one of the most expensive TV shows ever made , with no spaceships or White Walker in sight? This is the headline for tomorrow.