r/televisionsuggestions • u/Charming-Compote7770 • Aug 07 '26
SUGGESTING Apple TV+ is hiding absolute gems and Calls is one of them.
I just binged the entire thing in one sitting and WTF??? Why is nobody talking about this??
This is one of the most unique shows I've ever watched. It's literally just phone calls and yet I was more invested than I am in most big-budget thrillers. Your imagination does all the work, and somehow that makes it even scarier and more immersive.
The voice acting?? INSANE. Every single performance had me hooked and the way the story slowly unfolds is just chef's kiss.
Apple TV+ seriously has some of the best originals out there, but they market them so badly. If this had dropped on Netflix, it'd be all over social media.
Genuinely one of my favorite discoveries this year. S-tier show. Please watch it blind if you haven't.
Anyone else obsessed with this show??
21
u/Motor-Juggernaut1009 Aug 07 '26
This one? There’s more than one.
9
3
1
u/xvsanx Aug 08 '26
sounds very very uninteresting
2
1
u/hediedstanlee Aug 11 '26
Give it a try, it's pretty short, and I was mind blown. My friend recommended to me and I also wasn't super intrigued by the concept, but holy moly that was such a great short show.
20
19
u/Calrissien Aug 07 '26
Such a good and underrated series. I remember when I “watched” I was hooked after one episode.
41
u/Extra_XOX Aug 07 '26
I wish more people watched Trying. It was such a good show.
5
3
u/Eagle206 Aug 08 '26
I loved the previous seasons and am struggling with this season
12
2
3
u/kottke-mckee Aug 07 '26
I love Trying but I’ve yet to watch the newest season because they don’t have any English subtitles on it for some reason. I know it’s in English but I have trouble understanding what they are saying sometimes with the accents.
5
u/anon8232 Aug 08 '26
Only episode one didn’t have English subtitles.
3
u/kottke-mckee Aug 08 '26
Thank you for your comment! Good to know. I’ll just power through episode one then!
1
u/I_Like_Knitting_TBH Aug 08 '26
I just found it this week and have been binging it. It’s so great! I was surprised I hadn’t heard of it sooner.
0
11
u/snimminycricket Aug 07 '26
My spouse and I were recently house sitting for a neighbor who has Apple TV+, and I sat for about 20 minutes browsing their originals and watching trailers for them. So many amazing looking shows I had NEVER heard of! We're planning to subscribe for at least a couple months so we can watch some of the stuff I would have added to my watch list if it had been on my TV 😅
17
u/Next-Cut-2996 Aug 08 '26
Make sure you check out Widows Bay and Pluribus! 😊
1
14
u/Low-Mistake-515 Aug 08 '26
Add Silo to that list, it's insanely good.
7
u/microtransgressor Aug 08 '26
Silo is my favorite TV show that I've heard absolutely nobody talking about. Excellent world building!
2
2
u/xvsanx Aug 08 '26
and severance if you haven't seen
(that's widow's Bay, silo, severance, and pluribus)
4
u/MortCrimm Aug 09 '26
Blackbird
Lessons in Chemistry
Bad Monkey
Foundation
Widows BaySince others almost never mention the first 4….
2
u/sallysalsal2 Aug 09 '26
I bundled with peacock and pay $20 a month without ads which I think is very reasonable
1
8
28
u/ItsPronouncedSatan Aug 07 '26
I watched that a while ago, and it is great!
I don't think I've ever been disappointed with an Apple show honestly.
22
37
u/HauschkasFoot Aug 07 '26
Apple constantly delivers. Widows Bay, Pluribus, Severance and Silo are all in my tops of current shows. Only downside to Apple is their turnaround time between seasons is SO long 😩
17
28
u/Tasty_Lock_7856 Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
Slow Horses is also amazing!
Edit: Also has the benefit of a way faster turnaround than the rest of Apple’s offerings.
-12
21
5
u/mister_drgn Aug 08 '26
I was disappointed by Pluribus, but in fairness my excitement was very high, one episode in.
7
u/HJQueen Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 07 '26
Hijack is the only one I've seen that I thought was awful and I've watched most. I was shocked to find out there's a second season. Hard pass.
I want to finish Cape Fear but Amy Adams accent just makes it unbearable.
8
u/LobsterKneecap Aug 07 '26
Meh, Cape Fear was pretty unbearable. There was another one from early Apple TV about some special ops guys that was absolute trash. But I agree that a lot of their new content has been pretty on point. Slow Horses, Max Pleasure, Widows Bay, OG Ted Lasso, the money problems one, Shrinking… open for suggestions outside of those.
9
u/EvokeNZ Aug 08 '26
I enjoyed loot and bad monkey
4
u/LobsterKneecap Aug 08 '26
I’m a big Carl Hiasen fan, I enjoyed bad monkey. Trying to remember if I watched loot
4
1
u/PauI_MuadDib Aug 07 '26
I liked almost everything I've watched so far, especially their sci-fi. Pluribus, Sugar and Silo being my top choices. The only shows I did not like were Lessons in Chemistry, Murderbot and Dark Matter. LiC was very Hallmark channel & Dark Matter I didn't find engaging.
4
u/Plastic-Molasses-549 Aug 07 '26
I really liked The Mosquito Coast with Justin Theroux. Unfortunately, it only lasted two seasons before it was cancelled, and had to end rather abruptly.
3
u/ObiWanRyobi Aug 09 '26
You didn’t mention Severance, maybe because it’s not a sleeper hit. But if you haven’t watched, it’s good.
6
u/DrJimbot Aug 07 '26
I’ve seen it described as they make great stuff and tell no one about it. A lot of great sci-fi. And I think Dickinson is great
2
6
u/wasKelly Aug 08 '26
Sugar
5
u/YoungWizard666 Aug 08 '26
Current favorite show. The cuts to old noir films got me into watching a few I've never seen.
3
u/SnowshoeTaboo Aug 08 '26
I like it and have watched both seasons, but feel it needs some back story.
0
u/Fair_Site3076 Aug 09 '26
The story line actually includes a backstory, but the beauty of the show is it is so subtle, and you just have to have a little patience as it unravels.
1
u/SnowshoeTaboo Aug 09 '26
It does... I'm just saying I would prefer a little more of it. I'd like to see "home" and what he and they were like while they were there. Two seasons is more than enough patience...
1
2
u/Fair_Site3076 Aug 09 '26
I just signed up for 3 free months of AppleTV. Sugar is the first show I watched. Loved it, so unique and well done. I admire that corvette!
2
u/wasKelly Aug 09 '26
I love the character of John Sugar.
1
u/Fair_Site3076 Aug 09 '26
He was such a great character and empathetic. So clever and each episode was fantastic.
1
6
u/habbadee Aug 07 '26
I've got a long drive coming. Is this audio only and car bingable?
4
u/Charming-Compote7770 Aug 07 '26
yes i mean there are np visuls just a screen saver sorta of calls thats all..yes u can go ahead listen to it in a car like a podcast
-6
u/kongcobra Aug 08 '26
I really think it's asinine for someone who has watched the show to recommend it like an audiobook. Sure, it cam serve as such, but it does so the same way milk would hydrate you when you're dying of thirst.
My point is that work went into creating the visualizers that are shown, so the visual aspect is a huge part of the show, as well.
1
4
u/rite2ace Aug 08 '26
I started watching Murderbot and love it!! But the eps are very short 20mins each :(
9
4
5
u/twotwotwototoulouse Aug 08 '26
Pluribus, For All Mankind (excluding last two seasons), and Slow Horses are my favorite Apple TV shows, but I feel like every week I hear of a new show. And I’m extremely online! They do such a poor job marketing some shows, and market the hell out of others. I don’t get it.
5
u/Torboni Aug 08 '26
I find a lot of the streaming services will display the same shows over and over in multiple categories. So I’m scrolling down and essentially just seeing the same shows repeatedly, completely unaware of other things unless I somehow stumble on them or search for them specifically.
3
u/NaDarach Aug 08 '26
I hate that the streaming services have started doing that. Not to mention the ridiculous categories they've created. It's made looking for something to watch such a frustrating experience.
4
8
u/zaftig_stig Aug 08 '26
Shrinking was incredible. They nailed the casting!
2
u/LavaPoppyJax Aug 08 '26
I just watch the 1st episode. it was ok but not compelled to go on.
2
u/distraughtmojo Aug 08 '26
Give it a chance with a couple more, it becomes irresistible and agreed with OC a pretty perfect cast
1
1
u/godspeeding Aug 09 '26
it's a little cringey at times but ultimately it's a very sweet and funny show with a lot of self awareness in the writing and good lessons about mental health
2
3
3
u/Emergency-Monk-7002 Aug 08 '26
I like the one about the dimension traveling husband trying to find his family. With Jennifer Connolly.
2
u/Eagle206 Aug 08 '26
Dark matter. Great show.
1
3
u/Comprehensive-Way482 Aug 08 '26
Thank you will check it out..
down cemetery road is another hidden gem I found from recommendations here …
Also finished widows bay- it’s a well made show, starts slow but you fall in love with all the characters as the show progresses..
3
u/idontwantanamern Aug 10 '26
I had a lazy, rainy afternoon & saw this post this morning -- perfect timing!
What a ride! I enjoyed that so much! Thank you for posting about it & giving absolutely nothing away. Much appreciated.
3
3
u/Organic-Motor1969 Aug 11 '26
Apple, despite being very good at marketing their phones, is horrible at marketing their TV shows. No one I know talks about them. No one I know, other than my one daughter, subscribes to Apple TV. I tell everyone about the service and I own zero Apple products. The shows are phenomenal.
This can likely be traced back to the beginning of the Apple TV streaming service when it started along with the same and poorly named Apple TV hardware device. This has been a source of endless confusion for most consumers who are either not keenly aware of the difference or not finely tuned into the ecosystem.
Apple TV hardware came first in 2007, while the Apple TV+ streaming service launched in 2019. Later, Apple added to the confusion with an app named, "Apple TV". The nearly identical naming created confusion and a lot of misunderstanding. Regardless, Apple decided that it was up to its users to figure it out.
2
u/cactusjude Aug 07 '26
I just found this series too through a yt video about underrated apple shows. It's so good!!
Days later and I'm still thinking about it... The first episode, the girl who changed the fates of her mother and brother, the man driving his car, the commercial airflight... Gods but I want more.
What's really great is finding the old Reddit posts about it and everyone commenting how the first episode should have been the last... Then finishing the series and understanding exactly why the creators ordered it as they did and realising none of the Redditors understood it.
2
2
u/RiffRafe2 Aug 08 '26
Enjoyed it, but I want to see if I can find the original French series it's adapted from.
Apple+ has a great slate of originals that just have not breached containment.
2
u/kongcobra Aug 08 '26
Yup. It sucks that season 2 never went through. I always recommend a sight-unseen approach: just dive in. I was faded as fuck when I first watched it in one sitting. I always so glad I didn't look anything up.
Some people say you can just listen to it like an audiobook. I think it's a disservice to you, but to say that is also disrespectful to whoever worked on the amazing visualizers. They tell the story, too.
2
2
2
2
u/Ancient_Cedar9684 Aug 10 '26
15 min episodes and they're really out here setting it up so you finish the whole thing on a lunch break.
2
u/Crafty_Statement_176 Aug 10 '26
I started checking out the apple media center site where they list everything - and that's how I found Disclaimer, which took my breath away at how good it was.
4
2
1
1
1
1
1
u/Lightning_Puppets Aug 08 '26
Are people watching Star City? We loved the 1st season. Hoping it gets renewed.
1
u/ISB-Dev Aug 08 '26 edited Sep 01 '26
all work and no play make jack a dull boy
1
u/True_Detail_2945 Aug 10 '26
Usually they'll tell you about epileptic seizure stuff in the beginning.
1
u/NoraDeLuca Aug 09 '26
I haven't even heard of this! I agree that Apple does a terrible job marketing their shows.
1
u/cosmicwhirl Aug 10 '26
I have watched it 4 times already, it blew my mind the first time... Edge of the seat show..
1
u/Melodic-Meeting-7471 Aug 10 '26
It was a fantastic show! Never seen anyone else who heard of it though
1
u/capslocke48 Aug 11 '26
Pachinko is the best show on TV that no one’s talking about at all. Imo it’s literally an all-timer and Apple keeps it hidden.
1
1
u/Interesting-Club-546 Aug 13 '26
I don't know , but I am really enjoying episode 6 of Lucky, I think the dialog is top-notch , i have watched this episode 3 times, and think that the Agent Billie Rand is the best character despite money spent on other top talent. She has potential for an offshoot sries
1
u/drum_attack_slayer Aug 14 '26
I just checked the trailers for Calls. I am a huge fan of Apple TV+ - but the trailers I watched for Calls, well, WTF is this about??!! Is it something you watch, or listen to??!
2
u/Charming-Compote7770 Aug 14 '26
It is a show...but there are no actors like scenes okay...u could listen to it like a podcast if u want or just watch it
1
u/Moltaar1 Aug 14 '26
It is adapted from another show also named "calls", which is a french tv show that aired on canal+ about 10 years ago. That show was great, ans they made 3 or 4 seasons!
Did not watch the apple version but I suppose that it is also very good.
1
u/PaintedProgress Aug 07 '26
A year or two ago I watched a couple of Apple TV shows and then looked online for other people’s thoughts and found almost nothing! I think they were Presumed Innocent and Dark Matter. Honestly Apple TV quality is so high compared to all other streaming services imo, but no one I know has ever heard of them
1
-1
Aug 07 '26
[deleted]
1
u/a-pac-man-ghost Aug 08 '26
I’m holding my opinion of the reboot until further episodes have aired. I haven’t heard one good thing about the first episode of the new season with the women’s team. Waiting for someone to say something positive. Anyone?
4
-2
u/kitebum Aug 07 '26 edited Aug 08 '26
Are you with a clipping agency? One of those stealth marketing firms paid to promote movies and tv shows by making fake posts on social media? I just watched 2 episodes of "Calls" and it sucks. That must be why there was no second season. Thanks for wasting my time.
187
u/ExpBalSat Aug 07 '26
Apple TV hides everything. Their content is great, but the interface is garbage.