Apple TV has two hidden gem shows you probably haven’t watched yet

Don't sleep on Apple TV and its 2026 slate of prestige TV shows and movies. You might have heard of the recent hits like Severance, Pluribus, and Shrinking, but there are two hidden gems that you should be tuning into sooner rather than later.

Widow's Bay and Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed might be some of the best shows, across any streaming service, of 2026. While these are two very different series, they're both clever and break the norm. I promise you won't be bored by these suspenseful, dark comedy titles.

It's easy to be overloaded with all of the new shows from Netflix. Even Apple TV has been pumping out multiple series that are worth tuning into each month. But in the midst of watching Silo, Ted Lasso, and Slow Horses, make some time for Widow's Bay and Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed is a twisty thriller starring Tatiana Maslany and Jake Johnson. Part of the reason I think it’s flown under the radar is that it’s hard to explain without giving anything away.

In fact, I skipped over this show initially because the trailer is vague and a little generic. But it only took watching the first episode to get hooked. All of the things that come along with murder mystery shows are present here. There’s suspense, misdirection, complications, and chase scenes.

The thing that sets Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed apart is that it’s smart and hyper-clever. The most spoiler-y thing I’ll say is that you don’t know where this show will be by the end of each episode. It’s unpredictable in a way that never gave me a chance to get bored—a rarity. Plus, there are some interesting subtopics about anxiety and other conditions. It's a deeper show than it appears at first blush.

There are a few scary scenes, but there are also just as many jokes. So, for as tense as the show can be, there’s plenty of levity to it. The 30 to 40-minute episodes don’t drag. 

This is one of those shows that you only need to give it one episode to know whether it’s for you or not. And if you’re looking for your next show to gush about, there’s a good chance it will be this one. I hope enough people give it a shot to warrant a Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed renewal for season two.

All episodes are available now.

Widow’s Bay

The other must-watch show is Widow’s Bay. Despite starting a little ambiguous in its first couple of episodes, the show quickly focuses and dives into the compelling mystery of a small island off the coast of the US.

Widow’s Bay’s greatest strength, however, is how multidenmisional it is, able to break out beyond any single genre. It’s actually listed as a horror comedy, and that’s an apt categorization. There are classic horror tropes and music. Some scenes are chilling. And yet, the characters deliver sarcastic lines and comedic facial expressions, so there are plenty of laughs throughout.

I’m not into the horror genre, but I was able to overcome the scary scenes, mostly because they don’t last long. The episodes are close to 35 minutes, so there isn’t a ton of time to sit in the suspense and fear.

Widow’s Bay borrows plenty from other shows and movies that came before it, but it's unique enough to keep you guessing. The acting, laughs, and overall vibes should be strong enough to keep most people’s attention. It’s just off kilter enough to be your new obsession.

All episodes of Widow's Bay are now available for streaming on Apple TV.