Ladies and gentlemen, in this streaming corner is Netflix. And in the corner just adjacent is Hulu! And in the far corner is Amazon.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, we present the newest entry into the streaming Battle Royale – Apple TV+
Today, the streaming competition got just a little bit more interesting as audiences in over 100 countries and regions were now able to watch Apple TV+ on the Apple TV app, featuring new, exclusive original shows, movies and documentaries from today’s most imaginative storytellers.
For $4.99 a month, customers can enjoy the new streaming network on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung smart TVs, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com.
Apple Originals available now through Apple TV+ include The Morning Show, See and For All Mankind, all of which have debuted their first three episodes and will release a new episode weekly every Friday on the Apple TV app.
Additionally, all episodes of Dickinson, as well as kids and family shows Helpsters, Snoopy in Space and Ghostwriter, are available to watch now.
Customers can also enjoy the documentary film The Elephant Queen, as well as the first installment of Oprah’s Book Club, featuring Oprah Winfrey in conversation with Ta-Nehisi Coates discussing his novel The Water Dancer.
“Audiences in over 100 countries and regions can now enjoy Apple TV+, home to an all-original lineup of powerful shows and movies from today’s greatest storytellers,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “It was important for us to make it easy for everyone to watch across all their favorite screens, so Apple TV+ is the most broadly available Apple service ever from day one.”
Dickinson
“I’m beyond proud and so excited to introduce Emily Dickinson to a new generation with this series,” said Hailee Steinfeld, star and executive producer of “Dickinson.” “Emily is complex and inspiring and fearless. I can’t wait for audiences around the world to enjoy this amazing take on her life, crafted from the incredibly creative mind of Alena Smith. Being a part of this series with Apple and the debut of Apple TV+ truly feels like being a part of history.”
The Morning Show
“I have loved working with Apple. I have never felt such freedom and support,” said Kerry Ehrin, showrunner and executive producer of The Morning Show. “It is a place to breathe as an artist. Not only have they been tremendous creative colleagues, but it also feels like family in the best ways. I’m very proud to be working with them. They are special.”
“I knew immediately when I signed on to The Morning Show, it was going to be special, which to all of us meant it needed to be shared with the world in an equally as meaningful way,” said Mimi Leder, director and executive producer of “The Morning Show.” “Apple has been a tremendous partner from the time we first announced this project through release. We couldn’t be more thrilled to share the show with the world.”
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For All Mankind
For All Mankind is an optimistic idea of what could have been and what still could be. It is about the way that reaching out into space can lift people up and give people something to hope for, to give themselves over to an idea that is bigger than now, and a sense of unity and moving forward for all mankind,” said Ronald D. Moore, creator, writer and executive producer of For All Mankind.
“I think it’s a hopeful story that is painting a picture of society that we can all aspire to one day. In a sense, a story is alive when you first show it to people, and working with Apple we are able to share our story around the world.”
See
“This project is extremely personal to me, as I am blind, my mother is blind, and I have numerous relatives who are blind. Apple’s See gave me the opportunity to impact the portrayal of blindness on the largest scale ever imagined,” said Joe Strechay, associate producer of See.
“I have spent the last 16 years trying to improve opportunities for individuals who are blind or low vision, and See gave me the opportunity to create accessibility in the work environment for actors, stunt performers and background actors who are blind or low vision. All of these individuals were chosen for their talents, and our show is better for it. Apple’s See changed my life.”
And that’s just a smattering of what Apple TV+ is offering. Other originals set to debut are Servant (November 28), Truth Be Told (December 6) and Little America, and movies Hala and The Banker.
Apple TV+ Reviews
So, is the tech giant’s new streaming service, for just $5 bucks a month, worth adding to your binge cue? Reactions have been mixed about the nine TV shows and films: four live-action scripted series, three kids’ shows, a nature documentary and a revival of Oprah’s famed book club.
Giving it one and a half stars, Kelly Lawler of USA Today says about The Morning Show, “Although it attempts to be relevant to our current #MeToo era, it has nothing new or insightful to say about sexual harassment and power dynamics other than pointing at a problem that is constantly popping up in the news. The stakes are low, the writing is clichéd and the overwhelming vibe is one of disappointment and wasted potential. Rachel Green deserved better.”
Not faring much better to Lawler was Dickinson, saying, “The acting is terrible, and not in a let’s-drink-wine-and-make-fun-of-it way. A primary problem is that the children speak in a 2019 manner and the adults speak with the more appropriate antebellum affect.”
Haleigh Foutch of Collider had a different take on both shows saying about The Morning Show, “the resulting show is a pretty smooth ride. There’s a lot to like, and it’s a series that is tackling complicated issues like sexual misconduct, unchecked misogyny, women in positions of power, and the changing media landscape with refreshing complexity.”
About Dickinson, Foutch added, “Make no mistake: Dickinson is going to be the talk of the town. It will please viewers aching for some Big Little Lies melodrama by way of Pride and Prejudice…”
And finally, she really enjoyed Jason Momoa in See, “See is the series I could see myself throwing down the cost of another monthly subscription for. It’s compelling and immersive.”
Vox offers, that Dickinson is “deliciously fun” and The Morning Show is, “bad, but not boring,” while the Los Angeles Times says the show is not as bad as rumored and “watch it ’til the end.” As for See, the outlet states, “See fails to take up the big-budget fantasy epic mantle Game of Thrones left behind.”
With Disney+ and Warner Media on the horizon as well as NBC Universal coming, we are witnessing a change in TV viewing that we have not seen since cable challenged (and essentially won) three TV networks and UHF. Time will tell as to who will succeed and who won’t.
Meanwhile Netflix is rumored to be saying, “Hold my beer.”
SOURCE: Apple
