The five best Apple TV shows this week, December 29–January 4, 2026, include several forgotten hidden gem miniseries and critically acclaimed 2025 releases that deserve more attention.
Check out Screen Rant’s weekly TV binge guides for major streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and Paramount+. Any one of these five Apple TV original series is sure to keep viewers entertained as they ring in the New Year.
Government Cheese
The 2025 comedy-drama series Government Cheese premiered back in April and concluded after 10 episodes in late May. This overlooked series stars David Oyelowo (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) as Hampton Chambers, a newly released ex-convict trying to turn his life around and improve his relationship with his family.
Government Cheese takes place in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, CA, during the late 1960s. The series blends elements of family drama with surrealism, which adds humor and an absurdist tone. Based on co-creator Paul Hunter’s childhood, Government Cheese is wildly underrated and deserves more attention, especially considering that season 2 has yet to be renewed by Apple TV.
Government Cheese earned a 73% Rotten Tomatoes score and was mostly well-received by fans, who applauded the series for its unique yet nostalgic feel. If you’re willing to take a shot on one of Apple TV’s most overlooked new series of 2025, Government Cheese is a great option this week.
Lady in the Lake
Lady in the Lake marks Oscar-winner Natalie Portman’s first leading role in a TV or streaming series ever, making it a must-watch for all of her most devoted fans. Consisting of just 7 episodes, this binge-worthy limited series also takes place in the 1960s, but instead of Los Angeles, the stage is set in Baltimore, Maryland.
Lady in the Lake combines whodunnit murder mystery with period piece social drama, featuring an ensemble cast that includes Mikey Madison, Moses Ingram, Brett Gelman, and more. The series earned a 75 % Rotten Tomatoes score and is based on a novel of the same name by Laura Lippman.
Portman stars as Maddie Schwartz, a well-to-do woman who gets tired of her cookie-cutter life and regrets not pursuing her passion for journalism. She becomes obsessed with an unsolved, and mostly ignored, case of a murdered young woman in the area, aiming to discover the truth behind her death and expose the killer by any means necessary.
Murderbot
Murderbot was another new Apple TV series released in 2025, adding to the streamer’s already impressive list of innovative sci-fi content. After premiering in May, the celebrated series became one of the most-watched Apple TV shows of Spring 2025 and was renewed for a second season after its July finale.
Starring Alexander Skarsgard as a security droid facing an existential crisis, Murderbot earned a near-perfect 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. It’s based on the book All Systems Red by Martha Wells. The acclaimed AI sci-fi series also stars David Dastmalchian, John Cho, Clark Gregg, Jack McBrayer, and more.
If you love Apple TV’s sci-fi series like Severance, For All Mankind, and Silo, odds are you will find a lot to like about Murderbot, which combines high-concept ideas with sharp humor. Each episode is less than 34 minutes, with some being as short as 22 minutes, making Murderbot a total breeze to binge-watch this week.
Chief of War
Chief of War is an epic historical drama series starring and co-created by Jason Momoa. The series chronicles the unification of the Hawaiian Islands from an indigenous perspective, centering on Hawaiian war chief Ka’iana (portrayed by Momoa). The series premiered back in August and was one of the most highly anticipated new Apple TV shows in 2025.
Chief of War offers an ideal balance of entertainment and history, providing factual context with compelling storylines. The performances across the board are convincing and outstanding, and some have even compared this series to masterpieces like Game of Thrones. Nominated for a 2026 Critics Choice Award for Best Limited Series, and recipient of a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score, this is one fantastic and gripping Apple TV series you can’t miss.
Still Up
Still Up is an overlooked comedy series that was released on Apple TV in 2023. Consisting of just 8 episodes, all 30 minutes or less, it’s one of the shortest comedy series you can binge entirely from start to finish on Apple TV, as it was not picked up for a second season.
Although it wasn’t renewed after season 1, Still Up is still worth checking out this week if you’re a fan of Apple TV’s other original comedy shows like Platonic or Bad Sisters. Following a familiar “will-they, won’t-they” story between two insomniac main characters, Lisa (Antonia Thomas) and Danny (Craig Roberts), Still Up is surprisingly funny, relatable, and will likely grow on you after the first episode or two.
If you’re looking for an easy, stress-free binge-watch on Apple TV this week, try unearthing Still Up from the streamer’s vault this week – perfect to binge in just a few sittings as you ring in 2026.
