Apple TV’s latest sci-fi series is a winner, and just the start of exciting new direction

Apple TV premiered its latest sci-fi series today: Star City. It’s the first of several spinoffs to existing shows that are in the works. Here’s why I’m excited for what it represents for the future of Apple TV.

Star City succeeds as a spinoff, offering a compelling new show that’s distinct from its predecessor

Apple TV launched nearly seven years ago, and aside from a quirky one-off experiment, the streamer has so far shied away from making spinoff series.

But today’s Star City changes that.

Star City is a spinoff to For All Mankind, the space-race drama. It tells the story of the same alt-history events, but from behind the Iron Curtain.

Reviews for the new show largely deem it a winner. Rather than simply redoing For All Mankind, but with Soviets, the series has a very different feel and focus. It’s a darker show, with thriller and espionage angles that feel unique and fresh.

If you’ve never seen For All Mankind, Star City is still for you.

And as an avid Apple TV viewer, Star City’s success makes me excited for the streamer’s new direction of pursuing more spinoffs.

Spinoffs are a new trend at Apple TV, and I’m all for it

Apple has already announced that Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has multiple spinoffs in the works. The first centers on Wyatt Russell’s young Lee Shaw character.

Additionally, when Apple acquired the rights to Severance earlier this year, word emerged that multiple spinoffs were being considered. And that weighed into the company’s decision to buy out the rights.

But it’s not just sci-fi series that are set for spinoffs. One of Apple’s biggest hit comedies, Shrinking, could get the spinoff treatment in the future too. Co-creator Bill Lawrence recently teased that he’s considering spinoff ideas.

Clearly, Apple wants to capitalize on its biggest hits by expanding and building upon the IP viewers already know and love. And if done well, that’s a direction I can get excited about.

How do you feel about Apple TV making more spinoff series in the future? Let us know in the comments.

Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month, or you can get it discounted through the Apple One bundle.

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