I Watch TV for a Living and These Are My 3 Favorite Shows of 2026 (So Far)

To say there has been a lot of streaming content in 2026 would be an understatement, and, for better or worse, it’s my job to watch it all.

There have been returning favorites like The Comeback (I loved it, but it didn’t make this list), fun new shows like Big Mistakes (also not listed here, but a solid runner-up) and great options that were sadly canceled like The Boroughs (any streamers want to try to revive it?!).

With all the new options, three have stood out to me as the best shows of 2026 so far. (The fact that all three happen to be on Apple TV is a coincidence, I assure you.) From Widow’s Bay to Margo’s Got Money Troubles, here are my picks.

My number one pick of 2026 so far? Hands-down, Widow’s Bay.

Unsurprisingly, this hit horror-comedy starring Matthew Rhys has earned a whopping 19 Emmy nominations this year. As anyone who has already binged it knows, Widow’s Bay is hilarious, well-written, incredibly acted and just plain fun to watch. Rhys plays the mayor of a small island town with a horror problem—as in, every horror movie baddie (from fog to a serial killer) seems right at home in Widow’s Bay.

Rhys’s costar Kate O’Flynn has gained particular attention (in addition to an Emmy nod) for her portrayal of the quirky (that’s an understatement) Patricia, the mayor’s right-hand gal. In fact, my favorite two episodes of the entire first season are Patricia-centered—one involves throwing a “party,” and the other involves her slowly and awkwardly running away from [no spoilers here]. She and this show really are a must-watch combo.

This cast and their top-notch acting skills make Margo’s Got Money Troubles one of the must-see TV selections of 2026.

Margo, played beautifully by Elle Fanning, is forced to drop out of college and turn to “non-traditional” means of making money after she finds out she’s unexpectedly pregnant. Enter her supportive but struggling mother, portrayed by the brilliant Michelle Pfeiffer, and her pro-wrestler father, played by an “on-an-acting-winning-streak” Nick Offerman. Rounding out the cast (as if Fanning, Pfeiffer and Offerman weren’t enough) is Nicole Kidman and Greg Kinnear.

This show is really easy to get sucked into with its gorgeous imagery and moving drama. I can’t wait to see where it heads in season two.

The dark horse on my list is Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed starring the incomparable Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk). Though not quite as buzzy as Widow’s Bay or Margo’s Got Money Troubles, I promise this one is an incredible show.

Maslany plays a divorced mother who is trying to get her life together and retain at least some semblance of custody over her daughter. The problem? She keeps getting in her own way, and that includes finding herself in the middle of the murder of a sex-cam boy. With the help of her co-workers and a sassy detective, Maslany’s character is out to prove her innocence, find the real killer and still make it to her daughter’s soccer practice on time (spoiler: she’ll be late—she always is).

MPG delivers the perfect balance of comedy, family drama and genuine thrills to make it truly binge-worthy. The season one finale just dropped this past week, and with plenty of loose ends, I’m rooting for a renewal from Apple TV.