Apple TV is the streaming home of a 4-season psychological horror thriller that remains almost perfect throughout its runtime. The show in question marked M. Night Shyamalan‘s foray into television as a showrunner and is easily one of his best projects. While the series never garnered as much mainstream attention as some of Shyamalan’s best movies, it boasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 90%.
Created by Tony Basgallop, Apple TV’s Servant features M. Night Shyamalan as its executive producer and showrunner. The show focuses on a wealthy Philadelphia couple, Dorothy and Sean Turner, who start noticing cracks in their marriage after they lose their thirteen-week-old son, Jericho. To cope with the loss, Dorothy accepts a hyperrealistic doll as her son.
Soon, however, things take a twisted turn when Dorothy starts believing the doll is Jericho and even hires a religious young woman, Leanne Grayson, as the nanny. As Servant‘s characters grapple with their skewed sense of perception and reality, the show also forces viewers to constantly question what they are watching. This makes it a chilling and thrilling ride that remains intriguing till the end.
Servant Is One Of M. Night Shyamalan’s Best Projects
Like many of M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller movies, Servant brilliantly walks the thin line between the supernatural and the rational. In a typical Shyamalan-style fashion, the show also introduces a massive twist towards the end of episode 1, which raises questions about everything from the existence of dark supernatural underpinnings to criminal conspiracies and psychological delusions.
Apart from keeping viewers hooked with its gripping and eerily immersive story, Servant also makes incredible use of its setting by primarily unfolding in the Turners’ massive and increasingly decaying Philadelphia brownstone. The show also features terrifying food-related imagery throughout its runtime, which perfectly reflects the internal decay of its characters.
Although M. Night Shyamalan did not write or create the series, traces of his horror DNA can be found throughout its runtime. Especially in the episodes that he directed, one can notice how the show includes many horror tenets that make some of his best movies incredibly timeless. From slow-burning tension to absurdly dark humor, the original Apple TV show has it all.
On paper, it may not sound like the show’s premise has a lot of scope for expansive storytelling. However, throughout its runtime, the series remains incredibly lean with its narrative and rarely leaves any dull moments. Almost all episodes in its four-season runtime barely last for half an hour, allowing viewers to stay well-invested in every underlying mystery and conflict.
Apple TV’s Servant features absolutely no unnecessary side plots or fillers and often makes audiences sit through long, unsettling takes that heighten the tension between its characters. With so much going in the series’ favor, it seems fair to call it one of M. Night Shyamalan’s best projects.
Servant Features An Impressive Cast, Including A Harry Potter Star
Servant‘s writing alone makes it an incredibly gripping series. Its unique portrayal of characters going through the stages of grief and queasy, uneasy comical moments are enough to keep one hooked throughout its runtime. However, what further elevates its drama is its cast. Lauren Ambrose and Toby Kebbell do an incredible job of capturing the growing tension and distance between the central couple.
Meanwhile, Nell Tiger Free is phenomenal as the nanny, Leanne Grayson, as she perfectly captures the eerie sense of supernatural mystique surrounding the character. Ruper Grint, who is best known for playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter movies, also puts up a memorable performance with his portrayal of Dorothy’s discourteous but supportive brother, Julian Pearce.
Other supporting cast members, like Phillip James Brannon, Tony Revolori, and Molly Griggs, among others, are also great in their respective roles. M. Night Shyamalan, too, surprisingly shows up in the series in a classic cameo, reminding viewers of his brief appearances in movies like Signs.
Since Apple TV‘s Servant perfectly wraps its run with four seasons, it is one M. Night Shyamalan show fans of psychological horror thrillers would not want to miss.