Sorry Severance, The Best Spy Thriller On TV Just Set A Massive Apple TV+ Record That Not Even Its Sci-Fi Shows Have Achieved

While Severance may still be the flagship original series on Apple TV+, one of its more overlooked shows has set a record for the streaming platform that the Emmy-winning show hasn’t even come close to passing.

Severance season 2 was released on Apple TV+ earlier this year and received an outstanding Rotten Tomatoes score of 97%. It is a definitive figurehead of Apple TV’s slate of celebrated sci-fi series, which also includes Silo, For All Mankind, Foundation, and the recently released Murderbot.

That said, the original TV programming from Apple TV+ is becoming more renowned in other genres, such as comedy (Bad Monkey, The Studio) and drama (Disclaimer, Presumed Innocent). Despite winning an Emmy just last year, one of Apple’s all-time great series still feels underappreciated, even with its fifth season set to be released this September.

Slow Horses’ Season 7 Renewal Sets The Record For Apple TV+’s Longest-Running Series

Season 5 Will Release In September 2025

Slow Horses, a spy thriller/dark comedy hybrid starring Academy Award-winner Gary Oldman, has set a record as Apple TV+’s longest-running original series. Even though its fifth season will be released in Fall 2025, Apple has already ordered seasons 6 and 7 to be released in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Before Apple extended Slow Horses to seven seasons, its drama series with the most seasons had all capped at four. For All Mankind has released four seasons with a fifth on the way, while Servant ended in 2023 after four seasons. Not only will Slow Horses release the first 5th season of any original Apple show, but it has set a new bar with its guaranteed seven-season run.

Gary Oldman looking off to one side as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses

If You Can’t Wait For Slow Horses Season 5, Here Are 8 TV Shows To Keep You Occupied

Slow Horses season 5 isn’t out until later this year, but these shows offer spy intrigue, high-stakes missions, and dark humor to tide you over.

Severance, by comparison, has only released two seasons since 2022, even though that was the same year that Slow Horses premiered. While Severance may be winning the Emmy race between the two shows, it has a long way to go to catch up to Slow Horses in terms of series longevity. It should be noted, however, that seasons of Slow Horses consist of six episodes, whereas Severance seasons run for 9 or 10 episodes.

Which Other Apple TV+ Shows Could Run As Long As Slow Horses?

Only A Handful Of Apple Shows Have Lasted 4 Seasons

Since Apple only has a fifth season ordered for one of its original drama series other than Slow Horses (For All Mankind), there’s no clear series that could pull off a similar run. Despite Severance’s success, it’s unlikely to hit seven seasons, unless combined with some type of spinoff or prequel series.

Epic Dune-Like Sci-Fi Show With 90% RT Score Climbs Global Streaming Charts Ahead Of Season 3 Return

An epic sci-fi series with similar qualities to Villeneuve’s Dune movies is surging up the global streaming charts ahead of its season 3 premiere.

Other Apple shows that could have long legs include The Morning Show, which will release its fourth season in September 2025, and Foundation, which is based on a sci-fi book series that will release its third season this month. Silo has been renewed for at least four seasons, while Presumed Innocent will take an anthological approach with its upcoming second season, which could extend its life as well.

Renewed comedies like Trying (four seasons) and Ted Lasso (three seasons) could also get beyond a five-season run.

Renewed comedies like Trying (four seasons) and Ted Lasso (three seasons) could also get beyond a five-season run. Until then, Slow Horses will be wearing the crown as Apple’s most investable original series.