Meet Servant, the most underrated Apple TV+ show.
By Grace Atkin (she/her)
One of the most common icebreakers asks about entertainment; your favorite movie, TV show, album, etc. In my many years of life, socialization, and conversation, I’ve heard a wide variety of what people fill their time with. However, I’ve never heard anyone mention Servant, an Apple TV+ show produced by some of the biggest names in horror and entertainment—Shyamalan and Blumenthal.
Servant stars Nell Tiger Free, Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, and Rupert Grint (yes, that Rupert Grint–Ron Weasley!). It takes us through the life and motherhood of Dorothy Turner (Ambrose) with her husband, Sean Turner (Kebbell), brother Julian Pearce (Grint), and new nanny, Leanne Grayson (Free). The twist is–the baby is a doll. When Dorothy, who’s gone through a psychotic break after the death of her child, can’t tell the difference between a doll and a living child, Leanne’s ability to conjure a real child alarms Sean and Julian. The show goes through Dorothy’s love-hate relationship with Leanne as she discovers her past, battling over the child’s safety. Through this, we watch Leanne’s sanity fade as her past, present, and future haunt her.
Initially airing on Apple TV+ in early 2019, Servant recently wrapped up its fourth and final season, bringing Leanne’s story with the Turners to an end. M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Split) is the showrunner and one of the executive producers alongside Jason Blumenthal (Blumhouse Productions—Get Out, Insidious) and Tony Basgallop, the show's creator. Each episode is around 30 minutes, ten episodes per season. IMDB gives it a rating of 7.5/10, with a high score on Rotten Tomatoes of 91% fresh. I side more with Rotten Tomatoes on this one—this show is nothing short of impressive, hilarious, and dark, quickly earning a 9/10 for me.
Many other Apple TV+ shows and movies have a significant amount of promo. Severance, for example, is known in the entertainment industry after winning multiple awards. Ted Lasso is widely beloved and adored by many. CODA, one of their original movies, won Best Picture at the Academy Awards last year. But Servant? Nothing–no trailers, billboards, bus stop signs, etc. I’m unsure whether this was meant to be kept on the down-low to cater to a specific audience or if there just wasn’t enough funding. Regardless, the word never got out, and it kills me to gatekeep such an award-worthy show.
Servant isn’t scary, but it’s disturbing and complex. There aren’t any jumpscares, not too much gore, and the thrills primarily rely on specific situations with tone and suspense. It’s paranormal, supernatural, and religious—regarding Leanne’s past and personal conflicts—but not cheesy. It has themes of obsession and darkness and reminds me of another horror classic: The Omen, due to the possibility of demon children. It’s suitable for anyone who can handle mature themes, especially those who appreciate good dramatic, suspenseful, and thought-provoking shows that make you ask countless questions. You can develop your theories about the cult, the child’s origin, or Leanne’s intentions from the first few episodes, but they’ll never reveal anything until the end. Everything will leave you wanting more.
If you’re looking for new, captivating shows to binge, Servant is worth a watch.
