Apple TV’s New 8-Part Spy Thriller With A Perfect RT Score Is Officially A Must-Watch

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Apple TV’s latest series, a thrilling 8-part spy story, has earned a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a top pick for this weekend. While connected to one of Apple TV’s popular sci-fi shows, existing within the same fictional world, this new series stands on its own as a gripping, suspenseful thriller set in a dark and unsettling alternate reality.

As a huge fan of shows like Prime Video’s The Man in the High Castle, I was immediately hooked by Apple TV+’s new thriller, Star City. It’s set in a really compelling alternate history where the Soviets actually won the Space Race – imagine that! The show is a spin-off of For All Mankind, which is already five seasons in with another one coming, and honestly, Star City is off to an incredible start. I watched the premiere and I’m already completely invested.

Star City Just Premiered On Apple TV – What It’s About

The new show Star City premiered on Apple TV this weekend with a two-part episode and is quickly becoming a must-watch. Even if you haven’t seen the original series For All Mankind, you can easily jump into Star City. While the two shows share the same universe, Star City is designed to stand on its own, offering a fresh story without requiring knowledge of the previous series.

In the series Star City, Rhys Ifans plays The Chief Designer, a brilliant and enigmatic figure leading the Soviet Union’s ambitious space program. Both Star City and For All Mankind start with a key historical shift: the Soviets successfully landing on the moon before the United States, fundamentally changing the world. The Chief Designer operates in secret, working with the KGB who have significantly expanded their surveillance operations at Star City, the Soviet cosmonaut training center.

The Apple TV series Star City explores the beginnings of the Soviet space program in the late 1960s and 70s, highlighting the enormous national pride and strict secrecy surrounding it. The real Star City was a hidden location deep in the forest, and early Soviet rockets were launched from a remote desert area, kept hidden from the public. This focus on espionage makes Star City a suspenseful thriller, differing from the more expansive sci-fi approach of shows like For All Mankind.

Star City’s Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score Proves It’s A Weekend Must-Watch

Despite their different styles and themes, both Star City and For All Mankind have been highly praised by critics. In fact, Star City currently boasts a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, even surpassing the 75% rating the first season of For All Mankind initially received (though For All Mankind later improved to achieve multiple perfect scores). Star City is the latest Apple TV+ series released in 2026 to earn immediate critical acclaim, joining other popular shows like Widow’s Bay and Margo’s Got Money Troubles.

Reviewers are praising Star City for successfully changing direction from science fiction to a spy thriller. Collider gave it a 9 out of 10, highlighting that the show’s strength lies in forging its own identity rather than simply replicating the original series. Despite being a spin-off of For All Mankind, Star City quickly establishes itself as a unique show—viewers wouldn’t necessarily know it’s connected. Because of this and other factors, Star City is the top new show to watch on Apple TV this weekend, with potential to overtake the streamer’s current global hit, Your Friends & Neighbors.

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2026-05-29 20:58