3 Best Apple TV Series To Binge-Watch This Weekend (Nov 13–15, 2026)

Apple TV has a particularly neat three-show lineup for the weekend of 13–15 November: a new heist drama begins today, a golf comedy has a fresh second-season episode, and a small-town crime thriller reaches its fourth instalment. That gives you a choice between starting something brand new, catching up with a returning comedy or staying with an ongoing investigation. None of these is a completed season yet, so this guide flags how much is available rather than promising a full box set.

This countdown ranks the series by the strength of their hooks, performances and current-weekend momentum. 12 12 12 takes the top position because its three-part timeline turns a bank heist into a structure with built-in suspense. Stick brings more warmth and comedy, following a former golfer and the young player whose future he backs. Nocturne offers the darkest option, with a serial-killer investigation threatening a detective’s family and a small Pennsylvania town.

The title at the top premieres globally on Friday 13 November with two episodes, followed by weekly instalments. Stick season two began on 4 November and continues weekly on Wednesdays. Nocturne premiered on 30 October with two episodes and releases new chapters on Fridays; its fourth episode arrives this weekend. If you want a complete binge you will need another choice, but these three are strong options for a weekend of keeping up with current Apple TV originals.

The mix is a strength. Apple TV’s current schedule can make Friday a good night for a new drama and Wednesday a regular catch-up for a returning series. You can spend the weekend watching two fresh episodes of 12 12 12, then decide whether the heist structure has hooked you; use Stick for a lighter change of pace; or follow Nocturne if you prefer crime fiction with a psychological edge. The ranking favours the new series, but each show serves a different viewing mood.

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How we ranked these Apple TV series

We ranked these picks by premise, character appeal, current episode availability and how well each show can hold a viewer’s attention week to week. A high-concept thriller can create a powerful first-week hook, but it also has to make viewers care about the people caught in it. A comedy needs characters whose relationships can continue beyond a single joke. The top pick is the show with the most distinctive story architecture and the best reason to start right now.

All three series are ongoing this weekend. 12 12 12 is an eight-episode limited series that starts with two episodes on 13 November and continues weekly through 25 December. Stick season two premiered with two episodes on 4 November and releases one each Wednesday. Nocturne began on 30 October with two episodes and continues weekly on Fridays. This means the Apple TV watchlist is built around weekly anticipation rather than a single completed-season marathon.

We also considered variety. Two crime-forward titles could make the list feel heavy, so Stick is important as the warmer, more comic alternative. Conversely, the two thrillers have different engines: one is a carefully timed heist and the other a hunt for a serial killer. Their differences help you choose what to watch instead of simply comparing them by their shared darkness.

3. Nocturne — Season 1

Best for: atmospheric crime drama and a serial-killer mystery with family stakes. Where to watch: Apple TV.

Nocturne follows Jonah Lynn, a former soldier turned homicide detective who leaves the difficult streets of Philadelphia hoping for a quieter life in a small western Pennsylvania town. That hope collapses when the town and Jonah’s family come under threat from Jurek Walter, a cunning serial killer. When the search for Jurek’s last missing victim requires Jonah to send his surrogate daughter, FBI agent Saga Bauer, into danger, the case becomes a test of how far he will go to protect the people he loves.

Liev Schreiber plays Jonah, Zazie Beetz is Saga, and Stephen Graham portrays Jurek. The central conflict is more intimate than a standard cat-and-mouse procedural: the detective’s professional responsibilities collide with his protective feelings for his family. Saga is not simply an assistant sent into the field; she is the person Jonah trusts and fears for most. That relationship gives the investigation an emotional risk that can make each new clue feel personal.

The show is based on Lars Kepler’s crime novels The Sandman and Lazarus. Its small-town setting offers a contrast with Jonah’s previous work in Philadelphia, but the killer’s presence ensures there is no simple escape from violence. Apple’s release schedule has two opening episodes followed by weekly Friday chapters; episode four arrives on 13 November. This is a current-season catch-up, not a completed-season binge.

It ranks third because its dark subject matter and serial-killer focus are less broadly inviting than the heist hook of 12 12 12 or the warmth of Stick. It may be the best pick for viewers who want an intense crime drama, and the Schreiber-Beetz-Graham cast gives it a strong dramatic centre. But the premise is grim, and its weekly release means the larger mystery is still developing. Choose it if you want a serious, atmospheric watch and are comfortable with disturbing material.

2. Stick — Season 2

Best for: a warm sports comedy about mentorship, second chances and found family. Where to watch: Apple TV.

Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, a former professional golfer whose promising career ended too soon. After his marriage collapses and he loses his job at an Indiana sporting-goods store, Pryce puts his future on the unlikely success of Santi, a talented but troubled 17-year-old golfer played by Peter Dager. Their relationship becomes the centre of a sports comedy about whether a burned-out adult and a gifted teenager can help one another build a future neither can manage alone.

Season two raises the stakes for both of them. Santi is moving closer to professional golf and must face the pressure that comes when talent becomes expectation. Pryce, meanwhile, begins wondering whether his own career can still be revived. Urged on by former rival Clark Ross, played by Timothy Olyphant, he makes an improbable attempt at a comeback and sets his sights on becoming the oldest golfer to win a major. The path is difficult, and the season asks whether Pryce can face the reasons his earlier promise went unfulfilled.

Rhea Seehorn joins season two as new coach Amanda, while Marc Maron’s Mitts remains a trusted figure in Pryce’s corner. The show’s golf setting provides competition, but its appeal is rooted in the unlikely found family around the sport. The comedy comes from personalities and bruised pride rather than constant punchlines, while the emotional story gives the characters something to lose.

It ranks second because it is the most comforting, accessible show in the lineup and offers a strong tonal break from two serial-crime stories. Its sports setting may not immediately draw every viewer, but the found-family focus gives it wider emotional reach. It sits below 12 12 12 because the new heist series has a more immediately distinctive hook for this weekend; it ranks above Nocturne for viewers who want warmth and humour. The second season is releasing weekly, so this weekend is an opportunity to catch up on the episodes already available.

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1. 12 12 12 — Season 1

Best for: a new international heist thriller with a clever three-timeline structure. Where to watch: Apple TV globally.

Apple’s limited series follows a disgraced FBI agent, played by Anthony Mackie, and an American career criminal, played by Jamie Dornan, as they circle one another across Europe. Their contest centres on a daring raid on a bank vault beneath Zurich. The title explains the show’s unusual structure: every episode moves through the twelve months of planning, the twelve hours of the heist and the twelve days that follow it. This gives the story three different ways to build suspense—preparation, execution and the consequences that cannot be undone once the plan is in motion.

The central relationship is a cat-and-mouse contest rather than a simple hero-versus-villain chase. The FBI agent is disgraced, the criminal is experienced, and both have reasons to keep moving through a high-stakes operation. The story travels across Europe, so the heist has an international scale, but the three time windows can keep the viewer oriented around a clear question: what did the players plan, what happens in the vault, and what does the aftermath reveal?

The cast includes Mackie and Dornan alongside Jack Kesy, Agathe Rousselle, Sallie Harmsen, José Garcia and Kali Reis. Its eight-episode release begins with two episodes on Friday, 13 November, followed by one episode weekly until 25 December. The weekend therefore offers the opening double bill, not the complete limited series. The format should appeal to fans of caper stories who enjoy piecing together a plan as it unfolds across different points in time.

It earns first place because it arrives exactly when the reader is choosing a fresh weekend watch and offers the most original structure of the three. Nocturne has a strong cast and a darker, more personal crime story; Stick is the best comfort watch. But 12 12 12 combines a clear hook, an international setting and two lead performers whose characters are in direct opposition. The title’s timeline device also gives the series a distinct identity. If the opening episodes make the three clocks easy to follow, it is the strongest new Apple TV binge to begin this weekend.

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How to plan your Apple TV weekend

Begin with the two-episode premiere of 12 12 12 if you want to join the new conversation as it begins. The two episodes establish the players and the heist’s mechanics, giving you time to work out how the three timelines relate. Because future episodes arrive weekly, the most satisfying plan is to watch the premiere without trying to race through a season that has not finished.

Use Stick as the change of tone. The golf setting may sound niche, but the story is really about Pryce and Santi learning to rely on each other. Season two expands that into a comeback attempt for Pryce and a professional future for Santi. It works well if you want a show that can be watched with family and does not depend on a complicated mystery to keep you engaged.

Choose Nocturne when you want a darker evening watch. Its serial-killer plot and family stakes make it the most intense option, and the Friday episode arrival gives returning viewers something current to discuss. If you have not seen the first episodes, watch them in order; the character relationships and the missing-victim investigation are designed to accumulate rather than reset each week.

Apple TV’s episode calendar makes this a good weekend for sampling and catching up, rather than completing three seasons. All three series are originals available through the Apple TV subscription in supported territories. The exact release time can differ from the date shown in a press release, and the Apple TV app is the most reliable place to confirm when the next episode appears in your region.

Where to continue exploring

More weekend choices: Apple TV series this week; last weekend’s Apple TV picks; Netflix this week; HBO Max this week; Disney+ this week; Prime Video this week.

Explore other picks: Paramount+ series; BBC iPlayer series; Sky and NOW series; Hulu series; Prime Video weekend picks; crime and mystery shows.

Keep reading: detective TV series; British crime dramas; survival mysteries; science-fiction series; fantasy series to watch next; space-fantasy shows and films.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best Apple TV series to binge-watch this weekend?

12 12 12, Stick season two and Nocturne are our three picks. The heist thriller is the strongest new premiere, Stick is the warmest comedy, and Nocturne is the darkest crime drama. All are releasing weekly, so the weekend is for starting the new series and catching up on current episodes.

What is 12 12 12 about?

The limited series follows a disgraced FBI agent and an American career criminal as they face off around a bank-vault heist in Zurich. Each episode uses three timelines: twelve months of planning, twelve hours of the heist and twelve days after it. Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan lead the cast.

When does 12 12 12 premiere on Apple TV?

Apple lists its global premiere as 13 November 2026. The eight-episode series begins with two episodes, followed by one new episode each week through 25 December. The opening pair is available for the weekend; the full limited series is not yet complete.

What is Nocturne about?

Nocturne follows former soldier and homicide detective Jonah Lynn after he moves from Philadelphia to a small Pennsylvania town. When a serial killer threatens the town and Jonah’s family, the case forces him to send his surrogate daughter, FBI agent Saga Bauer, into danger. Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz and Stephen Graham star.

Is Nocturne based on a book?

Apple describes the series as based on Lars Kepler’s crime novels The Sandman and Lazarus. It adapts the crime-fiction world for television, with Jonah Lynn and Saga Bauer at the centre of the investigation. Viewers can watch the series without having read the novels, though readers may recognise parts of the source material.

When do new episodes of Stick Season 2 arrive?

Season two began on 4 November with two episodes and then moved to a weekly Wednesday release schedule. Check Apple TV’s season page for the latest episode in your region. At the time of this weekend guide, viewers can catch up on the episodes released so far.

What is Stick about?

Owen Wilson plays Pryce Cahill, a former pro golfer who backs a talented but troubled teenager, Santi, as a route to a new future. The sports comedy explores mentorship, found family and second chances. Season two follows Santi’s pursuit of professional golf and Pryce’s unlikely attempt at a comeback.

Which Apple TV show is easiest to start?

12 12 12 is the cleanest starting point because it premieres with two episodes this weekend and introduces a new limited-series story. Stick is also accessible to new viewers, though season two follows an earlier season. Nocturne benefits from watching its opening episodes in order because the investigation and family stakes build week by week.

Are these Apple TV series available in the UK?

Apple TV Press lists all three as global Apple TV originals. Their UK pages and episode availability should appear in the Apple TV app. Exact release times and catalogues can vary by territory, so check your account’s local listing before planning a watch.

Are the full seasons available to stream now?

No. 12 12 12 has its first two episodes, Stick season two is rolling out weekly, and Nocturne is releasing a new episode each Friday. This article recommends current-season catch-ups, not three completed-season box sets.

More places to find great TV

Read the Apple TV Press Room, and explore IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and TV Guide.

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Official information: Apple TV: 12 12 12; Apple TV: Stick Season 2; Apple TV: Nocturne.

How to watch this Apple TV trio

These three picks are particularly well suited to different viewing habits. The premiere of 12 12 12 gives you two episodes to establish its three-timeline heist premise. Watch them together: the timelines are part of the storytelling design, and separating the opening chapters by several days may make it harder to compare what each perspective reveals. The series is the best choice for a viewer who enjoys puzzle-box construction and wants to begin a new show as it launches.

Stick is more relaxed in tone. The sports-comedy setup gives the season an accessible entry point, while the relationships among Pryce, Santi and the people around them provide the emotional thread. Since Season 2 started on 4 November with a two-episode release before moving weekly, this weekend is a good time to catch up. It can serve as a lighter option between the more intense crime and heist stories.

Nocturne is the crime pick. Its episodes began arriving on 30 October, with the season continuing on Fridays, so viewers can catch up on the available chapters and then follow the weekly rollout. A crime drama built around a serial investigation benefits from attention to details, recurring clues and character perspective. Avoid reading ahead if you want to test your own theories about what is happening.

For a single-night plan, begin with the two available 12 12 12 episodes, then switch mood with one episode of Stick. If you have more time across the weekend, use Nocturne as the focused evening watch. This order moves from an intricate heist to a warmer sports comedy and then to crime, making the trio feel like a curated sampler rather than three interchangeable dramas.

Check Apple TV’s UK episode pages before watching: premiere dates, weekly timing and regional catalogues can change. The guide distinguishes premieres from complete seasons, so you can decide whether you want the excitement of a launch, the pleasure of catching up or a full box set from another title. More ideas are available in our Apple TV guide, Prime Video list, and Entertainment archive.

Which Apple TV show fits your mood?

Pick 12 12 12 if you enjoy stories that make structure part of the mystery. The Zurich heist is told across three timelines, so it invites you to assemble connections and reconsider how events relate. Its Friday launch makes it the freshest premiere in the group, and the first two episodes give a meaningful introduction. It is the ideal start for a viewer who enjoys talking through theories after the credits rather than immediately moving on to another show.

Choose Stick when you want warmth and a sports-comedy rhythm. Its golf setting offers a distinctive backdrop, but the character relationships are what make a season worth following. The two-episode opening lets the season establish its people before the weekly cadence takes over. It can be a welcome counterweight to the darker material in Nocturne and the high-concept suspense of 12 12 12.

Choose Nocturne for a crime story that rewards close attention. A serial investigation develops across episodes, so the strongest experience comes from watching in order and keeping track of what the characters know at each stage. Its Friday episode pattern supports a catch-up binge while giving viewers a new chapter to anticipate. All three are ongoing, so they suit people who like being part of a current release conversation as much as those who watch several episodes at once.