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The Savant on Apple TV+ called ‘essential television’ in review of delayed series

Last week, just days before The Savant was set to premiere on Apple TV+, the series was unexpectedly pulled from the release schedule. Now, Variety has published its review of the show and calls it “essential television.”

The Savant praised in early review of postponed Apple TV+ series

If you had never heard of Apple TV+ series The Savant before last week, you’ve likely heard of it since.

The limited series was originally set to debut last Friday, September 26 before it was pulled from Apple’s release schedule with no explanation given.

Apple’s only statement at the time read: “After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone The Savant. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date.”

Star Jessica Chastain later shared that she was “not aligned” with Apple on its decision to delay the release.

Now, an early review of The Savant has been published by Variety, with TV critic Aramide Tinubu calling the series “essential television” in a praise-laden review.

Here are some key quotes:

  • The Savant is brilliant and unsettling”
  • “The series is riveting throughout, but it works best when depicting the cost of discriminatory speech and cruelty”
  • “In these fraught political times, The Savant is essential television”
  • “Most disturbing is the series’ depiction of how this type of violence and groupthink spreads. The Savant unsettlingly holds up a mirror to the country, showing viewers what it will cost if we continue down this path.”

Curiously, the review is available on Apple News but not on Variety’s website. It does include the following editor’s note, however: “After this review was scheduled to publish, Apple TV+ postponed “The Savant” until a later date”.

Top comment by Matt

Liked by 8 people

That is a cowardly move. We are often told that governments should not overreach, that corporations should be left to run their businesses independently. But in current reality, corporations are terrified of upsetting an authoritarian regime. The top brass inside these corporations live behind gated communities, shielding themselves from reality. Instead of defending the fundamental right to free speech, they would rather appease a dictator in disguise.

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Apple has not yet offered further comment on The Savant’s delay, nor shared updates on Apple TV+ release timing.

Inside the Apple TV app, the show’s listing still simply reads, “Coming At a Later Date.”

When do you expect Apple TV+ to release The Savant, and are you interested in watching? Let us know in the comments.

Apple TV+ is available for $12.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Ted LassoSeveranceThe Morning ShowSilo, and Shrinking.

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Avatar for Ryan Christoffel Ryan Christoffel

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.