An underrated Apple TV series with Kate Hudson is a perfect binge for true crime fans

Apple TV is full of great shows that no one seems to be watching. Arguably the streamer with the best batting average out there, the platform’s quality offerings have delivered many incredible moments for those in the know, including Emmy-winning Tramell Tillman’s landmark work on “Severance,” as well as all kinds of incredible Rotten Tomatoes-approved movies and documentaries.

One of Apple TV’s best-kept secrets is Nichelle Tramble Spellman’s “Truth Be Told,” which blends true crime with the sexier trappings of the legal and crime drama genres. The show revolves around podcaster and journalist Poppy Parnell (Oscar winner Octavia Spencer), whose work and personal relationships lead her to gravitate toward all kinds of secrets and mysteries, up to and including murders.

For fans of Academy Award nominee Kate Hudson, whose upcoming role as Claire “Thunder” Sardina in Craig Brewer’s “Song Sung Blue” has generated a lot of buzz at the Oscars lately, “Truth Be Told” is particularly worth watching. Hudson plays an extremely important character in season 2 of the show, appearing as Poppy’s old friend Micah Keith with his trademark nuance. The season also delves into Poppy and Micah’s past and present relationship, as well as the ongoing murder case the latter appears to be connected to. Without going into spoilers, it’s fair to say that viewers can expect a series of great scenes between the two.

Aside from Hudson’s work in Season 2, “Truth Be Told” is one of those shows where seemingly every notable role is played by a familiar and welcome face. Spencer’s Poppy anchors between seasons, along with Mekhi Phifer’s former detective Markus Killebrew, his wife Zarina (Merle Dandridge from “The Last of Us”) and a few others. However, the people central to each season’s cases vary. Season 1 features none other than “Breaking Bad” star Aaron Paul as a convicted murderer who Poppy focuses on, with “Masters of Sex” veteran Lizzy Caplan doing double duty as twins. Season 2 similarly complements Hudson with David Lyons (“Revolution”), while Season 3’s Missing Girls Case features Gabrielle Union (“Being Mary Jane”) as a principal with a secret.

For those who worry that simple star power isn’t enough, there’s a reason the show has attracted all this talent. The crime mysteries in “Truth Be Told” are smart and exciting, and the fact that Poppy is a tenacious podcast host rather than a classic detective character raises the stakes considerably, especially when she ventures into dangerous territory with one of her cases. Of course, the show also plays to its strengths, and its tense interviews are worth experiencing. With just three compact seasons and a total of 28 episodes, “Truth Be Told” is a fun, binge-worthy show that is sure to spark true criminal imaginations.

“Truth Be Told” is available to stream on Apple TV.