Review: Apple TV+, Hailee Steinfeld lend 'Dickinson' a rebel spirit

A tale set in the 19th century joins the streaming revolution Friday as AppleTV+, the tech giant’s streaming service, makes its debut. “Dickinson” and eight other Apple original series mark the beginning of its entry into territory ruled by Netflix — followed in the next seven months by Disney+, NBCUniversal’s Peacock and Warner Media’s HBO Max. Apple can’t answer the debate once and for all, but if “Dickinson” is any indication, the bar for experimental and creative productions may still be rising. Formal dances are accompanied by a techo/pop/emo/rap soundtrack; Dickinson’s parents speak in stiff, period-specific language while all the teens, including Dickinson herself, use modern slang: “That’s the coolest!” “Why are you such a freak?” The constrained young woman also has a secret relationship with Death, who’s played by Wiz Khalifa in a top hat and black gloves. Despite all the clever humor, “Dickinson” does cut straight to the more distressing aspects of a society that still hasn’t fully resolved those problems, or even become enlightened enough to admit them.