The 10 Best TV Shows of 2025

Every year, cultural critics wrap things up by publishing countless “best of” lists for all kinds of art – music, books, movies, TV, theater, and dance. It’s a convenient idea that lets critics highlight the art that’s resonated with them, and helps audiences decide what to experience. While these lists are common, some years seem to offer so much great art that narrowing it down to just ten picks feels particularly difficult.

As a TV fan, 2025 felt like a really great year – things definitely picked up after the strikes finally ended. It was awesome to see creators like Vince Gilligan, Sterlin Harjo, Liz Meriwether, and Mara Brock Akil back with fresh shows. What I especially loved was seeing big movie stars – Seth Rogen, Ethan Hawke, Michelle Williams – bringing their talents to TV with the kind of thoughtful, character-focused stories we don’t often get in movie theaters anymore. Even Noah Wyle brought back a classic doctor show! And shows that had been on hiatus, like Severance and Mo, were totally worth the wait.

As Hollywood started making safer, more conservative choices – which never really helps good storytelling – it felt like it was getting harder for fresh, different voices to be heard. Luckily, amazing shows were coming from all over the world, but even that was becoming a little limited because a few huge companies were buying up everything. It really says something that one of the best international series I saw this year, the Italian show Mussolini: Son of the Century, was only available here on Mubi, a smaller streaming service for art-house films. And now, the incredible Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai is bringing his first TV series, Blossoms Shanghai, to the U.S. through a similar platform, the Criterion Channel.

Looking back, I ended up watching a lot of shows I really liked – so many, in fact, that I could easily list twenty more that almost made my top ten! But there weren’t many that really pushed boundaries, made me think deeply, or stayed with me long after I finished them. I missed out on shows like I May Destroy You, The Underground Railroad, Succession, and Twin Peaks: The Return (it’s easy to forget about shows on streaming services!). That isn’t necessarily a problem, since every year is different. The next groundbreaking series could be released very soon. However, if we don’t get those kinds of shows, then we might have something to be concerned about.

10. The Pitt (HBO Max)

Classic, character-driven dramas are making a comeback, and The Pitt proved it. Created by and starring former ER cast members, the show used a real-time format similar to 24, releasing episodes weekly, and quickly became both popular and critically acclaimed. While viewers were initially drawn in by the nostalgia of seeing familiar faces, it was the show’s relevant storylines and relatable characters that truly captivated audiences. The emergency room setting, where crises stemming from issues like gun violence, sexism, and inadequate healthcare constantly arise, served as a powerful equalizer. Ultimately, the show offered a comforting idea: even when society is struggling, dedicated and compassionate people will always persevere to help those in need.

9. Such Brave Girls (Hulu)

Kat Sadler’s darkly funny British series about a chaotic family of women is a standout show from 2025, and one I surprisingly haven’t heard much buzz about. But it also represents a wave of unique, female-driven shows that flourished after Fleabag during the peak of high-quality television. These shows, like the excellent Somebody Somewhere, are becoming increasingly rare, especially in the US. For now, the UK is still willing to fund these kinds of edgy comedies. Such Brave Girls centers on a lesbian woman constantly pushed to conform to a traditional relationship, her troubled sister, and their struggling mother who’s determined to hold onto a financial lifeline. Far from being empowering, the show is a refreshingly honest, bleak, and hilarious take on feminist humor. Let’s appreciate it while it lasts.

8. Forever (Netflix)

It often feels like today’s teenagers, Gen Z, are a mystery to adults. But despite the changes, some things about growing up remain the same, and the series Forever beautifully captures those universal experiences through a compelling love story. Based on Judy Blume’s classic novel, it updates the story for a modern audience, focusing on a young Black couple navigating love and life across different social classes in Los Angeles. Creator Mara Brock Akil expands on the original story, giving both teenagers – Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. – equal voice and also offering a glimpse into the concerns of their parents. This creates a deeply empathetic portrayal of first love that feels surprisingly mature. While social media plays a role, the show truly shines in its timeless observations about how our early relationships impact and often surprise us – insights that still resonate even after 50 years.

7. The Studio (Apple TV)

Hollywood is obsessed with its own financial struggles, which seem to get worse every year due to increasing costs, political issues, and changes brought by the tech industry. It’s no surprise, then, that many films and shows are now exploring this decline. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s comedy series is currently the best example, featuring Rogen as a well-meaning but insecure studio executive desperately trying to produce quality films while navigating a ruthless work environment filled with characters played by Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn, and Chase Sui Wonders. The show is genuinely hilarious, cleverly using famous guest stars, and paying tribute to classic films like Chinatown and The Player. What truly makes it stand out, though, is its sincere love for filmmaking itself, which rises above the typical cynicism found in stories about the movie business and gives the characters’ struggles real meaning.

6. Mo (Netflix)

The second and final season of Mo Amer’s comedy series, inspired by his own life, starts in Mexico City and ends in Israel. Each episode features Mo Najjar, Amer’s character, facing frustrating interactions with immigration officials – scenes that bookend the season nicely. Over eight episodes, the show follows Mo’s family’s difficult journey through the U.S. immigration system as Palestinian refugees in Houston, dealing with a decades-old asylum claim. Despite not having a country he officially belongs to, Mo has built a very American life, surrounded by a diverse community – including a Texan farmer, a Latina mechanic, and a Black family – who come together for a heartwarming Thanksgiving. This scene presents a hopeful vision of a world without borders, a stark contrast to the difficulties of immigration. Coming from one of the few Palestinian American voices with a national platform, especially during a time of hardship for his homeland, this image is particularly powerful.

5. Severance (Apple TV)

It’s always concerning when a promising new TV show follows up a fantastic first season with a delayed and troubled second season. That’s why the return of Dan Erickson’s sci-fi drama, Severance, was such a pleasant surprise. Despite ending on a major cliffhanger – revealing the plight of Lumon Industries’ severed employees – life at the company remains largely the same. Mark S., played by Adam Scott, and his colleagues, who function as his found family, are back at their desks with little to do but continue investigating their mysterious employer. Their search leads to compelling storylines, including journeys into the bleak landscape surrounding Lumon, and features outstanding performances from Britt Lower and Tramell Tillman. The show continues to explore complex themes of love, death, and ultimately, what it means to be human.

4. Mussolini: Son of the Century (Mubi)

This series about Mussolini isn’t easy to watch, and that’s a good thing. Director Joe Wright, known for Pride & Prejudice, doesn’t shy away from the darkness of Il Duce’s rise to power after World War I. The show follows his journey from journalist to dictator, using dramatic lighting and a tense score by Tom Rowlands of the Chemical Brothers to highlight his manipulative tactics. The script, by Stefano Bises, features bold speeches and direct addresses to the audience, adding to the unsettling atmosphere. Luca Marinelli delivers a powerful performance, embodying the traits of many notorious strongmen – the ruthlessness of Richard III, the coldness of Putin, the vulgarity of Trump, and the imposing presence of Tony Soprano. Son of the Century cuts through the confusion surrounding fascism, presenting it as a simple, relentless pursuit of power with no moral limits.

3. The Lowdown (FX)

Sterlin Harjo, the creator of the acclaimed series Reservation Dogs, now brings us The Lowdown, a new neo-noir set in the city, starring Ethan Hawke. Despite the change in setting and style, both shows share a common thread: they explore Oklahoma’s history – a history marked by both injustice and hope. The Lowdown follows Lee Raybon, a journalist played by Hawke, as he investigates a possible suicide within a prominent Tulsa family. The series is filled with memorable characters and strong performances from Hawke, Keith David, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Kyle MacLachlan, and others. Harjo’s complex storytelling connects current events to past wrongs committed against the city’s Black and Native American communities. And while you can anticipate a compelling story, the show’s ending is sure to surprise you.

2. Pluribus (Apple TV)

The new show Pluribus reunites the creative minds behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, and fans were already excited. Even a simple show focusing on Rhea Seehorn – the standout star of Better Call Saul – would have drawn a large audience. But creator Vince Gilligan went much further, crafting an ambitious science fiction story. The premise? What if world peace suddenly happened, and everyone was happy except for one person? The show centers on Seehorn’s incredible performance as a grumpy romance novelist who, uniquely, isn’t affected by an alien virus that unites almost everyone’s minds. Pluribus boldly suggests that our individuality – even our stubbornness – is what truly makes humanity valuable. It’s a visually stunning film that could have easily been my top pick if I’d seen the final episode before finalizing this list.

1. Dying for Sex (FX)

When someone receives a terminal diagnosis, they face a difficult choice: continue living life as usual, or finally pursue long-held dreams. Molly Kochan, diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, chose the latter. She left her unsatisfying marriage, explored her desires through numerous encounters, and openly documented it all in her podcast, Dying for Sex. The new dramedy, created by Kim Rosenstock and Liz Meriwether, beautifully honors Molly’s story, with Michelle Williams delivering a stunning performance as Molly. Williams, known for her ability to find extraordinary depth in ordinary moments, is perfectly matched by Jenny Slate, who plays Molly’s devoted and supportive best friend and caretaker. The film also features memorable performances from Rob Delaney, Sissy Spacek, Jay Duplass, Esco Jouléy, and Robby Hoffman. This film is a raw and honest look at life in the face of death, avoiding cliché inspirational moments and instead embracing a bracing authenticity that defines truly great art.

Honorable mentions:

Here’s a list of TV shows: Adolescence, Alien: Earth, Andor, Asura, Best Interests, Common Side Effects, Étoile, Long Story Short, Mr. Scorsese, Mythic Quest, Outrageous, Pee-wee as Himself, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, The Rehearsal, Squid Game, Task, The Traitors, Wayward, The White Lotus, and Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.

2025-12-02 19:09