The Best TV Shows of 2025 , News In Progress

As a critic, I can’t possibly watch everything popping up on television and streaming services these days, and honestly – who can!? But of what I’ve seen in 2025, these shows stand out for me as the most gripping, inventive, and conversation-worthy television of the year. Presented in no particular order, here are the series that have left the biggest impression on my retinas and other senses this year so far!

Adolescence (Netflix) 

If you are a parent, this is an absolute must-see and from start to finish, you are guaranteed to be pushed and pulled across several directions. The harrowing limited series follows 13-year-old Jamie (Owen Cooper), accused of a brutal murder, with the show unfolding in a near seamless one-shot style from Philip Barantini. Viewers will be immersed in the intricacies of the investigation while exposing the insidious reach of red-pill ideology. Parents watching this will definitely feel the earth move under their feet. Powerhouse performances abound — especially from Graham and Erin Doherty as a court-appointed therapist. Adolescence is a disturbing, necessary deep dive of how extremist rhetoric poisons young minds.

Your Friends & Neighbors (Apple TV+) 

That Jon Hamm has become heralded as one of those rare actors that can easily transition between drama and comedy should come as no surprise considering his extensive credentials, but in his dark dramedy, he stars as Andrew “Coop” Cooper, a disgraced hedge fund manager unraveling before our eyes in bombastic fashion. Bitter over his failed marriage (Amanda Peet co-stars as his ex-wife), Coop resorts to thievery of his wealthy neighbors — leading to a razor-sharp dissection of privilege, desperation, and the lies we tell ourselves in order to survive. Hamm is on a hot streak as of late, but Your Friends & Neighbors may be his best showing yet as he brings the charm, charisma, and the side order of menace that will keep viewers tuning in. 

Andor (Disney+) 

Even for non-Star Wars fanatics like myself, it is hard to deny how riveting Andor can be. The extended universe rarely gets any love and I’ve tried to follow a few before that were fine enough, but Andor may be the perfect entry-point for those that don’t want to have to know all the backstory. For this series, it isn’t necessary and Diego Luna in the titular role leads an outstanding cast (Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly), a politically charged spy thriller about rebellion and fascism. This is the Star Wars IP done right. 

The Pitt (HBO Max)

I never watched E.R. (or Grey’s Anatomy or any other medical series-related show for that matter) to be able to compare the two, but I feel strongly in my bones that The Pitt is the most realistic representation of how a hospital actually functions. Noah Wyle returns to audiences in a big way in this series, with a sense of urgency and ruggedness in his look and performance. Shot in real time at a relentless pace, every episode was so nailbiting that I could hardly wait until the next week so invested I was in the varied and layered cast of characters in this epic drama. Arguably the best new show on television right now. 

The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)

I am ashamed to admit I was late to the party when it came to this show, but once I found it, I couldn’t put it down. The outrageousness of the foolishness and f*ckery is over the top and backwoods bonkers! The final season of The Righteous Gemstones throws the kitchen sink at viewers and prepare to be in for ride after ride trying to keep up with the most tawdry and tacky of evangelists this side of the Mississippi. Come for Danny McBride. Stay for Walton Goggins and his Uncle Baby Billy sh*tnanigans.

Severance (Apple TV+) 

My biggest fear was that I’d forget everything I’d already watched in the first season. But from the moment the second season returned, time stood still and the three-year wait was worth it as Adam Scott and his team took down an even deeper well of intrigue in a workplace nightmare. Scott and Britt Lower’s tragic romance between their “innie” and “outie” selves is devastating, and under Ben Stiller’s direction the absurd world of Lumon Industries continues to mesmerize and frighten simultaneously. I could never quit Severance, no matter how long the wait is!

Sirens (Netflix)

There’s to be an amendment to the ten commandments: keep your messy family drama to thine self! And if anyone could force me to amend the commandments, it would be Julianna More, an actress I would follow anywhere. In this dramedy, Moore leads a great cast (Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon) as a weird wealthy socialite that draws everyone into her world in some kind of hippie earth mother meets Martha Stewart hybrid that gets more complicated by the episode. Sirens is a true guilty pleasure, and seeing Bacon and Moore finally sharing scenes is worth the investment alone.  

The Studio (Apple TV+) 

I wasn’t sure I could stand a constant stream of Seth Rogen’s trademark weed chuckles across an entire series, but The Studio is so intoxicating that I’ve gotten over myself. This is a show that goes heavy on the satire and the guest stars almost steal the show, but the core cast of characters are more than enough to keep one engaged. Rogen stars as the head of an OG movie studio, leading the chaos of co-workers all brown-nosing and scene-stealing with wild abandon. This is one of the most refreshing new comedies to arrive in years. 

The White Lotus (HBO) 

It’s in the name, and The White Lotus is mainly about white people with money brimming with dysfunction, and each season, Mike white manages to make it just as fresh as the last. In the latest season, the satire features Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood as a heartbreaking yet mismatched couple, while Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, and Leslie Bibb take turns stealing scenes as passive-aggressive frenemies. Even when it doesn’t nail the landing, it’s impossible not to love this show. 

Final Verdict: 2025 is TV at its boldest

This year’s best shows prove that television is not going anywhere, and is probably stronger and more diverse in some ways than ever before, continuing to be a daring, evolving medium. There’s something out there for just about every taste, and in 2025, the best shows have become an obsession and worth watching.