The Top 10 TV Shows of 2025

Credit: Dying for Sex: Sarah ShatzFX; Forever: Elizabeth MorrisNetflix; Mo: Eddy ChenNetflix; The Studio: Apple TV+

As each year closes, critics flood us with lists of the best works in every creative field, from literature to music to film and television. These rankings are partly ceremonial, offering a chance to highlight art that lingered with us over the past twelve months. Yet some years prove more difficult to narrow down than others. 2025 was one of those years. After industry disruptions caused by prior writers and actors strikes, television returned with abundance. Leading creators like Vince Gilligan, Sterlin Harjo, Liz Meriwether, and Mara Brock Akil delivered compelling new projects, while film actors such as Seth Rogen, Ethan Hawke, and Michelle Williams brought nuanced, character-driven performances to the small screen. Returning hits, including Severance and Mo, confirmed that the wait was worthwhile.

However, Hollywoods increasingly conservative trends limited the emergence of fresh voices. While international series made their mark, access in the U.S. often required niche streaming platforms, such as Mubi or the Criterion Channel. The result was a viewing year full of enjoyable shows, yet few that were groundbreaking or lingered in the mind. Nevertheless, the possibility of a paradigm-shifting series remains ever-present.

10. The Pitt (HBO Max)

Noah Wyle leads this revival of old-school network drama, a real-time hospital series reminiscent of 24. While nostalgia drew viewers in, it was the contemporary storylines and deeply human characters that kept audiences engaged, tackling societal crises with dedication and heart.

9. Such Brave Girls (Hulu)

This British dark comedy by Kat Sadler explores a family of flawed women, blending humor with sharp social commentary. Representing the remaining streak of boundary-pushing, female-led series, it delivers an unapologetically bleak yet hilarious look at relationships and survival.

8. Forever (Netflix)

Mara Brock Akil reimagines Judy Blumes 1975 novel as a modern tale of young Black love in L.A., following two teens navigating the pressures of wealth disparity, family, and social media. The series captures the timeless intensity and awkwardness of first love with authenticity and empathy.

7. The Studio (Apple TV+)

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldbergs comedy examines Hollywoods financial and creative chaos, featuring a studio head navigating cutthroat colleagues. Through humor and homage to classic films, the show balances satire with genuine admiration for cinema, highlighting the personal stakes in a cutthroat industry.

6. Mo (Netflix)

Mo Amers semi-autobiographical series traces the journey of a Palestinian-American family through the U.S. immigration system. Across darkly comedic episodes, it celebrates community, resilience, and cultural intersections, offering a vision of unity beyond borders.

5. Severance (Apple TV+)

The second season of Dan Ericksons workplace sci-fi drama exceeded expectations, continuing to explore the lives of employees with bifurcated consciousness. With intense performances and layered storytelling, it delves into questions of identity, love, and mortality.

4. Mussolini: Son of the Century (Mubi)

This Italian miniseries chronicles Benito Mussolinis rise to power with striking visual style and chilling performances. Luca Marinelli embodies the dictators ruthless ambition, offering a stark and illuminating perspective on the dangers of fascism.

3. The Lowdown (FX)

Sterlin Harjos urban neo-noir follows Ethan Hawkes journalist through Tulsas vibrant and troubled landscape. The series examines historical oppression and contemporary life with layered storytelling, memorable performances, and a surprising, impactful conclusion.

2. Pluribus (Apple TV+)

Vince Gilligan reunites with Rhea Seehorn in a sci-fi thought experiment exploring individuality in a world where everyone else lives in perfect harmony. The show uses a global lens to meditate on human nature, morality, and personal uniqueness.

1. Dying for Sex (FX)

Michelle Williams stars as Molly Kochan, a woman confronting terminal illness by pursuing a liberated and sexually adventurous life. The series captures the raw, unfiltered reality of facing death, balancing humor, heartbreak, and honesty in a way that resonates deeply.

Honorable Mentions

• Adolescence (Netflix)
• Alien: Earth (FX)
• Andor (Disney+)
• Asura (Netflix)
• Best Interests (Acorn)
• Common Side Effects (Adult Swim)
• toile (Amazon)
• Long Story Short (Netflix)
• Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV+)
• Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)
• Outrageous (BritBox)
• Pee-wee as Himself (HBO)
• The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (Bravo)
• The Rehearsal (HBO)
• Squid Game (Netflix)
• Task (HBO)
• The Traitors (Peacock)
• Wayward (Netflix)
• The White Lotus (HBO)
• Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (PBS)

Author: Harper Simmons