What's Inside?
- 2025 delivered bold, ambitious television across genres, from sci-fi and crime dramas to animated standouts.
- Shows like 'Andor,' 'Severance,' and 'The Pitt' set new benchmarks for storytelling and performances.
- Fresh debuts and powerful returns proved the medium’s creative strength remains unmatched.
Television in 2025 shows ambition and unforgettable storytelling. From daring debuts to returning favorites that raised their game, the year proved how strong the medium remains. Narrowing that excellence into a top 10 was never going to be easy, yet some shows clearly rose above the rest through craft, impact, and cultural conversation. The following list highlights the series that defined the year for us. That said, the television landscape was so rich that standout titles like Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Hacks, and Dark Winds deserve recognition, too. So, here’s our top 10 pick–
1. Pluribus (Apple TV+)
Vince Gilligan steps away from the Breaking Bad world to deliver something different with Pluribus. The sci-fi series uses an alien hive-mind takeover to explore loneliness, social fracture, and the fear of sameness.
Rhea Seehorn anchors the story as Carol, one of the last people untouched by the hive mind. Everyone else becomes cheerful, connected, and eager to please, while Carol wants distance and silence. Gilligan, with his everlasting legacy, made yet another groundbreaking show everyone must watch.
2. Andor Season 2 (Disney+)
Season two of Andor pushed the Star Wars universe into political focus. Tony Gilroy leaned harder into rebellion. The galaxy setting felt secondary to the real-world tension running through every episode.
Diego Luna’s Cassian moved closer to his fate as rebel factions clashed and the Empire tightened control. Andor proved that Star Wars can confront authoritarianism without losing its edge.
3. The Pitt (Max)
The Pitt arrived at a moment when medical dramas felt exhausted. The HBO Max series sets its entire first season during a single 15-hour ER shift in a Pittsburgh trauma hospital. Each episode tracks one hour, stripping away gloss to reveal pressure, fatigue, and impossible choices.
Noah Wyle grounds the show as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch. The Pitt also stands out for its ensemble focus. Katherine LaNasa’s charge nurse holds the chaos with quiet authority, while newer faces grow into their roles under relentless stress. The real-time structure builds intimacy fast, moving from routine emergencies to mass-casualty trauma without pause. A must watch, indeed.
4. Adolescence (Netflix)
Adolescence landed quietly on Netflix and exploded into the year’s most urgent television event. The four-part British drama follows a teenage boy accused of killing a classmate. Owen Cooper delivered a performance that feels exposed and unsettling in equal measure.
The series gains power from its one-shot format, which removes any emotional distance. Scenes play out in real time, forcing viewers to stay present through discomfort and grief. Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne frame the story as a ripple effect. Adolescence became a national conversation and one of the most impactful dramas of 2025.
5. Severance Season 2 (Apple TV+)
Season two of Severance extends its focus on the people trapped inside Lumon, not the puzzles alone. Mark’s grief shapes every choice he makes, while Helly’s anger grows louder as she pushes back against the system that owns her. Irv and Dylan feel more exposed than ever, their fears no longer hidden behind routine tasks and white walls.
The series turns the office into a pressure chamber, showing how modern work can strip identity and numb pain in equal measure. Each episode leans into emotional cost, making the characters’ inner lives as gripping as the mystery itself.
Standout arcs for Ms. Casey and Harmony Cobel add emotional depth, while Seth Milchik emerges as one of the show’s most magnetic forces. Strong performances, striking cinematography, and Theodore Shapiro’s score work in sync to create a haunting mood. Severance earns its praise by trusting patience, craft, and character to drive its story forward.
6. The Studio (Apple TV+)
Apple TV’s The Studio turns Hollywood chaos into joyful comedy with surprising warmth. Seth Rogen plays a studio boss torn between loving movies and chasing profits. The show laughs at industry madness while honoring the people who keep film culture alive.
Big cameos land with purpose and perfectly work for the narrative at large. Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, and Chase Sui Wonders ground the frenzy with heart. The Studio feels honest, funny, and oddly hopeful, proving satire can still love its subject.
7. Long Story Short (Netflix)
Netflix’s Long Story Short begins with quiet familiarity, then slowly reveals emotional depth. Created by BoJack Horseman mastermind Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the animated dramedy traces the lives of the Schwooper family across decades. Childhood memories bleed into adulthood as love, regret, and inherited habits take shape. The animation allows time to move freely, showing how small moments echo forward. What seems ordinary grows deeply personal, making the family’s joys and wounds feel shared.
8. Common Side Effects (Adult Swim)
Adult Swim’s animated sci-fi comedy delivers a wild idea. The story follows two former lab partners who uncover a mushroom that can heal almost anything, even death. Their discovery exploded into chaos as powerful forces close in, from federal agents to global business players.
Of course, on top of the beautiful narrative, the visuals are striking. Each episode feels unpredictable, moving from tense chases to quiet, human moments. Bold animation and smart writing turn this strange premise into one of the most original adult animated shows of the year.
9. Task (HBO)
Brad Ingelsby returns to the working-class edges of greater Philadelphia with Task, a gripping crime drama that revolves around loss and regret. The series explores how bad choices linger and how guilt hardens over time. Like Mare of Easttown, it feels rooted, bleak, and human.
Mark Ruffalo delivers career-best work as Tom Brandis, a weary FBI leader running on fumes. Tom Pelphrey stuns as Robbie, whose quiet desperation fuels the story’s pulse. Their paths move closer with each episode, building tension and unexpected warmth.
10. The Last of Us Season 2 (HBO)
Season two of The Last of Us faced higher expectations than any HBO drama this year. While comparisons to season one persist, the show maintains its gripping and emotional tone. Pedro Pascal’s flashback episode adds rare tenderness and depth.
Bella Ramsey delivers powerful work as Ellie, carrying grief, anger, and resolve with confidence. Kaitlyn Dever brings intensity to Abby, setting the stage for a bold season three. With stunning visuals, brutal infected, and cinematic action, The Last of Us still stands among television’s best.
