From Adolescence to The Pitt, Loud And Clear Reviews lists the 10+ best TV shows of 2025, including popular and lesser known series released year!
What were the best TV shows of 2025? Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a different answer. So many fantastic series were released this year, from great limited shows to new seasons of popular releases… And a reality show that captivated audiences worldwide! The Loud And Clear Reviews team came up with a list of top 10+ best TV shows of 2025, in alphabetical order and each recommended by one of our writers. From huge hits like Adolescence and Monster: The Ed Gein Story to lesser known gems like The Art of Joy and The Death of Bunny Munro, there are plenty of recommendations for you. Keep scrolling for the honorable mentions, and don’t forget to read our top 20 best movies of 2025!
1. Adolescence
Showrunners: Stephen Graham & Jack Thorne
Where to watch: Netflix
It’s 6 a.m. in Pontefract, West Yorkshire when the police raids the home of the Miller family and arrests their 13-year-old son, Jamie (Owen Cooper). The charge? Murdering a teenage girl. Did he do it? It’s not so simple. Unfolding in real time, Netflix’s Adolescence methodically uncovers the truth over the course of its four episodes, each consisting of one continuous shot and taking place minutes, days, months after the murder. By the time we reach the finale, set a year after the arrest, we’ll have familiarized not only with Jamie’s past but also with his family: his sister Lisa (Amélie Pease), his mother Manda (Christine Tremarco), and his father Eddie (Stephen Graham).
Adolescence uses its gripping premise and format to explore anything from identity and societal expectations to bullying, toxic masculinity, ‘incel’ culture, generational trauma, and the way in which parents unwittingly fail their children. With a strong focus on mental health and a mystery for viewers to solve, the series examines its titular subject in all its aspects until its true message shines through. Superb performances from Cooper and Graham and a clever approach to both filmmaking and storytelling make this Emmy and Critics Choice Award winner one of the most memorable and haunting shows of 2025. (Serena Seghedoni)
2. Andor Season 2
Showrunner: Tony Gilroy
Where to watch: Disney Plus
When Season 1 of Andor was released, back in 2022, Star Wars fans immediately recognized it as one of the best series Lucasfilm has ever made. Taking place five years before the events of Rogue One, this anticipated spinoff gave us not only a complex and charismatic lead in Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), but an entire universe to explore, with multilayered characters and their many secrets, politics threatening a Rebel Alliance that hadn’t fully formed yet, and gorgeous, fascinating settings as the backdrop of it all.
Three years later, Season 2 had the impossible task of following up to a near-perfect first season and still captivate us despite our knowledge of what would happen to most of these characters, given the events of Rogue One. Shockingly, the show succeeded, delivering another set of tense, gripping storytelling that never forgets to puts its characters first but also knows exactly what it wants to say about authoritarian regimes and the true meaning of a revolution. Even if you aren’t a Star Wars fan, you’re bound to be captivated by the bold, empathetic feat showrunner Tony Gilroy and his team of creatives have crafted. (Serena Seghedoni)
3. The Art of Joy
Directors: Valeria Golino and Nicolangelo Gelormini
Where to watch: Sky & Now
This provocative six-part miniseries, based on the 1998 novel of the same name, is the most criminally slept-on television of the year – at least outside its native Italy. Following a young woman in the early 20th century as she seeks to overcome poverty, trauma and the suffocating sexual and moral codes of her time, The Art of Joy should fill a My Brilliant Friend-shaped hole in the lives of Italian drama lovers.
It centres on Modesta (Viviana Mocciaro as a child, Tecla Insolia as a young adult), who finds herself in a Sicilian convent after her family dies in a fire. When her natural rebelliousness and sexual appetite prove too much for the nuns to handle, she is unleashed onto high society, where her transgressions only multiply. Pointedly delivered in dialect, the young woman’s witty remarks as she navigates a world of discipline and decorum place her somewhere between the headstrong female protagonists of Marie Antoinette, Fleabag and The Favourite. But beneath her antics in increasingly exquisite (and expertly shot) locations, spectres of the past threaten to bring our protagonist back down to where she came from.
Modesta’s precociousness is therefore tempered by a touching vulnerability; both are communicated to perfection by breakout star Insolia, who must carry the series on her shoulders, so anchored around her character’s experience is the narrative. There’s plenty more of the source material to cover yet, so here’s hoping future seasons will allow us to watch this beguiling anti-heroine grow. (Louis Roberts)
4. The Celebrity Traitors
Showrunner: Mike Cotton
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer (U.K.); Peacock and on demand (U.S.)
Rarely do reality shows make a lasting impression on me, but things were about to change when I pressed play on episode one of The Celebrity Traitors back in October. Set in the Scottish Highlands in the stunning Adross Castle, TCT follows a group of people, this time celebrities, as they try and figure out who among them have been selected as a traitor. Host, and British icon, Claudia Winkelman chooses a handful of the 19 contestants to be traitors as they are blindfolded at a roundtable, with the remaining staying faithful and eager to catch out the untrustworthy foes that lie within the castle grounds. Set across nine episodes, the loyal faithfuls must try and banish a traitor each night before one of them is murdered.
Whilst similar to the civilian version of The Traitors, the celebrity one turned real-life friends against each other and created some of the greatest memes the show has ever seen. Yes, Celia Imrie farting did make the headlines. Each of the celebrities are playing to win money for charity, so whilst chaotic and full of deceitful comments at every roundtable, it’s all in the name of a good cause. It’s also one of the greatest celebrity game show casts in history, featuring Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, Paloma Faith, Joe Marler, Cat Burns and more! (Bethany Lola)
5. Chad Powers
Showrunner: Michael Waldron
Where to watch: Hulu
As a college football fan (Geaux Tigers), I figured Chad Powers would be a fun watch, and it absolutely is. What I didn’t expect was for it to be so moving and fantastic in every single aspect that it would stand out as one of the underdog hits of 2025. It also features Glen Powell in a standout performance and, in my opinion, his best to date. He is a star with major chops.
After major college quarterback Russ Holliday (Powell) makes a devastatingly embarrassing, career-defining mistake in the championship game, he then ruins his reputation on national television and retreats from society. Eight years later, when the struggling South Georgia Catfish hold open tryouts for a QB, he re-emerges as Chad Powers, donning a wig, facial prosthetics, and a simple, sweet-natured but absurd personality that will capture your heart. You’ll follow as he walks right onto the team and thusly navigates college life and football, again.
The series is very well-executed and hilarious as a fish-out-of-water story that tugs at your heart strings with its deeply relatable themes and impressive performances from Glen Powell. It’s based on the viral football tryout videos from Eli Manning and Barstool Sports and also features performances by Steve Zahn, Perry Mattfield, Toby Huss, and Frankie A. Rodriguez. (Keeley Brooks)
6. The Chair Company
Showrunners: Zach Kanin and Tim Robinson
Where to watch: HBO Max
What if you asked David Lynch to make a comedic TV show? Well, mix that with Tim Robinson’s signature humor, and you have The Chair Company.
This show starts with something so stupidly simple: a man’s chair collapses during a work presentation and somehow turns it into one of the most unhinged and gripping TV experiences of the year. Tim Robinson plays Ron Trosper, a deeply earnest office worker whose obsession with a faulty chair spirals into a full-blown conspiracy involving fake corporations and an endless trail of bizarre coincidences. The longer it goes on, the more it feels like you’ve fallen into Ron’s brain and can’t get out.
What makes The Chair Company so special is how seriously it treats its own nonsense. The show is laugh-out-loud funny, but it never winks at the camera. Whether it’s a stranger hiding in a closet or a chair appearing outside Ron’s house, every absurd turn is played completely straight. That commitment is what makes it work: you’re laughing, weirdly invested, constantly asking yourself how far this thing is going to go.
The unpredictability is thrilling. Each episode adds new layers without ever settling into a rhythm you can anticipate, striking the perfect balance between a comedy and a paranoid thriller. Robinson mixes cringe comedy with something oddly emotional, especially in Ron’s relationships with his wife, daughter, and unlikely ally Mike.
The Chair Company is funny and absurd; it’s truly something special and original. It’s a series you can’t explain without sounding insane, which is exactly why it deserves a spot among the best shows of 2025. (Roberto Tyler Ortiz)
7. Dept. Q
Showrunner and Director: Scott Frank
Where to watch: Netflix
What makes a crime thriller series truly gripping? It’s usually the combination of an interesting premise that gives you an enigma to solve, a flawed but brilliant protagonist, and cleverly constructed, suspenseful storytelling that heightens the stakes with every episode. Adapted from Jussi Adler-Olsen’s book series, Netflix’s Dept. Q has all of these elements, and we guarantee it will have your eyes glued to the screen for its entire duration.
A bright but cranky DCI survives a puzzling shooting that leaves his partner paralyzed and a young policeman dead; while still recovering from the accident, that same DCI is made head of department, and sole member, of a newly formed cold case unit whose offices reside in the basement of the Edinburgh police’s headquarters. Of course, Department Q is not a real office, but rather a PR stunt pulled by the Superintendent to keep the public happy. But DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) stumbles upon a case where his unique skillset might actually come in handy.
Armed with an improvised team (Alexej Manvelov’s Akram and Leah Byrne’s DC Rose Dickson) and plenty of sarcasm, our trio sets off to solve the disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie) – a case that dates back to seven years prior. But will our heroes uncover the truth? And will it consume Carl’s life in the process? From The Queen’s Gambit‘s Scott Frank and featuring incredible performances from the whole cast, this superbly written, immensely binge-worthy crime thriller will become your next guilty pleasure. (Serena Seghedoni)
8. Dexter: Resurrection
Showrunner: Clyde Phillips
Where to watch: Paramount+ with Showtime
Finally, our favorite vigilante serial killer with a penchant for dark brilliance re-emerges in the long-awaited proper sequel Dexter: Resurrection. It was so devilishly delicious and nostalgic that a second season has officially been announced and is under way.
Dexter: Resurrection picks up where New Blood left off and Original Sin began, with Dexter dying in the snow from a shotgun blast to the chest, courtesy Harrison (Jack Alcott), who then disappears. After awakening from a coma and the near-death experience, with cleared senses, Dexter sets out to New York to find his son. While there, Dexter’s past catches up with him, he and his Dark Passenger undergo a key transformation, and he finds himself a guest at a MurderCon of sorts, where a whole new future of mouth-watering vigilante opportunity is laid at his feet. But that’s not all—Harrison’s Dark Passenger emerges too.
This worthy sequel series drops us right in the middle of a bloody good time and gradually constructs a cinematic universe like Marvel and DC, except here, the universe is full of serial killers and Dark Passengers instead of superheroes and sidekicks. It features sharper writing (if you can believe that), deeper emotional stakes, timely commentary, and magnetic performances—not to mention a strong supporting cast that includes Uma Thurman, Peter Dinklage, Neil Patrick Harris, James Remar, Krysten Ritter, and Eric Stonestreet.(Keeley Brooks)
9. King of the Hill Season 14
Showrunner: Saladin K. Patterson
Where to watch: Hulu
As someone who grew up watching Beavis and Butt-head on MTV (RIP), I was a pretty easy sell on Mike Judge’s show King of the Hill when it debuted in 1997. When there were stirrings that the show was coming back, I rewatched, and the early seasons held up remarkably well, but I was concerned that the return might not work. Despite a 17-year hiatus, season 14 of the series didn’t lose a step and amplified some of its best aspects.
What makes the season work is that the writers never allow the show to stray from its roots. Time did pass from when the show ended in 2008, but the characters have remained true to form. Hank Hill (voiced by Judge) is conservative, but never cruel. He loves his wife Peggy (Kathy Najimy), his son Bobby (Pamela Adlon), Texas, and propane. His time in Saudi Arabia did not change Hank (though his love of football has expanded to a more international understanding), but exploring what retirement looks like for a man who doesn’t like change is fun. The storylines following Bobby’s new restaurant and relationship with Connie Souphanousinphone (Lauren Tom) are clever and sweet.
A sharp eye on broad social issues while maintaining a kind center was what worked for King of the Hill in 1997, and it still works in 2025. (Alise Chaffins)
10. Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Showrunners: Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan
Where to watch: Netflix
“What? You’re the one who can’t look away,” says a cross-dressing Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein in the third installment of Netflix’s Monster series, and he’s right: we can’t, even if we are squirming and peering through our fingers. Why? Because of Hunnam’s shockingly nuanced performance, which evokes an unexpected level of sympathy from viewers and might be his best to date since Sons of Anarchy.
Monster: The Ed Gein Story chronicles the body-snatching necrophiliac’s life from his extremely abusive, isolated, controlled childhood right up to his arrest. He robbed fresh graves of middle-aged women who resembled his dead mother, then fashioned their remains into macabre keepsakes, like furniture, lamp shades, kitchen items—even a “woman suit” made from human skin, which he sometimes wore.
Gein had a profound impact not just on the criminal psychology field but also on popular culture, serving as the impetus for the hit films Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs and their horrifying antagonists. Monster: The Ed Gein Story was one of my favorite—and one of the grossest—series of the year. From its aesthetics and atmosphere to its effects, cinematography, and jolting performances from Hunnam and Laurie Metcalf, The Ed Gein Story is a whole package begging the exploration of nature vs. nurture. (Keeley Brooks)
11. The Pitt
Showrunner: R. Scott Gemmill
Where to watch: HBO Max
Medical dramas often get a bad reputation for their repetitive storylines or drawn-out time on air, but The Pitt finally proved that hospitals can be just as exciting as historical battlegrounds or fantasy landscapes. Noah Wyle leads an exceptional cast in this propulsive drama, following a group of surgeons and junior doctors over the course of twenty four hours at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The show’s unique structure sees each episode occupy one hour in this hectic day, with characters coming and going as their shifts intersect in the chaos of the emergency room.
The Pitt blends the episodic storytelling of medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy with rich, thematic character work that gives the entire season a clear purpose and allows the audience to really connect with these figures as the tension rises and the stakes grow larger and larger. Wyle’s lead performance is the driving force of the show; the way his protagonist develops and changes over these twenty four hours gives The Pitt a steady momentum that keeps viewers coming back for more.
The show is an exercise in immersive storytelling; as these doctors grow increasingly weary and the patients storylines methodically develop from episode to episode, viewers won’t even notice how much they’ve been sucked into this world until the final episodes turn the heat up for an explosive and unforgettable finale. (Jack Walters)
12. Severance Season 2
Showrunners: Dan Erickson and Mark Friedman
Director and executive producer: Ben Stiller
Where to watch: Apple TV
In 2022, audiences were introduced to the wonderfully weird and eerily cold world of Severance. After a wild cliffhanger closing out season one, fans were desperate to devour every second of the show’s highly anticipated second season. However, in true Severance fashion, the ending of season two was just as brutally open-ended as season one, leaving its fans even more ravenous for what is to come next for our cherished Innies and Outties. While only slightly infuriating from a fan’s standpoint, its ability to continuously outdo its best episodes and deepen the show’s greatest mysteries is why Severance stands as one of 2025’s best shows.
Where season one introduced us to a plethora of mysterious and important theories surrounding the inner workings of this strange world, season two dives deeper to present questions of morality, crisis of consciousness and contemplations of identity. Its richer material allows for both its core and supporting cast to effortlessly shine and deliver several of the best television performances of the year.
Dan Erickson’s simple idea of creating a show revolving around the monotonous and drab 9-to-5 work life has forever changed the course of television. Paired with Ben Stiller’s revolutionary vision for this story, the show is unlike anything we’ve seen on screens before. It balances compelling characters, effortless tonal shifts, meticulous attention to detail and perplexing mystique with utter ease. With one of the strongest casts and creative teams backing this mammoth of a cultural phenomenon, it’s no wonder that its second season is one of the most-watched streaming shows of 2025.(Hayley Croke)
13. The Studio
Showrunners: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez
Where to watch: Apple TV
It’s been a long time since a comedy made me laugh as hard as The Studio. The series centers on Matt Remick (Seth Rogen), who has recently been named head of Continental Studios and tries to find ways to make quality films while also appeasing his aging boss, Griffin Mill (Bryan Cranston), and the board who only care about making money. What makes this series work is that it never takes itself too seriously. The film industry can be a funny place and Rogen and his fellow creators crank that up to eleven. It’s not supposed to be an accurate portrait, but it winds up giving audiences just enough of a peak behind the curtain.
You’ll find yourself rooting for Matt and his band of misfits as they live out their dream job of making movies and have you dying laughing along the way. Not only is this ensemble great, but you never know what celebrity will show up next. Martin Scorsese’s cameo is probably the funniest thing that the legendary director has ever done and this show has so much more like that in store. There’s also just something so charming about Matt even though Seth Rogen isn’t doing too much different acting wise. If you love movies and Hollywood, this is the show for you. (Branyan Towe)
The Best TV Shows of 2025: 10 Honorable Mentions
Dying for Sex, Fallout S2, I Love LA, The Last Of Us S2, MobLand, The Rehearsal S2 , Slow Horses S5, Task, The White Lotus S3, Zero Day
More 2025 Series Worth Watching
The Beast in Me, Black Mirror S7, Common Side Effects, The Death of Bunny Munro, Down Cemetery Road, Happy Face, The Morning Show S4, Number One on the Call Sheet, Overcompensating, Too Much
Read Also:
- Best Films of 2025: Our Individual Top 10 Lists
- Top 10 Best Original Scores of 2025, Ranked
- 7 Best Horror Performances of 2025
- Top 10 Underseen Movies of 2025
- The 100 Best Films of All Time (According to Us)
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