As we turn our sights to 2026, it’s still important to look back at what a great year 2025 ended up being in terms of television. While there was a lot of focus on long-awaited returns of shows like The Last of Us, Wednesday, Stranger Things, and Daredevil, plenty of other titles also garnered the “must-watch TV” label.
Interestingly, 2025 was dominated by offbeat comedies, at least when it comes to the small screen. As streaming continues to take over the television landscape, there’s never a shortage of shows to watch, but the programming options can be overwhelming. So, with input from various Screen Rant editors and writers, I put together our list of the 10 best shows from 2025. Before we dive into the ranking, here are some honorable mentions that didn’t make the cut:
Title
Network
Notable Cast
The Lowdown
FX
Ethan Hawke, Keith David, Kyle MacLachlan, Tim Blake Nelson, Peter Dinklage
The White Lotus (season 3)
HBO
Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, Jason Isaacs, Aimee Lou Wood, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Parker Posey, Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, Sam Rockwell
Alien: Earth
FX/Hulu
Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Alex Lawther, Babou Ceesay, Samuel Blenkin, David Rysdahl
Task
HBO
Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, Fabien Frankel, Martha Plimpton
Hacks
HBO Max
Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Megan Stalter, Paul W. Downs
10
The Chair Company (HBO)
Ron looking distressed on the phone in The Chair Company
The Chair Company is not your average Tim Robinson comedy. Then again, Robinson’s comedies aren’t usually average or normal, which is a good thing. Co-created by Zach Kanin, who also developed I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, The Chair Company stars Robinson as Ron Trosper, a project manager who becomes engrossed in a conspiracy surrounding a chair manufacturer following an embarrassing incident.
While labeled a “cringe comedy,” HBO’s The Chair Company also effectively embraces a genre mashup of sorts, leaning into thriller and horror elements. As odd as that sounds, it remarkably works for the bizarre, dark conspiracy story that highlights Robinson’s best performance to date. After The Chair Company’s perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, it was a no-brainer for HBO to renew the show for a second season.
9
Dying For Sex (FX/Hulu)
Two characters from Dying for Sex
Despite attaining rave reviews, Dying for Sex largely went under the radar when it was released in April 2025. Perhaps it was because all episodes dropped at once, but either way, the comedy drama is a standout in a year full of unconventional comedies. Loosely based on a true story, Dying for Sex follows a woman named Molly, who ditches her husband to explore her sex life after finding out that she has terminal cancer.
Michelle Williams’ performance as Molly is a major factor in Dying for Sex’s critical acclaim. The same can be said for Jenny Slate’s role as the best friend, Nikki, who helps Molly on this beautiful journey of self-discovery. The show is emotional and liberating, though it might not be for everyone, considering the tough subject matter. Still, Dying for Sex deserves more attention for its unapologetic take on relationships and mortality.
8
Heated Rivalry (HBO Max)
For anyone who pays attention to the world of TV, you’ve probably heard about Heated Rivalry. That said, this isn’t just some romance series gaining immense popularity for its steamy scenes and discussion-worthy plot; Heated Rivalry is actually good, and it certainly deserves a spot on this year’s best TV shows of 2025 list. To add, Heated Rivalry even has one of IMDb’s top-rated episodes in history, but the show as a whole is an absolute winner.
Based on Rachel Reid’s book series, Heated Rivalry centers on the secret romance between professional hockey players, Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), who just so happen to play for rival teams. Aside from the performances of Williams and Storrie, the fact that Heated Rivalry’s timeline takes place over multiple years gives the story an opportunity to examine the complexities of the queer romance in focus, as well as the characters’ ambitious hockey careers.
7
The Studio (Apple TV)
Matt on stage at CinemaCon in The Studio season 1 finale
Like The Chair Company, Apple TV’s The Studio serves as a cringe comedy where the main characters have a tendency to make awkward situations even worse. In this case, The Studio works just a tad better than The Chair Company because of the stellar cast and cameos throughout the first season. Seth Rogen, who also co-created the comedy, stars as Matt Remick, the new head of a major Hollywood movie studio.
What ensues after Matt’s takeover is a series of wildly hilarious events as he tries to prioritize quality film projects in an industry that has become increasingly interested in cookie-cutter formulaic projects and notable IP. The Studio’s supporting cast of Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and Kathryn Hahn all bring something different as part of Matt’s team. However, it might be Bryan Cranston and Martin Scorsese’s roles that truly steal the show.
6
Pluribus (Apple TV)
Vince Gilligan is behind some of the best TV shows ever made, so it made sense that his new sci-fi show for Apple TV became one of the most anticipated releases of 2025. Thankfully, Pluribus delivered. Led by Better Call Saul vet Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus follows Carol Sturka, one of just 13 people throughout the world who are immune to an alien virus that forced its victims into a hive mind. It then falls to Carol to navigate this new world and find a way to reverse the virus’ effects on humanity.
Pluribus is the ultimate slow-burn, but in the sci-fi series’ case, that’s not at all a bad thing. The original story is enthralling, so the lack of immediate payoffs isn’t needed to follow Carol’s journey. Granted, a lot of that comes down to Seehorn’s performance, seeing as Pluribus finally gives the actress a chance to shine as the lead after serving as Better Call Saul’s best supporting character. Apple TV must have known it had a hit in its hands since Pluribus season 2 was greenlit before the show premiered.
5
The Rehearsal (HBO)
Three years after the show debuted on HBO, The Rehearsal season 2 finally arrived in April 2025. To say it was worth the wait might be an understatement. Nathan Fielder’s documentary/comedy, in which Fielder portrays a fictionalized version of himself, overseeing “rehearsals,” or staged scenarios to help people prepare for major moments in life by going through all the possible variables. Describing it never does the show justice because it’s something you’d need to see to truly understand.
In The Rehearsal season 2, Fielder notably tackles aviation, more specifically, the FAA’s training and safety protocols. At times, the series is absurd, but it all culminates in season 2’s unforgettable season 2 finale that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. There’s no questioning The Rehearsal’s near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score and its various award nominations. Even if we have to wait years again, here’s hoping that HBO gives Nathan Fielder another season to blow our minds.
4
Adolescence (Netflix)
Owen Cooper as Jamie looking scared in Adolescence
Adolescence might have been short, but it sure packed a punch. The lone Netflix title on the list, Adolescence, quietly released in March 2025 before becoming the most-talked-about show seemingly overnight. Set in the UK, the crime drama focuses on a 13-year-old boy named Jamie who is accused of murdering his female classmate. While crime is at the center of Adolescence, the series also presents critical and timely commentary on important subjects, such as cyberbullying, violence against women, and online radicalization.
Much of the praise goes to Stephen Graham, who co-created the series and stars as Jamie’s father. However, the true standout of Adolescence is Owen Cooper and his portrayal as Jamie, especially since the Netflix series serves as the actor’s first professional role. The show’s writing, direction, and cinematography also can’t go unnoticed, providing even more reasons why the limited series is a can’t-miss of 2025. Adolescence also won eight Emmy Awards and will look to add more accolades as we head into 2026’s awards season.
3
Severance (Apple TV)
Adam Scott as Mark coming out of a small door in SeveranceJon Pack /©Apple TV+ / Courtesy Everett Collection
It has already been established that Apple TV dominates the sci-fi genre, and much of that comes down to Severance. After nearly three long years, Severance returned for season 2 in January 2025, and it’s safe to say the series didn’t lose its allure. In fact, Severance season 2 finds ways to add emotional layers to its mind-bending premise by diving deeper into Lumon Industries’ dark secrets and what’s really going on with the MDR department, particularly Adam Scott’s Mark.
Though Scott is a leading figure, there are no weak links within Severance season 2’s cast. Each and every figure carries an intriguing aspect of the overall story, whether it’s Miss Huang’s role as the Deputy Manager or Mr. Milchick’s attempt at authority after replacing Harmony Cobel. Even Mark’s sister, Devon, gets an expanded role as it relates to the big mystery surrounding Mark’s wife. Severance season 3 can’t come soon enough.
2
The Pitt (HBO Max)
Noah Wyle and the Cast of The Pitt in Season 1
Medical dramas aren’t new, but it’s rare for a procedural series on streaming to gain such an impressive fan following through positive buzz and word-of-mouth. Perhaps The Pitt’s release format paved the way for its own streaming domination to start 2025. HBO Max went with a weekly release, giving the show a chance to build momentum. Whatever the case, The Pitt found a way to utilize an ensemble cast for a fresh perspective on a hospital-set drama.
Set in a Pittsburgh ER, The Pitt follows a 15-hour shift led by attending physician Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle), with each episode focusing on an hour within the harrowing shift. The fact that The Pitt season 1 features 15 episodes is impressive enough, but each one is pulse-pounding, and yet the fast pacing still allows for interesting character-driven subplots woven throughout. It’s brilliant TV, and it deserves even more praise for the fact that The Pitt season 2 is already arriving on January 8, 2026.
1
Andor (Disney+)
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Disney+’s Andor.
Rogue One is still one of the best Star Wars movies in history, so it was no surprise that its TV show prequel, Andor, featured that same level of quality storytelling. It’s even more astonishing that Andor season 2 stuck the landing, providing a satisfying conclusion to this chapter of the Rebel Alliance’s efforts against the Empire while subsequently setting up the events of Rogue One and A New Hope. What’s more, viewers don’t even need to be Star Wars fans to be drawn into the tale of resistance and the costs of freedom.
Andor season 2’s theme of empathy is not limited to the show’s heroes, like Diego Luna’s titular character Cassian Andor or Adria Arjona’s Bix. The second season meticulously pulls back the layers of Andor’s villains, not to justify their actions, but to give a better understanding of each character’s journey. While the characters and performances are the heart of Andor season 2, it wouldn’t be a Star Wars show without stunning visuals, action sequences, and costume design. Taking into account all of Andor season 2’s achievements, we can confidently say it’s the best show of 2025.