THE BEST OF 2025 - The Best TV Of The Year

 

THE BEST OF 2025 - The Best TV Shows of The Year

- Sometimes, you've got to admit ... the old ways were better. There's a lot that feels sort of broken about TV as we close out 2025. Despite industry contraction, it still feels like too many series are lost amidst a glut of too-much-content. No one knows where to find anything, when things premiere, or what's worth actually devoting time to. The lack of a shared culture means that everyone stays in their own little internet and social media bubble, with all but the most devoted pop-culture consumers (i.e. me) hopelessly lost when it comes to finding the good stuff.

 

Perhaps that's why Pluribus felt so welcome this year. At least in part. Here was a new series from one of the most reliable TV creators of the last 30 years in Vince Gilligan. It was airing one new episode per week, as the TV gods intended. And its pacing felt truly episodic - each episode a contained story while also being part of a larger whole. And yet, people still seem to be struggling to grasp things here. Despite Apple TV+ becoming an HBO for the age of streaming (more so than HBO itself) - consistently home to the highest quality TV - a lot of people have yet to take the plunge on the service, because Netflix has become such a monolithic entity. And despite the show's pacing feeling like a balm for anyone who lived through the golden age of Peak Prestige TV, social media is rife with complaints of the show being "too slow." I sense this is a result of shrinking attention spans in the age of YouTube, TikTok, and certain not-to-be-named series that are produced so they can be easily watched while multitasking. 

 

Now, don't get me wrong - there's still plenty of great TV out there, more than any one person (even me!) could possibly watch. There are many series that come highly recommended that I've yet to carve out time for (ex: Death By Lightning, Slow Horses, etc.). But Pluribus was unique in that it was one of the few 2025 series that felt less like a "I might want to watch that" series, and more like an "I *need* to watch that series." Maybe it was the lack of any new episodes of stalwarts like House of the Dragon, Interview With the Vampire, and other delayed shows. Maybe it was the void that dearly departed series like What We Do In the Shadows have left us. Maybe it was that general sense of same-ness that a lot of the big shows have lately. Or maybe it was that certain tentpoles have just sort of worn out their welcome over time. But 2025 did, I think, feel a bit lacking in terms of absolute must-see barn-burners.

 

Of course, there are a lot of big picture issues at play in the TV industry that are worth keeping an eye on. The fate of numerous streamers and cable nets is tied to how things play out in the proposed WB-Netflix deal (with Paramount still potentially looking to play spoiler). But even aside from mergers, something will likely have to give when it comes to all these streamers - as the current volume may prove unsustainable, especially in an increasingly uncertain economy. We're also still in a place where series are delivering fewer episodes, even as the overall number of scripted series declines. This creates a very challenged environment for writers and others who perhaps once thought of TV as the steadiest career in entertainment. And while the conditions that helped prompt the most recent writer's strike haven't improved all that materially, there also remains the looming threat of AI - which just won't go away, despite consumers and viewers largely not seeming all that interested. Of course, another existential question is whether younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha viewers even care about TV anymore. I mean, how can traditional TV, that demands your full attention for 30-60 minutes at a time (gasp!) compete with the allure of algorithmically-driven YouTube and TikTok brain-rot? 

 

I don't know. But what I do know is this: in 2025, that rush of excitement I felt as I looked forward to each new weekly episode of Pluribus? You can't beat that. Same goes for the frantic messages with friends as I watched each new episode of The Rehearsal. Or as the internet lost its collective mind for the evil eyeball monster on Alien: Earth. TV, at its best, is really awesome. And I was happy and grateful for the awesome moments it gave us in 2025.  

DANNY'S TOP TV SHOWS OF 2025:


1. PLURIBUS

-  In Vince Gilligan and team do we trust. From the minds behind Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (aka arguably the two greatest TV series of the last twenty years), comes Pluribus - another absorbing, darkly-comedic saga that, in its first season, shows early signs that it, too, could end up as one of the greats. Pluribus blends elements of the aforementioned series with the truth-is-out-there sci-fi of another show that Gilligan worked on: The X-Files. But while the series has its share of mysteries, the real meat here is its characters, and the big-picture questions the show poses about what makes us human. Rhea Seehorn once again crushes it in the lead role, and the show has also quickly made me a huge fan of Karolina Wydra - who really gets to shine in S1's final few eps. Above all, Pluribus has that tangible love for good, old-fashioned *storytelling* that Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul also shared. This is a great yarn, and there's no TV I'm anticipating more than S2 of this show - because the seeds for great stories to come have been so expertly planted. If you're missing that old Peak TV feeling, Pluribus will cure what ails ya'.

2. THE REHEARSAL

-  Somehow, over the course of the last fifteen years or so, the televised journey of Nathan Fielder has become one of the craziest, funniest, and most jaw-dropping sagas we've ever seen play out on our screens. And that's the secret ingredient that makes all of Fielder's TV shows so incredible: at the end of the day, they're all about exploring his hang-ups, his issues, and his insecurities ... in the most darkly hilarious way possible. So yeah, The Rehearsal S2 was ostensibly about Nathan researching ways to make commercial aviation safer. But that was really just an excuse to delve into the deepest, darkest, weirdest parts of Nathan's one-of-a-kind, possibly-an-evil-genius brain. The result was a show like no other, one that left my jaw on the floor on multiple occasions. The Sully episode alone - I mean, holy lord. Iconic.

3. THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES

- Speaking of comedic geniuses ... in 2025 we bade farewell to one of the great comedies of the last several years in The Righteous Gemstones. In doing so, we also wrapped up a trilogy of all-time great TV comedies from Danny McBride, David Gordon Green, and Jody Hill (see also: Eastbound & Down, Vice Principals). The Righteous Gemstones was consistently funny as #%&# while also serving as a ruthless satire of big religion in America. And yet ... one of the keys here was that the Gemstones were never outright villains. As outlandish (and often despicable) as they were, they were multifaceted characters who you couldn't help but root for. This was helped by an all-timer cast of great comic actors, and some of the sharpest and funniest writing around. Let's hope that McBride/Green/Hill have something new up their sleeve for us soon.

4. THE LOWDOWN

-  The Lowdown had me at "hello." I mean, it was the new show from Reservation Dogs creator Sterlin Harjo. It had an absolutely stacked cast that included several of my all-time favorite actors - including Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan, Keith David, Tim Blake Nelson, Tracy Letts, and Peter Dinklage (plus Star Wars: Skeleton Crew standout Ryan Kiera Armstrong). It's a shaggy, noir-tinged mystery, that reminded me a bit of sorely-missed FX series Terriers and a bit of The Big Lebowski. Ethan Hawke did some of his best work ever here in the lead role. And the writing was sharp as a tack - with a spot-on mix of humor and darkness and an ongoing mystery that got me excited for each new episode. Please tell me this is coming back for a second season.

5. SQUID GAME

-  S2 of Squid Game released at the very end of 2024, but I kept considering retroactively adding it last year's list. But between the S2 eps from late last year and the S3 eps that dropped later in 2025, I was totally onboard with the follow-up to the show's masterful first season. I guess not everyone shared my enthusiasm? Well, screw 'em. The finale of Squid Game absolutely rocked, in my opinion. There were great character arcs, huge twists, edge-of-your-seat moments, and some of the most compelling television episodes I've ever seen. And hey, credit to Lee Jung-jae for an iconic lead performance, and to the great Lee Byung-hun as the villainous Frontman. 

6. THE WHITE LOTUS

-  People love to pick apart each new season of The White Lotus - but for my money, no one writes great characters and the conversations they share better than Mike White. I mean, did any other season of TV in 2025 produce more instantly-iconic quotes? White slowly but surely built up S3's momentum to a boiling point, giving us perhaps the most memorable cast of characters we've yet seen on the show. The season was filled with memorable performances from some of our best actors - from Walton Goggins to Parker Posey to Carrie Coon. And over time, the mystery of who our murderer would be and who would get murdered become perhaps the series' best potboiler yet. 

7. KING OF THE HILL

-  I was certainly skeptical when I heard that King of the Hill, the long-running animated 90's/00's series, was coming back in 2025. KoTH is one of my all-time personal favorites, but it seemed like a tough sell for the current era. Happy to be wrong on this one. Mike Judge and team made the brilliant decision to fully acknowledge both the passage of time and the ways in which the world has changed since the show went off the air in 2010. This made for some unexpectedly heartfelt storytelling, as we got to see the relationship between Hank and his now college-age son Bobby really evolve and take on new dimension. And we got to see how Hank's down-home brand of conservatism contrasted with the extremes of the Trump era. It all made for some top-notch TV, and this became one of the best and happiest surprises of 2025.

8. ADOLESCENCE

-  This Netflix miniseries was an absolute tour-de-force. Knowing little about it going in, I was immediately gripped by the central mystery - centered around a middle-school aged boy in the UK who may or may not have murdered his female classmate. But ultimately, the show is less of a mystery and more of a wrenching examination of how toxic masculinity influencers and "men's rights" movements have infected even younger kids - and created a dangerous, volatile environment in schools and a nightmare for parents. The acting here was phenomenal, as was the filmmaking. A total must-watch.

9. POKER FACE

-  I know there were some mixed reviews out there for S2 of Poker Face, but I really, really enjoyed the show's sophomore season (and was incredibly bummed to learn that it seems unlikely to return). Natasha Lyonne continues to be a delight in the lead role here, and so many S2 episodes featured incredible guest star turns - from the likes of Cynthia Erivo, John Mulaney, John Cho, and more. And the show continued to do mysteries better than anyone - with incredibly clever setups and satisfying payoffs and plenty of twists along the way. 

10. THE GREAT NORTH

-  I was heartbroken to hear the news that The Great North got canceled. It felt like the kind of show that could have gone on ad infinitum, because the engine that powered this amazing animated comedy was so strong. But at least we got five seasons of hilarity and heart from this perpetually underrated series. Five seasons of insanely lovable characters, imaginative plots, hilarious jokes, best-in-the-biz voice acting, and a warm look at cold-but-cozy life in Alaska. The Tobin family, to me, is up there with The Simpsons, The Hills, and other iconic animated families. Man, I am going to miss The Great North.

 

The Next Best:


11. THE HANDMAID'S TALE

-  It's amazing to look back at the run of The Handmaid's Tale, and see how things in real-life America, over that several-year-span, slowly and horrifyingly became closer and closer to the fictional world of Gilead. It made watching the final season of the show difficult, at times, because it hit so, so close to home. But the final season ultimately delivered a slam-bang, emotionally-wrenching, satisfying conclusion to the show's epic saga of revolution and revolt. Filled with amazing acting, big moments, and a desperate and resonant warning for all of us here in America.

 

 

12. ANDOR

- I will be somewhat contrarian, perhaps, and say that S2 of Andor didn't quite land for me in the same way as S1. But even so, there was a lot to like here, and this was another show that felt urgent and resonant and timely. Andor leaned in heavily to the politics of the Star Wars universe, creating a lot of poignant parallels with our own real-world situation. But it also featured some amazing drama and gripping action - and several fantastic turns from the likes of Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, and more.

 

 

13. THE STUDIO

- This Apple TV satire of the entertainment industry offered some of the most awkwardly funny cringe-humor this side of Curb Your Enthusiasm. At times, for me, it hit a bit too close to home. And yet, I was ultimately won over by the show, which had a pretty amazing comedic energy and a real sense of style to its filmmaking as well. Seth Rogen and co. really nail a lot about what makes the entertainment industry so maddening and yet so obsession-inducing.

 

14. ALIEN: EARTH

- As a big fan of the Alien franchise, I couldn't wait to see how TV auteur Noah Hawley handled a serialized TV take on this beloved sci-fi IP. And while there were some things that didn't 100% work for me here, overall I really enjoyed the way that Hawley and team captured the aesthetic and vibes of the original Ridley Scott film - while also boldly taking the franchise into uncharted territory. I mean, this show had everything: Xenomorphs, Timothy Olyphant as a badass android, and a gnarly alien eyeball monster. 

15. BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD

-  We all needed a good laugh in 2025, and once again, one of my favorite 90's series brought the hilarity here in 2025. Yep, Mike Judge is the king of the reboots. Because his revived Beavis & Butthead series is as stupidly funny as ever, if not even more so. Few things made me laugh harder this year - whether it was the continued adventures of B&B as teens, or their equally-funny exploits as even more pathetic middle-aged losers. 

16. INVINCIBLE 

 

- Invincible continued to impress with its latest season. I love that the show is so faithful to the original comic book series - particularly when it comes to tone. The series perfectly captures creator Robert Kirkman's unique voice, which is what makes Invincible such a unique blend of epic superhero soap opera and quirky comic book satire. 

 

 

17. BIG MOUTH 

-  Another favorite series that ended in 2025! Make it stop! Big Mouth, Netflix's crude, warts-and-all animated comedy about puberty, closed out its run with a really funny and entertaining final season (its 8th - in Netflix years that's like 17!). The show finally aged up its characters a bit and shook up the status quo, often to very funny comedic effect. And once again, some of the biggest laughs I had in 2025 were as a result of some of Lola's insane lines (as voiced by Nick Kroll).

18. SEVERANCE 

 

- Severance can be sort of an up-and-down show for me, and I thought S2 had some high highs and some, uh, less high lows. But I still greatly admire it for its audacity and ambition, and even though its sci-fi premise can sometimes stretch credibility for me, the show is filled with so many fantastic performances that it's easy to overlook. I mean, Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, and so many more ... they all truly deliver and make this show the powerhouse that it is.

 

 

19. THE CHAIR COMPANY

-  Tim Robinson's new foray into scripted, serialized TV was a one-of-a-kind journey down one really insane, oftentimes hilarious rabbit hole. Fairly early on in S1, it became clear that the central mystery was somewhat beside the point. Mostly, The Chair Company was simply a vehicle for Robinson's patented absurdist humor. Although here, that humor was paired with a dark, at times almost Lynch-ian craziness. It mostly worked like gangbusters, and produced some of the year's most memorable and funny TV moments.

 

20. THE PAPER

- As with many of the great sitcoms, I think The Paper went through some growing pains in its first season - solidifying its characters, ironing out its comedic rhythms, figuring out the engine that powers the show. But man, there was so much raw potential here, and so much goodness already on display. The show is technically a spin-off of The Office - but the vibes feel more like Parks & Rec - a goofily optimistic show about bringing a diverse group of people together to do good work.

 

21. THE LAST OF US

 

- The Last of Us S2 was, like S1, incredibly gripping and compelling. It was in a tough position though, because the second game in the series doesn't exactly lend itself to easy adaptation for television - and you could tell that the show was struggling a bit to figure out how best to incorporate the game's parallel storylines. But again, the show delivered some excellent episodes, and I remain very curious as to how the rest of the game is adapted from here. 

22. BLACK MIRROR

 

-  Black Mirror is one of my favorite series of all time, and I ranked it as the #2 TV show of the entire decade back in 2019. So it does feel weird to rank the latest season at only the #22 spot on this year's list. But I did feel like S7 of the storied series was a decidedly mixed bag. I thought the season opener, "Common People," was a masterpiece. But other eps didn't quite work for me in the same way. Still, when this show is at its best, there's nothing else like it - and I will continue to look forward to new seasons, as long as Charlie Brooker wants to make them. 

 

23. ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING

-  Only Murders in the Building has been one of the most consistently great shows on TV for the last few years. And I still love it. But S5 did feel like a slight drop from the other seasons. It just didn't feel quite as sharp as I've come to expect. Still, the one-of-a-kind chemistry between the three leads (Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez) remained as great as ever, the show still made me laugh quite a bit, and the overall comfort-food vibes were still very much there. 

24. THE BEAR

-  I liked The Bear S4 more than S3. And while the show could still, at times, get mired in draggy emo-ness, S4 once again, overall, had the sort of charm and likability and momentum and sharpness that made this show a favorite early on. The ensemble cast, too, is still among the best in the biz - and always does amazing work. It was good to have this show back in fighting form in 2025.

25. MURDERBOT

 

-  Murderbot was a really fun surprise in 2025, and the show feels like it has a ton of potential to get better and sharper in future seasons. The sci-fi premise - centered around a corporate security robot who re-programs himself and, for the first time, has free will - is a ton of fun. And the central performance from Alexander Skarsgård, as said robot, is one of my favorites of the year. This show was the darkly funny sci-fi satire I needed in 2025.

 

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:


The Best TV Heroes of 2025:

1.) Cassian Andor - Andor
2.) Seong Gi-hun - Squid Game
3.) Cho Hyun-ju - Squid Game

4.) Lee Raybon - The Lowdown
5.) June Osbourne - The Handmaid's Tale

 

The Best TV Villains of 2024:

1.) The Front Man - Squid Game

2.) High Commander Wharton - The Handmaid's Tale

3.) Donald Washberg - The Lowdown
4.) Aunt Lydia - The Handmaid's Tale
5.) Boy Kavalier - Alien: Earth

 

 

The Best TV Anti-Heroes of 2024:

 

1.) Charlie Cale - Poker Face

2.) Wendy - Alien: Earth

3.) Kirsh - Alien: Earth
4.) Murderbot - Murderbot
5.) Ellie - The Last of Us