The 20 Must-Watch TV Shows of 2025: A Year of Bold Storytelling and Viral Hits
- Joao Nsita
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
Introduction
Was 2025 a vintage year for television? In short: absolutely. It was a year where the small screen felt bigger than ever, delivering dramas that sparked parliamentary debates, comedies that redefined cringe, and reality shows that had the entire internet playing detective. We saw the return of titans like Severance and The White Lotus, alongside groundbreaking new series that pushed the boundaries of the medium.
From the "Cozy Crime" aesthetic taking over Pinterest to the "One-Take Drama" challenge trending on TikTok, TV this year wasn't just watched; it was lived. The cultural conversation was dominated by stories of resilience, duplicity, and the messy, beautiful complexity of being human. Whether you were doom-scrolling for Adolescence theories or curating a Riot Women punk playlist, 2025 offered a feast for every kind of viewer.
In this comprehensive guide, we are counting down the 20 absolute best shows of the year. These are the series that defined 2025, capturing our hearts, our minds, and our social media feeds.
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20. The White Lotus (Sky Atlantic / HBO)
Some online commentators took great pleasure in claiming that the third season of Mike White’s The White Lotus had dropped off in quality. Whether it was the anti-climactic theme music or the controversial incest plotline, this Thailand-set edition attracted a fair amount of snobbish murmuring. Much of that, I suspect, was contrarianism.
White once again delivered a vicious satire of the super-rich, using their vanity and insecurity to supercharge the multilayered plot. Assembling some of the best talent on TV – Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, and Jason Isaacs were the highlights this time – White has created a replicable formula that isn’t showing any signs of diminishing returns. It remains the gold standard for "Eat the Rich" television, perfectly capturing the ennui of luxury travel that dominated Pinterest boards this year.
19. The Four Seasons (Netflix)
Landing just as many millennials faced their own midlife crises, Tina Fey’s adaptation of Alan Alda’s 1981 film felt like a calming balm, a sort of ode to the ennui of existence. It follows three middle-aged couples through four seasonal getaways, their longstanding friendships tested when one marriage collapses.
From this set-up, Fey and co-writers Tracey Wigfield and Lang Fisher mine gentle laughs about mortality while allowing a wistful quality to permeate virtually every scene. The cast are all sublime: Steve Carell and Colman Domingo, especially, deliver performances of great warmth and nuance. This is a tender slow-burner that will surprise you, tapping into the "Slow Living" trend that has seen a 55% increase in Pinterest searches for comfort-focused content.
18. Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home (BBC One)
What was conceived as a 10-part documentation of the Osbournes’ move back to England turned into a deeply emotional and intimate memorial following Ozzy’s sudden death in July. Filming him over three years, the cameras capture not only the relocation to Buckinghamshire, in all the family’s characteristically chaotic glory, but also the lead-up to Ozzy’s farewell concert, 17 days before his death.
It’s a wonderful portrait of undying love, filtered through mortality’s lens and shot with a cinéma vérité style. It stands as one of our greatest rock icons' final bow, reminding us why the Osbournes were the original reality TV stars. The show sparked a wave of nostalgic tributes on TikTok, with users sharing clips of Ozzy's most iconic moments.
17. Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV+)
Before he became famed for the book series that gave us Slow Horses, novelist Mick Herron wrote Down Cemetery Road, about an Oxford private eye called Zoë Boehm. Here, in Morwenna Banks’s adaptation, she’s played brilliantly by a terse, spiky-haired Emma Thompson; Ruth Wilson is the art restorer who hires Zoë after a gas main explodes on her quiet street, blowing open a vast conspiracy.
The sense of paranoia metastasises deliciously, while the dialogue crackles with arch, Herronian humour. Another triumph for Apple TV+, this show fits perfectly into the "British Noir" trend that has captivated global audiences. For more gripping mysteries, check out our own audio dramas at That Love Podcast.
16. Severance (Apple TV+)
Apple’s stylish, enigmatic psycho-thriller returned this year, carrying a huge burden of expectation. At its worst, Severance is wilfully obscure – but at its best, there’s no show more satisfying. The plot is compelling, the depiction of human nature insightful, and, in the figures of Mark S (Adam Scott) and Helly R (Britt Lower), we have a pair of star-crossed lovers for the ages.
It might have left a frustrating number of questions unanswered, but Severance’s second season concluded with the sort of dazzling aplomb you’d expect. The "Innie vs. Outie" aesthetic continues to inspire corporate-core fashion trends on TikTok, proving its lasting cultural impact.
15. Once Upon a Time in Space (BBC Two)
Following on from acclaimed series looking at Iraq and Northern Ireland, the Once Upon a Time documentary franchise blasted off in a new direction with a look at the final frontier: space. Charting the space race from the Cold War to the present day, the show balanced the testimonies of astronauts with broader geopolitical themes.
There’s nothing random about the choice of subject: a rush to commercialise outer space has precipitated a new space race, this time being fought between oligarchs as well as nation states. Once Upon a Time in Space neatly demonstrated the smallness of the human ego when faced with the vastness of the cosmos, echoing the existential themes found in our Sci-Fi Audio Dramas.
14. Hacks (Sky Comedy / HBO)
No television double act is as hilariously toxic and co-dependent as veteran Vegas stand-up Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and her Gen Z joke-writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder). The pair returned this year in the fourth series of this brilliant generation-clash comedy.
The standard didn’t drop: betrayal, self-destruction, and mutual redemption were all woven into a patchwork that mixed pathos with zinging punchlines. Hacks tackles the culture wars with waspish wit and intelligence, making it perhaps the best comedy currently on TV. Its sharp critique of the entertainment industry resonated deeply with viewers, sparking discussions on "cancel culture" vs. accountability.
13. Amandaland (BBC One)
TV shows that spin off to follow a single character don’t have an especially rich history. But with Amandaland, the BBC did something rare: they took the antagonist of the acclaimed sitcom Motherland and made her the main character. Lucy Punch’s Amanda is a vain, insecure, and ultimately pathetic figure, given the chance to redeem herself after divorce leads her to Harlesden.
Punch’s performance – and that of Joanna Lumley as her mother – gives real pathos to Amanda’s myriad plights. Their comic timing remains impeccable, proving that even the most "unlikable" women can anchor a hit show. It’s a must-watch for fans of cringe comedy and redemption arcs.
12. What It Feels Like for a Girl (BBC Three)
In a year that has seen continued debates around trans rights, the success of What It Feels Like for a Girl was a significant cultural moment. This adaptation of Paris Lees’s memoir, featuring a star-making performance from Ellis Howard, was engaging, edgy, and, ultimately, empathetic.
Telling the story of a teenager, Byron, in Hucknall slowly coming to terms with their gender identity, the show meticulously avoided cliches. It was squirrelled away on BBC Three but deserved a wider audience. The show's honest portrayal of finding one's tribe resonated with the "Found Family" trope popular in YA fiction.
11. The Last Musician of Auschwitz (BBC Two)
On the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau came Toby Trackman’s remarkable documentary. Named in honour of 99-year-old cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, it deftly weaves her testimony with archive footage and extraordinary performances of music composed within the camp.
At its core lies a devastating paradox: how beauty can be created amid unspeakable horror. The music became indelibly tied to death and destruction, yet it also offered a sliver of survival. Emerging from Trackman’s unique film unmoved was impossible, reminding us of the enduring power of art in the darkest times.
10. The Celebrity Traitors (BBC One)
From the moment the BBC launched its Traitors format, a celebrity edition felt inevitable. That duly arrived in October, with an A-list cast (Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, Clare Balding) who played the game with zealous commitment.
All the same weaknesses of the format were present, but the magic of the roundtables was heroically retained. In Alan Carr, the show had one of its best-ever contestants, elevating the TV host to a genuine national treasure. The show dominated Twitter (X) and TikTok, with fans dissecting every wink and nod in real-time.
9. The Death of Bunny Munro (Sky Atlantic)
Based on Nick Cave’s 2009 novel, this is the sordid story of one man’s descent into hell. Matt Smith is exceptional as a travelling beauty salesman who takes his nine-year-old son on a depraved road trip following his wife's suicide.
As Bunny Junior, Rafael Mathé is Bafta-worthy, his performance encapsulating hope and a quiet melancholy. Directed by Isabella Eklöf with dream-like photography, it’s a modern-day parable finding a flickering light in humanity’s darkest corners. It’s tough but essential viewing for fans of gritty, psychological drama.
8. Here We Go (BBC One)
In many households, Tom Basden’s cheerfully hapless Robin has become an icon. Here We Go returned for a third season every bit as good as the previous instalments, offering meaty plotlines to Jim Howick’s police officer Paul and Alison Steadman’s rivetingly oblivious granny Sue.
Best of all, Here We Go is a cross-generational crowd-pleaser. It’s the sort of show made for binge-watching, briefly distracting teenagers from Fortnite and grandparents from Facebook. It captures the chaotic love of family life perfectly, a theme we celebrate in our family-focused blog posts.
7. The Chair Company (Sky Comedy / HBO)
Trust Tim Robinson to find comedy gold yet again in social discomfort. Following the success of I Think You Should Leave, The Chair Company is a hybrid comedy-thriller full of scattershot storytelling and hilarious slapstick.
Starting as a workplace comedy, the series gleefully metamorphoses into a conspiracy caper that fuses the banal and the bizarre. The result is funny, unnerving, and thrumming with low-key existential despair. It’s a surrealist masterpiece that generated some of the year's weirdest and best memes.
6. The Studio (Apple TV+)
Seth Rogen is flying dangerously close to over-exposure, but with The Studio, a superbly observed satire of Hollywood’s vapid entertainment industry, he has done his best work. As both lead actor and co-writer, Rogen has created the smartest workplace comedy since Veep.
The Studio is proof that not every sitcom needs to look cheap; it displays a craftsmanship that shows obvious reverence for the magic of cinema. It’s a frantic, hilarious look at the people who make the movies we love (and hate), perfect for anyone fascinated by the industry's inner workings.
5. Riot Women (BBC One)
From the mighty pen of Sally Wainwright came this rumbustious drama about a group of menopausal women who form a punk band. Sprinkled with humour across the light-and-dark spectrum, this story of friendship, resilience, and female rage is told with vim and poignancy.
Anchoring it all are tremendous performances, with Rosalie Craig positively volcanic and Joanna Scanlan as a woman on the brink. This is Wainwright at her best – and most personal. The show sparked a "Riot Gran" trend on TikTok, with older women sharing their own punk rock moments.
4. Dying for Sex (Disney+ / FX)
Who knew a show about a woman with terminal cancer embarking on a sexual odyssey could be so life-affirming? Based on a podcast, this series wrings pure joy from catastrophe. As Molly, whose mission to experience the perfect orgasm takes in mass orgies and dominatrix awakenings, Michelle Williams is sensational.
No less impressive are Jenny Slate as Molly’s best mate and Rob Delaney as her lovable neighbour. By the end of this sex-positive eight-parter, those hot, gulping sobs will have been earned. It challenges how we view illness and intimacy, a topic we explore in our relationship advice articles.
3. The Rehearsal (Sky Atlantic / HBO)
The Rehearsal is a show that needs to be seen to be believed. Nathan Fielder’s sophomore season takes his premise of staging elaborate rehearsals to solve the problem of aviation disasters. It opens with a harrowing montage and charges through episodes featuring a pilot singing competition and a recreation of an airport.
In the finale, Fielder delivers an immensely satisfying punchline to the series-long joke. Whether it’s comedy, documentary, or performance art, The Rehearsal is a masterpiece of modern television that defies categorization and demands your full attention.
2. Big Boys (Channel 4)
Jack Rooke’s coming-of-age sitcom about best friends Jack (Dylan Llewellyn) and Danny (Jon Pointing) concluded at the start of 2025. The show has been a quiet triumph, assembling devoted fans with its candid look at sexuality and its emphasis on compassion.
That the finale managed to be heartbreaking in its raw depiction of grief demonstrated that the very best comedies can achieve moments of extraordinary poignancy. It remains a benchmark for how to tell stories about male friendship and mental health with warmth and humor.
1. Adolescence (Netflix)
Taking the top spot is Adolescence, a British crime drama that redefined event television in 2025. Created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Philip Barantini, this four-part series is filmed in continuous one-shot takes, immersing viewers in a visceral, real-time nightmare.
The story follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller (a revelation in Owen Cooper), who is arrested for the murder of a classmate. What unfolds is not a whodunnit, but a harrowing "whydunnit," exploring the toxic influence of the online "manosphere" and the pressures facing modern teenage boys. It’s a technical marvel and an emotional sledgehammer.
Critics have called it a "masterclass in televisual storytelling" and a "searing viewing experience". It sparked nationwide conversations about knife crime, social media, and parenting. Adolescence isn't just the best show of 2025; it's a piece of television that demands to be witnessed.
Conclusion
2025 has been a year where television proved it can still be the most powerful medium for storytelling. From the technical audacity of Adolescence to the quiet intimacy of The Four Seasons, these 20 shows have offered us mirrors to our own lives, windows into others', and escape hatches when we needed them most.
As we look ahead to 2026, the bar has been set incredibly high. But if this list proves anything, it's that creators are more than up to the challenge. So, clear your weekend, grab the remote, and start bingeing.
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FAQs
1. What is the number one TV show of 2025? Adolescence on Netflix takes the top spot for its groundbreaking one-shot direction and powerful exploration of modern youth culture and crime.
2. Where can I watch Adolescence? You can stream all episodes of Adolescence exclusively on Netflix.
3. Is The White Lotus Season 3 worth watching? Absolutely. Despite some mixed initial reactions, it remains a sharp, visually stunning satire of wealth and privilege with an incredible cast.
4. Are there any good comedies from 2025? Yes! Hacks, The Studio, and Here We Go are fantastic options for laugh-out-loud entertainment.
5. What is the best new sci-fi show of 2025? Severance Season 2 continues to dominate the sci-fi conversation, though Once Upon a Time in Space offers a compelling non-fiction look at the genre's themes.
6. Is Dying for Sex sad? While it deals with terminal cancer, it is surprisingly life-affirming, funny, and joyful, focusing on living life to the fullest.
7. Can I watch The Rehearsal if I haven't seen Season 1? It is highly recommended to watch Season 1 first to understand Nathan Fielder’s unique style and the show's premise.
8. What shows are trending on TikTok in 2025? Shows like Adolescence, The Celebrity Traitors, and The White Lotus have generated massive engagement and trends on the platform.
9. Are there any good British dramas on this list? Yes, the UK had a strong year with Adolescence, Riot Women, Big Boys, and The Celebrity Traitors.
10. How can I find more recommendations like this? Visit our TV Recommendations blog for more curated lists and reviews.
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Call to Action: Ready for your next obsession? Stream these shows today! And for audio drama that rivals the best TV, listen to That Love Podcast on your favorite platform.
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