The Best TV of 2025 (So Far) — What to Watch Now

The year 2025 is proving to be a strong one for television. TV shows in the first half have already been pushing boundaries — taking risks, being emotionally bold, and giving us characters we care about. The article by Brian Tallerico and Clint Worthington argues that these 18 shows are the ones you need to see to understand where TV is heading. Why 2025’s TV Feels Fresh TV had been weighed down in recent years by too many shows, too many platforms, and not enough focus. But in 2025, something shifted. These new shows feel more intentional. They take chances. They don’t just try to be big — they try to be meaningful. Standout Shows You Shouldn’t Miss Here are the key series from the article — each one bringing something special this year: • Adolescence — A four-part miniseries shot almost entirely in one continuous take per hour. It studies how young men can be influenced by social media. • Andor — A deeper Star Wars story about rebellion, sacrifice, and moral cost. • The Bear — Rough, messy, emotional — a restaurant drama with heart and heat. • Deli Boys — A crime comedy about two underachieving guys who inherit a Pakistani crime family. • Dying for Sex — A dark dramedy about a woman who embraces life after a terminal cancer diagnosis. • Forever — A young adult drama where characters are flawed, real, and complicated. • Hacks — A show that examines ambition, friendship, and the cost of success in comedy. • The Last of Us — Even with pacing issues, it remains bold, emotional, and resonant. • Murderbot — Sci-fi with humor and existential questions, centered on a security droid breaking free from programming. • Paradise — Starts as a political thriller, evolves into something wild set in a domed post-apocalyptic city. • Pee-wee as Himself — A documentary peeling back the layers of Paul Reubens and the Pee-wee Herman persona. • The Pitt — A real-time hospital drama full of tension, emotion, and urgency. • The Rehearsal — Darkly comedic, meta, and weird in the best way. • The Righteous Gemstones — A wild, irreverent family drama with power, faith, and chaos. • Severance — A high-concept drama still pushing ideas about identity, work, and trust. • The Studio — A Hollywood satire about art, dreams, and the business behind the camera. • The White Lotus — Its third season divides opinions, but nails mood, performances, and tension. • Your Friends & Neighbors — Jon Hamm leads a story about a man whose life unravels when his career and personal life collide. What Makes a Series “Essential”? These shows aren’t all perfect. Some stumble, some take odd turns. But what holds them together is ambition. They try new things — with form, tone, character — and they provoke conversation. The ones that we’ll remember at year’s end will likely come from this list.