The top TV shows of 2025, ranked

The Queue

See what new shows and seasons to watch now, and which ones to skip.

By Kevin Slane

April 15, 2025 | 10:10 AM

4 minutes to read

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We’re a little more than 25 percent of the way through 2025, which feels like a good time for a progress report.

With the recent conclusion of “The White Lotus” and the impending arrival of two buzzworthy shows returning for their sophomore seasons (“The Last Of Us” and “Andor”), I’m pulling out my red pen to give letter grades to some of the most interesting TV shows of 2025.

To limit the size of this list, it only contains shows that premiered (or premiered new seasons) in 2025. 

See any new shows you loved in 2025? Email me at [email protected] and we’ll talk about it!

Valedictorians

“Adolescence” (Netflix): My friend Adam put it best when asked about this four-part crime drama, a harrowing interrogation of the male teenage psyche: “‘Adolescence’ may haunt me forever.” (Grade: A)

“Severance” (Apple TV+): Given the time and space, I could’ve written 1,000 words about each episode of this dystopian drama. Picking a series MVP (Adam Scott! Britt Lower! Tramell Tillman!!!) is as daunting a task as unpacking the mysteries hiding in the depths of Lumon. (Grade: A)

“Paradise” (Hulu): This action drama has more to it than meets the eye and it’s my pick for both the best premiere and the best finale of 2025, both of which feature twists I won’t spoil here. (Grade: A-)

“The White Lotus” (Max): On the flip side, I didn’t totally love the overstuffed finale of HBO’s anthology show. But that doesn’t negate what Mike White and co. accomplished across eight episodes. (Grade: A-)

B’s Get Degrees

“Dying for Sex” (Hulu): As a Stage 4 cancer patient undergoing a sexual awakening in her final months of life, Michelle Williams is funny, tragic, and inspirational in this FX dramedy. (Grade: B+)

“The Pitt” (Max): An addicting mashup of “ER” and “24,” Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) shows us the grim side of emergency room medicine. (Grade: B+)

“Common Side Effects” (Max): Speaking of the dark side of medicine, this animated comedy – about the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to quash the discovery of a (fictional) magic mushroom that cures all diseases – is heady, consciousness-expanding fun. (Grade: B)

“Reacher” (Prime Video): You’ll never find this action drama on a best-of list, but Alan Ritchson’s beefy vigilante remains one of the more watchable shows on TV. (Grade: B)

Room for Improvement

“Running Point” (Netflix): This Mindy Kaling-produced basketball comedy played it safe in Season 1. A little too safe, if you ask me. Hopefully, it will push the envelope in Season 2 instead of settling for layups. (Grade: B-)

“Mid-Century Modern” (Hulu): It’s tough to make a laugh-tracked, multi-camera sitcom feel fresh and daring, even with three gay leads and TV-MA material. “Mid-Century Modern” has better writing than most, but its format holds it back. (Grade: C+)

“1923” (Paramount+): I’ve fulfilled my 2025 resolution to give “Yellowstone” and its spinoffs another shot, but I’m glad that “1923” – a grim, violent prequel with a bummer of a finale starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren – won’t be back for a third season. (Grade: C)

“Prime Target” (Apple TV+): Saying there’s “room for improvement” for “Prime Target” implies I believe it has the capacity to improve, which might be generous. This globetrotting mathematician-turned-spy show is strictly by-the-numbers. (Grade: C-)

Play or Skip

Press play on these new movies and shows:

“G20” (Prime Video): Playing the most physically formidable president since Harrison Ford in “Air Force One,” Viola Davis goes full Rambo on a group of terrorists who have kidnapped some of her fellow world leaders. It’s ridiculous(ly fun).

“The Last Of Us” (Max): Fans of the video game and newcomers alike will enjoy the second season of this postapocalyptic zombie drama, which expands its focus from Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to track the movements of another survivor bent on revenge (Kaitlyn Dever).

“Hacks” (Max): The Best Comedy Emmy winner is back for a fourth season, with Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) still locked in a battle of wills despite ascending to the pinnacle of the comedy world together.

“Black Mirror” (Netflix): As has always been the case with Charlie Brooker’s dystopian anthology series, there are highs and lows to its seventh season. But the hits outnumber the misses, including a showstopping finale that serves as a sequel to the 2017 episode “USS Callister.”

But go ahead and skip this one:

“Y2K” (Max): As a fan of Kyle Mooney even before his arrival on “SNL,” I nevertheless cannot recommend this nostalgia bomb, which tries to be everything – coming-of-age drama, winking satire, gruesome gorefest – and succeeds at nothing. 

End Credits

That’s a wrap on this edition of The Queue. If you’re a fan, please consider recommending this newsletter to your friends.

PS: I’m cooking up a project for later this year that involves a look at some of the best Boston movies ever. Feel strongly about your favorite or an underappreciated gem? Email me, or fill out the form below.

Until next time, good stream hunting, everyone!

— Kevin