As 2025 draws to a close, the world of television is basking in a year that delivered a dazzling array of stories, characters, and surprises. From genre-bending experiments to the triumphant return of classic franchises, critics and viewers alike found plenty to celebrate—and debate—about the best TV had to offer. Several major outlets, including Consequence, Tell-Tale TV, and Variety, have released their eagerly awaited roundups of the year’s standout shows, each providing a unique lens through which to view the evolving landscape of modern television.
According to Consequence’s Annual Report recap published on December 9, 2025, the year’s best television didn’t just entertain—it captured the mood of a world still spinning in unexpected ways. Their ranked list of the 25 Best TV Shows of the Year included innovative titles such as The Rehearsal, Andor, Pluribus, Adolescence, and Severance. These series weren’t just notable for their storytelling; they also blended genres in unprecedented ways—mixing sci-fi, comedy, horror, and drama to create fresh takes on classic narratives. The report highlighted how dormant franchises were resurrected against the odds, and how television, more than any other medium, managed to serve as a time capsule for the societal mood of 2025. As Liz Shannon Miller, Senior Entertainment Editor at Consequence, put it, "The most exciting shows of the year still found ways to make us think and feel, one episode at a time."
Meanwhile, Tell-Tale TV took a different approach, inviting its readers to nominate and vote for their favorite network shows of 2025. The result? A Top 10 list that reflects the enduring appeal of long-running dramas and the magnetic pull of fresh faces. Ranked from tenth to first, the fan-chosen favorites were Doc (season 2), Grey’s Anatomy (season 22), NCIS: Origins, Chicago Fire (season 13), Matlock (season 2), Ghosts, Tracker (season 2), High Potential (season 2), NCIS (season 23), and at number one, The Rookie. This ABC police procedural, praised for its blend of suspense, heart, and humor, captured the top spot as the series heads into its eighth season, premiering January 6, 2026. As Tell-Tale TV noted, these shows stood out for their "compelling stories, standout characters, and incredible performances," reminding us that network television remains a vital part of the cultural conversation.
For those looking for a critic’s eye, Variety’s December 9 roundup offered a more eclectic and genre-spanning perspective. Critics Aramide Tinubu and Alison Herman each selected their top ten shows of the year, with only a couple of crossovers—a testament to the diversity and depth of 2025’s television landscape. Tinubu’s list featured everything from true crime (Murdaugh: Death in the Family, Hulu) and historical drama (The Gilded Age, HBO, season 3) to gripping mysteries (Untamed, Netflix) and brutal crime sagas (A Thousand Blows, Hulu). Fantasy and horror also made strong showings, with Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Starz) and It: Welcome to Derry (HBO) drawing viewers into otherworldly narratives, while political intrigue took center stage in Paradise (Hulu). Tinubu’s top pick, Adolescence (Netflix), was lauded for its groundbreaking format and unflinching look at contemporary incel culture and the dangers of online connectivity.
Herman’s selections, on the other hand, showcased the breadth of television in 2025, from Hollywood satires like The Studio (Apple TV) and inventive sci-fi in Pluribus (Apple TV), to the comfort of established dramas like The Gilded Age and the biting comedy of The Righteous Gemstones (HBO). Her top spot went to Andor (Disney+), the much-anticipated conclusion to Tony Gilroy’s acclaimed prequel series. As Herman described, the show "was all about the ordinary people who make political movements work and won’t be remembered by history," a theme that resonated deeply in a year marked by both upheaval and hope.
Across these lists, a few key trends emerged. Genre-mixing was everywhere, with traditional boundaries between comedy, drama, horror, and science fiction dissolving in favor of stories that defied easy categorization. Shows like Pluribus and Severance challenged viewers to question reality itself, while Adolescence and Forever (Netflix) explored the complexities of youth and love in a digital age. Meanwhile, long-running network staples such as Grey’s Anatomy and NCIS proved that there’s still an appetite for familiar faces and serialized storytelling, even as new voices and formats continued to push the medium forward.
It’s also worth noting the critical and popular embrace of series that tackled weighty social issues. The Pitt (HBO Max), for instance, was celebrated for its unvarnished look at America’s healthcare system, winning three Emmys and drawing praise for its realism and emotional heft. Dying for Sex (FX) managed to find humor and humanity in the face of terminal illness, while The Righteous Gemstones offered a satirical yet affectionate portrayal of faith and family in the American South. Even horror, as seen in It: Welcome to Derry, became a vehicle for exploring deeper anxieties about society, trauma, and history.
Yet, for all the innovation and experimentation, television in 2025 also delivered moments of pure escapism and joy. Whether it was the laugh-out-loud antics of Ghosts, the high-stakes action of Tracker, or the romantic sweep of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, viewers found plenty of reasons to tune in week after week. As Consequence observed, "TV offers an escape," but the best shows of the year also "found ways to make us think and feel, one episode at a time."
With so many options and so many ways to watch, the definition of "best" TV is more subjective than ever. But if 2025 proved anything, it’s that television remains a vital, ever-evolving mirror of our culture—one that can challenge, comfort, and surprise us, sometimes all at once.
As the curtain falls on another year of television, one thing is certain: whether you’re a fan of network stalwarts, streaming sensations, or critical darlings, 2025 gave us stories worth remembering and discussing long after the credits rolled.
