Variety's television critics Aramide Tinubu and Alison Herman have compiled their top 10 lists for the best TV shows of 2025, spanning genres from thrillers and dramas to comedies and sci-fi across multiple streaming platforms. The selections highlight standout storytelling amid a competitive year for television. Common favorites include HBO's 'The Gilded Age' and HBO Max's 'The Pitt,' praised for their character depth and timely themes.
Overview
In a year marked by innovative narratives and diverse representation, Variety's critics evaluated hundreds of series to select their favorites from 2025. Their lists reflect a mix of new releases, returning seasons, and limited series that captured attention through compelling characters and fresh perspectives. Both critics emphasized quality over quantity in a crowded streaming landscape.
Aramide Tinubu's Top Picks
Tinubu ranked Netflix's limited series 'Adolescence' as number one, commending its exploration of incel culture and social media's dangers through a gripping four-episode format using one-shot techniques. It centers on a 13-year-old boy's arrest for murder and its community impact. Other highlights include HBO Max's 'The Pitt,' an Emmy-winning medical drama depicting a intense 15-hour shift at a Pittsburgh hospital, and Netflix's 'Forever,' a teen romance inspired by Judy Blume that portrays young Black love in Los Angeles. Tinubu also favored Hulu's political thriller 'Paradise,' HBO's horror prequel 'It: Welcome to Derry,' and Starz's 'Outlander: Blood of My Blood,' which delves into the parents' backstories across timelines.
Alison Herman's Top Picks
Herman selected Disney+'s 'Andor' as her top show, praising its final season's focus on revolutionaries and authoritarianism in the Star Wars universe, featuring strong ensemble performances. She highlighted HBO Max's 'The Pitt' for its procedural authenticity and return to traditional TV strengths, and Netflix's animated 'Long Story Short' for its nonlinear take on grief within a Jewish family. Additional standouts are FX's 'Dying for Sex,' a poignant series about a woman's final days starring Michelle Williams, and HBO's 'The Righteous Gemstones' final season, which satirizes televangelist excess with humor and heart.
Shared Favorites
Both lists feature 'The Gilded Age' Season 3 on HBO, noted for evolving character dynamics and richer storytelling for Black characters amid 19th-century New York society. 'The Pitt' also overlaps, underscoring its impact on reviving grounded medical dramas. These selections showcase television's ability to address societal issues while entertaining.