20 best TV shows of 2025: Ranking the shows that made us laugh and cry, 20 series we obsessed over this year

TV lovers had a lot to watch in 2025. Whether returning favourites on platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video and Apple TV+, or completely new shows, we certainly had a lot of entertainment throughout the year.

Shows like The Pitt completely sucked us in, while it seemed like the whole world became obsessed with The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle. Comedies like Overcompensating and I Love LA had us laughing for hours, but every year, there are always a few shows that stand out from the rest.

Here are the 20 best TV shows of 2025 ranked, and how to watch and stream them:

20. Mo

Mo Amer's series, Mo, is an undeniable and phenomenal comedy, one that also has a strong heart as it explores the life of a Palestinian immigrant in the U.S. Amer's humour is sharp and specific, to the point where every single quip and beat lands perfectly, while it also continues to be an incredibly important show for everyone around the world to watch.

Where to watch Mo: Netflix

19. The Last of Us

The dystopian sci-fi series is full of big emotions, particularly in Season 2, with the fate of Pedro Pascal's character, Joel, at stake. The show builds its feeling of terror in a way that elicits such a strong response from the audience, while the production design also feels incredibly immersive. Bella Ramsey delivers a beautiful and powerful performance that truly resonates with the heart.

Where to watch The Last of Us: Crave

18. Slow Horses

With five seasons of the spy thriller Slow Horses, it's the way the series continues to unfold new layers of secrets that makes the show a must-watch. The dialogue continues to have this appealing wit, all in this world of incredibly high stakes, and the emotional impact on all the show's characters continues to increase, drawing us in ever more. And Gary Oldman's Jackson Lamb has quickly become one of the best characters in TV history.

Where to watch Slow Horses: Apple TV+

17. Severance

One of the most unique atmospheres created for a TV show, Severance has gotten even darker and more twisted, continuing to make the series incredibly captivating. As the show's second season was released, the series made the satisfying decision to dive deeper into the humanity of all its characters, executed with the eerie backdrop of the show's visuals. Few shows have been as deeply intriguing and mysterious as Severance.

Where to watch Severance: Apple TV+

16. Dying for Sex

Seeing Michelle Williams on screen always warrants excitement, but her work in Dying for Sex is simply stunning. An emotionally charged cancer journey that also honestly portrays women as sexual beings, it's a show that tackles its core topics with an authenticity that has been severely lacking in entertainment. It's sex and friendship from a woman's perspective, with a lot of laughs and a lot of emotions.

Where to watch Dying for Sex: Disney+

15. North of North

The Canadian series North of North is incredibly fun, with the show's star, Anna Lambe, oozing charm in every single moment. A comedy set in a small Arctic town, Canada really lives up to its reputation of being world leaders in comedy with this series. But the show is also incredibly heartfelt, featuring emotional moments that are handled with great care and sensitivity. It's another show that has really mastered how to seamlessly criss-cross different genres.

Where to watch North of North: Netflix and CBC Gem

14. I Love LA

Rachel Sennott's I Love LA is the messy and chaotic comedy of your dreams. It does feel like it could live in the pop culture hall of fame alongside a show like Girls, because Sennott made the fantastic choice of injecting so much specificity into every character and circumstance. And you've never seen a show manipulate a stereotype in such a great way to really elevate a story. This show is absolutely addictive.

Where to watch I Love LA: Crave

13. Overcompensating

Benito Skinner's Overcompensating felt like a breath of fresh air when it premiered. The semi-autobiographical show about Skinner's experience coming out in college has some of the tightest comedy you will see in any show. It's a brilliant exploration of characters who are all flawed and faltering in some way, yet the show still delivers big laughs.

Where to watch Overcompensating: Prime Video

12. Étoile

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino's show Étoile was (wrongfully) cancelled after just one season, but it was still a highlight of the year. Amy Sherman-Palladino created Gilmore Girls, and what carries over into Étoile is the quick dialogue, the perfectly placed pop-culture references, and the ability to still land the dramatic moments in a story. The detail put into creating the world of ballet for the show was meticulous, making it truly authentic, and it is a feat that should be celebrated. Unfortunately, we'll just have to keep rewatching the sole season of Étoile.

Where to watch Étoile: Prime Video

11. Task

Starring Mark Ruffalo, Task is wrapped up in a complex crime story that, unlike similar shows, packs an emotional punch with genuine stakes. Ruffalo is brilliant as the show's lead. The season finale is certainly one that will linger with you. Particularly, the beautifully restrained acting as Tom (Ruffalo) reads his statement in court during his son's parole hearing is a TV moment that is so incredibly powerful, it dives right into your heart.

Where to watch Task: Crave

10. The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty really needs to be on every roundup of the best shows of the year, because at this point in the world of TV and streaming, the series did what was seemingly impossible. It brought back appointment viewing every week, while also creating an absolute frenzy for months, leading to the series finale. Its fandom also reached across every generation, which is incredibly impressive. It's also an addictive show, crafted to make you feel deeply emotionally connected to the characters — whether you're crying or yelling at the screen for Billy to get back together with Conrad.

Where to watch The Summer I Turned Pretty: Prime Video

9. The White Lotus

Mike White continues not only to craft these mysterious stories for The White Lotus, but also to cast the perfect actor for each role, which results in this completely engrossing journey for the audience to go on throughout each season. For Season 3, we were completely transfixed by Parker Posey, obsessed with Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood, and hooked to find out what's happening between Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon.

Where to watch The White Lotus: Crave

8. The Chair Company

Just call Tim Robinson the king of cringe comedy, because there's a mix of absurdity, tension and awkwardness that is just incredibly compelling to watch when crafted by Robinson in The Chair Company. What helps the comedy land is that there is a genuineness throughout every step of this story, holding up all the thrills and odd moments, to make them hit even harder. But The Chair Company also doesn't shy away from going to extremes, taking big swings, which makes the series stand out.

Where to watch The Chair Company: Crave

7. The Diplomat

Debora Cahn continues to explore the political world of The Diplomat by raising the stakes in each season, but what makes the series feel so unique is that it's paired with incredibly sharp and sarcastic dialogue, particularly between Kate (Keri Russell) and Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell), and in Season 3, Grace (Allison Janney) and Todd Penn (Bradley Whitford). It's a brilliantly executed balancing act, where nothing is compromised. Rather, the show becomes that much richer, more engaging, and intriguing.

Where to watch The Diplomat: Netflix

6. The Studio

Some of the smartest writing on TV this year came from episodes of The Studio. Leaning on all the awkward and embarrassing moments of its Hollywood and Hollywood-adjacent characters, the comedy in the series ranges from sarcasm to wild, over-the-top gags, keeping each episode feeling lively and fresh. And of course, The Studio has the greatest group of guest stars, which helps elevate its already triumphant story.

Where to watch The Studio: Apple TV+

5. The Righteous Gemstones

Danny McBride's megachurch series The Righteous Gemstones has come to an end after four seasons, and they were four seasons of absolute delight. While McBride has a unique and quite singular comedic voice, it's how that translated to and was interpreted by the cast of the show that makes it so fantastic. Absolutely one of the best ensemble casts in TV history, and the show's final season came to an incredibly satisfying end, while not letting off the gas in terms of the outrageousness of the comedy that has always made The Righteous Gemstones so unique.

Where to watch The Righteous Gemstones: Crave

4. Pluribus

Vince Gilligan had great success with Breaking Bad, which continued into Better Call Saul, and crafted a third hit with Pluribus, starring the impeccable Rhea Seehorn. Gilligan has perfected the art of the slow burn to build mystery in his stories, making you incredibly invested in the narrative. But for Pluribus, he added a particular comedic beat that is incredibly satisfying. Strengthened by the superb attention to detail in the show, Pluribus has everything you want in a new series.

Where to watch Pluribus: Apple TV+

3. Hal & Harper

It's authentic, it's raw, it will make you weep and laugh hysterically. Cooper Raiff's series Hal & Harper is like nothing else you've seen all year. Starring Raiff, Lili Reinhart, Mark Ruffalo and Betty Gilpin, the emotional resonance of the series is unmatched, with a cast that feels incredibly committed to and immersed in their roles. The way Raiff goes back and forth in time through the lives of his title characters is a brilliant and unique way to explore trauma, with the adult actors playing their childhood selves. Not just one of the best shows of the year, but a series that will be memorable for years to come.

Where to watch Hal & Harper: Mubi and CBC Gem

2. Adolescence

Brutally heartbreaking, yet also a technical feat, Adolescence was incredibly powerful. Co-created by and starring Stephen Graham, alongside breakout star Owen Cooper, and directed by Philip Barantini, the show bravely explores the harsh reality of horrific acts of violence among young people, drawn from real-life experiences. From the incredibly impressive drone shot in Episode 2 to the uncomfortably brutal moment when Cooper's character, 13-year-old Jamie Miller, speaks to clinical psychologist Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty), so much of this limited series just takes your breath away.

Where to watch Adolescence: Netflix

1. The Pitt

Just thinking about The Pitt makes me feel stressed, with the first season of the series easily one of the most overwhelming and impactful shows of all time. Every single episode was filled with vicious tension and high energy, with not a second wasted on screen. This ensemble cast, helmed by ER alum Noah Wyle, is impeccable, with each actor bringing a nuanced and intricate character study to the table. A favourite, of course, is Katherine LaNasa, who stole everyone's heart this year as nurse Dana.

Where to watch The Pitt: Crave