Top 10 TV Series of 2025: A Critical Review

Apple TV delivered several high-quality productions that dominated the conversation this year. The platform's 'Ruptura' returned for a highly anticipated second season after fans waited nearly three years. The series about employees who split their personalities to work at a mysterious company did not disappoint, resolving previous mysteries while creating new ones and advancing character relationships significantly.

Another Apple TV highlight was 'Slow Horses,' which reached its fifth season with the same refined humor and excellent investigation work. The series about MI5 spies demoted to a special department continues to showcase Gary Oldman in what many consider the best role of his career. 'Only Murders in the Building' also returned for its fifth season in top form, maintaining its delightful mystery podcast format set in a New York apartment building.

The platform also released 'The Studio,' a comedy about a chaotic film studio director that received numerous awards despite the reviewer finding it relied heavily on obvious clichés and simple cinema references. 'Your Friends and Neighbors' featured John Hamm as a modern Don Draper figure who turns to burglary after losing his job, blending elements of 'Desperate Housewives,' 'Breaking Bad,' and 'Mad Men.'

HBO Max offered 'The Pitt,' described as a mix of 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'E.R.' that medical drama fans were waiting for. The series unfolds in real-time during a single day in a chaotic emergency room, featuring student doctors on their first shifts and a major catastrophe that nearly collapses the department. The platform also featured 'Common Side Effects,' an animation about a hippie scientist in Peru who discovers a magical mushroom capable of curing any disease, pursued by powerful pharmaceutical companies.

Other HBO Max productions included 'O Ensaio,' a difficult-to-define hybrid of documentary, docudrama, and musical reality show with airline copilots as judges, and 'Task,' a miniseries from the creator of 'Mare of Easttown' about a troubled police officer investigating a crime in a small town. The platform also released 'White Lotus,' which the reviewer found merely 'ok' despite low expectations.

Netflix produced several noteworthy series including 'Long Story Short,' created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the mind behind 'Bojack Horseman.' The animation follows a Jewish family over the years through both mundane and defining events, offering both touching and humorous moments. The platform also released 'Dept Q,' a police procedural about an officer who, after a traumatic event, is demoted to a department reopening unsolved cases.

'Adolescence' on Netflix was a miniseries about a seemingly good boy accused of murdering a schoolmate, filmed entirely in single shots. The series sparked discussion about teenagers being radicalized in online incel forums. 'Too Much' was described as a solid series from Lena Dunham, creator of 'Girls,' featuring a Gen Z couple with an excellent soundtrack.

'Nobody Wants This' returned for its second season about the romance between a rabbi and a podcaster, though it was described as merely median quality. 'The Beast in Me' starred Matthew Rhys and Claire Danes but was criticized as boring by the reviewer.

Disney+ featured 'Dying For Sex,' described as one of the most beautiful and delicate yet funny productions in recent times. The series stars Michelle Williams as a woman with terminal cancer who ends her bureaucratic marriage to pursue sexual satisfaction. Despite the terminal illness theme, the show focuses on life, friendship, and joy rather than death.

The platform also released 'Andor' season two, a 'Star Wars' prequel that the reviewer admitted to not fully understanding but still found exceptional. The series about the beginning of the rebellion against the Empire required some knowledge of the 'Star Wars' universe but delivered episodes so compelling they made viewers want to applaud standing up. 'The Bear' was criticized for having become repetitive, with the reviewer stating it was time to admit the show was no longer good, citing repetitive storylines and characters.

Globoplay shined with 'Pablo e Luisão,' a series based on the real and unbelievable stories from comedian Paulo Vieira's childhood. The production was praised for its excellent script, direction, and cast, with unexpected interventions from the adult Paulo Vieira himself. The reviewer called it the best Brazilian comedy since 'Os Normais' and described Vieira as a genius.

The platform also released 'Poker Face,' featuring Natasha Lyonne as a walking lie detector, which had an irregular second and final season but included some brilliant episodes. 'Chesperito' was a biographical series about the genius behind 'Chaves' and 'Chapolin' that was criticized as sometimes tacky and tiring despite being a capricious production.

Prime Video released '#1 Happy Family USA,' a comedy about an Islamic family super-adapted to American life until 9/11 changes everything. The series tackles prejudice, discrimination, and Islamophobia while remaining entertaining. 'Etoile' was a series about two ballet companies in New York and Paris that was canceled despite having good text, cast, and beautiful dance scenes.

The reviewer also attempted to watch several other series that didn't make the top list. 'Last of Us' season two was abandoned after the first season was enjoyed. 'Uma Família Perfeita' starring Ellen Pompeo was described as boring. 'As Quatro Estações do Ano' by Tina Fey was forgotten by the reviewer. 'Paradise' was criticized as cliché with overacting performers. 'Alien Earth' was called the worst pilot of the year. 'Black Mirror' had an episode with Paul Giamatti that was excellent, though the rest was forgettable.

The reviewer organized the series roughly in order from best to least impressive, though emphasized these were purely personal opinions based on two decades of television blogging. The ranking system prioritized shows that maintained quality, developed characters effectively, and provided compelling narratives without falling into repetitive patterns.

Series that excelled typically featured strong character development, innovative storytelling techniques, or fresh takes on established genres. Medical dramas like 'The Pitt' succeeded by setting stories in real-time, while mysteries like 'Ruptura' balanced resolution with new questions. Comedies like 'Pablo e Luisão' worked because they were grounded in authentic personal experiences.

Conversely, series that fell short often suffered from repetitive storylines, underdeveloped scripts, or over-reliance on established formulas. 'Pluribus,' despite being created by the genius behind 'Breaking Bad' and starring Rhea Seehorn, was criticized for being aesthetically beautiful but boring, with repetitive scenes showing the protagonist's bad mood.

The reviewer noted that some highly anticipated series like 'The Bear' had simply run their course, with repetitive crises and dialogue that went nowhere. Others like 'The Studio' relied too heavily on obvious cinema references and clichés despite winning numerous awards. The year demonstrated that consistent quality and genuine innovation mattered more than star power or production budgets.