2025 was a landmark year for television. The Stranger Things finale dominated conversation. Severance returned to rewire our brains. New shows emerged that will be talked about for years. Here's our definitive ranking of the shows that mattered most.
Note: This ranking considers quality, cultural impact, and innovation. It's not just about what's popular—it's about what pushed TV forward.
The Top 10
#10: Wednesday Season 2 (Netflix) Jenna Ortega returns with more macabre charm. The sophomore season expands Nevermore's world while doubling down on the dark humor that made Season 1 a sensation.
#9: Andor Season 2 (Disney+) The Star Wars show that proved you don't need Jedi to tell great stories. The finale of Cassian Andor's journey is a masterpiece of tension and character.
#8: The Bear Season 4 (FX/Hulu) Still the most stressful show on television. Jeremy Allen White's Carmy reaches new depths of dysfunction while the supporting cast shines brighter than ever.
#7: Fallout Season 2 (Prime Video) New Vegas awaits. The sophomore season expands the wasteland, introduces fan-favorite factions, and somehow tops Season 1's blend of horror and dark comedy.
#6: The Pitt (Max) ER for a new generation. Noah Wyle returns to medical drama with a real-time series that's as emotionally devastating as it is technically innovative.
#5: Adolescence (Netflix) A haunting exploration of a mass casualty event told across three one-take episodes. TV hasn't seen anything quite like it.
#4: Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 (Disney+) After the revival's successful first season, Season 2 cements this as the best superhero show on television. Dark, brutal, and surprisingly emotional.
#3: Severance Season 3 (Apple TV+) The show that made us distrust our own memories returns with more mind-bending revelations. Apple TV+'s crown jewel continues to innovate.
#2: The White Lotus Season 3 (HBO) Mike White takes his dark comedy to new locations and new victims. The ensemble is flawless, the satire is razor-sharp.
#1: Stranger Things Season 5 (Netflix) The finale of the most significant genre show of the decade. Whether it nailed the landing depends on who you ask, but its cultural impact is undeniable.
Honorable Mentions
Shows that nearly made the top 10:
- House of the Dragon Season 3
- The Last of Us Season 2
- For All Mankind Season 5
- Slow Horses Season 5
- Industry Season 4
- The Diplomat Season 2
- Abbott Elementary Season 4
- Ghosts Season 5
- Hacks Season 4
- Various prestige projects that aired throughout the year
Each of these shows delivered quality television and loyal audiences. Any other year, they might have cracked the top 10.
The State of Streaming in 2025
The streaming wars have evolved. The landscape in 2025:
Netflix remains the volume leader but has leaned into event programming. Stranger Things' finale and Adolescence show they're betting on water-cooler moments.
Apple TV+ has the highest hit rate. Severance, Slow Horses, and their growing catalog prove quality over quantity works.
Max combined HBO quality with Discovery's reach. The White Lotus and new prestige series justify the merger.
Disney+ finally figured out Star Wars (Andor) and Marvel (Daredevil). Their strategy of fewer, better shows is paying off.
Prime Video continues with Fallout, The Boys' finale, and Lord of the Rings expanding their universe content.
Hulu/FX (now integrated with Disney+) gives us The Bear and other adult fare that doesn't fit the family-friendly Disney brand.
The lesson of 2025: quality trumps quantity. The services making fewer, better shows are winning.
TV Trends of 2025
What defined television this year:
The Long Goodbye: Major franchises ending (Stranger Things, The Boys, Cobra Kai). Finales are events again.
Real-Time Storytelling: Shows like The Pitt using real-time episodes. Innovation in structure, not just content.
Genre Prestige: Sci-fi and fantasy getting the same respect as drama. Andor and Severance proved genre can be art.
Theatrical Releases: Stranger Things' theater debut. TV and cinema boundaries continue to blur.
Musical Episodes/Moments: Shows leaning into needle drops as defining moments (see: Running Up That Hill's continued impact).
Trauma Narratives: Shows exploring collective and individual trauma with new sophistication. Adolescence led this charge.
What to Watch in 2026
Already on our radar for next year:
- Severance Season 4 (the never-ending mysteries)
- Wednesday Season 3 (if it happens)
- The Last of Us Season 3 (continuing the game's story)
- House of the Dragon (the dance continues)
- New prestige projects from A-list creators
Television has never been better—or more overwhelming. The key is focusing on what resonates with you rather than chasing everything. Quality over quantity applies to watching as well as making.