2025 brought us a lot of change: some good (everybody’s having “a few small beers,”) but some bad (why does it take three clicks to save a screenshot now, Tim Cook?!). Every year, studios and streamers hope to strike gold in launching new television shows that take home Emmys and will be included in everyone’s “best of” year-end reviews. And while few actually achieve this accomplishment, I’m here to highlight my personal best new series that entered the cultural zeitgeist in 2025. These are not returning hits (sorry, “Andor” season 2), but entirely new stories that were brought to our home televisions in 2025. Let’s get into it…
“The Pitt”
Starting our 2025 (And 2026!), “The Pitt” brought back the high-stakes medical drama fans have craved since “Grey’s Anatomy’s” glory days. Set over the course of one grueling day shift, “The Pitt” takes us through one Pittsburgh emergency room’s doctors’, nurses’, and patients’ struggles with life-or-death moments and the morality that comes with it. Noah Wyle’s lead as the calm and pragmatic Dr. Robby is offset by a cast of equally respected veterans (everyone fell in love with Katherine LaNasa’s Dana, the backbone of the ER) and newcomers that are quickly hardened by the reality of patient care. The show was a quick hit for HBO and a major winner at the 2025 Emmys, taking home Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor, Supporting Actress, and Guest Actor in its first season. Season two kicks off in January and is one of the most highly anticipated returning shows of 2026, hopefully answering the question: how many pairs of scrubs will Dr. Whitaker bring to work?
“Adolescence”
Rarely does a limited series make as much cultural impact as “Adolescence” has in 2025. What many initially thought of as a murder-mystery, “Adolescence” instead forced the viewer to examine how one boy’s seemingly everyday life could have allegedly led to an inexcusable crime. The shift from whodunit to why is a heartbreaking tale of negligence, online toxicity, and nature vs nurture, amplified by hauntingly beautiful performances from Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, and Erin Doherty. The direction and cinematography are nothing short of mesmerizing, providing a propulsive feeling of unease throughout the series’ four episodes. Sweeping every award show imaginable, “Adolescence” has been a cultural phenomenon that dares to ask the question of how we got here as a society, and who’s to blame. It’s one I haven’t stopped thinking about all year.
“Dying For Sex“
It’s hard to believe that Michelle Williams can outdo herself, but she’s done it yet again. “Dying for Sex” is career-best work from Williams as Molly Kochan, the real-life woman whose terminal diagnosis led her on a journey of self-discovery, acceptance, and healing while dying. Fuck cancer, Molly’s going out with a literal bang. Embraced and truly loved by her best friend Nikki who’s now going through her own cancer bystander journey, played by a heartbreakingly hilarious Jenny Slate, “Dying for Sex’s” unparalleled comedic timing on the heaviest of topics is a rare gem that drops all pretense of living a life that’s expected to fulfill one’s dreams, now in a race against time. If you’ve ever had the agonizing gift of experiencing the drawn-out decline of a loved one, “Dying for Sex” will resonate and may even heal you a little more than you thought. I laughed while I cried, cursed the short eight-episode season, and was grateful when it was over so I could take a walk filled with gratitude.
“The Studio”
Yes, Hollywood is glamorous. The parties, the celebrities, and the movie magic are all admired by cinephiles around the world. But it’s also stressful and high-pressure knowing that the end of your career is only one box-office bomb away. The veil is quickly lifted for Seth Rogen’s Matt Remick as the newly appointed head of Continental Studios in “The Studio,” a chaotic and hilariously satirical (or is it?) take on Hollywood today. For even the most casual of film (sorry, movie) fanatics, “The Studio” is a hilarious depiction of one man’s earnest effort to save film and his own ass. The problem is, this man is a bumbling idiot most of the time and can’t help but get in his own way. From each episode’s surprise guest stars (I’ll never stop talking about Marty Scorsese in this show) to impressively shot oners and a throwback score akin to Hollywood’s golden age, “The Studio” is what every cinephile has been asking for. It’s no surprise that Hollywood decided to award itself, I mean “The Studio,” for Outstanding Comedy Series, Lead Actor, Directing, Writing, and Guest Actor at this year’s Emmys, and Apple celebrated the likely start of a successful reign of comedy again, filling a gap left in “Ted Lasso’s” wake.
“Pluribus”
Not one to rest on its laurels, Apple has an end-of-year dramatic hit on its hands with “Pluribus,” Vince Gilligan’s mysterious drama about the most miserable person on earth’s quest to rid the world of happiness. It sounds bleak, but when happiness is a virus that’s also murdered your spouse and is on a quest to overtake the world, it makes sense as to why our despondent protagonist Carol, played by the magnetic Rhea Seehorn, is on a mission to stop it. Filled with mystery, emotional depth, and stunning visuals, “Pluribus” is a slow-burning exploration of layered meaning, amplified by captivating performances from Karolina Wydra and Seehorn. It’s no wonder it’s Apple’s most-watched show in history, but that’s not creating a sense of urgency for Gilligan to put out more episodes. He recently announced the next season won’t premiere until 2027, or even 2028. Sorry, “Pluribus” fans. Our feelings for you haven’t changed, but after everything that’s happened, we just need a little space.
“Task”
Originally developed and released as a limited series, HBO’s “Task” was renewed for a second season due to strong viewership and audience demand. Created by Brad Ingelsby of “Mare of Easttown” fame and anchored by powerhouse performances from Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, and Emilia Jones, “Task” transcends the familiar trappings of a suburban Philly crime drama; even though the accents are still very much part of the show, with Pelphrey’s standing out. Stretched a bit thin with family drama and many characters to keep track of, the show overcame the story’s overextension by focusing on Pelphrey’s Robbie and Ruffalo’s Tom as the emotional essence. Nominated for both Critics’ Choice (Drama Series, Actor, Supporting Actor) and Golden Globes (Drama Series, Actor for Ruffalo), “Task” has been a successful follow-up hit for Ingelsby and HBO’s return to the limited series category – but not for long.
2025 was a hell of a year for many, but throughout all the chaos and perpetual bad news, television offered a welcome reprieve. Beyond the best and award-worthy mentioned above, there’s new seasons of our favorites (the aforementioned “Andor” and a comedy classic in “Hacks,”), new guilty pleasures that are overtaking our algorithm (yes, I fell for the gay hockey drama “Heated Rivalry”), and our tried and true favorites (I definitely rewatched a few episodes of “Parks and Rec” this year…again.). In a world as uncertain as ours today, at least we can all collectively enjoy staring at our screens and talking about it with our friends.
What new shows were your favorites in 2025? What are you looking forward to returning to in 2026? Please let us know in the comments section below and on Next Best Picture’s X account.
