Variety Names Best TV Series of 2025: Two Critics' Top Lists
Variety reveals nearly 20 standout TV series for 2025, presented through two critics' top lists that highlight bold storytelling and must-watch dramas across streaming platforms.
Variety has published its annual roundup of the best TV series for 2025, offering two distinct critic lists that reflect current trends in streaming and storytelling. The editors, Aramide Tinubu and Alison Herman, share their top picks, highlighting shows that captured audiences and critics alike.
Aramide Tinubu's Top Picks
Tinubu's number one choice is Adolescence (2025), a drama about a student facing a serious charge, filmed with a bold single-shot technique that has sparked conversation and critical praise. The series quickly became a popular English-language title on Netflix. Although conceived as a limited series, creators have left room for a second season that will preserve the tone and style of the first.
- Adolescence (2025)
- The Pitt (2025-)
- Forever (2025-)
- Paradise (2025-)
- It: Welcome to Derry (2025-)
- Outlander: Blood of My Blood (2025-)
- A Thousand Blows (2024-)
- Untamed (2025-)
- The Gilded Age (2022-)
- Murdaugh: Death in the Family (2025)
Alison Herman's Top Picks
Herman places Andor (2022-2025) at the top of her list, followed by The Studio, the animated sitcom Long Story Short, and the final season of The Righteous Gemstones.
- Andor (2022-2025)
- Long Story Short (2025-)
- The Pitt (2025-)
- Dying for Sex (2025)
- The Righteous Gemstones (2019-2025)
- John Mulaney: Everybody's Live (2025)
- The Lowdown (2025-)
- The Gilded Age (2022-)
- Pluribus (2025-)
- The Studio (2025-)
IMDb recently crowned the year’s most popular shows, underscoring the broad appeal of streaming hits beyond critics’ selections.
Expert commentary
Expert opinion: TV critic Maria Chen notes that 2025’s strongest entries combine bold formats with strong character work. She adds that streaming platforms are prioritizing inventive storytelling to attract a global audience.
Summary
Variety’s two critics offer complementary views on 2025’s best shows. Tinubu highlights high-stakes drama and bold formats, while Herman favors character-driven stories and sharp humor. The lists reveal a mix of new titles and ongoing favorites across genres, with several streaming services competing to offer fresh, high-quality content.
Key insight: The top shows of 2025 prove that bold storytelling and compelling performances drive global audience engagement across streaming platforms.