There’s some pucking, psychological twists and love

2025 had a slew of compelling shows that delivered breakout performances, addictive storytelling and captivating eye candies. The shows that dominated our screens this year didn’t just entertain—they sparked conversations, challenged perceptions and reminded us why television remains one of our most powerful storytelling mediums.

Here are the best TV shows that defined 2025 and kept us glued to our screens. If you haven’t already, check out our guide on the best movies and the best romance books of 2025. 

Here are the best TV shows of 2025: 

Heated Rivalry 

With an almost 10-star rating on IMDB, Heated Rivalry is the talk of the town. The six-episode series—filled to the brim with sex, yearning and forbidden romance—became a phenomenon overnight, and it’s still going strong. 

The HBO Max and Crave TV show follows elite hockey players, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, who get into a complex, multi-year exploration of passionate hookups. When both of them recognise their hunger for something deeper than stolen moments, they face an impossible choice: protect their careers or risk everything for what their hearts demand—a love a world isn’t ready to accept.

The Summer I Turned Pretty 

The war is over, but we’re still reminiscing about this summer romance. Revelling in youthful romanticism, deep turmoil and summer nostalgia, The Summer I Turned Pretty became a sensation overnight—a narrative made for all the hopeless romantics. The third season, which was released this year, sent everyone reeling and picking sides: #TeamConrad, #TeamJeremiah or #TeamBelly? 

It’s no surprise that people of all ages have found much delight in this summer, friends-to-lovers series. Based on Jenny Han’s best-selling three-part trilogy of the same title, the TV show follows Belly, who gets caught in a love triangle between two brothers as she deals with her first love and first heartbreak during the perfect summer.

Adolescence 

A phenomenal display of grief, disbelief and rage, Adolescence is a complex four-episode series about a family whose world is turned upside down when their 13-year-old is arrested for murdering a schoolmate. With award-worthy performances that’ll make you question everything, the show is evocative and deeply harrowing. 

Stranger Things

We returned to Hawkins late in the year, but the epic continuation of Stranger Things was nothing but grand. After keeping fans waiting, the Duffer Brothers delivered more 1980s nostalgia, supernatural thrills and emotional character moments that have made the show a cultural phenomenon. We got some lingering questions answers and visualised high-stakes adventures.

The Beast in Me

From the microexpressions to the dramatic hunt and the thoughtful conversations, The Beast in Me made it to our list. After losing her son, author Aggie Wiggs finds inspiration in her writing when she unravels the mystery behind her neighbour, Nile Sheldon’s vanished wife. The cat and mouse series follows her compulsively hunts down answers that could turn deadly. If you’d like to be on your toes, then there’s no doubt, this should be on your watchlist.

The Severance 

With two seasons on hand, Severance is everything we’d want in a psychological thriller. Focused on exploring profound questions about identity, work-life balance and corporate control, the show follows employees at Lumon Industries who undergo a “severance” procedure that surgically separates their work memories from their personal ones. From its meticulous visuals to a beautiful performance by Adam Scott, this show will give you an unforgettable feeling after watching. 

The Pitt

Pulse-pounding, The Pitt released its first season this year, and it was exceptional. A medical drama that follows the emergency department staff at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Centre, the show navigates a single 15-hour shift, with each episode covering approximately one hour in real time. The series explores how doctors and nurses overcome staff shortages, underfunding, and the immense pressures of modern healthcare. 

Andor 

If none of the above entices you, then perhaps this science fiction can. Andor is a Star Wars prequel series with a tale that follows Rebel spy Cassian Andor’s formative years of the Rebellion—chronicling his transformation from a cynical thief into a committed rebel spy fighting against the Galactic Empire—and his difficult missions. The show is widely praised as one of the best entries in the Star Wars franchise because it favours mature, grounded storytelling that treats the Rebellion as a serious political movement with real stakes and moral complexity. It explores themes of fascism, oppression, sacrifice and what ordinary people are willing to risk when fighting authoritarianism.