The 11 best TV shows of 2025 so far: Adolescence, The White Lotus, Severance, The Pitt, Dept Q, Andor
From brilliant local productions like The Narrow Road To The Deep North and Apple Cider Vinegar to international mega-hits like Adolescence and The White Lotus, here are 11 of the best . . . so far.
Inspired by the wild-but-true story of wellness scammer Belle Gibson, this local series stars US actress Kaitlyn Dever doing just about the best Aussie accent you'll ever hear. The show has only grown in popularity as more have discovered it. Some fantastic performances and a strong story rooted in reality make this must-see television. Give Dever all the awards!
Not only is this series, co-created by UK actor and creator Stephen Graham, an urgent examination of adolescent mental health and the toxic online 'manosphere', it's also a feat of technical brilliance. Each episode is shot in one take, forcing viewers to stay with the action and not turn away from the story's more confronting aspects (and there are plenty). Put simply — it is a work of genius.
Creator Mike White knocked it out of the park for the third series of his Emmy Award-winning show, this time set in Thailand. Right from those strange new opening credits, something felt different about season three — but in a good way. Performances from the key cast got everyone talking, and by the explosive finale, there wasn't a viewer out there not 100 per cent invested in seeing how everything ended. What a show!
Without a doubt, this superb series from Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller is the best TV you'll see this year. In season two, the creators took the story in wholly new directions, further fleshing out characters while still leaving us with plenty of questions ahead of next season (hurry up, dammit!). Discover why TV fans are losing their minds for this ridiculously good show.
This comedy just gets better — no wonder it keeps scooping the pool at the Emmys. Season four could well have been Hacks' last, with episode eight potentially wrapping things up beautifully. But good news: it has been greenlit for another season, so we'll get to spend even more time with Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder). Though whether either still has a career remains to be seen . . .
The second season of this superb ER-esque medical drama has just begun filming, which gives you a pretty good indication of how well received it was first time around. Starring Noah Wyle as an under-the-pump doctor, each episode plays out as an hour of his very long shift, giving us some genuinely gripping storylines and exceptional performances. Can't wait for more.
This one seemingly came out of nowhere and quickly gained a devoted following for its grisly premise and darkly compelling story. Set in Edinburgh and starring Downton Abbey's Matthew Goode as a disaffected Detective Inspector, this psychological crime thriller had us hooked from the opening episode, not letting up until that surprising finale. Here's hoping there are more seasons on the way.
Tina Fey's newest creation, based on the 1981 movie from Alan Alda, is a midlife comedy about a group of friends in their fifties who catch up every few months. Sounds dull, right? Trust us: it's not. Fey has played it (relatively) straight for the laughs this time, but the show still has some hilarious moments and a stack of brilliantly relatable performances from the central cast. Good news — it's back for another season!
At last, a Star Wars spinoff worthy of the hype. The second season of this Rogue One prequel has been roundly praised by critics, with some even uttering the 'm' word. Yep, critics and fans alike are bandying the term masterpiece about. Diego Luna continues to anchor the tightly written series, which feels more urgent by the day given what's going on in the world right now. If you've not discovered this one yet, seek it out.
Think of yourself as a cinephile? You won't want to miss this excellent series starring Seth Rogan. He plays a Hollywood exec battling to maintain his sanity while kowtowing to his corporate bosses and trying to stay afloat in the cutthroat movie-making world. This is a great peek behind the curtain. Equal parts cringe and captivating, it's a lot of fun for movie fans. Find out how the sausage is made!
This locally produced series is based on the award-winning novel by Richard Flanagan and is brought to the small screen by esteemed filmmakers Justin Kurzel and Shaun Grant. They're the duo behind Nitram and Snowtown, which gives you an idea of its calibre. This devastating series is beautifully shot and has a dreamlike quality to it, and Jacob Elordi and Ciaran Hinds are fantastic as younger and older versions of the same character. Hauntingly great.
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