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The Review Geek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
The Best TV Shows of 2025 (So Far!)
2025's been a strong year for TV so far. Despite tighter budgets and fewer releases, the quality's been sharp—sometimes quietly devastating, sometimes wildly entertaining. We've had shows that have changed the medical drama landscape, while others dive into the seedy world of underground surgeries. There have been biting political thrillers, and even a sentimental coming-of-age story set among Jeju's tangerine orchards. Whether it's grounded realism or stylised chaos, there's been no shortage of standout storytelling this year. We're only halfway through, but the highlights are already stacking up. These are the shows that stuck with our team —whether through gripping performances, sharp writing, or the kind of atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll. From sci-fi slow-burns to schoolyard brawls, here are the best TV shows of 2025… so far. As a quick heads up, this list has been compiled as of JUNE 2025 but we'll be sure to add more as the months progress! The Tale of Lady Ok (K-drama) The Tale of Lady Ok is one of 2025's standout K-dramas—a romantic period piece with a sharp edge. Set in the Joseon era, the story follows Gu-deok, a runaway slave who assumes the identity of a noblewoman named Ok Tae-young. Backed by a powerful family and a budding legal career, she sets out to bring justice to others while keeping her own secret under wraps. The drama tackles class and inequality head-on, exploring the brutal realities of slavery often glossed over in historical dramas, all while maintaining a breezy tone with witty side characters and moments of well-placed humor. The show is cleverly structured like a legal procedural, with episodic mysteries feeding into a larger conflict. While the pacing dips slightly in the middle – especially with the male lead taking a more passive role – it picks up again in the final episodes with a gripping twist that ties everything together. This sageuk is indeed an ambitious and intriguing tale of an equally intriguing character. The Agency Season 1 Less explosive than most spy thrillers, The Agency opts for tension over theatrics—and it's all the better for it. The series follows CIA officer Martian (real name Paul Lewis), who's spent six years undercover in Ethiopia, living a double life while feeding intel back to Langley. Unfortunately, he's also fallen head over heels for Samia Zahir, a local woman tied to his target. As a result, Paul's thin line between duty and personal connection starts to blur when she becomes entangled in his personal life once more. The show leans into the emotional toll of long-term espionage, exploring relationships built on lies, constantly shifting identities, and the mental cost of leaving everything behind at a moment's notice. It's slow, sometimes deliberately so, but the payoff is worth it. The Agency might not be flashy, but it's sharp, moody, and refreshingly grounded making it a quiet standout in a crowded genre. Black Warrant Season 1 Brutal, hard-hitting and thought-provoking, Netflix's latest Indian crime thriller is certainly an enticing watch. Black Warrant's strength lies, not just in its tense atmosphere and brutal violence, but also with the themes it tackles, which include justice, truth, honesty and betrayal. Created by Vikramaditya Motwane, who is the same man responsible for Sacred Games, Black Warrant takes us back in time to the 80's, right in the heart of Tihar Jail. The place is a brutal wasteland, a decrepit hellhole run by the inmates with the guards simply here to make up the numbers and try to keep things ticking over without too many problems. The trouble is, this prison is full to bursting, with overcrowding, awful conditions and an ongoing gang hierarchy at the heart of this. Black Warrant has one heck of a bite and when that venom courses through your veins, you'll be hard-pressed to look away from the drama. Study Group (K-drama) At a school where fighting trumps studying, one underdog decides to do both. Step forward Yoon Ga-min, a guy who can throw a punch but can't pass a test—so he forms a study group in the most violent school around, and protects it with his fists. The show's fast, fun, and unapologetically over-the-top. Hwang Min-hyun plays Ga-min with just the right mix of earnest charm and raw intensity. Each episode blends clean choreography with schoolyard chaos, keeping the pace tight and the stakes personal. However, there's heart beneath the blood hefre. Friendships form, rivalries burn, and somewhere between test prep and street brawls, the show finds real momentum. What's particularly great here though is the way Study Group knows exactly what it is—and absolutely runs with it. Cobra Kai Season 6 The final season of Cobra Kai kicks off with high energy, 15 episodes, and a global twist as the Sekai Taikai tournament pushes the action beyond the Valley. Rivalries deepen, alliances shift, and the show leans into its legacy without losing momentum. Johnny and Daniel's arc anchors the season—what was once bitter tension now feels like earned respect. Meanwhile, the younger cast continues to shine, with Miguel, Robby, and Hawk stepping into their own. The fights are still gloriously over-the-top, but it's the emotional beats that land hardest. Johnny's arc, in particular, hits all the right notes. As a send-off, Cobra Kai sticks the landing—equal parts camp, heart, and full-throttle nostalgia. Paradise Season 1 Paradise is one of Hulu's best new shows this year—a sci-fi mystery-thriller oozing paranoia, political tension, and solid performances. The story kicks off with Secret Service agent Xavier Collins who discovers the body of former President Cal Bradford inside a sealed-off underground bunker—one that houses what's left of humanity after a global catastrophe. What follows is part murder mystery, part psychological thriller, with shifting alliances, buried secrets, and a mounting sense of dread as the truth about this 'paradise' slowly unravels. The acting is top-tier—Sterling K. Brown in particular commands every scene—and the script does a great job zigzagging between timelines to keep things tense and unpredictable. It's not without a few bumps (some world-building could use more depth), but Paradise is gripping, smartly paced, and rich in thematic paranoia. This is certainly one of 2025's most binge-worthy and underrated gems. Severance Season 2 Severance returns with a haunting, slow-burn second season that doubles down on everything that made the first great, even if it is a bit rough around the edges at points. This season picks up right after the finale, with the Innies now knowing the truth—and Lumon's stranglehold starting to slip. The mystery deepens as we learn more about the severance procedure and its wider implications. Mark, Helly, Irving and Dylan each face emotional fallout, with Adam Scott and Britt Lower delivering standout performances. The storytelling remains cold and clinical, but every scene has weight. Visually striking and packed with tension, this is sci-fi at its most unnerving—less about gadgets, more about control. It doesn't give easy answers, but that's part of the thrill. When Life Gives You Tangerines (K-drama) When Life Gives You Tangerines is an understated Korean coming-of-age drama and while it may have flown under many people's radar, it's one of 2025's quiet gems. Set in Jeju during the early 2000s, the show follows 18-year-old Ha-rang as she navigates school pressures, complicated friendships, and the slow heartbreak of growing up. The pacing is gentle, the tone melancholic, and the cinematography makes full use of the island's hazy backdrops and muted tones. What makes Tangerines land, though, is its emotional honesty—nothing here feels manufactured. Ha-rang's relationship with her mother is particularly raw, as is her eventual bond with Gwan-sik. Silence often says more than words. It's not flashy or twisty, but that's the point. Tangerines captures the ache of adolescence and growing up with rare sensitivity, and by the time the final episode rolls around, it feels like saying goodbye to a close friend. Forget You Not Season 1 A quietly moving drama out of Taiwan, Forget You Not follows Le-le, a part-time comedian and full-time convenience store worker, struggling to navigate family tensions, fading dreams, and her father's early signs of dementia. What starts as light stand-up for levity, gradually becomes a raw window into her life. The structure's clever—using comedy routines to peel back layers of emotion without ever slipping into sentimentality. Hsieh Ying-xuan is excellent in the lead role too, and Chin Han brings real weight as her father. Their chemistry feels lived-in, and the show's at its best when it leans into that strained but loving dynamic. It's a series about memory, regret, and how humour can sometimes say what words can't. Understated, emotionally honest, and well worth the watch. Gannibal Season 2 (J-drama) Gannibal Season 2 is an action-packed, entertaining sequel to the horror J-drama. With the villains unmasked, the focus shifts to a brutal power struggle—fast-paced, bloody, and impossible to look away from. The show's signature retro style still pops, from the rural setting to the vintage props and washed-out colour palette. Even when the main story pauses for the Goto family's origin arc, the tension holds. It's grim, gripping stuff and the show is all the stronger for leaning into that. There's a fresh cast of characters, a few well-placed cameos, and just enough melodrama in the villain's backstory to keep things emotionally charged. It's messy, violent, and wildly entertaining. Mobland Season 1 Mobland is the latest Paramount+ thriller and its explosive, bombastic story has catapulted this into the conversation for best shows of 2025. Tom Hardy leads this gritty, no-frills crime drama set in London's underworld, more than holding his own against Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren. Hardy plays Harry Da Souza, a fixer with a brutal reputation, sent in to clean up a mess involving the next-in-line to the Harrigan empire, Eddie. What follows is a slow-burn gang war that spirals into full-blown chaos. The show's stylish but grounded, channeling that signature Guy Ritchie flavour. Hardy is all cold stares and quiet menace, while Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan bring real weight as the ruthless Harrigan matriarch and patriarch. Everyone's got secrets, and no one gets out clean. With sharp writing, sudden bursts of violence, and a finale that doesn't pull any punches, MobLand delivers exactly what you want from a modern mob series. Lean, brutal, and endlessly watchable. Andor Season 2 Andor Season 2 is Star Wars at its most grounded—tense, political, and packed with purpose. As Cassian edges closer to becoming the rebel hero we know, the show deepens its focus on sacrifice, resistance, and the cost of rebellion. The writing is razor-sharp and the pacing is unhurried but every bit as deliberate as season 1. Every subplot—from Mon Mothma's high-stakes diplomacy to Luthen's shadowy manoeuvring—adds weight to the machinations of this rebellion taking shape. Diego Luna is excellent once again, even if he is sidelined for large parts of the early season, but it's more than made for with a stacked supporting cast and layered world-building. There are no lightsabers or chosen ones here, instead what we get is a slow, inevitable slide toward war. Season 2 builds toward Rogue One with real momentum this time, and somehow makes it hit harder, even when we know how it ends. The Rehearsal Season 2 Nathan Fielder somehow tops himself inthis hilarious follow-up to one of 2022's surprise hits. This time, it's not parenting or acting—it's aviation safety. Season 2 sees Nathan building fake airports, running pilot rehearsals, and simulating flight disasters in a bizarre attempt to tackle human error through performance. It's weird, ambitious, and completely unpredictable, all of which building to one of the more surprising and ambitious finales seen in quite some time. It's part social experiment, part existential meltdown but The Rehearsal isn't just parody—it's a deep, uncomfortable look at how far we'll go to feel prepared. And somehow, it works. Pantheon Season 2 Pantheon doubles down in its second season, expanding its world of uploaded consciousness and digital warfare. With the existence of 'Uploaded Intelligences' now public, global tensions spike—and the line between human and machine gets even blurrier. The show leans into hard sci-fi concepts without losing its emotional core. Maddie and Caspian's arcs evolve in unexpected ways, while new players bring fresh ethical dilemmas. The animation remains sharp and cinematic, with a haunting score that underscores the growing unease. It's dense, thought-provoking, and occasionally brutal. If Season 1 was about discovery, Season 2 is about consequence—and it doesn't pull any punches. Smart, bold, and still criminally underrated, this is an animated series you should definitely check out. Adolescence Season 1 One of 2025's most talked-about shows, Adolescence is raw, claustrophobic, and completely gripping. Shot entirely in real-time with no cuts, the story opens with 13-year-old Jamie Miller arrested for the murder of a classmate—and what follows is an unflinching look at masculinity, online radicalisation, and parental denial. The format is undeniably bold, with every episode unfolding in a single take. Whether it's an interrogation room, a school corridor, or a kitchen mid-meltdown, no stone is left unturned. There's no breathing room, and that's the point. Owen Cooper is phenomenal as Jamie, and Stephen Graham delivers one of his most quietly devastating performances to date. There's nothing flashy here—just brutal honesty, smart writing, and a creeping sense of dread that doesn't let go. Adolescence doesn't ask for your attention. It demands it. Undercover High School (K-drama) A disgraced NIS agent goes back to school—literally. Seo Kang-joon is the front-runner here, playing the role of Jung Hae-sung, a field operative forced to pose as a student to track down a stash of royal gold hidden somewhere on campus. It's a ridiculous setup, but the show leans into it with charm and confidence – and it's all the stronger for it. The tone walks a tightrope between action, high school drama, and sharp comedy to perfection. Kang-joon nails the balance between seasoned agent and awkward 'student,' while Jin Ki-joo adds emotional weight as the no-nonsense teacher caught in the middle of it all. It's slick, fun, and surprisingly self-aware—a school-set spy thriller that doesn't overstay its welcome. Hyper Knife (K-drama) Park Eun-bin goes cold and calculated in this sharp-edged medical thriller that cuts deep and demands to be recognized. She plays Jung Se-ok, a former neurosurgeon stripped of her license and forced underground, performing illegal surgeries while quietly plotting revenge against the man who caused her downfall. When her old mentor resurfaces however, the tension reaches fever pitch. What follows is less hospital drama and more psychological warfare—slick, tense, and full of moral grey areas. The surgery scenes are intense, but it's the quiet confrontations that really sting. Eun-bin is magnetic throughout though —controlled, dangerous, and never quite predictable. Hyper Knife is stylish, focused, and certainly unafraid to get messy. This is definitely one of the underrated gems of 2025. The Pitt Season 1 Set across one relentless ER shift in Pittsburgh, The Pitt is raw, tense, and quietly devastating. Noah Wyle leads the charge in one of 2025's best dramas. He plays Dr. Robby Robinavitch, a burned-out physician barely holding it together as the hospital—and the country—spirals into crisis. Each episode tracks a single hour in real time and with no time jumps or breathing room, the pressure builds as trauma rolls through the doors. This drama is immersive, uncomfortable, and incredibly effective. Its also been touted as one of the most realistic medical dramas out there, and it's easy to see how. Wyle is phenomenal here—broken but still pushing forward—and the supporting cast brings real weight. There are no monologues or big hero moments here. Instead, there's a real appreciation for our medical personnel and exactly what they have to do on a daily basis. The Pitt doesn't go big, but it does tap into that raw authenticity that a lot of shows miss. The Pitt tells the truth—and it hits hard. Dept. Q Season 1 After a botched case leaves one partner dead and another paralyzed, DCI Carl Morck gets demoted to cold cases and buried in a basement office. What starts as punishment quickly turns into one of the most gripping thrillers of the year. The case? A prosecutor who vanished four years ago on a ferry crossing. What happened? Who's involved? And how does that tie into the present? With these questions swirling like a maelstrom, Matthew Goode steps effortlessly into the role of a burnt-out, guilt-ridden Carl—sharp, cold, and impossible to pin down. The supporting team—especially Akram, the refugee turned rookie—adds depth without slowing the pace. The show is atmospheric and grim, with a creeping sense of dread that never lets up. This is an exciting procedural done right, blending a delicious mix of moody, intelligent, and quietly brutal crime thrills to the forefront. So there we have it, our list of the best TV shows of 2025 so far! What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Or do you think we're way off the mark? Let us know in the comments below!
South China Morning Post
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
The Tale of Lady Ok star Lim Ji-yeon on why K-drama made ‘a big mark'
Published: 12:45pm, 29 Jan 2025 By Park Jin-hai As the heroine of recently ended Netflix Korean drama series The Tale of Lady Ok , Lim Ji-yeon captivated audiences with her wide-ranging performance in its narrative of a lowly slave's growth during Korea's 1392-1910 Joseon dynasty. Having made a strong impression with her previous antagonist role in Netflix's 2022 series The Glory , the 34-year-old actress landed her first title role in this drama. The drama follows the story of Gu-deok (Lim), who escapes her abusive master's house and is later adopted by the noble Ok family. However, when the family's daughter, Ok Tae-young, dies, Gu-deok assumes her identity and her elevated status. Lim as antagonist Park Yeon-jin in a still from The Glory. Photo: Netflix After gaining noble status, she becomes a renowned lawyer and takes control of her own life, defying the traditional image of Joseon women.
