These fivestreaming showsthat came out during the first half of 2025 are some of the best new series of the year. Several of these shows have been nominated forEmmy Awards, which will take place on June 23, 2025.
Throughout the beginning of January to the end of July,2025 has been a fantastic year for television across all major streaming platforms and cable channels. Returning second seasons of critically acclaimed shows such asAndor,Severance, andWednesdaywere among the biggest titles, as well as series finale seasons such asSquid Gameand the upcoming three-part conclusion ofStranger Things.
In comedy, bothThe BearandHacks, which have both won Outstanding Comedy Series at the Emmys in recent years, returned with celebrated fourth seasons.Slow Horsesmade history by becoming Apple TV+’s longest original series after being renewed for seven seasons.
Rian Johnson’s old-school murder mystery seriesPoker Facewas an under-the-radar critical hit. Even celebrated new series likeDusterandThe Residencesurprisingly didn’t gain enough viewership to warrant a second season, despite both receiving outstanding reviews.
Among the best of the best TV shows of 2025 thus far are a gripping medical drama, a mind-blowing docuseries, an unexpected franchise revival, a self-reflective Hollywood comedy, and a chilling tale of a teenage murderer.
5The Pitt
HBO’s acclaimed 2025 seriesThe Pittis already considered one of the best medical dramas ever made. While beloved medical dramas likeGrey’s AnatomyandHousehold a special place in TV history,The Pittsurpasses both of those legendary series in its scientificallyaccurate portrayal of emergency medical procedures and realistic depiction of the doctors and nurseswho perform them.
The Pittis widely considered the most spot-on recreation of a modern emergency room atmosphere. Set in the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center,The Pittfollows a similar narrative structure to the celebrated series24,in which each episode represents an actual hour on a single 15-hour shift.
The Pitt’sbrilliant premise works perfectly for the volatile pace of any emergency room in a major American city. It features an exceptional ensemble cast led by Noah Wyle’s Dr. Michael Robinavitch, and also includes Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, and Fiona Dourif.
The Pitt, created by formerERproducer R. Scott Gemmill, is nominated for 12 Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, Lead Actor for Wyle, Lead Actress for LaNasa, and Directing for John Wells' work on the pilot episode “7:00 A.M.“The Pittreceived anRotten Tomatoesscore of 95% and is undoubtedly one of the very best shows of the year.
4Dexter: Resurrection
As far as franchise revivals go,Dexter: Resurrectionis arguably one of the best in television history. Very rarely does a TV series expansion, especially one that came out 12 years after the original series finale was released, end up being just as good, if not better, than most of the OG seasons.
Michael C. Hall returns in the role of his lifetime inDexter: Resurrectionas the serial killer Dexter Morgan. Once a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Metro police department, Dexter finds solace (and a new identity) in a remote New York town in the franchise’s first sequel series, 2021’sDexter: New Blood. Following the events of that series, Dexter finds himself in New York City, where he encounters a secret society of elite serial killers.
For those who aren’t familiar with Dexter, he’s not just any malicious serial killer. In fact, he’s somewhat of a moralistic vigilante who only targets other serial killers. Governed by his father Harry’s code, Dexter has learned to channel his killing impulses, which he refers to widely as his Dark Passenger, to essentially make the world a better place.
Dexter: Resurrectionisnot necessarily a show that you’re able to put on without watching the original series. There’s also a prequel series,Dexter: Original Sin, which was released in 2024, that sort of acts as an accompaniment to the Dexter sequel series. Longtime fans ofDexter, however, are currently rejoicing asResurrectionhas far surpassed most viewers' expectations.
3The Rehearsal
HBO’sThe Rehearsalreturned for its second season this year and,like with every other Nathan Fielder project, nobody knew what to expect. Fielder, who rose to fame as a comedic genius with his Comedy Central showNathan For You, is a master of unpredictable yet strategic comedy that often blends the line between fiction and reality.
InThe Rehearsalseason 2, Nathan, who plays an exaggerated version of himself, takes it upon himself to solve the issue of tragic passenger plane crashes. Without giving anything away,Nathan devises a plan to help pilots become more comfortable in the cockpit, hiring actors to replicate the actual experiences of real-life pilots to ascertain real-world solutions.
The Rehearsalis best experienced without knowing much about it, since its sophisticated shock value is what makes the series truly one of a kind and iconic. The Rehearsal is one of those shows that will have people saying, “I’ve never seen that on television before,” for all the right reasons.
The Rehearsalseason 2 earned aRotten Tomatoesscore of 98% and received four Emmy nominations in directing, writing, and editing categories. It was truly one of the most wonderfully bizarre feats on television in 2025.
2The Studio
The Studiois one of two Seth Rogen-led 2025 comedy series on Apple TV+ that have received outstanding reviews (the other beingPlatonicseason 2 with co-star Rose Byrne).The StudiobrokeTed Lasso’sEmmy record for most nominations for a brand-new series and leads the 2025 Emmys comedy pool with 23 nominations.
InThe Studio, which was created by Rogen and Evan Goldberg ofSuperbadacclaim, centers on Rogen’s fictional movie studio head, Matt Remick. A movie lover at heart,Matt desperately tries to support independent filmmakers at Continental Studiosbut faces the age-old “art vs commerce” Hollywood dilemma, which exists at the center of his character and the series.
Even thoughThe Studiodeals with plenty of Hollywood big shots, the seriesnever takes itself too seriously, grounded by Rogen’s familiar presence (and laugh).The Studiohas an enormous list of guest stars. Several of them, including legendary movie directors Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard, are up for guest actor/actress Emmys.
The Studiois, in a word, chaotic, highlighting some of the stranger-than-fiction showbiz happenings that actually stemmed from Rogen and Goldberg’s real-life experience as a budding comedic force in entertainment. Prepare for a wild ride inThe Studiothat slips through the cracks of all the typical Los Angeles glitz and glam.
1Adolescence
Adolescenceis arguably the most culturally significant series of 2025 thus far, while also being one of the most technically impressive. Consisting offour episodes, all shot in a single take,Adolescenceis a true feat of filmmakingrooted in impeccable acting performances by its ensemble cast.
Lead actor Owen Cooper, who remarkably made his professional acting debut inAdolescence, became the youngest Supporting Actor nominee in Emmys history. If he wins, which he has a great chance to do, he will become the youngest male Emmy winner of all time.
Adolescenceis wrapped around a troubling murder mystery based on a real-world instance of teenage violence. The series takes an unflinching look at howa normal family grasps for answers after their teenage son is accused of murdering a classmate.
WhileAdolescenceis not an easy watch by any means, it stays with viewers for quite some time. Its impact is surely represented by its 13 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology series. It also became Netflix’s second most-viewed English-language TV show ever, raking in 142.6 million views.
