1. THE REHEARSAL– Season 2 (HBO)

Nathan Fielder’s jaw-dropping documentary series pushes the boundaries of what we could even imagine was humanly possible. What starts out as a peculiar nugget of an idea transforms into a death-defying spectacle that would make Tom Cruise himself sweat. The first season was a bizarre mental experiment that evolved with every episode whereas the second season takes that exact same approach and uses it to solve a legitimate world crisis, offer a plea for communication, denounce real-world authoritarianism, be a deeply-intimate tribute to the great “Sully” Sullenberger, all the while ending on a stunner of a twist with a gut-churning final episode where actual lives are at stake. One of the most brilliant seasons of television this decade and it is actually terrifying to imagine Fielder attempting to do anything like this again.

2. ANDOR– Season 2 (Disney+)

Tony Gilroy’s ability to work within the complicated confines of the Star Wars universe and bless us with one of the most thematically and emotionally important television series of the year is not only a blessing to its own franchise, but an unconceivable miracle to those who originally couldn’t care less for it. To be able to break through to that crowd is a strength of the incredible writing and direction, but also the ability to take very real world conflicts and not pander to a young audience or dilute it with entertaining distraction. Gilroy and company take an unfiltered and dark adult approach to the rise of the Galactic Empire, but instill it with humanity, resilience, and a glimmer of hope.

3. SEVERANCE– Season 2 (Apple)

After a painful cliffhanger and three long years of word-of-mouth catch-up, Ben Stiller and Dan Erickson’s brainchild exploded this year, becoming the ultimate water-cooler series of 2025. Finding fascinating new ways to twist and complicate its brain-splitting (figuratively and literally) premise, the story of one group’s quest to break free of their mental imprisonment took us on some curious detours but delivered a knock-out of a finish, begging us to wonder where Mark S. and Helly R. go from here. On top of that, it’s Stiller’s most dynamic and visually-compelling work as a visionary to date. A continuous pandora’s box of surprises.

4. THE PITT – Season 1 (HBO Max)

To feel like you’ve known characters all your life in just one episode is a magic trick only few television series can pull off, but in the guiding hands of Dr. Robby, The Pitt became the “most attached to an ensemble cast” series this year and a shocking comfort show despite the gruesome and intense hospital backdrop. One hour representing a very long shift in real-time that goes from bad to worse over 15 episodes might be too much to handle, but the emotional core of The Pitt crew and the honorable depiction of our real-life heroes, constantly doing everything they can to save lives every day, is a walloping and rewarding experience.

5. PLURIBUS – Season 1 (Apple)

Vince Gilligan’s masterfully conceived sci-fi head-spinner is a wild premise (best to go in blind!) executed in the most Vince Gilligan-fashion: steady visual storytelling and intricate building blocks that initially perplex yet prove highly addictive. Everything resting on the shoulders of the genius Rhea Seehorn, a brilliantly complicated lead character faced with a world-shattering dilemma. A knockout first season that has the potential to get better in future seasons and become one of the great high-concept series of the decade.

6. ADOLESCENCE (Netflix)

Philip Barantini’s jaw-dropping one-take direction amplifies an already gut-churning and terrifying drama about one horrific decision made at the hands of a Yorkshire youth. Stephen Graham (giving a devastating performance) and Jack Thorne write a towering 4 episodes that rattle the soul and really force us to look at where our kids are and how corruptible their minds can be. Owen Cooper (the youngest ever Emmy Winner for Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series) is astounding as Jamie, the incarcerated boy. Impossible to leave this series with a dry eye.

7. THE GILDED AGE – Season 3 (HBO)

What could have easily been perceived as basic historical fluff (and it’s not not that), Julian Fellows Upstairs/Downstairs melodrama continues to mature and blossom in its third season, raising the emotional stakes higher than they’ve ever been. Lush period detail, exquisite costumes, and complex relationship/power dynamics provide the ultimate soapy comfort, while charming our pants off all the same. Carrie Coon is at her most magnificent to date, possibly securing her Emmy for her season’s final scene alone. 

8. HAL & HARPER – Season 1 (MUBI)

The surprise of the year, Cooper Raiff channels his inner child with a deeply moving portrait of two siblings wrestling with the absence of their mother while being forced to grow up in the process. Raiff is incredibly likable, Mark Ruffalo is a reliably compassionate father figure, but Lili Reinhart is the true revelation in this, a truly delightful and heartbreaking lead performance. Much like Pen15, the gimmick of adult actors playing children becomes invisible because the two leads are so committed, never a false note or emotion. A wonderfully sensitive, funny, and empathetic emotional journey.

9. THE BEAR – Season 4 (FX)

After a divisive and incomplete third season, The Bear crew returns in its most mature and therapeutic season to date. Though it’s lacking the brilliant high-pressure intensity of its first two seasons, Season 4 gives these hard-working characters a moment of self-reflection and a much-needed reset, forcing them to make tough decisions for the better of their mental health. The cast has maybe never been better with White, Edebiri, and Moss-Bachrach digging deeper than ever into their characters’ emotional psyche. More than ever reminding us why we stick with this motley crew through any and all hardships.

10. THE CHAIR COMPANY – Season 1 (HBO Max)

Pretty much anything Tim Robinson comes up with is bound to be one of the funniest pieces of media in a given year and The Chair Company is pure, unfiltered lunacy in all the best ways. A masterful imitation of the conspiracy thriller genre, Robinson’s “throw literally everything at the wall” creativity is endlessly captivating and gut-bustingly funny. Fully committed to its bit, and moving at a brisk pace every episode, it nearly runs out of breath by the end but thankfully, with every twist and turn, it’s ultimately a demented good time. 

LEST WE FORGET…
HONORABLE MENTIONS:

• ALIEN: EARTH – Season 1 (FX)
• BIG BOYS – Season 3 (Channel 4)
• THE DIPLOMAT – Season 3 (Netflix)
• DYING FOR SEX (FX)
• ENGLISH TEACHER – Season 2 (FX)
• HACKS – Season 4 (HBO Max)
• HEATED RIVALRY – Season 1 (Crave)
• I LOVE LA – Season 1 (HBO)
• IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA – Season 17 (FX)
• MR. SCORSESE (Apple)
• POKER FACE – Season 2 (Peacock)
• THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES – Season 4 (HBO)
• SLOW HORSES – Season 5 (Apple)
• THE STUDIO – Season 1 (Apple)
• TASK – Season 1 (HBO)
• THE WHITE LOTUS – Season 3 (HBO)