Must-See TV for 2025
I feel that content on TV, specifically streaming services, just seems to be getting better and better. When I look back on the year so far, I fondly remember a lot of excellent TV shows this year. So, I thought to myself, I should share some of my gems with you, dear reader.
Skeleton Crew - I started this one technically just before going on Christmas holidays to Europe, but continued on from episode 3 on the trip back home on the plane. What I thought was going to be a typical Disney kid’s show turned out to be quite good. Think of it as a modern Goonies set in Star Wars. The young actors were very good, some great villains, and a story of intrigue around At Attin.
It’s different, it adds to the Star Wars universe canon, and is nothing like The Acolyte 🤮
“I can’t say I remember no At Attin”
Severance - Season 2 of Severance has been a long time coming, three years in fact. And it didn’t disappoint. With the pandemic, Ben Stiller and his team had plenty of time to get the writing right, and it made it better than expected.
Severance is by far one of the best shows on TV, and season two has a number of gems including the opening scene of Mark S running through the corridors of Lumen. This was filmed on-and-off over a number of months and includes impossible camera angles and pans to create a captivating opener. The marching band really shows one actor’s dancing and improv abilities, and of course, more goats.
Shōgun - I realise I’m a year behind getting on the Shōgun bandwagon, but it is absolutely worth raising to your attention here. I must warn you, the dialogue is mostly in Japanese (with subtitles) and the language of the Portuguese made native to our ears by using English. It shows how different the Japanese culture was during the 17th century as it came to grips with the European cultural invasion. Epic battles, tight writing filled with intrigue and misdirection. Standout performances from Hiroyuki Sanada (Westworld, Lost) and Anna Sawai (Monarch:Legacy Of Monsters, Pachinko).
The Studio - A standout favourite of mine this year, and not what I was expecting at all. I’m not the biggest Seth Rogen fan, but he really pulled it together for this series about the movie industry. Cameos galore, insider jokes for movie buffs, and the standout: episode 2, titled The Oner. A oner shot about oner shots.
The Last Of Us - Set five years after season 1, season 2 delivers us a lot of threads to pick up, with little explanation as to how we got there. That’s to come later, as the season will flesh out the mysteries as it progresses.
The season continues to follow the game roughly, with changes here and there, but still contains plenty of call backs. And yes, that scene is here. Those that know, know 🏌🏻♀️
Andor - If you thought Skeleton Crew was Disney pulling its proverbial finger out after disaster after disaster, then you need to watch Andor. Part spy thriller, part Star Wars, part reflection on today’s authoritarian government in the US. Andor is punch after punch as you watch the lead up to Rogue One. And trust me, you will never look at that movie the same way again after seeing this. Andor is a complete package consisting two seasons, and it is practically perfect.
Shout out to Alan Tudyk as K-2SO, one of my favourite Star Wars characters.
Murderbot - A series my wife and I enjoyed so much, I 3D printed a little Murderbot for her.
Starring Alexander Skarsgård (son of Stellan Skarsgård in the aforementioned Andor) as the titular Murderbot, this is a series based off a novella by Martha Wells. Each episode is unfortunately achingly short at only half an hour, so it’s very digestible, but will leave you wanting more each time. The dry, sarcastic delivery by Murderbot is absolutely perfect as he hangs out with a bunch of hippy scientists on an alien planet.
This is a sleeper of a series that is begging to be watched, and definitely worthy of this list.
Clarkson’s Farm - Season 4 came out with poor Jeremy alone on the farm as Caleb toured the country, thanks to his new-found fame from the show’s success. We also were introduced to Harriet, the Tik-Tokker farmer taking the game to the socials. Not the Jeremy understands any of that nonsense.
We also see Jeremy pivot his farming business to wards the acquisition of a pub, just not anywhere near the local council.
Always charming, often funny, and way more successful than most of Amazon’s other original series.
Foundation - Season 3 of one of my favourite sci-fi series returns, bringing the Mule into the forefront, played by the excellent Pilou Asbæk (Game Of Thrones and Overlord).
For me, as of today this is still ongoing, but I watch it as soon as it drops every Friday. Amazing special effects and a grandiose story line spanning centuries, this adaption of Asimov’s novels from the early 20th century is captivating television.
Shout out to Lee Pace (Hobbit, Guardians Of The Galaxy) as many variations on Brother Day, and also Jared Harris (Chernobyl and Expanse) as Hari Seldon.
Love Death + Robots - This series of short stories from the amazing Tim Miller (Deadpool and Secret Level) is a collection of vignettes that are absolutely perfect. From the Chilli Peppers as performing live (with strings attached) to a house cat taking over the world, this whole series always leaves you wanting more.
MobLand - This one came strongly recommended to me by a good friend, and I would say it is one of Guy Ritchie’s (Snatch and Lock, Stock) greatest productions. Tom Hardy is stand out as Harry, and you’re left the whole time questioning motives and loyalties.
This is by far the best gangster series on TV right now, and you’re doing yourself a huge disservice if you overlook it. Some of the best TV of the year, and that’s up against some strong competition.
The Gentlemen - Off the back of MobLand, it made absolute sense to hit one of Ritchie’s other productions - The Gentlemen. I thought this may have been a continuation of the movie by the same name with Hugh Grant and Matthew McConaughey, but I was surprisingly wrong. It’s a spin-off, but not related to the original.
It’s still about marijuana, but in a whole different scene. It stars Theo James (Divergent series and Underworld series) as Eddie, a recently returned Captain from UN Peacekeeping forces due to his father’s pending death.
If you loved the double crossing and intrigue of MobLand, this show will sit very nicely with you. It’s not quite as good as MobLand, but it’s a very close second and still well worth your time.
And there we have it, a dozenTV shows highly worthy of your time. Let me know in the comments if you’ve seen any of them, and what your favourite was.
