Even though the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes were resolved, the disruption of many productions led many shows to miss their scheduled airdates; highly anticipated new seasons of Fallout, Only Murders In The Building, and Beef may take longer than expected to land a release.
Where exactly these shows will land is also a question that has inspired trepidation, as the streaming market has begun to dwindle in the wake of significant mergers lately. The impending arraignment between Paramount Pictures and Skydance has held up the last season of South Park, and Netflix’s increased interest in A.I. may leave many talented showrunners looking for a new job. Nonetheless, there’s certainly a lot to be excited about for the rest of 2025.
In addition to the return of Stranger Things, Jury Duty and The Diplomat, interesting new programs include the HBO Max crime thriller Task, Glen Powell’s Hulu comedy Chad Powers and the Stephen King-penned It: Welcome to Derry.
Keeping track of what to watch is no easy task, as the average cost of subscribing to multiple streaming services has surpassed that of traditional cable fees. This raises the question of “in this economy?!"
Below are the five shows that have stood out as “must-see” picks thus far. Or at least as worthy escapes from the chaos.
5. The Studio
The Apple TV+ original merges “inside baseball” satire with the type of broad comedy that Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are best known for, culminating in a savvy exploration of the frustrating, hilarious and unpredictable process of making entertainment in 2025. The Studio is inspired by the classic Robert Altman film The Player, and stars Rogen as a prominent media executive and self-proclaimed cinephile who is tasked with keeping the fictional Continental Studios afloat.Although The Studio includes more than a few great celebrity cameos (including a particularly hilarious guest role for Martin Scorsese), the series also adopts the style of the films it references. Between an “all-in-one-shot” episode in the vein of Birdman and a mystery installment inspired by Chinatown, The Studio features creative filmmaking that, ironically enough, is superior to a majority of what played on the big screen this year.
4. Severance
The three-year wait between seasons may have been a frustrating one for fans desperate to get answers on what exactly Lumon Industries does, but Severance delivered a satisfying second season that offered more idiosyncratic mysteries and bizarrely comedic moments. In the tradition of Lost or The X-Files, much of the fun of watching Severance is the deep analysis and theorizing that each episode inspires.While the red herrings are plentiful, Severance is more than just a “mystery box,” as its second season offered the opportunity for its returning cast members to shine. Adam Scott has fully graduated from his Parks and Recreation years to become a truly compelling dramatic actor, but it's Trammell Tillman’s flamboyant performance as the enigmatic Seth Milchick that remains the show’s scene-stealer.
3. Andor
It’s easy to forget that the original Star Wars from 1977 was a post-Vietnam lionization of the anti-establishment sentiments of a disenfranchised generation of young people. After all, the film ended with the rebels destroying a literal weapon of mass destruction. Although the franchise has strayed from its roots within the subsequent 48 years, Andor is a gritty, ground-level story about the sacrifices made to preserve a resistance movement. Who would have guessed that the most articulate, pressing depiction of genocide in 2025 would be via a Disney+ show in the Star Wars universe?Andor is an origin story for Diego Luna’s character of Cassian Andor, a duplicitous spy who debuted in the 2016 prequel Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. However, those who haven’t checked in with recent installments in the galaxy far, far away may find it much easier to connect with Andor, as the show does away with “the force” to center on normal people who search for inner heroism.
2. The Pitt
There has understandably been apprehension about how to approach the ramifications of COVID-19 in dramatic fashion, but it would be irresponsible for a medical show in 2025 to not acknowledge the intense pressure the pandemic put on healthcare professionals. Although it shares a creator and star with E.R., HBO Max’s Pittsburgh-set hospital drama The Pitt takes the “all-in-one-day” approach of 24, in which each episode plays out in real time over the course of a grueling 15-hour shift. The Pitt develops a robust ensemble of compelling characters with various degrees of experience, but it’s about as far away from the melodrama of Grey’s Anatomy or The Good Doctor as possible. The first season manages to address hot-button topics like anti-vaccination, mass shootings, human trafficking and laws impeding a woman’s right to choose. As difficult as it may be to consider the reality that The Pitt is spotlighting, the show is anchored by a brilliant performance from Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, in what may be the biggest role of his career.
1. The Rehearsal
If Nathan Fielder blurred the line between irony and intentionality in the first season of The Rehearsal, then the second round of his trailblazing HBO show decimates any suspension of disbelief. Fielder’s talents so far have often been utilized to lampoon ignorant beliefs and entities, but The Rehearsal sees him making a seemingly earnest attempt to analyze the psychology of airline pilots. As one would come to expect with Fielder, the path to solving this crisis leads to several amusing detours. The Rehearsal's second season includes a staged singing competition and a bizarre theory that Captain Sully Sullenberger’s “Miracle on the Hudson” heroics were inspired by the Evanescence song “Bring Me to Life.”The insights Fielder gives into his experiences are surprisingly candid, as the series explores his regrets about manipulating people and his discomfort with willful deception. He also gives a somewhat disturbing anecdote about how Paramount Plus removed Nathan For You episodes dealing with antisemitism. Regardless of how much suspension of belief Fielder’s projects should warrant, his vulnerability is appreciated, as his solo flight over the Mojave is perhaps the most intense moment of television in 2025. With all due respect to breakouts like The White Lotus and The Last of Us, Fielder easily has the competition beat.
