From superhero comebacks to groundbreaking real-time narratives, 2025's television landscape has been nothing short of extraordinary. Join us as we explore the most compelling and innovative series that have captivated audiences this year, featuring both fresh concepts and reimagined classics.
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00:00Okay, so, what do you want to call the movie?
00:06Kool-Aid.
00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best TV shows of the first half of 2025.
00:13I can't take how excited I am to be here today, so...
00:16Talk to me at the end of the day.
00:18We will only be including shows that debuted this year, so new seasons of existing shows will not be included.
00:24Number 10, Daredevil Born Again.
00:26Dark times, dark times indeed.
00:28These Hell's Kitchen nostalga is running pretty thin with you guys, you realize that, right?
00:33Not nostalgia, reverence for the past, yet hope for the future.
00:37Disney picked up some Netflix scrap and greenlit Daredevil Born Again, a revival of the cancelled Too Soon MCU classic.
00:43Many superhero fans enjoy this type of mature storytelling, exhibiting the flash and circumstance of wild action sequences,
00:50but keeping the story grounded in the rules and realities of our universe.
00:53Yeah, I'm fine.
00:54Which is what people who aren't always say.
00:58No, really, I'm alright.
00:59Born Again tells a character-driven narrative populated with interesting themes like, as the title suggests,
01:05the idea of resurrection and dual identities.
01:08It's also filled with standout performances, especially those of Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio,
01:13who is once again unbelievably good as Wilson Fisk.
01:16That man was born to play Kingpin, and we're just glad to see him stepping into those giant shoes once again.
01:21But now the kingpin is back.
01:23No, no, he's not.
01:26My time away, I...
01:28Well...
01:31Let's say I followed a road less traveled, and at its end I found a new man.
01:36Number 9.
01:37Forever.
01:37You have no idea who I am, do you?
01:42I'm sorry, what?
01:43Wow.
01:45I forgot I was always invisible to you.
01:47Judy Blume's Forever is an acclaimed but controversial book, exploring themes of teenage sexuality.
01:53Netflix adapted and modernized Blume's story, bringing it from the mid-70s to the modern day.
01:58Well, 2018, but close enough.
02:00Despite its fancy new setting, Forever retains the emotional core of Blume's novel,
02:05while updating it for modern audiences, addressing contemporary issues such as digital privacy and consent in today's romantic landscape.
02:11It also stands out for its sincere and realistic depiction of adolescence,
02:22and the protagonists, Keisha and Justin, are wonderfully portrayed with depth and complexity.
02:27And with artists like SZA, Travis Scott, and Childish Gambino, you just can't beat that soundtrack.
02:32I think, I mean, I think we have something good going.
02:36You know, we could if we gave it a chance.
02:40But, you know, we can't do that if you have me blocked, so I'm gonna,
02:42so I'm gonna need you to unblock me.
02:52Okay.
02:53Number 8.
02:54Apple Cider Vinegar.
02:55That little boy, I was terrified.
02:57He was shaking in my arms.
02:59I'm sorry that I collapsed.
03:02Okay.
03:02You think I'm a bad mom?
03:05Like Natalie?
03:05No, I think you need help.
03:07True crime and fraud are hot right now.
03:09Enter Apple Cider Vinegar, which tells the true story of Belle Gibson,
03:13an Australian health guru who falsely claimed to have cured her terminal cancer
03:17with the help of alternative medicine and exercise.
03:20I am here tonight to ask you,
03:25do you have brain cancer?
03:29How'd she react?
03:31A river of white girl tears.
03:34Her deceit led to the creation of a popular app and cookbook called The Whole Pantry,
03:38which influenced many to forego conventional treatments themselves.
03:41The show emotionally and realistically explores the ramifications of Gibson's actions,
03:46while exploring contemporary themes of misinformation in the social media age.
03:50And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Caitlin Deaver,
03:53who gives a commanding performance as Belle Gibson,
03:56often deftly balancing hateful manipulation and grudging pity.
03:59Thank you for all your support.
04:02It means the world, but please don't carry my pain.
04:08I've got this.
04:10Number seven, common side effects.
04:12A mushroom.
04:13Not just any mushroom.
04:15The caviar, the ghost orchid of mushrooms.
04:182025 is giving us some wild shows,
04:21including one that blends animation, drug comedy,
04:24business and political satire, and conspiracy thriller.
04:27That show is common side effects.
04:29Marshall and Francis discover a magic mushroom with healing properties,
04:32and then uncover a government conspiracy meant to hinder all public knowledge of said mushroom.
04:37It's plant-based, maybe a mushroom or a seed.
04:40It could be hallucinogenic, addictive, fatal.
04:42They want it nipped in the bud.
04:44They?
04:46Ah, okay, yeah.
04:48The genre-defying narrative offers a fresh take on the complexities
04:51and controversies of the healthcare industry,
04:53while the gorgeous animation lends a trippy and surreal atmosphere to the drug-fueled proceedings.
04:58Luckily, the adventure is also littered with some genuinely compelling characters.
05:02With humorous supporting roles and a complex leading man in Marshall Cusso,
05:07common side effects of watching may include laughter and contemplation.
05:10I know it's weird, but listen, can we meet up?
05:14It's kind of urgent.
05:16And just two things to mention.
05:18Some people are following me, and I brought my tortoise.
05:21Number six, Toxic Town.
05:23What happened?
05:25Sometimes children are just born different.
05:28Toxic Town is what would happen if Erin Brockovich and Chernobyl had a baby.
05:32It tells the true story of the Corby Toxic Waste Case,
05:35exploring the lives of three women who enter a massive legal battle with the Corby Borough Council.
05:40And I had some concerns, and I wasn't sure, but I thought it was best to bring them to you, so...
05:47What concerns have you got, Ted?
05:48After the Corby Steelworks closed in 1980,
05:51the council excavated and transported toxic waste through populated areas,
05:55resulting in a slew of birth defects in the local community.
05:58Toxic Town sheds light on this landmark case,
06:01expertly balancing emotional depth with tantalizing courtroom drama and harsh social commentary.
06:06The realistic and sympathetic characters are also played by a remarkable cast,
06:10which includes the likes of Rory Kinnear, Robert Carlyle,
06:13and an absolutely brilliant Jodie Whittaker.
06:15Number 5, Dope Thief.
06:31You shoot off, the whole thing goes up like a hillbilly Chernobyl, you understand me?
06:34Yeah.
06:34You got it?
06:35Yeah.
06:36Yes.
06:39Y'all ready to get this bray?
06:41Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Mora in the same show?
06:43Sign us up!
06:45A remarkably entertaining series,
06:47Dope Thief tells the story of Ray Driscoll and Manny Carvalho,
06:50two friends who accidentally rob a narcotics operation surveilled by the DEA.
06:54The witty banter between Ray and Manny is exceptional,
06:57with Henry and Mora sharing brilliant comedic chemistry.
07:00It's a deer.
07:01I can see that, Manny.
07:02I can see that.
07:05What is it doing here?
07:07And as good as Mora is,
07:09Henry is the standout here,
07:10giving a career-defining performance as a man torn between survival and redemption.
07:15His ability to silently convey emotion through subtle facial expressions is nothing short of extraordinary.
07:20The series also boasts a cinematic quality that is rarely seen on television,
07:24with wonderful gritty cinematography and masterful direction.
07:28We suppose bringing in Ridley Scott will do that.
07:30We weren't killers, Ray.
07:35This isn't us.
07:37Number 4, Dying for Sex.
07:38You know how I had that pain in my hip that wouldn't go away?
07:43Uh-huh.
07:43It's cancer.
07:47It's back.
07:48Throughout February and March of 2020,
07:50Wondery published the podcast Dying for Sex.
07:53It depicts the sensual and personal adventures of Molly,
07:56a woman who divorced her husband and embarked on numerous sexual liaisons
07:59after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
08:02The podcast was co-hosted by the real-life Molly,
08:04but released posthumously, as she died in March of 2019.
08:08This FX series adapts the podcast for the screen,
08:11depicting both an honest exploration of sexuality and a warm celebration of female friendship,
08:16with Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate sharing some electric chemistry.
08:20No, no, please don't do your thing.
08:22Just talk to me.
08:24Why are you hiding from Steve?
08:27And speaking of Williams,
08:29she gives a transformative performance as Molly,
08:32capturing the character's vulnerability and resilience in the face of tragedy.
08:36It's a complex emotional landscape,
08:38and Williams navigates it with grace, humor, and empathy.
08:41I'm too young.
08:43And it sucks.
08:45Okay?
08:47I haven't done anything with my life.
08:49I actually don't know what I like or what I want.
08:52Number 3, The Studio.
08:54As I very eloquently said in my interview with Variety,
08:57you know, prestige films and box office hits,
09:00those are not mutually exclusive.
09:02We can do both and we will do both,
09:05and that is why I am excited to announce
09:07that we are fast-tracking
09:09a Kool-Aid movie.
09:11If you want an honest yet gut-busting glimpse into modern Hollywood,
09:14look no further than The Studio.
09:16Seth Rogen plays Matt Remick,
09:18a movie executive who is forced to navigate things like endless franchise expansion,
09:22demanding stars and directors and diversity casting.
09:25Is it weird that all of the live-action characters are white,
09:30and all of the non-white actors are CG?
09:34And so then the only actual human faces we see on camera are white faces?
09:38It's an enormously funny and refreshingly candid examination of the movie industry,
09:42coming from a star and producer who is deeply embedded within it.
09:46The cameos are both fun and endless,
09:48and the show is a technical masterclass,
09:51taking its cues from Birdman
09:52and adopting its use of complex long takes and chaotic sound design.
09:56Heck, the second episode is a one-er about doing a one-er.
10:00Who does that?
10:00That take was perfect, what happened?
10:02Granta says she's hearing people whispering,
10:04and it threw her off.
10:04Oh, come on!
10:05I bet if you just picked it up from exactly where you cut,
10:08you could stitch it together.
10:09We're not doing stitches.
10:10I mean, even like 1917 would use whip pans to connect...
10:13We're not doing whip pans as a true one-er,
10:15there's no tricks, we're just gonna do it.
10:17Number 2.
10:17The Pit.
10:18Dr. Rubinovich?
10:20Melissa King.
10:21I will be joining you today.
10:22I just came from two months in the VA.
10:23Hey, welcome to The Pit.
10:25There are about a gazillion medical shows out there,
10:27but none quite like The Pit.
10:29Max's modern masterpiece has revitalized the medical drama,
10:33transforming it from network procedural to prestige TV
10:35through the use of innovative storytelling
10:37and a critical portrayal of systemic issues in healthcare.
10:40The series has been noted for its unflinching realism,
10:43depicting hospital staff and emergency medical procedures
10:46with unprecedented accuracy.
10:47A lot more of none than expected.
10:49Um, he's probably anticoagulated for AFIP.
10:52Check his medical records,
10:54see if he's on a DOAC,
10:55standby with four-factor PCC,
10:56there's a brain bleed.
10:57But of course,
10:58most of the praise,
10:59and rightfully so,
11:00has gone to the show's storytelling technique.
11:02Each of the 15 episodes unfolds in real time,
11:05immersing viewers in the relentless pace
11:07and pressures of emergency medicine
11:09and creating an unbearable sense of anxiety.
11:12This is no-frills combat zone medicine.
11:15No ultrasound, no x-rays, no CT, no labs.
11:18Assess based on mental status and pulse strength.
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11:37Number 1. Adolescence
11:40Sarge, this is Jamie Miller.
11:41He's 13 years old.
11:43He's been arrested on suspicion of murder.
11:45Okay, Jamie.
11:46Can I have your full name, please, son?
11:51I didn't do it.
11:52That's not to do with me, Jamie.
11:54Just try and answer my questions, please, son.
11:562025 is the year of two things.
11:59Long, real-time takes and Jack Thorne,
12:02who also did the aforementioned Toxic Town.
12:04For adolescence,
12:05he and Stephen Graham team up
12:07to explore themes of parental responsibility,
12:09school harassment,
12:10online radicalization,
12:12and, well, adolescence.
12:13You must have found that quite cruel.
12:17I suppose.
12:19Did she do this to anyone else?
12:21No.
12:22Why did she do it to you?
12:23Much has been written of the show's format,
12:26with each hour-long episode being filmed in one take.
12:29It's truly unbelievable,
12:30with the camera work, acting, and staging
12:32attracting widespread acclaim.
12:34But the technical wizardry
12:35never overshadows the story at the show's core,
12:38with its themes resonating strongly
12:40across different generations.
12:41It's one of those universal tales
12:43that has something for everyone,
12:44whether it's the teenagers
12:45going through a transitional time in their lives,
12:47or the parents grappling to control it.
12:49What other shows have you enjoyed this year?
13:04Let us know in the comments below.
13:05The time is 6.15 a.m.,
13:08and I'm arresting you on suspicion of murder.