From real-time ER chaos to one-take experiments and culture-shifting reality TV, these are the TV shows that Boardroom couldn’t stop talking about in 2025.
What better way to celebrate a year of great television than by highlighting the shows that defined 2025?
From sharp comedies to big-budget sci-fi epics to emotional limited series, this year delivered stories that pushed genres forward and gave us something to talk about long after the credits rolled. Some of our personal favorites didn’t make the cut, but as always, we kept things honest.
At Boardroom, we didn’t rank these shows by hype, ratings, or awards buzz alone. Instead, we built this list based on a simple set of rules: every show had to release in 2025, genuinely move us, and convince at least one person on our staff to go to bat for it. This was a true group effort; the entire Boardroom team contributed nominations and blurbs, sharing their own deeply personal reasons for why each show earned a spot here.
So, if you’re building your next watchlist, consider this our definitive guide to the smartest, boldest, and most unforgettable television 2025 had to offer, complete with where you can stream each one.
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Boardroom’s Picks: Best TV Shows of 2025
20. The Morning Show (Season 4)
Apple TV
After a somewhat disappointing Season 3, The Morning Show returned to form with Season 4. The show got back to its core — the tension between legacy media and its desire to stay relevant — and the performances felt significantly more grounded. The newsroom politics remain dramatic, but this season finally felt like the characters had something new to say. — Bernadette Doykos
19. Love Island USA (Season 7)
Peacock
If you know me, you know Love Island USA becomes my entire personality every summer. I’ve been a loyal viewer of the franchise since 2020, and Season 7 was easily one of the most contentious, culture-shifting seasons the franchise has ever delivered. This season touched so many corners of the internet that its ripple effect felt impossible to ignore. Honestly, the impact of this series on modern reality dating shows deserves to be studied one day. What makes Love Island work is its deceptively simple formula: put interesting people together and let viewers root, obsessively, for the possibility of real connection. Season 7 proved once again that no one does that better than this show. — Michelai Graham
18. Forever (Season 1)
Netflix
Forever works so well because the writing feels so sincere. Without giving too much away, the story deals with navigating grief — something universal. I appreciated the journey of the lead, Keisha Clark, played by Lovie Simone, as she slowly worked through heartbreak and had to be honest with herself and her emotions. Though the plot itself is tragic, the heartfelt moments keep it moving. — Vinciane Ngomsi
17. The Beast in Me (Limited Series)
Netflix
Make no mistake, The Beast in Me is a pulpy airport novel brought to life — and that’s exactly what makes it so addictive. It’s self-aware, melodramatic, and unafraid to lean into the chaos. At a time when limited-series thrillers often feel interchangeable, this one swings big and has fun doing it. It’s a welcome reminder that television doesn’t always need to take itself so seriously to keep you watching. — Stephanie Talmadge
16. Black Rabbit (Limited Series)
Netflix
Black Rabbit carries on the tradition of elite S-tier New York City stories like Taxi Driver and Uncut Gems in capturing the frenzied anxiety of a city where everyone from real estate tycoons to barbacks are betting on razor-thin odds between life-changing success and total ruin. Like fellow prestige TV darling, The Bear, season one drops us into a dysfunctional found family trying to run a restaurant full of gritty, realistic characters packed with heart and terrible decisions. However, instead of focusing on the healing power of good food, Black Rabbit explores ambition, addiction, betrayal, and the healing power of getting paid, in a tight thriller of a first season. Jason Bateman and Jude Law capture the infectious optimism and self-defeating charm of a certain breed of Dime Square hustler (I was viscerally upset they aren’t native New Yorkers) alongside a deep ensemble cast of tragic blue-collar friends and unforgettably menacing enemies that promise a killer second season. — Tucker Hughes
15. Pluribus (Season 1)
Apple TV
Vince Gilligan does it again. The pilot of Pluribus was incredible and sets a high bar for the rest of the show. Rhea Seehorn is worth the price of admission alone, and watching these two collaborate after Better Call Saul is a privilege for the viewer. The show highlights the best parts of cerebral sci-fi as a genre, posing existential philosophical questions about the human condition at every turn. It is, in many ways, a large sociological experiment explored via Gilligan’s unique, twisted, and genius style. While the show loses some steam after its riveting pilot, in typical Gilligan fashion, it is building to something. As Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul proved, Gilligan is the master of increasing tension and intrigue with an actual compelling and satisfying payoff— a.k.a. the anti JJ Abrams. In Gilligan we trust. He’s earned it. — Jonathan Wiener
14. Mr. Scorsese (Docuseries)
Apple TV
“Do you need to be cruel to be a great artist?” is the question that lies at the heart of Mr. Scorsese, a docuseries that examines what happens when one person becomes the singular creative force inside of a community. The show uses never-before-heard recordings to show how chaos and harm can begin from something as small as a single idea. This is a dark and introspective look into the mind of a 20th-century creative genius. — Matthew Strickland
13. Paradise (Season 1)
Hulu
Paradise, which has already been renewed for Season 2, is a sci-fi thriller with great pacing, a captivating plot, and surprise twists that will leave you wanting more. The show follows a dystopian world where time is currency, and themes of class, power, and survival are explored in creative ways. The lead actors deliver strong performances that make the story even more compelling. — Stephanie Talmadge
12. Abbott Elementary (Season 4)
Hulu
After a slow Season 3, which saw Quinta Brunson take a step back from the classroom, Season 4 found its footing. It struck the right balance of humor and heart that Abbott Elementary is known for. It felt nostalgic but also new, as the characters continued to evolve — especially Ava, who had one of the most interesting arcs this season. This show is a gem, and Season 4 is proof of that. — Stephanie Talmadge
11. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Season 3)
Amazon Prime Video
One couldn’t escape the Team Jeremiah vs. Team Conrad hysteria online this summer in which loyalties were tested yet again. What I appreciated most about Season 3 is that it felt more mature and refreshing. So many teen shows have themes that are hard to relate to if you’re not a teen, but this season brought the nostalgia, staying true to the high stakes of teenhood. This season, the Summer I Turned Pretty stood out amid some questionable writing and really showcased its star power. — Amanda Tirador
10. The Last of Us (Season 2)
HBO Max
The Last of Us Season 2 sinks even deeper into the emotional terrain that made the first season unforgettable, navigating love, loss, flickers of redemption, and an overwhelming pull toward revenge. While it doesn’t cover the entirety of The Last of Us Part II video game, it expands the fallout of Season 1 in ways that feel devastating and earned, showing how every choice Joel and Ellie made continues to ripple outward. Moments of connection, forgiveness, or simple survival cut through the brutality, reminding you that these characters are fighting for more than just another day. — Michelai Graham
9. All Her Fault (Limited Series)
Peacock
All Her Fault was such a good watch because it offers a twist on the typical kidnapping thrillers that audiences have grown accustomed to. I came for the mystery but stayed for the multiple point-of-view storytelling. With different women — who wouldn’t normally be in the same room — coming together to uncover the truth, it really showcased how common issues can impact everyone differently and highlighted the complexities of motherhood. — Audrey Blackmore
8. Alien: Earth (Season 1)
Hulu
Unlike the underwhelming Alien: Romulus, Alien: Earth brings the franchise back to its atmospheric, character-driven roots. Leaning into tension, claustrophobia, and a creeping sense of inevitability, the show uses its expanded runtime to restore what recent entries lost: patience, precision, and real dread. It’s the closest the series has come in years to understanding what made the original terrifying — the idea that humanity never really stood a chance. — Matthew Strickland
7. Task (Season 1)
HBO Max
There’s a great James Carville quote: “Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between.” When I watched Task, I couldn’t help but think of this quote. It is a dark crime drama set on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Mark Ruffalo does a solid job as the FBI agent, but the scene stealer of the show is Tom Pelphrey with a Yinz accent. There’s some True Detective vibes to it, and overall is a solid B show, which these days makes it an A, given the competition. — Jonathan Wiener
6. Andor (Season 2)
Disney+
Tony Gilroy explores the geopolitics of Star Wars in Andor in a way that has never been done before. It is a truly genius show, and belongs in the pantheon of the best shows of all time. Gilroy unpacks the armed insurgency against an authoritarian regime component of Star Wars, utilizing his vast knowledge of actual historical revolutions with a not-so-subtle contemporary lens into the current rise of autocratic movements in the United States. My only complaint is that there are only two seasons. It effectively elevates Rogue One and the entire Star Wars franchise. I’ll say it: It is the best Star Wars of all time…including The Empire Strikes Back. — Jonathan Wiener
5. The Studio (Season 1)
Apple TV
The Studio ended up being one of my favorite shows of the year, and a lot of that is due to the actors’ performances. Comedies can be hard — sometimes you either lean too far into the comedy to where it becomes goofy, or you try too hard to be serious, thus coming off too pretentious. But The Studio never falls into either pitfall. It’s so well-balanced that you want to return to these characters’ lives every week and watch the writers of this faux Saturday Night Live program try to cook up sketches and navigate their hectic lives. — Vinciane Ngomsi
4. The Chair Company (Season 1)
HBO Max
With I Think You Should Leave, Detroiters, and now The Chair Company under his belt, Tim Robinson continues cementing himself as one of the funniest men in TV. This series is slightly more grounded than his previous work, smartly centering each episode around a specific product so the writers and cast can build increasingly absurd scenarios from it. The characters feel real enough to care about, but the show never loses the comedic chaos that makes Robinson’s work so compelling. — Ellis Buery
3. Severance (Season 2)
Apple TV
Even with all of the crazy twists and turns of the first season, season two of Severance builds on what makes the show truly special: the chemistry of its cast. Following the explosive season one finale, the tension is high, and the stakes are raised, but the cast navigates the tone so well that the show never feels overwhelming. The sharp writing strikes the right balance of humor and unsettling moments, and by the end, you’re still on the edge of your seat wanting more. — Ellis Buery
2. Adolescence (Limited Series)
Netflix
Adolescence is the kind of show that only works when everyone involved commits to a risk — and this one pays off beautifully. At the center is Owen Patrick Cooper, who delivers a startling, career-making performance as 13-year-old Jamie Miller, a boy arrested for murder. His performance is so emotionally precise that it’s almost impossible to believe this is his first major on-screen role. The filmmaking is just as audacious: each one-hour episode is captured as a single continuous take, a technique that demands immense planning, flawless choreography, and advanced tech to pull off. The result feels less like television and more like live theatre. — Michelai Graham
1. The Pitt (Season 1)
HBO Max
The Pitt is our show of the year because it doesn’t rely on spectacle; it trusts the urgency of its world to carry the story. Set over a single 15-hour ER shift, with each episode representing one hour, the series follows a chaotic night in a Pittsburgh hospital as doctors and nurses confront the limits of medicine, a broken system, and the emotional weight of every choice they make. The real-time structure becomes its superpower, capturing the raw, unfiltered rhythm of a team trying to hold it together as everything threatens to fall apart. By the end, it’s clear why the show swept major awards. The Pitt isn’t just exceptional television; it’s the rare drama that feels necessary. — Michelai Graham
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