Forget new releases: 25 addictive TV series from 2025 worth rewatching – and the details you might’ve missed the first time
Television in 2025 turned us ‘Upside Down’, gave us an urgent wake-up call when it came to toxic masculinity and saw the reinvention of medical dramas as we know them.
To wrap up a monumental year in entertainment we’re rounding up the most binge-worthy shows of 2025.
There might be some you’ve never heard of but if they’ve made this list it probably means you should should give them a watch. No judgement here – just great TV!
The best TV shows of 2025: Looking back at this year’s most binge-worthy series (Nine/Supplied)
If you missed our previous lists here are our best TV shows of 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Best new show of the year: ‘Adolescence’ (Netflix)
Perhaps not too much of a surprise, after all the show won best drama series at this year’s Emmy Awards.
Adolescence was the Baby Reindeer of 2025 with its searing and deeply unsettling exploration of children, vulnerability, and the human condition.
Owen Cooper as 13-year-old Jamie Miller. (Netflix)
This four-part British crime drama centres on the arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) for the brutal stabbing of a female classmate.
It is a “must-watch” primarily for its ground-breaking format: each hour-long episode is filmed in one continuous, breathless shot, trapping the viewer in the real-time nightmare of a family as they navigate a justice system they don’t understand.
The Rewatch Factor: Viewers on their second watch have realized that the ambient, high-pitched vocalizations in the orchestral score are actually distorted recordings of the victim’s voice.
The voice belongs to Emilia Holliday, who plays Owen’s victim, Katie Leonard. She doesn’t have any dialogue in the series but you can hear her loud and clear in the music.
The show’s impact was so profound that it swept the 77th Primetime Emmys, where Owen Cooper made history as the youngest-ever winner for Outstanding Supporting Actor, cementing the show’s legacy as a modern masterpiece.
Where to watch: Netflix
Best drama series we didn’t know we needed: ‘Severance’ (Apple TV+)
After a gruelling three-year hiatus, Season 2 of Severance (Apple TV+) didn’t just meet expectations in 2025, it shattered the “season 2 slump” myth to become one of the most intellectually gripping dramas of the year.
The Rewatch Factor: Keep your eyes on the opening credits. 2025 viewers spotted that the cartoon versions of the “Innies” are often carrying objects that don’t appear until three or four episodes later (like the “Woe’s Hollow” balloons).
Picking up immediately after the explosive Season 1 finale, the story follows Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and his fellow Macrodata Refinement colleagues as they navigate the terrifying fallout of their “Innie” rebellion.
READ MORE: From Forrest Gump to Titanic’s Jack Dawson: 10 iconic TV and movie roles your favourite actors missed out on or blew all together
Cubicles made a comeback in the TV series Severance. (AP)
Returning stars Britt Lower, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, and the chilling Tramell Tillman are joined by a powerhouse new ensemble including Gwendoline Christie, Alia Shawkat, and Bob Balaban.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Best final season: ‘Stranger Things’ (Netflix)
Yes, this is incredibly premature.
The final season of the nostalgic horror series, which will consists of eight episodes, is being released in three parts. The first volume premiered on November 26, 2025, with the second slated for Christmas Day and the finale scheduled for December 31, that is New Years Eve.
Fans and critics have been waiting over three and a half years for this final season.
After the events of the fourth season, in the fall of 1987, the group, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Will (Noah Schnapp), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and Max (Sadie Sink) seek to find and kill Vecna following the opening of rifts throughout Hawkins. Their mission becomes more complicated when the military arrives in town and begins hunting Eleven.
The group is supported by the grown-ups including Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), Jim Hopper (David Harbour), Steve Harrington (Joe Keery), Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer), Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke).
READ MORE: Shocking truth behind 11 major TV and movie roles that were recast with new actors
As the anniversary of Will Byers’ disappearance (from the first season) approaches, the group must unite for a final battle against a new deadly threat.
The Rewatch Detail: Keep a close eye on Will’s drawings in the background of the Wheeler basement. Fans realized that the “red swirling vortex” Will draws in Episode 3 is a frame-for-frame match of the physics diagram Mr. Clarke drew on the chalkboard in Season 1 to explain the “Acrobat and the Flea.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Best streaming movie of the year: ‘Bump: A Christmas Movie’ (Stan)
Set chronologically between episodes 9 and 10 of the final season, the film serves as a poignant “festive flashback” that allows the legendary Claudia Karvan to return as Angie for one last chaotic hurrah.
The Rewatch Factor: Knowing that Angie dies shortly after this movie (between episodes 9 and 10), her interactions with the baby are heartbreaking. Watch the scene where she decorates the tree; she lingers on a “First Christmas” ornament. It’s an emotional watch.
READ MORE: Why the Stan Original Christmas Film Nugget Is Dead is this year’s must-watch holiday film
The story follows the extended Chalmers-Davis and Hernandez clans, including Nathalie Morris as Oly and Carlos Sanson Jr. as Santi—as they swap a Sydney summer for a high-stakes, nine-day Christmas cruise around the Colombian coast.
Stream Bump: A Christmas Film now, only on Stan.
READ MORE: ‘Glad we fooled you’: Claudia Karavan returns from death in Bump Christmas movie – but not everything is what it seems
Hidden gem: ‘Dying For Sex’ (Disney+)
Dying For Sex does the impossible: it’s a series about terminal illness that feels audaciously joyful. Based on the hit podcast, the show stars Michelle Williams as Molly, a woman who, upon receiving a stage four metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, decides to leave her stable but sexless marriage to embark on a radical journey of sexual self-discovery.
Hollywood actress Michelle Williams plays Molly in ‘Dying for Sex’.
Anchored by Jenny Slate as Molly’s fiercely loyal best friend Nikki, and supported by a stellar cast including Rob Delaney, Jay Duplass, and Sissy Spacek, the series transcends the typical “cancer drama.”
The Rewatch Factor: Pay attention to the colour palette of Molly’s (Michelle Williams) outfits. As the series progresses and she moves closer to the “finish line,” the colours shift from muted hospital tones to vibrant, aggressive reds and golds.
It is a “must-watch” because it refuses to treat its protagonist as a tragedy; instead, it uses the ticking clock of mortality to explore kink, agency, and the profound intimacy of female friendship with a raw, “raunchy,” and often hilarious honesty.
Where to watch: Disney+
In Pictures
10 iconic Hollywood movies that were almost never made
From Titanic to the Lord of the Rings.
View Gallery
Surprise hit of the year: ‘The Pitt’ (HBO Max)
The Pitt captivated audiences by masterfully reviving the “old-school” medical procedural for the streaming age. Created by R. Scott Gemmill and executive produced by ER veterans John Wells and Noah Wyle, the series follows the high-stakes environment of an underfunded Pittsburgh trauma centre.
What makes the show a true “must-watch” is its unique, high-concept format: the entire 15-episode first season takes place over a single, gruelling 15-hour shift, with each episode covering exactly one hour in real time.
The Rewatch Factor: Since the show takes place in real-time over one 15-hour shift, pay attention to the background clocks and the changing light in the “Pit.”
Noah Wyle delivers a powerhouse, Emmy-winning performance as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, a veteran physician navigating post-pandemic burnout while mentoring a diverse group of residents and students, including standout turns by Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, and Katherine LaNasa (who also took home an Emmy for her role as the formidable charge nurse Dana).
Where to watch: Netflix
Best new series you may not be watching: ‘Heated Rivalry’
Based on the best-selling Game Changers novel by Rachel Reid, Heated Rivalry, modernises the sports drama with a bold, unapologetic queer lens. The series centres on the electric, decade-long tension between two hockey superstars: the clean-cut, disciplined Canadian golden boy Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and the cocky, trash-talking Russian phenom Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie).
What begins as a secret, physical tryst between rookies evolves into a deeply moving saga of forbidden love as they navigate the hyper-masculine, high-stakes world of professional hockey. Created by Jacob Tierney, the show’s record-breaking viewership on Canadian network Crave, the series was picked up by HBO Max for a second season, ensuring that the saga of “Hollanov” is only just beginning.
The Rewatch Factor: The tension between the two leads is telegraphed through their equipment. On a rewatch, notice that whenever Shane and Ilya are “enemies,” they never look at each other’s jerseys. But as the secret romance develops, their eyes constantly track the other’s “number” on the ice.
Where to watch: HBO Max
In Pictures
Famous movie quotes you didn’t realise you’ve been saying wrong
Here’s some of those most common slip-ups.
View Gallery
Best documentary series: ‘Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took on the World’ (9Now)
This definitive four-part retrospective, produced by the legendary Norma Percy, chronicles the Herculean effort led by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to transform a “fading” rock career into a global humanitarian movement.
Featuring raw, modern-day interviews with Bono, Sting, Brian May, and Phil Collins, alongside political heavyweights like Tony Blair, the series provides a visceral look at the “glamour and guilt” of 1985.
Boy George and George Michael were among many stars who joined Band Aid. (9Now)
It is a “must-watch” for its unflinching honesty .The series address the logistical madness, the “white saviour” criticisms, and the shocking archival footage of Geldof ambushing Margaret Thatcher.
Stream Live Aid: When Rock ‘N’ Roll Took on the World 9Now.
Best returning series we didn’t know we needed: ‘The Rehearsal’ (HBO Max)
The Rehearsal is bonkers.
Star and creator Nathan Fielder’s “simulation” logic goes to terrifying and hilarious new heights. While Season 1 explored the domestic and the personal, Season 2 centres on a grand, high-stakes mission: Nathan’s obsessive quest to revolutionize aviation safety.
After theorizing that plane crashes are caused by social awkwardness and a lack of assertive communication between pilots, Fielder uses HBO’s massive budget to build a replica of an airport terminal and eventually learns to fly a Boeing 737 himself.
It’s hard to know what’s real and what’s just for the cameras, like blending a fake singing competition called Wings of Voice, a satirical war with Paramount+. The series also takes a deeply introspective look at mental health and neurodiversity. It’s incredible.
The Rewatch Factor: Nathan Fielder is known for layers, but in Season 2, keep an eye on the extras. Several background actors in the “fake” scenarios are actually people Nathan “rehearsed” with in Season 1, playing different roles.
Where to watch: HBO Max.
Best reality show: Tie: ‘Married At First Sight’ (9Now) and ‘The Golden Bachelor’
Yes. Yes. We may seem a bit biased here, but the truth is, there is no better reality show that Married At First Sight Australia, but this year there was another show that captured the nation’s attention.
The country fell in love with (again) with Rhi and Jeff. We were captivated by Katie and the drama of Morena and Tony, Adrian and Awhina, Jamie and Dave and not to mention Lauren and Eliot’s second weddings.
The Rewatch Factor: Now that you know the outcome you can keep a close watch on all the couple who split. Were the signs always there? Were they doomed from the start?
The country were captivated by Rhi and Jeff’s wedding, especially after the shock of discovering that they previously dated. (Nine)
The show lives on long after the cameras stop rolling, with daily updates of the Participants on the Married At First Sight website.
Stream every episode of Married At First Sight for free on 9Now.
Equally as gripping as MAFS was meeting Australia’s very first Golden Bachelor, Bear.
Hosted by Samantha Armytage, the series centred on 61-year-old Barry “Bear” Myrden, a charismatic engineer and widower whose search for a second chance at love resonated with millions.
The cast of 20 women, including radio personality Bianca Dye and the mother of former Bachelorette Abbie Chatfield, Laura Neal, brought a refreshing depth to the screen. The women focused on shared life experiences, resilience, and a supportive sisterhood that we’ve never seen on television before.
The Rewatch Factor: Watch Sunny and Bear’s first interaction again, many fans have noticed that Bear’s body language was always different around his now-partner. Was it so obvious from the very beginning?
Stream every episode of The Golden Bachelor Australia on 9Now.
In Pictures
A closer look into the cast of Breaking Bad’s lives 10 years after the season finale
Vince Gilligan reveals glaring error in the series.
View Gallery
Best comedy series: ‘Hacks’ Season 4 (Stan)
In 2025, Hacks reaffirmed its status as the pinnacle of modern comedy with a pitch-perfect season.
Led by the incomparable Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, the series continued to evolve in ways that few comedies manage, delivering laugh-out-loud moments while peeling back layers of its characters to reveal genuine vulnerability.
READ MORE: Jean Smart fulfils life long dream of becoming a stand-up comedian in new season of Hacks
The dynamic between Deborah and her young writing partner Ava (Hannah Einbinder) has never been sharper, creating a relationship that showcases the generational clash and collaboration with unparalleled nuance.
The Rewatch Factor: Pay close attention to the background props in Deborah’s dressing room. Throughout the season, items from her early “failed” career (like the sitcom pilot script or the original Vegas residency contract) are slowly being replaced by awards and photos of her and Ava together.
Stream every episode of Hacks only on Stan.
Hounorable mentions:
‘Love Island Australia’ (Season 7) (9Now)
The explosive drama, heartfelt connections, and unpredictable twists kept fans glued to their screens, making it the most addictive season yet.
Host Sophie Monk guides dozens of singles on their explosive search for love. (Nine)
‘Generation V’ (Season 2) (Prime Video)
With shocking betrayals, bloody battles, and razor-sharp satire, this season pushed its anti-hero narrative to thrilling new heights and set up a perfect final season of The Boys which is to come in 2026.
‘Adults’ (Disney+): This sharp ensemble comedy redefined the “quarter-life crisis” genre with its painfully relatable, bitingly funny portrayal of friends navigating the absurdity of modern adulthood in Queens.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ (Season 5) (Disney+): The trio’s investigation into the murder of their beloved doorman, Lester, proved the show’s formula is still gold, especially with the introduction of the Arconia’s controversial new “robot doorman.”
‘He Had It Coming’ (Stan): Cody Simpson in a surprising role, this “feisty feminist” comedy-drama blended on-campus gender politics with a sharp-witted murder mystery that kept Australian audiences guessing.
‘Asura’ (Netflix): Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, this 1970s-set Japanese drama became a global sensation for its delicate, masterful exploration of family secrets and the fallout of a patriarch’s long-hidden affair.
‘Boots’ (Netflix): This poignant coming-of-age military drama, inspired by the memoir The Pink Marine, earned praise for its rare, heart-wrenching look at closeted identity and brotherhood within the 1990s Marine Corps.
‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ (Netflix): Produced by 50 Cent, this explosive four-part docuseries became the most talked-about true crime event of the year for its staggering examination of the mogul’s empire and the voices of those who finally spoke out.
‘The Morning Show’ (Season 4) (Apple TV+): The series reached new heights of tension as Alex and Stella grappled with the ethical “grey areas” of AI deepfakes and the cutthroat reality of leadership following the UBN merger.
‘The Floor’ (Channel 9 / 9Now): Hosted by Rodger Corser, this massive trivia tournament reinvented the game show format with its 81-contestant grid, becoming a dominant ratings hit and a nightly social media obsession.
The Floor became the nation’s favourite game show. (Nine)
‘The Last of Us’ (Season 2) (HBO): Delivering on years of anticipation, this season was a brutal, cinematic triumph that deepened the bond between Joel and Ellie while introducing a devastating new chapter of revenge in the Pacific Northwest. And that death… epic!
‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ (Apple TV+): Jon Hamm’s turn as a desperate hedge fund manager who starts stealing from his wealthy neighbours turned this suburban thriller into a suspenseful “must-watch” about the fragility of the American Dream.
Nine Entertainment Co (the publisher of this website) owns and operates the streaming service Stan.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest news from your favourite shows via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
