Caitlin Wyneken’s Top 5 Shows of 2025

Between network, cable, and streaming, it can be overwhelming to decide how to find the television you’ll love. And on network TV especially, it can feel like reality shows are taking over the lineup.

That said, there will always be series that leave us laughing, crying, breathless—or all of the above. In fact, there are more of them than ever before.

In no particular order, here are my top 5 TV shows of 2025:

1. Paradise (Hulu)

From the stunning twist at the end of episode one, which redefines the trajectory of the entire series, Paradise is a standout of the year and of all post-apocalyptic fiction. Much of this rests on the shoulders of star Sterling K Brown, but every cast member, writer, and crew member clearly put their all into these eight episodes.

The discoveries made and actions taken by characters are often brutal or heartbreaking, yet we are left waiting for season 2 with a fervent sense of hope. It’s especially welcome when many elements of this science-fiction universe feel uncomfortably close to home.

2. The Marlow Murder Club (PBS)

After a four-episode season one based entirely on the first of Robert Thorogood’s book series of the same name, The Marlow Murder Club Season 2 strikes out on its own. The first two episodes are an adaptation of the second novel, while the remaining four are built on original plotlines.

With an almost entirely female main cast, most of whom are over the age of 50, both the books and the show have many classic “cozy mystery” elements. They also have intriguing investigations, sharp wit, and the occasional life-or-death elements of primetime TV.

3. Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Five seasons in, Abbott Elementary hasn’t slowed down a bit. Peeping into this inner-city school and the lives of the teachers and others there is a welcome break of humor and heart in an often-dark world.

Of course, the show is also very real itself, handling issues of race, wealth disparity, and overwork tenderly but unflinchingly. Too few of us understand just how grueling it can be to fulfill one of society’s most important roles. Abbott Elementary uses laughter to remind us why we should appreciate them.

4. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Would a show like Only Murders in the Building truly be plausible? It’s hard to imagine a world in which a building that sees this much death truly inspires a celebrated podcast and not immediate closure and the evacuation of residents to safer housing. And yet we keep coming back for more.

The chemistry between Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez still sparks through every scene, whether shocking, absurd, or both. This is about as funny as murder gets, and yet, with most victims being those we care for, we’re also always genuinely invested in seeing our heroes get them justice.

5. Watson (CBS)

It can be hard to keep track of all the adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s canon that have been made over the years. Watson isn’t the first to modernize it, tell it from the perspective of Holmes’s best friend, or even to place it in a medical setting, but it still manages to stand on its own.

From the unique takes on classic characters to patients we genuinely care for to characters who are nearly as good detectives as they are doctors, every episode gives us something to root for. These are also very imperfect people, and both the secrets we know about and those that have just been hinted promise plenty of drama episodes to come.

—

What TV shows were your favorites this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Follow us on X and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!