I’m a TV writer and these are easily five of the best shows so far this year

From Netflix hit Adolescence to a huge Channel 4 comedy, TV viewers have been treated to some stellar series in 2025

After three months, we have already seen some incredible TV shows. Netflix hit Apple Cider Vinegar brought to life the sickening story of an influencer who faked cancer for money and attention, Sky series Lockerbie: A Search for Truth showed Dr Jim Swire’s campaign to find answers about the horrific plane disaster and Marvel has finally made a decent TV series in Daredevil: Born Again.

Amandaland has continued the success of Motherland on BBC, Cobra Kai was widely praised by fans and critics for its finale and A Thousand Blows was a big hit on Disney+.

While there have been some brilliant shows, there have been some stinkers.

Channel 5’s The Au Pair had a predictable twist that went so off the rails that the Rail Accident Investigation Branch was called in to investigate, and Celebrity Bear Hunt left me wishing everyone involved were all left in the Costa Rican jungle.

Writing about TV is not all fun and games because I have had to round up some of the best TV shows released so far in 2025 and try to do my picks justice.

In no particular order, here are five of the best TV shows to watch and how to watch them.

Toxic Town

Toxic Town is a true story about dozens of women who gave birth to children with limb deformities and health problems in Corby, Northamptonshire. These mothers feel helpless and confused what has happened until they bump into other affected families and they realise something sinister has happened and changed their lives.

These mothers look at each other confused and angry as the local council clears a steel mill plant site for a new housing development and theme park, with open lorries racing past their homes. It’s unsettling to watch certain scenes knowing full well what has happened, but the mothers don’t.

The series is powerful in giving these women a voice and struggling to get justice when the odds were against them. There’s some creative licence during the series to help improve the storytelling, but Toxic Town is a largely accurate retelling of the true story behind the scandal.

Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood are fantastic lead actresses in Toxic Town for different reasons and both have moments to shine.

Toxic Town can be watched on Netflix.

Severance

After a nearly three-year wait for Severance, it’s finally back on Apple TV+. The series follows workers at corporation Lumon Industries, who agree to a “severance” program in which their workplace memories are separated from their primary, external memories.

Adam Scott, who plays Mark Scout, effectively plays two versions of the same character as figures from his ‘innie’ life crossover to his ‘outie’ life.

I won’t spoil the first season’s ending but the second season continues the series’ plot and is a stunning run of television that expands Severance’s universe.

Mind-bending, funny, harrowing, and stunning aren’t just what you would describe as a drug trip, but rather the second season of Severance. Severance is well worth the monthly subscription fee alone.

Seasons one and two of Severance can be watched on Apple TV+.

Big Boys

Big Boys is a series that seems like it’s quietly gone under the radar on Channel 4, but it’s been a huge hit among viewers.

The series focuses on Jack (Dylan Llewellyn), a closeted gay teenager who leaves his family home for university and shares accommodation with Danny (Jon Pointing). Based on comedian Jack Rooke’s own experiences, Jack struggles with modern life, socialising and being away from home after losing his father years before.

The pair have their own grief, trauma and mental health issues and what unfolds is three series of sharp comedy, effective storytelling and character development with plenty of emotional scenes. The series finale was also some of the best television I have watched for some time and I can’t see anyone criticising it at all. It’s that good.

The third series, also its last, aired earlier this year to great acclaim. The only tragedy is that not enough people seemed to have watched the series, bar passing references on Channel 4’s streaming service or the odd advert.

Watch the entire series from the beginning, but please have some tissues to hand.

The entire series of Big Boys can be watched on Channel 4.

Adolescence

At this point, it seems everyone has watched Adolescene or seen a clip of the series on social media. Adolescence is impossible to avoid, and it’s almost inevitable that you will watch the series.

The Miller family and wider community are shocked when 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) is arrested for the murder of schoolgirl Katie Leonard. What follows is a family struggling to come to terms with Jamie’s actions, a shocked community struggling to comprehend why this happened with adults at a loss to explain and how teenage boys can be whipped up by dark influencers social media.

It’s certainly one of the most gripping TV shows I have watched in a while and one that has stuck with me after I completed the series. I have so many thoughts about its messages, themes, moral dilemmas, and the crushing reality of Jamie’s actions, but I am also in awe of the raw and emotional acting, cinematography, and directing that leave you wondering, ‘How on Earth did they do that?’

Adolescence will be a series that will linger throughout the year and into awards season and be revisited again in the future. A vital, if not harrowing, watch for parents as we all understand the incel subculture creeping into playgrounds and social media feeds.

Adolescence can be watched on Netflix

White Lotus

The third season of the dark comedy anthology series is out and it’s been a blast so far. The Thailand hotel and retreat welcomes a new batch of guests who are all staying for different reasons – family trips, friends reunions or just an escape.

The White Lotus continues to have rich storytelling and fully fleshed-out characters, with a mix of satire and social commentary thrown in. I won’t spoil too much about the series, but it’s worth keeping tabs on.

Season three of White Lotus can be watched on NOW and Sky TV along with seasons one and two.