Undoubtedly, 2025 was a bad year for America—but it was a great year for television. The best TV shows of 2025 could be found on streaming, premium cable, and even (even!) public television. They’re funny; they’re dramatic; they’re both at the same time. They’re animated, in both the figurative sense and, in one case, the literal sense. Some reunite us with beloved familiar faces; some introduce us to compelling new performers. Some dominated at the Emmys last September (congratulations, Adolescence and The Pitt!), while others either aren’t eligible until next fall (good luck, Pluribus!) or were shamefully overlooked by the Television Academy. (We know there’s no way to make another season of Dying for Sex—but nine nominations and not a single win feels cruel.)
All are well worth your time, particularly as the weather and, perhaps, the horrors of current events draw more of us indoors. Huddle before your screens—preferably something bigger than a phone, please—and behold the 19 best TV shows of 2025, as chosen by Vanity Fair staffers and presented in reverse chronological order.
By Mike Doyle.
The American Revolution
Release date: November 16
Network: PBS
Notable cast members: Paul Giamatti, Tom Hanks, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew Rhys, Claire Danes
Synopsis: Master documentarian Ken Burns trains his eye on the war that birthed the United States.
It’s a series about the Founding Fathers, and fathers will be so glad they found it. But seriously, folks: Ken Burns and codirectors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt really know their stuff. The team spent 10 years assembling this behemoth of a series, and the effort shows—it’s densely packed but extraordinarily accessible, providing an essential overview of America’s founding while making a point of highlighting less frequently explored perspectives. This sort of meticulousness is always appreciated—but at a time when both truth and public broadcasting itself are endangered, it also feels brave, even patriotic. And on a shallow note: it’s very fun to try to guess which famous voices are reading the various primary documents featured in each episode, then watch the credits to see if you were right. —Hillary Busis
