Ben Morris’s Top Ten TV of 2025

For me the theme of this TV year is that a lot can change from season to season of a show. Not exactly a ground-breaking lesson because I already knew this on some level, but with so much prestige TV where each season gets better than the last it can still be jolting. If someone told me last year after season 3 of Hacks, which was my number one show of the year, that season 4 wouldn’t even make my honorable mentions, it would have shocked me. This wasn’t just shows I loved not having a great season; there were also several surprises. Shows that have been consistently good entering great territory, or a show I almost gave up on after last season coming back and having the best season it has ever had. Even a reboot of a show I never got into becoming one of the highlights of the year. Basically it’s a lesson that greatness in TV is still alive and well and coming from all over.

Honorable Mentions:

The 97th Academy Awards–Last year’s show made this list partially from the emotional fulfillment I got from The Academy giving my choices wins in Best Picture, Director and all the acting categories. A feat I thought would probably never happen again. This year they not only repeated those wins, they added original screenplay and animated feature to the list!! The show itself also had great moments like Conan O’Brien’s monologue (unlike the Adam Sandler bit that not only wasn’t funny but wouldn’t end) and Nick Offerman as the announcer. But the presenters were not as smooth as last year and the musical moments were very hit or miss for me. Still any award show that gets that many choices right is going to be an emotional highlight for me. (ABC)

Hazbin Hotel–Vivienne Medrano’s sophomore season has been a steady improvement on every level. The show was tighter in its storytelling and use of characters, and the soundtrack overall was so great I needed to get it for myself. We had some great progress, learning some secrets to keep us satisfied while still giving us much to wonder about this world. The greatest selling point for me though was the fact that we had a great villain in Vox. In season one he was a goofy side character but this season the show delved deeper into his goals and motivations, making him tragic on one level to megalomaniacal on another. His final moments this year were perfect for his progression and where all his anger and psychosis would take him. And he had the best songs as well! He stole the show in the best possible way, never overtaking the story but enhancing the whole thing. (Amazon Prime)

South Park–I have been of the opinion that South Park has been reliably entertaining for pretty much its entire run. Yet the waves it made this season were incredibly well deserved. Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s complete willingness to say what they really feel about the situation going on in this country without fear while also being incredibly funny, and having a strange but intricate storyline that they actually pulled together in the end (for the most part). What happened with Trump and Satan’s baby was so clever I laughed out loud. (Comedy Central)

Bob’s Burgers–Returning to this show after I had stopped watching it a few years ago I was surprised by how funny the show was but also how overall pleasant it is. These are fun characters to be around and I cannot believe that they still find interesting situations for them to get into. There is always an episode or two that has some deeper emotional moments. Tina and Louise’s fighting through drawings leading to a touching moment between sisters. Or Mr. Fischoeder wanting to perform a song differently than the mainstream was surprisingly moving. Bob’s Burgers is not the filler nom in the animated series Emmy race I thought. It deserves it! (Fox)

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity–A teenage romance about a boy Rintaro in public school liking Kaoruko, a girl in the elite school, seems like a basic idea but the differences in class are not the big issue here, it is overcoming self-doubt. Rintaro doesn’t just doubt he is good enough for Kaoruko, he doubts he is good enough to have friends at all. Here friendship and acceptance is just as important as romance. Rintaro’s friends and family have to beat him over the head that they are here for him and he learns what a good person he is. (His mom literally does to great comedic effect.)
They are not just the supporting cast, they also have a lot going on in terms of their own doubts about their standing in the world being in public school. Saku in particular feels that the private school girls are stuck up, and being just as smart as them academically seems to have a lot of his own biases to get over. Kaoruko’s best friend Subaru has her own doubts and is worried that she is holding Kaoruko back, and is deeply protective. She easily could have fallen into being the overbearing best friend but we see her own issues that she is working through. With how far these characters have come in one season it will be interesting to see where they go from here. (Netflix)

Slow Horses–Still one of the most reliable dramas on television, with great action, funny moments, and some of the most entertaining characters you will see anywhere. An especially great moment this year was when Gary Oldman gave a monologue that had me as enraptured as the characters listening. Was it real? Just a trick to distract people? Or a bit of both? Slow Horses still knows how to surprise and entertain. (Apple TV)

Dan Da Dan-This continues to be the best horror/comedy/action/romance/sci-fi anime out there. It had one of the most gorgeous creative battles this entire year using famous musicians attacking with notes and then changing to giants spewing a flood of people out of their mouths. (It makes sense, trust me!) The fact that this show with all its moving parts was able to keep itself going and engaging is impressive in and of itself. There was some growth and new knowledge, but really it is just a fun time being in this crazy world and seeing what they are able to do with it. An impressive anime that kept its momentum going and ending with a WTF moment that has me wondering what season 3 will bring. (Crunchyroll)

The White Lotus–Mike White’s ability to create great ensembles of interesting mixes of actors is unmatched in TV. The show continued to keep me on edge and deliver some of the strangest yet believable moments on TV. From a monologue that took the Internet by storm, to turning one of the nicest characters in the show to being just as greedy and selfish as everyone else, to another tragic death that surprised and saddened me. The White Lotus gave us another reason to keep checking back in. (HBO)


10. Fisk–Trying to define this Australian comedy is hard because of so many moving parts that change from episode to episode. It’s about a quirky middle-aged lawyer, Helen Fisk, at a small probate firm dealing with weird clients, navigating what her former supreme court justice dad and his husband are up to, and her interactions with her co-workers: George Chen, the probate clerk who is Helen’s closest friend at the firm, Roz Gruber a lawyer/mediator who can be a bit of a diva, and Ray Gruber (Roz’s brother), who doesn’t seem to do much work but does the networking.
The show was always fun, but the third season really seemed to find a special groove, having a really great sense of who these characters are after three seasons. The situations they find themselves in are not big events but, because of their distinct personalities, the possibilities are endless. Fisk having to be the networker despite genuinely not liking most people. Ray being in a relationship (romance has never been a big part of the show), and Roz getting frustrated with her clients not respecting the mediation process. These seemingly normal situations bring strange results that are hard to predict. Combine that with great chemistry, witty one-liners, and just random moments, and you have one of the best comedy series of the year. (Netflix)

9. Re:Zero-Starting Life in Another World–I binged two and a half seasons to catch up to the second half of season three and it was worth it! Seeing Subaru’s growth across this show has been astounding and culminated in him working with friends and allies to fight back against the archbishops of the Witch Cult made for exciting viewing. With great fight sequences but also satisfying ways, this large cast of characters in their own unique ways not only fought back but showed how it helped them discover new skills or overcome fears so each hero has a chance to leave a mark.
It would be nothing if they didn’t have worthy opponents and the Archbishops of the Witch Cult each brought their own dark personality and powers in how they attacked our heroes. They have insane powers, but it is their psychology and how they use it that makes them truly memorable and horrifying. These battles ended in what seems strange to say, but the right way. Who survived feels right and already sets up the next season perfectly. Our heroes fought well and they know it, but they also know the fight is far from over. (Crunchyroll)

8. Common Side Effects–This show incorporates questions about the health care industry, conspiracy theories, capitalism, relationships, humor, FBI agents who love listening to music, psychedelic visions, and a mushroom that heals any illness. What makes all this work is how they do not make the situation easy. Bashing the health care industry is easy and it is definitely done in this show for good reason. But it also touches on things that they do that are also important, like clinical trials. The fact that they have been able to balance so many ideas and characters and never feel like we are lost or missing important details was incredibly impressive. These characters have many facets to them and it provides a lot of greyness. Even our two leads, Marshall and Frances (the good guys), go through a lot of changes in their values and goals with the mushroom and how they see the world around them.
Its distinct animation style fits the world perfectly, giving a weird sort of realism to it while also moving seamlessly into the psychedelic moments. I am also impressed with how the psychedelic animation moments come about. Usually I find that technique in animation distracting, but here it never takes over the story to be weird for weirdness’s sake. It is very connected to the plot and characters and creates a great sense of mystery that I am eager to learn more about. The end of the season left a lot of potential new issues that these characters will deal with, and what this mushroom’s effects could be on the wider world. I have no idea what is coming next and that has me really excited. (Adult Swim)

7. My Dress-Up Darling–The positivity of this show is in many ways a source of wonder to me. Marin and Gojo’s relationship of finding joy in the creative act of making cosplay outfits continued this season with Marin also really trying to figure out how to tell Gojo she loves him. Watching these characters find like-minded people with different skills or tastes in creating cosplay expanded how we as the audience see cosplaying but also the characters. Marin and Gojo are always excited to learn and gain new friends with the same interest and then create new cosplay opportunities.
This show is about acceptance and that finding your group is what you need to not feel so isolated from the world. Gojo has been alone for so long making hina dolls, and the trauma of being told he was weird as a kid has stung for awhile. Now he is around people who celebrate his interests and his skills. Marin, who was always popular and a genuinely happy person, is dealing with her intense feelings for Gojo and is worried about losing her best friend if she tells him and is rejected. She is looking for hints and reading into things that can lead to some really sweet moments or humorous misunderstandings. She wants more but it will never distract from her love of cosplaying and spending time with Gojo and their friends. While Gojo is slowly realizing he loves her, he doesn’t think of her that way because he just is so happy with the way things are he hasn’t even gotten to the point of thinking of dating her. You know they will end up together (in this show there is not even a hint of a rival for their affections) that you still cannot help but smile.
Also a great final moment of the season deals with a new character Akira Ogata, who gives Marin the cold shoulder and says she cannot be around Marin, to Gojo’s sadness. But Marin is willing to accept it because she is genuinely nice and doesn’t want to make someone uncomfortable, which leads to one of the most hilarious moments this season. (Crunchyroll)

6. King of the Hill–I only watched the original run sporadically enough to have a general sense of the characters. (I didn’t remember Dale was a conspiracy theorist, to give you a sense of my knowledge.) When it was announced the show was coming back, but with the caveat that the characters would be aged up, I was immediately intrigued. It felt like there was some real thought into this show’s return, and not just a blatant cash grab. My expectations were met and then some.
Bobby as an adult was a highlight for me, seeing how much like and not like his parents he has become, and the new dynamic between them. They may have disagreements but nothing that would cause a rift, you always feel the love between them even if they don’t say it. His dedication to his work was frankly inspiring and him being an adult also added some great new characters like Emilio, a sous chef in his restaurant who already feels essential to the cast, and the short-lived girlfriend Willow who really brought out something in all the characters (I pray she comes back somehow.)
Then having Hank and Peggy retire after living abroad in a closed community in Saudi Arabia led to a lot of interesting ideas about where they are in their lives. For both, what will they fill their time with when work is something that was so important to them? It was handled thoughtfully and brought up some intergenerational issues about communication and connection. Then, of course, I also laughed a lot. Hank’s response to getting Cowboy Fantasy Camp tickets from Bobby may be my comedic moment of the year. “This isn’t some ashtray you made in art class that I have to pretend to like. This is… the Cowboys.” I have gone back to watch the original run and, only two seasons in, it still hasn’t grabbed me like the revival. Maybe I just have to keep going, or maybe this is the version that works for me. Either way, I am glad King of the Hill is back. (Hulu)

5. Spy x Family–This show has been one of the most reliably entertaining anime out there, seeing the action and antics of the Forger family: Loid the spy, Yor the assassin, and Anya the telepathic child, who is the only one who knows the truth about everyone but being so little doesn’t always understand. This season the show gave us new insights into its characters: getting Loid’s sad backstory about why he is a spy, Yor starting to socialize with Damian’s mother Melinda and her friends. Through his mom we see even more complexity of Damian’s life and him taking very slow, slow steps to maybe acknowledge that he likes Anya.
Anya continues to be one of the best characters created. Her bravery and empathy during the hostage situation, reading the hostage taker’s mind, was heartbreaking. Then her getting overly braggy with the other kids so Damian gets into a fight with her and everyone losing interest was a perfect Anya moment. Or Anya reading Loid’s thoughts that Yor being Melinda’s friend could be another way of getting information on her husband Desmond in case Anya doesn’t become friends with Damian. Her reaction to this is that she becomes determined to “beat” her mother in friendship.Then Anya taking a rope to the zoo, believing she is capturing animals, was a great gag. Basically you cannot go wrong with Anya. The show touches on some darker subjects yet never loses its humor and charm while revealing subtle insights into the characters and world. This has always been a great show and now I appreciate it even more. (Crunchyroll)

4. Harley Quinn–This was the best season this show has ever had! Harley and Ivy’s relationship finally felt real to me in the way they support each other, argue, and even storm off, but their love is never broken. The move to Metropolis really brought up some new ideas, including the clever ways of getting the core cast like King Shark, Clayface, Batman, Joker, and Bane into the plot but with their own stories that intersect with Harley, which was equally creative and added to the experience and humor of the show overall.
This is a show known for taking famous DC characters and creating their own spin on them, and Brainiac might just be their best version yet. They took a cold, emotionless being who destroys worlds and turned him into a tragically misguided individual, thinking he is fixing things by making them perfect after a personal tragedy. It was clever, creative, and led to a very melancholy but satisfying end. We haven’t heard about a renewal yet, and if this is the end it was a great ending. But seeing the creativity, I am really hoping to hear about season 6 very soon. (HBO Max)

3. The Studio–This show felt like it was giving me a warm hug. For all the pratfalls and cringe humor there was always a sense that everyone in this show really loves movies and media in general. Matt Remick (Seth Rogan) downright saying he loves quality movies and wants to be part of the creative process. Yet the complexity of his role as a studio head makes it that he is usually either in the way or a distraction. Plus, having to compromise that vision to make money for his bosses or letting his own insecurities get in the way allows us to feel for him because we see he is genuinely a good person. His actions are what usually lead to the humorous moments.
The balance this show provides is that we get to see the struggles and down right ridiculous things that go into the making of a movie but also the heart. The ensemble cast is definitely a bunch of egotistical movie people, but the show never lets them fall into caricature. We get to see their humanity, their ambitions, and their weaknesses. We also see them as friends. They may stab each other in the back but they do not hate each other. Then, of course, the celebrity guests have been used better than in any show I can think of in recent memory, with so many great bits that how they came up with all these ideas for them is impressive in and of itself. Oh, and that cringe humor and pratfalls, they were done so expertly to have me horrified for the poor individual and then usually laughing my ass off! (Apple TV)

2. Andor–The levels this show inhabits is truly remarkable. How fascism’s inhumanity is all-encompassing and takes on many forms. Those who fight it are forced to make compromising choices for the greater good even as it eats away at them. Those who believe that fascism is the only way are themselves just as expendable as the people they are oppressing. Following these characters gives us that insight without ever preaching or spelling it out. It is all in the great storytelling and the deep character work that went into this amazing show. It really needs to be seen to appreciate all that it was able to do, and I really hope that those who skipped out or gave up early give it another chance. It’s a show that really builds as it goes, and where you end up will leave you breathless. (Disney+)

1. Pluribus–Leave it to Vince Gilligan, creator of two literal TV masterpieces, to come in at the end of the year and upend everything. From its tension-filled pilot slowly revealing this world-changing phenomenon, I was hooked and the show has just gotten better and better as it has gone on. This is anchored in the outstanding and should be future Emmy-winning performance of Rhea Seehorn as Carol. She has to carry so much of this show, the sense of horror and isolation to what has happened and how she fights back, be it simply resisting with her caustic wit to investigate and cataloguing everything she knows. Then there are the moments when the sadness of it just hits her, and we see her trying to cope, and at times she just needs someone to hold her. I cannot praise her enough.
While there is a mystery to what has happened to the world, which is intriguing with details coming out in drips, solving it and giving us a satisfying answer is not what the show is built on. It is seeing what the world would be like and what challenges it would all entail if this did happen. Seeing how everyone reacts to this, from those infected explaining why they love what has happened to the survivors all having different reactions, and how that continues to affect what Carol is going through. This team has taken its time in its reveals and has timed it out perfectly, letting us see this world and really get to know Carol and what she is going through. I loved waiting each week to see what would happen next, never knowing what I would see but always thrilled with the results. Vince Gilligan, you made another masterpiece, thank you! (Apple TV)