Best and Worst TV Shows That Came Out in 2025, Ranked

Rotten Tomatoes: 6%

Summary: A group of high-powered divorce attorneys — Allura Grant (Kim Kardashian), Liberty Ronson (Naomi Watts), and Emerald Greene (Niecy Nash) — leave their male-dominated law firm to lead one of their own.

Critics universally panned Ryan Murphy’s “All’s Fair,” saying it was a limp drama that wasted the talents of its ensemble, which included Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close.

“Let’s be clear: ‘All’s Fair’ is not a camp classic. For a show to be camp, it must first aspire to be good to begin with,” David Mack wrote for Slate.

Rotten Tomatoes: 17%

Summary: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, invites chefs, actors, and TV personalities into her home to cook and garden alongside her as they chat and exchange life advice.

“With Love, Meghan” was a tough watch for critics, who failed to find anything sincere in the lifestyle programming.

“It’s so boring, so contrived, so effortfully whimsical that, do you know what? In the end, it does become almost fascinating,” Lucy Mangan wrote for the Guardian.

Rotten Tomatoes: 22%

Summary: In the latest installment in Netflix’s “Monster” series, the show follows grave robber and suspected serial killer Ed Gein (Charlie Hunnam) as he commits horrific crimes in the 1940s and 1950s.

The latest “Monster” season was criticized for sensationalizing one of the 20th century’s most disturbing criminals for shock value instead of offering viewers anything profound.

“The series sensationalizes rumor over truth and mistakes provocation for substance,” M.N. Miller wrote for FandomWire.

Rotten Tomatoes: 25%

Summary: After an explosion results in a mass prison breakout, former FBI profiler Bex Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh) is brought back into the fold to hunt down the nation’s most dangerous serial killers.

According to critics, “The Hunting Party” was riddled with tedious plot twists and repetitive storylines.

“The premise of ‘The Hunting Party’ — searching for serial killers whose ill-advised treatments have rendered them even more vicious — is intriguing in theory, but the writers have somehow chosen the dullest possible execution of that vision,” Max Gao wrote for AV Club.

Rotten Tomatoes: 29%

Summary: After decades of judging reality competition shows and famously helping to form groups like One Direction and Fifth Harmony, Cowell tries to find “the next big thing” in music.

Critics said “Simon Cowell: The Next Act” was mired by the British personality’s ego.

“In the end, the series is more interesting not as a music competition, but as a window into Cowell’s narcissism and immorality in the pursuit of limitless wealth and fame,” Stephanie Morgan wrote for Common Sense Media.

Rotten Tomatoes: 32%

Summary: Set in the Old West, this drama follows two matriarchs, Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey) and Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson), as they fight over land and power in the town of Angel’s Ridge.

Despite Anderson and Headey’s best efforts, “The Abandons” proved to be a rather empty and listless Western at its heart.

Nick Schager described the series as a ” … pretender through and through, piling on clichés without any sense of authenticity, rhythm, or originality” in a review for The Daily Beast.

Rotten Tomatoes: 35%

Summary: After the alarming murder of a Homeland Security officer, LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) is recruited to a secret task force to investigate the crime.

Although the show was advertised as an “action-packed” thrill ride, critics said they were less than impressed by the generic drama.

“‘Countdown’ pretty much uses every action procedural cliche to piece together a plot and cast of characters that are neither exciting or interesting,” Joel Keller wrote for Decider.

Rotten Tomatoes: 43%

Summary: After their latest advertising campaign goes awry, two Gen-X ad executives — Monica (Graham) and Doug (Nico Santos) — are pushed out of their office, and their rising Gen Z colleagues are put in charge.

Despite Graham’s reliably solid performance, which helped ground the show, critics said it wasn’t enough to save the lackluster Tubi comedy.

“Making a comedy series where everyone is unpleasant, cruel, or despicable isn’t easy … If you miss, you can only miss big,” Tim Stevens wrote for The Spool.

Rotten Tomatoes: 46%

Summary: After a prison-transport plane crashes down near his Alaskan town, US Marshal Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke) attempts to hunt down every convict before they slip out of his grasp.

Despite Clarke at the helm and a promising plot hook, “The Last Frontier” proved to be a disappointment for a majority of critics.

“‘The Last Frontier’ begins and ends on a high, but the middle crashes down to earth with slow, lumbering diversions that waste its cast and squander an incredible premise,” David Opie wrote for Empire magazine.

Rotten Tomatoes: 58%

Summary: Former college quarterback Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) attempts to make a career comeback when he disguises himself as a new persona, Chad Powers, to help a struggling football team.

The show’s concept, which was inspired by an Eli Manning skit on ESPN, proved too flimsy for a lot of critics.

“‘Chad Powers’ wants to be a mashup of ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and especially ‘Ted Lasso.’ It plays as artificially engineered as that sounds,” Steve Murray wrote for ArtsATL.

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Summary: Marissa (Snook) and Peter (Jake Lacy) Irvine’s comfortable life is shaken to its core after their son goes missing.

Some of the twists in “All Her Fault” were harder to swallow than others, but overall, critics found it to be a highly bingeable drama.

“Despite the increasingly convoluted ways that characters in ‘All Her Fault’ mete out information, the emotional core of the series is extremely strong, bolstered by Snook’s reliably excellent central performance,” Nina Starner wrote for Looper.

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Summary: Joanne (Kristen Bell) and Noah (Adam Brody) test the mettle of their relationship after the “honeymoon” phase as they continue navigating the everyday realities of modern dating, religion, and family drama.

Although the show’s critic score took a slight dip from season one, Brody and Bell’s chemistry was enough for critics to recommend the show.

“Kristen Bell and Adam Brody continue to capture our hearts and every episode is an entertaining watch because of this fantastic ensemble,” said critic Lauren Veneziani of WBAL-TV.

Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

Summary: After they’re given a two-month window to turn their restaurant around, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) tries to streamline the kitchen’s chaotic environment as Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) attempt to earn a Michelin star.

Critics said that the latest installment of the show was at its best when the pacing was relentless, and the ensemble was given their chance to shine.

“It has its slow boil moments, but when it is really cooking, it is entertainment at its best,” wrote critic Jackie K. Cooper.

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Summary: Two decades after leaving her hometown in Alabama, Desiree (Laverne Cox) — a proud trans woman — reunites with her father, Harry (George Wallace).

“Clean Slate”, which is one of the last shows that legendary TV creator Norman Lear produced before he died in 2023, was received as a wholesome and heartfelt comedy.

“In the face of ongoing attacks against the trans community, it was refreshing to watch a story about a black trans woman who found acceptance in a place that might not appear to be accepting at first glance,” Alise Chaffins wrote for MacGuffin or Meaning.

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Summary: This historical drama depicts the weaving paths of United States President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) and Charles J. Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen), the assassin who took his life.

Critics called “Death by Lightning” a masterclass in excellent writing and acting.

“A savvy and well-paced political thunderstorm, ‘Death by Lightning’ uses its talented cast to build a thrilling story out of an oft-forgotten moment in history,” Audrey Fox wrote for Looper.

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Summary: As a new head of Hollywood’s Continental Studios, Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) tries to massage celebrity egos while pursuing his dream of making movies that are actually good.

Critics found it hard to resist the likability and charm of the Apple TV comedy created by Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

“Rogen and Goldberg here create satire of a very high level… And despite all the mocking and in-jokes and references to titles you may or may not remember, there’s something else that peeks through: a genuine love for movies,” Moira MacDonald wrote for Seattle Times.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%

Summary: After unraveling the dark secrets at the heart of the Lumon corporation, Mark (Adam Scott) and Helly (Britt Lower) — and their “outer” selves — find different ways of moving forward from the scandal.

Critics said season two of “Severance” built upon the momentum of the first while laying a strong foundation for the third.

“Now that ‘Severance’ has started to prod at these more existential questions about the self —well, it’s only made the show richer and, quite frankly, more loveable,” Clarisse Loughrey wrote for Flicks.

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Summary: Hour-by-hour, “The Pitt” chronicles the harrowing day in the life of Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) and his team of emergency room staff as they work a 15-hour shift.

With standout performances from Wyle, Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden, Supriya Ganesh, and more, “The Pitt” proved itself to be one of the most electrifying dramas of the year.

“‘The Pitt’ stands out entirely independently, separate from its pseudo-ancestor in ‘ER’ and as a bonafide triumph in storytelling, chemistry and television,” Brian Farvour wrote for The Playlist.

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Summary: Philadelphia FBI agent Tom Brandis (Mark Ruffalo) takes charge of a task force investigating a wave of brutal robberies at stash houses linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Brimming with suspense, “Task” kept critics on the edge of their seats.

“Mark Ruffalo is at his best, and Tom Pelphrey stands out as a conflicted and occasionally menacing character. These two stories collide in one of the more compelling and engaging shows of the year,” said reviewer Austin Burke.

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Summary: Hockey rivals Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) and Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) develop complicated romantic feelings for each other that they keep secret for years.

Based on the books by Rachel Reid, “Heated Rivalry” was praised by critics for its balance of wholesome vulnerability, queer joy, and steamy sex scenes.

“The sexual candor, hot bodies and steamy action are the main attraction. Duh. But what sneaks up on you is the sweetness with which ‘Heated Rivalry’ captures a transitional time in gay men’s lives, a time that can be terrifying or freeing, isolating or joyfully communal — or sometimes all those things at once,” David Rooney wrote for The Hollywood Reporter.

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Summary: Depressed author Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) reluctantly takes on the mantle of Earth’s savior as she attempts to save the planet from an alien virus

After wowing critics with “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” Vince Gilligan continued his legacy as one of television’s most original showrunners with the success of “Pluribus.”

“Rhea Seehorn’s brilliant tour de force as a lone resistor to hive mentality makes this potent provocation from Vince Gilligan one you don’t want to miss,” wrote critic Peter Travers for The Travers Take.