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We’re now in the last quarter of 2025, and Netflix has already delivered some of the best TV shows of the year.
From the episodic reimagining of Alan Alda’s 1981 rom-com The Four Seasons to the new tartan take on the crime procedural Dept. Q, the streaming giant continues to showcase a dynamic mix of fresh originals and global sensations.
Of course, this also includes acclaimed returning favorites like Squid Game and Wednesday.
While Netflix may still have a few surprises up its sleeve for the remaining months of the year, here are its best TV shows of 2025 so far.
Adolescence
Released in March, Adolescence quickly became one of the most talked-about and most-watched series of the first half of 2025—thanks to its realistic portrayal of teenage relationships and emotional complexity.
One of the most critically acclaimed Netflix originals of the year, the multi-award-winning British drama follows the arrest of 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his female classmate.
From its uninterrupted shots to its four distinct snapshots, the arrest, police interrogation, detectives’ visit, and Jamie’s family struggling to live a normal life afterward, Adolescence draws viewers in from the very first take.
Sirens
Starring Milly Alcock, Julianne Moore, and Meghann Fahy, Sirens examines the stark contrast between those who are rich and influential and those who have nothing.
Moore’s character, Michaela Kell, gives being wealthy a whole new meaning—standing on her privately owned cliffside in a flowing ball gown and leather gauntlets as she releases a rescued peregrine falcon into the air.
Set over the course of a single weekend at a luxurious beach estate, the limited series delves into themes of gender, power, and social class. It has received generally positive reviews for its sharp and endlessly entertaining exploration of privilege, family, and ambition.
Wednesday
The fan-favorite Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) returns for the second season of Wednesday, continuing her sleuthing adventures at Nevermore Academy as she uncovers more about her family and her enemies.
This time, she’s joined by more members of the iconic Addams clan, including Grandmama Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley).
With a powerhouse cast that also features Steve Buscemi and Christopher Lloyd (or at least his head), Wednesday Season 2 promises even darker mysteries, sharper humor, and a deeper dive into the twisted yet endearing world of the Addams family.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror finally returns to its roots in its seventh season, once again tackling themes of technology, media, and contemporary social issues reminiscent of its earlier years.
After the previous season’s mixed reviews, the latest installment delivers some of the show’s strongest episodes yet.
This includes “Common People,” a sharp critique of dubious subscription practices; “Eulogy,” a tech-assisted trip down memory lane; and “USS Callister: Into Infinity,” the series’ first-ever sequel to the critically acclaimed Season 4 episode USS Callister.
With these standout entries and more, Black Mirror proves it still holds its place as one of the best TV series of the 2010s and beyond.
The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons may center on people in their 50s, but it deeply resonates with viewers through its relatable themes of life, love, and friendship.
Meeting only four times a year, this group of six friends finds their long-standing camaraderie tested when one couple breaks up and a younger girlfriend joins the circle. While things inevitably get more complicated, their bond remains supportive, funny, and genuine.
Funnier than it sounds, The Four Seasons is a heartfelt reminder to reflect on your own relationships and the seasons of your life.
The Residence
Netflix brought us another clever whodunnit with the mystery comedy The Residence. Filled with sharp humor and a generous dose of expletives that make it even funnier, the series revolves around a fictional murder that takes place in the White House during a state dinner.
With a setting this grand—and complicated—expect plenty of suspects, tangled motives, and unexpected twists.
Featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Giancarlo Esposito, Molly Griggs, and Uzo Aduba, The Residence makes each character distinct and memorable. Aduba’s Detective Cupp even calls herself “the best,” and as the show proves, she just might be right.
Squid Game
Squid Game Season 3 may not have recaptured the awe and shock of its groundbreaking first season, but it’s still worth watching to witness the conclusion of Seong Gi-hun or Player 456’s journey.
The third and final season delivers the same thrilling, twist-filled games fans expect, with Gi-hun remaining the unlikely hero we never knew we needed.
While a second season—and especially a third—may have once seemed unnecessary after such a globally acclaimed debut, the finale still resonated with many viewers as it brought the story of greed, power, and capitalism to a fitting end.
Dept. Q
Dept. Q is a sleeper hit, widely praised as the crime thriller of our dreams. While it features a mix of cold cases, a grumpy Scottish detective, and a dilapidated police unit, these very elements are what make the series so compelling.
The story follows Copenhagen detective Carl Morck, a PTSD-afflicted cop, as he and his team of Department Q misfits investigate the case of a long-missing lawyer (Chloe Pirrie). Morck may be a hard man to like, but his brilliance and investigative skills are impossible not to admire.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Described as “a true-ish story based on a lie,” Apple Cider Vinegar follows Belle Gibson, who defrauded millions by claiming she had cured her cancer through a natural diet, which, of course, included the titular apple cider vinegar.
The series chronicles Gibson’s rise and fall, showing how easily people can be manipulated by fraudsters who exploit health and illness for fame and sympathy.
Zero Day
Who can refuse a Robert De Niro-led series? No one, of course! Playing George Mullen, a former president, prosecutor, and Vietnam War veteran, De Niro takes on the role of chairman for a special commission tasked with identifying the perpetrators behind a deadly cyberterrorism attack known as the titular Zero Day.
The series explores America’s complex relationship with objective truth and carries plenty of gravitas, thanks to its all-star cast. It has even been described as a modern update of a ‘70s-style political drama, though even more timely and contemporary than anticipated.
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