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How these five picks were chosen
“Best” depends partly on what a list counts. Metacritic’s July 2 ranking covers first-year shows that debuted from January 1 through June 30, 2025. It uses professional critics’ Metascores as of July 1 and requires at least seven reviews. That method is useful for comparing eligible new series, but it leaves out returning seasons.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale | $34.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cowboy Bebop: The Movie | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The Ringer’s July 15 midyear list takes a wider view, discussing both new shows and returning seasons. Its coverage includes Severance, The White Lotus, and Andor. The picks below reflect that broader scope and span scripted drama and documentary; they should not be read as the five highest-scoring shows by a single metric.
The 5 best TV shows of 2025 so far
1. Severance — a returning-season pick
Severance is one of the returning series discussed in The Ringer’s midyear coverage. It belongs in a broad “best of 2025 so far” conversation, but not in a list restricted to shows making their first-year debut.
#1 Best Overall
2. The White Lotus — a returning-season pick
The Ringer also included The White Lotus among the high-profile titles of the first half of the year. Its inclusion illustrates why a general midyear list and a new-series ranking produce different shortlists.
3. Andor — a returning-season pick
Andor is another returning show featured in The Ringer’s wider selection. It is a useful counterpoint to lists focused only on new arrivals: a new season can be a major television highlight without qualifying as a new series.
4. The Pitt — a year-end retrospective pick
TV Guide’s November 24 year-end list singled out The Pitt for its hour-by-hour emergency-room structure. That is a later retrospective perspective, not evidence available at the July midyear cutoff, so it is best treated as a subsequent addition to the conversation rather than a July pick.
5. Adolescence — a year-end retrospective pick
TV Guide’s year-end list also praised Adolescence for its immersive one-shot filmmaking. Like The Pitt, it offers useful later context, but should not be presented as part of what midyear critics knew by July.
New shows and returning seasons are different kinds of lists
For readers specifically asking which new television shows impressed critics in the first half of 2025, Metacritic’s eligibility rules offer a clearer comparison than a mixed-season shortlist. Its cited midyear ranking reaches #20 with Outrageous at a Metascore of 74, based on its July 1, 2025 score snapshot. That figure is a source-specific critic aggregate, not a verdict on every show or season released in 2025.
Rank #2
For a broader viewing guide, returning seasons belong in the mix. The important distinction is to label them accurately rather than compare them as though they were new series. No one list establishes a universal top five: one ranks eligible new shows by critic scores, while another makes editorial choices across a wider field.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What later lists can—and cannot—tell you
Year-end coverage can add perspective, but it cannot be passed off as midyear knowledge. TV Guide’s November 24 list provides later context for The Pitt and Adolescence. Rotten Tomatoes’ annual guide is even later: its February 24, 2026 update lists the documentary Pee-wee as Himself at 100% on the Tomatometer. That is a dated score snapshot from an evolving guide, not a fixed 2025 midyear ranking.
These sources use different methods and time windows. A critic-score list, an editors’ selection, and an updated annual guide can each help viewers find something to watch, but their numbers and choices are not interchangeable.
Where to watch
The platform references in 2025 coverage are historical pointers, not a guarantee of current availability. Streaming rights vary by country and change over time, so check the show’s official listing and your local services before subscribing or planning a watch.
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