18 Of 2025’s Best TV Series You May Have Missed

This six-part thriller is a stylish psychological tug-of-war between two formidable women. Robin Wright plays Laura, a high-powered mother suspicious of her son’s new girlfriend Cherry (Olivia Cooke). What begins as maternal concern spirals into obsession, manipulation and violence. Based on Michelle Frances’ bestselling novel, it’s part domestic noir, part social satire – with critics praising its House-of-Cards-meets-Gone-Girl energy. The show’s clever storytelling from both women’s perspective creates the kind of boiling point tension that will make you want to binge this in one sitting.  

Watch here 

Jimmy Carr hosts this comedy showdown, where ten comedians try to make each other laugh – without cracking a smile themselves. The series featured Joe Wilkinson, Daisy May Cooper, Richard Ayoade, Bob Mortimer and Sara Pascoe. It’s chaotic, silly and surprisingly tense, with viral moments and genuine camaraderie. Roisin Conaty’s role as deputy host adds warmth and bite. If you’re after light relief with a competitive edge, add this to your watch list. 

Watch here

Created by Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight, this period drama plunges viewers into the brutal world of illegal boxing in 1880s London. Stephen Graham leads a stellar cast, including Erin Doherty and Malachi Kirby, in a story of survival, revenge and shifting power. It’s gritty, gorgeously shot and based on real historical figures. The show’s feminist undercurrent – led by Doherty’s gang leader Mary Carr – adds depth and edge. Already renewed for a second season, it’s one of the year’s best period dramas.

Watch here 

This is Netflix’s most talked-about UK drama of the year – and rightly so. Written by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham (who also stars), this four-part series tackles toxic masculinity, youth violence and systemic failure with unflinching honesty. It opens with a raid on a 13-year-old boy who has been accused of murdering a fellow student. Critics have called it ‘the most important drama of 2025’, so it was no surprise when the show won a string of Emmys earlier this year. Each episode is shot in one single take, amplifying the raw intensity and emotional claustrophobia of the story.

Watch here

This quietly brilliant crime drama stars Ella Maisy Purvis as Patience Evans, a neurodivergent archivist with a gift for solving cases. Adapted from the French hit Astrid et Raphaëlle, it’s set in Yorkshire and pairs Patience with DI Bea Metcalf (Laura Fraser). The show’s strength lies in its character work – slow-burn, emotionally rich and free of clichés. A sleeper hit that deserves more attention, especially for Purvis’s breakout performance.

Watch here

Keeley Hawes stars as Cassandra Austen in this BBC period drama, adapted from Gill Hornby’s novel. Set in 1830, it reimagines the mystery behind Jane Austen’s destroyed letters – blending literary intrigue with sisterly devotion. The four-part series is beautifully shot and emotionally resonant, with strong performances from Jessica Hynes and Alfred Enoch. Released to mark the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth, it’s a thoughtful, feminist take on legacy, grief and reputation. 

Watch here

Michelle Williams returns to TV in this limited series, based on the Wondery podcast. She plays Molly Kochan, a woman diagnosed with terminal cancer who leaves her marriage and embarks on a journey of sexual exploration and self-discovery. It’s funny, raw, and deeply moving. Jenny Slate and Rob Delaney co-star, and the show’s frankness about illness, desire and friendship got it an Emmy nomination earlier this year.

Watch here 

This bilingual revenge thriller is a landmark moment for deaf representation on screen. Written by William Mager and starring Matthew Gurney, it follows Daniel Brennan, a deaf man released from prison who seeks redemption and truth. The cast and crew are predominantly deaf, and the series uses British Sign Language alongside spoken English. More than just a revenge thriller, it’s a bold reimagining of who gets to tell stories – and how.

Watch here

This Emmy-winning satire skewers Hollywood with razor-sharp wit and a killer cast. Seth Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the new head of a struggling film studio, navigating egos, chaos and corporate absurdity. Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz and Kathryn Hahn steal scenes, while the writing – from Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Frida Perez – balances cringe comedy with industry insight. The cast also includes – wait for it – Zoë Kravitz, Bryan Cranston, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard and Dave Franco, among other A-listers.

Watch here

This three-part documentary charts the rise, fall and reinvention of British girl groups – from Eternal and All Saints to Sugababes. It’s nostalgic, yes, but also unflinching: tackling racism, fat-shaming, burnout and the pressures of fame. Interviews with Kerry Katona, Melanie Blatt and Perrie Edwards reveal the grit behind the gloss. The series has already sparked online debate about industry ethics and female agency. A must-watch for 90s pop fans.

Watch here

This lavish period drama from Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) explores the legacy of the Guinness brewing dynasty. Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, it follows the fallout after patriarch Sir Benjamin Guinness dies – triggering a brutal inheritance battle among his four children. Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge and James Norton lead a stellar cast, and the show’s themes of ambition, betrayal and legacy feel timely. It’s part Succession, part The Gilded Age, with Irish grit.

Watch here

Harlan Coben’s latest Netflix adaptation is a five-part thriller that dropped on New Year’s Day but didn't get nearly enough airtime among critics. Rosalind Eleazar plays Kat Donovan, a detective who spots her long-lost fiancé on a dating app, triggering a web of secrets, lies and a reopened murder case. It’s classic Coben: twisty, propulsive and emotionally charged. While not as flashy as Fool Me Once, it’s arguably more grounded – with strong performances and a satisfying payoff. Ideal for fans of The Stranger and Stay Close.

Watch here

ITV’s four-part true crime drama stars Sheridan Smith as Ann Ming, the mother who led a 15-year campaign to overturn the UK’s 800-year-old double jeopardy law after the murder of her daughter, Julie. Based on Ming’s memoir For the Love of Julie, it’s a harrowing but deeply inspiring watch, grounded in real events. Smith delivers one of her most powerful performances to date, and the series has sparked renewed conversation around justice reform and victim advocacy. 

Watch here

Written by Sally Wainwright (Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax) and set in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, this six-part drama tells the tale of five women in midlife who form a punk rock band to take part in a local talent contest. Preparing for the event sparks a journey of self-expression and personal growth and, through their collaboration, each woman begins to reevaluate her relationships, ambitions and sense of purpose. Starring Tamsin Greig, Amelia Bullmore, Joanna Scanlan and Rosalie Craig and with a script that balances humour with grit, it’s one of the year’s most joyful surprises.

Watch here

Jon Hamm stars in this black comedy as Coop, a hedge fund manager turned burglar who targets his wealthy neighbours to maintain appearances. Created by Jonathan Tropper (Warrior, Banshee), it’s a sharp take on suburban secrets and moral decay. Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn co-star, and the show’s mix of satire, suspense and social commentary has earned it rave reviews. Already renewed for season two, it’s one of Apple’s best originals this year.

Watch here 

DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode) is a brilliant cop but a terrible colleague. His razor-sharp sarcasm has made him no friends in the Edinburgh police force. After a shooting that leaves a young PC dead and his partner paralysed, he finds himself exiled to the basement and the sole member of Department Q – a newly formed cold case unit. The department is a PR stunt, there to distract the public from the failures of an under-resourced, failing police force that is glad to see the back of him. But more by accident than design, Carl starts to build a gang of waifs and strays who have everything to prove. So, when the stone-cold trail of a prominent civil servant who disappeared several years ago starts to heat up, Carl is back doing what he does best – rattling cages and refusing to take no for an answer…

Watch here

This four-part thriller is a taut, psychological drama set in Cardiff, starring Gabrielle Creevy and Eve Myles. Creevy plays Ria, a cleaner drawn into the orbit of her wealthy, charismatic employer Fran (Myles). What begins as admiration quickly spirals into obsession, manipulation and a dangerous power dynamic. Written by Matthew Barry (Men Up, Industry), the series blends class tension with emotional suspense – all shot with a sleek, cinematic edge. It’s a twisty, character-driven watch that’s sparked plenty of online theories and sofa-side debates.

Watch here

This reboot of the 1980s detective series trades nostalgia for noir, with Damien Molony stepping into the role of Jim Bergerac. Set in Jersey, it’s moodier and more psychologically complex than the original – think Broadchurch meets Shetland. Zoë Wanamaker and Philip Glenister round out the cast, and the writing (from Toby Whithouse and Catherine Tregenna) is sharp and layered. The show’s slow-burn mystery and coastal visuals have earned it a loyal following, and a second series is already in production.

Watch here