Minor spoilers ahead.
Last year's edition of this post got really out of hand, which is understandable considering that it was my first attempt. This time around I'm going to focus on spotlighting some of the other highlights of my TV watching year instead of trying to be comprehensive.
Okay, so what were the most buzzed about episodes that didn't make the list? "Through the Valley" was a major turning point for "The Last of Us," but it didn't strike me as a particularly strong episode in and of itself. "The Price" was more interesting, giving Pedro Pascal a chance to go out on a high note, but not quite high enough to make the final list. The third season of "The Bear" had several good installments, especially "Napkins" and "Ice Chips," but weren't as good as what I knew the series was capable of.
The "Oner" episode of "The Studio" was impressive as a technical feat, but the show as a whole was too cringe-based for me to really enjoy, and I abandoned it after five episodes. I've always had some trouble with comedies - I tracked down the "Pilot's Code" episode of "The Rehearsal" after seeing some of the rapturous response. I never even cracked a smile, which tells you how out of whack my sense of humor is. My favorite new comedy of the year was "Nobody Wants This," the Kristen Bell and Adam Brody rom-com.
So, let's move on to some genre shows. Probably the best surprise I had last year was the latest Shondaland series, "The Residence," a whodunnit starring Uzo Aduba. I couldn't single out any episode for praise, and the ending was too long, but this was exactly the kind of breezy, lighthearted, big ensemble burst of pure entertainment that I needed at exactly the right time. Other new shows I really appreciated were "The Day of The Jackal" and "Black Doves," two spy series with very different approaches. "Jackal" was the more polished, more action-oriented show that was fantastic whenever it was focused on Eddie Redmayne, but came apart whenever he wasn't on screen. "Black Doves" was more about character, about feelings, and about vibes, with a great cast. Tons of fun, but not remotely believable as any kind of espionage show.
Returning shows offered some strong hours. "House of the Dragon" had a very rough second season, but it still had some highlights, including "The Red Sowing" with the test for dragon riders. My favorite "Black Mirror" installment of the excellent 2025 batch of episodes was "Common People," which saw the show target the horrors of profit-driven healthcare and subscription creep. "Doctor Who," had a much stronger year than the last, with "Lux" and "Lucky Day" being my favorites. The new companion, Belinda Chandra, is a great addition. However, the most improved series was definitely "Rings of Power," as Sauron became a main character and a fantastic focal point for the show. "Doomed to Die" and "Shadow and Flame" are both great, though the show is still leaning awfully hard on its audience's nostalgia for the movie trilogy.
I watched a lot of superhero media last year. "Invincible" had a great third season, and "All I Can Say Is I'm Sorry" with the introduction of Powerplex stood out as an especially disturbing high point. "Agatha All Along" is an MCU show, so it belongs in this category. After a bumpy start, the second half of the series was all bangers, and the finale "Mother, Maiden, Crone" delivered a twist ending I didn't see coming. "Penguin" got a lot of good press, but wasn't my kind of show. However, I suspect that I have its success to thank for a "Daredevil: Born Again" that didn't pull its punches. Ironically, the "Daredevil" episode I liked best was the bank heist - a remnant of a much lighter, kid friendlier version of the show.
The episode that came closest to making the list, but which I couldn't justify, was the "Night" episode of "The Acolyte." As far as action goes, this is one of the best "Star Wars" TV offerings bar none. However, "The Acolyte" is such a mess of a show when it comes to the writing and character dynamics. I loved it and really wanted more of it, but I just had to let it go.
Speaking of cancellations, I'm bidding a fond farewell to "The Conners," "Star Trek: Lower Decks," "Arcane," "Wolf Hall," and "The Serpent Queen," which all delivered good endings. "Kaos," "My Lady Jane," "Our Flag Means Death," "Laid," and "Time Bandits" were cancelled before their time, but I think they were worth the watch regardless. "Interior: Chinatown" hasn't technically been cancelled, but feels more like a miniseries than an ongoing show to me.
Congratulations to John Mulaney for keeping "Everybody's Live With John Mulaney" as weird as it is. And to Conan O'Brien for a thoroughly watchable Oscars telecast.
And that's my 2024-2025 in television.
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