Ranking my Top 12 Television Shows of 2025: Which Shows Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2026, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 12 TV Shows of 2025.

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely hooked me, making their way into my top 12. There are also still a lot of amazing series I have not watched yet, but I’m hoping to catch up on them in early 2026 so keep those recommendations coming!

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 12 Television Shows of 2025 are:

12

The Better Sister

A gripping drama thriller that hooked me from the first episode starring the fantastic Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks. I was worried there would be too much fluff in this one, but the pacing was great and the reveals were satisfying, leading to some shocking outcomes in the end.

11

The Girlfriend

A guilty pleasure thriller filled with juicy secrets and jaw-dropping moments well worth you time. Olivia Cooke’s wardrobe was FANTASTIC and I loved how campy and sleazy this one was while still delivering on some genuine thrills. More shows like this please!

10

The Bondsman

Kevin Bacon was absolutely wonderful in this fun horror comedy series that had some Ash vs Evil Dead vibes. I’m still really annoyed that Prime decided to cancel this one. I think it flew under the radar and deserved a chance, but the first season truly delivered and then some!

9

The Night Agent (season 2)

While not as compelling as the first season, I still thoroughly enjoyed my watch of The Night Agent (season 2). If you enjoy action spy thrillers, this one is for you and there’s plenty to uncover the second time around.

8

All Her Fault

I just binge-watched this one over the weekend after getting a few recommendations on it. I wasn’t really aware of this show but once I started it, I couldn’t stop watching until the end. I watched all eight episodes in one day…

This one really surprised me. There was some fluff to get through, but I did not see the reveal coming and I’m still shocked over everything that transpired. Wow…what a show!

7

Squid Game (third and final season)

Squid Game (season 1) was one of the best things I had witnessed on television in a very long time. Season 2 still held my attention and season 3 did just enough to give us a jam-packed conclusion. There were quite a few things that didn’t make sense, but this crazy show always kept me invested with plenty of gory and extreme moments and absolutely deserves a spot on the list.

6

The Hunting Wives

I love soapy drama thrillers like this so much! This show really wasn’t afraid to push the envelope with some over-the-top scenes, but it all just kind of worked with the vibe it was going for. Our leads were dynamic and the chemistry between these characters was off the charts. I can’t wait to see what season 2 has in store for us after that insane season finale.

5

The Summer I Turned Pretty (third and final season)

Look, this show didn’t write the book on love triangles, but it did a really great job of pulling us back and forth, waiting for Belly to make her final decision once and for all between Conrad and Jeremiah.

I thought the final season allowed Belly to find her own way on her journey, leading to a heartwarming conclusion. I’m psyched to watch the final movie whenever that releases!

4

The Beast In Me

Welcome back to the small screen, Claire Danes! Wow, this show was so fantastic. Claire Danes was brilliant, which should come as no surprise. This series had so many twists and turns, keeping the audience on an adrenaline filled ride until the very end. I loved every second of it!

3

Dexter: Resurrection

Welcome back, Dexter Morgan! Look, I’ve watched every spin-off of the original Dexter series, but this one takes the cake. This series was EXCEPTIONAL! It had everything I wanted in a series and more. Dexter’s back and better than ever!

2

Stranger Things (fifth and final season)

OK, I still have one episode to go, which will air on 12/31/25, but it’s safe to say that Stranger Things absolutely deserves one of the top spots on my list. It’s been many years since the last season aired, but I was hooked once again. The characters are all so wonderful and it’s been an honor watching their journey over the years. I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

Some honorable mentions:

Paradise

Only Murders in the Building (season 5)

Wayward

Sirens

The White Lotus (season 3)

School Spirits (season 2)

Daredevil: Born Again

You (season 5 , final season)

Yellowjackets (season 3)

Harlan Coben’s Missing You

Drum roll please…

1

The Pitt

I’m not normally into medical dramas at all, but this series was on another level. Each episode drew me in more and more and I was anxiously waiting for new episodes to drop each week, bringing me back to a time when television shows used to feel like an event. The acting was incredible, the moments were real and heartbreaking and there was so much drama based in reality that kept me completely hooked. I can’t wait for season 2!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of YOUR favorite television shows of 2025. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing in the new year!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “Squid Game” Season 2 on Netflix: Welcome Back to the Game!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“You can hide all you want, but I swear I’ll find you…”

Squid Game 2 premiered on Netflix on December 26th 2024. The Korean survival thriller series stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee Seo-hwan, and Jo Yuri. There are seven episodes in season 2 available to stream now. Each episode runs for approximately 55-65 minutes.

After winning the deadly tournament, player 456 is fixated on finding the games again to stop them once and for all, but he ends up caught in another deadly set of games during his quest for justice.

Here is the trailer:

Squid Game 2 once again manages to hook its audience with insane and brutal moments, making the second season so entertaining to binge-watch. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Just as addicting!

I was worried that some of the intensity would fade away since this is the second season, but that was not the case! I was completely hooked by the time I got to the end of episode one and I watched all seven episodes in one day! That’s how I know I’m watching a truly exceptional series.

Sure, some things went completely off the rails, but I loved every bloody second of it and I am a Squid Game fan for life! This show doesn’t disappoint. It continues to push the limit and isn’t afraid to make bold decisions, truly making this an effortless show to binge-watch.

Some fantastic twists!

Season 2 turned things up a notch with its wild twists and turns. We got to see things from different perspectives, which worked really well so that things didn’t feel stale the second time around.

Player 456 was amazing once again and we got some worthy new characters to cheer for. I think I was a little more emotionally invested in the characters in season 1, but there were a few stand-out ones in season 2 that I was rooting for the entire time.

You have to care about the characters in shows like this or the outcomes are meaningless. I felt like I was part of some of these teams and I laughed and cried during key moments because of the incredible performances by the cast.

The Cons:

Initial pacing concerns.

The first two episodes dragged slightly. Don’t get me wrong…I was still interested in what was transpiring, but I thought the pacing drastically improved once we got back to the game.

There was also a little too much time spent on side-plots. It seemed like the writers were trying to jam-pack in as much as possible, which was exhausting at times.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!!!!!!

Squid Game season 2 is a consuming and brutal watch that manages to hold on to the momentum from the first season, exploring new angles and twists along the way.

Bring on season 3!!!!!

I’ve seen some mixed reviews on this so far, but I absolutely loved the second season. Sure,it wasn’t as good as the first one, but I don’t think you can realistically expect it to measure up to that because of the shock value component. Now that we know what’s going on, the plot needed to adapt and I think it did in a very compelling way.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Squid Game 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Silent Sea” on Netflix: An Intense Watch

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“We have an important mission…”

The Silent Sea premiered on Netflix on December 24th 2021 with eight episodes available to stream now. The South Korean sci-fi thriller series stars Gong Yoo, Bae Doona, Lee Joon, Kim Sun-Young and Heo Sung-tae.

A group goes on an important mission to the moon to seek out samples that could help save the world, but something is lurking in the abandoned space station they are on, putting them all in immediate danger.

Here is the trailer:

The Silent Sea has an Alien feel with edge-of-your-seat intensity and complex characters, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Chilling and intense!

From the music, to the setting, I thought this show really nailed the vibe it was going for. I don’t normally watch too many sci-fi series, but this one did a great job of reeling the audience in with each episode. There was a lot of mystery surrounding everything and the reveals were well worth it in my opinion.

Characters to root for.

While some of the characters were pretty much there to add to the body count, there were others that had a lot of layers. Dr. Song and Captain Han were both fantastic characters and it helped me care about the outcome that much more.

I thought the past flashbacks worked because they didn’t dominate the episodes. Rather, they gave us glimpses into the past lives of these characters and what made them go on the mission in the first place, which was an effective approach.

The Cons:

Pacing issues…

The episodes could have been a little shorter. I was hooked the entire time I was watching the show, but it did have some pacing issues going on. It took too long for things to happen, which was slightly frustrating at times.

I also don’t think you should go into this show expecting it to be the next Squid Game even though there were some similarities and some of the same actors appeared in The Silent Sea. If you treat it as a separate show, you will enjoy it more.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This is not the type of show I normally watch, but I was surprised by how much it hooked me right from the start. It was chilling and intense with a great strong female lead!

If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers, you will feel right at home with this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Silent Sea in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

My new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!

Ranking my Top 20 Television Shows of 2021: Which Shows Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2022, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 20 TV Shows of 2021.

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely captivated my attention, paving their way into my top 20.

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 20 Television Shows of 2021 are:

20

Shadow and Bone

Based on the popular book, this fantasy series packed a punch in a good way. There was a lot to keep track of in this magical world, but plenty to be excited about, making this a great binge-watch with terrific characters.

19

The Sex Lives of College Girls

This show was such a pleasant surprise. It had an unrated Mean Girls vibe and was actually really funny and charming. I am so thrilled that this show got picked up for a second season and I can’t wait to see more!

18

Kevin Can F… Himself

One of the most unique shows I have ever watched! I really thought this show was genius and it had such an interesting and dark concept. If you are looking for something new and different, give this show a whirl. It’s worth it!

17

Panic

I really loved this show so much. I thought it was going to be really gimmicky and instead it was so addicting! The dynamic between the characters was fantastic and there was a romance brewing to swoon over and then some! I’m really disappointed it wasn’t picked up for a second season, but I think things wrap up enough in the first season to satisfy fans for the most part.

16

Hawkeye

This show had the perfect mix of action and humor. This unlikely partnership was actually really sweet and I thought that the show had a nice wholesome vibe that is family friendly. Plus, the dog is awesome! What’s not to love?

15

My Name

One of the most powerful female characters I have seen on television in a long time! This revenge series was so gritty and consuming. It brought up so many emotions, but I was there for the journey and I’m really glad that I gave this show a chance!

14

Yellowjackets

Dark and twisted with a cast to die for! This series is very much LOST meets The Wilds, but it has a lot of reveals still remaining. The past and present collide in this addicting series and I’m excited to see what season two brings to the table as well!

13

Hellbound

This South Korean horror drama series may be one of the most disturbing things I have ever watched, brought to us from the director of Train to Busan. In a lot of ways, this show is about how dangerous misguided faith in the wrong hands can be, as it shows how easily humanity can fall apart when real fear comes into play.

12

Who Killed Sara? (Seasons 1 and 2)

This show is the definition of a guilty pleasure thriller. There is the perfect blend of soap-opera drama mixed in with a compelling murder mystery that will throw so many twists and turns at you, that you will completely dismiss how ridiculous some of them are and just enjoy the ride.

One of the most addicting series of the year for sure!

11

Dexter: New Blood

I didn’t really know what to expect with this new series, but wow it has been absolutely brilliant! The show managed to bring back the original vibe of the series while creating something new and relevant for Dexter without overdoing it. I’m completely hooked!

10

You (season 3)

My favorite season yet! The move to the suburbs was the right call for our favorite serial killers. The dynamic between Joe and Love really made this season exceptional and I was invested the entire time! Talk about a binge-watcher’s dream!

9

Mare of Easttown

Emotionally stirring, an out-of-this-world performance by Kate Winslet, a heartfelt partnership, and a compelling mystery. This show was so well made and really showed off Kate’s range in the best way possible.

8

Clickbait

Another really addicting show and premise! I was hooked from the opening episode and I could not stop watching this show. As soon as I thought I had figured something out about the mystery, I was thrown in another direction and the show did a really fantastic job of keeping you guessing right up until the very end!

7

The Witcher (season 2)

A fantasy adventure filled with gore, laughs, and epic moments! This season really found its way and the dynamic between the main characters really elevated this show in so many ways, making it the perfect show to binge-watch before the end of the year. I loved it!

6

Lucifer (Final Season)

It’s not easy ending a series and I thought that Lucifer managed to truly make a final season for the fans. The episodes were fantastic, the characters all got a chance to truly shine and that ending had me in tears in the best way possible! I will miss this show but I do think that it really stuck the landing, which is far from easy to do!

5

The Innocent

My favorite Harlan Coben series yet! This series was beyond addicting. It had so many moving pieces but when everything came together, I was so beyond impressed with this particular mystery.

4

Only Murders in the Building

This show was so much fun! It had a really great mystery at its core, but the interaction between the characters and the clues they uncovered kept me laughing as well. It had the perfect balance of quirky humor and murder mystery fun. This show was such a wonderful surprise and I can’t wait to watch the second season!

3

WandaVision

This show was so unique and interesting. At first, I was slightly confused by what I was watching and yet I was entertained all the same and I loved the TV nostalgia thrown in. The show quickly transformed into something so amazing over the episodes. I looked forward to every single episode and by the time I got to the end, I was so emotionally changed by what I had witnessed.

Perfection!

2

Midnight Mass

An interesting take on horror with a Stephen King vibe that just worked! This series was disturbing on so many levels, but it also brought us so many beautiful and poetic moments too. I thought that the performances were absolutely incredible, creating a chilling series worth talking about!

Drum roll please…

1

Squid Game

If you haven’t watched Squid Game yet, you are missing out! This show quickly became one of the most watched shows all over the world and with good reason! This show sucks you in right from the start. The premise may seem odd, but once you start watching, you quickly become immersed into this story with relatable characters and games that will keep you on your toes!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about your favorite television shows of 2021. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “Squid Game” on Netflix: Crazy, Intense and a Contender for my favorite show of the year!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Would you like to play a game with me?”

Squid Game premiered on Netflix on September 17th 2021. The Korean survival drama series stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae Soo, HoYeon Jung, Yeong-su Oh and Heo Sung-tae. There are nine episodes in season one available to stream now. Each episode runs for approximately 55-60 minutes.

After being invited to a mysterious tournament, hundreds of people in debt agree to participate in games from their childhood for a chance at a huge cash prize, but the stakes are higher than they realize.

Here is the trailer:

Squid Game is one of those shows you have to keep watching. It’s strange, addicting, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Is it worthy of YOUR next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Each game is more intense than the next.

As soon as I got to the end of the first episode, I needed to hit play immediately. You may think you know what type of game you’re going to get, but once you are experiencing them first hand, you will be so invested and involved. It almost felt like I was playing right along with them.

I was so nervous about what would happen next and the show did a good job of making me care about the outcomes.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Incredible characters.

I knew that I shouldn’t get attached to the characters based on the premise of the show, but it was extremely difficult not to. Each character was so interesting and layered. There were some hilarious moments as well as some heartbreaking and heartwarming ones.

There were some characters that really shocked me with their actions and others that got their rightful revenge. The actors did a really good job with their portrayals and I connected that much more to this show because of it.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

I needed some more answers…

We got plenty of reveals and answers, but I still had a lot of questions once we got to the end. I understand that it will set up a potential for a season 2, but I guess I just wanted to know a little bit more since I became so involved in the show.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!!!!!!!

That was pretty much my face the entire time I was watching this show.

Shocking, addicting, and the definition of a perfect binge-watch!

Even with all of the crazy stuff going on, there were also a lot of important life lessons embedded in the show as well, which really made it stand out for me and it just became my favorite show of the year!

I highly recommend watching this one because you really can’t fully understand how great it is until you watch it for yourself.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Squid Game in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

My new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe. Thanks for your support!