“TV event of the decade!” It’s your best TV of 2025 | television

Andor

(Disney+) It’s an embarrassing thing to say about a product released by Disney under the Star Wars brand, but it’s by far the most painful and telling depiction of creeping totalitarianism I’ve seen on screen in years. A powerful character piece, a perfect movement, and the perfect moment to tell an inherently political story about hope for truth and resistance against an endless barrage of lies and atrocities. Ewen, London

Rehearsal

(Sky/Now) I’ve always been a fan of Nathan Fielder’s work but this show was amazing. The work and detail put into this was amazing. Many layers. He had to jump through so many hoops, and after that, it was the most amazing ending I’ve ever seen. I won’t spoil it. It has to be seen to be believed. Keith Miller, 57, Surrey

Multiple

(Apple TV) Pluribus is another great show from Vince Gilligan. It completely flips the theme of alien invasion, forcing the viewer to ask philosophical questions about society and the concept of freedom and free will. Rhea Seehorn is great at practically carrying the entire series on her shoulders. Fabio, Long Eaton

Blue lights

(BBC One/iPlayer) My favorite show of the year is Blue Lights. This series has been absolutely fantastic at its storytelling, with a group of characters that you really sympathize with, even if they don’t always act in the best way. The tensions of being a police officer in Northern Ireland are portrayed very well, with a real sense of tension and dread at times. One of my favorite moments was after one of the characters is stabbed and bleeds out through the femoral artery, where the 999 paramedic talks the police officer through the steps needed to save the officer’s life, and then we get 10 seconds of the unnamed emergency telephone paramedic taking his next call and dealing with another life-threatening situation calmly and effectively. A show that makes you wonder why anyone would put themselves through this! Catherine O’Grady, 60, Coventry

Leonard and hungry Paul

(BBC iPlayer) Leonard and the Hungry Ball was fun. I had read Ronan Hession’s book and loved it very much, so I was dreading this adaptation. However, from the form of storytelling to the characterizations, we saw Leonard and Hungry Bull realize their path through grief and change, turning their conventions upside down. What can love and chance do for these friends? These two fly under our radar, so how can Leonard hope that someone will love him in return? Will anyone appreciate how much he misses his mother? This series is perfect. The light, hope, and craftsmanship of the storytelling are intact and honored with care and beauty. Bronnie Mayhew, Hertfordshire

Hot competition

(Coming to Sky on January 10) The heated rivalry has been the television event of the year, if not the entire decade. I’ve never been this focused on a show before, and judging by the reactions on social media, I’m not alone. Watching the development of the main cast – from the first casting announcement in the spring to the overnight success – has been amazing. Episode 4 was probably the best piece of television I’ve ever seen. I had a visceral reaction to the final scene that left me in tears, having felt every emotion possible in the space of just a few minutes. Jacob Tierney is a legend and should get an Emmy. Additionally, there is a depiction of a successful autistic character on screen, helping people feel seen like never before. Stephanie, United Kingdom

heaven

(Disney+) A wonderful and amazing series that attracted me from the beginning. You think you’re waiting for a political thriller set in the White House, but it’s so much more than that. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to write about without giving away the plot twists that make it so good. Suffice it to say that these twists and turns will amaze and amaze you. Great acting, especially from Sterling K. Brown, and sharp scripts make it an absolute joy to watch. Although the entire series is brilliantly done, episode seven – “Today” – is perhaps the best hour of television I have ever seen. Edge of your seat doesn’t come close to describing the tension. I actually had to pause it halfway through to regain my composure and remind myself to breathe. A really great episode in a great series. And we’ll get Season 2 in February. I can’t wait. Gary ChapmanNew Forest

Death of Bunny Monroe

(Sky/Now) “The Death of Bunny Munro” kept me engaged with its story of a sex addict on the run with his young son. By combining moments of sadness with moments of hilarity, the show was a welcome relief at the end of a somewhat chaotic 2025. Matt Smith didn’t seem like the obvious choice for the character of Bunny but he quickly won me over and proved to be charismatic and quite adept at playing comedy and tragedy simultaneously. The show is brilliantly directed and the Brighton setting is captured well. The show left me feeling sad but also happy that in an age of self-censorship and extreme caution, flaws can still emerge in a character like Bunny Munroe. Khaled Birbakos, London

Slow horses

(Apple TV) Great acting and a witty and clever script. Sexy and attractive, but still human. I’d like to think there are really slow horses out there, putting up a good fight. Lin Ming, New Jersey, United States

Section S

It is so beautiful to see a book transported from its original home to Scotland with love and care. The adaptation carries the spirit of the film beautifully. The cast are all fantastic and the acting is incredible. I’ve watched the entire series twice and will be saving it for a third viewing on Christmas Day. The bad guys are really terrible and the good stuff is really flawed. GailSurbiton

Dying for sex

(Disney+) What I loved so much about this show (and what left me in tears, thinking about my own intimate relationships, romantic and otherwise) is that on the face of it it is a raw, nihilistic adventure of a woman rapidly approaching her death in search of sexual satisfaction before she leaves the world. But what really struck me about the show was how her non-romantic relationships changed (and didn’t change) with the news of her impending death. Jenny Slate’s performance as the protagonist’s best friend was fantastic, and left me wondering what kind of friend I would be – or what kind of friend I would need – in the event of my sudden little trip to the Grim Reaper. David, 30, Ithaca, New York, United States

the house

(HBO Max – coming soon to the UK) Pitt was obviously my favorite. Very realistic and timely. I have to watch it in small increments because it can be heartbreaking and exhausting. Viewers deal with real-life situations that happen every day, which are sometimes too emotional to take in all at once. Jane Moore, 80, United States

Peacemaker

(HBO Max) Peacemaker Season 2 took the character in a new direction and stopped being just a superhero show and more of a character study. We have to look at the effects of mental health, government overreach, systemic privilege, and starting families in very smart ways. Rainier, Delaware, United States