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2025 was a massive year for Netflix — and not just because of its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Pictures.

In many ways, 2025 was the end of an era for the streamer's TV offerings, as two of its biggest hits, Squid Game and Stranger Things, came to a close. Elsewhere, though, new original series like Adolescence captured the cultural zeitgeist (and countless awards).

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

But of the seemingly countless shows that premiered on Netflix this year, which were truly the cream of the crop? Lucky for you, we've sorted through the streamer's massive list of offerings and determined the series you absolutely must check out. There's something for everyone on this list, from quirky new comedies and YA romances to devastating mini-series and nightmare-inducing dystopias. Read on for the 20 best Netflix shows of 2025.

20. Wednesday, Season 2

All hell (and Hyde) broke loose in Wednesday Season 2, with Alfred Gough and Miles Millar's spooky series returning with all the energy of a teen werewolf at a full moon party. Back in the braids, Jenna Ortega is a macabre marvel as the show's titular storm cloud, with a murderous avian case to crack, a stalker to unmask, and a haunting vision about her bestie Enid (the delightful Emma Myers) to decrypt. And that's aside from the hell that is dealing with her Bruce Springsteen-loving new Nevermore Academy principal (Steve Buscemi, a slam dunk of a cast addition), and her tempestuous relationship with her mother, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), which reaches a literal sword-clashing point. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review, "[M]ake no mistake: Wednesday remains the star of the show. Ortega remains the cold, dead heart of the series — and I mean that as a compliment in tribute to Wednesday!"

Season 2 not only infests its episodes with even more Edgar Allan Poe references and nods to the '90s Addams Family movies (including Christopher Lloyd himself), it solves the pesky problem of Wednesday's love triangle and lets her get back to the business of scalping serial killers and quoting Machiavelli as relationship advice. In addition, this season served up a bubbling cauldron of treats, including a long-awaited, very short cameo from Lady Gaga and the season's highlight, director Tim Burton delivering an exquisite stop-motion sequence to weave "The Tale of the Skull Tree" in his signature Gothic fantasy style. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Isaac Ordonez, Victor Dorobantu, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Noah B. Taylor, Evie Templeton, Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Christopher Lloyd, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, and Thandiwe Newton

How to watch: Wednesday, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Squid Game, Season 3

It's the end of an era on Netflix, as Hwang Dong-hyuk's smash hit Squid Game comes to a bloody close. Following the end of Season 2's unsuccessful player rebellion against the games, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is basically a shell of his former self. As he battles through new twisted games and faces down increasingly greedy contestants, will he find any last shreds of hope for his future and humanity? Or has the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) successfully ground down his faith in his fellow players?

Honestly, Squid Game's grand finale is a bit of a mess, one that loses whatever little subtlety it had left. (Those masked billionaires tank the show whenever they're on screen!) But even at its most ridiculous, the show remains stomach-churningly captivating. Even after three seasons, it's tough not to get invested in the games, or to scream at the screen every time disaster strikes. So thank you, Squid Game, for the many heart attacks you've given over the years. I think this season's hide-and-seek game alone took months off my life. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-Wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Roh Jae-won, and Jo Yuri

How to watch: Squid Game, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Black Mirror, Season 7

Charlie Brooker's sci-fi anthology series can be patchy, but when the show hits, it really hits. Opening with one of the all-time most devastating episodes (one that may be better not to watch first, in fact), Season 7 is a mixed bag with some very high highs (or lows, if you're talking from an existential dread perspective) and plenty of its trademark, technology-based terror. Fans of "USS Callister" will be happy, as there's a sequel, as will anyone who likes their futuristic fear with a side of moving nostalgia (hello, "Eulogy"). — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Will Poulter, Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, Jimmi Simpson, and Issa Rae

How to watch: Black Mirror, Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Ginny and Georgia, Season 3

After a few stumbles, Ginny & Georgia pulled its best season out of the hat this year. By Season 3, Sarah Lampert's series has become a show of both high drama and powerful, relatable themes, especially when it comes to continuing to raise the bar for mental health representation on TV. As Liv Facey writes for Mashable, "By depicting characters struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma in authentic ways, the show validates viewers' own experiences and challenges, helping to normalise these struggles and encourage open conversations about mental health."

This season sees Brianne Howey at her most impressive yet as single mother Georgia Miller, who ended Season 2 in handcuffs. Season 3 plunges Georgia into past trauma as she endures her high profile court case, and as her teen daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry) puts it, "the carefully constructed house of cards finally crumbles." Gentry is equally excellent this season, as Ginny finds power in poetry, and we're also treated to strong performances by Felix Mallard as the seriously struggling Marcus, and Sara Waisglass as his proud theater kid twin sister, Maxine, who basically has to scream to be heard. It's not every day a series truly finds its feet in its third season, but Ginny and Georgia genuinely broke me this year. — S.C.

Starring: Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Felix Mallard, Sara Waisglass, Diesel La Torraca, Jennifer Robertson, Scott Porter, Raymond Ablack, Katie Douglas, Chelsea Clark, Nathan Mitchell, Katelyn Wells, Ty Doran, and Noah Lamanna

How to watch: Ginny & Georgia, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Running Point

Cross Ted Lasso with the NBA, and you get Running Point. Created by Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, this sports comedy centers on the wealthy Gordon family, owners of the Los Angeles Waves. When the family's sole daughter, Isla (Kate Hudson), unexpectedly gets appointed team president, she faces the steep challenge of turning a lifeless team around — all while being underestimated at every turn by her skeptical brothers.

SEE ALSO: 'Running Point' review: Mindy Kaling's latest combines 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession,' and basketball

What follows is pure fun: part Ted Lasso fish-out-of-water sports story, part Succession-style examination of a messed-up wealthy family. Leading it all is Hudson, who proves herself quite the comedic playmaker, alongside a hilarious ensemble including Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, and Scott MacArthur. Whether you love basketball or are on the hunt for a glossy new sitcom, Running Point is a sure bet, one that I praised in my review as "a sharp comedy that skewers both professional basketball and dysfunctional families with glee." — B.E.

Starring: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Jay Ellis, and Justin Theroux

How to watch: Running Point is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Forever

Judy Blume's seminal coming-of-age novel Forever… provided young readers with refreshingly honest depictions of teen romance and sexuality. Now, her classic gets a thoughtful adaptation in Netflix's Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends). Brock Akil follows the core storyline of Blume's work but shifts the setting from 1970s New Jersey to 2018 Los Angeles. She also reimagines the novel's leads as two Black teens, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), each of whom is facing big choices about college and the future.

SEE ALSO: 'Forever' review: Netflix series strays from Judy Blume classic, but that's a good thing

Brock Akil's big adaptation changes pay off, allowing her to examine issues of race and class, as well as how modern-day technology impacts intimacy. Plus, she deepens our understanding of both Keisha and Justin's home lives. The pair are already extra compelling together thanks to Simone and Cooper Jr.'s immaculate chemistry, but Forever makes you just as interested in their individual goals as in their relationship. Still, their romance remains one of the sweetest TV love stories of the year. As I wrote in my review, "[Forever] is a sweet, heart-wrenching account of young love, one that significantly diverges from Blume's original novel but is still very much a companion piece to it." — B.E.

Starring: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Lawrence Winans III, Wood Harris, Barry Shabaka Henley, Niles Fitch, Paigion Walker, and E’myri Crutchfield

How to watch: Forever is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Too Much

The title of Lena Dunham's Netflix rom-com series Too Much has a versatile application, but it's likely most often heard by women constantly told to rein it in. Carly Rae Jepsen gets it. And so does Megan Stalter's protagonist, Jessica, a New Yorker who takes a job in London to get away after a horrendous break-up. There, she meet-cutes discombobulated musician Felix (Will Sharpe). (The Girls creator wrote Too Much loosely based on her experience meeting her husband, British musician Luis Felber, who co-created the series.) The supporting cast is absolute gold, from uncharacteristic appearances from Andrew Scott, Stephen Fry, and Jennifer Saunders to the practically perfect casting of Rita Wilson, and a chillingly real performance from Michael Zegen as Jessica's ex. But nothing beats these two leads.

Hacks/Cora Bora star Stalter brings every last element of her signature, internet-beloved comedy to the series, as Jessica makes a lot of chaotic decisions while processing her seriously toxic past relationship. Equally, Sharpe's Felix has his own complex personal past and shit to figure out, with The White Lotus star offering his own messy version of the rom-com male lead. As Belen Edwards writes in her Mashable review, "Dunham, Stalter, and Sharpe stir up sparks during even the most awkward or cringeworthy moments of Jessica and Felix's relationship. (And given that it's a Dunham project, there are many such moments.) In the end, this cross-continental pairing often teeters on the edge of disaster, but Too Much finds joy in their messy journey of trying to pull back from the brink." — S.C.

Starring: Megan Stalter, Will Sharpe, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah, Andrew Rannells, Daisy Bevan, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, Janicza Bravo, Kaori Momoi, Leo Reich, Michael Zegen, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Rhea Perlman, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson, Andrew Scott, and Stephen Fry

How to watch: Too Much is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Toxic Town

The first of two limited series from writer Jack Thorne on this list, Toxic Town tells a fictionalised version of a real-life story. Following a group of mothers who've given birth to children with limb differences, Thorne's drama follows their legal battle against the local council as they attempt to get to the bottom of whether or not they were poisoned due to negligence and corruption at the nearby steelworks. It's an emotional and frustrating story that's brought to life by a strong script and incredible performances across the board, especially from Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) and Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), who star as two of the real-life mothers leading the fight. — S.H.

Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Rory Kinnear, Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, Joe Dempsie, Claudia Jessie, Ben Batt, Stephen McMillan, Lauren Lyle, Michael Socha, Karla Crome, and Matthew Durkan

How to watch: Toxic Town is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Four Seasons

Tina Fey reinvents Alan Alda's 1981 comedy The Four Seasons in this charming series from Netflix. Fey and an all-star cast including Colman Domingo, Steve Carell, and Will Forte play three couples who go on vacation together every season. Despite the picturesque locations, tensions inevitably rise within the friend group when Nick (Carell) leaves his wife Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and begins dating a younger woman (Erika Henningsen).

SEE ALSO: 'The Four Seasons' review: Tina Fey and Steve Carell go on vacation in winning comedy

While The Four Seasons boasts its fair share of dry wit, cringe comedy, and the occasional slapstick, it's the group's interpersonal tensions that truly make this show stand out. Fey and co-creators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield deftly examine the pitfalls of adult friendships and long-lasting marriages, creating a comedy that doubles as an aching reflection on the work that goes into even the most enduring friendships and romances. As I wrote in my review, "It's the substance that sneaks up on you that really makes The Four Seasons a winner, even if it's a slower burn from the jump." — B.E.

Starring: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Will Forte, and Erika Henningsen

How to watch: The Four Seasons is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Dept. Q

The Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani strike mystery gold in Dept. Q, adapted from Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's series of the same name. The show centers on Detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), an English cop in Scotland who's disliked by practically everyone he comes into contact with. As Carl recovers from a traumatic gunshot wound, he's put in charge of a new department, one tasked with solving cold cases. It's a publicity stunt dressed up as a public service, but with the help of some unlikely assistants, Carl may just be able to turn this department into a powerhouse. Their first case? The disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), whose current plight is nothing short of a claustrophobic nightmare.

Dept. Q toggles between taut mystery and intriguing character study, delving deep into Carl's growth toward someone who's maybe slightly pleasant, as well as the journeys of Carl's fellow detectives Akram (Alexej Manvelov), Rose (Leah Byrne), and Hardy (Jamie Sives). Together, they create a lovable squad with the potential for a long run of case-cracking on Netflix. The streaming gods demand it! — B.E.

Starring: Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald, Chloe Pirrie, Kate Dickie, Alexej Manvelov, Jamie Sives, and Leah Byrne

How to watch: Dept. Q is now streaming on Netflix.

10. The Diplomat, Season 3

Debora Cahn's lauded drama The Diplomat returned for another round of red hot political tête-à-tête with Season 3, with the West Wing writer notably reuniting Bartlet administration alumni Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford as the U.S. president and her husband. However, as we've come to know The Diplomat over three seasons, the top brass aren't necessarily the main focus here. Amid the intricate dance of diplomacy, Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell return in fine form as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler and her husband, Hal, with Season 3 throwing a colossal spanner into their already turbulent relationship. Russell hits every damn note as the series' no-bullshit protagonist is pushed to her limit, and Sewell crafts Hal as obscenely punchable this season. 

Meanwhile, the rug is pulled from under CIA Chief Eidra Park (an always-impeccable Ali Ahn), and Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford (the ever-charming Ato Essandoh) continues to be Kate's best chance at staying sane in the embassy. Thankfully, Season 3 also brings back David Gyasi as Kate's dashing crush, foreign secretary Austin Dennison, and Rory Kinnear as dreadful UK PM Nicol Trowbridge, while giving more screen time to Nana Mensah as matter-of-fact White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah. Cahn proves The Diplomat is still the best political series on Netflix, as Season 3 skyrockets the stakes and pushes its now-lived-in characters to the brink. — S.C.

Starring: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, and Ato Essandoh

How to watch: The Diplomat, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Stranger Things, Season 5

Stranger Things continued its trend of going as big as possible in its fifth and final season. Demogorgons fighting the military! Driving into the Upside Down! Will (Noah Schnapp) getting show-stopping powers of his own! While I may not know how Stranger Things will stick the landing at the time of writing this, that last scene is worth a spot on this list for sheer hype alone.

Season 5 struggles with the same problems Stranger Things has been fighting for the latter half of its run, especially when it comes to overstuffing episodes to the point of exhaustion. Still, as I wrote in my review, "The flashy battles and lore bombshells can get the blood pumping, but it's the characters who have kept viewers coming back for many, many years. Knowing we'll be saying goodbye to them only makes these episodes sweeter, exhaustion be damned." — B.E.

Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke

How to watch: Stranger Things, Season 5, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

8. A Man on the Inside, Season 2

Move over, Only Murders in the Building — Netflix's A Man on the Inside is coming for your cozy mystery crown. The series reunites creator Michael Schur (The Office, Parks and Recreation) with The Good Place star Ted Danson, and the pair's partnership continues to sparkle with wit and warmth.

Danson plays Charles Nieuwendyk, a newly minted PI whose next case takes him undercover on a liberal arts college campus. As he unravels a mystery involving a stolen laptop, blackmail, and an insufferable billionaire alum (Gary Cole), he also gets closer to his friends and family — not to mention a new love interest, played by Danson's real-life wife Mary Steenburgen. It's here that A Man on the Inside really shines, building dynamic communities and families and lovingly examining the ties that bind them together. If you're looking for the most comforting watch of the year, this is up there. — B.E.

Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, and Stephanie Beatriz

How to watch: A Man on the Inside, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Wayward

Canadian comedian Mae Martin delivered a compelling drama mini-series with Wayward, led by the one and only Toni Collette as an enigmatic cult leader. Serene and intimidating, Evelyn Wade (Collette) runs Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers with some peculiar practices. Some rebellious teens are desperate to get out, and a new-to-town cop (Martin) may be their best chance for rescue.

In my review for Mashable, I cautioned: "All this makes for a show that's very easy to binge-watch. So now a warning: Don't hit play on Wayward unless you're ready to surrender yourself to eight hours of this sensational series. Like the town at its center, it's hard to walk away from."* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Mae Martin, Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Patrick Gallagher, Sydney Topliffe, Joshua Close, and Toni Collette

How to watch: Wayward is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Haunted Hotel

My personal favorite new Netflix show is Haunted Hotel, an animated series Mashable TV critic Belen Edwards rightly summarized in her review as "The Shining meets Bob's Burgers."

Following a single mom, her two trouble-seeking kids, and her ghost brother and his demon ward (who is in the body of a little boy from centuries before), this wild cartoon from Rick and Morty writer Matt Roller balances the sweet, family-focused plotlines of a sitcom with a slew of horror movie references that give the show a darkly comic edge. The collision of macabre humor and a charming family makes the first watch through a breeze. But the iconic horror Easter eggs, the hilariously cheery Will Forte as a ghost uncle, and Jimmi Simpson's addictively chaotic take on demon boy Abaddon will have you coming back for rewatches again and again. It's an unlikely comfort show, but a solid one. — K.P.

Starring: Eliza Coupe, Will Forte, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson

How to watch: Haunted Hotel is now streaming on Netflix.

5. North of North

The small-town comedy genre gets a lovely new entry in Netflix's North of North, which transports viewers to the Arctic town of Ice Cove. There, young Inuk woman Siaja (Anna Lambe) decides to leave her stale marriage to local legend Ting (Kelly William) and start over. That's easier said than done in an isolated town of 2,200 people, but Siaja is determined to succeed — although things get complicated when her estranged father (Jay Ryan) returns to town.

Don't let the frigid setting fool you: North of North is as heartwarming as TV shows come. Siaja's journey to independence is equal parts inspiring and amusing, as it takes several ridiculous mishaps for her to learn what she wants. Also touching is her troubled relationship with her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper), whose rocky past has led her to put up a tough exterior. These two flawed, lovable women head up a charming ensemble, with Ice Cove and its townspeople coming to life through detailed character work and specific town traditions like elders' night and walrus dick baseball. You read that right: walrus dick baseball. To watch how that plays out, and to fall in love with Lambe's wonderful turn as Siaja, be sure to journey North of North.* — B.E.

Starring: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, and Kelly William

How to watch: North of North is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Death by Lightning

Imagine Deadwood meets Veep, and you'll have a good idea of what Death by Lightning brings to the table as it unfurls the stranger-than-fiction story of how President James A. Garfield was assassinated by the rogue Charles J. Guiteau.

This four-part mini-series is adapted from Candice Millard's sensational non-fictional book Destiny of the Republic (seriously, give it a read), and it boasts some incredible performers and some very beard-forward acting. Michael Shannon stars as Garfield, reigning in his volatile energy to become a portrait of quiet nobleness, while "Matthew Macfadyen brings Tom Wambsgans energy to Charles Guiteau," as Belen noted in her review. There are also dynamic turns from Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham. A lot of power-grubbing, machismo, and madness come into play, and watching how some things just don't change is alternatively amusing and troubling. And truly, the wildest parts really happened. — K.P.

Starring: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham

How to watch: Death by Lightning is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Long Story Short

Long Story Short is exactly what you'd expect from BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg: witty as hell one moment, downright devastating the next. The series invites viewers into the lives of the Schwooper siblings (voiced by Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, and Max Greenfield), spanning decades from their chaotic childhoods to their equally chaotic adulthoods. From disastrous bar mitzvahs to awkward interventions, you've got a seat at the family table for it all.

Long Story Short cleverly collapses time in each episode, demonstrating how small incidents in our youth can snowball into major hangups in our later years. That nonlinear chronology turns the series into a thought-provoking examination of trauma and ever-shifting family ties. And what a family the Schwooper clan is, bursting with clashing personalities, inside jokes, and grievances that feel equal parts grounded and absurd. Spend just a few minutes with them, and you'll feel like you've known them your whole life, a quality that led me to call them "an instant classic TV family" in my review.* — B.E.

Starring: Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, Lisa Edelstein, and Paul Reiser

How to watch: Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Mo, Season 2

Not only is Mo one of the best TV shows of 2025 — it's also essential viewing. Co-created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef, this semi-autobiographical series centers on Palestinian refugee Mo (Amer) and his family's lives in Houston. Season 2 opens with Mo struggling to get back to the U.S. from Mexico. Detention centers and perilous border crossings await, all sobering reflections of the real-life journeys of immigrants trying to make it across the U.S.-Mexico border.

SEE ALSO: 'Mo' Season 2 review: Here's why it's still one of TV's most important shows

As UK Editor Shannon Connellan wrote in her review, "Mo's second season comes at a volatile time for Palestinians and undocumented immigrants alike, with those in power enforcing heartless, brutal decisions from disengaged, lofty offices that impact real people. Somehow, beyond all belief, amid a sense of transience and fear, of stacked odds and starting from scratch, Mo finds levity, surrealism, and personal solidarity in the dark, while being a genuinely funny and moving show."* — B.E.

Starring: Mo Amer, Farah Bsieso, Teresa Ruiz, Tobe Nwigwe, and Omar Elba

How to watch: Mo, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Adolescence

Likely to be the most harrowing viewing experience you'll have this year, Adolescence traps you in a nightmare over the course of its four episodes, each filmed in one take. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini, Netflix's much buzzed-about mini-series examines the aftermath of a chilling murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie (newcomer Owen Cooper). Each episode focuses on a different perspective around the case, from a detective (Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie's school to Jamie's family reckoning with his actions.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Adolescence' review: One of the best, most devastating shows of 2025

These vignettes, coupled with Barantini's one-take technique, create an unflinching portrait of a crime that feels all too rooted in reality. As UK Deputy Editor Sam Haysom wrote in his review, "Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable. On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective."* — B.E.

Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Amelie Pease

How to watch: Adolescence is now streaming on Netflix.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

2025 was a massive year for Netflix — and not just because of its planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Pictures.

In many ways, 2025 was the end of an era for the streamer's TV offerings, as two of its biggest hits, Squid Game and Stranger Things, came to a close. Elsewhere, though, new original series like Adolescence captured the cultural zeitgeist (and countless awards).

SEE ALSO: The 10 best TV shows of 2025 (so far), and where to stream them

But of the seemingly countless shows that premiered on Netflix this year, which were truly the cream of the crop? Lucky for you, we've sorted through the streamer's massive list of offerings and determined the series you absolutely must check out. There's something for everyone on this list, from quirky new comedies and YA romances to devastating mini-series and nightmare-inducing dystopias. Read on for the 20 best Netflix shows of 2025.

20. Wednesday, Season 2

All hell (and Hyde) broke loose in Wednesday Season 2, with Alfred Gough and Miles Millar's spooky series returning with all the energy of a teen werewolf at a full moon party. Back in the braids, Jenna Ortega is a macabre marvel as the show's titular storm cloud, with a murderous avian case to crack, a stalker to unmask, and a haunting vision about her bestie Enid (the delightful Emma Myers) to decrypt. And that's aside from the hell that is dealing with her Bruce Springsteen-loving new Nevermore Academy principal (Steve Buscemi, a slam dunk of a cast addition), and her tempestuous relationship with her mother, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), which reaches a literal sword-clashing point. As Mashable's Belen Edwards writes in her review, "[M]ake no mistake: Wednesday remains the star of the show. Ortega remains the cold, dead heart of the series — and I mean that as a compliment in tribute to Wednesday!"

Season 2 not only infests its episodes with even more Edgar Allan Poe references and nods to the '90s Addams Family movies (including Christopher Lloyd himself), it solves the pesky problem of Wednesday's love triangle and lets her get back to the business of scalping serial killers and quoting Machiavelli as relationship advice. In addition, this season served up a bubbling cauldron of treats, including a long-awaited, very short cameo from Lady Gaga and the season's highlight, director Tim Burton delivering an exquisite stop-motion sequence to weave "The Tale of the Skull Tree" in his signature Gothic fantasy style. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Isaac Ordonez, Victor Dorobantu, Luis Guzmán, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joanna Lumley, Fred Armisen, Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, Noah B. Taylor, Evie Templeton, Steve Buscemi, Billie Piper, Christopher Lloyd, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, Jamie McShane, and Thandiwe Newton

How to watch: Wednesday, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

19. Squid Game, Season 3

It's the end of an era on Netflix, as Hwang Dong-hyuk's smash hit Squid Game comes to a bloody close. Following the end of Season 2's unsuccessful player rebellion against the games, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) is basically a shell of his former self. As he battles through new twisted games and faces down increasingly greedy contestants, will he find any last shreds of hope for his future and humanity? Or has the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) successfully ground down his faith in his fellow players?

Honestly, Squid Game's grand finale is a bit of a mess, one that loses whatever little subtlety it had left. (Those masked billionaires tank the show whenever they're on screen!) But even at its most ridiculous, the show remains stomach-churningly captivating. Even after three seasons, it's tough not to get invested in the games, or to scream at the screen every time disaster strikes. So thank you, Squid Game, for the many heart attacks you've given over the years. I think this season's hide-and-seek game alone took months off my life. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Yim Si-Wan, Kang Ha-neul, Wi Ha-jun, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-wook, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Roh Jae-won, and Jo Yuri

How to watch: Squid Game, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

18. Black Mirror, Season 7

Charlie Brooker's sci-fi anthology series can be patchy, but when the show hits, it really hits. Opening with one of the all-time most devastating episodes (one that may be better not to watch first, in fact), Season 7 is a mixed bag with some very high highs (or lows, if you're talking from an existential dread perspective) and plenty of its trademark, technology-based terror. Fans of "USS Callister" will be happy, as there's a sequel, as will anyone who likes their futuristic fear with a side of moving nostalgia (hello, "Eulogy"). — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

Starring: Will Poulter, Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Paul Giamatti, Rashida Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Emma Corrin, Jimmi Simpson, and Issa Rae

How to watch: Black Mirror, Season 7 is now streaming on Netflix.

17. Ginny and Georgia, Season 3

After a few stumbles, Ginny & Georgia pulled its best season out of the hat this year. By Season 3, Sarah Lampert's series has become a show of both high drama and powerful, relatable themes, especially when it comes to continuing to raise the bar for mental health representation on TV. As Liv Facey writes for Mashable, "By depicting characters struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma in authentic ways, the show validates viewers' own experiences and challenges, helping to normalise these struggles and encourage open conversations about mental health."

This season sees Brianne Howey at her most impressive yet as single mother Georgia Miller, who ended Season 2 in handcuffs. Season 3 plunges Georgia into past trauma as she endures her high profile court case, and as her teen daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry) puts it, "the carefully constructed house of cards finally crumbles." Gentry is equally excellent this season, as Ginny finds power in poetry, and we're also treated to strong performances by Felix Mallard as the seriously struggling Marcus, and Sara Waisglass as his proud theater kid twin sister, Maxine, who basically has to scream to be heard. It's not every day a series truly finds its feet in its third season, but Ginny and Georgia genuinely broke me this year. — S.C.

Starring: Brianne Howey, Antonia Gentry, Felix Mallard, Sara Waisglass, Diesel La Torraca, Jennifer Robertson, Scott Porter, Raymond Ablack, Katie Douglas, Chelsea Clark, Nathan Mitchell, Katelyn Wells, Ty Doran, and Noah Lamanna

How to watch: Ginny & Georgia, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

16. Running Point

Cross Ted Lasso with the NBA, and you get Running Point. Created by Mindy Kaling, Elaine Ko, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen, this sports comedy centers on the wealthy Gordon family, owners of the Los Angeles Waves. When the family's sole daughter, Isla (Kate Hudson), unexpectedly gets appointed team president, she faces the steep challenge of turning a lifeless team around — all while being underestimated at every turn by her skeptical brothers.

SEE ALSO: 'Running Point' review: Mindy Kaling's latest combines 'Ted Lasso,' 'Succession,' and basketball

What follows is pure fun: part Ted Lasso fish-out-of-water sports story, part Succession-style examination of a messed-up wealthy family. Leading it all is Hudson, who proves herself quite the comedic playmaker, alongside a hilarious ensemble including Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, and Scott MacArthur. Whether you love basketball or are on the hunt for a glossy new sitcom, Running Point is a sure bet, one that I praised in my review as "a sharp comedy that skewers both professional basketball and dysfunctional families with glee." — B.E.

Starring: Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Jay Ellis, and Justin Theroux

How to watch: Running Point is now streaming on Netflix.

15. Forever

Judy Blume's seminal coming-of-age novel Forever… provided young readers with refreshingly honest depictions of teen romance and sexuality. Now, her classic gets a thoughtful adaptation in Netflix's Forever, created by Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends). Brock Akil follows the core storyline of Blume's work but shifts the setting from 1970s New Jersey to 2018 Los Angeles. She also reimagines the novel's leads as two Black teens, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), each of whom is facing big choices about college and the future.

SEE ALSO: 'Forever' review: Netflix series strays from Judy Blume classic, but that's a good thing

Brock Akil's big adaptation changes pay off, allowing her to examine issues of race and class, as well as how modern-day technology impacts intimacy. Plus, she deepens our understanding of both Keisha and Justin's home lives. The pair are already extra compelling together thanks to Simone and Cooper Jr.'s immaculate chemistry, but Forever makes you just as interested in their individual goals as in their relationship. Still, their romance remains one of the sweetest TV love stories of the year. As I wrote in my review, "[Forever] is a sweet, heart-wrenching account of young love, one that significantly diverges from Blume's original novel but is still very much a companion piece to it." — B.E.

Starring: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Lawrence Winans III, Wood Harris, Barry Shabaka Henley, Niles Fitch, Paigion Walker, and E’myri Crutchfield

How to watch: Forever is now streaming on Netflix.

14. Too Much

The title of Lena Dunham's Netflix rom-com series Too Much has a versatile application, but it's likely most often heard by women constantly told to rein it in. Carly Rae Jepsen gets it. And so does Megan Stalter's protagonist, Jessica, a New Yorker who takes a job in London to get away after a horrendous break-up. There, she meet-cutes discombobulated musician Felix (Will Sharpe). (The Girls creator wrote Too Much loosely based on her experience meeting her husband, British musician Luis Felber, who co-created the series.) The supporting cast is absolute gold, from uncharacteristic appearances from Andrew Scott, Stephen Fry, and Jennifer Saunders to the practically perfect casting of Rita Wilson, and a chillingly real performance from Michael Zegen as Jessica's ex. But nothing beats these two leads.

Hacks/Cora Bora star Stalter brings every last element of her signature, internet-beloved comedy to the series, as Jessica makes a lot of chaotic decisions while processing her seriously toxic past relationship. Equally, Sharpe's Felix has his own complex personal past and shit to figure out, with The White Lotus star offering his own messy version of the rom-com male lead. As Belen Edwards writes in her Mashable review, "Dunham, Stalter, and Sharpe stir up sparks during even the most awkward or cringeworthy moments of Jessica and Felix's relationship. (And given that it's a Dunham project, there are many such moments.) In the end, this cross-continental pairing often teeters on the edge of disaster, but Too Much finds joy in their messy journey of trying to pull back from the brink." — S.C.

Starring: Megan Stalter, Will Sharpe, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah, Andrew Rannells, Daisy Bevan, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, Janicza Bravo, Kaori Momoi, Leo Reich, Michael Zegen, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Rhea Perlman, Richard E. Grant, Rita Wilson, Andrew Scott, and Stephen Fry

How to watch: Too Much is now streaming on Netflix.

13. Toxic Town

The first of two limited series from writer Jack Thorne on this list, Toxic Town tells a fictionalised version of a real-life story. Following a group of mothers who've given birth to children with limb differences, Thorne's drama follows their legal battle against the local council as they attempt to get to the bottom of whether or not they were poisoned due to negligence and corruption at the nearby steelworks. It's an emotional and frustrating story that's brought to life by a strong script and incredible performances across the board, especially from Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who) and Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus), who star as two of the real-life mothers leading the fight. — S.H.

Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood, Rory Kinnear, Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle, Joe Dempsie, Claudia Jessie, Ben Batt, Stephen McMillan, Lauren Lyle, Michael Socha, Karla Crome, and Matthew Durkan

How to watch: Toxic Town is now streaming on Netflix.

12. The Four Seasons

Tina Fey reinvents Alan Alda's 1981 comedy The Four Seasons in this charming series from Netflix. Fey and an all-star cast including Colman Domingo, Steve Carell, and Will Forte play three couples who go on vacation together every season. Despite the picturesque locations, tensions inevitably rise within the friend group when Nick (Carell) leaves his wife Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and begins dating a younger woman (Erika Henningsen).

SEE ALSO: 'The Four Seasons' review: Tina Fey and Steve Carell go on vacation in winning comedy

While The Four Seasons boasts its fair share of dry wit, cringe comedy, and the occasional slapstick, it's the group's interpersonal tensions that truly make this show stand out. Fey and co-creators Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield deftly examine the pitfalls of adult friendships and long-lasting marriages, creating a comedy that doubles as an aching reflection on the work that goes into even the most enduring friendships and romances. As I wrote in my review, "It's the substance that sneaks up on you that really makes The Four Seasons a winner, even if it's a slower burn from the jump." — B.E.

Starring: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Will Forte, and Erika Henningsen

How to watch: The Four Seasons is now streaming on Netflix.

11. Dept. Q

The Queen's Gambit creator Scott Frank and Chandni Lakhani strike mystery gold in Dept. Q, adapted from Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's series of the same name. The show centers on Detective Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), an English cop in Scotland who's disliked by practically everyone he comes into contact with. As Carl recovers from a traumatic gunshot wound, he's put in charge of a new department, one tasked with solving cold cases. It's a publicity stunt dressed up as a public service, but with the help of some unlikely assistants, Carl may just be able to turn this department into a powerhouse. Their first case? The disappearance of prosecutor Merritt Lingard (Chloe Pirrie), whose current plight is nothing short of a claustrophobic nightmare.

Dept. Q toggles between taut mystery and intriguing character study, delving deep into Carl's growth toward someone who's maybe slightly pleasant, as well as the journeys of Carl's fellow detectives Akram (Alexej Manvelov), Rose (Leah Byrne), and Hardy (Jamie Sives). Together, they create a lovable squad with the potential for a long run of case-cracking on Netflix. The streaming gods demand it! — B.E.

Starring: Matthew Goode, Kelly Macdonald, Chloe Pirrie, Kate Dickie, Alexej Manvelov, Jamie Sives, and Leah Byrne

How to watch: Dept. Q is now streaming on Netflix.

10. The Diplomat, Season 3

Debora Cahn's lauded drama The Diplomat returned for another round of red hot political tête-à-tête with Season 3, with the West Wing writer notably reuniting Bartlet administration alumni Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford as the U.S. president and her husband. However, as we've come to know The Diplomat over three seasons, the top brass aren't necessarily the main focus here. Amid the intricate dance of diplomacy, Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell return in fine form as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler and her husband, Hal, with Season 3 throwing a colossal spanner into their already turbulent relationship. Russell hits every damn note as the series' no-bullshit protagonist is pushed to her limit, and Sewell crafts Hal as obscenely punchable this season. 

Meanwhile, the rug is pulled from under CIA Chief Eidra Park (an always-impeccable Ali Ahn), and Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Hayford (the ever-charming Ato Essandoh) continues to be Kate's best chance at staying sane in the embassy. Thankfully, Season 3 also brings back David Gyasi as Kate's dashing crush, foreign secretary Austin Dennison, and Rory Kinnear as dreadful UK PM Nicol Trowbridge, while giving more screen time to Nana Mensah as matter-of-fact White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah. Cahn proves The Diplomat is still the best political series on Netflix, as Season 3 skyrockets the stakes and pushes its now-lived-in characters to the brink. — S.C.

Starring: Keri Russell, Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, Rory Kinnear, and Ato Essandoh

How to watch: The Diplomat, Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.

9. Stranger Things, Season 5

Stranger Things continued its trend of going as big as possible in its fifth and final season. Demogorgons fighting the military! Driving into the Upside Down! Will (Noah Schnapp) getting show-stopping powers of his own! While I may not know how Stranger Things will stick the landing at the time of writing this, that last scene is worth a spot on this list for sheer hype alone.

Season 5 struggles with the same problems Stranger Things has been fighting for the latter half of its run, especially when it comes to overstuffing episodes to the point of exhaustion. Still, as I wrote in my review, "The flashy battles and lore bombshells can get the blood pumping, but it's the characters who have kept viewers coming back for many, many years. Knowing we'll be saying goodbye to them only makes these episodes sweeter, exhaustion be damned." — B.E.

Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke

How to watch: Stranger Things, Season 5, Volume 1 is now streaming on Netflix.

8. A Man on the Inside, Season 2

Move over, Only Murders in the Building — Netflix's A Man on the Inside is coming for your cozy mystery crown. The series reunites creator Michael Schur (The Office, Parks and Recreation) with The Good Place star Ted Danson, and the pair's partnership continues to sparkle with wit and warmth.

Danson plays Charles Nieuwendyk, a newly minted PI whose next case takes him undercover on a liberal arts college campus. As he unravels a mystery involving a stolen laptop, blackmail, and an insufferable billionaire alum (Gary Cole), he also gets closer to his friends and family — not to mention a new love interest, played by Danson's real-life wife Mary Steenburgen. It's here that A Man on the Inside really shines, building dynamic communities and families and lovingly examining the ties that bind them together. If you're looking for the most comforting watch of the year, this is up there. — B.E.

Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, and Stephanie Beatriz

How to watch: A Man on the Inside, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

7. Wayward

Canadian comedian Mae Martin delivered a compelling drama mini-series with Wayward, led by the one and only Toni Collette as an enigmatic cult leader. Serene and intimidating, Evelyn Wade (Collette) runs Tall Pines Academy, a reform school for teenagers with some peculiar practices. Some rebellious teens are desperate to get out, and a new-to-town cop (Martin) may be their best chance for rescue.

In my review for Mashable, I cautioned: "All this makes for a show that's very easy to binge-watch. So now a warning: Don't hit play on Wayward unless you're ready to surrender yourself to eight hours of this sensational series. Like the town at its center, it's hard to walk away from."* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Mae Martin, Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Patrick J. Adams, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Patrick Gallagher, Sydney Topliffe, Joshua Close, and Toni Collette

How to watch: Wayward is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Haunted Hotel

My personal favorite new Netflix show is Haunted Hotel, an animated series Mashable TV critic Belen Edwards rightly summarized in her review as "The Shining meets Bob's Burgers."

Following a single mom, her two trouble-seeking kids, and her ghost brother and his demon ward (who is in the body of a little boy from centuries before), this wild cartoon from Rick and Morty writer Matt Roller balances the sweet, family-focused plotlines of a sitcom with a slew of horror movie references that give the show a darkly comic edge. The collision of macabre humor and a charming family makes the first watch through a breeze. But the iconic horror Easter eggs, the hilariously cheery Will Forte as a ghost uncle, and Jimmi Simpson's addictively chaotic take on demon boy Abaddon will have you coming back for rewatches again and again. It's an unlikely comfort show, but a solid one. — K.P.

Starring: Eliza Coupe, Will Forte, Skyler Gisondo, Natalie Palamides, and Jimmi Simpson

How to watch: Haunted Hotel is now streaming on Netflix.

5. North of North

The small-town comedy genre gets a lovely new entry in Netflix's North of North, which transports viewers to the Arctic town of Ice Cove. There, young Inuk woman Siaja (Anna Lambe) decides to leave her stale marriage to local legend Ting (Kelly William) and start over. That's easier said than done in an isolated town of 2,200 people, but Siaja is determined to succeed — although things get complicated when her estranged father (Jay Ryan) returns to town.

Don't let the frigid setting fool you: North of North is as heartwarming as TV shows come. Siaja's journey to independence is equal parts inspiring and amusing, as it takes several ridiculous mishaps for her to learn what she wants. Also touching is her troubled relationship with her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper), whose rocky past has led her to put up a tough exterior. These two flawed, lovable women head up a charming ensemble, with Ice Cove and its townspeople coming to life through detailed character work and specific town traditions like elders' night and walrus dick baseball. You read that right: walrus dick baseball. To watch how that plays out, and to fall in love with Lambe's wonderful turn as Siaja, be sure to journey North of North.* — B.E.

Starring: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke, Jay Ryan, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Zorga Qaunaq, Bailey Poching, and Kelly William

How to watch: North of North is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Death by Lightning

Imagine Deadwood meets Veep, and you'll have a good idea of what Death by Lightning brings to the table as it unfurls the stranger-than-fiction story of how President James A. Garfield was assassinated by the rogue Charles J. Guiteau.

This four-part mini-series is adapted from Candice Millard's sensational non-fictional book Destiny of the Republic (seriously, give it a read), and it boasts some incredible performers and some very beard-forward acting. Michael Shannon stars as Garfield, reigning in his volatile energy to become a portrait of quiet nobleness, while "Matthew Macfadyen brings Tom Wambsgans energy to Charles Guiteau," as Belen noted in her review. There are also dynamic turns from Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham. A lot of power-grubbing, machismo, and madness come into play, and watching how some things just don't change is alternatively amusing and troubling. And truly, the wildest parts really happened. — K.P.

Starring: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham

How to watch: Death by Lightning is now streaming on Netflix.

3. Long Story Short

Long Story Short is exactly what you'd expect from BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg: witty as hell one moment, downright devastating the next. The series invites viewers into the lives of the Schwooper siblings (voiced by Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, and Max Greenfield), spanning decades from their chaotic childhoods to their equally chaotic adulthoods. From disastrous bar mitzvahs to awkward interventions, you've got a seat at the family table for it all.

Long Story Short cleverly collapses time in each episode, demonstrating how small incidents in our youth can snowball into major hangups in our later years. That nonlinear chronology turns the series into a thought-provoking examination of trauma and ever-shifting family ties. And what a family the Schwooper clan is, bursting with clashing personalities, inside jokes, and grievances that feel equal parts grounded and absurd. Spend just a few minutes with them, and you'll feel like you've known them your whole life, a quality that led me to call them "an instant classic TV family" in my review.* — B.E.

Starring: Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobson, Max Greenfield, Lisa Edelstein, and Paul Reiser

How to watch: Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Mo, Season 2

Not only is Mo one of the best TV shows of 2025 — it's also essential viewing. Co-created by Mo Amer and Ramy Youssef, this semi-autobiographical series centers on Palestinian refugee Mo (Amer) and his family's lives in Houston. Season 2 opens with Mo struggling to get back to the U.S. from Mexico. Detention centers and perilous border crossings await, all sobering reflections of the real-life journeys of immigrants trying to make it across the U.S.-Mexico border.

SEE ALSO: 'Mo' Season 2 review: Here's why it's still one of TV's most important shows

As UK Editor Shannon Connellan wrote in her review, "Mo's second season comes at a volatile time for Palestinians and undocumented immigrants alike, with those in power enforcing heartless, brutal decisions from disengaged, lofty offices that impact real people. Somehow, beyond all belief, amid a sense of transience and fear, of stacked odds and starting from scratch, Mo finds levity, surrealism, and personal solidarity in the dark, while being a genuinely funny and moving show."* — B.E.

Starring: Mo Amer, Farah Bsieso, Teresa Ruiz, Tobe Nwigwe, and Omar Elba

How to watch: Mo, Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Adolescence

Likely to be the most harrowing viewing experience you'll have this year, Adolescence traps you in a nightmare over the course of its four episodes, each filmed in one take. Co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, and directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini, Netflix's much buzzed-about mini-series examines the aftermath of a chilling murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie (newcomer Owen Cooper). Each episode focuses on a different perspective around the case, from a detective (Ashley Walters) investigating Jamie's school to Jamie's family reckoning with his actions.

SEE ALSO: Netflix's 'Adolescence' review: One of the best, most devastating shows of 2025

These vignettes, coupled with Barantini's one-take technique, create an unflinching portrait of a crime that feels all too rooted in reality. As UK Deputy Editor Sam Haysom wrote in his review, "Adolescence's story isn't a crime mystery so much as a psychological study — it's an exploration of the manosphere culture that's having a real world affect on teenagers, and the societal and familial triggers that might lead to a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old doing something unthinkable. On this level, and on almost all others, the show is chillingly effective."* — B.E.

Starring: Stephen Graham, Ashley Walters, Erin Doherty, Owen Cooper, Faye Marsay, Christine Tremarco, and Amelie Pease

How to watch: Adolescence is now streaming on Netflix.

(*) denotes a blurb has come from a prior list.

There's a lot of pressure when brainstorming good gift ideas for your mom. She sacrificed a lot for you, and you'd like to show some appreciation back. Part of our larger series dedicated to finding the best gifts for everyone, this list of gifts for your mom (or any mom or mother figure, for that matter) attempts to think outside of the same old generic suggestions that have plagued moms at major holidays for decades.

SEE ALSO: The 71 absolute best stocking stuffers for 2025

Does she have a unique interest or pastime that's a huge part of her life? You could look for hyper-specific items that speak directly to her passions, or pick up an item to finally get her started on that dream hobby. If she'd appreciate a more practical gift, rack your brain for a frustration that she's mentioned more than once — perhaps her coffee machine sucks or she's having trouble sleeping. You can't go wrong with gifting something that'll make her life easier.

Either way, the best Christmas gifts for mom will make her feel listened to, valued, or straight-up pampered. Consider what she does when she has no one putting demands on her time — then shop for those moments. And if you get stuck, visit our guide to the best gifts under $50 for even more winning ideas.

Getting actors to tease their upcoming projects with a word or two is a trend on The Tonight Show, and in the clip above Finn Wolfhard really steps up to the plate.

Stranger Things only has four episodes left of its final season, and host Jimmy Fallon goes through episode by episode, asking Wolfhard to sum them up in one spoiler-free word.

The words Wolfhard picks, in order?

• Crispy

• Shocking

• Enlightening

• Emotional

We'll find out exactly what he means soon enough. In the meantime, we have a lot of burning questions ourselves.

Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 25, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31, both at 8 p.m. ET.

Getting actors to tease their upcoming projects with a word or two is a trend on The Tonight Show, and in the clip above Finn Wolfhard really steps up to the plate.

Stranger Things only has four episodes left of its final season, and host Jimmy Fallon goes through episode by episode, asking Wolfhard to sum them up in one spoiler-free word.

The words Wolfhard picks, in order?

• Crispy

• Shocking

• Enlightening

• Emotional

We'll find out exactly what he means soon enough. In the meantime, we have a lot of burning questions ourselves.

Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 25, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31, both at 8 p.m. ET.

As AI creeps into nearly every realm of our world, it feels like you need to be in investigation mode all the time to sniff it out. The tension between the literary world and AI is especially present these days. ChatGPT is now a tool for creation, with writers being encouraged to use the large language model to write stories — but consumers aren't asking for it. In fact, they're asking how to avoid. Libby users have been especially keen to spot the presence of AI, which has infiltrated audiobooks in a big way.

As pointed out by user @ems.book.shelf_ on TikTok, AI audiobooks have arrived on Libby, the app that connects public library card holders with their library's e-book and audiobook collections.

This isn't the first instance of AI and Libby crossing over. On Nov. 20, 2025, Libby posted an article launching its 'Inspire Me' feature, which uses large-language-model generative artificial intelligence to recommend and suggest books to users.

The 'Inspire Me' feature is easy enough to avoid, but an underlying issue on Libby is the presence of audiobooks that are narrated by AI. For dedicated audiobook listeners, losing the human touch of a real person's narration is devastating. So if you want to steer clear of AI, here's how to spot AI audiobooks in Libby.

How to spot AI audiobooks and Libby

After sharing the news that AI content is available on Libby, TikToker @ems.book.shelf_ also shared how to spot it within Libby. Which AI audiobooks are available will vary from library to library, so rather than provide an extensive list of AI audiobooks, you'll need to do some searching.

Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Libby app

Step 1: Search for AI voices

In the Libby app, go to the search bar and look at two specific terms: Digital Voice and Synthesized Voice. This will display all the titles that feature AI voice narration, which is commonly referred to as either a digital or synthesized voice.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Step 2: Browse through results

Once you've searched, click into individual book listings. In each book's details, the narrator will be listed. Any books that use AI will have the narrator listed as either a 'synthesized voice' or 'digital voice.' If you're looking to avoid AI, don't borrow these books.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

As AI creeps into nearly every realm of our world, it feels like you need to be in investigation mode all the time to sniff it out. The tension between the literary world and AI is especially present these days. ChatGPT is now a tool for creation, with writers being encouraged to use the large language model to write stories — but consumers aren't asking for it. In fact, they're asking how to avoid. Libby users have been especially keen to spot the presence of AI, which has infiltrated audiobooks in a big way.

As pointed out by user @ems.book.shelf_ on TikTok, AI audiobooks have arrived on Libby, the app that connects public library card holders with their library's e-book and audiobook collections.

This isn't the first instance of AI and Libby crossing over. On Nov. 20, 2025, Libby posted an article launching its 'Inspire Me' feature, which uses large-language-model generative artificial intelligence to recommend and suggest books to users.

The 'Inspire Me' feature is easy enough to avoid, but an underlying issue on Libby is the presence of audiobooks that are narrated by AI. For dedicated audiobook listeners, losing the human touch of a real person's narration is devastating. So if you want to steer clear of AI, here's how to spot AI audiobooks in Libby.

How to spot AI audiobooks and Libby

After sharing the news that AI content is available on Libby, TikToker @ems.book.shelf_ also shared how to spot it within Libby. Which AI audiobooks are available will vary from library to library, so rather than provide an extensive list of AI audiobooks, you'll need to do some searching.

Total Time

• 5 min

What You Need

• Libby app

Step 1: Search for AI voices

In the Libby app, go to the search bar and look at two specific terms: Digital Voice and Synthesized Voice. This will display all the titles that feature AI voice narration, which is commonly referred to as either a digital or synthesized voice.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Step 2: Browse through results

Once you've searched, click into individual book listings. In each book's details, the narrator will be listed. Any books that use AI will have the narrator listed as either a 'synthesized voice' or 'digital voice.' If you're looking to avoid AI, don't borrow these books.

Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

Sabrina Carpenter has gone day drinking with Seth Meyers, joining the Late Night host for a Christmas-themed edition of his regular alcohol-fuelled segment. Eschewing espresso martinis for beer and Long Island iced tea, the duo began with a game of Truth or Drink, in which Meyers quickly hurt his own feelings by asking Carpenter to rate him. Apparently, seven was not the score he was hoping for.

"I thought seven was sort of giving!" Carpenter later exclaimed, defending her assessment. "Like, I thought seven was sort of like, there's room to grow! I don't know, like, I thought seven was more than five!"

Despite Carpenter's good intentions, 51-year-old Meyers did not agree with her claim that he is still growing.

"I feel like I've just met a ghost on Christmas," quipped Meyers, referencing Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. "You're like, 'I'm from the future! You're an eight!"

They also inexplicably played with red light therapy masks, attempted to make animal noises, and partook in classic Christmas games such as "unwrap alcohol while wearing oven mitts then make the other person drink it" and "drunkenly decorate Meyers like a Christmas tree while singing 'Silent Night.'"

If your team always returns from the holidays more exhausted than energized, you’re likely dealing with the end-of-year productivity paradox: The final weeks of December, when everyone already feels stressed and depleted, are overloaded with deadlines, meetings, and last-minute obligations. This stress ultimately undermines productivity and momentum in the new year. A “Wrap-Up Week” can […]

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Most of you reading this are probably using one of the popular “free” email services, but they aren’t really free, are they? In exchange for letting these companies analyze the contents of your email and track you across the web, you have the “privilege” of looking at targeted advertising stuffed in between your legitimate emails.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

Empty.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

BLANK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Unmarried.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

UNWED

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Payment receiver.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

PAYEE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Another time.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

AGAIN

Final Hurdle hint

A predatory fish.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

MORAY

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The teaser trailer for Disclosure Day has been released, offering a glimpse at Steven Spielberg's upcoming sci-fi film. Ironically, Disclosure Day's teaser doesn't actually disclose all that much. What we do know is that aliens appear to be involved.

Offering more vibes than plot details, the trailer features Emily Blunt as a Kansas City weather presenter who begins making strange sounds while on air — sounds which are definitely not the weather forecast. Meanwhile, Colin Firth is wired up to a machine and appears distressed by whatever is on the screen in front of him, while Josh O'Connor is determined to give "full disclosure to the whole world, all at once." What is he disclosing? It isn't clear. However, the crop circles and extremely suspicious deer may have something to do with it.

Disclosure Day will arrive in theatres June 12.

HBO Max has released the official trailer for The Pitt's second season, bringing back Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) for a fresh shift at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Unfortunately for him, it looks no less gruelling than the first one we saw.

Picking up 10 months on from the last season, The Pitt Season 2 takes place during a busy July 4 weekend in the emergency room. It'd be unsurprising to see some firework-related injuries, which tend to significantly increase around Independence Day. If that wasn't stressful enough, it looks as though a cyber attack will take the emergency room's computer systems offline during this shift, forcing the team to "go analogue." It seems like a perfect recipe for chaos in an already busy emergency department.

Alongside Dr. Robby, Season 2 sees the return of Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball), nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa), Dr. Mohran (Supriya Ganesh), Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif), Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), and medical students turned interns Whitaker (Gerran Howell) and Javadi (Shabana Azeez). Also joining them will be new physician Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi).

The Pitt Season 2 arrives Jan. 8 on HBO Max.

There's moment in Fallout Season 2 that isn't directly an ode to the late, great David Lynch but it absolutely, 100 percent is.

In the very first episode of the second chapter, there's a fleeting scene that Twin Peaks fans might find unexpectedly heartwarming in the middle of this forsaken Wasteland. And it involves a damn fine cup of coffee.

SEE ALSO: 'Fallout 2' is full of game details. Here's a handy guide.

Late in Season 2, episode 1 of the TV adaptation of Bethesda's Fallout game franchise, we meet up with former Vault 33 overseer Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) who has trudged across the Nevada desert in T-60 power armor all the way to a massive underground Vault-Tec tower. It's completely devoid of life, instead a silent shell of a pristine office building.

Plus, Hank's got over 400,000 unread messages to attend to — it's been at least 200 years since anyone's checked them. With an aim for caffeination and his golden Pip Boy strapped on, Hank makes himself a pot of coffee and takes a sip — and if you don't think MacLachlan's character is about to remark that it's a "damn fine cup of coffee," you need to watch more Twin Peaks.

Featured Video For You What tech would the 'Fallout' cast steal from the show?

In this scene, MacLachlan could very well be paying tribute to his longtime friend and Twin Peaks/Blue Velvet/Dune director, who died at 78 in January this year. The actor has long been synonymous with the phrase after playing Agent Dale Cooper in Lynch's iconic mystery series. The FBI special agent insists on taking a moment for his daily brew, and giving oneself a daily present while investigating horrific crimes, preferring "two cups of good, hot black coffee" for himself.

While Hank doesn't actually utter the words despite subtle "say the line, Bart," teasing, there's definitely a smile and a pause — enough for Lynch fans to fill in the famous line themselves.

If you're a U.S.-based TikTok user who was anxiously counting down the days until the social media app was banned on Dec. 16, 2025, then there's good news. Christmas came early — you can start counting down the days until Jan. 23 instead.

Dec. 16 was, in theory, the latest deadline for TikTok, which is owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, to wrap up a sale of its U.S. business. That was supposed to happen by law (the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act of 2024, if you're feeling formal) on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025; in fact, there was a brief shutdown.

The deadline has been extended four times, via executive order, since the Trump administration gained power on that date. The first delay took us to April 4, 2025. On that date, another executive order gave ByteDance until June 19, 2025 to sell. Then, guess what: a June 19 executive order pushed the deadline back until Dec. 16, 2025.

In the meantime, we seem to be no closer to a TikTok sale. By multiple accounts, negotiations have become bogged down, in part because the Chinese government takes a dim view of the U.S. strong-arming one of its companies and views the deal as leverage. Not to mention that a constantly-extended deadline isn't a real deadline at all.

SEE ALSO: How to vote for the TikTok Awards 2025 — plus date, nominees, and how to watch

Trump, who has repeatedly drawn attention to his own following on TikTok, may appear like he's tactically delaying the ban. But he's also keen to take credit for the possibility of a sale, and it doesn't exactly take an international diplomacy expert to see weaknesses in this game of hardball. You just have to know one of 2025's most popular political truisms: TACO.

Indeed, on Sept. 25, Trump issued another executive order directing the U.S. Attorney General to take "no action for noncompliance" against TikTok for "120 days from the date of this order" — which brings us to Jan. 23, 2026. Why? Because, Trump wrote, "a plan has been presented to me to undergo a qualified divestiture of TikTok’s United States operations."

That plan was said to involve a $14 billion sale of the U.S. arm of TikTok to a consortium including Oracle, which is led by Trump backer Larry Ellison. But no further details have materialized, and the Chinese government insists the sale isn't going ahead — leading to widespread confusion.

So will TikTok be officially banned in the U.S. on Jan. 23, 2026, 368 days after the original ban was said to go ahead? Your guess is as good as ours — but given the evidence of the past year, it probably wouldn't be wise to bet your life savings on it.

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Opens in a new window Credit: MagellanTV MagellanTV Documentary Streaming Service: Lifetime Subscription $139.97
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If you’ve run out of documentaries on mainstream platforms, consider this price drop on a MagellanTV lifetime subscription. The service specializes in documentaries across history, science, nature, crime, and space, and it’s currently available for $139.97 (reg. $999) for a limited time.

MagellanTV is dedicated to documentaries, not sitcoms or reality shows. Every section is curated for viewers who prefer learning over laugh tracks. The library features more than 4,000 films and series, with playlists focused on major events, scientific discoveries, ancient history, and true crime investigations.

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MagellanTV works across mobile, desktop, and most smart TVs, and supports casting with Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, and other compatible devices. The platform is ad-free, with new documentaries added every week, making it a practical plus for viewers who go through content quickly.

If you want even more control over what you watch, MagellanTV’s built-in collections can help narrow down big topics into structured routes — like multi-part space exploration series, deep looks at ancient civilizations, or crime investigations that span decades. It’s the kind of platform that rewards curiosity, whether you’re watching occasionally or streaming something new every night.

The lifetime subscription, defined as 75 years of access, is most valuable for frequent documentary watchers, households that lean toward factual programming, or those already juggling multiple streaming services. Accounts support up to five devices, and purchasers have 30 days to redeem the code after purchase.

For viewers who have already worked through popular history and science series on mainstream platforms, MagellanTV offers a more specialized alternative for a one-time payment.

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Some people possess an innate talent for finding gifts on a budget. No matter the occasion (Christmas, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day) or recipient (wife, husband, boyfriend, teens, in-laws), they somehow nail it every time — winning the unofficial "best gift-giver" award among those who are lucky to know them. If you're not the most intuitive gift-giver, fear not. We've put together a list of the best gift ideas for under $50, from expected-but-useful stocking stuffers to cool items they definitely don't have yet. These unique budget-friendly gift ideas span such a variety of categories that you're bound to find something up their alley. You might even catch a few on sale.

ChatGPT Images doesn’t roll off the tongue like Nano Banana, but OpenAI finally has an answer for Google's uber-popular AI image editor. The company's "new flagship image generation model" is available now in ChatGPT Images and in the API under the model name GPT Image 1.5.

OpenAI has been on a tear recently, in fact. The company, which was rumored to be in a “code red” state following the launch of Google Gemini 3, launched GPT-5.2 last week. Today, OpenAI continues its counterattack against Google’s newfound momentum in the AI space with a rather large update to ChatGPT Images, promising to generate better images, edit images more effectively, and do so more quickly. 

“Whether you’re creating something from scratch or editing a photo, you’ll get the output you’re picturing,” OpenAI says in its announcement post. “It makes precise edits while keeping details intact, and generates images up to 4x faster.”

In addition to the update, which does not appear to have a catchy name like Google’s Nano Banana, OpenAI also launched a new Images tab within the ChatGPT app and browser. In addition to being a dedicated space to create images, the new ChatGPT Images also acts as a sort of discovery and brainstorming feed to give you ideas of what to create. OpenAI says that the new feature is “designed to make image generation delightful — to spark inspiration and make creative exploration effortless.”

SEE ALSO: These 6 Nano Banana Pro prompts are wild with the Gemini 3 upgrade

For general performance, the latest update seems like a refinement rather than something totally new. OpenAI says the new ChatGPT Image model will be more reliable, adhere better to user intent, and keep details more consistent across multiple outputs. That last bit has been a bit of a meme in the AI user community, and many have tried the 100x ChatGPT image trend to see what they come up with. 

OpenAI’s announcement post includes the full list of updates with GPT Image 1.5, plus some impressive examples of the new image model at work.

ChatGPT Images vs. Nano Banana

Nano Banana is the nickname for Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, Google's AI image generator. The tool has proven remarkably capable as a fast and easy-to-use AI image editor, and as its popularity has grown, Google has integrated it into Gemini, Google Photos, Search, and Messages. So, how does the new ChatGPT Images compare?

It took all of about 10 minutes, but GPT-Image-1.5 immediately took first place on LMArena’s Text-to-Image leaderboard, bumping Nano Banana Pro to second place. However, real-world examples so far have been a little mixed. 

I asked both Nano Banana and the new ChatGPT Images to edit the same photo, and received very similar results.

Using the same prompt and image, I asked both models to edit a photo of my car from nighttime to daytime.

The original image Credit: Joe Hindy

While both models earn a passing grade, Google's version looks better to my eye.

Left: The result from Nano Banana. Credit: Joe Hindy / Google Gemini Right: The result from ChatGPT Images. Credit: Joe Hindy / OpenAI How to try the new ChatGPT Images

Per OpenAI, the update is rolling out as we speak to all users, so it should be available to try immediately. In short, all you need to do is head to ChatGPT and look for the new Images tab. You can find the tool at chatgpt.com/images. As per usual, free users will have very limited access.

The new image model is also available in the OpenAI API, and you can check the pricing on the OpenAI website. So, developers and people with their own AI tools can start using it right away.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The successful Fallout TV series, based on the game of the same name, is back for season two as of December 16, 2025. Amazon did well to stick the landing last time around, so we’re looking forward to sinking our teeth into the next batch of episodes.

The artificial intelligence boom has become truly unavoidable, even for those who don't use AI in their daily lives at all.

Case in point: The world of personal computers, especially laptops and smartphones.

We're in the midst of a worldwide memory shortage, due in large part to the sudden explosion of AI data centers around the world and their enormous demand for these computer components. That's sparked an ongoing shortage of crucial hardware such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), Samsung DDR5 RAM, and SSDs. As a result, smartphone prices could rise 6.9 percent in 2026, according to a CNBC report on the memory shortage.

Now, Samsung has reportedly doubled the contract price of DDR5 memory drives. At the same time, Framework, makers of easily repairable, enthusiast-centric machines, just doubled prices on those exact components. And as suppliers hike prices on memory hardware, device manufacturers will most likely pass that cost onto consumers, experts say.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Forget the em dash — Redditors share 6 giveaways that something was written by AI

Samsung is hardly the only brand affected by the memory shortage. HP has warned that it will have to raise prices on its PCs starting next year because there just isn't enough memory to go around, per our colleagues at PCMag. The same goes for Lenovo and Dell, according to PC Gamer. In fact, RAM is in such short supply that some analysts are predicting laptop makers will push more low-performance 8GB RAM laptops on consumers in 2026 out of necessity. Either way, customers lose.

Additionally, it doesn't seem like there's an end date on any of this. Despite recent fears over an AI bubble, the AI industry is hardly slowing down. The need for more data centers could be indefinite, as far as anyone can tell.

All of this is to say that if you want a new laptop or PC, or even just parts for a PC, you better get to shopping now. That DDR5 RAM you need might cost a whole lot more in just a few months.