Best TV Shows of First Half 2025: 20+ Must-Watch Series from January-June on Max, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu & More
Discover the 20+ best TV shows from January-June 2025 now available for binge-watching. From prestige dramas to genre spectacles, revisit the first half's most acclaimed series you may have missed.
The first half of 2025 proved television's golden age continues with exceptional series across every genre and platform. From prestige dramas that dominated awards conversation to genre spectacles pushing production boundaries and comedies redefining humor, January through June delivered must-watch television. This comprehensive retrospective covers the 20+ best shows from the first half of 2025, now complete and available for binge-watching. Whether you missed premieres or want to revisit early 2025's highlights, here's your complete guide to the year's most critically acclaimed and culturally impactful series, organized by genre with platform links.
Prestige Drama: Peak TV Excellence
Watch prestige dramas on Max at max.com and Apple TV+ at apple.com/apple-tv-plus
True Detective: Night Country
Jodie Foster's January-February limited series with Arctic horror mystery.
MaxPrestige drama defined early 2025's television landscape. The Last of Us Season 2 became HBO's most-watched series with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey's emotional journey through infected America, adapting the video game's devastating story with cinematic production values and heartbreaking performances. Severance returned after years with Adam Scott's mystery deepening in Ben Stiller's mind-bending workplace thriller exploring consciousness and identity. The White Lotus moved to a new resort with Mike White's signature satire of wealth and privilege featuring ensemble performances. True Detective: Night Country brought Jodie Foster to Alaska's darkness with Issa López directing atmospheric horror-mystery. Essential Max and Apple TV+ viewing.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Spectacles: Genre Excellence
Stream genre shows on Max at max.com, Disney+ at disneyplus.com, and Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo
3 Body Problem
Netflix's March ambitious sci-fi from Game of Thrones creators with cosmic scale.
NetflixGenre television reached cinematic heights in the first half. House of the Dragon Season 3 escalated the Targaryen civil war with spectacular dragon battles, political machinations, and Matt Smith and Emma D'Arcy's commanding performances in HBO's Game of Thrones prequel. Fallout shocked as Prime Video's best video game adaptation yet, with Ella Purnell's vault dweller exploring post-nuclear wasteland in darkly funny, visually stunning series. The Mandalorian Season 4 continued Pedro Pascal's bounty hunter adventures with Grogu in Star Wars expansion. 3 Body Problem brought Liu Cixin's hard sci-fi novel to life with David Benioff and D.B. Weiss tackling alien contact across timelines. Streaming's biggest budget spectacles on Max, Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix.
Comedy Brilliance: Laughter with Heart
Find comedies on Hulu at hulu.com and Apple TV+ at apple.com/apple-tv-plus
Only Murders in the Building
Season 4's May-June mystery brought Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez back.
HuluComedy thrived with series balancing humor and emotion. The Bear Season 3 reached new heights with Jeremy Allen White's Carmy navigating restaurant pressures and personal demons in Christopher Storer's intense, beautiful FX series that makes cooking feel like life-or-death drama. Abbott Elementary continued Quinta Brunson's charming mockumentary about public school teachers with heartwarming workplace comedy. Shrinking brought Jason Segel and Harrison Ford as therapists breaking professional boundaries with Bill Lawrence's emotional comedy. Only Murders in the Building delivered another season of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez solving murders with witty banter. Perfect comfort viewing on Hulu and Apple TV+.
Crime & Thriller: Suspense and Mystery
Watch thrillers on Max at max.com and Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo
Reacher
Season 3's January-February action thriller with Alan Ritchson's physical performance.
Prime Video
Crime thrillers delivered edge-of-seat tension in early 2025. The Penguin expanded The Batman's Gotham with Colin Farrell's unrecognizable transformation as Oswald Cobblepot navigating crime family power struggles in Matt Reeves' dark universe. Reacher Season 3 brought Alan Ritchson's imposing Jack Reacher to new investigations with bone-crunching action. Ripley reinvented Patricia Highsmith's con artist with Andrew Scott's mesmerizing performance in Steven Zaillian's black-and-white limited series shot like Italian cinema. Gripping suspense across Max, Prime Video, and Netflix.
Limited Series Gems: Complete Stories
Stream limited series on Netflix at netflix.com and Hulu at hulu.com
Baby Reindeer
Richard Gadd's April Netflix true-story stalking drama became cultural phenomenon.
Netflix
Limited series delivered complete narratives with cinematic quality. Baby Reindeer shocked with Richard Gadd's autobiographical stalking story that sparked conversations about trauma and obsession, Jessica Gunning's performance as stalker Martha earning universal acclaim. Shōgun transported viewers to 1600s Japan with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai's performances in FX's stunning adaptation rivaling Game of Thrones' scope. Masters of the Air continued the Band of Brothers legacy with Austin Butler leading WWII bomber crews in Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's epic. Essential viewing across Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV+.
Marvel & Superhero Series: Comic Book Excellence
Watch superhero shows on Disney+ at disneyplus.com
X-Men '97
March-May animated revival honored '90s series while delivering mature storytelling.
Disney+
Marvel expanded its Disney+ universe in early 2025. X-Men '97 became the surprise hit with animated revival honoring the '90s classic while tackling mature themes and delivering shocking character moments that thrilled longtime fans. Echo continued the street-level Marvel approach with Alaqua Cox's deaf hero navigating her criminal past with Indigenous representation. Both streaming exclusively on Disney+ for superhero fans.
First Half 2025 Priority Watchlist: The Absolute Best
Can't watch 20+ shows from the first half? Here are the five essential series ranked by critical acclaim and cultural impact:
1. The Last of Us Season 2 (Max) - HBO's post-apocalyptic masterpiece became 2025's most-watched series with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey's devastating journey adapting the video game's emotional story with cinematic production, heartbreaking performances exploring humanity's survival and moral complexity in infected America.
2. The Bear Season 3 (Hulu) - Jeremy Allen White's restaurant drama perfected FX's blend of intense stress and tender character moments, Christopher Storer's direction making cooking feel like life-or-death stakes while exploring family trauma, perfectionism, and finding peace in chaos with performances that feel painfully real.
3. Shōgun (Hulu) - FX's samurai epic transported viewers to 1600s Japan with Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai's stunning performances, the 10-episode limited series delivering Game of Thrones-level production values with authentic cultural representation, political intrigue, and emotional depth earning universal critical acclaim.
4. Baby Reindeer (Netflix) - Richard Gadd's autobiographical limited series about stalking became April's cultural phenomenon with Jessica Gunning's haunting stalker performance, the 7-episode story sparking conversations about trauma, obsession, and victimhood with brave, uncomfortable storytelling that stayed with viewers long after.
5. Fallout (Prime Video) - Prime Video's video game adaptation shocked as the best yet with Ella Purnell's vault dweller exploring post-nuclear wasteland, the series balancing darkly funny satire with emotional character work and stunning production design bringing the beloved game franchise to life perfectly.
Genre Trends: What Worked in H1 2025
The first half's television landscape revealed clear patterns about what audiences craved. Prestige drama dominated with The Last of Us and Severance proving viewers invest in complex narratives requiring attention. Limited series thrived with complete stories like Baby Reindeer and Shōgun attracting film talent. Genre shows succeeded when combining spectacle with character depth like House of the Dragon and Fallout. Comedy evolved beyond punchlines with The Bear and Shrinking blending humor with emotional truth. Video game adaptations finally broke through with Fallout and The Last of Us respecting source material. International series like Shōgun proved language barriers disappear with compelling storytelling. Overall, quality writing and authentic performances mattered more than franchise recognition or marketing budgets.
Complete First Half 2025 TV Streaming Guide
Access every essential first-half series with direct platform links: Max (max.com) for The Last of Us, House of the Dragon, True Detective: Night Country, The White Lotus, and The Penguin. Hulu (hulu.com) for The Bear, Abbott Elementary, Only Murders in the Building, and Shōgun. Apple TV+ (apple.com/apple-tv-plus) for Severance, Shrinking, and Masters of the Air. Netflix (netflix.com) for 3 Body Problem, Baby Reindeer, and Ripley. Disney+ (disneyplus.com) for The Mandalorian, X-Men '97, and Echo. Prime Video (amazon.com/primevideo) for Fallout and Reacher.
The first half of 2025 delivered television excellence across every genre from prestige drama to genre spectacle and comedy brilliance. Whether you prioritize emotional journeys like The Last of Us, intense workplace drama like The Bear, historical epics like Shōgun, mind-bending mysteries like Severance, or post-apocalyptic adventures like Fallout, these 20+ series represent the best of January-June television now complete for binge-watching. Visit fivo.to to search all platforms simultaneously, discover where each first-half favorite streams, compare subscription options, and build your perfect retrospective watchlist to catch up on early 2025's best TV shows you may have missed during their weekly releases.