Best TV Shows of Second Half 2025: 20+ Must-Watch Series from July-December on Max, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu & More
Discover the 20+ best TV shows from July-December 2025 now complete for binge-watching. From season finales to new premieres, revisit the second half's most acclaimed series you may have missed.
The second half of 2025 completed television's exceptional year with stunning season finales, bold new premieres, and genre-defining limited series. July through December delivered prestige drama conclusions, genre spectacles reaching their peaks, comedies perfecting their formulas, and year-end surprises across every platform. This comprehensive retrospective covers the 20+ best shows from the second half of 2025, now complete and available for binge-watching. Whether you missed weekly releases or want to revisit late 2025's highlights, here's your complete guide to the year's most critically acclaimed and culturally impactful series from July through December, organized by genre with platform links.
Prestige Drama Finales: Season-Ending Excellence
Watch prestige dramas on Max at max.com and Apple TV+ at apple.com/apple-tv-plus
The Penguin
September-November limited series with Colin Farrell's transformation in Gotham crime saga.
Max
The Morning Show
Season 4's September-December behind-the-scenes broadcast drama with Reese Witherspoon.
Apple TV+
Prestige drama reached stunning conclusions in the second half. The Penguin became HBO's surprise hit with Colin Farrell's unrecognizable transformation as Oswald Cobblepot navigating Gotham's crime families in Matt Reeves' Batman universe, the 8-episode limited series delivering Sopranos-level character drama with superhero context. The Morning Show returned with Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Reese Witherspoon navigating broadcast journalism crises with timely social commentary. Industry brought Myha'la Herrold and crew to Season 3's escalating London finance world with Lena Dunham directing episodes. Essential Max and Apple TV+ viewing.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi Spectacles: Genre Finales
Stream genre shows on Max at max.com, Disney+ at disneyplus.com, Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo, and Apple TV+ at apple.com/apple-tv-plus
House of the Dragon
Season 3 finale in August delivered devastating Targaryen civil war conclusion.
Max
The Rings of Power
Season 2's August-October Middle-earth saga with spectacular Sauron revelations.
Prime Video
Dune: Prophecy
November-December prequel explored Bene Gesserit sisterhood 10,000 years before Paul.
MaxGenre television delivered epic conclusions and ambitious new chapters. House of the Dragon Season 3 finale brought devastating Targaryen civil war climax with Matt Smith and Emma D'Arcy's performances reaching emotional peaks in spectacular dragon battles. The Rings of Power Season 2 expanded Middle-earth with Sauron's manipulations and stunning New Zealand cinematography in Amazon's billion-dollar Tolkien saga. Andor Season 2 perfected Star Wars storytelling with Diego Luna's Cassian completing his rebellion journey in Tony Gilroy's mature, political thriller. Silo deepened Rebecca Ferguson's underground mystery in Hugh Howey's adaptation. Dune: Prophecy brought Valya Harkonnen to 10,000 years before Paul Atreides. Spectacular genre excellence across Max, Disney+, Prime Video, and Apple TV+.
Comedy Excellence: Laughter and Heart
Find comedies on Hulu at hulu.com
Only Murders in the Building
Season 5's August-October mystery brought Martin, Short, and Gomez back solving murders.
Hulu
What We Do in the Shadows
Final season in October-December closed vampire mockumentary with hilarious finale.
Hulu
The White Lotus
Season 4's October-November new resort location with Mike White's satirical ensemble.
MaxComedy perfected emotional storytelling in late 2025. The Bear Season 4 brought Jeremy Allen White's Carmy to series conclusion navigating restaurant dreams and personal healing in Christopher Storer's intense final chapter making every dish feel like life stakes. Only Murders in the Building Season 5 delivered Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez solving another Arconia murder with witty banter and surprising heart. What We Do in the Shadows ended its mockumentary run with Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, and Natasia Demetriou's vampire household getting perfect send-off. The White Lotus brought Mike White's resort satire to new exotic location with wealth privilege ensemble. Hulu and Max deliver comedy gold.
Marvel & Superhero Series: MCU Expansion
Watch Marvel shows on Disney+ at disneyplus.com
Agatha All Along
September-November WandaVision spinoff with Kathryn Hahn's witch leading coven.
Disney+
Daredevil: Born Again
December premiere brought Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock back to MCU properly.
Disney+Marvel expanded Disney+ universe in the second half. Agatha All Along brought Kathryn Hahn's breakout WandaVision witch to her own series with Aubrey Plaza joining the supernatural coven adventure blending comedy and horror in witchy MCU corner. Daredevil: Born Again resurrected Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock with Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin in street-level Marvel storytelling honoring Netflix's original run. Both streaming exclusively on Disney+ for superhero completists.
Animation Excellence: Mature Storytelling
Stream animated series on Netflix at netflix.com and Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo
Animation delivered sophisticated storytelling. Arcane concluded with Vi and Jinx's sister relationship reaching devastating finale in Fortiche's stunning League of Legends adaptation featuring Emmy-winning animation and emotional voice performances. Invincible Season 3 brought Steven Yeun's Mark Grayson to new brutal superhero challenges in Robert Kirkman's Amazon series. The Boys Season 5 finale delivered Karl Urban's Billy Butcher versus Antony Starr's Homelander conclusion in Eric Kripke's R-rated superhero satire. Mature animation streaming on Netflix and Prime Video.
International Sensations: Global Excellence
Watch international series on Netflix at netflix.com
Squid Game
Season 3 finale in December concluded Korean survival phenomenon with deadly games.
Netflix
International series dominated late 2025. Squid Game Season 3 brought Lee Jung-jae's Gi-hun to series finale with even deadlier games in Hwang Dong-hyuk's Korean phenomenon that became Netflix's most-watched show globally. One Piece Season 2 expanded Iñaki Godoy's Luffy and Straw Hat Pirates in massive Netflix adaptation honoring Eiichiro Oda's beloved manga. Global storytelling excellence streaming worldwide on Netflix.
Crime & Thriller: Suspense Television
Watch thrillers on Prime Video at amazon.com/primevideo and Apple TV+ at apple.com/apple-tv-plus
Reacher
Season 4's July-August continued Alan Ritchson's imposing Jack Reacher investigations.
Prime Video
Slow Horses
Season 4's September-October British spy thriller with Gary Oldman continued excellence.
Apple TV+Crime thrillers delivered edge-of-seat entertainment. Reacher Season 4 brought Alan Ritchson's massive Jack Reacher to new Lee Child adaptations with bone-crunching action and mystery. Slow Horses continued Gary Oldman's brilliant performance as Jackson Lamb leading MI5 outcasts in Mick Herron's adaptation with British wit. Gripping suspense on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Second Half 2025 Priority Watchlist: The Absolute Best
Can't watch 20+ shows from the second half? Here are the five essential series ranked by critical acclaim and cultural impact:
1. House of the Dragon Season 3 (Max) - HBO's Game of Thrones prequel reached devastating finale with Matt Smith and Emma D'Arcy's Targaryen civil war delivering spectacular dragon battles, political intrigue, and emotional character work that honored the original series while establishing its own epic identity.
2. The Bear Season 4 (Hulu) - Jeremy Allen White's restaurant drama brought Carmy's journey to emotional conclusion with Christopher Storer's direction making every episode feel urgent and tender, the final season exploring healing, family, and finding peace while maintaining intense pressure of professional kitchen perfectionism.
3. The Penguin (Max) - Colin Farrell disappeared into Oswald Cobblepot in Matt Reeves' Gotham crime saga, the 8-episode limited series delivering Sopranos-level character drama with superhero context as Oz navigated crime families with Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone in career-best performances.
4. Arcane Season 2 (Netflix) - Fortiche's League of Legends adaptation concluded Vi and Jinx's sister relationship with Emmy-winning animation, emotional voice performances, and stunning visual artistry that proved video game adaptations can achieve artistic excellence rivaling prestige live-action drama.
5. Squid Game Season 3 (Netflix) - Lee Jung-jae's Gi-hun reached series finale with deadlier games and higher stakes in Hwang Dong-hyuk's Korean phenomenon, the global Netflix hit delivering social commentary through survival horror that sparked worldwide conversations about capitalism and human nature.
Genre Trends: What Defined Late 2025 TV
The second half revealed television's evolving landscape. Limited series thrived with The Penguin proving 8 episodes tell complete stories better than padded seasons. Genre shows succeeded when balancing spectacle with character like House of the Dragon and Andor. Comedy evolved beyond sitcoms with The Bear blending humor and drama seamlessly. International content dominated with Squid Game proving language barriers disappear with compelling storytelling. Animation reached prestige status with Arcane earning critical acclaim. Franchise fatigue showed Marvel reducing output while focusing quality. Streaming platforms competed with distinctive identities rather than copying each other. Overall, audiences rewarded bold creative choices over safe formulas, patience for challenging narratives, and quality over quantity approaches.
Complete Second Half 2025 TV Streaming Guide
Access every essential second-half series with direct platform links: Max (max.com) for House of the Dragon, The Penguin, The White Lotus, Dune: Prophecy, and Industry. Hulu (hulu.com) for The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and What We Do in the Shadows. Disney+ (disneyplus.com) for Andor, Agatha All Along, and Daredevil: Born Again. Netflix (netflix.com) for Arcane, Squid Game, and One Piece. Prime Video (amazon.com/primevideo) for The Rings of Power, Invincible, The Boys, and Reacher. Apple TV+ (apple.com/apple-tv-plus) for Silo, Slow Horses, and The Morning Show.
The second half of 2025 completed television's exceptional year with stunning finales, bold premieres, and genre-defining limited series across every platform. Whether you prioritize fantasy epics like House of the Dragon, intense dramas like The Bear, crime sagas like The Penguin, animated excellence like Arcane, or global phenomena like Squid Game, these 20+ series represent the best of July-December television now complete for binge-watching. Visit fivo.to to search all platforms simultaneously, discover where each second-half favorite streams, compare subscription options, and build your perfect year-end watchlist to catch up on late 2025's best TV shows you may have missed during their weekly releases.