My favorite TV shows (for now)
These are how I feel as of July 2025. The list will no doubt change again.
I have not included what I call “hopper shows.” These are long, not necessarily connected episode-by-episode, and provide mindless filler for the evenings. While they serve a purpose, they did not leave as much of an impact for me. Personal highlights are Parks and Recreation, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Simpsons, and Brooklyn 99.
17. Blackadder
Blackadder was a show that really shaped my sense of humour. It was more absurdist, more silly, and the cast played a big role in fully embracing its strange vibe. What I also think is great is the way it plays with history. Obviously, you can't take any of it as historically accurate, but it plays with the past in a fun and interesting way, mixing together all of my favourite things.
16. Clarkson’s Farm
I’m annoyed in the sense that Jeremy Clarkson himself is a knob and doesn’t fit in at all with the pigs he rears on his farm. But at the same time, what he’s been doing in terms of showing what farming is like in the UK is genuinely insightful and interesting. It also highlights the challenges facing the industry in this country. So, while I think it’s hosted by someone who is problematic, I respect it for the way it has brought the realities of farming to the forefront in such an engaging and thought-provoking way.
15. Daredevil (Season One)
Daredevil is one of the best things Marvel has made in years. I love the gritty atmosphere and what Matt Murdock has to endure, and I especially love the original look with the man in black. The combat was also brilliant to watch, and the character dynamic with the Kingpin was excellent. I’m sticking to the first season because that’s what drew the most attention, and as a complete package, it works really well. The later seasons dilute it somewhat, but as a series, I have a real appreciation for it.
14. The Bear (Seasons One and Two)
The Bear is one of the best dramas I’ve seen, shining a light on what it’s really like to prepare food in a professional kitchen, accurately capturing the intensity of those conditions. The characters are rich and complex, and the way their initially abrasive relationships evolve in the second season is wonderful to watch. While the first season has incredible pacing and cinematography, it’s the second season that brings real emotional depth, making it one of the best seasons of any TV show I’ve ever seen. The later seasons drift more into drama for the sake of drama, which is why I think the first few seasons are particularly special.
13. Black Mirror
I’m a sucker for sci‑fi, and Black Mirror plays a significant role in showcasing some brilliant trends in the genre. Many of the best stories originate from science‑fiction literature, and Black Mirror is effectively the gateway drug to discovering some of the finest sci‑fi writing. I must give it credit where it’s due; the acting, the themes and the impact packed into such short episodes really work in its favour. Its progression from horror to something more human, and then back to horror again, has been fascinating to watch.
12. The Last of Us (Season One)
I’m a sucker for sci‑fi, and The Last of Us, based on one of the best video games ever made for PlayStation, holds a very special place in my heart. The show does an excellent job of translating the game’s story to the screen while also introducing some incredible new themes. The third episode, in particular, is exceptionally powerful. While the next season doesn’t quite stick the landing as well, the first season, taken as a whole, works brilliantly to tell a compelling story that truly explains why Joel makes the choices he does.
11. Ted Lasso
One of the better comedies released in recent years, Ted Lasso is interesting in that it’s not a cynical show. I appreciate that it’s ultimately very positive, exploring the story of a man who’s genuinely joyful surrounded by a cast of colourful and straight‑laced characters. The later seasons become a bit more absurdist and harder to believe. However, the core story of the first season, and to some extent the second, really has heart and emotional pull, which makes it such a joy to watch.
10. Squid Game (Season One)
The first Squid Game season landed at precisely the right time, becoming a viral hit almost immediately. But I think it worked so well precisely because it offered sharp social commentary, stellar acting, and a premise that felt utterly captivating. It managed to replicate the feeling of a game show, only with much higher stakes and deeply compelling character drama. While some aspects, like the English dub, could be improved, it remains an absolute classic and a powerful critique of capitalism as a whole.
9. Stranger Things (Season One)
The first Stranger Things season was nearly perfect in every respect. It’s unbelievable that they found child actors who performed so convincingly, and it was fantastic how the show managed to subvert so many clichés typical of Stephen King‑style storylines, particularly with the police officer’s character. The horror was spot‑on, the originality of the Upside Down was brilliant, and part of me wishes it could have remained a one‑season anthology. That initial season was just magical.
8. The Mandalorian (Season One and Two)
I know Andor is considered one of the best recent Star Wars TV shows, and it truly is excellent, but there’s something about The Mandalorian and its Wild West aesthetic that really speaks to me. I love how it builds tension, incorporates that father–son dynamic, and culminates in a season‑two finale that remains one of my favourite moments in Star Wars history. The vibes are immaculate, and it’s one of my favourite comfort‑watches.
7. David Attenborough Variety Hour (Planet Earth, Our Planet, Blue Planet)
It’s really hard to pick between all the David Attenborough series, Planet Earth, Our Planet, Blue Planet, but I tend to consider them as a collective. The cinematography is stunning, the documentary-making is top-tier, the narration is practically part of the package, and their impact, such as with Blue Planet II, has been seismic, especially in the UK. It’s absolutely perfect to watch while eating a meal, no questions asked.
6. Sherlock (Season One and Two)
The modern Sherlock series, particularly the first and second seasons, is a masterclass in adaptation. The iconic Sherlock Holmes stories are already beloved, and the show plays brilliantly with their themes, especially now that the original stories are in the public domain. While I think Stephen Moffat made some problematic choices in both Doctor Who and Sherlock, the writing is extraordinarily sharp — each episode feels like a mini‑movie, and the humour, though it ages a little in later years, remains witty and quick. It also helps that Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are both absolutely perfect in their roles.
5. Arcane
Arcane is a tough one. The first season is absolutely stunning, and the second season ends with perhaps the most beautiful television I’ve ever seen. Yet it suffered from an incredibly fast-paced second season — one that perhaps deserved an additional instalment. Still, even with all that in mind, I believe Arcane is pure vibes; utterly wild, and if you fully embrace its world, you’re in for an absolutely riveting and beautiful experience. It’s a show that’s more art than story.
4. Fleabag
The first season of Fleabag broke me. It ended in such a way that I lost sleep, and I didn’t feel brave enough to start the second season. I’m glad I eventually did, though; the story is fast‑paced and engaging, with that brilliant direct nod to the audience. It also offers one of the most authentic portrayals of London life, which I really appreciate. Fleabag is simply fantastic.
3. The Queen’s Gambit
I know the show isn’t historically accurate, and I’m aware that the real-life intensity and cultural significance of chess today is far less dramatic (to an extent). But there’s something about The Queen’s Gambit that completely hooked me. I loved how a mental mentor figure helped her from a young age, her climb to becoming a top-tier chess player, and the way the series explores various forms of abuse. I also appreciated how it built towards the finale, which works brilliantly given the broader political context. It’s a truly gripping show, and in my view, it’s perfectly paced.
2. Blue Eye Samurai
I was totally floored by this show. The art direction, the story, and the way it stirred both peace and anger in me, as though the narrative wove through my emotions, was extraordinary. It’s rare that I’m this engaged with every aspect of a show: the vibe, the visuals, the sheer artistry. I can’t wait for the second season. Blue Eye Samurai is already one of my favourite pieces of animation ever.
1. Chernobyl
It’s the best TV show ever made, hands down. It shouldn’t be exploited by a streamer, and nothing about it requires alteration. Not a single actor needs replacing, no storyline needs trimming, nothing needs to be changed. This is perfection: a series that portrays a truly horrific event in history with crystal clarity and profound human emotion, and an achievement of monumental proportions. I wouldn’t change a thing, and I’d re‑watch it again and again.
