“It tells the story of a young teen accused of murdering a classmate and is told in such an emotionally and technically compelling way.”

Netflix’s four-part drama “Adolescence” was widely considered the best show of 2025, examining incel culture and social media’s pitfalls through the story of a 13-year-old arrested for murder. Among returning shows, “Andor” Season 2 topped the charts with its chilling look at how authoritarian governments use misinformation. The trend of “peak TV” being over continued, but 2025 still delivered daring originals with something to say.