These 10 New TV Shows Are Breaking the Internet—Find Out Why

If you’ve found yourself wondering what everyone is buzzing about as 2025 winds down, you’re definitely not alone—because while the first ha...

If you’ve found yourself wondering what everyone is buzzing about as 2025 winds down, you’re definitely not alone—because while the first half of the year delivered some undeniable hits, the second half has come roaring in with a slate of new TV shows that don’t just match that energy, they top it, bringing sharp writing, bold ideas, and early reviews that have already propelled them to the top of the streaming charts, making this season one of the most exciting in recent memory for anyone who loves to binge, debate, and discover the next big thing.

Let’s start with one of the year’s most anticipated releases: Welcome to Derry, HBO’s chilling prequel to Stephen King’s It films, which plunges us back into the haunting streets of 1960s Derry and dares to show how Pennywise’s nightmare first began; right from the opening episode, the show sets a fresh but faithful tone, heavy on atmosphere and practical creature effects, and, by weaving in new layers to King’s myth, it translate what could have been a simple origin story into a true expansion of the universe, keeping even fan-favourites guessing as Derry’s cursed history unfolds with every shadow and scream.

For sci-fi fans craving something original, Pluribus is already breaking streaming records after premiering on Apple TV Plus, thanks to Vince Gilligan’s return to television with a genre-bending tale that mashes up speculative drama, dark comedy, and a surreal “happiness virus” that only Ria Seahorn’s mesmerizing Carol Sturka is immune to—she’s the reluctant protagonist in a world on the brink, and Gilligan’s signature character-driven writing makes every twist feel both weird and weirdly believable, earning the show an 8.7 IMDb rating and a devoted following in just a few weeks.

If high-stakes action and historical intrigue are more your speed, Last Samurai Standing delivers a brutal, stylish ride through late-1800s Japan, pitting 292 former samurai against each other in a deadly race to Tokyo for an unimaginable prize; with Okata not only starring as the haunted lead but also choreographing each sword fight, the series blends Squid Game tension with Kurosawa-inspired visuals, all packed into six episodes that waste no time delivering emotional gut-punches alongside some of the best fight scenes on TV this year.

Period drama gets a gritty makeover in House of Guinness, Steven Knight’s moody exploration of the Guinness brewing family’s succession battles in 1800s Dublin—a show that doesn’t quite hit Peaky Blinders’ heights but still draws viewers in with its slow-burning secrets, lavish sets, and a cast that brings as much vulnerability as ambition to the table, making it a must for fans of family intrigue and historical depth.

And for everyone who can’t stop watching a good TV crime thriller, Netflix’s Black Rabbit is the slow-burn you’ve been waiting for, with Jude Law and Jason Bateman delivering magnetic, acclaimed performances as estranged brothers sucked into New York’s criminal underbelly after a tense family reunion; moody visuals, a killer soundtrack, and a palpable sense of dread make every episode a masterclass in suspense, and the show’s Ozark-style intros and gritty realism have critics and fans alike hooked.

Over on HBO, Task quietly emerged as one of the best shows of the year, with Mark Ruffalo’s weary FBI agent and Tom Pelfrey’s heartbreaking masked robber locked in a slow-burn game of cat and mouse that’s more about the emotional toll of justice than the glamour of crime—every episode builds tension and depth, making it a worthy successor to True Detective and Ozark in the network’s lineup of prestige dramas.

Netflix keeps the momentum going with The Beast in Me, a tightly wound psychological thriller starring Claire Danes as a grieving author and Matthew Reese as her enigmatic neighbor—what begins with a missing wife spirals into a dark exploration of trust, obsession, and the thin line between complicity and innocence, all heightened by sharp writing and a chilling, X-Files-inspired mood that demands you binge just one more episode.

Historical drama takes a sharp, emotional turn in Death by Lightning, where Matthew McFadyen and Michael Shannon bring to life the late-1800s assassination of President Garfield in a show that’s as much about the warped ambitions of its unstable assassin as it is about the tragedy of overlooked greatness, with meticulous set design and timely themes that make this both a period piece and a commentary on today’s world.

Fans of detective fiction will find plenty to love in Ballard, the Bosch spin-off starring Maggie Q as the tough, resourceful detective leading LA’s cold case unit—her performance anchors a show that’s gritty, smartly paced, and loaded with enough secrets, serial murders, and bureaucratic obstacles to satisfy old fans and draw in new ones, even as some storylines still find their footing.

Furthermore, no roundup would be completely fine without mentioning the juggernaut that is Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1; though not out yet, early synopsis and the unprecedented three-part release schedule have expectations sky-high, with Hawkins in chaos, the Upside Down spilling into reality, and Netflix planning a one-night-only theatrical debut for the grand finale—a move that cements the show’s place as a cultural event as much as a streaming sensation.

So whether you’re after horror, history, sci-fi, or just a killer crime drama, the second half of 2025 has something for everyone—and with shows like these taking over streaming charts, there’s never been a better time to dive in, catch up, and discover your next obsession.