The end of 2025 is upon us, and that means plenty of folks are compiling lists full of the best stuff in the year. And, when it comes to the best TV shows of 2025, our list here at Men’s Journal isn’t exactly like all the other TV roundups you might read. Looking back on the year in TV for 2025, for us, means picking shows that kept our attention with action, heart, humor, and high stakes that felt relatable.
So, if you’re looking for the best TV of 2025 list with lots of prestige shows that were praised by every TV critic on Earth, that’s not what this list is. We’re focused on entertainment, pulse-pounding action, and incredible drama. Here are the ten shows of 2025 that got our blood pumping.
10. Landman Season 2
Although Landman will continue into the beginning of 2026, the Taylor Sheridan series returned with guts, heart, and humor. When Tommy (Bill Bob Thornton) isn’t cracking jokes, he’s getting things done with style. The Texas-based oil show isn’t Yellowstone, but right now, it’s the next best thing.
Landman streams on Paramount+.
9. Peacemaker Season 2
From its wonderful opening dance sequence to the no-hold-barred fights to the dizzing multiverse concept, Peacemaker Season 2 had a lot more depth than one might imagine. John Cena‘s titular vigilante was more tender this time out, proving that a random DC Comics character who seemed like a punchline in 2021 can actually become a super relatable guy. Bonus points to creator James Gunn for somehow retroactively making us believe that Peacemaker exists in the new DC universe, rather than the old Zack Snyder version.
Peacemaker streams on HBO Max.
8. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3
The stalwart science fiction franchise returned for its third season with a very eclectic mix of episodes. From humor to straight-up action to heart-wrenching drama, Strange New Worlds proved, once again, it’s the easy-to-watch Star Trek show. No previous experience required, and you can totally miss an episode and not be lost.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds streams on Paramount+.
7. The Agency Season 1
A highly stylized spy show with a very stacked cast, The Agency is one of those shows you can’t believe isn’t a movie. As an agent codenamed Martian, Michael Fassbender is better than he’s ever been, and we can’t wait for Season 2.
The Agency streams on Paramount+ with Showtime.
6. 1923 Season 2
The epic second season of the Yellowstone prequel was bigger, deeper, and smarter than Season 1. Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, once again, delivered amazing performances. But the true heart of the show was probably Brandon Sklenar’s Spencer Dutton, whose incredible journey home was both gripping and surprising.
1923 streams on Paramount+.
5. Daredevil: Born Again Season 1
Back in 2015, Daredevil was one of the greatest Marvel TV shows on Netflix, and, perhaps, one of the greatest superhero TV shows ever. Improbably, a decade later, Daredevil: BornAgain repeated the trick. Does this show entirely make sense with the MCU that has grown around the characters? Not exactly, but with great action and big stakes, it hardly matters.
Daredevil: Born Again streams on Disney+.
4. Alien: Earth Season 1
Did anyone think that a prequel to the 1979 Alien would be an unmissable TV series mostly about human/robot hybrids? Noah Hawley’s take on the Alien mythos not only kicked-ass this year, but it also rocked, very, very hard. You were afraid of the xenomorphs before, but now, we’re all terrified of that eyeball alien! Season 2 of this one can’t come fast enough.
3. Andor Season 2
It’s undeniable at this point that Andor is the best Star Wars TV show of the bunch. But, in addition to great performances from Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, and Genevieve O’Reilly, Andor Season 2 gave Star Wars fans more little treats than Season 1 did. There are more overt connections this time to Rogue One, as well as the classic, original 1977 film. Andor darlingly splits the difference between being its own thing and a very classic, and, in the end, hopeful Star Wars story.
Andor streams on Disney+
2. MobLand Season 1
From producer Guy Ritchie, MobLand is the kind of crime show that you can’t believe exists. In a sense, it would be easy to call MobLand a British version of The Sopranos. But, because the focus is on Tom Hardy’s “fixer” character, Harry, there’s something a little more dangerous about MobLand. From the interpersonal drama to the big plot twists, the hardcore fights, MobLand was one show we couldn’t stop watching this year.
1. Reacher Season 3
With its third season, the excellent action-thriller series Reacher delivered in a big way. If you’re not already a fan of Lee Child’s wonderful hero, Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson), the excellent series will make you an instant convert. While Season 1 faithfully adapted the first novel, Killing Floor, and Season 2 expanded Reacher’s world with characters from Bad Luck and Trouble, the third season was, in a sense, a back-to-basics mystery. Based on the 2003 novel Persuader, Reacher tries to infiltrate a smuggling ring in Maine, with mixed results. The opening twist of this season is fantastic, and the growing tension throughout is smart, layered, and awesome.
As fans know, Reacher Season 3 also leads to a very memorable fight between Reacher and Paulie (Olivier Richters), which might be one of the most high-octane, impressive fights in an action show in a very long time. Reacher Season 4 might raise the bar again, but in 2025, Season 3 was basically perfect.
