I don’t know about you, but after a long day of dodging traffic, fielding emails that somehow manage to multiply after 5 p.m., and trying to figure out what to make for dinner that won’t spark a full-on mutiny from my kids, all I want is to sink into the couch with a cold drink and a show that grabs me. Something that makes me forget about the laundry piling up or the weeds I keep pretending aren’t taking over the backyard.
TV has always been a comfort, a way to check out of the daily grind and check into someone else’s chaos for a while. Lately, it feels like there’s so much good stuff out there that just picking what to watch is almost stressful—almost. But after a lot of late nights and a few “just one more episode” lies to myself, I’ve pulled together a list of the top 10 shows that made me feel something this year—whether that was joy, heartbreak, suspense, or just the sweet satisfaction of a good story told well.
Here’s what’s kept me (and, occasionally, my snack-hogging
dog) glued to the couch in 2025.
1. The Blue Mile
This one snuck up on me. I started it during a rainy
Saturday afternoon, thinking it’d be background noise while I folded towels.
Three hours later, I was still in my bathrobe, and the towels were definitely
still in the basket. The Blue Mile follows a group of strangers who take
the same late-night train in a big city—each carrying secrets, each slowly
realizing their stories are more connected than they thought. It’s moody,
atmospheric, and has that slow-burn intensity that makes you lean in without
even realizing it.
2. Found Family
We all need a show that gives us that warm, cozy,
cinnamon-roll feeling. Found Family is it. Set in a neighborhood that
looks a lot like mine—think sidewalks perfect for dog-walking and front porches
with wind chimes—it centers on a group of friends in their 30s who unexpectedly
become guardians of a teenage girl. It’s heartfelt without being cheesy, and
the dialogue is funny in that very “real life” way. My next-door neighbor and I
watch it every Thursday and then chat about it over the fence the next morning
while we water our gardens.
3. Echoes of July
This is the kind of prestige drama you save for when the
kids are asleep and you’ve got time to really pay attention. Beautifully shot,
with storytelling that unfolds like a novel, Echoes of July explores a
decades-old mystery in a small coastal town. Every episode leaves you with more
questions than answers, but in the best way. My book club basically turned into
a fan club for this show—wine and wild theories included.
4. Family, Basically
Imagine The Office meets Modern Family—but
make it multigenerational, and throw in a few cultural clashes. Set in a
tight-knit urban apartment complex, Family, Basically pokes fun at
everything from overly ambitious parenting to the weirdness of shared laundry
rooms. As someone who’s spent her fair share of time coaxing a washing machine
into working with quarters, this one hit home in all the best ways.
5. Third Shift
If you’ve ever worked nights or known someone who has, Third
Shift feels like a love letter to the folks who keep things running while
most of us are sleeping. It’s a crime drama with heart—focusing on a team of
EMTs, security officers, and late-night diner workers who get drawn into a web
of local corruption. The storytelling is sharp, and the characters feel like
people you might actually run into at the 24-hour donut shop. I binged the
whole season while repainting my kitchen—highly recommend for weekend projects.
6. Overdue
Who knew a show set in a public library could be this
compelling? Overdue is part mystery, part comedy, and entirely charming.
The lead, a newly-hired librarian with a shady past, uncovers clues to a
forgotten town scandal through donated books and community gossip. Every time I
go to our local branch now, I half-expect to find secret codes in the margins.
My youngest even asked to go to the library more after watching it with me—an
unexpected win.
7. South of Normal
Set in a suburb that feels way too familiar (cul-de-sacs,
bake sales, passive-aggressive HOA meetings), South of Normal explores
what happens when one family decides to completely reject the pressures of
fitting in. It’s quirky, funny, and a bit philosophical—reminding me of that
one neighbor who turned their lawn into a vegetable garden and now hands out
zucchini like candy. It’s the perfect show to watch when you’re craving
something a little rebellious but still grounded in reality.
8. Canvas
This one’s for the art lovers—or anyone who’s ever felt
stuck and tried to reinvent themselves. Canvas follows a burnt-out ad
exec who quits everything to open a community art center in an old warehouse.
It’s visually stunning, with each episode spotlighting a different local artist
(played by actual creatives, apparently). The show feels like a tribute to
those “why not?” moments in life. I started doodling again after watching it,
just to see where my own creativity might lead.
9. Still Here
A poignant, slow-moving series about an eldercare facility
and the lives intertwined within it, Still Here doesn’t rush or
sugarcoat. It made me think of visiting my grandmother when I was younger,
watching the way people built little families inside those walls. The writing
is tender, and the performances are gut-wrenchingly good. It’s not flashy, but
it stays with you. I cried more than once, and that’s saying something—I'm
usually made of stone unless there's a dog involved.
10. Replay
What if you could relive the biggest decision of your
life—and choose differently? Replay explores that idea through a series
of standalone episodes, each one focused on a different person offered a second
chance. Some episodes are hopeful, others devastating, but every one of them
got me thinking. I ended up texting an old friend after one particularly
powerful episode, just to say hey. That kind of show—the kind that nudges you
toward something real—is a rare gem.
So there you have it—my top 10 shows this year. Your list
might look different, depending on what hits home for you, but these are the
ones that helped me make sense of things, made me laugh, made me care, and,
most importantly, made me feel something after long days filled with
carpool lines, grocery runs, and the endless to-do list of everyday suburban
life.
TV doesn’t fix everything. It won’t fold your laundry or
handle your inbox. But it can be a little piece of magic in the middle of the
madness—something to look forward to, to share, to talk about over morning
coffee or during those in-between moments with the people we love. And right
now, that’s more than enough.
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