2025 Television Guide: Essential Programs and Their Streaming Platforms


2025 is set to be an extraordinary year for television, featuring a remarkable array of returning favorites and thrilling new series across numerous streaming platforms. Here’s a summary of what to look forward to, organized by streaming service:

### **Apple TV+ Highlights**
Apple TV+ boasts a robust lineup of returning favorites and new offerings, including:

– **Severance (Season 2):** The surreal workplace thriller resumes after the Innies’ uprising, offering more enigmas and insights into Lumon Industries.
– **Mythic Quest (Season 4):** The cherished workplace comedy comes back, along with its spinoff anthology series *Side Quest*.
– **Dope Thief:** A crime drama featuring Brian Tyree Henry, inspired by Dennis Tafoya’s novel, which tells the story of two friends masquerading as DEA agents.
– **Government Cheese:** A comedy set in 1969, focusing on a family dealing with life post-patriarch’s release from prison, starring David Oyelowo.
– **The Studio:** Seth Rogen headlines this satire of the movie studio system, showcasing a star-studded ensemble including Catherine O’Hara and Kathryn Hahn.

### **Disney+ Must-Watch**
Disney+ is heavily reliant on its franchises, delivering several notable releases:

– **Andor (Season 2):** The concluding part of the *Star Wars* prequel series is set to unveil more rebellion and intrigue.
– **Daredevil: Born Again:** Charlie Cox returns as Matt Murdock, confronting Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin.
– **Ironheart:** Riri Williams, first seen in *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever*, takes the lead in this Marvel series blending technology with magic.
– **Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Season 2):** The adaptation of *The Sea of Monsters* continues Percy’s mythological escapades.
– **Marvel Zombies:** A four-episode animated series featuring zombified heroes and villains from the MCU.

### **Netflix Powerhouses**
Netflix is reviving its blockbuster hits while rolling out new original content:

– **Stranger Things (Season 5):** The ultimate confrontation against Vecna and the Upside Down promises a grand finale.
– **Squid Game (Season 3):** The final season will resolve lingering mysteries surrounding Gi-hun’s uprising and the Front Man’s true identity.
– **Black Mirror (Season 7):** An eclectic array of genres and styles, featuring a remarkable cast that includes Issa Rae and Emma Corrin.
– **The Sandman (Season 2):** Neil Gaiman’s dark fantasy series continues to explore the dynamics of the Endless family.
– **Apple Cider Vinegar:** Kaitlyn Dever stars in this quasi-true tale of a wellness influencer’s rise and downfall.

### **HBO/Max Excellence**
HBO and Max continue their reign with a blend of acclaimed dramas and genre favorites:

– **The Last of Us (Season 2):** Joel and Ellie’s odyssey picks up, introducing significant new characters like Abby and Dina.
– **A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:** A *Game of Thrones* prequel chronicling the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire Egg.
– **The White Lotus (Season 3):** The Emmy-winning satire heads to Thailand with a new cast of affluent misfits.
– **Peacemaker (Season 2):** John Cena’s antihero returns with a fresh intro sequence and more chaotic escapades.
– **It: Welcome to Derry:** A prequel to *IT*, delving into Pennywise’s terror in 1962.

### **Hulu/FX Highlights**
Hulu and FX present a blend of comedy, drama, and horror:

– **The Bear (Season 4):** The culinary drama continues to delve into the pandemonium of restaurant management.
– **Alien: Earth:** A prequel to the *Alien* franchise, set two years ahead of the original movie.
– **Adults:** A comedy centered on five twenty-somethings navigating life in New York.
– **A Thousand Blows:** A gritty drama set in 1880s London, showcasing Stephen Graham.

### **Prime Video Offerings**
Prime Video caters to enthusiasts of superheroes and high fantasy:

– **Invincible (Season 3):** Mark Grayson’s role as Earth’s protector darkens and becomes more intricate.
– **The Wheel of Time (Season 3):** The high-stakes fantasy narrative advances with Rand and Moiraine confronting new challenges.
– **On Call:** A police drama that merges bodycam and dashcam footage for a grounded narrative approach.

### **Peacock Picks**
Peacock serves up thrillers, mysteries, and reality TV:

– **Poker Face (Season 2):** Natasha Lyonne’s human lie detector returns with more murder mysteries to solve.
– **The Traitors (Season 3):** Reality TV stars engage in a social deduction game hosted by Alan Cumming.
– **Long Bright River:** Amanda