The 2025 Emmy Awards are upon us! Last weekend, we got the Creative Arts Emmys, and this weekend, the Primetime Emmy Awards will finally determine which shows reign supreme from the past year. Well, more accurately, from June 1, 2024, until May 31, 2025, as that's when shows have to air to be eligible for nomination.
As part of my job, I watch dozens of shows every year, and by my count, I've watched 23 of the shows. That's not everything up for an Emmy Award this Sunday, but it's a fair amount of them. Of those 23 shows, there are seven that rise above the rest, and that I think everyone needs to watch at some point. Sure, you probably can't binge them all between now and the ceremony on Sunday night, but you might be able to finish one or two of them, and you can certainly check them all off your watchlist by the end of the year.
So, without further ado, here are the seven Emmy-nominated shows you need to stream right now. As usual, these shows are all available on the best streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max and more.
'The Pitt' (HBO Max)
Simply put, "The Pitt" is incredible. This medical drama is part "E.R." and part "24," to the point where it even stars "E.R." vet Noah Wyle as Dr. Robby Robinavitch, our show's protagonist. Set at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, "The Pitt" follows Dr. Robby and his colleagues throughout a 15-hour shift over 15 episodes.
Yes, you're reading that right. "The Pitt" takes place in real-time, one of the main reasons it's been a smash hit for HBO Max. But it's not the only thing that makes this show great. "The Pitt" also excels at being realistic and navigating multiple ongoing storylines. It's even received praise from the medical professional community for its realism.
In the first part of the season, storylines can run throughout episodes, sometimes even taking an episode off. A prime example of this is in episode 8, "2:00 P.M.," which concludes a storyline that began all the way back in episode 2. However, the show shifts in episode 12, where it stops juggling multiple plots and compresses everything into a single storyline. It's a risky move, but "The Pitt" executes it perfectly.
This show was my top show of the year back in August, and it remains my top show of the year today. I'm personally tipping it to win Outstanding Drama Series over a very uneven "Severance" season 2, which you'll notice is not on this list.
Stream now on HBO Max
'The Studio' season 1 (Apple TV Plus)
Much like "The Pitt," "The Studio" is another Emmy freshman that was a breath of fresh air. For the longest time, it was my top comedy series of the year. It's still my top-ranked comedy from the shows nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2025 Emmys — "The Rehearsal" season 2 failed to get nominated, and the current season of "South Park" didn't come out in time to be eligible, and would be reserved for Outstanding Animated Program, regardless.
Even though shows have moved ahead of "The Studio" in my rankings, that doesn't diminish how good this show is. The show's two-episode premiere was excellent. The first episode is hilarious and a star-studded affair. It does an excellent job establishing the world in which Matt Remick's (Seth Rogen) fictional Continental Studios exists and what the show is about, which is the absurdity of Hollywood culture and the film industry.
"The Studio" never really dips in quality after that first episode, which is a big reason it earned so many Emmy nominations and is my pick to win Outstanding Comedy Series. In fact, the second episode, "The Oner," is a masterpiece and remains one of the best episodes of television I've watched all year. Its Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series is well deserved and should result in one of several wins for the show.
I just hope that when "The Studio" wins, somebody thanks Sal Saperstein. If you want to understand that reference, start watching now.
Stream now on Apple TV Plus
'Adolescence' (Netflix)
I'm not one to break out the trigger warning lightly, but "Adolescence" might deserve one. This show is not for the faint of heart and delivers one emotional gut punch after another, particularly in the finale. If you are a parent, you might struggle to make it through this limited series, which is impressive given it's just four episodes long.
"Adolescence" revolves around the arrest of Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), a 13-year-old boy who is suspected of murdering his classmate Katie Leonard (Emilia Holliday). The show is like a stage play told over four acts, with each episode playing out in real-time and in a single take. As the story unfolds, we watch this traumatic incident tear apart Jamie's family and learn what may have contributed to the alleged killing, particularly the toxic online environment known as the manosphere.
While "Adolescence" has earned praise for the technical marvel of each episode being filmed in one continuous hour-long shot, this show excels because of its performances. Owen Cooper is excellent throughout the show, particularly in "Episode 3," which is almost entirely a dialogue between Jamie and forensic psychologist Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty). I expect both he and Doherty to win Emmy Awards for their performances in that episode. I expect "Adolescence" to beat out "The Penguin" for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, and it already won the Tom's Guide Award for Best Streaming Original Show.
Stream now on Netflix
'Andor' season 2 (Disney Plus)
"Andor" could be higher on this list, but I found the start of season 2 to be underwhelming. I even took a break from watching the show after those three episodes, which could have been charitably cut down into just one.
However, that was the last time (and frankly, the only time across the show's two seasons) that "Andor" underwhelmed me. The final nine episodes of this series were incredible, even jaw-dropping at times. If season 2 was just those nine episodes, it would almost certainly be my pick for the best show of 2025 so far.
For those who aren't familiar with this Star Wars show, it's a prequel to the movie "Rogue One," and follows Cassian Andor's (Diego Luna) journey from scoundrel to rebel. In the first season, the show follows Cassian as he realizes he has to fight the Empire to protect those he loves. In season 2, we now follow his journey as a leader within the Rebel Alliance, and each three-episode arc is one year apart from the next, essentially covering the events of a weekend in one of those four years. Episode 8, "Who Are You?", is the best episode of TV I've seen all year and brings us the legendary Ghorman Massacre to life, a pivotal moment in "Star Wars" history.
Despite my praise for the show, "Andor" may get shut out at the Primetime Emmys entirely. Its best shot at an award is for the aforementioned "Who Are You?" which is nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series.
Stream now on Disney Plus
'Paradise' season 1 (Hulu)
For a brief moment in time, "Paradise" was my show of the year so far. It now sits a bit further down the list, behind most of the shows I've already written about in this article, but it remains a show definitely worth watching. It still has incredible moments, including in the first episode, which ends on a major twist. Things occasionally get a bit bumpy from there, but "Paradise" episode 7, "The Day," hits you like a nuclear bomb and will leave you feeling genuinely unsettled. I'm still shook by it,
If you're wholly unfamiliar with "Paradise," this Hulu political drama stars Sterling K. Brown as Xavier Collins, a Secret Service agent to President Cal Bradford (James Marsden). Things start out feeling a bit off, and not too long into the premiere, it's revealed that President Bradford has been assassinated and nobody knows why. In most shows, that would be the major twist, but not in this one. Instead, what unfolds is a masterclass in story building, expertly layering twist after twist.
I'm not sure "Paradise" will bring home an award at the Primetime Emmys, though its nomination for Outstanding Drama Series is well deserved. Don't count out a dark horse run from Marsden or Julianne Nicholson, who plays Samantha Redmond, the world's richest self-made woman and a key figure in holding the story of "Paradise" together.
Stream now on Hulu
'Hacks' season 4 (HBO Max)
"Hacks" season 1 and season 2 are the best seasons of a comedy show I've seen since they came out — mostly because I don't consider "The Bear" a comedy, even if the Emmys do. Starring Jean Smart as legendary stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, and Hannah Einbinder as her young protege/writer Ava Daniels, this show is brilliant at times, not afraid to tug at your heartstrings, go to dark places or make you laugh uncontrollably at a politically incorrect joke.
However, the past two seasons have been a bit stale, feeling like retreads of the same material and bits that made the first seasons so great. That finally took a turn in a positive direction after "Hacks" shocking season 4 finale, but it won't be enough to beat out "The Studio" for Outstanding Comedy Series, which means that the ladies of "Hacks" won't defend their crown as the Queens of Comedy.
While the show probably won't win, Smart will almost certainly win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, an award she's never lost since she was nominated for "Hacks" season 1. Both her and Einbinder remain excellent and reason enough to watch this show, even if the writing has faltered a bit in recent seasons.
Stream now on HBO Max
'The Penguin' (HBO Max)
I declared "The Penguin" a "must-watch on Max" when it came out last year. Part "The Batman" and part "The Godfather," this DC show is nominally a comic book adaptation and a prequel to "The Batman." But the reality is it's almost a pure gangster crime drama akin to "The Sopranos," even if it's not quite on par with its legendary HBO counterpart.
The good news is "The Penguin" works as both a gritty mob show. Colin Farrell's performance as the titular Gotham crime boss is great, and I do think he ultimately beats out Stephen Graham for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. I also think that Cristin Milioti wins Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie as Sofia Falcone, and I'd argue she puts on an even better performance than Farrell.
While those two may win, unfortunately, I think "The Penguin" was always destined to be a bridesmaid and never a bride when it comes to the top prize: Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Last year, it would have lost out to "Baby Reindeer," which was unstoppable, and this year I think it loses out to "Adolescence," which I rate higher of the two shows.
Stream now on HBO Max
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.
Here's what he's been watching lately:
- I was stunned by 'Foundation' season 3 and the twist that even I couldn't see coming
- Netflix drops first trailer for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's new crime thriller movie — and I'm already sold
- The new Denzel-Spike Lee crime thriller blew me away — ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ is worth the Apple TV Plus price hike
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
