2025 Hidden & Hyped TV Series
My Hidden TV Series of 2024:
My picks for hidden gems that I enjoyed last year are My Lady Jane, Under the Bridge, and The Woman in the Wall.
Today, I wanted to reflect on some dramas that I found quite enjoyable this year, ones that might not have received widespread attention. By ‘hidden gems,’ I don’t mean anything grand, but rather dramas that, in my opinion, were as good as popular shows but didn’t quite achieve the same level of buzz. It’s less about strongly recommending them and more about saying, ‘I thought these were pretty good… if you have some time, maybe check them out.’ These are purely based on my taste and criteria, so your opinions may differ.
Under the Bridge & The Woman in the Wall
Firstly, <Under the Bridge> received positive reviews upon its release, but its buzz didn’t quite match. I believe it holds one of the most significant messages of the year. Personally, it left a lasting impression.
<Under the Bridge> follows a local police officer and a writer who returns to her hometown as they investigate the murder of teenager Reena Virk, shedding light on the dark aspects of our society, including racial issues and community vulnerabilities.
<The Woman in the Wall>, in a way, is a drama from last year, but it became available earlier this year through Paramount+. Personally, it’s one of the most impactful stories I’ve seen this year. Ruth Wilson‘s performance was excellent.
Both <Under the Bridge> and <The Woman in the Wall> impressed me with how they could create such moving narratives from real events, bringing forgotten tragedies to the attention of today’s audience. To be honest, in terms of pure ‘entertainment,’ both are somewhat dark and might not immediately appeal to everyone.
My Lady Jane
Lastly, I didn’t separately introduce <My Lady> Jane on my blog because I encountered news of its cancellation while watching it. Sadly, it ended with just one season, so I missed the timing to review it. Despite being canceled, it was surprisingly well-made and gained some positive word-of-mouth after its release, which makes its cancellation even more disappointing.
<My Lady Jane> highlights the life of Lady Jane Grey, the unfortunate queen who reigned for nine days before her execution. It’s a quite charming new show that blends quirky humor, romance, and a strong soundtrack.
My Hyped TV Series 2025
Personally, if the new releases of 2024 felt a bit lackluster, 2025 looks promising. In the coming year, major OTT platforms, including Netflix, have some highly anticipated projects lined up.
Before diving into the new shows, 2025 will also see the return of highly awaited seasons like <Severance>, <The Last of Us>, <Peacemaker>, and <Wednesday (Season 2)>, as well as the final seasons of <The Handmaid’s Tale (Season 6)> and <Stranger Things (Season 5)>.
New Shows on the Horizon
So, what new shows are on the horizon? Let’s start with Marvel. This year’s Marvel dramas have been underwhelming, to the point where I no longer have high expectations for them. Nevertheless, the fact that new ones are coming still makes me somewhat hopeful.
Starting in March, <Daredevil: Born Again> will be released, followed by <Ironheart> in the summer and <Wonder Man> in the winter.
Wasn’t it early last month that the trailer for <Daredevil: Born Again> was released? Familiar faces like Kingpin and the Punisher are returning, and actors from the original series have rejoined the cast. Among the original content created by Netflix, this series was one of the few with high production value and high fan satisfaction. It remains to be seen whether Disney can live up to fan expectations and not ruin it. I shouldn’t be, but I’m also a bit excited about this new show.
Netflix’s Zero Day & Apple TV+’s Your Friends and Neighbors
Moving on to some new shows I’m personally looking forward to, Netflix’s <Zero Day>, starring Robert De Niro, Lizzy Caplan, Connie Britton, and Dan Stevens, is set to premiere in February. Its release was delayed due to last year’s strike, but it’s finally coming 2025. Meanwhile, Apple TV+ release <Your Friends and Neighbors> in April, created by Jonathan Tropper (the creator of <Banshee>) and starring Jon Hamm, Olivia Munn, and Amanda Peet.
I tend to enjoy dramas created by this writer, and the cast is full of reliable actors, making it a must-watch for me. Another creator I trust is behind HBO’s <Task>, the next project from Ben Ingelsby, who created the acclaimed <Mare of Easttown> in 2021.
<Task> stars Mark Ruffalo, Emilia Jones, and Marin Ireland, raising expectations for another masterpiece following Mare of Easttown. A sneak peek was included in the Max 2025 preview video released last month, and <Task> was the one that intrigued me the most. In any case, there are many new shows starring highly anticipated actors coming our way!
Also, a major project is on the horizon for <2025: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms>, the second prequel/spin-off to <Game of Thrones>, following <House of the Dragon>. Based on <the Game of Thrones> prequel “Tales of Dunk and Egg,” this series has received positive feedback from the original author George R.R. Martin, who described the characters as vividly brought to life as if they came straight from his books.
This new show is highly anticipated by both book and drama fans alike. Additionally, I’m personally looking forward to new spin-offs of <Dexter> and <Bosch>, which are set to be released, and HBO is reportedly developing a prequel to the movie <It>, titled <It: Welcome to Derry>.
This has been a brief overview of some of the anticipated dramas confirmed for release in 2025. There are many other exciting new shows to look forward to beyond the ones I’ve mentioned!