We had quite an output for television in 2025 and it seems like it’s continuing into the new year too with a lot of anticipated releases. But before we embrace in the new year we’ve lined up a few series that are worth the binge; from gripping Arabic social dramas to American thrillers, that’ll crack a laugh out of you or make you shed a tear.
1) WELAD EL SHAMS
This show is one of the most talked about series in 2025 and is part of the Ramadan drama lineup. Welad El Shams digs into the gritty reality of two friends raised in an orphanage who are drawn into crime and exploitation amid systemic neglect. Its honest portrayal of social inequality and personal perseverance makes it stand out among this season’s regional dramas.
2) RUNNING POINT
Fresh from Netflix, this sports workplace comedy made it an easy choice on the list. Kate Hudson leads as Isla Gordon who unexpectedly is put into running a pro basketball team and navigating gender politics, family pressure, and chaotic locker rooms. It’s funny, an easy watch, and perfect if you want something that feels somewhat relatable to office dramas.
3) MISSING YOU
Netflix’s thriller adaptation of Harlan Coben’s novel gives us a twisty, if uneven, mystery about a detective who finds her fiancé years after his disappearance; on a dating app. It may divide viewers, but it’s a compulsive watch for anyone who likes slow‑burn puzzles.
4) LAM SHAMSEYA
This series was both a social wake up call and tear-jerker that sheds light on the sensitive subject of child abuse through a moving, character-led narrative. It’s socially conscious television that sparked conversations all year long while delivering a compelling award winning performance.
5) THE GIRLFRIEND
This limited series is a bold, binge‑worthy psychological thriller that is unhinged. The series revolves around a feud between Robin Wright’s heat‑of‑the‑moment maternal paranoia and Olivia Cooke’s slippery, seductive ambiguity. It’s full of suspense that makes you question who’s right and who’s wrong. But we must warn you the plot twist will leave you stunned.
6) THE LADY’S COMPANION
The perfect fix for our Bridgerton cravings while we wait for the new season. Set in 1880s Madrid, this period romantic comedy leans into class and cultural norms with a bit of rebellious side to it. Its rich historical setting and gentle humor are a refreshing break from the year’s heavy dramas.
7) OVERCOMPENSATING
Who doesn’t love a messy college comedy? This show embodies all the chaos of youth identity with enough humour and scenes that’ll keep you coming back for more. It covers all the mishaps of the college experience: self‑image, ambition, and the absurdities of campus life which makes it one of the smarter comedies of the season.
8) I LOVE LA
Save your trip to LA and watch this show. I Love LA is a glossy love letter to the city, showing its culture, chaos, and contradictions mixing fun with real-life situations. Many people in LA say the show truly reflects everyday life in the city giving viewers a real taste of what it’s like to live there. But what we can guarantee from our end is that you’ll get both a good laugh and shock from this show.
9) CATALOG
If you’re not up for shedding a tear or two we advise you to not watch this show. This Egyptian Netflix dramedy touched on the lives of a single parent, which many resonated with. In detail it explored fatherhood, grief, and everyday resilience through the story of Youssef, a widowed dad who needs to learn to connect with his children using archived parenting videos from his late wife’s youtube channel. It’s heartfelt, honest, and a refreshing look at contemporary family life rarely seen on screen.
10) DEPT.Q
This series is adapted from Jussi Adler‑Olsen’s beloved crime novels into a gritty Scottish thriller on Netflix, following DCI Carl Morck leading a cold‑case team through a dark, twisty nine‑episode mystery set in Edinburgh. This series stood out among 2025 crime shows and quickly became one of Netflix’s most watched titles, earning an early renewal for season 2. So catch up while you can.
11) EKAMA GABREYA
This Egyptian psychological thriller unfolds around a woman whose secrets unravel after she seeks psychiatric help following her husband’s death. The series is filled with obsession, and trauma surfacing where it blurs the line between sympathy and horror. What we can say is that it kept the people talking.
