Best of 2025

Most Underrated TV Shows of 2025

Here are the TV shows that we think were the most underappreciated from 2025

BY Dylan Blight & Ashley Hobley

Jan 26, 2026

Three of our five picks for the most underrated series from 2025 are animated. Is it because animation is still widely viewed as a medium for kids? Probably.

Here are our picks for the Most Underrated TV Shows from 2025.

5.) Win or Lose

Overshadowed by controversy, which was overblown in hindsight, Pixar’s first animated series was really something special, telling the story of a middle school softball team in the week leading up to the championship game from a different perspective each episode. Dealing with anxiety, first love, sibling and parental relationships, and so much more, this creative animated series deserves to be seen by many more people.

– Ashley

4.) The Pitt

Can an Emmy Award-winning show be considered underrated? Apparently. The Pitt brings a breath of fresh air to the medical drama with its real-time storytelling and its lack of soap-opera elements. Over the year, more and more people have listened to the good word of mouth and caught up with the show, but I’m sure there are still many who have given the show a chance, which is why they should, and I guess that’s why this is on this list.

– Ashley

3.) Common Side Effects

The animation style, paired with the wild story in Common Side Effects, made it one of the most unique shows from last year. There’s an utterly unique story here, world-building around a global conspiracy and the potential discovery of a mushroom that can heal anything, which is played for comedy and explores how such a discovery would be treated and pursued by anyone trying to own the medical ID.

– Dylan

2.) Dept. Q

This Netflix series, based on the Danish Jussi Adler-Olsen book series, seemed to have gone under the radar a bit, possibly because it can look like the numerous British detective shows released each year. But this show, with broken people helping solve a crime to hopefully help heal themselves, standsout thanks the fantastic cast, and great writing.

– Dylan

1.) Long Story Short

This new animated series from Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the creator of BoJack Horseman, feels very personal, and unlike BoJack, focuses on a more ‘normal’ looking family. The series shows a very dynamic, at times hectic, family across the main character’s teenage years and into adulthood, when some have kids of their own. It’s not linear; it jumps around, like someone reminiscing about their life, and that in itself adds an interesting concept to this animated series, which is both very funny and features some great monologues.

– Dylan

Find all of Explosion Network’s Best of 2025 coverage right here, and be sure to let us know your thoughts on any of our lists in the comments section.

WRITTEN BY

Dylan Blight

[He/Him] Dylan Blight is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Explosion Network, an independent Australian publication covering video games, film, television and pop culture. Since founding Explosion Network in 2017, Dylan has written and produced reviews, news, interviews, features and podcasts across the entertainment industry, while overseeing the publication's editorial direction and content.

Ashley Hobley

[He/Him] As the Executive Editor of Games & Entertainment, Ash uses his sharp-eye to oversee the majority of the editorial work coming out of the Explosion Network.