In a surprising move, Netflix quietly released this series by Japanese master Hirokazu Kore-eda—the Palme d’Or winner known for films like Shoplifters and Nobody Knows—with no promotion this year. But Asura was a knockout: a rich, beautifully shot drama about four sisters in the 1970s who discover their father has been having a lifelong affair. It was so good it might even be the most beautiful show Netflix has ever released. Talk about selling yourself short. Watch it on Netflix.
#1 Happy Family USA
Not content with creating TV’s best sitcom about life as a young Muslim in 2020s America, Ramy Youssef decided to make TV’s best sitcom about life as a super-young Muslim in 2000s America. Packed with retro references for nostalgic millennials and dark comedy about the U.S.’s anti-Muslim sentiment after 9/11, it was an idiosyncratically satirical joy. Easily one of the funniest shows of the year. Watch it on Prime Video.
Common Side Effects
It’s rare for the year’s best conspiracy thriller to be a cartoon, but that might be the case thanks to the phenomenal watchability of Mike Judge’s animated tale. It follows fungi expert Marshall, who discovers a mushroom that cures all illnesses and even revives the dead. When big pharma steps in to protect its profits, the story becomes a wild, darkly comic ride about guns, death, love, and America’s deep obsession with profit. If this show had been a live-action drama, it would likely have been one of the year’s most-watched series. Watch it on Channel 4.
Mix Tape
A gorgeous romantic drama that had everyone digging out their old mixtapes and sharing heartwarming memories. Described as a grittier One Day, this four-part series follows teenagers Daniel (Rory Walton-Smith) and Alison (Florence Hunt) falling in love in Sheffield in 1989. Twenty years later, Daniel (Jim Sturgess) is a music journalist still in Sheffield, while Alison (Teresa Palmer) is a successful novelist in Sydney—but unanswered questions from the past bring them back together. The performances were deeply affecting as dark truths unfolded, and the soundtrack was packed with back-to-back hits. Watch it on BBC iPlayer.
Once Upon a Time in Space
From the creators of similar oral histories on the Iraq war and the Troubles, this dazzling documentary achieved something remarkable. It was both a grand survey of the ambitious space race and an intimate, emotional history of what becoming an astronaut meant to those who lived it. Unforgettable stories include African American astronauts who felt their acceptance into space programs signaled changing times, a female astronaut who (temporarily) said goodbye to her young child, and a touching friendship between a Russian and an American astronaut. The best moments of this series are truly unforgettable. Watch it on BBC iPlayer.
Everybody’s Live
What made John Mulaney’s live weekly Netflix talk show so compelling was its full embrace of the format. Shows like this often thrive on routine, but Mulaney rejected that idea, opting for constant change over comfort. He’d let segments stall so he could interview John Cale, hosted an entire episode blindfolded, and capped it off by deciding to fight two boys at once. Nothing else on TV in 2025 was quite this magnetic. Watch it on Netflix.
Chad Powers
Glen Powell brings winning charm to Chad Powers.Disney+
On paper, Glen Powell’s comedy was certifiably wild. It followed a disgraced but talented American football player who, for genuinely inexplicable reasons, decides his path back into the game is to disguise himself in elaborate prosthetics and pretend to be someone else. As creepy as that sounds, Powell sold it completely, playing both sides of his split personality with just the right amount of charm. Watch it on Disney+.
The Horne Section TV Show
At a time when TV comedies often revolve around trauma, The Horne Section was the perfect antidote. This brazenly silly, 1970s-style sitcom features Taskmaster’s Alex Horne and his band trying to put on a weekly chat show from his house, packed with big-name guests like John Oliver and Reggie Watts clearly having the time of their lives. The whole show is as gleefully stupid as television gets. More, please. Watch it on Channel 4.
Long Story Short
Following BoJack Horseman—one of Netflix’s greatest shows—seemed an impossible task, but Raphael Bob-Waksberg returned with something even more layered. This animated comedy about a Jewish family jumps back and forth through time, leaving viewers to piece together what happened in between. Something this personal and ambitious deserved a much larger audience. Watch it on Netflix.
Reunion
In an era of cookie-cutter crime dramas, Reunion stood out as a real curiosity. Starring Matthew Gurney as Daniel Brennan and written by deaf screenwriter William Mager, it places deafness at the heart of its story, using British Sign Language to powerful effect. The show never feels tokenistic; instead, Daniel’s struggle to communicate—and the institutional failures to accommodate his needs—adds to the atmosphere of quiet menace. As he returns from prison and tries to reconnect with his daughter Miri (Rose Ayling-Ellis), his tragic past slowly unfolds in a drama that’s nuanced, intriguing, and ultimately explosive. Watch it on BBC iPlayer.
Wayward
Beloved Canadian stand-up Mae Martin has charmed audiences on Taskmaster and in the tender, trauma-inflected rom-com Feel Good. So a bleak supernatural thriller about a terrifying institution for troubled teens wasn’t the most obvious next step. Yet Wayward masterfully captures the chilling vibe of small-town life, where everyone seems to know something you don’t—a feeling heightened by Toni Collette’s eerie turn as the local academy head, Evelyn. It feels like the work of a seasoned horror writer, with Martin’s presence bringing much-needed warmth and comic relief to the dark plot, making it a must-watch. Watch it on Netflix.
Lucy Letby: Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Everyone knows the story of neonatal nurse Lucy Letby, convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven more. Or do they? This compelling, meticulous documentary—featuring the Guardian’s Josh Halliday, who has followed the case from the start—guides viewers through the flaws in the case against Letby. It explores alternative explanations for evidence that begins to seem far from unreasonable and highlights the lack of any clear motive. The film sheds light on little-known but deeply troubling issues surrounding one of the most infamous recent convictions, bringing them to wider attention in a compelling way.Down Cemetery Road
This is documentary making at its finest—more than just a TV show, it feels like a public service. Watch it on ITVX.
Down Cemetery Road
Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson star in this supremely badass crime drama. Adapted from Mick Herron’s novels (following Slow Horses), Thompson plays Zoe Boem, an unfailingly likable and tough detective who also shows genuine humanity. As she trails Wilson in a brutal hunt for a missing child, Boem remains zippy and sarcastic even as bullets fly and bodies pile up. This series deserves a much bigger audience. Since Slow Horses took several seasons to build its viewership, here’s hoping this one manages the same feat. Watch it on Apple TV+.
Asterix and the Big Fight
Asterix fans are often wary of the animated adaptations, which can be hit or miss. Thankfully, The Big Fight is a delightful exception. This series feels deliberately modern, with an emotional core and playful twists—think sports commentary, musical montages, and even a Pocoyo spoof. It also introduces a perfect new minor character. After all, if you lived in a village with Asterix, Obelix, and Getafix, wouldn’t you want Netflix too? Watch it on Netflix.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Both Jacob Elordi and Ciarán Hinds deliver spellbinding performances as the younger and older Dr. Dorrigo in this sweeping, sensual World War II epic about love, trauma, and the past we carry with us. Adapted from Richard Flanagan’s Booker-winning novel, it pairs tender scenes of love and poetry with harrowing depictions of war, including Dorrigo’s time as a prisoner forced to build the Burma Railway. Despite its visceral and often horrifying moments, it remains a beautiful story of longing, as Dorrigo falls for his uncle’s wife, Amy—a feeling he spends a lifetime trying to recapture. Watch it on BBC iPlayer.
North of North
Welcome to Ice Cove, a small town in the Canadian Arctic where everyone knows everyone else’s business. When Inuk woman Siaja publicly dumps the local golden boy, King Ting, she faces backlash—and every other woman in town starts bringing Ting casseroles as love tokens. With episode titles like “Joy to the Effing World” and “Walrus Dick Baseball” (yes, they really play it), this is a funny, charming, and super snowy sitcom about growing up and finding yourself. Perfect winter binge-watching. Watch it on Netflix.
The Eternaut
Killer snow that wipes out humanity? It’s a gripping hook for a dystopian story. Bruno Stagnaro’s tense Argentine series, based on Héctor Germán Oesterheld’s novel, also serves as a terrifying reflection of our own world. It begins with a group of men safely playing poker indoors as a mysterious snow falls outside—anyone who steps into it dies instantly. As they search for survivors, they uncover the true cause of the chaos. Is there any hope? A second season has been confirmed to send more chills down your spine. Watch it on Netflix.
Forever
Millennials of a certain age may remember the 2018 Netflix series Forever, starring Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen as a married couple in the afterlife. This new iteration, however, is a fresh take. It follows Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), a young couple whose relationship is tested when Justin returns from a mysterious two-year disappearance. As they navigate love, trust, and the supernatural, the series explores whether some bonds truly are forever. Watch it on Netflix.The novel Forever… by Judy Blume, with its unforgettable depiction of teenage love and sex (including a certain penis named Ralph), holds a special place in many readers’ hearts. That’s why there was so much excitement around this year’s adaptation, which updates the story to 2018 and centers on Black students Keisha and Justin, brilliantly portrayed by Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper—refreshingly age-appropriate casting for a teen drama. From trainer-shopping dates to the push-and-pull of blocking and unblocking each other, it was impossible not to fall for them as they fell for each other. A lovely watch. Stream it on Netflix.
For Jane Austen fans, it’s been a banner year, with the BBC marking the novelist’s 250th birthday. Among the celebrations, this delightful period drama, based on Gill Hornby’s bestselling novel, was a particular standout. Keeley Hawes plays Jane’s sister Cassandra, who destroyed many of their private letters after Jane’s (Patsy Ferran) death. Through flashbacks to the sisters’ youth, we uncover a possible reason behind Cassie’s actions. With a wonderful cast including Synnøve Karlsen, Rose Leslie, and Jessica Hynes, it’s a must-watch on BBC iPlayer.
Thriller premises don’t get much more entertaining than a menopausal hitwoman on a vengeful rampage. This series starring Keeley Hawes as Julie fully embraces the chaos: sky-high body counts, shady corporate dealings, and a twentysomething son forced on the run with his mum while discovering her lethal secret. It’s all here, courtesy of the Williams Brothers—the minds behind The Tourist, The Missing, and Boat Story. Catch it on Prime Video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about A Total Knockout designed to sound like real questions from curious viewers
General Beginner Questions
Q What is A Total Knockout about
A Its a highconcept scifi sports drama set in 2045 where fighters use neurallinked exosuits in a global league Its part dazzling spectacle part deep character study about the cost of greatness
Q Where can I watch it
A Its a streaming exclusive available in full on StreamFlux Premium
Q Is it based on a book or comic
A No its an original creation by showrunner Elara Vance though its been praised for having the depth and worldbuilding of a great novel
Q How many seasons are there
A Currently there is one critically acclaimed 10episode season with a second season officially greenlit
Q Is it appropriate for kids
A Its rated TVMA for intense scifi violence strong language and some mature themes Its best for older teens and adults
Story Character Questions
Q Do I need to like sports or boxing to enjoy it
A Not at all The fights are visually stunning but the core appeal is the characters personal journeys rivalries and the ethical dilemmas posed by the technology
Q Who is the main character
A The story follows Kai Mendoza a washedup former champion who gets a second chance with an experimental unstable neural suit
Q Is there a standout villain or rival
A Yes Jaxon The Architect Reed the undefeated champion is a fascinating antagonist Hes not just a bully hes a philosophical opposite to Kai believing the technology should erase human weakness entirely
Q Does the show have good female characters
A Absolutely Tech prodigy Riya Chen who designs Kais suit is a colead Champion fighter Valkyrie is a major force in the league and their stories are integral not side plots
Advanced Fan Questions
Q What sets it apart from other scifi or sports shows
A Its unique blend the fight choreography is a character
