Best TV Series This Year Will Change How You See Television
- 01. Best TV Series This Year: The One Nobody's Talking About
- 02. Top 10 TV Series of 2025-2026: Critical Rankings
- 03. The Underrated Gem: Why Task Deserves More Attention
- 04. Other Notable Underrated Series
- 05. 2026's Best New Series So Far
- 06. Content Selection for Educational Communities
- 07. Frequently Asked Questions
Best TV Series This Year: The One Nobody's Talking About
The best TV series this year is Task, the HBO crime drama starring Mark Ruffalo that premiered September 7, 2025, with an 8/10 IMDb rating and 96% Rotten Tomatoes score. Despite critical acclaim and Emmy-worthy performances, this series remains largely under conversations compared to overhyped successors like Severance Season 2. For educators and families seeking content that balances moral complexity with compelling storytelling, Task offers a rare example of television that invites meaningful discussion about purpose, justice, and redemption.
Top 10 TV Series of 2025-2026: Critical Rankings
Based on aggregator scores and critic consensus, here are the highest-rated series released during this period:
| Series Title | IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes | Release Date | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Side Effects | 8.5/10 | 100% | February 2, 2025 | Max (Adult Swim) |
| Mobland | 8.3/10 | 76% | March 30, 2025 | Paramount+ |
| Dept. Q | 8.2/10 | 88% | March 29, 2025 | Netflix |
| Task | 8/10 | 96% | September 7, 2025 | HBO Max |
| Overcompensating | 7.7/10 | 93% | May 15, 2025 | Prime Video |
| North of North | 7.5/10 | 100% | January 7, 2025 | Netflix |
| Chad Powers | 7.5/10 | 57% | September 30, 2025 | Hulu |
| The Lowdown | 7.3/10 | 98% | September 23, 2025 | Apple TV+ |
| Black Rabbit | 7.3/10 | 67% | September 18, 2025 | Netflix |
| The Rainmaker | 7.1/10 | 54% | August 15, 2025 | Apple TV+ |
The Underrated Gem: Why Task Deserves More Attention
Task stands out as the series no one's talking about despite its exceptional quality. Created by Brad Ingelsby (the mind behind The Way Down), the series follows Tom Brandis, a former priest turned FBI agent who loses his sense of purpose after personal tragedy. What makes Task particularly valuable for educational discussion is its nuanced exploration of moral rehabilitation, community responsibility, and the intersection of faith with public service.
"Emmy-worthy performances from Ruffalo and Amelia Jones anchor the tight thrill ride of Task, a show with enough surprises along the way"
The series premiered on HBO on Sunday, September 7, 2025, with 8 episodes total. Set in working-class Philadelphia suburbs, it depicts an FBI task force hunting a family man who robs drug trap houses to support his children after his brother's death. This moral ambiguity creates rich material for ethics education and character formation discussions aligned with Marist pedagogical values.
Other Notable Underrated Series
Several other series deserve recognition despite limited mainstream attention:
- Common Side Effects (100% RT): An animated pharmaceutical thriller about a blue mushroom that can cure all diseases, featuring smart dialogue and visual wonder
- The Lowdown (98% RT): Neo-noir comedy starring Ethan Hawke as a bookstore owner who is secretly a dangerous truth-seeker in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- North of North (100% RT): Canadian Inuit comedy-drama about a woman leaving an unworthy marriage, featuring heartwarming moments and cultural authenticity
- Overcompensating (93% RT): Comedy about a gay man adopting a fake identity in college, with 93% critic approval despite limited awareness
2026's Best New Series So Far
As we reach May 2026, new entries have emerged with exceptional critical reception:
- Industry Season 4 (HBO): Wildly ambitious reinvention of the finance drama, debuting January 11, 2026, moving beyond the trading floor into global finance
- How to Get to Heaven From Belfast (Netflix): Lisa McGee's murder mystery with 95% RT, following three millennial women investigating their estranged friend's death
- The Beauty (FX/Hulu): Ryan Murphy's body-horror series about a sexually transmitted virus transforming people into perfect versions of themselves, premiering January 21, 2026
- The Night Manager (HBO Max): Continuing its remarkable evolution since 2020's inception
- Lord of the Flies (BBC/HBO): New adaptation exploring classic themes of power and human nature
Content Selection for Educational Communities
For school administrators and parents seeking age-appropriate content that aligns with values-driven education, several considerations matter:
| Series | Common Themes | Educational Value | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task | Redemption, justice, faith | High (ethics discussion) | TV-MA |
| North of North | Family, resilience, culture | High (cultural awareness) | TV-14 |
| Common Side Effects | Science ethics, conspiracy | Moderate (critical thinking) | TV-MA |
| Overcompensating | Identity, acceptance | High (social-emotional) | TV-MA |
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Best Tv Series This Year Will Change How You See Television
What is the best TV series released this year?
Task is widely considered the best TV series this year, with an 8/10 IMDb rating and 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, starring Mark Ruffalo as a former priest turned FBI agent.
Which TV series has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score in 2025?
Common Side Effects and North of North both achieved perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes scores, with Common Side Effects at 8.5/10 IMDb and North of North at 7.5/10 IMDb.
Why isn't Task getting more attention despite its quality?
Task's initial marketing made it appear like "just another crime drama" with a conventional story, causing it to miss the viral moments that typically drive viewership.
What 2026 TV series should I watch if I like crime dramas?
Industry Season 4 continues the HBO finance drama with greater global stakes, while How to Get to Heaven From Belfast offers a dark comedy-mystery blend with 95% RT.
Are there any family-friendly underrated series this year?
North of North (TV-14) offers family-friendly content about an Inuit woman's journey with her daughter, featuring heartwarming moments and cultural authenticity.
How does Task align with values-driven educational perspectives?
Task explores moral rehabilitation, community responsibility, and faith intersecting with public service-themes directly relevant to Catholic education and Marist pedagogical values focused on holistic formation.
