10. ‘Stranger Things’ (Season 5)

Nearly 10 years after the first season premiered, “Stranger Things” is wrapping up its epic five season run with its most ambitious episodes yet, with the finale set to screen in theaters at a whopping two hours and five minutes. Much evolved from the small-town mystery feel of Season 1, Season 5 expands the scope of the plot as the writers answer longstanding questions and depict a town on the verge of complete collapse. Still, Season 5 follows the mold for the most part, centering on the same core group of beloved characters that the show’s mostly young adult and adolescent audience has followed from the beginning. Friendship, bravery, and heroism take center stage as the gang must come together to save Hawkins, and the world, once and for all. —Francesca H. Vittorelli

9. ‘Nobody Wants This’ (Season 2)

Season 2 of “Nobody Wants This” is back in our rankings, and for good reason. The chemistry between the two leads, Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, is still as sweet as ever, carrying the show with effortless charm. The emotional stakes are heightened when our favorite couple Jo (Bell) and Noah (Brody) break up, once again raising important questions about religious conversion, commitment and personal sacrifice. The season’s finale is what truly cements the success of the show: a touching sequence between Jo and Noah in which Jo admits her true feelings about converting to Judaism, while Noah confesses that he would rather choose a simpler life with Jo than live a life built on status as head rabbi without her. While many rom-coms stumble into generic cheesy endings, “Nobody Wants This” truly succeeds by remaining honest and realistic, resisting easy resolutions and portraying faith as something that challenges their growth in love. —Anastasia Poliakova

We reviewed Season 2 of “Nobody Wants This” and gave it 3 stars.

8. ‘Adults’

FX’s “Adults” introduces one of the first Gen-Z sitcoms about, well, adults. With an ensemble cast of breakout comedy stars including Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer, Jack Innanen, Amita Rao, and Owen Thiele, the first season follows a friend group living in Samir’s (Elessal) parents’ house in Queens while they are on an extended roadtrip. In just eight 25-ish-minute episodes, the group deals with accidentally inviting a murderer into their home, having Julia Fox over for dinner, and navigating a love triangle within the group. The group of lovable post-grads will be returning for a second season. “Adults” is one of several exciting attempts this year to bring timely, adult Gen Z hits to streaming — also including “I Love LA” and “Overcompensating” — and its renewal is a sign of the increasing investment of TV — and its audiences — in newer, reimagined narratives. —Hannah M. Wilkoff

7. ‘The Studio’

Seth Rogan’s delightful television series, “The Studio” — featuring Catherine O’Hara, Chase Sui Wonders ’18, and Ike Barinholtz alongside Rogan — is more than a satire of Hollywood. After being promoted to lead a major production studio, Matt Remick (Rogan) witnesses firsthand the rapidly evolving world of film. While the episodes are loosely tied together in their overarching message, each stands on its own, offering an easy watching experience that culminates in a fabulously executed two-episode finale. In its subtle incorporation of warm tones, vintage cars, and mid-century architecture, “The Studio” is a humorous and poignant depiction of Old Hollywood in television form. —Thomas A. Ferro

6. ‘Overcompensating’

Prime Video’s newest dramedy “Overcompensating” evokes a laughter only Benito Skinner and the rest of the writing team could incite. The show follows Benny Scanlon (Skinner), a closeted, former high school jock who learns to navigate his freshman year of college through his public identity while grappling with his private one. With his outsider best friend Carmen (Wally Baram), the two lean on each other and aim to discover their true selves in an accurate take of the millennial college experience, inspired by Skinner’s own life. “Overcompensating” is strong through its constant delivery of jokes and pop culture references, but the show finds its true power in balancing this with vulnerability. Benny’s desire to overperform in order to be accepted out of fear of rejection is powerful, and Carmen’s attempts at finding her place at college resonate. Skinner’s homage to the queer experience is evidently tailored to reflect the realities of many rather than manufactured to appeal to broad audiences. Unlike its name, “Overcompensating” does just enough and excels. —Emily G. Fallas-Chacon

5. ‘Severance’ (Season 2)

For diehard fans of the first season of “Severance,” the wait for Season 2 was an agonizing three years. Yet, even for those viewers unable to skip through time like the beloved Mark S. (Adam Scott), it was certainly worth it. “Severance” threw down the gauntlet with its return, perfectly tiptoeing along the tightrope of mystery; trickling enough answers to keep viewers satiated, while offering up a far higher number of questions.

Britt Lower, the actress behind Helly R., won a very deserved Primetime Emmy for her captivating performance, and Adam Scott, Zach Cherry, and John Turturro joined her in continuing their wonderfully subtle portrayals — exposing the intricacies of depicting two people that only differ in the most intangible ways. Visually, “Severance” retained its otherworldly quality, with the increased outdoor scenes beautifully capturing the alien allure of winter in the Pacific Northwest, and the purposeful swaths of color in the office standing out, begging to be analyzed. Season 2 of “Severance” earns a place on our list because it’s a brilliant exposition of how to find science fiction in the most ordinary parts of life, and a perfect example of how to continually build on a captivating premise. —Alessandro M. M. Drake

We reviewed the first three episodes of Season 2 of “Severance” and gave it 4.5 stars.

4. ‘The Pitt’

Covering 15 hours of non-stop life-or-death stakes, “The Pitt” throws its viewers directly into the chaos of the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center and never lets go. Produced by “ER” legend Noah Wyle, who also stars as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, this Emmy-winning series blends meticulous medical research, gut-punch drama, and just enough nods to classic doctor shows to keep fans grinning. Each character is a study in resilience, flaw, and humanity, with medical student Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell) serving as a heartbreaking reminder of the toll patient loss, while seasoned professionals such as charge nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) display the struggles of showing up every day for an often thankless job. With twists, pain, and triumph around every corner, the release of Season 2 in January somehow promises even more intensity. —Sara R. Eyjolfsdottir

3. ‘I Love LA’

Filled with vocal fry, overpriced smoothies, and a devastatingly codependent friend group, “I Love LA” follows Maia Simsbury (Rachel Sennott) as she tries to make it as a manager for her influencer best friend Tallulah Stiel (Odessa A’zion). Known as the “Untitled Rachel Sennott Project” until a couple of months before its release, the “Girls”-esque comedy is Sennott’s first solo project, bringing her chaotic but cathartic style to HBO. The show features many other big names, including Josh Hutcherson as Dylan, Maia’s schoolteacher boyfriend who couldn’t care less about the social media craze, and Leighton Meester as Alyssa, the owner of the talent agency where Maia works who is a little bit too threatened by Maia’s success. With the season finale scheduled to air on Dec. 21, “I Love LA” promises more TikTok masterpieces, hilariously awkward sex scenes, and celebrity cameos where the celebrities are just playing themselves. —Hannah M. Wilkoff

2. ‘The White Lotus’ (Season 3)

America’s favorite dark comedy and brilliant social satire “The White Lotus” returned for a third season on Hulu in April. This time the guests arrived in the beautiful White Lotus Thailand, a spiritual retreat in the middle of paradise. As Sara R. Eyjolfsdottir writes, “The White Lotus” has always been a social commentary first and murder mystery second.” With a star-studded cast — Jason Isaacs, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Parker Posey, just to name a few — and exceptional cinematography and exciting plotlines, “The White Lotus” was bound to be a hit, once again. Though lacking in some ways, Season 3 still sets the bar high. The real question: Will Season 4 match up? —Caroline J. Rubin

We reviewed Season 3 of “The White Lotus” and gave it 3.5 stars.

1. ‘Adolescence’

Created by actor Stephen Graham and writer Jack Thorne, Netflix’s four-part TV show “Adolescence” was released on March 13. Shortly after its release, the show, which traces the story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller who is under arrest for the murder of his female classmate, was dubbed by The Guardian as “the closest thing to TV perfection in decades.” Shot in a unique and impressive one-shot format, “Adolescene” is gritty, exciting, and brewing with biting and increasingly relevant social commentary. Superb acting from Owen Cooper, Graham, and Erin Doherty combined with technical brilliance make it a home run. In a year which critics deemed chock-full of lackluster TV, “Adolescence” is a true gem. —Caroline J. Rubin

We reviewed “Adolescence” and gave it 4 stars.