CWO Episode Description:

There was something for everyone on TV in 2025. Some shows shattered conventions, others re‑examined true crime classics as dramatic adaptations, and still others were returning favorites. But which TV shows and documentaries we reviewed truly stood out? We’ll hear from crime writers as they share their top ten picks for 2025.

Lara's picks for best TV of 2025

1. Adolescence
2. The Quilters
3. Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War
4. Unknown Number Catfishing scam-
5. Dept. Q
6. The Diplomat season 3
7. Only Murders in the Building season 5
8. Task
9. The Perfect Neighbor
10. The Hunting Wives

Toby's picks for the best TV of 2025

1. Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War
2. Adolescence
3. The Lowdown
4. The Diplomat season 3
5. White Lotus
6. The Perfect Neighbor
7. The Yogurt Shop Murders
8. Only Murders In the Building season 5
9. CHAOS – The Manson Murders
10. The Fox Hollow Murders

Kevin's picks for the best TV of 2025

1. Adolescence
2. The White Lotus season 3
3. Good American Family
4. Unknown Number: A High School Catfish
5. Task
6. Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War
7. The Fox Hollow Murders
8. Surviving Ohio State
9. The Perfect Neighbor
10. The Bunker

Rebecca's picks for the best TV of 2025

1. The Diplomat season 3
2. Adolescence
3. The White Lotus season 3
4. Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War
5. The Beast in Me
6. The Perfect Neighbor
7. Unknown Number
8. Quilters
9. Only Murders In the Building season 5
10. Murdaugh: Death in the Family

The Crime Writers On Best of 2025 true crime documentaries

1. Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War (Prime)
2. Unknown Number: A High School Catfish (Netflix)
3. The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)
4. The Quilters (Netflix)
5. The Fox Hollow Murders (ABC News Studios)
6. The Yogurt Shop Murders (HBO)
7. Surviving Ohio State (HBO)
8. CHAOS - The Manson Murders (Netflix)
9. The Bunker (Viaplay)
10. A Deadly American Marriage (Netflix)