The 2025 TV Holiday Binge Guide
Dear friends, colleagues, and couch-critics,
What a year it’s been – in the workplace and on our tv screens.
If you didn’t quite manage to watch every TV show recommended in my newsletter, don’t worry, no one’s getting a warning letter.
Back by popular demand, the Annual ‘After Work’ Almanac is here for your summer binge-watching pleasure.
The programs are sorted into bite-sized categories to suit your mood: whether you’re craving a thriller, medical drama, or guilty pleasure, all the shows listed here (apart from one) are so good you will forget to scroll on your phone.
So, kick off your shoes, mute the inbox, and dive into some well-earned screen time.
Wishing you a wonderful break – and even better viewing.
Cheers,
Jen
- Adolescence (Netflix)
- The Pitt (Foxtel/Binge)
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
- Celebrity Traitors UK (10 Play)
- The Diplomat (Netflix)
- The Gilded Age (Paramount+)
- Trigger Point (Stan)
- Ballad (Amazon Prime)
- The Hack (Stan)
- Smoke (Apple TV+)
- The Bear (Disney+)
- Department Q (Netflix)
- The Rainmaker (Stan)
- All’s Fair (Disney+)
SHOWS WE LOVE THAT RETURNED WITH NEW SEASONS IN 2025
Phil Collins was right. ‘You can’t hurry love’. Start from Season 1!
- Landman (Paramount+)
- The Diplomat (Netflix)
- The Gilded Age (Paramount+)
- Trigger Point (Stan)
- The Bear (Disney+)
- The White Lotus (Foxtel/Binge)
- Hacks (Stan)
- Emily In Paris (Netflix)
- America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (Netflix)
- Tour de France: Unchained (Netflix)
- Drive to Survive (Netflix)
- Restoration Australia (ABC iview)
- Selling the City (Netflix)
- Sullivan’s Crossing (Stan)
- Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
- Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
- Grey’s Anatomy (Disney+)
- Chicago Med (Prime/9Now/7plus)
- Chicago Fire (Various. Current season on 7plus)
- The Split (ABC iview)
- Various FBI (Paramount+)
North Shore: Compelling from the outset. The daughter of a British politician (Anna Bates from Downton Abbey) turns up dead in Sydney Harbour. A British detective (Samwell Tarly from Game of Thrones) works with local detectives to work out if it’s misadventure, murder or something far worse… a must watch. (Netflix).
Strife: The very fabulous Asher Keddie stars as an online publisher (loosely based on Mamamia). (Foxtel/Binge)
Landman: A breakout hit last year, and it’s finally back for Season 2. Created by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan, it swaps horses for high-stakes Texas oil. Think power plays, big money, and bigger egos. Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant. Joined by Demi Moore and a great ensemble cast. (Paramount+)
The Diplomat: Season 3 does not disappoint… and we’ve got a mini West Wing reunion! Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell are joined by CJ and Josh – yes, Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford. My political drama heart is full. Walk-and-talks for days. (Netflix)
Paradise: Dumb name for a show about a President and the secret service and… cannot tell you the rest, because that would amount to the biggest spoiler ever (and explain the dumb name of the show). Don’t Google it. Just watch. (Disney+)
The White Lotus: A lengthy tourism ad for Koh Samui – also known as The White Lotus season 3. (Anyone else secretly hoping that Tanya will make a surprise appearance? I know, I know…). (Foxtel/Binge)
Dying for Sex: After a long day, I usually want something light, so, a show about a woman with a terminal cancer diagnosis, exploring the full spectrum of her sexuality before dying… not exactly top of my list. But when Rotten Tomatoes gives a 98%, I watch. Michelle Williams shines. (Disney+)
Your Friends and Neighbours: This is the kind of name you give a show when you’ve spent all your budget on Jon Hamm and forgot to hire a copywriter. But hang in there… Hamm plays a divorced, washed-up, hedge fund manager who starts looting his inner circle to fund his family’s New York lifestyle. Won’t win any Emmys, but… Jon Hamm. (Apple TV+)
The Four Seasons: It’s kinda like a modern day The Big Chill. Tina Fey. Steve Carell. That’s all you need to know. (Netflix)
The Waterfront: Went to number 1 on Netflix, and why not? Who doesn’t love a drama about a failing North Carolina fishing empire that decides drug smuggling is the logical next step in their business plan? (Note: author does not recommend businesses pivot in real life from seafood to speed). (Netflix)
Untamed: Special Agent Eric Bana and his horse investigate a woman’s death in Yosemite. Loved it. Bring on season 2. (Netflix)
The Last Of The Showgirls: This won’t win any Oscars, but Pamela Anderson’s performance? Absolutely worth the watch. (Stan)
Adolescence: One of the many reasons why this is THE most extraordinary show of the year is that each of the four one-hour long episodes is shot in a single unbroken take. We’re immersed in real time into the story of a 13 year-old boy accused of murdering a female classmate. Compulsory viewing. (Netflix)
The Hack: One of the shows of the year. David Tennant plays a dogged Guardian journalist unravelling the News of the World phone hacking scandal. It’s gripping and infuriating. Essential viewing. (Stan)
Hostage: The newly elected British Prime Minister is having a particularly bad day. After her doctor husband is kidnapped by mercenaries in French Guiana, she asks the French President for help – but she’s having a particularly bad day too… (Netflix)
The Gilded Age: After an unacceptable delay, season 3 of has finally dropped. Think Bridgerton transplanted to NYC and starring Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon. The perfect combination of old money versus new money tension, impeccable costumes and architectural p#rn. Escapism viewing. (Paramount+)
War and Peace: I got my dose of this period drama via the 6 episode BBC TV adaptation. Must admit it made it easier that the Russians all had English accents. (Stan)
House of Guinness: Want a period drama about a beer empire? Then this is for you. (Netflix)
All Her Fault: I’d happily watch Sarah Snook read the phone book. So it was an absolute treat to watch her in this gripping thriller where she plays a mum who turns up to collect her son from a playdate… only to find he’s missing. Don’t be put off by the premise – it’s not bleak, it’s brilliant. Snook is phenomenal, and the tension never lets up. (Foxtel/Binge)
Trigger Point: Being a bomb disposer was never on my maybe career list, but Vicky McClure is magnetic as a bomb disposal officer with nerves of steel. Watch season 3 of this brilliant British drama between your fingers – with a stiff drink or a cup of herbal tea. (Stan)
Department Q: Fans of Dr House or Jackson Lamb from Slow Horses will love this. Edinburgh DCI Carl Morck is a wounded officer who is stuck running unwanted cold cases from the basement. He’s brilliant, damaged and spectacularly difficult to work with. (His colleagues really need my online course). (Netflix)
Smoke: A fabulous crime drama that slipped under the radar. Taron Egerton (Elton John in Rocketman) is an arson investigator who is under pressure to stop two serial arsonists. It’s tense, smart, and totally binge-worthy. Will he catch them? No spoilers here, but clear your weekend. (Apple TV+)
The Beast in Me: Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys star in this psychological thriller. Watch looking through your hands. This is edge of seat viewing (but in a good way). (Netflix)
Down Cemetery Road: Based on a novel by the author of Slow Horses and stars Emma Thompson. That should be all you need to hit play, but if you insist: there’s an explosion, a government cover-up, mysterious deaths… Oh, and did I mention Emma Thompson? (Apple TV+)
The Agency: Nothing says work-life balance like being a CIA agent torn between saving the world and rekindling an old flame. ‘Martian’ (not a typo) is dragged back to London Station only to run into his ex, forcing him to choose between duty and desire. Expect spies, secrets, and a lot of brooding stares into the middle distance. (Paramount+)
Malice: Jack Whitehall plays a disturbingly charming tutor who worms his way into the ultra-wealthy Tanner family – only to unravel them from the inside. David Duchovny stars as the brooding patriarch in this sleek psychological thriller where no one is quite who they seem. Highly bingeable rich people chaos. Warning: May cause you to lose trust in your child’s tutor. (Amazon Prime)
Reacher: Sometimes, after a long day, we just need to chill out and watch a ripped good guy do hard things. Cue Reacher. (Amazon Prime)
NCIS: Origins: A prequel to NCIS. It follows Mark Harmon’s character during his early career as a Navy cop. I didn’t finish it on my semi-long-haul flight, but made the effort to finish it when home, so it must be good. (Paramount+)
Ballad: Rotten Tomatoes agrees with me, giving this a score of 100%. Maggie Q plays a detective investigating a cold case. Bosch pops in for cameos. Sounds boring. It isn’t. One of the shows of the year. (Amazon Prime)
FBI (multiple franchises): I am not brave enough (or American enough) to be a member of the FBI, but I have always been fascinated by those who are. Sometimes, at the end of a long day, I just need to escape to the streets of NYC and watch baddies get caught on FBI. (Paramount+)
The Bear: Whilst season 3 was a little slow, our favourite fictional Chicago chef has got his groove back this season. The best ensemble cast on TV since Succession. (Disney+)
Last One Laughing UK: I was sceptical going in, expecting another limp comedy format, but as my neighbours can confirm, I laughed. Out loud. Hosted by Jimmy Carr, the show locks 10 of the UK’s sharpest comedians in a room where the only rule is – don’t laugh. It’s chaos. It’s clever. It’s champagne comedy. (Amazon Prime)
Hacks: Returned for season 4. Rotten Tomatoes gave it 100%. Enough said. (Stan).
The Studio: Seth Rogan plays a clueless executive who finds himself running a Hollywood film studio. What could possibly go wrong? (Apple TV+)
Celebrity Traitors UK: I really don’t have time in my busy work-and-viewing schedule for reality shows… unless they’re brilliant. Enter Celebrity Traitors UK. Stephen Fry and 18 other Brits play murder mystery in a divine Scottish castle – it’s gripping, addictive, and absolutely worth the hype. (10 Play)
America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Like everyone, I was Thunderstruck by season 2 of this show. These women have more athleticism and better hair than any quarterback. (No spoilers, but pay negotiations are a theme, so it’s actually educational). (Netflix)
The Pitt: The second best show of the year. It stars Noah Wyle (who started out as a medical student in the classic show ER in the 1990’s). He’s all grown up now, the boss of an ER in Pittsburgh and he won an Emmy for this role. (Foxtel/Binge)
Doc: A senior doctor suffers a traumatic brain injury and has to learn to practice again minus the past 8 years of her life. (7plus)
Pulse: My medical training continued in Miami. The emergency and surgical residents were busy saving lives in the middle of Hurricane Andrew and a sexual harassment scandal between the two lead stars – I mean, doctors. Have the reviews flatlined? Kinda. Did I still binge it like it was IV adrenaline? Absolutely. (Netflix)
Grey’s Anatomy: Season 148 has landed, and my medical training can resume. By Christmas, I should be able to complete a craniotomy and survive 14 love triangles. (Disney+)
Chicago Med: A quality show that’s never found a permanent home on Australian TV and so channel hopping is required to get through the 10 seasons that have dropped in Australia. (Amazon Prime/9Now/7plus)
Berlin ER: Just when you thought medical dramas had peaked, along comes a German one set in the country’s ‘sh#ttiest hospital’ – and somehow, it’s brilliant. This show delivers chaos and charm (and yes, it’s worth putting up with the dubbing and sub-titles). (Apple TV+)
911: Nashville: Part of the 911 series. Burning buildings, a singing firefighter, and a suspicious number of denim jackets. (Disney+)
Chicago Fire: THE best fire fighter show that’s never found a permanent home on Australian TV and so channel hopping is required. (Various. Current season on 7plus)
The Rainmaker: A new take on the Grisham novel. If you like shows about underdog lawyers and corporate greed this one’s for you. (Stan)
The Split: Season 3 is set in Barcelona. That means we get to watch the next instalment of one of the best shows of the past few years in a divine setting. Three episodes are not enough, but I will take any opportunity to watch Nicola Walker and the rest of the Defoes make family law look sexy. (ABC iview)
All’s Fair: Despite being created by Ryan Murphy (Glee) and starring award-winners Naomi Watts, Glenn Close and Sarah Paulson, the always-fabulous Niecy Nash, and… law graduate Kim Kardashian, this drama about a family law firm scored a mere 3% on Rotten Tomatoes. The script is cringe. The legal bits are laughable. But… the fashion? Impeccable. The private jets? Aspirational. The Kim K effect? Undeniable. It’s the ultimate hate-watch, and it’s already been renewed for another season. Go figure. (Disney+)
Selling the City: Real estate p#rn lovers, rejoice. We have 2 seasons of Ryan Serhant selling jaw-dropping New York penthouses with infinity pools, marble everything, and price tags that start at ‘don’t ask’. He’s still unbearably confident. Still name dropping. Still touring apartments no normal person could ever afford. And yet… I can’t look away. (Netflix)
Sullivan’s Crossing: Back for another season. Think Virgin River in a different picturesque setting. (Stan)
Nobody Wants This: Returned for season 2 and I’d like to formally disagree with the title. I wanted it. You probably do too. It’s awkward love, emotional chaos, top-tier cringe…and Adam Brody. (Netflix)
Thursday Murder Club: Now a movie starring every famous British actor still alive. Okay, not everyone, but you do get Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and a top-tier cast solving crimes from a retirement village that happens to be a fabulous old castle. What’s not to love? (Netflix)
Formula 1: Drive to Survive: Vroooommmm! Oh the joy (Warning: Watching this show leads to a subsequent compulsion to get up at ‘stupid o’clock’ on race weekends to watch practice, ‘quali’ and races). (Netflix)
Tour de France: Unchained: Final season of the best French travel show of the year (otherwise known as the Tour de France). It’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive with two less wheels and no engines. (Netflix)
Sydney 2000: The Best Ever: Hey sports fans, it’s 25 years since ‘the best Olympics ever’ and Channel 9 put together a 2 part doco – packed with goosebump-inducing flashbacks. Think: Cathy Freeman, Ian Thorpe, and ‘Eric the Eel’ Moussambani. Warning: side effects may include spontaneous national pride and watery eyes. (9Now)
Restoration Australia: I have no desire to own or renovate a historical home in a regional area. Despite this, I am obsessed by this show. They’re up to season 7. How did I not know this? And where do they find these patient people? Easy, end-of-day watching. (ABC iview)
Fit For Life: The Reality of the Biggest Loser: Want to know if all those folks on in the US kept the weight off and lived happily ever after? This 3-part doco answers this and then some. It’s eye-opening and eye-watering… strap yourself in for this ‘can’t turn your head away TV’. (Netflix)
Beckham: First there was the outstanding David Beckham doco. Now we have a 3-part docuseries featuring former Spice Girl and fashion boss Victoria Beckham. Couldn’t love this more. (Netflix)
Billy Joel: And So it Goes: Most music docos disappoint, but for this Gen X’er, this one did not. Loved it (and the fact that I still know the words to every song). (Max)
Mystify: In this 2019 film about Michael Hutchence there’s rare footage and memories shared by Michael’s family, lovers and friends. A tough but fascinating watch for those of us who grew up loving INXS and its charismatic frontman. (Netflix)
Aka Charlie Sheen: Explores Sheen’s wild rise, chaotic fall and emergence into sobriety. Even if you are not a fan it’s an interesting watch. (Netflix)
Emily In Paris: Yes, it’s back. I can already hear your eyeballs rolling, but hear me out. There is absolutely nothing annoying about a loud, 20-something American swanning around Paris in outfits no junior marketing exec could possibly afford, navigating work crises with zero experience, and somehow being adored by everyone she meets. Très realistic. Non. Is it high art? Non. Is it highly watchable with a glass of vino in hand? Oui! (Netflix)
Tour de France: Unchained: The final season of my favourite French travel show features a bunch of guys riding bikes. (Better them than me on all those hill climbs). Even if you watch this show for the scenery, as is the case with Formula 1: Drive to Survive, you’ll find yourself falling in love avec le sport. (Netflix).
Mont Saint Michel: Rising Again: For a change, I am recommending a geography doco. Anyone who has set foot on this wonder of the world, watch this. And if you haven’t, watch this. Still can’t fathom how they built this 1400 years before they invented computers. (SBS online)
The Woman in Cabin 10: An actual movie (I know, wild… ) This had mixed reviews – but it stars Keira Knightley, Guy Pearce, Hannah Waddingham and a superyacht so fancy it deserves its own agent. I escaped into it, and honestly, didn’t even look at my phone whilst watching. (Netflix)
Mountainhead: Steve Carell plays one of four tech bros who gather in the Rockies for poker night, only to watch the world burn thanks to deepfakes spreading on their own social media creation. Jesse Armstrong (Succession) wrote and directed this dark, twisted thriller. These digital dudes are so unlikeable you’ll want to throw them off the mountain, but you’ll hang in there because it’s pure car-crash tv. (Max)
Desperate Housewives: I’ve been taking a trip down memory lane (or should I say Wisteria Lane) with where the neighbourhood watch has something to actually watch. (Disney+)
