Television in 2025 once again proved that the barrier to entry remains low, while the ceiling for disappointment somehow keeps getting higher. Based on critic scores compiled by Metacritic, these were the lowest-rated new TV shows to debut in the U.S. this year, a collection of series that managed to attract attention, big names, and streaming budgets while struggling to justify their existence.
At the very bottom of the list sits All’s Fair, officially crowned the worst new TV show of 2025. Created by Ryan Murphy, the series follows a group of wealthy Los Angeles divorce attorneys played by Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, and Kim Kardashian. Glenn Close and Sarah Paulson also appear, because nothing says restraint like stacking the cast with prestige talent and hoping no one notices the writing. Critics were unsparing, calling the show chaotic, shallow, and exhausting. Hulu, undeterred by the reviews, renewed it anyway, reinforcing the idea that attention, not approval, remains the real currency of modern television.
Just above it is Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the latest entry in Netflix’s true-crime franchise from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. Following controversial seasons centered on Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, this installment focused on Ed Gein and was widely criticized as tasteless, empty, and exploitative. Despite a strong cast led by Charlie Hunnam, reviewers found little insight and even less justification for revisiting real-world violence yet again.
The Hunting Party returned familiar procedural beats dressed up as novelty, following a task force tracking escaped killers from a secret prison. Critics described it as a generic mashup of better shows, though NBC still renewed it for a second season, proving consistency remains more valuable than creativity.
Reality TV and celebrity-driven programming fared no better. Simon Cowell: The Next Act attempted to revive the boy-band assembly line, but critics found it dated and self-indulgent. The Baldwins drew criticism for its awkward timing and hollow sincerity, while With Love, Meghan leaned heavily on celebrity appeal to offset thin content, earning poor reviews but enough viewers to secure a second season anyway.
Netflix also placed multiple scripted entries on the list. The Abandons promised prestige with Gillian Anderson and Lena Headey, only to collapse into a sluggish Deadwood imitation. Meanwhile, Celebrity Bear Hunt turned survival television into an endurance test for viewers, and Countdown fizzled out quickly enough to earn a quiet cancellation.
Rounding out the bottom tier is The Z-Suite, a generational workplace comedy that critics found underwritten and visually cheap, despite the presence of Lauren Graham.
Taken together, the worst TV shows of 2025 reflect an industry still chasing algorithms, celebrity, and volume over storytelling. Many of these series were not ignored; they were promoted, discussed, and in some cases renewed. Which may be the most depressing takeaway of all.
