Alright, you know the deal with ‘The Curator Post’ – I try to branch out from just music (tough for a music lover like me!). So, here are my unfiltered thoughts on the TV shows that have kept me glued to the screen this year.
Fair warning: 🚨Spoilers ahead! 🚨 If you haven’t caught up and want to experience the episodes yourself, maybe bookmark this for later!
#1 Severance – Season 2 – Apple TV:
If I liked the first season, the second one hit the ground running (although some episodes were pretty slow; more fast-paced towards the end). We got to see a lot more of the world outside Lumon this time, which meant way more action and drama than before. The first season felt like the perfect setup, showing us the ropes of this strange world, but season two really pulled back the curtain, answering a lot of the questions we had hanging from the first season. We met some interesting new characters, and we got a much deeper dive into the backgrounds and motivations of everyone, finally understanding why they chose to be severed and work at Lumon. We had several plot twists – Helly’s being her outie, Ms. Cobel’s unexpected help for Mark, Gemma’s release. And let’s not forget Mr. Milcheck! We still had enough reasons to hate him, but he also served us some heroic moments (“devour feculence” was one of my favorites). Plus, we got another one of those iconic dance moments 🕺🏿. And his nickname, Mr. Milkshake? Hilarious (and delicious, if I may).
All the symbolism was spot-on. Working in a corporate environment myself, so much of it felt eerily familiar: the ridiculous things companies make for their employees (it honestly feels like a parallel universe sometimes), the dreaded annual performance reviews with feedback on the most absurd things, the micromanaging and attempts to rule through fear, the isolation between different departments, and just how soul-crushing a job can be, or your personal life, or both. But it also highlighted the power of teamwork in fighting for what’s right.
The fact that the finale was longer than 1 hour? That’s exactly what you want from a show you’re invested in – a movie-like experience to wrap things up! And speaking of the finale, amidst all the action, the conversation between Mark’s outie and innie was so relatable. That feeling of having to choose between different parts of your life, even if one part is a job you might not love, but it’s still a life you’ve built and it has its own value. And Mark S.? He ended the season with a decision that totally caught us all off guard 😳. Season 3 can’t come soon enough!
#2 Scars of Beauty – Limited Series – Max:
I stumbled upon ‘Scars of Beauty’ on Max when they had just dropped the first 10 episodes. I saw some buzz about it on social media, and since I was visiting family in Sao Paulo in February, I decided to check it out – and I was immediately hooked (and got my mom and my sister hooked as well). This Brazilian telenovela has it all 🇧🇷🔥: stunning shots of Rio’s landscapes, a gorgeous and talented cast, steamy scenes, and enough drama and plot twists to keep you on the edge of your seat. This show is the perfect example to show anyone unfamiliar with Brazilian soap operas what they’re missing. It captures the drama that Brazilians love so well. It’s intentionally over-the-top, with simple, relatable stories mixed with the kind of absurd, unbelievable things that make fiction so entertaining. Regardless of whether you’re Brazilian, you know Max has a reputation for amazing series, and ‘Beleza Fatal’ (the original title) definitely lives up to that.
The ending saw Lola, the ultimate villain, finally face the consequences of her actions. But Sofia’s quest for revenge also cost her dearly; in a way, she paid her own price for the harm she inflicted on others during her journey. It’s actually a bit disturbing to think that without her personal vendetta, many of these criminals would have gotten away with their crimes, which sadly reflects reality sometimes. “Are you happy?” 🥲 That final line from the show really hit hard. Seeing the two main characters, who we both loved and hated, end up alone, unhappy, and filled with guilt, without the things they truly desired, was a powerful and sad conclusion. While the Portuguese title literally translates to ‘Deadly Beauty’ (Beleza Fatal), ‘Scars of Beauty’ captures the essence perfectly. I wouldn’t be surprised if this show gets some serious recognition – maybe even an Emmy nomination for Brazil 🏆? Just saying…
#3 Common Side Effects – Season 1 – Max:
I found this gem on Max. It’s an adult animated show that offers something completely different from the usual adult animation fare. It’s smart, with a narrative that really pulls you in. The characters are well-developed, with backstories that add depth to the story, making you either root for them or despise them (or sometimes both!). The animation style is really beautiful and incredibly realistic. The characters’ facial expressions and body language feel so genuine. I’m not entirely sure (and haven’t looked it up), but I have a feeling it was created using ‘rotoscoping,’ where they film real actors and then animate over those frames. The animation style immediately reminded me of another show I loved, ‘Scavengers Reign,’ and then it clicked – both were created by Joseph Bennett, which made perfect sense.
The show tackles the very relevant and serious issue of big pharmaceutical companies profiting off the sick 💊🤒. It’s a discussion that’s super important and definitely necessary. While the main storyline wrapped up, the very end gave us a little hint that there might be another season in the works. You know I’ll be tuning in for the first episode of the next season as soon as it drops! 👀
#4 Love on Spectrum US – Season 3 – Netflix:
Okay, this might not be the most mainstream pop culture content, but it’s incredibly educational and surprisingly entertaining! If I had to describe it in just a few words, I’d say it’s ‘overwhelmingly heartwarming.’ 🥰 It’s honestly a great escape from all the craziness we’re living through. This new season is the most exciting one yet. The cast is a fantastic mix of familiar faces, who we’ve come to know and love from previous seasons, and some new love seekers. There are more connections being made, more first kisses, and even a heartbreaking breakup 💔. And the editing? It’s so well done that it keeps you completely immersed throughout the entire season. It’s the kind of show that’s impossible to stop watching – perfect for a weekend binge.
The show really challenges some of the common misconceptions people have about autism. Overall, it beautifully illustrates that people who are different can have the same desires and dreams as anyone else, like finding love and building a family. But while we’re all human, the show highlights how those on the spectrum often experience life and relationships in a truly special way – it’s a beautiful reminder that love should be kind and patient.
A special shoutout to the families, especially the moms 💖. You can clearly see the immense love and effort they put into raising their kids, and how much joy they find in their children’s achievements. It’s truly contagious and incredibly touching. One of the highlights for me was when Abby sang a song she wrote for David, I cried my eyes out! ‘Love on Spectrum’ is the kind of show I could watch forever, and I’m already eagerly anticipating more seasons – I’m hoping for at least 20 more…
#5 The White Lotus – Season 3 – Max:
This season started off a bit slow, and at first, some of the side stories didn’t feel entirely necessary, but it definitely picked up. Once the main plot points started to unfold, everything clicked. The show continues its sharp criticism of wealthy individuals and their often questionable behavior, choices, and priorities in life 🤑. As always, it didn’t shy away from controversial topics, including suicide, incest, cheating, political views, and corruption. I think some of the key takeaways and final messages were: One, the importance of prioritizing loved ones, including family and friends, over money and over the imperfections we all have as humans; And two, the destructive nature of seeking revenge, as the person seeking it often ends up being the most damaged.
My personal ranking of the seasons now is: Season 2 (Italy), Season 3 (Thailand), and Season 1 (Hawaii). And as a proud Brazilian, I’m still holding out hope that the creator will choose Brazil as the next location – that would be hot! 🔥(Read with Paris Hilton’s voice).
#6 The Handmaid’s Tale – Season 6; Season Finale – Hulu:
Finally, the last season is here. It feels like we’ve been waiting forever (the previous season aired way back in 2022, almost three years ago, and the show started in 2017 – that’s 8 years!). We all love this show, but let’s be honest, it was probably time to wrap things up. I won’t lie, there are some choices they made in this final season that I’m not completely on board with 🤔 (and I blame the previous seasons for being so incredibly good, setting the bar super high for the entire story), but of course, I’m still dying to know what happens, not just with June and her family, but with all the other characters and Gilead as a whole. At this point, anything feels possible, especially after that ending of the last released episode outside of Jezebel’s – what exactly is Joseph capable of after closing that trunk? Anyways, we shall see…
One very welcome surprise this season is the return of Holly (June’s mom). Now that we know baby Nicole is safe, it makes me wonder if the writers might be setting things up for a major character death ⚰️ – maybe even June herself, something that could have happened multiple times throughout the show. It’s chilling to think that when Margaret Atwood wrote the book 40 years ago, it might have seemed like pure fiction 🎞️. But considering everything that’s happening in the world today, including women losing rights over their own bodies, the use of religion to justify violence, etc, it feels disturbingly close to reality. The series finale (EP10) will release on May 27 – praise be! 🙏
#7 The Last of Us – Season 2 – Max:
Well, can we all just agree that after what happened at the end of episode 2, it feels like the series is over? 😭 Despite that tragic moment that I still don’t really want to talk about, the new season started a little slow for me (although I LOVED the scene with Catherine O’Hara). The first episode felt like it was mainly there to remind us of the story and the dynamics between the characters. The second episode, though? Pure action! It totally reminded me of ‘Game of Thrones,’ specifically ‘The Long Night’ episode (S8-EP3), with that intense battle against the Army of the Dead 🧟♂️. Those scenes had me completely frozen on the couch. By the time this post goes live, episode 3 will already be out, and I honestly have no idea what to expect. While I’m definitely sad that we won’t be seeing our favorite zaddy Pedro Pascal as much, I’m still curious to see how humanity manages to survive this new mushroom strain 🍄.
It’s clear that 2025 has already delivered a diverse range of high-quality television, offering something for every taste. Now, I’d love to hear from you! What has been your absolute favorite television show of 2025 so far? Leave a comment below and let me know what you’ve been enjoying the most!
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