In the overwhelming flood of new television released across dozens of streaming services in 2025, the biggest, most marketed titles often dominate the conversation. This leaves a treasure trove of exceptional, smaller shows languishing in the shadows, unseen by many viewers. For Australian audiences looking to maximise their subscription services this summer, here are eight hidden gem series that deserve a spot on your watchlist.
Comedy Gems: Sharp Wit and Family Chaos
The second season of Such Brave Girls continued to deliver its uniquely stinging and hilarious brand of comedy on Stan. Created by and starring Kat Sadler alongside her real-life sister Lizzie Davidson, the show follows two sisters and their mother as they lie, hustle, and manipulate their way through life. The magic lies in its ability to render objectively unlikeable characters deeply empathetic, wrapping barbed dialogue and appalling behaviour in a desperate, relatable need to survive.
Over on Disney+, the mobster comedy Deli Boys provided raucous, goofy fun. The series centres on two work-shy Philadelphia brothers who discover their father's chain of delis was a front for a criminal empire. With the FBI and rivals closing in, their sheer incompetence leads to a wildly entertaining mix of cocaine deals, power struggles, and unexpected resilience.
The clever but under-promoted second season of English Teacher (Disney+) used an Austin, Texas high school setting to explore contemporary issues like DEI, big tech, and privacy with good faith and sharp humour. Despite its cancellation, the season stood out for its intelligent take on 21st-century social mores.
Dramatic Delights: History, Crime, and Self-Discovery
Apple TV+ offered the zippy historical thriller Careme, which playfully reimagined Antonin Careme, the father of French haute cuisine, as a spy in post-revolutionary Paris. The series suggests the inventor of the vol-au-vent and croquembouche might have used his culinary creations for espionage and diplomatic seduction during the Napoleonic era, making for a deliciously fun premise.
For fans of cosy crime with a twist, the British series Ludwig on 7plus added fresh zing to the genre. David Mitchell stars as John Taylor, a professional puzzle maker who impersonates his missing police officer twin. Using his logical brain, he investigates the disappearance from inside the force while solving other Cambridge crimes.
From Canada, the remarkable series North of North (Netflix) offered a story rarely seen on screen. Set in the Arctic circle, it follows a young Inuk woman determined to take control of her life and put herself first, moving beyond being an appendage to others. Its cultural specificity and humour created a truly unique and winning combination.
Innovative Storytelling: Animation, Sci-Fi, and the Absurd
Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creator of BoJack Horseman, returned with the adult animation Long Story Short on Netflix. The series checks in on the multi-generational, American Jewish Schwooper family at various points in their lives as they wrestle with faith, family, and self-identity. With a voice cast including Ben Feldman and Abbi Jacobson, it's lived-in, real, and dryly funny.
In a surprising turn for sentient robot stories, Apple TV's Murderbot, starring Alexander Skarsgård, subverted expectations. This droll, quirky series follows a security unit that gains consciousness, names itself Murderbot, and primarily wants to be left alone to watch space soap operas. It's a thoughtful exploration of programmed limits and the unexpected yearning for connection.
Finally, for those with a taste for the bizarre, HBO Max's The Chair Company from Saturday Night Live alumnus Tim Robinson delivered chaotic brilliance. It follows a middle-manager who becomes convinced of a vast conspiracy after his chair collapses during a presentation—a suspicion that proves hilariously correct.
With the summer holidays in full swing, these eight series represent the best of television's overlooked offerings from 2025. They prove that beyond the algorithm-driven recommendations and blockbuster marketing campaigns, true quality and innovation are still waiting to be discovered by Australian viewers.
