Best TV Scenes of 2025: We Can’t Stop Watching These Over & Over

We can’t talk about 2025’s best entertainment without talking about the best TV scenes of 2025 — the ones that are so good, we can’t stop watching them over and over again. Some of them come from long-running favorites, while others come from some of the best new shows we’ve seen in a long time. And while it’s hard for us to stop watching (and rewatching) our favorite scenes, that doesn’t mean they can’t be difficult to watch in the first place either. After all, sometimes the best moments are the ones that make us feel the most…and not all feelings are happy ones.

Hen and Athena have a drink, 9-1-1

Sometimes, in the middle of the most WTF storylines ever, magic happens. Case in point: Athena and Hen, throwing back shots just before going into space in 9-1-1 Season 9 Episode 2. Yes, space. Because the series that had to kill off Bobby Nash for alleged realism, or believable stakes, or whatever…sent a cop and a paramedic to space, and they even (thankfully!) survived what should’ve been certain death. As ridiculous as that all is, we still can’t recommend this scene enough. If you stopped watching the series after the aforementioned death, maybe you might want to make an exception for this hilarious, bittersweet, genuine moment between friends.

There’s something about Hen that has always made her a favorite for me, personally, and her friendship with Athena has got to be one of the most beautiful aspects of this series. So, any time these characters get some time to just be that — just two friends, not heroes, not someone’s wife, or mother, or anything else — I wind up loving it. This scene is extra special, though, because it’s such a great reminder of what this series can be as its best after a number of creative decisions that made it seem like someone, somewhere forgot why people love it.

Athena’s still grieving. She hasn’t been herself at all, has been avoiding her people, and hasn’t been able to escape that spiral of hurt. But with a friend like Hen, away from all the places and things that remind her of Bobby, she actually finds the ability to smile, and laugh, and enjoy herself again. The sadness is still there, obviously. And the gallows humor about Athena’s “terrible track record when it comes to all forms of non-land-based transportation” goes from fun to “here’s to dying tomorrow” in the space of a breath. But it’s still progress, still moving forward and feeling something other than constant hurt mixed with a protective sort of numbness. Sometimes, you just need a friend to pull you out of it. And there is no friend better than Hen.

MORE: Bobby’s death isn’t the only one we’re never getting over. Here are the other TV deaths that made the list.

Elliot tells Olivia he loves her, Law & Order: SVU

2025 brought both extreme highs and extreme lows for Law & Order: SVU, but a completely unexpected highlight came in the Season 27 premiere. Not only did we need to watch this scene over and over again just to prove it was real, it was also very, very good. Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni, folks. What else is there to say? (EO in 2026, please.)

Yes, this will also be on our Best TV of 2025 list for shipper moments. And no, we’re not going to shut up about (or stop watching) it.

MORE: In a shipping mood? Here are some of our favorite TV kisses of 2025.

Another love confession: Belly and Conrad, The Summer I Turned Pretty

The series finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty had us feeling like we were watching a romcom between Belly and Conrad. However, there was one scene that we’ve rewatched over and over that makes our list of the best TV scenes of 2025.

Belly’s love confession to Conrad after running and finding him on the train to Brussels had us gasping for air. It was romantic, swoon worthy, and everything we could’ve wanted. After a season’s worth of pining for the girl he thought he lost forever, Conrad needed to be chosen by Belly. On the same hand, Belly needed to overcome her fear of ruining their second chance as adults. They weren’t grieving stubborn teenagers anymore, as they both took time to grow from bad habits and heal. And this was their chance to make things right.

Our hearts stopped when Belly found him on the train and told him she loved him back. Because this was their leap of faith back to each other. Belly cried when confessing that she was choosing Conrad of her own free will. If infinitely many worlds existed, she’d choose him in every single one. Overall, this was the first time we’ve heard them say “I love you” to each other, and we were so happy to see them reunited.
– Jennifer

MORE: In the mood for love? These were the best movie kisses of 2025.

Jordan Chiles’ Freestyle, Dancing with the Stars Season 34 finale

When it comes to a reality TV competition like Dancing with the Stars, it’s not really about best TV scenes, so much as best performances from the contestants (and their pros!). But that doesn’t mean we’re going to leave this absolute fire out of the scenes/moments/clips we can’t stop watching from this year. Gymnastics doesn’t deserve someone who’s both as excellent of an athlete and a true, supportive teammate as Jordan Chiles. To be honest, for much of Season 34, DWTS‘ judges —who frequently underscored Chiles’ performances, relative to how they assessed other contestants’ — didn’t deserve her either.

As a lover of both dance and gymnastics, I knew Jordan was going to tear up that ballroom. And she did. Some weeks, though, there was a difference between That Girl, who nails her choreography week after week at UCLA, and the slightly nervous vibe on DWTS. But I also knew, if she made it to the finale (as she deserved!), she’d give us something special during the Freestyle round. Well. Jordan both met and exceeded expectations.

I’m obsessed. We should all be obsessed. Someone hire Chiles to star in their music videos (yes, plural). STAT.

MORE: See why Dancing with the Stars Season 34 made our list of TV’s biggest disappointments of 2025 — and no, it wasn’t because of the stars’ performances.

The Pitt gave us many of the best TV scenes of 2025

It’s impossible to talk about the best TV of 2025 without including The Pitt. While it would be nice to cheat and just pick “the entire series” as the scene we can’t stop watching, that might be bending the rules of this list a little bit too much. Instead, we’ll go with the Whitaker/Robby scene in Episode 14. At this point, Robby has completely broken down — the height of Noah Wyle’s phenomenal performance in this series — and is just…a whimpering shell, clutching his Star of David chain and struggling through the Shema. When student doctor Whitaker finds him, he doesn’t judge, quietly sits with him, and then reminds him how much everyone needs him.

Sometimes, once you’ve watched a scene enough times, it stops affecting you. With this one, though, the opposite happens. There’s always some new detail to notice from Wyle or from costar Gerran Howell — whose Whitaker truly grows from the butt of this season’s many, um, messy jokes to an undefinable part of its heart and soul — that manages to break and/or mend the soul. And there’s always something extra to take away from what happens in that room, from the student helping the teacher, to the human connection in the middle of the horrors, to witnessing the strength it takes to get back up when you’re sure you never can again, so much more.

If just thinking about this one happens to make you sob uncontrollably, well. You’re not alone.

MORE: One of many other best TV scenes of 2025, courtesy of The Pitt: Robby just barely making it into that peds room and getting everyone out before breaking.

Mon Mothma’s Speech in the Senate, Andor Season 2 Episode 9

If you want the TV scene this year that commented most directly and profoundly on our current political situation in America, look no further than the galaxy far, far away. Andor was a brilliant series from beginning to end. The second (and final) season, which aired this spring on Disney Plus, had a special urgency, though. The scene where Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) delivers a speech condemning Emperor Palpatine is thrilling in many ways. It is timely, excellently performed, and perfectly edited.

The confrontation of fascism is important enough, but the scene goes further than that. While Mon is calling the Emperor’s genocide on Ghorman exactly that, the Imperial officers are trying to stop the broadcast so no one will hear her words. Control of the media has rarely been so potently dramatized. “The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil,” Mon says. In fact, her entire plea to the Senate is full of stunning eloquence. Listen to it, and you’ll be roused to action. Welcome to the Rebellion.
– Rachel

MORE: See what we thought of the first three episodes of Andor Season 2.

Carol watches a recording of herself, Pluribus Season 1

Oh, Pluribus. Much like The Pitt, this new series didn’t only bring us some of the best TV scenes of 2025 — it’s some of the best TV, period. We also have the same dilemma we had with The Pitt because, seriously, just about any scene could’ve made our list. Then, there’s the fact that Season 1 isn’t finished releasing as of our publication date, so every time we watch an episode, it’s like “oh, but maybe that scene instead!”

I decided to go with the scene in Episode 4 where Carol (Rhea Seehorn) watches a recording of herself for a couple of reasons: First, and foremost, there’s what Seehorn does as both the Carol on her screen and the one on ours. There’s a fascinating study in contrasts here. We have the drugged Carol, clearly already affected, claiming the stuff she shot up with didn’t work while her now-sober counterpart watches on, baffled. And there’s the wildly over-the-top sobbing, versus the understated but just as strong grief in her eyes as she watches herself let go. Every single detail, from the accent as Carol dramatically reads her own book to her mockery of Zosia, is brilliant. And there are so, so many little details to take in, we could probably never stop watching this scene and still never catch them all.

Seriously, High!Carol could have a whole, hilarious spinoff, and we’d be seated…but we also just love the actual Carol we spend most of our time with on Pluribus.

The other reason this scene made our best TV scenes of 2025 list is because of what it leads Carol to do, and what a pivotal role that choice has on how the Others relate to her (at least in/as of Episode 5). But let’s just not spoil that, just in case you haven’t watched yet. “No way. Nobody sane is that happy. I call bullsh** on that,” Carol says at one point while she rants about Zosia. We’d tend to agree…except maybe, just maybe, while we’re watching this show.

MORE: Pluribus isn’t the only great sci-fi series on Apple TV in 2025 — Foundation Season 3 was also incredible.

The return of Dr. Spencer Reid, Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18

Sure, we bawled our eyes out for pretty much the entirety of Criminal Minds: Evolution Season 18 Episode 3 and all, but the much-anticipated return of Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid made that episode so much better. Let’s be clear, though: This episode would’ve still been amazing even without him because the whole cast, A.J. Cook especially, just dug deep with their performances. Still, we’ve missed Reid. He’s just too important to the BAU to never see him again, and really, the only slight issue with his appearance at Will’s funeral was that it wasn’t as big of a surprise as we wish it could’ve been.

Reid showing up when it counted most gave us this sense of a family coming back together. (We do, after all, always seem to visit loved ones we haven’t seen in forever for two things: weddings and funerals.) From the group hug with JJ and her boys, to the shared hugs after the service with everyone else who’s missed him — plus some introductions to newer faces — Spence’s presence heals a little bit of something in us. Oddly enough, it also makes all the ugly crying that much more intense. That’s why even Will’s funeral is one of the best TV scenes of 2025 or, at the very least, a scene we can’t quit watching over and over.

MORE: Check out some of the other highs and lows for the BAU with our full Criminal Minds: Evolution coverage.

Bell stops pretending her detectives are fooling her, Law & Order: Organized Crime

Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 might not have given us enough Bell (never enough, ever), but she still managed to be right at the center of one of the best TV scenes of 2025. After his little brother Joey’s death in this season’s penultimate episode, Stabler goes down a less-than-ethical path in his quest for vengeance. Along the way, he’s in regular touch with Detective Reyes, and both Reyes and Vargas help him out without letting the boss know. Or, so they think. Unlike her detectives, Ayanna Bell is no fool.

In the middle of such an intense episode, getting that comic relief of the boss telling Vargas not to bother coming up with “some bullsh— cover” because she knew what he was up to, then turning on Reyes and letting him know how she felt about him too, was exactly what we needed. And boy, did Danielle Moné Truitt deliver. So, while there are certainly plenty of scenes we could choose from, the combination of finally getting some Bell and taking a break from that suspense put this one over the top to make our list.

MORE: That super suspenseful scene with Bell, Stabler, and Emery from the Organized Crime finale was also top tier.

Deborah Vance’s last monologue, Hacks Season 4

Deborah and Ava’s relationship has been, uh, rocky. Yeah, we’ll call it that — rocky. Sure, sure. But they always manage to find a way to get close again, and Hacks Season 4, which started off with them at each other’s throats so much, they basically weren’t allowed near each other without adult supervision for a while there, was no different. In fact, Season 9 sees Deborah giving up her finally-realized dream hosting her own late night show because she refuses to fire someone she loves. But she doesn’t just walk away — she gives one last raw, honest monologue on her way out the door. (Or, well, off the set.)

It’s a beautifully written scene, where Jean Smart gets to shine in the way that only Jean Smart can. But on top of Smart’s performance, and in addition to what all of this means for Ava and Deborah’s relationship, what well and truly makes that monologue one of the best TV scenes of 2025 is the importance of what she has to say.

“I refuse to fire her. And not just because she’s my creative partner — but because…it’s a slippery slope. A few days ago, I agreed to cut a joke I made to protect Ethan Summers and the studio’s interests. And now I’m being asked to fire someone I love, who did nothing wrong. So, what will they ask of me next? Where’s the line? For me, it’s here. Right now. Which is why tonight will be my last show…

…I’m not naive. In this industry, you always have to make certain sacrifices. Because this is a business — and I get that. And there’s good people on the business side, who are trying to navigate the difficult intersection of art and commerce. But thanks to Wall Street and Big Tech disrupting our industry, it’s gone too far. It’s not enough to be Number One anymore or to make a profit. Or to even make you laugh. I might be a capitalist pig myself, but first and foremost, I’m a comedian. And I care more about making this show the right way than I do about making shareholders happy.”

She finishes it with a little bit of a joke about finishing early after that. Because, well, as much as Hacks can make you ugly cry, it is still a comedy…but nothing can dilute her message to her audience and the Hacks writers’ message to us. Where’s your line? We should all really be wondering, especially lately. And if this particular plot happened to be a sign of things to come in real-life late night, first with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‘s cancellation and then with Jimmy Kimmel Live! being temporarily pulled off the air. Well. That wasn’t a coincidence — it was the Hacks writers reading the room.

MORE: Another fictional late night show went dark in 2025…because of a murder.

Matty promises Olympia their friendship was real, Matlock Season 1 Episode 17

If you’re not watching Matlock…why? The dynamic between Kathy Bates’ Matty and Skye P. Marshall’s Olympia is among the best on TV, and a twist a little more than halfway through Season 1 cracked that wide open. Immediately after learning that her new friend wasn’t who she thought she was, Olympia was…less than willing to hear her out. Understandably so. But one of the best TV scenes of 2025 shows that the cracks can, and will, mend.

As Olympia struggles against her own doubts and the wall she put up to try to avoid falling for more lies, an honest, raw, Matty shares how she based her persona on her sister, what happened to her daughter, and why she came to the firm. “But I never expected to find you,” she says, “what you’ve done for me, how you changed my life — that was real. I came here expecting to be invisible. People don’t see old women. And you saw me. If I could erase how I’ve hurt you, start over with a clean slate…” and then, the moment gets interrupted because the “clean slate” phrase gives Olympia an idea about their case. Because even at the lowest point in their friendship, they still manage to help each other be better.

Somehow, through all that emotion, when Matty talks about old women being invisible, she actually looks older. It’s as if every second of every year she’s lived, and all the heartache with her daughter, and all the hard work and stress of living a double life, has finally caught up to her. And she is exhausted from bearing it all, frail and fragile in a way that society automatically assumes people become past a certain age. It is such a sharp contrast from the character the series had developed up until that point. And it is so, so fascinating witnessing not only that difference but the many, many times Olympia starts to feel something for the other woman again but keeps forcing herself not to, wrapping it back up, stuffing it back down.

To quote Marisa Roffman of Give Me My Remote: “What an absolute acting, writing, and directing masterpiece.” And I’m pretty sure that was about not just the scene itself but, really, the entirety of the episode. (Eh, most of Matlock, really.)

MORE: We shared more thoughts about Matlock Season 1, Episode 17 in our review.

Mia Jordan quits, The Morning Show

The Morning Show Season 4 could easily make multiple “best” and “worst” lists, but Karen Pittman’s performance in Episode 3 was undeniable. Mia Jordan didn’t dare to dream, but Stella Bak promised her a job as Head of News. So, she waited, and waited, and waited for her shot. When the time finally came, she absolutely nailed her interview for the promotion, delivering a speech about the current state of journalism in a scene that also deserves to be on our list. But, thanks to all the mess going on behind the scenes, Mia was told to sit and wait some more. So a man could flame out — and then it might be her turn.

Well. When Mia learns she’s not getting the job, she finally lets herself release years of bottled-up emotion, resulting in the the type of scene we needed to watch dozens of times to catch every righteous, beautiful, heartbreaking detail. Even then, after all those rewatches, we didn’t have the words to put together to describe how good it was, or what happened, or all the systemic reasons why. And we still don’t now. But wow, was it a thing of glory — and easily one of the best TV scenes of 2025.

MORE: Betraying Mia didn’t even save Stella for very long, and her own AI is what did her in.

Shane and Ilya share a quiet moment in Heated Rivalry

There were a lot of moments we could choose from Heated Rivalry. And not all of them even include Shane and Ilya, because Scott and Kip also had their moments. But this particular one, it feels like we’re finally seeing these two characters stop pretending they are doing more than just having a good time together. Sex has been the basis of their relationship for the first episode and some change, but in Episode 2, for Shane and Ilya, something shifts.

We knew it before. We saw it from Episode 1. They might have even felt it. But they weren’t ready to own it. And they’re not in Episode 2, either. But at least they allow themselves to care for each other a little out loud, even if they try to pretend it’s something resembling friendship.

And it’s not at all one-sided. This thing they have has never been that. Shane and Ilya just have very different ways of exteriorizing how they feel. That’ll come into play later. For now, we can enjoy this scene that makes it clear that this is an epic love story. And we should be glad we get to see it play out on our screens.
– Lizzie

What did we miss? Share your picks for best TV scenes of 2025 in the comments!