Top 10 Biggest TV Bombs of 2025

#10: “The Wheel of Time” (2021-25)

Season 3

Not every show on this list is bad. Some might even say that “The Wheel of Time” was among the best modern shows that not enough people watched. That said, this adaptation of Robert Jordan’s books needed a much larger following to justify its lofty production costs. When it premiered in 2021, there were high hopes that it could be another “Game of Thrones.” By that point, though, “Game of Thrones” had been over for two years, and people were over it. Amazon nonetheless spun the wheel for three seasons, which cost around $80-$120 million each. While the show gained a loyal fan base, it never became a cultural phenomenon. Its time ran out this year, with Amazon canceling the fantasy series.

#9: “Ironheart” (2025)

It’s hard to get a read on the reception toward this MCU miniseries. Critic reviews were more positive than negative, but its audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is among the franchise’s lowest. Of course, this can likely be attributed to review bombing. While “Ironheart” might be better than the trolls will have you think, viewership hasn’t exactly reached new heights. After its first three episodes dropped, TV Time reported “Ironheart” was the third-most-streamed show of that week. Following its finale, JustWatch announced that it was that week’s fifth-most-streamed show. Although the numbers could be worse, the fact that a Marvel show couldn’t skyrocket to the top is yet another sign of how the mighty have fallen. Despite its cliffhanger ending, a second season seems doubtful.

#8: “The Recruit” (2022-25)

Season 2

When “The Recruit” arrived on Netflix in late 2022, it accumulated over 26 million views during its first three weeks. There was little doubt that the espionage drama would get a second season, which landed in early 2025. Over its initial three weeks, Season 2 only gained around 15 million views. Not long after, Netflix cancelled the series, although this wasn’t necessarily due to a dip in quality. Outlets like Deadline argued that Netflix made a mistake bringing back “The Recruit” only a couple of weeks before releasing the second season of “The Night Agent,” which has a similar spy theme. It could also be that after more than two years, audiences forgot about “The Recruit,” and Netflix didn’t put much effort into reminding them.

#7: “Clean Slate” (2025)

Laverne Cox and George Wallace co-created a sitcom that they also starred in? And it was one of the last projects produced by the late, great Norman Lear? How come this is the first we’re even hearing about it? The fact that we’re asking these questions might explain why “Clean Slate” was cancelled after one season, despite strong reviews. Perhaps not enough people knew of the show’s existence, and therefore didn’t watch it. There could also be more devious reasons for this. With the series centering on a trans woman, some have theorized that Amazon pulled the plug for political purposes. In any case, it felt like the slate was wiped clean before the show was given a real chance.

#6: “Étoile” (2025)

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino delivered one of Amazon’s flagship shows with “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” It’s not surprising that Amazon leapt at the opportunity to distribute their next series. Before even debuting, “Étoile” received a two-season order. The series revolved around two ballet companies from across the pond that trade talent to reverse their fortunes. With “Mrs. Maisel” alumni like Luke Kirby at the forefront, “Étoile” seemed destined to land on its feet. Although reviews sang the Palladinos praises, the series didn’t spend much time in Prime Video’s Top 10. With the show costing a pretty penny, Amazon reneged on the two-season pickup, giving “Étoile” the vaudeville hook after one. Now might be a good time to make a new season of “Gilmore Girls.”

#5: “Pulse” (2025)

In a golden age of television, medical dramas were starting to seem like relics of a bygone era. With “The Pitt” becoming a smash hit for HBO, though, people found that there was still value to this genre. Around the same time “The Pitt” wrapped up its first season, Netflix released its first English-language medical procedural. “Pulse” was no “The Pitt,” however. Reviews were middling at best, with critics feeling that the characters and certain storylines lacked… well, a pulse. Its viewership also showed low vital signs, falling out of the Nielsen streaming charts after just two weeks. Three months after its debut, Netflix officially called the time of death. Even if it hadn’t been overshadowed by “The Pitt,” “Pulse” likely would’ve been DOA.

#4: “The Residence” (2025)

“The Residence” should’ve been a certified success for Netflix. It was produced through Shondaland, a company known for churning out hit after hit. Emmy winner Uzo Aduba led an ensemble cast that included Giancarlo Esposito. With a murder mystery at its core and enthusiastic reviews, “The Residence” had everything it needed to ensure a second season. Everything except an audience. Upon debuting, viewership was below what some industry experts anticipated. Netflix subscribers were more drawn to “Adolescence,” which premiered a week earlier. People seemed to catch up with “The Residence” over time. At one point, it topped Nielsen’s overall chart for streaming shows in the U.S. Apparently, this was still too little, too late. Netflix cancelled the expensive whodunit a couple of months later.

#3: “And Just Like That…” (2021-25)Season 3

Being a follow-up to “Sex and the City,” “And Just Like That…” already had an audience that was guaranteed to watch… for the first season, at least. Rather than appeal to its built-in fan base, “And Just Like That…” targeted demographics that it clearly doesn’t understand. In an attempt to appear more progressive, the characters we used to love ironically came off as uncomfortably behind the times and out of touch with reality. It took another season for the poor reception to drastically impact the ratings, which fell nearly 60%. Viewership for Season 3 sunk even lower — making HBO Max’s announcement that it would be the revival’s last a foregone conclusion.

#2: “Suits LA” (2025)

A USA Network staple for nine seasons, “Suits” didn’t become a zeitgeist show until it came to Netflix in 2023. By then, “Suits” had been off the air for four years. With a renewed interest in the brand, NBCUniversal naturally prioritized a spinoff. Airing on NBC, “Suits LA” moved the legal action to the other coast. The show didn’t bring many familiar faces with it, at least not among the main cast. While Harvey Specter and a few others popped up in guest spots, the new characters led by Stephen Amell’s Ted Black just didn’t click with audiences. With ratings underwhelming and network executives seeing little growth potential, “Suits LA” lasted one season, proving that the clothes don’t make the show. It’s who wears them.

#1: “All’s Fair” (2025)

Few TV launches in 2025 arrived with more noise — or collapsed more quickly — than “All’s Fair.” Marketed as Ryan Murphy’s latest glossy prestige swing and fronted by Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, and Glenn Close, the legal drama premiered on Hulu in early November with every expectation of becoming a tentpole hit. But once the initial curiosity wore off, the bottom fell out. Critics were brutal, calling the show flat, inert, and shockingly underwritten given its star wattage. Within days, it became clear its premiere spike — a reported 3 million viewers within just a few days — was less a sign of strength than a testament to morbid curiosity.

What other shows bombed in 2025? Are there any we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.