End of another year. Geez, these are going quickly nowadays. Who do I have to speak to to get things slowed down? What? Oh, yeah, that's right. I'm supposed to be discussing stuff I enjoyed in 2025. Sorry, I'm just getting over the worst flu I think I've ever had in my life, and I'm not thinking the most clearly right now.
I didn't play many video games in 2025. Horizon: Forbidden West was a big one I played early this year, but I probably spent even more time than that over 2025 re-playing X-Com 2, and I've just installed the “Long War” mod and I'm replaying the whole thing again now in 2026, so yeah - I'm enjoying that one.
As far as books in 2025, I spent more time revisiting The Dresden Files in audiobook form than reading paper books. But in March 2025 my family visited Portland, Maine, and at a little bookstore there I grabbed a paperback copy of Project: Hail Mary. I was a huge fan of Andy Weir's book The Martian, and although I didn't feel that Artemis was as up to snuff, Project: Hail Mary was the best book I'd read in years. Loved it. I'm very much looking forward to the upcoming film, although I can't imagine it will be nearly as good as the book.
Now we hit my two big categories, and for each, I've got three nominees.
First off, my pick for television show of 2025. You'll be surprised to hear that Stranger Things isn't one of the nominees. Despite me having listed that show as my #3 favorite show of all time just three years ago. And oddly, as I type these words, I haven't decided which of the three is the winner. So I'll type a short paragraph about each and let my stream-of-consciousness help me decide.
The first nominee for Greg's favorite TV show of 2025 is Severance. I loved the wild creativity of the first season, and wondered where they could even go after the season one finale. But the writers continued worldbuilding, and proceeded with the surreal and cultlike Lumen landscape, introducing and retiring characters, and preventing anything in their world from stagnating. After the end of another season, I still have no idea where the show might be headed. And that is something that I appreciate.
My second nominee is Peacemaker, the odd DC spinoff brainchild of James Gunn, starring John Cena's eponimous anti-hero. The delightful cameos, shocking gratuity, and surprisingly frequent moments of startling violence always catch me off guard. It's actually got a bit too much sex and violence for my personal taste, and that's coming from someone who loved Watchmen. Still, it's a fantastic show, and I look forward to another season.
My final nominee for Greg's favorite TV show of 2025 is Pluribus, which I recently wrote about in the Q4 roundup. I know that Vince Gilligan still has a lot of whuffie for Breaking Bad, but I'm letting Pluribus coast on its own. The premise, which is in many ways a twist on the bodysnatchers trope, is complex and nuanced. Any attempt to reduce the science-fictional imbroglio can be met with a counterpoint. There is no simple answer to the world's problems, and so the prospects of solutions and the speculation as to reasons why are a preplexing spectrum. I'm digging it.
So which of these is my favorite? I don't know. You know what? I don't have to decide. You can't make me. Screw it, Ima just leave this here.
So what's next? Movies? Sure. Let's get this over with. I'm tired and I think my fever may not have gone away yet.
It shouldn't be a big surprise that Marvel movies are on my 2025 list. Both Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four: First Steps are candidates. Yeah, those are the first two. Thunderbolts ended up being far better than I'd expected, and while Fantastic Four wasn't mind-blowing, it was a fun and well-made little film.
The other movie I really liked this year was Weapons. Its horror aspect and the implementation of magic felt mediocre, but the storytelling, the performances, and the overlapping timelines were phenomenal. So I guess I'll give Weapons the prize this go-round.
That's it for 2025. I'm gonna go lie down.