Series Snapshot ~ 11/13/25

By: [email protected] on Thu, 11/13/2025 - 15:21

Welcome to the Series Snapshot, a weekly deep dive into the shows topping the streaming charts.

This week at Netflix, the new season of The Witcher celebrates another week at the top of the “most watched” list, despite divisive reviews. The fantasy series, led by Liam Hemsworth, Anya Chalotra, and Freya Allen has warmed to audiences, who seem to have adjusted to Hemsworth’s portrayal of Geralt, some even calling it “surprisingly good”. Viewers also praise Lawrence Fishburn, whose depiction of a fan-favorite character is commended for its great care in honoring the source material. The Witcher’s new season isn’t perfect but overall, audiences are having fun. The show has been confirmed for a fifth and final season, expected to release sometime in fall of 2026.

Hulu’s stunt-casted original series All’s Fair also enjoys a repeat victory this week, as viewers continue to investigate the show’s spectacle. The legal-drama series, which stars Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close has been called the “worst show of 2025”, and its high viewership comes not from the show’s artistic value, but can’t-look-away, trainwreck value. It’s unclear the degree to which the cast is in on the joke, but all things considered All’s Fair is a harmless guilty pleasure at its core, and Kardashian seems to be taking the show’s panning in stride. All’s Fair has been renewed for a second season, and was created by Ryan Murphy, Jon Robin Baitz, and Joe Baken.

It: Welcome to Derry also joins the repeat-winner’s circle as the most watched series on HBO Max for the third week in a row. The horror-drama, based on Stephen King’s popular It novel and films, has been receiving excellent reviews for its dark, suspenseful atmosphere and genuinely scary moments. Welcome to Derry has room for improvement, as fans note some of the child performances can distract from the immersion, and an over-reliance on CGI can make certain effects feel hollow. Overall, horror fans are enjoying the series’ freshness and ability to shock and surprise. It: Welcome to Derry stars Bill Skarsgård, Taylour Paige and Jovan Adepo, and was created by Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs.

At Amazon, a German series, Maxton Hall has dethroned the popular The Summer I Turned Pretty, which takes a close second in viewership. In terms of content, Maxton Hall occupies a similar niche as Summer I Turned Pretty - a young adult romance-drama set in a private boarding school, told from the feminine perspective. Perhaps audiences who are finishing the Turned Pretty saga, are turning to Maxton Hall for a fix. If that’s the case, the new season has struck while the iron is hot- critical reception is overwhelmingly positive for the second season, with audiences praising the writing, plot development and performances of series leads Harriet Herbig Matten, and Damien Hardung. Maxton Hall: The World Between Us, was based on the novels by Mona Kasten.

AppleTV’s exciting new Vince Gilligan thriller, Pluribus is number one on the platform this week, and is receiving absolute rave reviews across the board. Pluribus is set in a world where humankind has assimilated with an alien hivemind, except for an unlucky few who are immune to the process. One of these is the show’s protagonist, Carol Sturka, played brilliantly by Rhea Seehorn, who is determined to find a cure and put an end to the “happiness apocalypse”. The supporting cast of Karolina Wydra and Carlos Manuel Vesga, also receive high praise, and critics and viewers point out the sci-fi’s fantastic writing and pacing help the ensemble shine. Pluribus has been renewed for a second season, and was created by Vince Gilligan.

The most streamed series on Disney+ this week is a series of Simpsons shorts, Fortnite x The Simpsons, which is part of a tie-in promo with the popular videogame Fortnite. In the series, the town of Springfield is transformed into a Fortnite battle royale, and with the release of each weekly short, The Simpsons family in the cartoon affect the world of the actual ongoing multiplayer videogame, with new missions, map changes and items available based on what transpired in the episode. The clever collaboration sees the return of The Simpsons’ legendary voiceover cast, including Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, and Hank Azaria. The Simpsons was created by Matt Groening.