Paste Power Rankings: The 5 Best TV Shows on Right Now (August 26, 2025)

But while there are many allusions and tie-ins to the crew’s growth across the story so far, this still remains the kind of show that you can pick up watching at almost any point (even if that’s an increasingly unlikely occurrence in the streaming era). Because while the first episode back suffers a bit from being a direct continuation of a cliffhanger from two years ago, the rest of these missions are siloed in the best way possible, delving into kooky weekly premises. Specifically, in the best episode of this season so far, we get a fan-favorite setup that both pokes fun at The Original Series and pensively reflects on that show’s legacy, all while also developing an unlikely bond. At another point, there’s a grim outing where the gang is dropped into a death trap that has them solving interdimensional puzzles that hint at a tantalizing hidden history. There’s a good variance in lighthearted hangout material and more grave turns, embodying the range that both Strange New Worlds and the series writ large have often excelled at, even if there’s an undeniable emphasis on pulp, and more specifically pulp horror, so far. —Elijah Gonzazlez [Full Review]

To be fair, you don’t have to have seen a minute of Outlander to enjoy Blood of My Blood, which is a fully and compellingly immersive story in its own right.. Yes, the series is packed full of Easter eggs and narrative callbacks that will delight longtime fans of the long-running original. (Heck, the show’s entire premise is essentially that the romance between Outlander’s Claire Beauchamp and Jamie Fraser was so fated it impacted multiple generations.) And, those who are familiar with the original series will surely find themselves gasping at the skill of this franchise’s casting department, who have managed to find a quartet of leads who are startingly similar in both appearance and mannerisms to the actors who portrayed their onscreen relations. But if you have never heard of Craigh Na Dun, there’s still plenty to enjoy in this story of forbidden love, Scottish political intrigue, and women fighting for the chance to choose their own fates.  —Lacy Baugher Milas  [Full Review]

2. Alien: Earth

Network: FX
Last Week: N/A
This Week:  The crew leaves the Maginot behind and Alien: Earth finds its voice.

The FX series is set in the year 2120, just two years before the events of the original Alien feature film. And for longtime fans, the opening scenes will feel eerily familiar. The USCSS Maginot, a Weyland-Yutani deep space research vessel, is returning to Earth. Its crew has just emerged from cryosleep and gathered around a table for a meal. It’s a setup that closely mirrors the iconic opening of Alien. From the mess hall to the cryochamber to the computer mainframe where “Mother” is accessed, the Maginot could easily be mistaken for the Nostromo. That’s clearly intentional. Production designer Andy Nicholson and his team have done a remarkable job recreating the industrial, lived-in aesthetic of the franchise. Visually, it feels like home for Alien fans. But while the look is similar, Alien: Earth tells a story that’s entirely its own.Alien: Earth features a top-tier cast.

Ceesay gives Morrow a magnetic mix of strength, intellect, and vulnerability. He’s as dangerous as he is compelling. Blenkin is spot-on as Boy Kavalier, a smug trillionaire and prodigy who’s never encountered the word “comeuppance,” let alone considered it might apply to him. He’s the kind of character you admire for his genius and resent for his hubris. Olyphant, always a scene-stealer, is quietly electrifying as the synthetic scientist Kirsch. He’s cold, methodical, and even more watchable than usual. But the series’ true standout is Sydney Chandler. Daughter of Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler, the actress brings exceptional emotional depth to Wendy, effortlessly capturing the soul of a child in an adult synthetic body. She is also fiercely devoted to her brother, protective of her fellow Lost Boys, and endlessly inquisitive. The performance feels like a fusion of Sigourney Weaver’s grit as Ripley with Milla Jovovich’s sense of wonder as Leeloo in The Fifth Element. Chandler commands your attention every time she’s on screen.

Ultimately, what makes Alien: Earth work isn’t just the body horror or the corporate backstabbing (though there’s plenty of both), it’s that Noah Hawley treats this show as something more than an exercise in IP management. He uses the franchise’s DNA to explore questions of identity, mortality, and control, all while staging set pieces capable of leaving your stomach in knots. Nearly 50 years after Ridley Scott introduced the xenomorph, Alien has rarely felt this alive.  — Terry Terrones [Full Review]