My taste in television is wide and varied, but I hew toward mysteries, character dramas and comedies, fantasy and science-fiction. You’ll see what I mean as you scroll the list below.
It’s very difficult to do a Best Of list when it comes to something like TV, because there are so many shows to choose from and so little time in the day. Scrolling through my own list below, it certainly seems as though I watched a lot of TV in 2024, but I missed a lot also.
There are some shows, like Landman or Three Body Problem that I started but haven’t finished yet, and don’t have enough of an opinion about yet to include here. That applies to shows like Day of the Jackal, The Agency, Cross and plenty of others that occupy my television backlog (which sits next to my movie backlog, my video game backlog and my book backlog—the older we get, the more our lives are filled with backlogs and bucket lists).
I also have a separate list that goes into my least favorite TV offerings of 2024. Some of these were still good but left me feeling disappointed. Others were flat-out terrible. One makes it onto both lists, but House of the Dragon Season 2 will remain on the Disappointing list only, despite it having some very good moments in Season 3. I’m just too letdown to include it on this list. I’m also leaving Silo off both lists as I just haven’t watched enough of Season 2 to know if I’ll like it or not yet. My feelings are too mixed.
Still, I’m happy to report that I watched a great deal more good TV than bad this year, and a few of these shows were genuinely great. I avoided a lot of crappy television because once you’ve suffered through True Detective: Night Country, Rings of Power and The Acolyte, there’s only so much more you can take.
The big winners on this list are Netflix, Apple and Hulu. The biggest loser? HBO. Isn’t life strange?
In any case, this is a long and varied list. I didn’t order it, per se, but I did weight my favorites of the bunch toward the bottom, so as you proceed down, just know that you’re moving into “warmer” territory, into the shows I liked the best even if I can’t order them into a traditional ranking. It’s not an exact science. This is all based on my personal taste and interests, not to mention what I’ve had time to watch this year. I also watched a lot of older shows and movies—you have to take a crack at those backlogs, after all.
In any case and without further adieu, here are . . . .
The Best TV Shows Of 2024
My Lady Jane (Prime Video) — A fun “ahistorical” or alt-history tale of Lady Jane Grey and her rapid ascent—and descent—from the throne of England. I had my doubts about this one at first—it looked very girlbossy—but ended up really enjoying the blend of magic, romance and humor. Emily Bader is magnetic as Lady Jane Grey and the rest of the cast holds their own. Sadly, Amazon canceled the series. The first season still ends in a satisfying way, however, so it’s still worth a watch. (My review).
Sugar (Apple TV) — Not everyone loved this show, but I thought it was a brilliantly weird film noir private eye series with one of the most surprising (and controversial) twists I can think of in any show. Colin Farrell is terrific and I’m looking forward to Season 2 and more answers to this very, very unique mystery.
Skeleton Crew (Disney+) — The first Star Wars show since Andor that I’ve genuinely enjoyed, Skeleton Crew is geared toward younger audiences and is basically “The Goonies in space.” It’s a throwback to the days when Amblin Entertainment was king. Jude Law is one of the best additions to Star Wars in the Disney era. The show isn’t over yet, but I think it’s getting better with each episode. Hopefully it ends well! (My review).
Agatha All Along (Disney+) — Another series I had major doubts about going into, Agatha All Along really won me over by the end. It’s a worthy sequel to the excellent WandaVision and Kathryn Hahn is delightful as the titular witch. Lots of twists and turns and surprises keeps things surprising at every turn. (My review).
The Dragon Prince – Seasons 6 and 7 (Netflix) — I haven’t written about the seventh and final season of The Dragon Prince yet, but I did pen a glowing review for Season 6. Both came out this year, wrapping up the animated epic fantasy series. This is such a charming show with such great characters. I highly recommend it for fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender. (My Season 6 review).
Teacup (Peacock) — I hadn’t heard of this show until readers mentioned it to me and it turned out to be quite fun, especially if you enjoy The Thing, the classic 1982 John Carpenter film. The story follows a group of people who find themselves trapped on their farm, unable to leave a mysterious perimeter without dying gruesome deaths. The power is out, the animals are acting strange, and something dangerous has arrived. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun sci-fi / horror series and I hope that Peacock renews it for a second season.
Sweetpea (Starz) — Ella Purnell plays in this series about a young woman who has spent her whole life as a wallflower, invisible to those around her or bullied by the girls in school. When her father dies, she snaps and goes down a dark path of murder and mayhem. Purnell is terrific as Rhiannon Lewis (and after watching her play so many Americans it’s nice to remember she’s actually British) though as with all stories like this I can’t tell if I’m rooting for her or hoping she gets caught. The season ends on a crazy cliffhanger. Thankfully, it’s already been renewed. (My review).
Arcane – Season 2 (Netflix) — One of the most gorgeous animated series ever made, Arcane’s first season was an absolute masterpiece. The series is based off the League Of Legends video game, but you don’t need to play that or know anything about it to enjoy the show. The second season was not nearly as good as the first, which is why I put this on my Most Disappointing TV Shows list also, but it’s still great in many ways. Season 1 was a tough act to follow, and this show needed more than two seasons to do it justice. (My review)
The Legend Of Vox Machina – Season 3 (Prime Video) — The third season of Critical Role’s animated fantasy adventure based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons podcast came with a few big twists and turns that I really didn’t see coming. The season was pretty dire all around, with epic stakes and tragedy galore, and with a much more subdued Scanlan it was a bit harder to get the comic relief we’re accustomed to from this show. Still good, but a bit on the heavy side. (My interview with the cast is here).
The Gentlemen (Netflix) — Guy Ritchie took another crack at his movie of the same name and created a Netflix series based on the film. It’s a very funny, very British crime series with terrific acting and some great heists. Theo James does a great job as Eddie Halstead, the main protagonist of the series. I’d only seen him in The White Lotus and had no idea he was a Brit. Definitely big on entertainment value, this is one you can watch and enjoy without having to think too much.
Bad Monkey (Apple TV) — Vince Vaughn stars as Andrew Yancey in this Floridian crime comedy and it may be his best role. I’m not a huge VV fan but he really knocked it out of the park here, and there’s some nice mystery with fun twists and turns along the way. And while it falls more on the light entertainment side of the spectrum, it has some strong emotional beats as well. I also really liked Natalie Martinez as Rosa. Really, the entire cast is perfect. This show actually reminds me of Jane the Virgin with its narrator and Florida setting and twisty-turny plot. Good times. (My review).
Sunny (Apple TV) — Rashida Jones stars in this very quirky near-future sci-fi set in Japan. It’s as much mystery as it is sci-fi, as Jones’s character, Suzie Sakamoto, attempts to figure out what happened to her husband and son who apparently died in a mysterious plane crash. She’s accompanied by her robot friend, Sunny (Joanna Sotomura) as they try to figure out what really happened. The ending has a genuinely surprising twist and cliffhanger, so be warned: Apple made the truly egregious decision to cancel this gem before Season 2. It’s a great watch, but you’ll be as upset as I am that it’s not coming back.
Say Nothing (Hulu) — I’m still not quite finished watching this one, but Say Nothing is a tremendous limited series about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The series follows Dolours Price (Lola Petticrew) and her sister Marian (Haze Doupe) as they make their way up in the ranks of the IRA. It’s also a mystery about the disappearance of an Irish mother of ten. Brilliant writing and acting in a fascinating time period makes this a must-watch show of 2024.
FROM – Season 3 (MGM+) — FROM has one of the most passionate fan-bases out there, and I love being part of the community, spinning up fan theories, pouring over clues as we try to unravel the mystery of the mysterious town that imprisons its inhabitants in an endless nightmare. It’s like LOST if that show was steeped in horror elements. But once again, MGM’s top series was just so uneven in Season 3 that it’s held back from true greatness. Janky dialogue, filler episodes and too many unpleasant characters. All things that the writers could fix in Season 4. (I have thoughts about the ending).
Only Murders In The Building – Season 4 (Hulu) — Only Murders In The Building’s first season is still its best, but I thought Season 4 was a close second. The mystery was genuinely tough to solve with enough red herrings to keep us guessing until the end, and enough clues and breadcrumbs to lead us to the killer if we paid close enough attention. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez were all great. If I have one complaint, it’s that they’ve brought on too many celebrity guest stars at this point. (My review).
Rivals (Hulu) — I wouldn’t be surprised if Rivals flew under your radar this year, but it’s one you really need to watch. David Tennant is spectacular as always as the rather vile, vengeful Tony Baddingham, a ruthless TV executive with axes to grind. The show is set in the UK in the 1980s and its title says it all. The story is both a romance and a feud, and it’s delightful. Tennant is part of a standout cast including Aidan Turner as TV journalist Declan O’Hara, Alex Hassell as playboy Rupert Campbell Black and two of the most beautiful women on TV: Nafessa Williams as TV producer Cameron Cook and Bella Maclean as Taggie, Declan’s daughter, an idealistic young woman who finds herself infatuated with Rupert. This wasn’t on my radar at all but I enjoyed every second of the show.
A Man On The Inside (Netflix) — Ted Danson stars in this genuinely heartwarming show about a man hired to go undercover at nursing home to solve the mystery of a stolen necklace. Danson plays Charles, a recent widower, who has settled into his new life, but who discovers friendship and new purpose when he’s suddenly around a bunch of people his own age, trading loneliness for both a mission and newfound companionship. I liked this show so much that I finished it one sitting. (My review).
Slow Horses – Season 4 (Apple TV) — The best season of Slow Horses since Season 1, the British spy thriller continues to be one of the best things on TV, and yet more proof that any show Apple creates that starts with the letter ‘S’ is probably going to be great. Gary Oldman—as the hilarious and vile Jackson Lamb—and the entire cast knock it out of the proverbial park once again. This show manages to be so tense and so funny and so perfectly paced that I’m always on the edge of my seat. I can’t wait for Season 5. (My review).
Fallout (Prime Video) — A lot of Fallout fans who really care about the game series’ lore didn’t like Fallout on Prime Video. I enjoy the games but I’m not really invested in their lore, and what I want mostly from a TV adaptation is quality. Well, there’s quality in spades in Fallout. The series stars Ella Purnell as Lucy, a naive Vault Dweller who leaves the relative safety of her Vault to go out into the wastelands to find her father. Walton Goggins stars as the mysterious bounty hunter, The Ghoul, and Aaron Moten rounds out the trio of leads as Maximus, a young Squire in the Brotherhood of Steel—a post-apocalyptic mecha-knighthood. There’s a really fun mystery, incredible acting, plenty of the humor you get from the video games, and an ending that has me super excited for Season 2. This was a wonderful and surprisingly great adaptation, telling new stories in a familiar universe. (My review).
Shogun (Hulu) — Speaking of adaptations, Hulu’s Shogun is absolutely brilliant in every way, a sweeping, gorgeously filmed period drama about the clash of cultures in feudal Japan. Protestants vye with Catholics. Powerful Japanese houses scheme against one another. Death awaits around every corner. The series is based on the novel of the same name by James Clavell, and follows English navigator John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) as he enters an unfamiliar culture, a stranger in a strange land. Hiroyuki Sanada plays the powerful and brilliant Lord Yoshii Toranaga and Anna Sawai plays Blackthorne’s translator, Anna Sawai, a woman with a tragic past and hunger for revenge. It’s a tremendous TV show from start to finish, filled with surprising turns and some of the most gorgeous production of any show this year, from cinematography to costume design. (My review).
Penguin (HBO) — Another pleasant surprise, and another Colin Farrell-led series, Penguin picks up after the events of The Batman and follows the rise of Oz Cobb, a mobster in Gotham’s seedy underworld. It’s more of a mafia show than a DC Comics show, with plenty of little nods to The Sopranos along the way. The breakout star of the series, however, was Crisitin Milioti as Sofia Falcone. Her performance was one of the best of the year. This show never really went the direction I thought it would, and I’m glad for that. The ending gave me chills. (My review).
Baby Reindeer (Netflix) — It’s hard to put into words just how terrific and unsettling and emotionally powerful Baby Reindeer turned out to be. This show came out of left field and absolutely blew me away, though I found it to be perhaps the toughest watch of the year, delving into really disturbing territory. The show is based on the true story of its creator, Richard Gadd, and his experience being stalked by a woman. In the show, he plays Donny and Jessica Gunning plays his stalker, Martha. Both give truly heartbreaking performances. There’s so much more to the story than what meets the eye, and I admit that one very upsetting episode in particular was just devastating. But Baby Reindeer is also funny at times. It’s a lot of things, though not at all what I expected. (My review).
Shrinking – Season 2 (Apple TV) — I didn’t watch the first season of Shrinking when it came out, so I ended up watching both seasons back-to-back this year, and it quickly became one of my favorite shows of all time. The series follows Jimmy (Jason Segel) a therapist who lost his wife in a car accident and has a pretty enormous meltdown afterward, turning to drugs, alcohol and prostitutes when he’s not buried in his work. This leads to a strained relationship with his friends and with his 17-year-old daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell). What follows is an almost perfect blend of comedy and drama, with a cast full of genuinely wonderful characters including Jimmy’s boss and mentor, Paul, in one of Harrison Ford’s best roles.
This show feels very, very real to me, having gone through my own period of personal crisis, leading to my own strained relationship with my daughter who is the same age as Alice, and struggling to come out the other side. Season 2’s penultimate episode shows Jimmy on the brink of another total mental breakdown and Segel’s performance feels so real and so true to that feeling, I found myself weeping as I watched. This is a show that makes me cry almost as often as it makes me laugh. All the feels, as the kids say. I can’t recommend it highly enough. (And yes, it’s another Apple TV series that starts with the letter ‘S’ so you know it’s going to be good).
Bonus: Happy Valley (AMC) — Even though it didn’t come out in 2024, I have to include Happy Valley in this list because it was easily one of the top 5 shows I watched this year. The 3-season British police series follows police sergeant Catherine Cawood in her day-to-day life in West Yorkshire. Cawood is played by Sarah Lancashire, who turns in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in any television series period. The story is very much in the vein of crime dramas like Fargo, but it’s much more emotionally poignant and not nearly as funny as that series. Cawood finds herself at the center of various mysteries—a kidnapping in Season 1—while grappling with the release of a dangerous criminal she has deep personal ties to. It’s an absolute masterpiece, filled with tension and suspense but also a ton of heart and raw emotion. Everyone who enjoys British police shows needs to watch this ASAP. (My review).
Be sure to check out my Worst TV Shows Of 2024 list as well.
What were your favorite TV shows of 2024? Any of them on this list? Anything I missed? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook. Also be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me here on this blog. Sign up for my newsletter for more reviews and commentary on entertainment and culture.
