The binge watching potential in 2024 was strong, with a load of contenders for best TV shows dropping on streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and more. We got sucked into reality TV shows like The Traitors, were at the edge of our seats in epic action dramas like Shōgun, laughed with Nobody Wants This, cried at the traumatic Outer Banks death, and went on the roller coaster ride of Bad Sisters.
From brand new shows that hopefully will continue, to second, third, fourth seasons and beyond for beloved favourites, good TV wasn’t too difficult to find in 2024. Let’s hope it continues into 2025.
There is no other show right now that just layers the drama like Tell Me Lies. Gossip Girl (both versions) and The O.C. combined have nothing on the drama in this show. Just when you think things may be coming to a more calm moment, Meaghan Oppenheimer takes another swing, and I love her for it. One of the most addictive shows you can watch.
I am a massive Jimmy O. Yang fan. I think he’s one of the funniest stand-up comedians. So I went into Interior Chinatown particularly excited and it totally delivered. It was certainly an ambitious show to pull off, there’s a lot packed into 10 episodes, but it’s able to be both thought-provoking and incredibly fun, while constantly keeping the audience guessing. A total win!
If your knowledge of Troubles in Northern Ireland is the Netflix hit Derry Girls, Say Nothing is like the emotional, dramatic and heart-wrenching big sister to that show. Based on the bestselling book by Patrick Radden Keefe, it’s a very detailed and impactful look at the trauma of this period of history, with a riveting focus on the lives of Dolours Price and her sister, Marian Price, who had joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA).
Specifically, the episode that chronicles when Dolours and Marian went on a hunger strike in the London prison is a TV moment from this year I think about regularly, due to the impressive nuance and its intensity.
Sara Bareilles, Busy Philipps, Paula Pell and Renée Elise Goldsberry are absolutely magic together. It’s just a gift to be able to watch them collaborate and bounce off each other in Girls5eva. Season 3 really blended the outrageous comedy with some deeper subject matter, blended together seamlessly. Comedy, a great story and music, it’s all great!
Every new season of Bridgerton is starting to feel like a warm hug. It’s characters we love, it’s the extension of a story we’re invested in and we can just go along for the ride. Season 3 was particularly special because it gave us the “Polin” romance we were all waiting for, and didn’t disappoint.
Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez gave us the portrayals of the Menendez brothers that I didn’t know I needed, but now I can’t live without. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, with the two actors, in particular, really navigating the complexity of the circumstances of these brothers with grace.
I’m still upset from the trauma of JJ’s death in Outer Banks Season 4, and I know I’m not alone. Don’t underestimate the power of Outer Banks. From serious family drama, to treasure hunting, a survival story and a whole lot of friendship, the Pogues will quickly have your heart, and I’m still incredibly invested in this story as we approach the final season.
Issa López’s True Detective: Night Country was terrifying, in the best way, with Jodie Foster and Kali Reis stressing me out regularly throughout the season. But it is fantastic and I think the best season of the True Detective anthology series to date.
We just need more shows with the talented Ella Purnell, because her performances are so spot. Sweetpea is such a riveting serial killer thriller, a twisted and unabashedly entertaining dark comedy, spearheaded by Purnell’s exquisite performance.
I was completely locked into the thrill of this crime drama, starring Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn. It has suspense, there were interesting dynamics between Scott’s Tom Ripley and all the characters he meets on his journey. You can’t help but be mesmerized by Ripley.
While some may be thinking, “do we really need another legal procedural?” That thought will quickly leave your mind when you watch Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock. Bates’ performance is an absolute delight, handling the big twist in Matlock with such an appealing execution. It has just the right amount of suspense, and costars Skye P. Marshall, Jason Ritter, David Del Rio, Leah Lewis, Beau Bridges, Sam Anderson and Aaron D. Harris all match Bates’ energy perfectly. This really is a different kind of procedural.
I will happily share that I watch a lot of reality TV, from Bravo shows to reality competition programs, but in evaluating all my beloved reality TV with scripted shows in 2024, one in particular stood out, The Traitors Season 2. Putting The Real World and The Challenge GOAT Chris “CT” Tamburello on a show with The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Married to Medicine star Phaedra Parks is something I didn’t see coming, but I couldn’t stop watching. Round that out with the rest of the impressive cast, I was hooked!
Many people, myself included, have talked or written about superhero fatigue recently, but Agatha All Along is exactly what I needed. It takes these Marvel characters and presents their stories in a way that’s new, fresh and genre-bending. It’s exciting to see Patti LuPone enter the Marvel space, in a show that even includes a joke about her character’s pitch. Kathryn Hahn is just a vision as Agatha, easily one of the most intoxicatingly alluring Marvel performances.
I definitely was a fan of the first season of The Diplomat, with showrunner and creator Debora Cahn leaving us with that explosive cliffhanger (literally). But what I loved about Season 2 was exploring how Kate (Keri Russell) navigates these higher stakes for her job, in addition to her relationship with Hal after he physically relies on her more after his injuries. And of course, I could watch Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell banter back-and-forth for days. Add in the brilliant Allison Janney and it’s just a gift to watch.
I would easily say Shrinking is the most heartfelt show you could have watched this year, a real exploration of trauma and dynamics between friends, and family, that’s incredibly unique. In Bill Lawrence’s classic style, he’s the king of combining very real emotions and critical discussions with enough fun and play to keep things incredibly appealing. You always want to watch the next episode as soon as you can, and particularly this season, Lukita Maxwell was an incredible highlight.
In 2024 the theme for me was loving everything Ella Purnell, but Fallout was particularly great. Shows based on video games can sometimes be tricky, they’re certainly not all like The Last of Us, but Fallout has all the sci-fi you want, with impressive detail, and still has room for some fun. Of course, another brilliant transformation for Walton Goggins.
Where to watch Fallout: Prime video
Tell a Millennial there is a new show with Veronica Mars icon Kristen Bell and The O.C. legend Adam Brody, and we’ll be seated quickly. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to keep our attention. Luckily, that was not a problem at all with Nobody Wants This. The rom-com show maybe lured us in with its incredibly cast, but kept us coming back for more with its charm and wit. It’s perfectly messy and lighthearted fun.
Rivals is absolutely triumphant. With an impressive cast that includes Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, David Tennant and Danny Dyer, among other, this is what we really want when we think we want nostalgia. It’s a sexy and desirable show that really has something for everyone, and feels completely unique.
There are a number of different Doctor and companion pairings that each Doctor Who fan will claim is the best, but there’s no denying Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor and Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday are an absolute treat. This iteration of Doctor Who really feels new and fresh, with the most impressive guest stars, including Jinkx Monsoon, Jonathan Groff and Nicola Coughlan. A success in an already popular franchise.
A relatively new show, but Black Doves didn’t need a lot of time to make an impact. Starring Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire, the spy thriller doesn’t just succeed in its espionage plot, but the witty and sarcastic banter between really most of the characters, but particularly Knightley and Whishaw as Helen and Sam, is so endearing. The stakes feel high and gripping, but creator Joe Barton kept the fun and play throughout.
If you only have time to catch up on one show from 2024, let it be Camilla Whitehill’s Big Mood, starring Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West. It is absolutely one of the most memorable shows I watched all year. Electrifying in its comedy from its very first moments, presenting a story about a woman with bipolar disorder in a way that honestly looks at her diagnosis, but it’s by no means the only thing about her that’s explored. Please, please, please, we need a Season 2!
Bad Sister is definitely up there as one of my favourite shows ever created. Sharon Horgan has crafted a series that celebrates this family of sisters so well, where each character feels incredibly unique and adds their own personality to the story. It’s fiercely smart and insanely funny, with Season 2 giving us quite a significant emotional arc as well, and the beloved Fiona Shaw was such an amazing addition to the cast.
Slow Horses continues to be my favourite spy drama, with each season better than the last, and it feels like the story is really moving forward. But I will still laugh at every farting gag with Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb. It’s been riveting to dive deeper into River Cartwright’s (Jack Lowden) family history, with an entire cast of characters you feel really connected to.
If you’re looking for a show that epitomizes the word “epic,” but also has a well developed narrative to emotionally connect to, Shōgun is the one to watch. The series, based on the novel by James Clavell, is absolutely striking, finding a beautiful balance between action, adventure and emotion, with Anna Sawai giving a particularly breathtaking performance.
Baby Reindeer seemed to be the most affecting show of the year for many, with Richard Gadd’s Netflix series, based on his real-life experience with a stalker and sexual abuse, is incredibly moving.
It’s emotional, dark and so jarring that at times it’s difficult to watch, but as it should be. Gadd puts the audience in a position to have very real and important discussions about grooming, not often seen on TV.
Gadd and costar Jessica Gunning are both spectacular, giving performances we’ll remember for a long time. An absolutely revolutionary show that deserves to be celebrated.
