As 2024 comes to a close, it's time to take a look back at the best TV shows this year had to offer. And wouldn't you know it, there were a lot of great series to take in.
We were floored by the historical epic Shōgun, stressed out by every second of Industry, and thoroughly unsettled by Baby Reindeer. We rejoiced in the return of shows like We Are Lady Parts, Interview with the Vampire, and Arcane, and couldn't get enough of new favorites like English Teacher and Fallout. But there's so much more TV excellence where those came from!
From samurai and spies to vampires and detectives, here are the 21 best TV shows of 2024 so far, and where to watch them.
21. Silo Season 2
The tense claustrophobia of Silo continues in its second season, with Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) finding herself in a new (and equally nightmarish) spot while her home descends toward a full-scale riot in her absence. Like the first season, the continuation of Graham Yost's dystopian thriller — based on Hugh Howey's book series of the same name — is filled with twists and revelations, tension and power struggles. Season 1 was a tough act to follow, but Season 2 plunges us even deeper into the silo's murky and mysterious depths. — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor
How to watch: Silo is now streaming on AppleTV+.
20. Colin from Accounts Season 2
Colin From Accounts is one of those rare comedies that actually makes you laugh out loud. Husband-wife team Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer's messy rom-com started off with two strangers (played by Brammall and Dyer) being brought together by an injured dog (the titular Colin). Season 2 picks up where we left off, bringing in a new host of expectedly chaotic situations and family members while keeping the same hilariously cringey tone.
"The show is consistently funny, occasionally moving, and permanently fun to watch, with characters you alternate between groaning at and rooting for," I wrote in my Mashable review. "Like Colin, we're quickly swept up into the chaos of their lives, carried along, and made all the happier for it." — S.H.
How to watch: Colin from Accounts is now streaming on Paramount+.
19. A Man on the Inside
A Man on the Inside reunites The Good Place creator Mike Schur with star Ted Danson. And wouldn't you know it, this comedy is just as likely to make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings as their first team-up.
Based on the 2020 documentary The Mole Agent, A Man on the Inside follows retired professor Charles (Danson) as he teams up with private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada). His mission? To go undercover at a retirement home and recover stolen jewelry. Of course, hijinks are soon to follow, as Charles bumbles through the challenges of using spy equipment and assimilating into the home's clique-y community. However, it's not long before Charles finds himself opening up to the people around him, leading to the real heart of A Man on the Inside: its deeply affecting portrayal of aging.
Throughout the first season, characters reckon with distant family members, dementia, and losing their friends, and Schur and A Man on the Inside's stellar ensemble — which also includes Stephanie Beatriz, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers — ensure that these difficult stories are given the time and gravity they deserve. With its sweetness, sensitivity, and a steady flow of great gags, we can chalk A Man on the Inside up as another win for Schur and Danson.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter
How to watch: A Man on the Inside is now streaming on Netflix.
18. One Day
In February, we did a whole lot of TV-induced crying, as Netflix's One Day broke our damn hearts. An ambitious, romantic, and fresh adaptation of David Nicholls' novel, this impeccable, slow-burn series gave the story more room to breathe than Lone Scherfig's 2011 film. Following students Emma and Dex (magnetic, lived-in performances by Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall) across decades of their complex friendship, One Day makes a cinematic epic of long-game love while unpacking the politics of privilege in relationships. Even hearing the name of the series will induce starry-eyed looks into the horizon and a palm to the heart.* — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor
How to watch: One Day is now streaming on Netflix.
17. Boy Swallows Universe
A dark but genuinely funny tale of suburban crime brimming with magical realism, the Netflix adaptation of Trent Dalton's novel Boy Swallows Universe is one of 2024's unsung heroes — much like its pint-sized protagonist, 13-year-old Eli Bell (played by outstandingly talented youngster Felix Cameron). Chock-full of '80s Australiana, the series is set in the working-class Brisbane suburb of Darra, where Eli navigates school bullies and a turbulent family life as well as he handles hard-edged criminals with his imaginative brother, Gus (Lee Tiger Halley). It's a heartfelt, unsettling, and hilarious journey through young adolescence, the reality of addiction, and brutal crime, with a killer Aussie soundtrack. — S.C.
How to watch: Boy Swallows Universe is now streaming on Netflix.
16. The Sympathizer
Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Sympathizer got an absolutely tremendous TV adaptation thanks to co-creators Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar.
The Sympathizer centers on a Communist spy simply known as the Captain (Hoa Xuande, whose performance here should make him a star), who is recounting his experiences during and after the Vietnam War. Half-Vietnamese and half-French, the Captain feels torn between two worlds, a feeling that only grows when he's told to continue spying in America following the fall of Saigon. From here, The Sympathizer jumps into a probing exploration of memory and allegiance that doubles as sharp satire. Boasting stylish direction from Park and a cast that includes Sandra Oh and Robert Downey Jr. (in four roles with varying degrees of success), The Sympathizer is a more than worthy adaptation of a great novel. — B.E.
How to watch: The Sympathizer is now streaming on Max.
15. Fallout
TV has gifted us with some stellar video game adaptations in recent years, from Arcane to Castlevania to The Last of Us. In 2024, Fallout joined their ranks, delivering a first season that was bonkers fun (and full of references to the games).
Created by Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner, Fallout introduced us to a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland where rival factions and mutant creatures run amok. Here, an optimistic Vault dweller named Lucy (Ella Purnell), a Brotherhood of Steel novice named Maximus (Aaron Moten), and an irradiated bounty hunter known simply as the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) cross paths in a journey that will change the wasteland as they know it. With its tantalizing mysteries, zany cast of characters, and gnarly world-building, Fallout is an absolute blast whether you've played the games or not. — B.E.
How to watch: Fallout is now streaming on Prime Video.
14. Pachinko Season 2
Showrunner Soo Hugh's decades-spanning family drama Pachinko just keeps getting better in Season 2. Based on Min Jin Lee's acclaimed novel of the same name, the series splits its time between the lives of Sunja (Minha Kim) and her grandson Solomon (Jin Ha). While Sunja fights to keep her family intact in Osaka in 1945, Solomon struggles to kickstart his own real estate venture in Tokyo in 1989. Their stories may seem different on the surface, but Sunja's past constantly echoes into Solomon's present, with the two facing similar issues of assimilation and prejudice as Koreans living in Japan. These similarities create breathtaking parallels between the show's two halves, knitting together what might seem like an impossible balancing act. Add to that some standout episodes — including a heartbreaking farewell and a jaw-dropping take on the bombing of Nagasaki — and you get an outstanding historical epic. — B.E.
How to watch: Pachinko is now streaming on AppleTV+.
13. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Francesca Sloane and Donald Glover's Mr. & Mrs. Smith is anything but a stale remake. Instead, this infinitely enjoyable reimagining of the 2005 film pairs two new spies (Glover and Maya Erskine) together in a fake marriage. How long until they catch real feelings for one another?
The answer? Not that long! Each of Mr. & Mrs. Smith's eight episodes smartly dive into a new aspect of relationships, from first dates to discussions about wanting kids. These marital milestones are accompanied by a new mission from week to week. Between ski trips in Italy, silent auctions in New York, and a Lake Como car chase gone awry, each assignment ushers in new opportunities for stylish action. Glover and Erskine ooze charm and chemistry, while a rotating gallery of guest stars — Parker Posey! John Turturro! Paul Dano! — keeps things fresh. Smart, sleek, and sexy, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a TV show that truly embraces episodic storytelling. I'd gladly devour five (or more) seasons of it. — B.E.
How to watch: Mr. & Mrs. Smith is now streaming on Prime Video.
12. The Penguin
No Batman? That's no problem for The Penguin, which puts Oz Cobb (an unrecognizable Colin Farrell) in the spotlight.
Showrunner Lauren LeFranc uses the genre trappings of classic gangster dramas (The Sopranos is a big inspiration here) to explore Oz's attempts to rise through Gotham's criminal underworld, as well as understand just what makes him tick. The answer? A sense of duty to his mother, Francis (Deirdre O'Connell), which comes to a head in a series of monstrous revelations in The Penguin's astounding final episodes. Also lighting up The Penguin is Sofia Falcone (a brilliant Cristin Milioti), whose desire to shed her family ties makes her a formidable adversary for Oz. Heck, I wouldn't blame you for rooting for her instead — I certainly was. But that's the power of The Penguin, which delivers a rich, character-driven story of villains and antiheroes without relying on the Caped Crusader one bit. Who needs him? — B.E.
How to watch: The Penguin is now streaming on Max.
11. We Are Lady Parts Season 2
After three long years on hiatus, We Are Lady Parts is back with a second season that was well worth the wait.
Created by Nida Manzoor, this sensational comedy series centers on Lady Parts, a punk band made up of Muslim women who are figuring out life, love, friendship, and faith in contemporary London. Between the setting and some familiar themes, Season 2 has echoes of Bridgerton, but with an irreverent sense of humor that is not only totally modern but also absolutely hilarious. Whether following wallflower guitarist Amina (Anjana Vasan), hard-headed frontwoman Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey), warm-hearted bassist Bisma (Faith Omole), mercurial drummer Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), or their ever-strategic manager Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), We Are Lady Parts rocks, peppered with playful punchlines, rapturous fantasy sequences, rousing musical numbers, and a cameo from the one-and-only Malala Yousafzai. Whether you're new to this series or not, Season 2 is too good to be missed. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor
How to watch: We Are Lady Parts is now streaming on Peacock in the U.S. and Channel 4 in the UK.
10. Ripley
Andrew Scott awed TV audiences as the theatrically malicious Moriarty in Sherlock, then as the scorchingly Hot Priest in Fleabag. But with Ripley, he plays a very different game.
Adapted from Patricia Highsmith's classic novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, this drama miniseries from Steven Zaillian lures audiences into the seductive world of Thomas Ripley, American social climber turned con man and killer. Offered a free trip to Italy to reclaim an industrialist's expatriate heir, Ripley sees a whole new world open before him: one of privilege, art, and endless opportunities all tied to status and money. But to claim a bit of it himself, he'll have to get his hands dirty. While you might know the story (or the Matt Damon movie), the patience with which this slow-burn series doles it out allows audiences to luxuriate in Highsmith's high-stakes game of jealousy, deception, and murder. The result is a show that feels like a lost holiday: alluring, surprising, and sure to linger on your mind, heart, and soul. — K.P.
How to watch: Ripley is now streaming on Netflix.
9. True Detective: Night Country
True Detective came back with a vengeance for its fourth season, this time helmed by Tigers Are Not Afraid director Issa López. For this new installment of the anthology series, we travel to Ennis, Alaska, a small community about to enter a period of nonstop night.
But darkness isn't the only thing the citizens of Ennis have to worry about. When a group of scientists turn up dead in what can only be described as a "corpsicle," former police partners Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Navarro (Kali Reis) reluctantly team back up to find out who's responsible. As they investigate this case — as well as a murder from years ago that could be linked — the two uncover painful truths about themselves and about Ennis. Oh, and ghosts may or may not be involved. Bleak, enthralling, and anchored by wonderful work from Foster and Reis, Night Country proves there's still power in True Detective yet. — B.E.
How to watch: True Detective: Night Country is now streaming on Max.
8. Fantasmas
Comedian Julio Torres had a banner 2024. Not only is his directorial debut Problemista one of the best movies of 2024 — his latest TV show, HBO's Fantasmas, is also one of the year's standout series.
This surreal comedy follows a fictionalized version of Torres as he hunts for a lost golden oyster-shaped earring. His quest veers off into a series of bizarro, cameo-rich vignettes that dive into the inner lives of objects and concepts or introduce us to strange new characters. Steve Buscemi inhabits the tragic story of the letter Q, for example, while Emma Stone pops up as a Real Housewife-esque figure. Bolstered by singular production design and a sprawling ensemble, Fantasmas cements itself as one of the most original shows of the year — and the most radical. It tackles everything from the American healthcare system to the ways in which corporations commodify identity, making for a fascinating portrayal of how people struggle to be themselves (and how artists struggle to make art) in our capitalist society. — B.E.
How to watch: Fantasmas is now streaming on Max.
7. Arcane Season 2
2024 blessed us with the return of high-profile fantasy series like House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but it's Arcane Season 2 that wins this year's fantasy crown.
Netflix's League of Legends–based series returns us to the feuding cities of Piltover and Zaun, with estranged sisters Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (voiced by Ella Purnell) caught smack-dab in the middle. What follows is a brutal examination of how war pushes people to their extremes, and how even well-intentioned actions can have devastating consequences. But that's not all! Arcane goes bolder and weirder in Season 2, yet never skimps on its emotional heft. In one of the season's most poignant, heart-wrenching arcs, the resurrection of Vander (voiced by JB Blanc) as the monstrous wolf hybrid Warwick offers Jinx and Vi a chance to reunite their family, broken as it may be. Elsewhere, Viktor (voiced by Harry Lloyd) and his Hextech commune offer up a take on transhumanism that is idealistic and disquieting all at once, before jumping full steam ahead into cosmic horror. All these nuances come to life with breathtaking, fearless animation courtesy of Fortiche Productions. And while we could have used maybe one or two more episodes to iron out some unwieldy pacing choices, there's no doubt Arcane is one of the most stunning, ambitious series of the year.* — B.E.
How to watch: Arcane Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
6. Somebody Somewhere Season 3
Raise one last teeny 'tini to Somebody Somewhere, whose third and final season cements the series as one of the best comedies in recent memory — and one of the most low-key. But that low key-ness is the show's secret weapon. Co-created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, Somebody Somewhere presents a deeply naturalistic look at the life of Manhattan, Kansas, native Sam (Bridget Everett), from her close friendships to her complicated family life.
This season focuses on the idea of "GAAO," or Growth Against All Odds. Many people in Sam's circle are coupling up or going after their dreams, leaving Sam worried that she's falling behind. What can she do to move her own life forward and ensure her happiness? Just like in real life, Somebody Somewhere doesn't give a clean-cut solution. However, its emphasis on the ties that bind — especially Sam's ride-or-die friendship with Joel (Jeff Hiller) — and the importance of maintaining them is answer enough. Heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure, Somebody Somewhere's emotional authenticity is unmatched, and the best end-of-year present you can give yourself is watching it. Immediately. — B.E.
How to watch: Somebody Somewhere is now streaming on Max.
5. English Teacher
2024's best comedy comes to us courtesy of Brian Jordan Alvarez, whose viral TikToks and webseries The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo have already earned him the title of Internet Darling. Now, he conquers TV with English Teacher, a breakneck show whose comedic specificity and killer ensemble cast are exactly what sitcom dreams are made of.
Alvarez plays Evan Marquez, an English teacher at an Austin public high school where every day brings a new crisis. From overbearing parents and dramatic camping trips to gun safety clubs and controversial drag performances, Evan and his fellow teachers have been through it all. Do they actually know what they're doing? Not really. They, along with their students, are bumbling through a complicated educational landscape, trying to do what's right. But English Teacher refuses to be an overly moralistic after-school special. Even the best intentions can lead to the worst gaffes (and therefore, some incredible comedy). — B.E.
How to watch: English Teacher is now streaming on Hulu.
4. Interview with the Vampire Season 2
Season 1 of this audacious adaptation of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles played like a "brilliant gay fever dream," making explicit the queer romance that was implied in the titular novel. With Season 2, the toxic love of Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) lives on — even if the latter is presumed dead.
Looking back on his time as a blood-sucker, Louis unfurls flashbacks of war-torn Europe, his resentful sister Claudia (Delainey Hayles), grisly theater kid drama, and a budding romance with the vampire Armand (Assad Zaman). Blending elements from several Anne Rice novels — including The Vampire Lestat and The Tale of the Body Thief — showrunner Rolin Jones is giving fans plenty to sink their teeth into. Yet for all this sensational show's splashes of blood, vicious humor, queer longing, and vampire lore, the best bit is the incredible charisma oozing from every single cast member. Whether they're prancing on a stage, fighting in a catacomb, flirting in Paris, or musing in present-day Dubai, they are as captivating as Rice described her immortal beloveds. So no matter how twisted things get, we can't look away! — K.P.
How to watch: Interview with the Vampire Season 2 is now streaming on AMC+.
3. Baby Reindeer
For better or worse, Baby Reindeer is a show that sticks with you: It's amusing in parts, tense in others, and emotionally shattering overall. Based on creator Richard Gadd's own experience of being stalked, the series follows the budding comedian (who plays a version of himself) as he balances career disappointment with his job in a London pub — until a woman named Martha (a brilliant and terrifying Jessica Gunning) comes in one day and develops an obsession with him. "This isn't the type of show with a clear resolution," I wrote in my review for Mashable. "It's messy, thought-provoking, and — like a dream that's difficult to shake — you'll find your mind going back to it long after the credits have rolled." — S.H.
How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.
2. Industry Season 3
For its first two seasons, Industry's cocktail of sex, drugs, and business earned it comparisons to Succession, Euphoria, and Skins. But in its third outing, Industry puts those comparisons to rest with its most ambitious season yet.
Co-creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay pull no punches in Season 3. Not only do we get new high-profile characters (played by the likes of Game of Thrones' Kit Harington and Barry's Sarah Goldberg), we also get flashbacks, drug-induced visions, solo character episodes, and references to everything from Uncut Gems to period dramas. Somehow it all works, with the formal experimentation coming to resemble the high-risk, high-reward gains Pierpoint & Co.'s employees chase day after day. It's thrilling to watch any show broaden its scope and take risks, but it's even more thrilling to watch said risks succeed. That's why Industry is the year's most exhilarating — and of course, stressful — TV-viewing experience. — B.E.
How to watch: Industry is now streaming on Max.
1. Shōgun
There's good TV, there's great TV, and then there's TV that's so excellent it feels unfair. Shōgun is the latter.
An immaculately crafted historical epic that never loses sight of the personal stakes that drive it, Shōgun drops us into Japan in 1600. Here, an embattled Council of Regents ousts the powerful Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) just as an English vessel lands in Japan for the first time. Toranaga brings the vessel's pilot John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) into his retinue and, with the help of noblewoman Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), attempts to best his enemies as Japan inches closer and closer to civil war.
Told almost entirely in Japanese, and produced with a focus on cultural authenticity in mind, Shōgun is breathtaking and devastating in equal measure. Sanada, Sawai, and Jarvis are tremendous, along with the entire cast. And while you might come into this epic expecting action and political intrigue (don't worry, you get both), you'll really leave with a sense of mournful contemplation, as Shōgun takes time to examine our relationship to death and to the secret desires that truly drive us. There's no doubt about it: This is the best show of 2024. — B.E.
How to watch: Shōgun is now streaming on Hulu.
(*) denotes that this blurb has been modified from a different list.
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