From gripping dramas to hilarious comedies, 2024 was a stellar year for television. Join us as we count down the most captivating and innovative series that kept us glued to our screens. Whether you're into sci-fi, crime thrillers, or heartwarming stories, there's something for everyone on this list!
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're looking
00:12at the best shows that premiered in 2024, as well as ongoing shows that maintain the
00:16same levels of quality this year.
00:33Our stock in this financial drama has certainly gone up since it premiered in 2020.
00:37While it started on a solid note, industry has only gotten buzzier with every series.
00:42This third instalment, in particular, was a breakthrough with the addition of cast members
00:46like Kit Harington and Sarah Goldberg.
00:52For those who've been following the inner workers of Peer Point & Co from the get-go,
00:55the evolution of mainstays like my harlot Harold's Harper is where the real meat of
00:59Series 3 lies.
01:01The higher some characters climb the corporate ladder, the more despicable they become.
01:05Industry grows more addictive in the process.
01:07It speaks to the intoxicating nature of this world, where no vice is greater than greed.
01:30Although YouTube has made it easier than ever for artists to share their work, many original
01:34projects get lost in the algorithm.
01:37The Hasbin Hotel pilot stood out with its eye-popping animation, clever premise and
01:41devilishly charming characters.
01:51Five years later, A24 and Amazon rolled out the red carpet for creator Vivian Medrano,
01:56who has delivered one of the modern era's freshest animated shows.
02:00It's also among TV's most infectious musicals, with songs that range from inspiring to demented
02:05often at the same time.
02:14Hasbin Hotel is as invigorating as a Broadway musical, but animation is the ideal medium
02:18to realise this unhinged world.
02:20It's a match made in heaven, and a happy day in hell.
02:27Set in the Sandman universe, Dead Boy Detectives
02:39adds several ingredients with a stronger emphasis on comedy, mystery and teen drama.
02:44This adaptation of the DC Comics series was critically well-received and brought in respectable
02:49numbers for Netflix.
02:50The viewership apparently didn't meet the streaming standards though, getting cancelled
02:53after just one season.
03:02Dead Boy Detectives already had a difficult journey to the screen, originally being developed
03:06for HBO Max.
03:07With a change of leadership at DC, Netflix swooped in to rescue the series.
03:11We suppose fans should be grateful that they got even one season of this wildly imaginative
03:16show.
03:17Yet, we're still holding onto hope it'll find life after death, possibly leading to
03:20a resurrection, or at least a Sandman crossover episode.
03:39Heartstopper remains one of the most hopeful shows in modern television.
03:43That doesn't mean it shied away from the harsh realities of growing up.
03:46Season 3 continued to expand its reach as several characters, especially Charlie, grappled
03:50with mental health.
03:51Heartstopper, once again, displays the power of empathy and friendship.
04:08Yet even those closest to you can only do so much.
04:12Sometimes, you need to let professionals in too.
04:14While this story has always been about acceptance, Series 3 digs deeper, exploring why self-love
04:19is essential and the importance of asking for help.
04:22Life won't always be sunny, but with confidence in yourself and a caring support system by
04:25your side, those fleeting perfect moments will go a long way in keeping your heart full.
04:45More than ever, it's been argued that TV shows, especially miniseries, are essentially
04:49becoming movies with longer runtimes.
04:51Of all the shows that debuted in 2024, perhaps none felt more quote-unquote cinematic than
04:57Ripley.
05:05This isn't merely because of the A-list casting or the first-rate production values,
05:09Robert Elswit's cinematography being worthy of comparison to the French New Wave.
05:14Despite being eight episodes, Ripley flows as naturally as any film adaptation of Patricia
05:19Heisman's novel.
05:20It may be a slow burn for some, but that makes it all the more rewarding as we peel our way
05:24to the centre of Tom Ripley.
05:33It's all about what's happening on the surface.
05:35Even when it seems like little is happening, Tom is always planning his next move.
05:44Slow Horses is an appropriate title.
05:55Not because the pacing is slow.
05:56On the contrary.
05:57Anyone who checks out this spy thriller will be quickly hooked.
06:00Slow Horses wasn't the most talked-about show when it premiered in 2022, however.
06:04With every passing year, its following has grown thanks to word-of-mouth.
06:17Sometimes when people catch up with a show that's been on for a while, they notice
06:20a sudden drop in quality.
06:22Slow Horses, meanwhile, only seems to gain momentum with each episode.
06:32Phase four, based on the novel Spook Street, opens with a bang, and never slows down from
06:37there.
06:38Once again, the action doesn't overshadow the humour or character dynamics that have
06:41gradually made the show a hit.
07:01Robert Downey Jr. playing several characters might have been the selling point for this
07:04adaptation of Viet-Tong Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
07:07By the end of its seven episodes, we'd be even more impressed with Won Shonday's central
07:11performance as the Captain.
07:22His enigmatic name reflects his place in the world, or lack thereof.
07:26His mother was Vietnamese, while his father was French.
07:29His identity crisis amplifies upon heading to the US as the Vietnam War nears its end.
07:34Infiltrating a South Vietnamese community while reporting to the North Vietnamese, the
07:38protagonist wrestles with where he belongs in this compelling character study.
07:50As extraordinary as his circumstances may be, the Captain's internal struggle is one
07:55that many Vietnamese-Americans can relate to.
08:12Twenty-six years ago, Seinfeld left us with a divisive finale, to put it mildly.
08:17The final season of Curb is Larry David's way of saying sorry, not sorry.
08:32Season 12 mirrors the Seinfeld finale, with both revolving around a trial.
08:36Where the Seinfeld gang got in trouble for doing nothing, Larry lands in hot water for
08:39actually doing something nice for a change.
08:49Jerry returns for the finale, just as Larry came back for Seinfeld's final episode.
08:53Larry got most of the blame for how Seinfeld ended, but could Jerry be Curb's saviour?
08:58Let's just say that in both shows, nothing meaningful is learned.
09:01If Larry walked away with one lesson though, it's that sometimes you should just give
09:04viewers what they want.
09:20Vince Vaughn is one of our best comedic actors, although he's occasionally gotten saddled
09:24with lacklustre scripts that over-rely on him and him alone to bring the funny.
09:29Thankfully, Vaughn has clever writing and a strong supporting cast to help with the
09:32heavy lifting in Bad Monkey.
09:46Vaughn is also given a role perfectly tailored to his talents, yet unlike anything he's
09:51done before.
09:52He plays a former detective who nonetheless finds himself trying to solve a bonkers mystery
09:56involving a severed arm and a body of lies.
09:58There also might be a monkey in the mix.
10:00It's another winner from developer Bill Lawrence of Ted Lasso, Shrinking and Scrubs,
10:04again proving himself as one of the most versatile comedy showrunners out there.
10:15If you've read Scott Turow's novel or seen the 1990 film adaptation starring Harrison
10:31Ford, you might think this TV series will be devoid of twists.
10:34Whether you're well-versed in the source material or this is your introduction, Presumed
10:38Innocent is a gripping legal thriller and family drama that'll keep you guessing
10:42even after all the puzzle pieces seemingly fall into place.
10:52With a second season on the way, we're eager to see where David E. Kelly and company take
10:56the story next.
10:57Whatever awaits, season one is a highly bingeable mystery bolstered by exceptional lead performances
11:02from Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Naga.
11:05It would be a crime indeed if they didn't pick up a few notices come awards season.
11:19After spending nearly a decade in Westeros, David Benioff and D.B.
11:23Weiss go from fantasy to sci-fi with Three Body Problem.
11:26Co-created alongside Alexander Wu, D&D again demonstrate their capacity to adapt complex
11:31source material while juggling a large ensemble.
11:46Whether or not they'll stick the landing this time is anyone's guess, but like Game
11:50of Thrones, Three Body Problem will hook you in for the long haul from its opening
11:54scene onward.
12:03Even if you don't always follow the show's complicated science, viewers will identify
12:06with its ethical questions concerning humanity, technology, progress and everything in between.
12:11The series makes you feel the weight of the world, but the personal stories truly drive
12:15the search for answers.
12:32You'd be surprised how many rom-coms forget to be romantic or funny.
12:36Fortunately, Nobody Wants This is both, but it's also something more.
12:39Kristen Bell's Joanne and Adam Brody's Noah complete one another in ways they never
12:43expected.
12:51No relationship is without sacrifice, however.
12:53Nobody Wants This questions how much couples must give up to make a relationship work.
12:57Are your family, career aspirations and spiritual beliefs or lack thereof, worth compromising
13:02for a significant other?
13:04The series tackles this issue in mature ways, and immature ways as well.
13:22In any case, the central couple is always immensely likeable and relatable.
13:25They compliment and offset each other, making us root for them like no other TV couple this
13:30year.
13:46Denis Villeneuve's two movies were only the beginning.
13:49We're ready to scratch every surface of the universe that Frank Herbert created.
13:53Dune Prophecy draws from the great schools of Dune Trilogy, which was written after Herbert's
13:57time.
13:58The Dune Prophecy series takes place more than 10,000 years before Paul Atreides, revealing
14:02how the Bene Gesserit came to be.
14:13Even with a long-format medium like television, Dune Prophecy can occasionally be overwhelming
14:17with its lore and exposition.
14:19Like the Villeneuve films, though, the show immerses us in the world with its visuals,
14:23commentary and characters.
14:24Emily Watson and Olivia Williams lead a sprawling ensemble, providing a more in-depth look into
14:30this mysterious sisterhood.
14:45It's hard to believe that the first season of True Detective premiered a decade ago.
14:48Night Country is arguably the best iteration since the original, yet also the most different.
14:53Behind the scenes, show-running duties shift from Nick Pizzolatto to Issa Lopez, who brings
14:58a female perspective with Jodie Foster taking centre stage.
15:03It's the atmosphere that's changed the most, however.
15:12We're not talking about the colder climate, but the general vibes as the show calls science
15:16fiction horror like John Carpenter's The Thing to mind.
15:19Despite these echoes of the supernatural, Night Country remains eerily grounded throughout.
15:24Similar to the works of David Lynch, it makes the audience feel half-asleep and yet wide-awake
15:29as if they're living a surreal nightmare.
15:49After hitting a rough patch, the MCU bounced back in 2024 on both the big and small screens.
15:54In the latter case, the MCU's secret weapon was Agatha all along.
15:58Katherine Hahn assumes the title of Head Witch after stealing the show in WandaVision.
16:10While the spin-off shares parallels with its predecessor, it stands out from anything the
16:14MCU has done, with a blend of dark magic and dark humour.
16:18Although the series presents Agatha Harkness in a more sympathetic light, it doesn't
16:22make her a full-blown good guy.
16:24Calling her an anti-hero can even feel generous at times.
16:31However you categorise her, we'll gladly follow Agatha down any road, even if there
16:35might be a body count.
16:36Yep, it's a refreshingly morbid MCU show.
16:42In today's changing landscape, comedy can be tricky to traverse.
16:58Some believe the genre has become too politically correct, others say it's stuck in the past.
17:03In a way, this is reflected in English Teacher.
17:14A comedy writer's room isn't too different from a classroom.
17:17In both, people must think more carefully than ever about what they say, risking getting
17:22fired otherwise.
17:23That makes the job harder, but it can also lead to creative solutions.
17:26English Teacher finds a middle ground, approaching comedy and education through a progressive
17:30lens while still pushing back against PC culture.
17:42Creator Brian Jordan Alvarez leads a fine-tuned ensemble, with each character bringing a relatable
17:47perspective.
17:48Whatever character you identify with, everyone brings the laughs.
18:04Few have a story like Richard Gadd's, which provided the basis for this one-man show and
18:08this miniseries.
18:09At the same time, at least one of Gadd's experiences might speak to you on a personal
18:13level.
18:14If you've never had a relentless stalker like Gadd, maybe you've struggled with failure,
18:18identity or trauma.
18:28Above all else, Baby Reindeer captures the universal feeling of helplessness.
18:32The authorities are of little assistance to Gadd's character.
18:35He's afraid to consult friends and family, be it due to embarrassment or shame.
18:39Even when the protagonist isolates himself from his abusers, he's left alone with his
18:43self-hatred.
18:54While by no means an easy watch, Baby Reindeer is therapeutic, honest and for some, potentially
18:59life-changing.
19:00Even life-saving.
19:01We
19:18admit it's increasingly ironic that such an anti-corporation show is brought to us
19:22by Jeff Bezos' company.
19:24Even so, if superheroes were real, the boys is probably the most realistic portrayal.
19:40People don't need super-strength or laser eyes to abuse their positions of power.
19:44Once they realise that guardrails are illusions, little is stopping the powerful from doing
19:48whatever they want.
19:49That is except for a small group that pushes back.
19:58Even if they stand up to the big bad, what happens when society abandons ethics and proclaims
20:03the villain their champion?
20:04It sounds heavy-handed and maybe hits a little too close to home, but don't worry, season
20:08four of the boys is still funny, ridiculous and ridiculously funny.
20:34The creators of Hacks seemed as surprised as anyone when the third season won the Primetime
20:38Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
20:40Two things likely propelled Hacks to this deserved victory.
20:43First, the show is about comedy, tapping into how seasoned vets and emerging voices can
20:48learn from each other to evolve the genre.
20:57Second, Hacks is actually funny, which isn't as common as you might think with modern sitcoms.
21:04A lot of them feel more like half-hour dramas with sprinkles of humour interspersed.
21:09That's not to say Hacks doesn't have its raw moments with Jean Smart and Hannah Ironbinder
21:13demonstrating impeccable range.
21:27Even at its most dramatic though, Hacks understands that a comedian's job, above all else, is
21:32to make the audience laugh.
21:48Despite limited screen time, an unrecognisable Colin Farrell left a huge impression as the
21:52Penguin in Matt Reeves' The Batman.
21:55This mini-series from showrunner Lauren LaFranc adds new dimensions to Oswald Cobb in the
21:59most grounded and possibly the most disturbing interpretation of the villain.
22:09While Farrell escapes into the role, the Penguin is just as much a showcase for Kristen Milioti
22:14as Sophia Falcone.
22:16As different as these characters are, both are severely underestimated, making them the
22:20most dangerous players as Gotham's criminal underbelly undergoes a regime change.
22:35It goes to show that Gotham is much bigger than Batman, or villains that usually hog
22:38the spotlight like the Joker.
22:40Even with a character as iconic as the Penguin, there's still so much left to say.
23:01As pumped up as we were for Arkane's long-awaited return, it was bittersweet knowing the second
23:05season would be the last.
23:07Despite the Emmy-winning first season though, Arkane thoroughly covers a tonne of ground
23:11in a relatively short time.
23:20Nothing comes off as dragged out or too rushed, just about every twist and emotional beat
23:25feels earned.
23:26Season two is another masterclass of world-building, but Arkane will be remembered as one of TV's
23:31best stories, thanks to the characters and their relationships.
23:43Whether or not this divided world can find a peaceful middle ground, we're even more
23:47invested in seeing Ivi and Caitlyn get their happy ending.
23:51Not to mention if Vi and Jinx can restore their sisterhood.
23:54Either way, be ready to cry.
24:13Is Ella Pernal the secret to a successful video game adaptation?
24:16Regardless, Jinx couldn't be more different than Lucy McLean.
24:20A beacon of optimism in a world that's gone to hell.
24:33Even in the safety of Lucy's vault, things aren't as clean-cut as they seemed.
24:36Whether setting out to find her kidnapped father or severing a human head, Lucy tackles
24:40every challenge with an okey-dokey.
24:42Her endearing naivete fits well with the grim yet humorous world of Fallout.
24:54Finding an ideal balance for newcomers and long-time fans of the games, Fallout is where
24:58the apocalypse and Americana intersect.
25:01Just as war never changes, neither does the search for the American Dream, which can be
25:05more ghoulish than one might assume.
25:21We don't think it's a hot take to say that the animated X-Men series from the 90s
25:25was better than several of the live-action movies that followed.
25:28This sequel series evolves the story even further, targeting an older crowd.
25:32Not just because major characters can die now.
25:40What makes X-Men 97 so adult is its audacity to ask difficult questions.
25:45Namely, was Magneto right all along?
25:55More than ever, unity between humans and mutants feels like a pipe dream.
25:58Humanity just keeps making the same mistakes.
26:01Do mutants keep working toward peace, potentially letting history repeat, or are Magneto's
26:05extreme methods the only way to end the cycle for good?
26:32Becoming one of the most streamed programmes during its initial run and going on to dominate
26:48the Primetime Emmys, it's hard to think of a show that captivated a wider range of
26:52viewers in 2024 than Shogun did.
27:01Seeing a mass audience gravitate toward a show heavy in subtitles is especially encouraging.
27:06To quote Bong Joon-ho, once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will
27:11be introduced to so many more amazing films.
27:14Or in this case, TV shows.
27:27With sweeping historical set-pieces and arresting performances, Shogun is the definitive adaptation
27:32of James Clavel's epic novel.
27:34Wherever the series goes from here, Season 1 is bound to go down as a milestone in peak
27:39TV.
27:40Also, Anna Sawai is a star.
27:47So what's your favourite show of 2024?
27:49Let us know in the comments.