The best TV shows of 2024

The best TV shows of 2024 captures a hearty mix of action and genre shows, as well as character-driven narratives.

To say television in 2024 knocked it out of the park is an understatement, and this list of the best TV shows of 2024 is a great indicator of it. This is usually the time we deconstruct the state of television and sure, there’s plenty to be annoyed about as shows continued to be prematurely canceled. But hey, it’s the season of joy, so let’s just sit back and watch some good television.

Before we get to the best TV shows of 2024 list, let’s give a quick shoutout to some other shows. There were plenty of iconic moments that happened in TV this year. Buck came out as bisexual in 9-1-1 Season 7 (was that really only just this year?). Evil, a canceled TV show, kept hitting the top of the streaming charts every week during its Season 4 run. And, the year began with a standout Marvel show with Echo. The point is, it’s been a great year of TV.

10. Only Murders in the Building, Season 4

Four murders in, Only Murders in the Building remains locked in to its comically narrow title without feeling too far-fetched or tired. (Any far-fetchedness only serves to be hilarious: Paul Rudd, as last year’s victim Ben, appears this time as Ben’s identical stunt double…Glen.) Once again, a murder has occurred in New York City’s Arconia building, and once again, it’s up to Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez (as a trio of true crime podcasters), to solve the case.

With a remarkable guest star roster (Meryl Streep! Eugene Levy!), Season 4 is just as twee, poignant, and charming as the seasons before it. The show has always relied on heartfelt stakes, cliffhangers, and sharp writing that utilizes its stars’ comedic chops. In an age when series want to outdo or reinvent themselves, Only Murders remains true to itself. Maybe that’s the most impressive thing of all. [Claire Di Maio]

9. Abbott Elementary, Season 3/4

Abbott on Abbott on Abbott. Every fall when a new season of Abbott Elementary rolls around, life is worth living again. Jokes aside, Abbott Elementary is a wonderful break from the other shows that tend to take themselves too seriously. Additionally, this newest season in particular really captures the magic of the mockumentary genre within the school.

The golf course allowed the teachers to come together closer than ever before. Their relationships, both inside and outside of the school, have deepened into real bonds. We see them supporting each other in situations that are, quite frankly, bonkers. Season 4 is a nice reminder that things are going to be okay, even at a time when it feels like the world is ending. [Kayla Chu]

8. Agatha All Along

The era of Agatha Harkness is reigning supreme in the MCU. Agatha All Along, the bewitching miniseries on Disney+, was such a thrilling and fun first season. We haven’t had this much fun in a Marvel/MCU TV show in a long while. Agatha All Along blended camp, horror, and action into a spellbinding tale.

The story of a coven walking the Witches’ Road balanced the spooky side of Marvel’s magic with the emotional depth of its characters. From exploring Agatha’s shocking twist to Billy’s origin as a Maximoff (aka. the superhero Wiccan), Agatha All Along packed plenty of Marvel lore into its short-yet-exciting episode count. The journey with our beloved coven lived up to our wishes. [Justin Carreiro]

7. Pachinko, Season 2

As the end of the year lists continue to roll out, it’s strikingly clear that too few people have watched the phenomenal Apple TV adaptation of Pachinko. In its second season, the global drama continues to explore the intricate history of four generations of a Korean family. Bouncing between the past and present, the series examines a family legacy and its secrets, along with the suffering and triumphs that embroil themselves in certain characters’ journeys. So often, a character experiences both in the same episode. 

From wartime terror to postwar unease and the modern malaise of elder family members watching their sons and grandsons rebuke the history they’re built on, Pachinko interrogates its characters and their dreams. There’s such beauty in the series which creates an intimate type of stress as we worry endlessly about any grain of happiness because we know it can be fleeting. With beautiful, timeless direction and engrossing, moving performances, Pachinko remains a devastating and life-affirming must-watch. [Allyson Johnson]

6. Interview with the Vampire, Season 2

Interview with the Vampire Season 2 unfurls at a psychologically menacing pace with the Dubai scenes turning into a claustrophobic horror show while the past revels in theatrical tragedies until they collide in the Season 2 finale.

As for the cast, Delainey Hayles embodies Claudia from the moment Season 2 begins in a war-torn Europe. Her search for connection is a tragic one but there’s joy, too, and Hayles makes sure we see Claudia in every moment. Assad Zaman delivers an explosive deep dive into the grief, anger, and manipulations of the vampire Armand. Mesmerizing on screen and often haunting the narrative, Sam Reid continues to marvel as Lestat, even with lesser screen time.

But it’s Jacob Anderson that pulls this altogether as Louis de Pointe du Lac. As Louis deconstructs his own narrative with the help of Eric Bogosian’s Daniel Molloy, it’s impossible not to see every facet of Louis with which Anderson imbues him. From the emotional, grief-fueled breakthroughs, the mad ravings of a vampire high on blood and drugs, the proud father moments, and the final, character-defining full circle ending, Anderson turns Louis into a character of all time, leading a show of all time. [Katey Stoetzel]

5. Nobody Wants This

The CW gave us Adam Brody (The OC) and Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars) some 20 years ago. By teaming up these millennial icons, Netflix gives us what we want in Nobody Wants This. Brody’s Noah, a rabbi up for a promotion, and Bell’s Joanne, an agnostic sex podcaster, have electric chemistry and are determined they can overcome their religious differences.

There’s just one problem: everyone wants them to break up. Their will-they, won’t-they dynamic is relatable, funny, and poignant. You can’t help but root for them the moment they lock eyes at a dinner party. Quippy dialogue, a top-notch supporting cast (Timothy Simons’ and Justine Lupe’s chemistry deserves its own show), and a plot inspired by creator Erin Foster’s own life makes Nobody Wants This the best romcom of the year. Already renewed for a second season, it’s safe to say everybody wants this. [Claire Di Maio]

4. X-Men ’97

A ‘90s cult favorite is brought back to vibrant life in the animated series X-Men ‘97. The series follows the most notable mutants, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Rouge, Gambit, and more, as they deal with the untimely passing of their mentor and figurehead, Charles Xavier. It’s the best animation from Marvel, and it forgoes their standard uncanny valley-style movements and character designs. The nature of these characters allows for great explosions of color as they explore and utilize their powers. 

However, the greatest strength is how they write longtime X-Men antagonist Magneto. He takes on a more morally grey role here, a feature point for delivering some of the series’ most intensive questions. The X-Men have always been an allegory for marginalized groups, and the animated series remembers that and honors it with rage simmering beneath its dialogue. That anger is the necessary fuel to the series story. While there are plenty of soap-opera-heavy narratives that lean into the familial dramatics of the team’s structure, the internal debates and how the world sees them is what gives the series its power. [Allyson Johnson]

3. Baby Reindeer

Baby Reindeer is one of the best television shows to date. Its creator and star, Richard Gadd, is not afraid to look in the mirror and accept some hard truths about his past. Loosely biographical but wholly authentic, Baby Reindeer follows down on his luck British comedian turned bartender, Donny, as he navigates his complicated relationship with a female stalker while overcoming his traumatic past.

Though the dark comedy miniseries is a hard watch, Gadd’s nuanced depiction of toxic masculinity and self-destructive behavior and Jessica Gunning’s stunning performance as Donny’s stalker Martha makes every minute of the show worth viewing. [Phylecia Miller]

2. Shrinking, Season 2

After the success of its phenomenal first season, Shrinking returned in 2024 with arguably one of the best seasons of television to date. The cast was already stacked as it was, but the addition of Brett Goldstein added a new layer to the story that brought it to another level.

This season continued to do what this show does so beautifully, interweaving the comedy and drama of everyday life in such a natural way. And of course, Harrison Ford once again showed his comedic chops and steals every single scene he’s in with his dry and quick humor. With more complex stories and new character dynamics, this show has solidified itself as one of Apple TV+’s heavy hitters. [Tyler Carlsen]

1. Shōgun

Anchored by the pitch perfect performances of Hiroyuki Sanada, Anna Sawai, and Cosmo Jarvis, Shōgun spins up a historical epic that masterfully blends grand scale and interpersonal drama. Creators Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks and their team at FX did a masterful job bringing feudal Japan to the small screen.

Their adaptation of a western novel about Japanese history deftly dodges the white savior trope and instead presents a nuanced cultural clash. There’s plenty of action across the ten episodes but the series is at its best during intimate conversations and wordless interactions. [Jose Cordova]