All in all, 2024 has proven to be a good year for television. While some long-awaited new seasons of beloved TV shows premiered, previous months have also offered a diverse range of new series that have captivated audiences across genres. Whether through bringing beloved classics back to life, adapting best-selling tales to the small screen, or creating new stories that fit in with modern concerns and issues, there were plenty of choices for anyone who might have looked for something different.

Each of this year's standout series showed a blend of nostalgia and innovation, often using quirky humor or thrilling plot twists to explore thought-provoking, contemporary themes. Another significant feature of these series has been the ability to pair visually stunning worlds with universal narratives that resonate deeply. These series showcased the artistic value of television while also not underestimating its societal influence, proving its cultural relevance.

10 English Teacher

FX | Created By Brian Jordan Alvarez

Created by comedian Brian Jordan Alvarez, who also stars as the main character, Evan Marquez, English Teacher is a sharp and entertaining sitcom set in a public high school in Austin, Texas. In his new job, Marquez finds himself constantly entangled in the overlap of his personal relationships and professional responsibilities while attempting to adapt to the ever-changing political landscape of education.

The TV show became popular among the public and received praise from critics. With its funny and clever portrayal of a burn-out-prone, neglected, and often discarded environment as the education system has become, English Teacher offers a sharp social commentary while never losing its wit, offering a thought-provoking satirical product. With a score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and widespread acclaim, the series has established itself as one of the stand-out premieres of 2024.

9 Fallout

Prime Video | Created By Graham Wagner And Geneva Robertson-Dworet

Based on a role-playing video game of the same name, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic drama starring Ella Purnell as the main character, Lucy MacLean. The show is set in an alternate reality where a nuclear war between the U.S.A. and China has ravaged the world, plunging it into a dystopian future and forcing the survivors to seek refuge in fallout bunkers named "vaults."

The series follows Lucy, a vault dweller, who embarks on a journey to find her father, coming face to face with the brutality of the world outside. Aside from the ingenious world-building, Fallout emerges because of its nuanced and charismatic characters.

From Lucy and her brother Norm to Hank and Maximus, all the protagonists are in constant evolution, adapting as the story unfolds, revealing their motives, and assuming new perspectives. Although the creators brought some controversial changes to the Fallout show, the series has still gathered positive reviews from the public and critics, even earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama.

8 Ripley

Netflix | Created By Steven Zaillian

Based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, this Netflix TV show is a neo-noir, psychological thriller limited series created by Steven Zaillian. Filmed in black-and-white and set in the legendary 1960s between New York and Italy, the show already started well for its stunning aesthetic.

With its meticulous attention to detail, score, and stunning visuals, the series has done justice to noir cults of the past.

However, Ripley is brought to further heights thanks to its intelligent writing and the impeccable portrayal of Andrew Scott in the role of Tom Ripley, which had previously belonged to renowned actors like Alain Delon and Matt Damon. As Tom Ripley flies to Italy to convince a wealthy man's son to return to the U.S., he soon becomes fascinated with the hedonistic existence of the boy and ends up entangled in a web of lies and deceit while his life takes a darker turn.

With four nominations at the Emmy Awards, the show received widespread recognition. With its meticulous attention to detail, score, and stunning visuals, the series has done justice to noir cults of the past. Unsurprisingly, as one of the best 2024 TV shows, this latest Ripley adaptation stood out.

7 The Day Of The Jackal

Peacock, Sky Atlantic | Created By Ronan Bennett

The Day of the Jackal is a spy-thriller British drama and stars Academy Award-winner Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, and Ursula Corbero. The series is based on the 1971 novel of the same name but is reimagined in a modern context. The story follows a master and ruthless assassin, known as the "Jackal" and a former police officer who begins to investigate him.

Day of the Jackal's Rotten Tomatoes score represents its widespread praise, emphasizing its status as another one of 2024's best TV shows. The Day of the Jackal has become among the most popular shows airing on Sky TV (via The Independent), and it has earned two Golden Globes nominations.

Between the mysterious storytelling and its strategic execution that successfully keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats, Redmayne's portrayal is nothing short of brilliant. As the series has only just wrapped up with a shocking ending, fans are eager to learn more in the second season.

6 A Man On The Inside

Netflix | Created By Michael Schur

It is hard to go wrong when Ted Danson is involved. The well-recognized comedic genius of the star of Cheers never fails to entertain and captivate the audience. A Man on the Inside is a comedy TV series created by Michael Schur, based on the acclaimed 2020 documentary The Mole Agent. The story follows a retired man, Charles, who finds a new purpose in life after he responds to a private detective's ment and ends up infiltrating a nursing home for an investigation.

Between witty lines, unlikely situations, and touching scenes, the series perfectly balances wacky humor and emotional depth, allowing the audience to not only be fascinated by but also empathize with Charles as he rediscovers and proves himself. The The Good Place, gathering once again the fans of the brilliant 2010s series and finding new.

5 Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Prime Video | Created By Donald Glover And sca Sloane

A reimagining of the 2005 action-comedy film with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a spy TV show created by sca Sloane and Donald Glover, the latter of whom also stars in it. The series delves into the professional and personal lives of John and Jane Smith (aliases for their real names), two strangers who work as spies and are forced to go undercover and live as a married couple.

"Mr. & Mrs. Smith wouldn't work without thrilling chemistry between its lead actors, and for the most part, Glover and Erskine deliver on that front. Their quick-as-a-whip banter and clashing personalities make genuine sparks, setting up a dynamic that is interesting to watch." - Rachel Labonte, Screen Rant's Mr. & Mrs. Smith Review

Differently from the original film, which divided the critics, the series received positive reviews. The Mr. & Mrs. Smith TV show adaptation offers a more nuanced portrayal compared to the 2005 movie. The performances of the leading actors have also been highly praised and earned the approval of the public. With 16 Emmy nominations, the series proved successful in building upon its source and recreating the characters' legendary chemistry that defined the original story.

4 Shogun

FX & Hulu | Created By Rachel Kondo And Justin Marks

Based on the beloved 1975 bestseller of the same name, Shōgun met all the expectations. The historical TV series created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks brings to life the fascinating world of feudal Japan in the early 1600s. The story begins with English navigator John Blackthorne, whose ship ends up wrecked on the shores of Japan.

Forced to come face to face with a world he doesn't know, Blackthorne remains entangled in the power struggles of the Japanese feudal system, developing a crucial bond with Lord Toranaga. From Shōgun's best dramatic scenes to the quietest moments, the show is excellent at depicting the cultural clashes and political intricacies that serve as its central themes.

It also became the first Japanese show to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

With a compelling narrative that keeps the viewer yearning for more after each episode and well-written characters that conquer the public's heart, the series could only receive widespread critical acclaim with an almost perfect score of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. It also became the first Japanese show to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series.

3 The Penguin

HBO | Created By Lauren LeFranc

A spinoff sequel to the 2022 Batman movie, The Penguin features one of the most popular villains of DC as the main character. Starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobblepot (a.k.a. The Penguin), the series explores the aftermath of Gotham's upheaval following the events of the Robert Pattinson-led movie. It depicts Oz's relentless attempts to rise to power and seize control of the city's criminal underworld. As Danny DeVito stated, compared to Tim Burton's film, the 2024 TV show offers a new angle on Cobblepot.

The dark atmosphere characteristic of the rough city of Gotham, paired with the clever and unexplored portrayal of one of Batman's most legendary enemies, enriches an already extensive franchise. Farrell's layered performance successfully captured the ruthlessness of his character while occasionally offering glimpses of humanity buried deep underneath his cruel exterior, earning him a Golden Globe nomination.

2 Baby Reindeer

Netflix | Created By Richard Gadd

A deeply upsetting black comedy-drama, one of the Baby Reindeer is an autobiographical adaptation of Richard Gadd's disturbing one-man show of the same name. The miniseries explores Donny Dunn's (a fictional version of Gadd) experience as a victim of stalking and the psychological toll it takes on his life, forcing him to relive distressing events of his past.

Baby Reindeer has an impressive score of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Starring Gadd himself, the show intertwines dark humor and drama to delve into more delicate themes of trauma and obsession. The series obtained universal acclaim, with critics praising the emotional nuances of the story as well as the powerful acting in it.

If Gadd's performance as a fictionalized version of himself is impressive for the emotional vulnerability it brought to light, Jessica Gunning's portrayal of Martha, Donny's stalker, is not less worthy of recognition. Both actors received an Emmy for their work.

1 X-Men '97

Disney Plus | Created By Beau DeMayo

A revival of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series from the 1990s, X-Men '97 certainly did not disappoint when it aired earlier in 2024 on Disney+. Picking up where the original series interrupted, the new show revisits fan-favorite characters like Wolverine, Rogue, and Jean Grey, along with the action-filled sequences, drama, and thorough exploration of complex themes that made the original iconic.

Balancing nostalgic sentiments and 1990s visuals with unexpected and exciting new storylines, X-Men '97 gathered long-time followers of the original animated series and also earned new fans. The first season was critically acclaimed and received an almost perfect score of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show successfully honored the legacy of one of the most beloved Marvel works in history while also touching upon more modern issues. With its clever storytelling and epic scenes, it deserves the title of the best TV show of 2024.

Source: The Independent