Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
If you are looking for some quality entertainment to binge-watch in 2024, you are in luck. The new year promises to deliver a plethora of TV shows that will cater to every taste and preference. Whether you are into drama, comedy, thriller, reality, documentary, or adaptation, there is something for everyone on the small screen.
To help you navigate the vast and varied TV landscape, we have compiled a list of the top 10 best TV shows to watch in 2024, based on their critical acclaim, popularity, originality, and potential. These are the shows that you don’t want to miss, and that will keep you hooked, entertained, and enlightened throughout the year.
10. The Bear (FX/Hulu)
From the mind of Boots Riley, the visionary director of Sorry to Bother You, comes The Bear, a surreal comedy that follows a man who wakes up one day with a bear for a head. The show explores the absurd and hilarious consequences of his transformation, as he tries to cope with his new identity, his family, his job, and his society. The show stars Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Danny Glover, and Janelle Monáe, and features a mix of live-action, animation, and puppetry. The show promises to be a wild and witty satire of capitalism, racism, and consumerism, with a touch of magical realism.
9. Gladiators (BBC One)
Gladiators, are you ready? Players, are you ready? The classic 90s show returns – pugil sticks, Hang Tough, The Wall and all – with more supremely ripped sporting heroes ready to try to whup brave members of the public. Will they have what it takes to beat Fury, Electro, Nitro and Bionic in the Eliminator? The show is hosted by Claudia Winkleman, who brings her trademark wit and charm to the proceedings, and features a mix of new and old gladiators, including some familiar faces from the original series. The show is a nostalgic and thrilling spectacle of physical prowess, courage, and fun.
8. Echo (Disney+)
Fans of 2022’s Disney+ Hawkeye series will already be aware of Maya Lopez, a deaf hero driven to revenge following her father’s murder. In Echo, Lopez finally gets her own series. Best of all, however, is the fact that the wonderfully glowering Vincent D’Onofrio is returning as the evil crime lord Kingpin. The show is based on the Marvel comics character, who has the ability to mimic any skill or movement she sees. The show explores her origin story, her relationship with Kingpin, and her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The show stars Alaqua Cox, who is also deaf, as Lopez, and features appearances from other Marvel characters, such as Daredevil and Moon Knight.
7. Truelove (Channel 4)
You know that friend you’ve loved dearly for decades, ever since you were young, wild and untethered? Would you kill them if they asked you to? That is the pitch-black premise of this euthanasia drama by Charlie Covell (known for The End of the F**king World) which stars Lindsay Duncan and Clarke Peters as the friends and former flames charged with the task of bumping off their old gang. Do they have the stomach for it? The show is a dark comedy that explores the themes of friendship, loyalty, morality, and mortality, with a dose of nostalgia, romance, and mystery. The show also features a stellar cast, including Olivia Colman, David Tennant, Helena Bonham Carter, and Steve Coogan.
6. Julia (Sky/Now)
A world away from Sgt Catherine Cawood, Sarah Lancashire is back on cracking form (is she ever not?) as Julia Child, the pioneering, plum-mouthed, innuendo-loving TV chef. In this second outing, Julia heads to Paris to get more inspiration for her show The French Chef – which is becoming so popular back home she ends up in the White House. As ever, expect this show to be swimming in so much butter your arteries will get clogged just watching. Yum. The show is a biopic of the legendary chef, who introduced French cuisine to American audiences, and became a cultural icon. The show is based on the book by Child’s grandnephew, and features a mix of drama, comedy, and history. The show also stars David Hyde Pierce as Child’s husband, and Stanley Tucci as her producer.
5. Succession (Sky/Now)
The Roys are back for the final season of the Emmy-winning drama that has captivated audiences with its sharp writing, stellar acting, and scathing portrayal of a dysfunctional media dynasty. The season picks up from the explosive finale of season three, where Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) betrayed his father Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and exposed his crimes to the world. The season promises to be a thrilling and tense showdown between the father and son, as well as between the other siblings and rivals, who are all vying for power, money, and control. The show also features a stellar cast, including Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Matthew Macfadyen, and Holly Hunter.
4. The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Video)
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Colson Whitehead, The Underground Railroad is a historical fantasy series that reimagines the network of secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the 19th century as a literal railroad. The series follows Cora Randall (Thuso Mbedu), a young woman who escapes from a Georgia plantation and embarks on a harrowing journey across the country, pursued by a relentless slave catcher (Joel Edgerton). The series is directed by Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning filmmaker of Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk, and features a stunning cinematography, a haunting score, and a powerful story.
3. The Crown (Netflix)
The Crown returns for its fifth and penultimate season, with a new cast taking over the roles of the British royal family. Imelda Staunton plays Queen Elizabeth II, who faces the challenges and changes of the 1990s, such as the Gulf War, the rise of New Labour, and the death of Princess Diana. Jonathan Pryce plays Prince Philip, who struggles with his health and his role as the consort. Elizabeth Debicki plays Princess Diana, who becomes a global icon and a humanitarian, but also a source of controversy and scandal. Dominic West plays Prince Charles, who tries to balance his duty and his love for Camilla Parker Bowles. The show is a lavish and compelling drama that chronicles the history, politics, and personal lives of the most famous family in the world.
2. The Lord of the Rings (Amazon Prime Video)
One of the most ambitious and expensive TV projects ever made, The Lord of the Rings is a prequel series to the epic fantasy saga by J.R.R. Tolkien, set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The series explores the origins of the Ring of Power, the rise and fall of the kingdoms of Middle-earth, and the epic battles and adventures of the heroes and villains of the Second Age. The series features a diverse and talented cast, including Robert Aramayo, Morfydd Clark, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and Joseph Mawle, and is filmed in the stunning locations of New Zealand. The series promises to be a breathtaking and faithful adaptation of Tolkien’s rich and complex world, with the blessing and involvement of his estate.
1. Stranger Things (Netflix)
The hit sci-fi horror series returns for its fourth and possibly final season, with more mystery, suspense, and nostalgia. The season follows the aftermath of the shocking cliffhanger of season three, where Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) lost her powers and was separated from her friends, and where Jim Hopper (David Harbour) was revealed to be alive and imprisoned in Russia. The season promises to answer some of the burning questions that fans have, such as what is the Upside Down, who is the American, and what is the Mind Flayer’s plan. The season also features the return of the beloved cast, including Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, and Sadie Sink, as well as some new faces, such as Robert Englund, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Tom Wlaschiha. The show is a thrilling and nostalgic homage to the 80s pop culture, with references to movies, music, and games of the era.
These are the top 10 best TV shows to watch in 2024, according to our list. Of course, there are many more shows that are worth watching, and that may surprise and delight us in the new year.
Whether you are looking for drama, comedy, thriller, reality, documentary, or adaptation, there is something for everyone on the small screen. So grab your popcorn, your remote, and your streaming service of choice, and get ready for a year of quality entertainment.
What are your favorite TV shows to watch in 2024? Let us know in the comments below.
