For this top TV shows of 2024 list, we asked our writers to select their favorite series from across genres, networks, and countries. From sci-fi to generational storytelling and animated epics, we’ve covered it all. We took a poll of the top TV shows for 2024 from our writers. Considering the series they listed and where they fell on those lists, we captured a year in television from animation to live action and streaming and network just the same.
Now, to make the top TV shows of 2024 list, it had to have been a television series (season or limited) that aired in the calendar year of 2024. But in a year of amazing TV shows in 2024, we expanded the category to include 25 titles. Additioanlly, we have included animated series on the list, since this was great year for animated titles as well.
25. The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3
Showrunner: Brandon Auman
Where to Watch: Prime Video
“The Legend of Vox Machina Season 3 delivers on all fronts: thrilling action, deep character arcs, and high-stakes storytelling. It’s a bold and exhilarating continuation of the series that not only honors its roots but also takes creative risks that pay off beautifully. Fans of the campaign will appreciate the new direction, and newcomers will be swept away by the sheer scope and heart of this fantasy epic.” —Adrian Ruiz
24. Citadel: Diana
Showrunner: Alessandro Fabbri
Where to Watch: Prime Video
“Whether it’s landscapes or Manticore offices, the series’ architecture and set design are absolutely gorgeous. Using those elements to frame the hand-to-hand action sequences keeps the series firmly in a realm of believability, even when everything about it points to the science fiction genre.
Better than the original by all accounts, Citadel: Diana has me all in on the concept of different international versions of stories set in the world of Citadel. With its Indian counterpart scheduled to debut next month, everything about this six-episode series bodes well for the future of the budding franchise. Spycraft, action, and a hefty dash of science fiction, Citadel: Diana understands how to blend genre and tell a story with compelling characters.” —Kate Sánchez
23. Jentry Chau Vs The Underworld
Showrunner:
Where to Watch: Netflix
“The series explores the complexity of family ties and relationships but never overwhelms the audiences with it. Instead, it lets its young characters deal with their respective situations how they want to and in a way that works best for them, showcasing the importance of healthy conversation and doing it in a consistently different and humorous way.
Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld offers stellar animation and a bumping soundtrack; it has a whole lot of heart, which, like most things, is bigger in Texas. If this is the future Netflix Animation has to offer, it looks extremely bright.” —Kate Sánchez
22. The Creep Tapes
Showrunner: Mark Duplass
Where to Watch: Shudder
“The Creep Tapes push past expectations and give Creep fans exactly what they were asking for by burying it into something new and exciting. Truthfully, television is the best format for the next step in the Creep franchise—or, as Duplass noted, the Creep universe. It allows the series to tackle situational comedy and situational distress in a way that builds out its main character as someone beyond his chilling inclinations. The future is nearly endless when viewed as an anthology series of the lives that Duplass’s Peachfuzz has snuffed out. And man, I want it to be.
The Creep Tapes is an unbeatable piece of genre storytelling that highlights the creativity in self-restraint and outmuscles any and every killer series around it. Director Patrick Brice and Mark Duplass (as both writer and star) are a dynamic duo that uses The Creep Tapes to embody everything I love about genre filmmaking, even if it’s in television format.” —Kate Sánchez
21. The Brothers Sun
Showrunner: Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu
Where to Watch: Netflix
“The Brothers Sun is able to subvert the expectations of action fans by deeply understanding action cinema, Hong Kong cinema, and, ultimately, how the US represents Chinese characters in action-filled stories. Tropes are engaged from a place of understanding the past, where to honor, and where to ignore. In some cases, the showrunners reclaim tropes, like the Triad story itself, and in others, they throw them away. There is a deep love for the cinematic history of a genre. Yet, the series never feels like a copy-paste of what came before. It wears its inspirations as accents and does so beautifully.
The Brothers Sun is an undeniably electric as a start to television in 2024. More impressively, though, the series is also easily a new standard bearer for action. The Brothers Sun is as brutal in its violent action as it is heartfelt in its take on family and understanding. There is truly nothing like it out there.” —Kate Sánchez
20. Masters of the Air
Showrunner: John Orloff
Where to Watch: AppleTV+
“…It’s a series that remains cognizant of America’s troubled history, giving its due to the varied men and women who gave everything to protect it. The tender, pensive touch Director Dee Rees brings to these later episodes is especially crucial in painting this portrait, beautifully conveying how one might master the air but not the toll it takes on the soul. It’s this examination that casts Masters of the Air as one of the great entries into the WWII canon.
Though Masters of the Air can be a tad too sentimental in its brotherhood, it survives as an honest, heartfelt document of war—its gravity, brutality, and ultimate humanity on full display. It’s a wonderous successor to HBO’s canonical miniseries, glorifying the sacrifice of the 100th Bomb Group but never the war they found themselves in.” —Prabhjot Bains
19. The Gentlemen
Showrunner: Guy Ritchie
Where to Watch: Netflix
“The Gentlemen (2024) is both Ritchie’s most decadent work and his most restrained. No episode is stuffed too full. Every bit of the humor and violence is executed in sync. They accent each other, hold each other up, and make The Gentlemen (2024) a stunning series. Crime, mystery, action, comedy, it’s all there. Still, how Ritchie blends it across each episode makes this his standout work.
In The Gentlemen TV series, Guy Ritchie is at his Ritchiest. The TV series format allows The Gentlemen to reach its full potential. This allows the more chaotic moments to stand out instead of feeling shoved in. Ritchie may be better suited for television, and I mean that with the utmost respect.
The Gentlemen (2024) is one of the few times a TV series tie-in matches and sometimes exceeds its cinematic predecessor. It’s funny, darkly humorous, and the visuals are decadent. Every costume and set is dripping with that high-class British aesthetic, making Americans fall over themselves. Made with a vibrant palette in mind and the choice to handwrite context on pivotal scenes as exposition is the best I’ve seen done. With all of that, The Gentlemen is Guy Ritchie’s finest work, and the charismatic cast carries it across the finish line.” —Kate Sánchez
18. What We Do In The Shadows Season 6
Showrunner: Paul Simms
Where to Watch: Hulu
“Ultimately, What We Do in the Shadows Season 6 works because we love these characters and the actors playing them. It might not reach the singular heights of previous seasons, but it allows for a charming, if eroded, farewell to these lovable vampires. It’s a shame we couldn’t go out on the high we met them on, with too much time spent on highlight reel-style bits, but the performers maintained their brilliance even if the writing lacked some of its original spark.” —Allyson Johnson
17. Agatha All Along
Showrunner: Jac Schaeffer
Where to Watch: Disney+
“Agatha All Along breathes a necessary new life into Marvel through a familiar, standout character. Kathryn Hahn returns as Agatha Harkness, who first appeared as the antagonist in WandaVision. Blessed with Jac Schaeffer’s specific, delightful, unwavering tone, the series shines due to its strong ensemble and superb writing. There’s style and intrigue, made more so by the time we get to the end of the season and realize all of the clues we failed to miss while trying to guess what’s coming.
But among all the catchy musical numbers and the sizzling chemistry between Hahn and Aubrey Plaza, the character-driven script truly creates magic. In particular, the magnificent “Death’s Hand in Mine” will go down as one of the best hours of anything Marvel has created. The meditations on found family, grief, self-discovery, and trauma allow for grounded drama within a heightened, mystical world. Emotionally charged with real, tangible consequences and meaningful character growth, the series soars due to its impeccable vision.” —Allyson Johnson
16. Black Doves
Showrunner: Sister and Noisy Bear
Where to Watch: Netflix
“Connecting this very personal lens to a story tied directly to traditional spycraft and a larger mystery around the conspiracy brewing in the murkiness of London’s underworld makes the potential geopolitical crisis take a back seat in an interesting way. Don’t get me wrong; Black Doves is an action-spy thriller that embodies the best elements of the genre, but the character work is the real reason you’ll be yearning for a second season.
Grounded by Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, Black Doves is a holiday-adjacent action series well worth binging. The story is engrossing, the characters are compelling, and the action is well executed, standing out in a TV season filled with action (Lioness, The Agency, The Day of the Jackal).” —Kate Sánchez
15. X-Men 97
Showrunner: BBeau DeMayo
Where to Watch: Disney+
“Beyond the characterization and the superb writing, the show finds strength in the big, bombastic visuals. The battles are beautifully destructive. More than any MCU film, X-Men 97 Season 1 makes a fine point of showing the casualties of these superpowered battles. Lives are lost, such as Remy/Gambit (A.J. Locascio) in self-sacrificial displays of heroism. But that only tampers the bleeding so much when so much blood has already been spilled…
That said, on the whole, X-Men 97 Season 1 is a tremendous feat of storytelling. Emboldened by an eerie timeliness, the series is a powerful and kinetic example of why people are so drawn to stories about the X-Men. They’re heroes, but they’re outsiders, and their willingness to fight for the sake of good despite the prejudice they face creates a stirring, cathartic exchange of blows.” —Allyson Johnson
14. The Diplomat Season 2
Showrunner: Quinta Brunson
Where to Watch: Hulu
“The Diplomat Season 2 makes an already fantastic series even more captivating. With Kate coming into her own, the story shifts. Kate is still the same in her dedicated and intelligent approach to people and events, but with her foundation shifting and danger mounting, we get to see who she is when she’s cornered.
We get to see Kerri Russell expand her character’s depth through vulnerability but never wear it on the surface. Where Kate was more timid and steadfast in her presumed morality, the circumstances of the bombing and the larger plot surrounding it allow her to become more forceful.
As one of Netflix’s best American series, The Diplomat deserves well beyond a Season 2. With a transfixing cast and intrigue that carries into the last minutes of the season, The Diplomat Season 2 is the return of a political drama series on any platform.” —Kate Sánchez
13. Heartstopper Season 3
Showrunner: Alice Oseman
Where to Watch: Netflix
“The Heartstopper Season 3 formula refuses to pull any punches. The emotional intensity of harsh moments land. At times, tears came to my eyes. But at the same time, these characters aren’t just left to languish in their trauma. Instead, they’re met with love, and that’s what everyone deserves.
As a series, Heartstopper isn’t here to do anything other than showcase pockets of life. It allows us to see a coming-of-age story spread over one friend group. It showcases the highs and the lows, but more importantly, the messiness that life brings. As you mature, the world just gets messier and scarier. Here, in Heartstopper Season 3, the narrative meets it head-on. We see first times, college tours, and ultimately, we see people. Heartstopper Season 3 is heartfelt, mature, and, above all else, a beacon for young people just trying to make it to adulthood.” —Kate Sánchez
12. Blood of Zeus Season 2
Showrunner: Vlas & Charlie Parlapanides
Where to Watch: Netflix
“Across each of the main characters and the relationships between the ensemble, love is a guiding force. It’s never too cliche and never overshadows conflict. Instead, like the Greek myths it’s based on, Blood of Zeus Season 2 uses loss, longing, and love to craft deep and violent conflicts. Action and anger come hand in hand with grief and the need to be with the people who make you whole. With that, it brings an empathy that makes the tragedy of its characters all the more relatable when the shoe drops.
Blood of Zeus is ambitious, with the final swings of the season. They are big and shake up the series down to its core. While we know that Blood of Zeus Season 3 is coming, the cliffhanger leaves such a lasting impression that every month is going to feel like a year.
With fantastic animation that captures epic action moments and emotional character growth that goes far beyond expectations, Blood of Zeus Season 2 is near perfect. For those who love Greek myths and tragedies and enjoy antagonists with complexity, this is the series for you.” —Kate Sánchez
11. Shrinking Season 2
Showrunner: Lawrence and Brett Goldstein
Where to Watch: AppleTV+
“It’s a testament to the skill of creators Lawrence and Brett Goldstein that the series continues to push and challenge viewers on our limitations of compassion. This is introduced through Goldstein’s character in Season 2 as the driver who drove drunk, resulting in the death of Jimmy’s wife, Tia (Lilan Bowden.) How they handle the story — indicated in the first two episodes — beautifully sidesteps our expectations. Instead of trying to get the audience to like the character, they try to make us think about the repercussions on all sides. And they do so without ever preaching to us.
There are shortcomings in terms of pacing. Grace’s story at the start is rushed, and Garner never seamlessly fits the tone of the series. While it’s nice to see every character get their moment to shine, the series also suffers in adequately giving them their own separate stories. This is especially true since the show is at its best when the cast bounces off one another rather than solo. But still, with quick, relatable humor and strong performances, it overcomes.
Shrinking Season 2 clears the bar it set for itself. Emboldened by a strong ensemble cast with palpable chemistry, the hilarious and heartfelt series remains a bright spot as it continues to challenge its characters and us.” —Allyson Johnson
10. Baby Reindeer
Showrunner: Richard Gadd
Where to Watch: Netflix
“Gunning delivers a superb, towering performance of a woman so good at masquerading it’s easy to believe she’s fooled herself, too. Imbuing Martha with either ferocious rage or childlike vulnerability, her character is as heartbreaking as she is terrifying. Her physicality and facial tics create a character of such fullness that it’s easy to see why Donny would both empathize with her and recoil when she stepped foot in the bar.
Baby Reindeer is difficult to recommend. The Netflix series is an exhausting, intimate, and brutalistic examination of the human condition. With an ambiguous ending that refuses to give us the easy answers or hold our hands through the ideal concept of a healing journey, it manages to suck the air out of the room. It’s devastating; it’s vulnerable to the point of voyeurism. Gadd creates something tangibly horrific but does so with just the right amount of humanism so that, despite the direness, we hope for light at the end of the story, even if it seems so far out of reach.” —Allyson Johnson
9. Fantasmas
Showrunner: Julio Torres
Where to Watch: MAX
“The energy of the plot is amplified by the set and costume design. Deliberately stripped down, there’s an off-kilter nature to each scene. A restaurant broadcasts pictures of food on screens above the patrons, with no actual food on the tables where they sit. A school, a doctor’s office, and a bank all share the same stage, with the pillars and lighting in focus as we watch characters walk in and off of the set. Julio’s apartment is a particular gem, with touchstones such as his bathroom mirror being cut in his silhouette and the lighting simplistic yet futuristic. It’s one nihilistic remark removed from being something panic-inducing.
There’s nothing quite like Fantasmas. Even its recent DIY contemporaries, such as The Peoples Joker or Strawberry Mansion, can’t compare because Fantasmas has an HBO budget. Torres is a singular vision, his tone continuing to develop and refine. While not every episode strikes the same comedic chord, with Episode 2, in particular, being a bit of a slog to get through, there’s no denying the thrill of watching something so refreshingly its own.” —Allyson Johnson
8. Cross
Showrunner: Ben Watkins
Where to Watch: Prime Video
“Aldis Hodge has always been a phenomenal actor. From his time on Leverage, this role in the beautiful One Night In Miami, Underground, and yes, even his time spent as the Green Lantern John Stewart in DC’s animation for the last three years, he brings the most to his roles. Hodge is a force on the screen, and in Cross, it’s electric to see him on screen.
With a stellar supporting cast around him, namely Ryan Eggold, Johnny Ray Gill, and Alona Tal, there isn’t anything lacking in this series. A good mystery crafted around dynamic characters makes Cross (2024) extremely hard to walk away from without pressing play on the next episode. A perfect addition to Reacher, Aldis Hodge stands side to side with Alan Richardson and establishes his own series that I hope keeps getting greenlit for more seasons. I hope that Alex Cross is here to stay.” —Kate Sánchez
7. My Adventures With Superman Season 2
Showrunner: Jake Wyatt
Where to Watch: MAX
“My Adventures with Superman and Marvel’s X-Men ’97 prove that animated superhero series will always reign supreme. And while they’re tonally different, they both harken back to what makes for the best superhero stories, and that’s the ability to understand and honor the titular hero(s) without limiting the story because of it. There’s a range of storytelling only available through the animation medium, and that’s especially true in superhero stories where we need to see the unbelievable.
My Adventures With Superman Season 2 strikes an immediate, steady balance between setting up future storylines while reintroducing viewers to the core group. It becomes timeless with the continued confident tone that refuses to adhere to any modern inclination of what a superhero series should look and feel like.” —Allyson Johnson
6. Fallout Season 1
Showrunner: Graham Wagner & Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Where to Watch: Prime Video
“Much like a video game, Fallout’s environmental storytelling does a lot of heavy lifting to show how deep the series goes into honoring the storied franchise. Whether it’s messages on a radio, flyers in the background, or choices in the signs and building names, everything offers a little bit more of the world. Like any good level in a video game, each set tells the audience the tone, the reason for being there, and the larger narrative.
This all ultimately makes Fallout the finest live-action adaptation of video game source material. It’s strong, it’s goddamn hilarious, and it highlights exactly how to swing for the fences while still knowing where Homebase is. It may be a new series, but Fallout is an instant classic of the streaming age. A second season just can’t come soon enough. Ending this review at around 1700 words, and even with that, there is so much more I didn’t talk about. From hidden Vault Boys and large impacts on game lore going forward, you’ll just have to watch to see how expansive this series is and why it sets a new standard for video game TV.” —Kate Sánchez
5. The 8 Show
Showrunner: Han Jae-rim
Where to Watch: Netflix
“Often an uncomfortable watch, The 8 Show explores the nooks and crannies of the soul. It exposes the ways that altruism erodes and selfishness prevails. It takes desperate people and cultivates them into their worst parts, where fear takes hold, and vulnerabilities transform into clawing at shreds of survival. Every time characters are given hope, it’s immediately crushed into a fine powder. There are no good feelings to be had about people in the series, and each episode cuts deeper as kindness erodes further and further.
The 8 Show is one of the best-limited series on Netflix. It ends with finality and pays off every narrative choice made along the way. This isn’t about action or even the actual violence we see; it’s about people breaking and tearing down each other because of the ways capitalism and archaic ideas of success and worthiness have been ingrained in them. It’s humanity unmasked.” —Kate Sánchez
4. Arcane Season 2
Showrunner: Christian Linke
Where to Watch: Netflix
“Bringing all the characters and conflicts to life is the gorgeous visual presentation that put Fortiche on the map. The most minor details are given equal care as the biggest explosions. Intimate moments showcase a level of animated nuance that is rarely, if ever, seen before. The expressiveness of the characters, as they weather the season’s endless storms, can easily be placed among the best live action has to offer and not be found wanting.
Arcane Season 2 manages to not only live up to the standard that its predecessor set but smashes it open. With more of everything fans love, this season highlights what can be achieved when artists are allowed to take the time they need. Delivering something unique and powerful, this season will leave the audience dying to see where Riot Games will take them next.” —Charles Hartford
3. True Detective: Night Country
Showrunner: Issa López
Where to Watch: MAX (formerly HBO Max)
“While this ending could feel too neat for some, for me, this is an ending that seizes the story. As the women say, we all know how Annie’s story ends. She is an indigenous woman who went missing. Annie is an indigenous woman who was murdered. And she was a woman who was cast aside, that justice ignored. We know how this same story ends across reality and in media. However, in Night Country, the women tell a different story with a different ending.
True Detective Season 4 capitalizes on everything. The pollution, the racism, and the winding anti-indigenous murder that led to a cascading for Ennis and its people is undeniable. Even with its stark message that prioritizes Kali Reis’s performance as Navarro, True Detective: Night Country never stops leaning into the noir detective story. It pulls in social commentary that is all to the benefit of the narrative’s conflict with every choice.
True Detective: Night Country is a stunning season. With a little bit of horror, a lot of noir detective grime, and a dedication to showcasing a bitter reality, the series ends with an emotionally resonant bang.” —Kate Sánchez
2. Pachinko Season 2
Showrunner: Soo Hugh
Where to Watch: AppleTV+
“Even with a larger focus on the men of Pachinko in Season 2, Sunja is beautifully explored. With two actresses bridging her story in the past and the present, Kim Minha and Youn Yuh-jung, are breathtaking actresses. Both women are able to move mountains with subtle expressions. Sunja reacts to the world around her, but she is never consumed by it. She is stalwart, curious, and she has learned to live with her shadow. Both actresses Kim and Youn give audiences performances that deserve to be talked about as the best on television…
Ultimately, Pachinko Season 2 is encapsulated in its last moments. Sunja asks herself, “Why do some people survive when others do not?” That is the crux of the series. It’s about what we carry, what we break under, and those who have been lost. By tracing the ripples of trauma through one family, Pachinko offers a salient and intimate understanding of resiliency without disregarding your sorrow or grief. Pachinko Season 2 is a masterpiece that showcases the importance of television as a medium to tell stories. Each episode progresses and builds into a somber crescendo that reflects on the journey.” —Kate Sánchez
1. Interview With The Vampire Season 2
Showrunner:Rolin Jones
Where to Watch: AMC+, Netflix
“If last season showcased the curse of vampirism, Interview With The Vampire Season 2 captures the bliss of it all. The compassion in the dark gift and the unbreakable tether it creates between those who share blood. There are moments of reverence and love. In fact, the series establishes that regardless of the ancient age or not, the tethers that form can be unbreakable. While the costumes, set designs, effects, and acting are the best that television offers, the story makes everything perfect. Yes, perfect.
Ultimately, Interview With The Vampire Season 2 is an intimate and heartbreaking look at love. The season once again captures the beauty and cruelty of the eternal connections that Anne Rice is known for, and it does it effortlessly. Every performance is exceptional, and every line delivery carries the weight it deserves. It is rare to find a series that adds to the material it is based on, but with the second season, Interview With The Vampire has done it again.” —Kate Sánchez
Our Top TV Shows of 2024 showcases the diversity of genres of talent available on streaming platforms and beyond. Whether it’s through episodic releases or seasonal ones, the love is there. From drama and sci-fi to comedy fantasy, 2024 had much to love. Did your favorite make out top TV shows of the 2024 list? Let us know on social media: @butwhytho.net on Bluesky.
Synopses for the Top TV Shows of 2024 list were taken from our previously written reviews or our writers.