Summary
While I spend the vast majority of my free time playing video games, I also spend a lot of it watching TV. In fact, I watched 86 seasons of television in 2024. Some shows were disappointments, but others stood out to me as some of the best the medium has to offer, whether they aired ontraditional broadcast or cable TVor on a streaming service.
These are my 10 favorite TV shows of 2024. Please note that I haven’t included shows that haven’t aired a full season yet, like the extremely funCreature Commandoscurrently airing on Max, but they would be eligible for next year’s list.
2. Curb Your Enthusiasm (Season 12)
1. Arcane (Season 2)
For anyone looking for a new show to watch, as far as comedies go, I can’t recommendTed,Solar Opposites, andCurb Your Enthusiasmenough. I was honestly shocked at how much I enjoyedTed, as I find Seth MacFarlane to be pretty hit-or-miss, but it was easily one of the funniest shows I watched all year, and it’s something I’ve gone back to when I need a laugh.Solar Oppositesis, next toAmerican Dad, the best adult animated sitcom there is right now, in my opinion, while there really is nothing likeCurb Your Enthusiasm. Season 12 was once again full of gut-busting laughs and jaw-dropping momentscourtesy of the incomparable Larry David, all wrapped up with what I believe to be the perfect ending to the series. I also want to shout outOnly Murders in the Building, which was yet again wildly entertaining, but didn’t quite make my top 10 list.
Now, some may be raising their eyebrows at the inclusion of the Netflix reality showThe Circle, but hear me out. WhileThe Circleis typical reality show slop in many ways, the pure fun factor it brings to the table is hard to beat. The show is full of shocking moments and intense cliffhangers, making it one of my favorites to binge-watch.Circlefans were treated to not one, buttwoseasons in 2024 after a year-long hiatus, with Season 7 potentially the best that it’s put out so far.
Those looking for something a little more serious should definitely check out the emotionally-exhaustingBaby Reindeeron Netflix, comic book crime dramaThe Penguinon Max, or Hulu’s excellentShogun. LikeTed, I didn’t expect to likeThe Penguinas much as I did, but it blew away my expectations. Colin Farrell’s portrayal of the titular Penguin, aka Oz Cobb, has deservedly found the star nominated for many awards, but Cristin Milioti’s turn as Sofia Falcone is easily one of the year’s best performances as well.The Penguinwill leave you wanting more of the Matt ReevesBatmanuniverse, which makesThe Batman 2’s delay to 2027that much more painful.
Comic book fans that need another solid show to watch after they finishThe Penguinshould look no further thanX-Men ‘97on Disney+. I love the originalX-Menanimated series from the 90s and would have been happy ifX-Men ‘97simply met the high bar set by it. Instead,X-Men ‘97reached new heights, delivering an action-packed debut season full of stakes and memorable moments. A couple of episodes didn’t quite hit the mark, which keeps me from ranking it even higher, but rest assured that some of the best TV episodes all year can be found inX-Men ‘97.
All 10 of these shows are great in their own ways, but if I could only recommend one, it would be Netflix’sArcane. An absolute animation masterpiece,Arcaneis a dazzling show full of complex characters, brilliantly written dialogue, adrenaline-fueled action sequences tied together by fantastic performances across the board. Not only isArcaneone of the best shows of 2024, it is one of my favorite TV shows of all time.
Looking ahead, 2025 is already shaping up to be another fantastic year for TV.The Last of UsSeason 2 is right around the corner, the final season ofStranger Thingsis on deck, andBreaking Badcreator Vince Gilligan’s new show is expected to premiere on Apple TV+. It will take a lot for the 2025 shows to top 2024, but I can’t wait to see how it all shakes out.
Arcane
Cast
Arcane is an animated series developed by Alex Yee and Christian Linke that follows a the story of Piltover and Zaun, two pivotal locations in the League of Legends universe. The first season follows the stories of Jynx and Vi, as well as Jayce and Viktor.
