20 New TV Shows That Defined 2024, Ranked
20. Three-Body Problem
Leave it to ‘Game of Thrones’ creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss to take Liu Cixin’s mind-expanding sci-fi novel and craft a screen experience that feels both cerebral and cinematic. On the surface, ’Three-Body Problem’ seems about aliens, but it’s more of a commentary on the fragility of humanity when faced with something far more intelligent and far less empathetic.
19. Presumed Innocent
Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a performance that’s all slow burn and spiraling tension in ‘Presumed Innocent.’ This legal thriller isn’t just about guilt or innocence, it’s about the collapse of identity under the weight of secrets. If you are in the mood for a show that is pure prestige, this is the way to go.
18. Sweetpea
Ella Purnell slices through the glossy veneer of everyday life in this surprise slasher-with-subtext. ‘Sweetpea’ is gleefully violent, but what makes it unforgettable is the slow, sinister evolution of Rhiannon—an “invisible” woman whose rage becomes her power. It’s dark, smart, and viciously funny.
17. The Sympathizer
Part political thriller, part absurdist satire, ‘The Sympathizer’ juggles each genre with ease. Robert Downey Jr.’s chameleonic turns are mesmerizing, but it's Hoa Xuande’s “Captain” who anchors the story with nuance. Add in the post-Vietnam identity crisis and some Hollywood skewering, and you’ve got something truly unique.
16. Masters of the Air
The spiritual successor to ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘The Pacific,’ this WWII series delivers stunning aerial battles and emotions that run raw and high. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the TV show brings new depth to the “war is hell” narrative with a focus on brotherhood above the clouds.
15. Black Doves
Keira Knightley steps into the shadows in this stylish espionage thriller that doesn’t shy away from moral ambiguity. With taut writing and slick direction, ‘Black Doves’ proves that spy stories don’t have to be about gadgets, they can be about grief, betrayal, and sacrifice.
14. Feud: Capote vs. The Swans
Socialite warfare has never looked this good. Truman Capote takes on Manhattan’s elite, and the resulting chaos is as elegant as it is tragic. Gossip, betrayal, and Oscar-worthy performances turn this feud into a feast.
13. Mr. & Mrs. Smith
This isn’t just a reboot, it’s a reinvention. Donald Glover and Maya Erskine bring surprising depth and tension to the married spy duo, offering more emotional dynamics and less glossy action. It’s espionage with a side of existential dread, and it works.
12. The Gentlemen
Guy Ritchie’s return to the world of classy crime and cockney chaos is pure entertainment. With an unassuming army captain, a cunning drug queenpin, and one giant estate full of secrets, ‘The Gentlemen’ delivers humor, grit, and more than a few headbutts.
11. A Man on the Inside
Spy thrillers usually star chiseled agents in tailored suits. This one gives you a retired professor in orthopedic shoes and it’s brilliant. With warmth, wit, and some surprisingly sharp plot twists, this show is as comforting as it is compelling.
10. Nobody Wants This
Sex, spirituality, and satire? Somehow the concoction is delicious. Kristen Bell’s sex podcaster meets Adam Brody’s rabbi in a rom-com that’s as bizarre as it is beautiful. It’s messy, modern, and manages to say something genuine about love and faith.
9. Say Nothing
Based on the acclaimed book about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this tense historical drama doesn’t pull punches. ‘Say Nothing’ serves as a thriller and tragedy, pulling viewers into a world of secrets where one misstep can cost everything.
8. Fallout
Video game adaptations have a new gold standard after ‘The Last of Us.’ But, ‘Fallout’ is mad, radioactive, and incredibly fun. It balances satire with real stakes, and the post-apocalyptic Americana vibes are pitch-perfect. If you like your dystopia with a side of dark humor, this is your jam.
7. One Day
This heartbreaker spans decades, but it’s the moments between the years that land the hardest. A love story told in snapshots, ‘One Day’ is quietly devastating and achingly human. Keep tissues handy when you watch this show.
6. Rivals
Sex, power, and public meltdowns—‘Rivals’ takes corporate drama to another level. Think ‘Succession’ with more scandal and sharper stilettos. It’s catty, confident, and completely addictive.
5. The Penguin
Colin Farrell waddles back into Gotham, and this time, he owns it. ‘The Penguin’ explores power vacuums and moral decay with the intensity of a Shakespearean drama and it's absolutely electric. Gotham’s underworld certainly got a lot more interesting!
4. The Day of the Jackal
Eddie Redmayne sheds his boyish charm for something colder in this razor-sharp version of the assassin thriller. A criminal chase meets exploding action in a series that plays like a chess match with a sniper rifle.
3. Ripley
‘Ripley’ is moody, methodical, and mesmerizing. Andrew Scott’s take on the infamous conman after Matt Damon’s movie sociopath is as chilling as it is tragic. It’s prestige TV at its most hypnotic.
2. Baby Reindeer
What starts as a quirky story about a stand-up comic and a persistent admirer turns into one of the most haunting psychological thrillers ever. ‘Baby Reindeer’ is raw, disturbing, and unforgettable—a true original that gets under your skin.
1. Shōgun
Nothing else in 2024 came close to the scale, storytelling, and soul of ‘Shōgun.’ This sweeping saga of feudal Japan is a visual and emotional masterpiece. With layered characters, political intrigue, and historical depth, it’s not just the best show of the year, it’s one for the ages.
