This year was absolutely incredibly for TV – especially for new shows – and it took a ton of effort to narrow this list down. Here are the shows from 2024 that really stunned me, and a few that only kept improving in new seasons.
The Penguin
This spinoff from the Matt Reeves film “The Batman” isn’t just one of the best shows of the year, but one of my favourite ever.
It was a Sopranos in Gotham scenario following famous villain Oswald Cobb, unaffectionately nicknamed ‘The Penguin’ for his hobble.
He begins to make moves in the background and commit quiet crimes to overtake the Falcone crime family from the inside, but soon faces competition and suspicion from young Sofia Falcone.
Wrongly put away in Arkham for a string of murders, she gets out and begins to feel uneasy about Oz’s dealings.
Colin Farrell in a revelation and he’s joined by the intense Cristin Milioti – An actress I only previously knew from her role on How I Met Your Mother who wowed me here.
Rhenzy Feliz, Deirdre O’Connell, Theo Rossi, Mark Strong, and Clancy Brown make a fantastic supporting cast in my favourite show of the year.
Nobody Wants This
Romantic comedy shows for adults are rarely made anymore – Especially not with as much genuine feeling as Nobody Wants This.
It follows a rabbi going through a breakup who falls for a sex podcast host who doesn’t ascribe to religion. Despite the odds against them, the two form a beautiful bond. But their families may tear the two apart.
Kristen Bell and Adam Brody have never been better. Their chemistry is electric, and Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Tovah Feldshuh, Paul Ben-Victor, and Stephen Tobolowsky are hilarious.
The only thing I’m wishing for is that the second season is longer – Six episodes were not enough of this gem.
Disclaimer
Apple TV’s twisty miniseries is a work that shows context and perception are everything.
Catherine Ravenscroft is a successfully television documentary journalist with a doting husband Robert. Though she struggles to connect to brooding son Nicholas, she’s worked hard for what she has.
She receives a book manuscript from a man named Stephen, who finds the finished piece locked in his wife’s desk drawer following her death. Convinced the events in the book chronicle past misdeeds on Catherine’s part, he sends the manuscript to the stranger and begins systematically destroying her life.
The performances are magnetic here, with Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, a career-best Sacha Baron Cohen, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leila George, and Louis Partridge all providing layered turns.
Truth is in the eye of the beholder, and the thrilling conclusion will unfold with consequences for all involved.
Ripley
I was so trepidatious when I heard Netflix was doing a Tom Ripley rehash in the form of a miniseries.
While it can’t match 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley, this black-and-white thriller is a fabulous companion piece.
It follows sleuth and con man Tom Ripley who murders a man and assumes his identity in the 1960s.
The salacious series stars the wonderful Andrew Scott and Dakota Fanning. It’s a shame, though, that Johnny Flynn doesn’t hold a candle to his film counterpart Jude Law, who earned an Oscar nomination for his turn in 1999.
That said, I knew this story before I watched the miniseries and I still found myself shocked at some twists, turns and liberties taken.
English Teacher
Everyone needs a silly comedy to root for. This and Abbott Elementary were my comfort shows for 2024.
This freshman series follows English teacher Evan, a gay man who works together with his co-workers to balance the needs of the principal and parents all while trying to impart knowledge on students.
Creator and star Brian Jordan Alvarez gets the start vehicle he’s deserved for a long time, and turns from Enrico Colantoni, Stephanie Koenig, Sean Patton, and more make a great ensemble.
FX and Hulu hit it out of the park with this one, and I can’t wait for season two.
The Lincoln Lawyer
Based on the ever-popular Michael Connelly book series, The Lincoln Lawyer became a 2011 Matthew McConaughey feature film I adored.
I thought this show would be a cheap legal procedural knock-off, but we’re three seasons in and it just keeps getting better.
What I really love is that co-creators David E. Kelley and Ted Humphrey just continue to up the ante for these characters.
Mickey Haller is a hotshot defense lawyer famous for doing casework out of his Lincoln as he moves through L.A. He’s intelligent, driven to succeed and endlessly creative.
However, he’s one of few defense lawyers with a strong moral compass, which isn’t always germane to his profession.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is fantastic in the lead, and Becki Newton, Angus Sampson, Jazz Raycole, and recurring stars Elliott Gould and Scream star Neve Campbell continue to elevate things.
It just keeps surprising, and I absolutely love this show.
Heartstopper
Heartstopper heads into its third season continue to challenge norms on television and face difficult topics with aplomb.
The show is about anxious Charlie and rugby player Nick, two high schoolers who fall in love and begin a romance. They find acceptance with their friends and push through life’s struggles together as a young queer couple.
This is a positive, beautiful portrayal of 2SLGBTQIA+ love, and one that has garnered a ton of positive attention from fans and critics alike.
Kit Connor and Joe Locke make for an adorable pair, and the show is worth watching for the sparks that fly onscreen between them alone.
Presumed Innocent
There’s nothing I like more than a high-concept legal thriller, and Presumed Innocent is one of the very best of the year.
A Chicago Prosecutor is suspected of a grisly murder when it’s discovered the victim was his mistress. The man’s life is upended as he has to prove his innocence to his former co-workers.
Jake Gyllenhaal is never better than when he goes bad, and he’s joined by Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, and Peter Sarsgaard.
This is a master-class ensemble and a taut season of television you can’t miss.
About The Author:
Jordan Parker is a freelance journalist and runs entertainment firm Parker PR. A huge lover and supporter of the local arts scene, he’s an avid filmgoer and lover of all genres.
A 2SLGBTQIA+ professional, he also works doing Events & Fundraising for the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia, and has a passion for giving a platform to queer events and artists.
His writing often skews toward local businesses, productions, events, and covering arts & entertainment. He’s also an avid sports fan and spends every May getting let down by the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs.
Jordan believes in an open-door policy, and welcomes story pitches and questions from readers.
Email: [email protected]
