TV has changed a lot in the past ten years, and in the 2020s alone, we’ve seen some great new shows premiere and capture both audience and critical attention.There are many ways that a series can be dynamic and thrillingand make the viewer want to keep watching, becoming more invested with every successive episode. Shows likeThe Pitttouch upon classic genres and formulas like medical drama, while other series focus on niches like fantasy and sci-fi. No matter the conceit of these projects, there’s something gripping about them that makes it impossible to turn off the TV.
Thebest TV shows of 2024quickly made a name for themselves within the modern television landscape, and the internet can’t stop talking about them. However, it’s not just online discourse that makes these series worth watching. Full of mystery and intrigue, audiences get hooked on these shows because they explore new stories with vivid characters that are easy to care about. As these projects progress, every season expands on the plots and makes it easy to follow the story to its conclusion.
It’s difficult to break into the medical drama genre,as there are many long-running, beloved TV shows that have defined this niche of television for many years. However,The Pitthas proved that there’s still room for new series within the space, becoming a hit almost as soon as it premiered. Though medical shows automatically lend themselves to taught storytelling and intense drama,The Pitttakes this to the next level in every episode.
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Noah Wyle leads the cast, and his background within the genre lends itself to his anchoring performanceand dynamic characterization. The conceit of the series seesThe Pittunfold in real-time, following the characters over the course of a single shift in the E.R., instantly setting it apart from other similar works. This also allowsThe Pittto explore the genre space and strike into new territory while being familiar enough to capture the audience’s attention.
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Adapted from the iconic video game series of the same name,The Last of Usushered in a new era of both the video game series and the zombie genre. It stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, the unlikely pair who travel across the U.S. together in the hopes of finding a cure for the virus. While the clickers are terrifying,The Last of Usdoesn’t take long to let us know that it’s the other survivors Joel and Ellie need to watch out for.
AsThe Last of Usseason 2 draws closer, fans of the video game know what happens next, but audiences who have managed to avoid spoilers have an exciting adventure ahead of them. It’s likely that, just like the first installment,The Last of Usseason 2 will provide plenty of heartbreak and emotional devastation alongside its incredible adventure. Every aspect ofThe Last of Usworks in harmony to create an unforgettable series that will be remembered for years to come.
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My Lady Janequickly proved itself to be one of thebest fantasy TV shows of the 2020s, and though it won’t be returning for season 2, this doesn’t make it any less fun to watch the show. A fantasy retelling of the life of Lady Jane Grey, who was briefly the Queen of England,My Lady Janeputs Jane back at the center of her story, giving her renewed power and influence.Despite its rave critical and audience reception,My Lady Janewas cut short, but this hasn’t prevented new viewers from falling in love with Jane and Guildford.
My Lady Janehas a vivid voice and sense of humor, not taking itself too seriously but still leaving an emotional impact by the final moments of season 1.
The chemistry between Emily Bader and Edward Bluemel packsMy Lady Janewith tension and longing, keeping any fan of the romance genre on the edge of their seat. However,My Lady Janeis the perfect blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure, appealing to viewers of all kinds.My Lady Janehas a vivid voice and sense of humor, not taking itself too seriously but still leaving an emotional impact by the final moments of season 1.
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The superhero genre gets a fresh reimagining inInvincible, Prime’s adaptation of the comic book series of the same name.Following the adventures and epic battles of Mark Grayson, AKA Invincible,the son of an otherworldly superhero,Invinciblequestions the very nature of what a hero is and the morality behind it. As Mark struggles with balancing his normal life with the expectations of taking up his father’s mantle,Invinciblekeeps us invested with compelling villains and bloody fight sequences.
Though the action and gory moments inInvincibleare a fun aspect of the series, it doesn’t rely on these moments to propel the story. It’s the quieter emotional scenes that have the greatest impact on the viewer, and these are nicely juxtaposed with the high-octane conflict. With an incredible voice cast led by Steven Yeun as Mark,Invinciblehas continuously proved itself to be one of the most fun and sharp animated shows on TV today.
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Apple TV’s sci-fi thriller,Severance, has been a massive hit for the streamer ever since it premiered in 2022. Though there wasa long wait between seasons 1 and 2, this didn’t diminish the interestin or excitement surrounding the show. Created by Dan Erikson,Severancealso boasts Ben Stiller as a co-producer and one of the series' most consistent directors.Severanceseason 2 raised the stakes and took us even deeper inside Lumon and the sinister intentions of the surreal company.
AsSeverancecontinues, it will be fascinating to see how the severed characters reckon with the different sides of themselves.
Starring Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, and John Turturro, among many others,Severanceroots itself in emotional realism and high stakes even when the plot becomes increasingly outlandish. However, the series sets itself up for this uncanny tone and plunges the viewer directly into the heart of the story. AsSeverancecontinues, it will be fascinating to see how the severed characters reckon with the different sides of themselves.
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Lashana Lynch and Eddie Redmayne play a dynamic game of cat and mouse inThe Day of the Jackal. Lynch plays Biana, an MI6 agent pursuing Redmayne’s slippery assassin, known only by his moniker, the Jackal.An updated take on the beloved French thriller of the same name from 1973,The Day of the Jackalhas fun exploring the archetype of the gentleman criminal. Even though Lynch and Redmayne share few scenes, they easily anchor the story with their performances.
The action and scale ofThe Day of the Jackalare two elements that make it easy to recommend the series. The global nature ofThe Day of the Jackalmakes the stories feel relevant and vivid, giving the audience a sense of tangible stakes and tension.It’s almost shocking to see how immediately Redmayne embodies the cold-calculated killer at the heart of the narrative,but he flawlessly adapts to his surroundings, forcing the audience to question who he really is at every turn.
The Day of the Jackal (2024)
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Kristen Bell and Adam Brody are relentlessly charming and easy to watchin the recent romantic comedy sitcomNobody Wants This. Both actors have a background in the teen drama genre, creating an instant layer of nostalgia for the funny and sweet series. Like any good rom-com,Nobody Wants Thissees Joanne (Bell) and Noah (Brody) have to overcome many obstacles to be together, but it’s impossible not to root for this unlikely pair.
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The main reason thatNobody Wants Thisworks so well is because Joanne and Noah are a great couple, even if they come from different worlds and their lives don’t always mesh.Mining its premise for genuine comedy and pushing the characters to get out of their comfort zones,Nobody Wants Thisis emotionally compellingwithout leaning into unrealistic or overly upsetting drama. Even the side characters are easy to like and demonstrate surprising depth, making every corner ofNobody Wants Thisworth diving into.
Richard Gadd wrote and starred in the miniseriesBaby Reindeer,a dark and thrilling show that chronicles a fictionalized account of Gadd’s real experiences. As the series unfolds, we are drawn into Donny’s (Gadd) world and can’t look away from the tense web of the story that Donny begins to feel is inescapable. It’s easy to see whyBaby Reindeerbecame such an instant phenomenon, earning praise and accolades after the show premiered on Netflix.
It’s not easy to watchBaby Reindeer, as the show grapples with very real topics of abuse and stalking, which take an enormous toll on Donny. Knowing that Gadd based the work on his life makes it even more emotionally impactful, andthe performances from Gadd and his co-star, Jessica Gunning, lend weight and complexityto these characters.Baby Reindeerasks a lot of the viewer, but in the end, it’s a richly rewarding experience and offers a lot of insight into the line between autofiction and true crime.
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The Legend of Vox Machinaappeals to many more audiences than just Dungeons & Dragons fans,as the series takes the beloved fantasy world of the game and brings it to new heights. Based on the web seriesCritical Role,The Legend of Box Machinais one of the best and most successful attempts to bring D&D to the screen. It isn’t to balance the character and story elements with the structure of D&D, butThe Legend of Vox Machinakeeps proving that it can.
One of the best parts of the D&D world is that there are endless opportunities for the series to keep developing.
Though the show was fun to watch from the beginning, every season has raised the bar and demonstrated that there’s plenty of room for character development and unforgettable adventures within the world. It helps that the animation style and visual language of the show are so dynamic and beautiful to watch. One of the best parts of the D&D world is that there are endless opportunities for the series to keep developing.The Legend of Vox Machinais ananimated TV show just as good as any anime series.
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The 2020s have seen a massive rise in video game adaptations, and almost all of them have been top-tier additions to the genre. One of the most recent,Fallout, leans into its retro-futurism aesthetics and a blend of post-apocalyptic and sci-fi storylines for a distinct and immersive experience. Led by a stellar cast that includes Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, and Aaron Moten,Falloutgrabs you with its action and keeps you invested with its characters.
Though the wait forFalloutseason 2 is agony, it’s exciting that such a specific genre show is getting this kind of attention and proving its potential for long-term success. Of course,the popularity of the video game helpedFallout’s positive reception,as this helped the writers develop such an expansive and imaginative world. However, the original story at the heart ofFalloutis full of enough twists and turns to keep the viewer engaged to the very end.
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