Screen Time: My Favorite Shows of 2024

I’ve felt like for the last few years we’ve been in a golden era of television, and 2024 was no exception to that for me—there was something great to watch almost every week. Between the return of some of my most beloved series and the arrival of new, instant hit shows, it was hard to keep up with the sheer volume of high-quality content—I still have 2024 shows sitting in my backlog. Prestige dramas, animated adaptations, thrillers, and genre-bending experiments were firing on all cylinders.

But amid the flood of new and returning shows, here’s a smattering of what stood out for me—and a few might just be the best TV I’ve seen in years. I promise to keep this spoiler free!

The Heavy Hitters of 2024

We binged a lot of shows last year, but here's what stood out for me.

For All Mankind (Season 4)

I'm including this because the last two episodes spilled into 2024 from 2023, but this has been one of my favorite series generally, the first few seasons instantly sucked me in. For All Mankind continued to impress with its gripping alternate history of the space race. The stakes were higher than ever, but the emotional weight of the characters' journeys kept it grounded. Few shows manage to balance sci-fi, political drama, and raw human emotion this well.

Available on Apple TV+

Day of the Jackal

While these are in no specific order, I'm bringing this to the top because Day of the Jackal wasn’t just one of my favorite shows of the year—it might be one of my favorite shows in a long, long time. A modern reimagining of Frederick Forsyth’s classic novel, this one struck the perfect balance of tense, action (without being over the top), storytelling, and modern political intrigue. The production value was immaculate, the performances were razor-sharp, the soundtrack was awesome, and the plot twists were brutal in the best way.

Available on Peacock

X-Men ‘97

Previously on X-Men… oh wait, sorry! Nostalgia can be a tricky thing to recapture for us millennials, but X-Men ‘97 pulled it off flawlessly. The animation was a love letter to the original 90s series, but the storytelling was elevated with surprisingly complex themes and character development. The way it handled the legacy of mutants and the moral gray areas of their struggle was impressive, and a few of the episodes were just emotionally brutal.

Available on Disney+

Slow Horses (Season 4)

Few shows have mastered the art of the slow-burn spy thriller like Slow Horses. Season 4 managed to top itself yet again with a tightly wound narrative and some of the best performances in the genre. Gary Oldman continues to eat up every scene he’s in and the writing remains as sharp and biting as ever.

Available on Apple TV+

Invincible (Season 2)

An absolute jaw-dropping first season for me, Invincible managed to raise the stakes even further. The emotional weight of Mark’s relationship with his father, the brutal action sequences, and the layered character arcs made this one of the best animated series running today. It somehow balances heart and violence with surgical precision.

Available on Prime Video

The Legend of Vox Machina (Season 3)

Vox Machina came back swinging in Season 3. The ragtag crew’s chaotic energy mixed with surprisingly heartfelt character moments made this one of the most entertaining seasons yet. The stakes were higher, the villains more dangerous, and the group’s bond deeper than ever. The mix of humor, action, and emotional gut punches has made Vox Machina one of my favorite animated fantasy series out there—hands down.

Available on Prime Video

The Bear (Season 3)

The Bear continued its streak of perfection. The writing, the performances, and the pacing were all dialed up to eleven. Few shows handle stress and heartache this well.

Available on Hulu, aka Disney+

Batman: Caped Crusader

This animated series managed to channel the spirit of Batman: The Animated Series while bringing a modern, noir edge to Gotham (which I am so here for given The Batman and The Penguin). The art style was stunningly retro, the writing was great, and the show explored deeper themes around justice and morality.

Available on Prime Video

Arcane (Season 2)

Arcane returned with more of its signature stunning animation, gut-punch storytelling, and wait here I go again, the soundtrack. The depth of the relationships between Vi, Jinx, and Caitlyn reached new emotional highs, and the world-building continued to expand in fascinating directions. This one remains in a league of its own.

Available on Netflix

The Penguin

Colin Farrell’s is making my list twice in this entry, but his transformation into Oswald was nothing short of astonishing. The Penguin leaned hard into the gritty, noir aesthetic of The Batman universe, and the result was a stylish and brutal character study. This was prestige crime drama through and through, anchored by one of the best performances of the year. I’m not sure if this is a hot take or not, but I really enjoyed The Batman, and I’m looking forward to the theatrical continuation of this gritty era.

Available on Max

Sugar

As promised, here's the other Colin mention, an intriguing noir-tinged mystery with a hypnotic central performance. Sugar was stylish and unpredictable, with a tightly woven plot with a big twist that kept me hooked.

Available on Apple TV+

Nobody Wants This

A dark comedy with a surprisingly heartfelt core, Nobody Wants This explored the chaos of modern relationships with biting humor and emotional depth. It took some bold swings narratively, and most of them landed beautifully.

Available on Netflix

Presumed Innocent

I never read the novel, but the TV adaptation of Presumed Innocent delivered. The morally ambiguous characters and high-stakes legal maneuvering made this one a standout.

Available on Apple TV+

Fallout

Video game adaptations are notoriously tricky and I always approach them with a grain of salt, but Fallout nailed it. It captured the dark humor, the bleakness, and the sheer unpredictability of the games while giving us a compelling original story. The production design was a standout, and the show’s ability to balance comedy and existential dread was perfection. Oh, and a little extra love for Walton Goggins generally for his role here.

Available on Prime Video

True Detective (Season 4: Night Country)

Jodie Foster and Kali Reis delivered powerhouse performances in this return to the True Detective universe. The Alaskan setting added a layer of primal menace, and the mystery unfolded with a perfect mix of supernatural suggestion and psychological dread. This was a good return to form for the franchise.

Available on Max

Shogun

Shogun was a sweeping, masterful historical epic that managed to feel both intimate and grand. The attention to historical detail, the complex political maneuvering, and the stunning cinematography made this a true event series. This is the kind of prestige television that feels like it shouldn’t exist anymore—but thank [insert your deity of choice here] it does.

Available on Hulu, aka Disney+

Dark Matter

Blending hard science fiction with emotional depth isn’t easy, but Dark Matter stuck the landing. Its exploration of alternate realities and identity was thought-provoking without losing sight of the human story at its core. The central plot was gripping, and the visual effects were quietly stunning.

Available on Apple TV+

Agatha All Along

I’ve been a little out of the Marvel loop lately, especially when it comes to their TV series thing they’ve had going on the last few years, but Marvel delivered one of its most charming and playful series with Agatha All Along. Kathryn Hahn carried the show effortlessly, blending mischief and vulnerability while giving us a fun exploration of the witchy side of the MCU. It was a light but surprisingly heartfelt entry into the Marvel canon.

Available on Disney+

Kaos

A mythological satire that managed to be both hilarious and thought-provoking. The writing was whip-smart, and the modern twist on Greek mythology was surprisingly insightful. Such a shame this is already cancelled—y'all slept on this one.

Available on Netflix

3 Body Problem

David Benioff and D.B. Weiss took on one of the most ambitious sci-fi novels of all time—and the result was spectacular. The sheer scope of this show, the philosophical questions it posed about humanity and existence, and the haunting atmosphere made this a standout in the genre.

Available on Netflix

Mr. and Mrs. Smith

A slick reinvention of the original film, this series leaned into the spy-versus-spy dynamic with a modern edge. The chemistry between the leads was electric, and the globe-trotting action was balanced by a surprisingly tender exploration of relationships. This was the year of spy shows, wasn’t it?

Available on Prime Video

Sunny

Sunny blended sci-fi and slice-of-life storytelling in a unique way. The exploration of AI and human relationships was surprisingly emotional, and the lead performance anchored the show beautifully.

Available on Apple TV+

Only Murders in the Building (Season 4)

The latest season of Only Murders managed to keep things fresh while doubling down on the chemistry between Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Just a fun murder mystery for all parties involved.

Available on Hulu, aka Disney+

Spilling Into 2025

Okay we had a few shows start in 2024 that spilled over into 2025, and I think that deserves its own little section here since it’s setting a high bar for the 2025 shows ahead.

The Agency

An espionage thriller with an amazing cast and a tight, intelligent script. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, and the plotting is as intricate as it is addictive.

Available on Paramount+

Landman

Landman takes the grit of Yellowstone and applies it to the cutthroat world of the Texas oil industry. The performances are intense, and the stakes feel very real.

Available on Paramount+

Shrinking (Season 2)

Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel hit gold with Shrinking, and Season 2 picked up right where the first left off. The emotional honesty and laugh-out-loud humor make this one of the most human and relatable comedies on TV. Harrison Ford continues to deliver some of the most effortlessly funny and touching work of his career. Anther mention here for their soundtrack across the season. This is hands down one of mine and my wife’s favorite shows.

Available on Apple TV+

Silo (Season 2)

I’m not going to lie, season 1 didn’t quite do it for me, but being the committed man I am, I dove into season 2 and boom, dystopian drama done right. Silo continues to explore the dark secrets of its underground society with growing tension and intrigue. The world-building gets even better, and the performances are incredibly strong.

Available on Apple TV+

What I’m Watching Now: 2025 Preview

The momentum hasn’t stopped yet—if anything, it’s building. Here’s what’s currently holding my attention:

Severance (Season 2)

After a mind-bending first season… three years ago, Severance is back, and it’s as surreal and unsettling as ever. The deeper dive into Lumon Industries’ sinister corporate structure is fascinating, and the performances (especially Adam Scott’s) remain haunting. This show is still one of the most original and unnerving things on TV. Buckle the fuck up for Season 2.

Available on Apple TV+

Paradise

Hulu’s new original series Paradise has been a pleasant surprise. Its mix of mystery and psychological drama makes for compelling viewing, and the production design is surprisingly rich. Definitely one to watch.

Available on Hulu, aka Disney+

Daredevil

Marvel’s street-level hero is finally back. Daredevil feels like a spiritual continuation of the Netflix series but with the added resources of the MCU. The action choreography and the exploration of Murdock’s moral conflicts are exactly what I was hoping for. Premiere night started with a bang.

Available on Disney+

Final Thoughts

2024 absolutely delivered. The range of storytelling—from intense spy thrillers and emotionally rich animated series to big-budget sci-fi and grounded dramas—was staggering. We were in the spy thriller era of television and I’m not complaining, it was cool to see the genre really emerge with such hard hitters.

The momentum is carrying over into 2025. If Severance, Paradise, and Daredevil live up to their early promise, this is the start of yet another golden year of television for me—not to mention some exciting returns hitting our streaming boxes again soon.