Sequels of long-running hits, 'dark horses' and bright international projects — we present to your attention the 10 best TV series in our opinion.
2024 was rich in new TV series. So many projects worthy of attention have been released over the past twelve months that to watch them all, you will most likely have to say goodbye to concepts like 'work' and 'personal life.' But don't rush to do that, because we will help you make a choice! Especially since the January holidays are ahead, and you have every chance to catch up on what you missed over the year. So, here is the list of the 10 best TV series of 2024 according to our team.
10th place — 'Connection'
Closing our top of the year's series is a detective Korean drama about a narcotics detective who is forcibly addicted to a new substance called 'Lemonka.' Investigator Jang Jae-kyung must find out who turned him into a drug addict and simultaneously figure out the reasons for the suicide (oh, so many bad words in one paragraph) of a school friend, because some facts don't add up. An incredibly well-crafted story, systematically distributed over fourteen hour-long episodes, after watching which you won't regret a single minute.
Yes, there are no familiar Hollywood faces here, but Ji Sung is not some unknown little actor either. He has starred in very good shows like 'The Devil Judge' or 'Defendant', and 'Connection' is a new solid project from the world of Korean series. Yes, it doesn't have the hype level of 'Squid Game' or 'Hellbound,' but since the world has begun to timidly understand that K-dramas are not just love stories for girls, it's worth taking a closer look at thrillers and detective stories; frankly, you can find a ton of diamonds there, including our candidate.
9th place — 'Monsieur Spade'
'Monsieur Spade' is a kind of fan fiction about the hero of 'The Maltese Falcon,' a film and novel that once defined noir as a genre. After the turbulent forties, the brilliant detective, at the request of an old acquaintance (the femme fatale from 'The Falcon,' naturally!), went to France to deliver her daughter to her father and unexpectedly stayed there.
The series is a sad reflection on the fate of a man who has outlived his time. Sam Spade is a great hero of noir, but other genres and other eras (and in the case of noir, the genre is the era — the time of the collapse of hopes shortly before and shortly after World War II) do not suit him. He feels cramped in a retirement detective story about a stranger in the provinces, uncomfortable in a spy novel, his adventurous mockery stands out too much from an old-fashioned love drama.
Being an outstanding character study, 'Monsieur Spade' is at the same time a quite lively spectacle, matching its unpredictable hero. There is intelligence rivalry, a strange religious intrigue, fear and hatred against the backdrop of a French pastoral. The series has a lot of funny moments, much is astonishingly honest, and most importantly, it is a surprisingly accurate story about people who never managed to recover from old conflicts. Having left American noir, Spade involuntarily found himself in its closest analogue — a European drama about the ghosts of war.
8th place — 'Dandadan'
Where would we be without anime? The list would be less diverse and more boring. So a daring comedy about two schoolchildren fighting perverted aliens and ghosts flies into our top as the most interesting multi-episode animation from the Land of the Rising Sun. Humor on the edge, engaging romance, dynamic battles, vibrant animation, and a fascinating story — all this is absorbed and ready to be shared with great pleasure with everyone willing.
On December 19, the first season of the anime 'Dandadan' ended. The title became a real hit of autumn and instantly won the hearts of viewers. About what the series can hook you with and why it easily finds
Open materialAmong a sea of sequels and obvious hits, the title holds up well against competition, receiving an announcement for a second season already next year. Of course, in 2024 we also saw 'Solo Leveling', a new arc of 'Demon Slayer', and the penultimate cour of 'Bleach'. But we would still like to give a well-deserved place in our list to a series that managed to perfectly balance genre proportions by the end of the year and finally melt viewers' hearts with its hit opening, once again reminding us how important opening credits are.
7th place — 'The Bear' (Season 3)
The third season may not be as flawless as the first two, but it is still one of the most beautiful, brilliantly shot series of modern times. Not only among 'workplace' dramas, but in general — and this season proves that thesis, because this time the series delves even deeper into the fates and internal conflicts of the characters than before.
Everything here is cool: from the wonderful episode Napkins, directed by Ayo Edebiri, who plays Sydney, to the simultaneously terribly uncomfortable yet very heartfelt Ice Chips. And, of course, the almost open ending of the season. Complex dishes have finally ceased to be the center of the story, but I think no one has remained hungry.
6th place — 'Fallout'
'Fallout,' although created based on a video game, has a completely original plot, which is surprising if you look at previous game adaptations, and at the same time intriguing. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the show was liked by both fans of the source material and viewers unfamiliar with it.
Three main characters, three storylines, sometimes merging, sometimes branching out. And it is interesting to learn something new about each character, to follow their transformation. After the gloomy and dramatic 'Silo,' it was fascinating to watch the comedic heroine (Ella Purnell) from the bunker, who at first seems like a 'flower,' but once in the world of bandits and cannibals, she doesn't let them get away with anything. The series also has a separate nod to Jonathan Nolan, the creator of the beloved series 'Westworld,' to which the cowboy outfit of the invulnerable ghoul (Walton Goggins) alludes. It is very interesting where the creators will take the story in the second season.
5th place — 'Baby Reindeer'
Such a seemingly ordinary and inexpensive series captivated viewers and critics with its uncompromising and touching approach to complex topics such as obsession, trauma, and human vulnerability. The story of Donny, who becomes a victim of Martha's obsessive attention, is captivating, perhaps, in its honesty. Without clear heroes and villains, the Netflix new release deeply explores the complex relationship of two broken people whose attempts to find solace in each other lead to destructive consequences.
The series is not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions, provoke, and cross personal boundaries. Here we have a recipe: quality script and direction combined with dark tension and outstanding performances by Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning. This resulted in a good dish — an emotional whirlwind that is hard to forget.
The series 'Baby Reindeer,' the author's project of comedian Richard Gadd, is definitely the main hit of Netflix this spring. What, besides the frightening fact of being autobiographical, can this show surprise with —
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4th place — 'Arcane' (Season 2)
'Arcane' in its second season once again proved that it is among the top of modern animation. The incredible visual style created by Fortiche Studio sets standards for the industry: from detailed faces and emotions of characters to stunning battle scenes that literally take your breath away. The second season enhanced the emotional depth, immersing viewers in the complex conflicts of the characters. This became the main factor of success. Each episode is a small work of art that simultaneously amazes visually and touches to the core.
The season also stands out for its approach to drama and characters. Instead of a simple division into good and evil, 'Arcane' offers multi-layered stories where each hero is a set of contradictions.
And the series ends epically, leaving viewers with the feeling that they have witnessed a true legend. This is a powerful story about loss, ambition, and the connection between people. A story that explores themes of power, loneliness, and human weaknesses. And the show is a true gem of Netflix, deservedly winning the love of critics and viewers around the world.
3rd place — 'The Boys' (Season 4)
In 2024, showrunner Eric Kripke returned with a powerful continuation of his hit 'The Boys.' The fourth season continues to explore phenomena from our reality in a satirical form. This time, much attention was paid to polarization in American society. The United States in the continuation became a battlefield between supporters of Starlight (Erin Moriarty) and Homelander (Antony Starr), in whose image Donald Trump was guessed from the very beginning of the series.
Despite the fact that 'The Boys' most decisively stepped onto the thin ice of political satire, the series did not become more serious and politically correct, as many fans feared. It is still a mind-boggling spectacle reminiscent of a roller coaster, where topical comments coexist with shocking and simply absurd episodes of violence or manifestations of sexual fetishes. We have published about the craziest moments of the fourth season.
From lobotomy to BDSM in a cave – here is a selection of episodes amazing in their madness from the new season of the series 'The Boys'.
Open materialIn the finale, Antony Starr's character manages to pull off a coup d'état, establishing a regime of 'super-dictatorship.' The last few minutes of the season are perhaps the highest note Kripke has hit in the entire existence of the show. Viewers are shown the consequences of the antagonist's rise to power, all to the immortal hit of the band Nirvana. It can be safely stated: fans' expectations are now somewhere in the stratosphere.
2nd place — 'The Penguin'
The spin-off about Oswald Cobblepot (unrecognizable Colin Farrell) nicknamed the Penguin initially seemed a controversial idea, despite the fact that his character, who appeared in Matt Reeves' 'The Batman' very briefly, I believe, became one of the most memorable moments of the film.
Memes flooded social media even during the publication of photos from the set, in particular comparisons with the iconic 'The Sopranos'. And these two series are actually very similar. Besides the fact that the main character is a mobster, and immersing yourself in dark social realism you simply forget that the plot is based on DC comic book characters, heavy psychological traumas and disorders play a huge role in this story. And all this happens in the brutal criminal world of Gotham.
As a result, thanks to a solid script, an impressive cast, especially Cristin Milioti (beautiful and dangerous!), Clancy Brown and Rhenzy Feliz, it is impossible to tear yourself away from this series, where the main character appears as a complex, not entirely unambiguous, but at the same time exemplary villain. And of course, one cannot fail to note the fantastic makeup and how Farrell 'carries' it with his brilliant acting — it's just something!
1st place — 'Shōgun'
from FX is both an epic and deeply personal series. It transports you to 17th-century Japan, but instead of a classic costume drama, it delivers a surprisingly lively and multi-layered story. It's not just about the cultural shock of a European finding himself in a 'foreign' world, but about a clash of worldviews, where each side is not a caricature, but a complex, almost living organism.
At the end of April, the first season (and we still hope it's not the last) of the series 'Shōgun' ended on FX and streaming service Hulu, becoming a real hit and a pleasant surprise
Open materialThe series masterfully balances between grand epic and personal dramas. The heroes here are not figures in a historical setting, but real people with doubts, fears, and moments of triumph. The story unfolds in details; it is noticeable that the creators approached every little thing with care and love: from luxurious costumes to dialogues that sometimes give a head start to any action. The scene in a brothel without a single second of nudity is simply delightful and the best thing 2024 gave us.
'Shōgun' is a series that cannot simply be 'watched.' It needs to be lived, absorbing every detail, every glance, and every word. This is a rare example of how television can be both spectacular and meaningful, as well as respectful to its viewer.
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