Final call, 2024 is over! It’s the last day of the year and you know what that means? It’s time for us to reveal the 25 best TV shows of 2024 - according to Ohh Deer of course. There’s been a slight change this year, we’re going with films first and TV last. One might say we are trying to keep it fresh…or maybe I just forgot to watch a certain show until the day before I wrote these reviews. We’ll never know for sure.
2024 has been a middling year for TV, unlike the film industry which is remaining steady the small screen has seen a drastic reduction in the amount of content being released. All the major streaming platforms are contending with record levels of debt and an increase in prices across the board are alienating more and more viewers from being subscribed to all the major streaming services. The 2023 strikes have also had a tole, I was increasingly worried as the year went on that I would struggle to get a top 10 together let alone 25. But the second half of the year was a lot stronger than the first and although the overall number of quality shows was lower this year, we still had enough good and great shows to include in the list.
What this year did show is how important television has become in the modern world. When Mr Bates vs The Post Office was released at the start of the year, it shone a spotlight on the now infamous Horizon scandal that saw thousands of innocent subpostmasters blamed for accounting errors caused by the system. Over 900 subpostmasters were convicted of theft or fraud in what is one of the most widespread and long-running miscarriages of justice in British history. Thanks to the pressure the show placed on the government the UK Parliament passed a law in May overturning the convictions of subpostmasters in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
On a negative note, I want to get something off my chest. I don’t do a worst-of-the-year list because I don’t want to focus on what didn’t work. But I do have to mention two of the biggest clowns in the television space Ryan Murphy and - it kills me to say it - Taylor Sheridan. No two showrooms are a bigger symptom of streaming TV’s most harmful, gluttonous intentions. Flood the market with below-average television slop as a short-term cash grab. Sheridan, who has built a name for himself as one of the most exciting showrooms around has trashed his reputation since committing to writing 10+ shows for Paramount+. It should be no surprise with this workload that all of his shows have taken a major decline in quality, with some - like the final series of Yellowstone - harbouring on unwatchable. Murphy on the other hand is a long-term offender and seems proud of phoning it in. AHS (American Horror Story) is laughably bad nowadays and his new show Grotesquery holds the crown as the most pointless viewing experience of the year. Fix up guys, please.
Ending on that note let’s move onto the good news and focus on the best of what the small screen had to offer this year.
Honourable Mention, Cross - (Prime)
James Pattersons' iconic crime novels have made their way to the small screen in what I like to call Amazon’s latest dad-core show Cross. Despite being 32 books deep at this point Amazon have decided to kick off their new acquisition with an original story. Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge) the brilliant psychologist working with the Washington, D.C. police force is tasked with tracking down the identity of a new serial killer who is terrorising the city. At the same time he is forced to contend with the tragedy that left his wife dead and its ramifications on his family.
Although Cross was at times oh so very silly I really enjoyed it, similar in themes and execution to Amazon's other dad-core shows Reacher, Bosch and Jack Ryan this is a fairly mindless crime show that you can sit down and have a solid time with. I’m excited to see what Amazon do next with the source material. Fingers crossed they will work on adapting the actual books next…better than the films I hope.
25) 3 Body Problem - (Netflix)
Returning to the small screen after they were banished post that bitterly awful Game of Thrones finale, the inseparable pair of David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have a new adaptation to contend with. Thankfully this time its novel counterpart has already concluded. This globetrotting science fiction epic takes place in the modern day, but decisions made back in 1960s China have changed the course of history and an extraterrestrial threat is on the way to Earth with only one thing on their mind, concurring it at all costs.
The series does admitingly take a while to get going and it does feel like the showrunning pair are falling into bad habits when it comes to the pacing. But for the most part, this is a very enjoyable science fiction show, with one of the best television episodes of the year in the form of episode 5. Watch out for what could be the scariest killing machine ever put to screen in said episode. With Netflix committing to at least 3 series of the show, we can rest easy in the knowledge that this is one adaptation that can’t falter at the final hurdle…right?
24) Tokyo Vice - (BBC / HBO Max)
Moving from Starz to BBC Tokyo Vice returned for its second and final series this year, taking us to the encounter we witnessed at the start of the first series' opening episode. Western Journalist Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort) has committed to steer clear of the Yakuza gangs dominating the underworld of late 1990s Japan, for fear of retribution against himself and his friends. But after the disappearance of one of the Yakuza’s most notorious leaders and an increase in gang violence, he finds himself drawn back into the fight against corruption.
Slick and stylish Tokyo Vice has yet to find its proper home over here in the U.K. It’s very much an unknown entity for many people which is a crying shame because this is prestige television. Ken Watanabe continues to impress in his role as detective Hiroto Katagiri and Auumi Tanida as Yakuza boss Tozawa is a villain for the ages.
23) Silo - (Apple TV+)
Last year's number two show returned in surprisingly rapid fashion for a second series that is still airing into 2025. After that dramatic cliffhanger in series one Jules (Rebecca Ferguson) has escaped the silo she has called home for her entire life and sought refuge within an adjacent silo. Back in silo 18 civil war is brewing, inspired by Jules's show of resistance the silo is at boiling point and threatening to spill over.
With 7 episodes out so far it’s difficult to place the series accurately without knowing how it could conclude. But what I can confidently say is that although this is a step back from the amazing first series there is still so much to love with Silo, and it feels like this series has been a deliberate slow burn. Especially with the news that Apple TV+ has renewed the series for a 3rd and then 4th and final series. Covering all of the books by writer High Howey.
22) Mr. and Mrs. Smith - (Prime)
Donald Glover’s small screen reimagining of the hit film of the same name sees two strangers John (Donald Glover) and Jane (Maya Erskine) land jobs at a spy agency. Their jobs? To become a couple of spend their time engaging in acts of international espionage. A life of wealth and luxury follows, but the pair soon find out that a fake marriage isn’t the only thing that’s causing friction, as their tasks begin to get increasingly difficult.
Taking on a semi-procedural format - with an assignment a week paired with the throughline of the trials and tribulations of their relationship - episodes of Mr. and Mrs. Smith can sometimes be a little hit and miss. But for the most part, this is a very enjoyable and improved update on its big-screen counterpart. Paired with the production troubles which saw Phoebe Waller-Bridge co-run and then leave the series it’s impressive what Donald Glover and new co-showrunner Francesca Sloane have been able to accomplish.
21) Sweetpea - (Sky / Starz)
Small screen star Ella Purnell has had a great 2024. With Sweetpea being her first but no last inclusion on the list. Purnell is Rhiannon, a quiet, innocent and meek young woman who is struggling to find her place in the world. Undermined at work, ignored outside of work and still recovering from the relentless bullying she suffered at school everything comes to a head when her dad tragically dies. An anchor for Rhiannon she is left adrift and finds a peculiar way to cope…by killing men.
Purnell is great in the leading role, the series all comes down to her performance. If you are a fan of dark comedies then Sweetpea should go right to the top of your list, and with a second series confirmed and likely released next year there is plenty to get excited about.
20) Squid Game - (Netflix)
Netflix’s most viewed show in history - an immense feat considering the platform is the most popular streaming service in the world - returned this year for a shorter second series ahead of the show's finale next year. Jumping two years into the future Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae) has spent the last two years searching for the man who recruited him into the horrifying Squidgames. Dedicating his winnings to the cause he has become a shell of his former self, living in isolation and fear of the games that have forever changed him. In a last-ditch attempt to find those responsible for the year bloodbath, he re-joins the games, with devastating consequences.
It would be fair to say that this second series feels like a placeholder as the show ramps up towards its 2025 finale. But that being said I thought this was still an excellent return, especially considering the hype. The creator Hwang Dong-hyuk spoke about the relentless pressure of getting this project off the ground, even losing some of his teeth due to the stress. Although the mystic of the first series has been lost, as we know just how deadly these games can turn, the show does manage to keep it fresh. New games are introduced that help this series to stand out from its famed predecessor and the brutality has been ramped up to eleven. With a shocking cliffhanger, everything is set up for the show to come to an end with a bang.
19) The Sympathizer - (Sky / HBO Max)
The latest mini-series by the iconic director Park Chan-wook, The Sympathizer is a story about the aftermath of the end of the Vietnam War. The Captain played by Hoa Xuande is a North Vietnam spy implanted deep within the chain of command of the South Vietnam military. After the war comes to a blistering end post the United States pulling out The Captain is forced to flee along with the remaining South Vietnam army to provide information against any impending counterattack from America. What follows are hijinks galore as The Captain tries to maintain his cover under increasingly ridiculous circumstances.
A lot of the publicity towards The Sympathizer has focused on the fact Robert Downey Jr is playing a staggering 6 roles within the show, all under heavy prospectus and makeup. But the real star of the show is Hoa Xuande who excels as the leading man in what is one of the surprises of the year.
18) Rivals - (Disney+)
Rival factions within the cut-throat world of British television begin a war for dominance over the growing Corinium television studio. With Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) and Ruper Campbell-Blacks (Alex Hassell) long-term feud reaching explosive proportions as they both launch rival bids for the firm.
Based on the iconic 1988 novel of the same name by Dame Jilly Cooper, the series explores the sordid world of these lavish television moguls. In a world of gluteness expense where everyone is having affairs with everyone else, monogamy is anything but sacred. The series is a major surprise for Disney who have tried to limit their more sordid shows to their other streaming service. But it’s a much-welcomed addition to the world of Mickey Mouse as the platform tries its best to appeal to a wider audience, especially in the United States.
17) Women in Blue - (Apple TV+)
1970s Mexico, a serial killer named “The Undresser” is on the loose and targeting women. The country has fallen into a state of fear as the police seem hopeless in catching the killer. With the president under increasing pressure, he orders the police commissioner to stage a publicity stunt to distract the country's citizens from the murders. What follows is the introduction of the first-ever female police force. However, the budding women who have always dreamed of being detectives soon find that no one in the force is prepared to take them seriously.
This brilliant Mexican drama series was a real surprise, hidden away on Apple TV+ - a platform that for all of its pros seems incapable of advertising anything - the show will have been missed by most people. One of the best crime thrillers of the year and a real breath of fresh air into the genre Women in Blue represents a high point for Mexican dramas.
16) Dark Matter - (Apple TV+)
The latest Apple TV science fiction offering is the story of Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton). A lowly university professor who is suddenly abducted and thrown into an alternative version of his life. Trapped and with no clear path home he must attempt to understand what he is told is his creation and traverse the harrowing landscape of lives he could’ve lived to find his way home to his true family and save them from the man who has tried to take over his life.
Based on his renowned novel Blake Crouch has created one of the best Science Fiction shows on Apple to date - a platform that even Tim Cook admits is becoming a haven for the genre. Joel Edgerton is at his best and Jennifer Connelly playing his wife Daniela is also brilliant in a role that is constantly flipping as Dessen explores alternative realities.
15) Bad Monkey - (Apple TV+)
After being suspended from his job as a detective in the Florida Keys for gross misconduct Andrew Yancy’s (Vince Vaughn) life is a mess. He’s in the midst of a sordid affair, he’s forced to become a restaurant inspector to pay the bills and to make matters worse he has a neighbour who has built the most horrendous house next door. But when he is handed a severed arm he’s suddenly thrusted back into his old job as he attempts to track down exactly what happened to the owner of said severed arm.
Who doesn’t love Vince Vaughn? The man is one of the most charismatic actors around. And whether he's dodging dodgeballs in…well Dodgeball, or smashing skulls in Brawl in Cell Block 99 he's a joy to watch, and Bad Monkey is no different. What Bad Monkey also offers is a brilliant supporting cast and one of the most luscious television locations I have ever seen. I’d be amazed if anyone who watches Bad Monkey walks away not wanting to visit the Florida Keys.
14) One Day - (Netflix)
Based on David Nicholls's novel of the same name, One Day is the story of unrelenting love. Emma (Ambika Mod) an English major first meets Dexter (Leo Woodall) the campus playboy at university and we follow their intertwining story for the next 20 years as they crosspaths in various different stages of life but always hold onto the notion that they are destined to be in each other’s lives. Through the bad times and the good times, they always find their way back to each other.
A heartwarming and tragic story of Love One Day is straight out of the Normal People wheelhouse so it should be no surprise that it featured on our list this year. Woodall and Mod are both brilliant in their leading roles and despite complaints, I thought their chemistry worked and found their relationship to be both real and touching.
13) Slow Horses - (Apple TV+)
Four series of Slow Horses in just three years…we really are being spoilt at this point. And the ride isn’t stopping anytime soon with the show already renewed for a fifth and sixth season at Apple. This time out London is under attack as a bombing has taken place at one of the capital city’s biggest malls, all while mysterious figures are attempting to assassinate high-ranking former members of British intelligence. But with the Slow Horses on the case it’s safe to say that the case will be investigated, Solved…well don’t go that far, but they will certainly give it a look.
Gary Oldman as the increasingly dishevelled Jackson Lamb is the absolute star of the show and is currently working himself into discussions for the most iconic television characters of all time. It’s crazy to think that he has still yet to pick up an Emmy win, and has only secured one nomination is sacrilege of the highest order. Let’s hope the Emmys make this right in 2025.
12) Based on a True Story - (Sky / Peacock)
True crime obsessives Ava (Kaley Cuoco) and Nathan (Chris Messina) have a baby on the way and are in a financial hole. Ava is going to have to give up her realtor job and Nathan is a washed-up former tennis star who is making little money training other tennis hopefuls. Suddenly an opportunity presents itself in their helpful plumber Matt (Tom Bateman) a window into the mind of an active serial killer. So in this true crime-obsessed world, they do the only thing that makes sense…start a podcast!
If anyone knows me they will know I’m a real hard nut to crack when it comes to comedy, it takes a really good comedy to get my attention and Based on a True Story is just that. Craig Rosenberg has crafted a brilliant dark comedy. It’s also brilliant to see Kaley Cuoco find her home away from The Big Bang Theory after the letdown that was the Flight Attendant.
11) Say Nothing - (Disney+ / FX)
Based on the real-life tapes released posthumously after the deaths of several IRA members Say Nothing spans four of the most tumultuous decades during The Troubles in Northern Ireland as they bleed into the mainland of the United Kingdom. Focusing on Dolours Price (Lola Petticrew) and her sister Marian (Hazel Doupe) as they are introduced to IRA general Gerry Adams (Josh Finan) and are slowly drawn further into his web of terrorism under the guise of liberation.
I have to admit my personal knowledge of The Troubles and what led up to them is severely lacking so it was an eye-opening experience to watch this series based on the real-life confessions of IRA members. The brutality of the British government during this time can’t be ignored, but the series is careful to ensure it remains political and looks at the full story, which is how we are able to explore some of the more brutal killings inflicted by the IRA on their own members and citizens.
10) Shōgun - (Disney+ / FX)
Based on James Clavell’s lauded 1975 novel, Shōgun is a series detailing the marooning of a British merchant ship on the coast of Japan and the turmoil that follows the arrival. With Japan in a state of civil unrest and a civil war between the various Shōgun’s approaching fast, the British sailor John Blackthrone (Cosmo Jarvis) might hold the keys to turning the war in Lord Toranaga’s (Hiroyuki Sanda) favour.
A political epic on the scale of Game of Thrones, Shōgun took the world by storm when it debuted back in February. Originally designed to be a tight 10-episode limited series the popularity soon snowballed into a confirmed second and third series for the show. What's most impressive is how the showrunners went to extreme detail to ensure they were respectful to both history and the Japanese. The production design is off the charts and looks absolutely gorgeous, but the creators were also careful to ensure they didn’t whitewash the barbarity of the Shōgun era, in which people can be killed for the slightest indiscretion.
9) Industry - (BBC / HBO Max)
After a disastrous second series, Industry returned to our screens this year in triumphant fashion. With new IPO Lumi - run by the eccentric Henry Muck (Kit Harington) - about to hit the market Pierpoint has been tasked with steering the IPO to success. But after a disastrous launch and the epic fallout from Liz Truss's mini-budget, the company is sent into a tailspin that only leads in one direction…unescapable turmoil.
As I alluded to series two of Industry was frankly rubbish. The creators lost all sense of what made the show interesting, to begin with, and dove too deep into the nonsense that is the stock exchange. Thankfully they have come back up for air and let the drama take the reins this time around. Yasmin (Marisa Abela) is dealing with the fallout of her father’s mysterious disappearance, Harper (Myha’la) is in search of a new challenge after leaving Pierpoint on bad terms, Eric (Ken Leung) is attempting to steer the ship of his troubled company and poor old Robert (Harry Lawtey) is once again back to being a human punching bag.
8) Masters of the Air - (Apple TV+)
23 years after the release of Band of Brothers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have reunited for another wartime epic, this time focusing on the bravery displayed by the fighters of the 100th Bomb Group, The Bloody 100. With Nazi Germany controlling mainland Europe, the 100th are tasked with attacking key targets deep in Nazi-held territory to help take the fight to the fascist regime.
From the opening titles and that heart-pounding soundtrack, I knew this was going to be one of the shows of the year. There’s something about World War Two that really tugs on my heartstrings, it’s the ultimate tragedy, the darkest period in history and only gets more shocking the more you learn about it. The sacrifices made by the 100th for sometimes marginal gains were horrific, hence their nickname as the Bloody 100. It’s great to see their story finally get the limited series billing.
7) Disclaimer - (Apple TV+)
Renowned director Alfonso Cuarón makes his small screen debut with his adaptation of Renee Knight’s novel of the same name. Lauded documentarian Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett) lives a successful and happy life - at least on the outside - until one day a man from her past, a past she has tried to hide all these years Stephen Brigstocke (Kevin Kline) reappears with one sole aim. Destroy her reputation and then destroy her family.
Cuarón is a marvelous director and watching Disclaimer is a perfect representation of where a talented director can take anything and turn it into engrossing viewing. The way he operates the camera, the way he lights and blocks his scenes, and his use of sound, all demand your attention. It’s very rare to watch a TV series nowadays where you don’t feel you can look away or check your phone. But Disclaimer is that TV series. Cuarón hijacks your senses and won’t let you go until the episode has concluded.
6) The Day of the Jackal - (Sky / Peacock)
If any show this year lived up to the billing of appointment viewing it was The Day of the Jackal. It’s Thursday? On it’s Jackal day. This was a water cooler show like yesteryear. Eddie Redmayne is The Jackal. A gun for hire with an almost impossible ability to assassinate even the most fortified individual. After making a name for himself in the assassination of a major political figure in Germany, The Jackal is approached by a group of the world's wealthiest individuals with a task that will provide him with the payout of all payouts…kill the billionaire Ulle Dag Charles (Khalid Abdalla). But they aren’t the only people on his tail. His escapades have attracted the attention of British intelligence and one officer in particular Bianca Pullman (Lashana Lynch).
As a major fan of David Fincher's 2023 film The Killer I have been crying out for another great assassin series/film, so I was delighted when The Day of the Jackal was announced. But even I didn’t expect it to be this good. The TV event of the year, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
5) Fallout - (Prime)
Remember when it was seemingly impossible for anyone to make a decent video game adaptation? It really wasn’t that long ago. But all the recent success has carried on into 2024 with the on-screen adaptation of Fallout. The Brain Child of Westworld alumni Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy Fallout is a new story within the universe of the games but makes sure to keep the lore intact from the games so as not to discredit them, while also leaving the door open to adapt certain parts of the successful game series.
Following Ella Purnell’s - her again - Lucy MacLean as she leaves the vault she and her family have called home since the nuclear war that long predates them, she is exposed to a world of wanton carnage as the remnants of the world's old societies try to exist in the after-effects of the nuclear fallout. I love the world-building here, and that the series keeps the surreal dark humour from the games. It’s a much-needed return to form for Nolan and Joy who lost their way with Westworld.
4) The Penguin - (Sky / HBO Max)
With the box office and critical success of The Batman Warner Brothers decided to expand upon the new universe with a show singularly focused on Colin Farrell’s Oswald “Oz” Cobb - or Penguin to his foes. After the Riddler floods half of Gotham, the city is in disarray. Oz sees this as his opportunity to seize control over the criminal organisations operating in the city, and with Batman seemingly in hibernation, there appears to be very little in his way. Until his former employer Sofia Falcone is released from Arkham Asylum with vengeance on her mind.
The DC Universe is an unapologetic mess at this point, but honestly, I don’t mind because they are consistently releasing amazing projects that are lightyears ahead of what Marvel is producing. The Penguin might just be the best thing this new wave of DC has made yet. It’s so refreshing to have a truly evil villain. No hamfisted backstory to try and make you relate to them, Oz is a sick and twisted villain with no moral compass and who would betray anyone to get ahead. The performance by Farrell is utterly mindblowing and the best performance of the year. At the end of each episode,e I had to keep reminding myself that “Yes, in fact, that is Colin Farrell you are watching.
3) Interview with the Vampire - (BBC / AMC)
Rolin Jones's adaptation of Anne Rice’s best-selling novels turned the dial-up to eleven with its second series as it cemented itself as the best ongoing series on television (you will notice the two shows above it are both limited series). With Lestat (Sam Reid) in their rearview mirror, Louise de Pointe du lac (Jacob Anderson) and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) move to Europe in search of more vampires. This search leads them to France where they encounter a longstanding group of miscreant vampires, who to avoid detection have taken to performing plays in which they claim their victims.
The production design behind this series is utterly mind-blowing. First, the recreation of early 1900s New Orleans and now post-war Paris are utterly spellbound. This is a beautiful and elegant show that also is very aware of its subject matter and isn’t afraid to sink its teeth into the more horrifying aspects of the undead world. With series three in production, I can’t wait to see where the show goes after the dramatic revelations at the end of series two.
2) Baby Reindeer - (Netflix)
Richard Gadd took the internet and the world by storm earlier this year when he released his autobiographical series Baby Reindeer. Based around Gadd’s run-ins with an unrelenting stalker called Martha (Jessica Gunning) and his many failed attempts to make it as a stand-up comic the series was raw and emotional. Gadd has put himself out there for the world to see. He didn’t shy away from the hard moments and was comfortable admitting his own mistakes that prolonged the turmoil of Martha’s harassment.
This is one of the bravest pieces of non-fiction put to screen and it still shocks me that Gadd had the bravery to show this side of his life to the world. We can only stand back and applaud. Shoutout to Jessica Gunning who is a revelation in the role of Martha, she captured the character perfectly baked on Gadd’s description - and we know that for a fact because the real Martha, in true Martha fashion, went on Piers Morgan Uncensored to threaten not only Gadd but Netflix.
1) Ripley - (Netflix)
And we’ve done it, we have reached the promised land and this year's number one TV show of the year. And it’s a one-two clean sweep for Netflix who have shown this year that although they may be shocking at renewing series, they do have a knack for producing magnificent limited series. Ripley is a fresh adaptation of the iconic book-turned-film The Talented Mr Ripley. Andrew Scott - he’s not had a bad year has he - takes on the staring role of the titular conman Tom Ripley as he attempts to take over the identity of Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn) a rich member of the upper class who has absconded to Italy.
There’s nothing fresh here in terms of the subject matter. But the creative team of Creator/Director Steven Zaillian and Cinematographer Robert Elswit have crafted one of the most gorgeous, operatic series of all time. 1960’s Rome in particular is awe-inspiring, the series is akin to a time machine in the way it captures a period in time lost to history. The streets, the buildings, the people who inhabit them the series is teeming with life. Even the smallest interaction between Ripley and a hotel concierge is memorable down to the most minute detail of how Ripley signs his signature of the hotels reservation book. The pair have crafted an unforgettable world that you’d willingly be lost in. And that, in no small part due to Elswit’s gorgeous black-and-white cinematography is why Ripley is this year's number one.