The 26 best TV shows of 2024, from Nobody Wants This and The Bear to Sweetpea
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of picking out the best TV shows of 2024, now we are nearing its end? Look no further. Your days of scrolling through all of your epic choices for this year and eventually giving up are over, and 2024 shaped up to be an all-around winner when it comes to television-related entertainment.
Whether it was Bridgerton's big return, romcom classic Nobody Wants This, Andrew Scott's turn as the talented Mr Ripley on Netflix or the ultimate nostalgic tearjerker One Day – 2024 sure did deliver.
Plus, the release date and trailer for this tale of trailblazing women of color during World War II.
Shout out also to Nicola Coughlan and Lydia West's Big Mood, which looks at female friendship and how mental health issues test a bond, horny royal drama Mary & George (starring Julianne Moore) and Emily In Paris' fourth outing, also. Don't miss real-life drama Baby Reindeer or addictive Netflix whodunnit The Perfect Couple, also. There's so much 2024 TV gold to choose from!
Here's GLAMOUR's exhaustive list of the 26 best TV shows 2024.
©FX Networks/Courtesy Everett CollectionThe Bear
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott, Olivia Colman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas
What's it about: The story of Carmy (Allen White)'s mission to turn his deceased brother's Chicago restaurant into a fine dining establishment continues. The highlight of the series has to be Edebiri's directorial debut with episode Napkins, which delves into the life of character Tina Marrero.
Watch on: Disney+
Nick Strasburg/BBCIndustry
Starring: Marisa Abela, Myha'la, Kit Harington
What's it about: The hit show explores the stories of young people trying to navigate the world of investment banking. 2024 saw season 3 drop, which introduced us to the world of ethical investing and Game of Thrones star Kit Harington's entrance into the story as British aristocrat Sir Henry Muck.
Watch on: BBC iPlayer
Samuel Dore/NetflixHeartstopper
Starring: Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Yasmin Finney, William Gao
What's it about: The series is adapted from Alice Oseman's graphic novel about a group of young queer teenagers, at centre of which is Charlie (Locke) and Nick (Connor). 2024 saw the release of the third season, which explored Charlie's journey with his mental health and disordered eating, as well as the gang's plans for university.
Watch on: Netflix
Lucia Faraig/Paramount+The Road Trip
Starring: Emma Appleton, Isabella Laughland, David Jonsson, Laurie Davidson
What's it about: Adapted from Beth O'Leary's bestselling novel of the same name, The Road Trip follows the story of Addie (Appleton) who must travel to a wedding in Spain with her sister Deb (Laughland), but ends up crashing into her ex Dylan (Davidson) and his friend Marcus (Jonsson). They end up travelling to the wedding together in her beat up, old camper van, along with random wedding guest Rodney, and all kinds of secrets about Addie and Dylan's relationship and break up come out.
Watch on: Paramount+ from 26 December
Samuel Dore/SkySweetpea
Starring: Ella Purnell, Jon Pointing
What's it about: Ella plays “wallflower” Rhiannon who feels like she doesn't make much of an impression. She is then pushed over the edge one day, resorting to a murder spree to settle the score. Obviously while we don't endorse murder, this show is a perfect ode to female anger, described as a “coming-of-rage” story. Excitingly, Sweetpea has also been renewed for a second season and we cannot wait.
Watch on: NOW TV
Natalie Seery/Apple TVBad Sisters
Starring: Sharon Horgan, Eve Hewson, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Brian Gleeson, Daryl McCormack
What's it about: Set in the lush Irish countryside, season one of Bad Sisters sees a group of (you guessed it) sisters conspire to kill their abusive brother-in-law John Paul, to protect their sister and their family. So when he turns up dead, the real question is, who actually did it? Each sister has a motive, and as the series unfolds we see various attempts on his life, which one was successful? It's dark, it has fantastic dry humour, and it's back for a second season from 13 November.
Watch on: Apple TV+
Robert Viglasky/Disney+Rivals
Starring: David Tennant, Emily Atack, Bella MacLean, Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner, Alex Hassell, Katherine Parkinson
What's it about: This one has blown up lately! Based on the 1988 novel by Jilly Cooper, it follows the story of the rivalry between two men, Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), and how it centres around the cult-throat world of TV at the time. It's also hella sexy – perfect raunchy watching for cosy season.
Watch on: Disney+
Justin Downing/NetflixKaos
Starring: Billie Piper, Jeff Goldblum, David Thewlis, Janet McTeer, Misia Butler, Aurora Perrineau, Killian Scott
What's it about: A modern retelling of Greek mythology, with Jeff himself playing the big man Zeus – who is undoubtedly powerful but also insecure beyond belief at the idea of someone taking his power away. The show cleverly navigates gender politics and power, with six humans discovering they are part of wider prophecy that could change their lives.
Watch on: Netflix – we're still crying about the streamer cancelling Kaos before they could make a season two!
Ed Miller/NetflixBaby Reindeer
Starring: Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau
What's it about: Though its legacy became more controversial the longer it was on screens, there's no doubt that Baby Reindeer was one of the most innovative and influential TV shows of the year. It tells a true story of Donny (played by Gadd) as he navigates his relationship with a vulnerable female stalker (Gunning). As things spiral out control, he is also forced to confront painful past trauma and shame, and how it impacts his life and relationships. A powerhouse performance from Nava Mau, too, who plays Donny's love interest Teri.
Watch on: Netflix
NetflixNobody Wants This
Starring: Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe
What's it about: As well as being one of our fave romcoms of 2024? And gifting us with the return of Noughties stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody? Nobody Wants This is a wholesome, refreshing romcom TV series set in LA, where a dysfunctional dater and agnostic podcaster Joanne (Bell) meets rabbi Noah (Brody). They're from different worlds, but can they make it work? We sure had a lot of fun finding out. And the best news is, it's been renewed for a second season!
Watch on: Netflix
NetflixThe Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Eve Hewson, Dakota Fanning, Meghann Fahy, Liev Schreiber, Billy Howle
What's it about: Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand, the series follows the dark events of a fateful wedding weekend. It's set to be the perfect event, until a wedding guest is discovered dead on the morning of the wedding. As the “whodunit” unfolds, we learn more and more about lavishly wealthy – but utterly dysfunctional – Winbury family, and the powerful matriarch at its centre, played by Kidman. The ultimate “rich people behaving badly” show, second only to Succession.
Watch on: Netflix
Mary & George
Starring: Julianne Moore, Nicholas Galitzine, Nicola Walker, Tony Curran
What's it about: Look no further for your latest salacious period drama. Mary & George has been described as an “audacious historical psychodrama” which tells the story of Mary Villiers (Moore) who colludes with her son George (Galitzine) to help him seduce King James VI (Curran). This sees George become an “all-powerful lover” on his quest to conquer the Court of England.
Watch on: Sky Atlantic and NOW TV.
© 2022 Netflix, Inc.One Day
Starring: Ambika Mod, Leo Woodall, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amber Grappy
What's it about: Adapted from David Nicholls' bestselling novel, One Day follows the story of Dexter (Woodall) and Emma (Mod) who meet the night of their graduation and build an unbreakable bond. The story checks in on their friendship on the same day each year for 20 years, documenting their highs and lows and what they ultimately mean to each other.
Watch on: Netflix
© NetflixBlack Doves
Starring: Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, Sarah Lancashire, Isabella Wei
What's it about: Helen (Knightley) embarks on a passionate affair, her lover having no idea of her secret identity. He is soon pulled into the underworld of London and she is assigned Sam (Whishaw) to protect her. We're most excited to see Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire as a spy master.
Watch on: Netflix, it's set to drop by the end of 2024.
Amazon MGM StudiosMr & Mrs Smith
Starring: Donald Glover, Maya Erskine, Alexander Skarsgård
What's it about: Based on the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie original, this TV remake of the 2005 movie comes with a few twists. The official plot summary reads: "Two lonely strangers land jobs working for a mysterious spy agency that offers them a glorious life of espionage, wealth, world travel and a dream brownstone in Manhattan. The catch? New identities in an arranged marriage as Mr. and Mrs. John and Jane Smith.
"Now hitched, John and Jane navigate a high-risk mission every week while also facing a new relationship milestone. Their complex cover story becomes even more complicated when they catch real feelings for each other. What's riskier: espionage or marriage?”
Watch on: Amazon Prime
Dancing Ledge/Channel 4Big Mood
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Lydia West, Joanna Page, Sally Phillips
What's it about: Maggie (Coughlan) and Eddie (West) are best friends. But their bond is put to the test when Maggie's bipolar spirals out of control, leading Eddie to question whether their friendship is a good thing for them both. Heavy subjects aside, the series is both heart-warming and hilarious.
Watch on: Channel 4
Feud: Capote vs The Swans
Starring: Molly Ringwald, Tom Hollander, Demi Moore, Chloë Sevigny
What's it about: Based on the true story of novelist and screenwriter Truman Capote (Hollander), the TV series focuses on the socialites he was involved with during the heigh of his success. He called them his “swans”. Do with that what you will. It's a follow up from Feud: Bette and Joan, which looked at the rivalry between Hollywood starlets Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
Watch on: Disney+
Channel 4Alice & Jack
Starring: Andrea Riseborough, Domhnall Gleeson, Aisling Bea, Aimee Lou Wood
What's it about: We'll say it: we're getting One Day vibes from this one. The show follows its namesake characters Alice and Jack over sixteen years after they spend one night together and become inextricably linked. We're suckers for the inevitable star-crossed lovers storyline, so sign us up.
Watch on: Channel 4_00_26_47_17R_L.jpg)
Griselda
Starring: Sofia Vegara, Vanessa Ferlito
What's it about: The crime drama tells a biographical story of Griselda Blanco, the Colombian businesswoman who created one of the most profitable cartels on record in Miami. It's meant to be a cautionary tale about the pursuit of power and we are here for it.
Watch on: Netflix
HBO/Warner MediaThe Regime
Starring: Kate Winslet, Andrea Riseborough, Martha Plimpton, High Grant, Matthias Schoenaerts
What's it about: We witness the story of a crumbling authoritarian regime, from inside the leadership's palace. It's billed as a political satire, with Winslet as the chancellor or a Central European autocracy and Grant as leader of the opposition.
Watch on: Sky Atlantic and Now TV.
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Lorenzo SistiRipley
Starring: Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn, Dakota Fanning
What's it about: We've been chatting about Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow's 1999 classic The Talented Mr Ripley since Saltburn got so intensely compared to it. Now, Fleabag and All Of Us Strangers star Scott will bring Ripley back to our screens and we can't wait.
Watch on: Netflix
© 2022 Netflix, Inc.Emily In Paris season four
Starring: Lily Collins, Ashley Park (although season four cast is TBC)
What's it about: We imagine it will be another giddy season of our favourite American expat navigating life and love in Paris. However, showrunner Michael Patrick King has said that season four may shift in tone, looking at “navigating complicated relationships; personal relationships and work relationships, and how they come into conflict with each other”.
Watch on: Netflix
Joan
Starring: Sophie Turner, Frank Dillane
What's it about: Another epic female-led true story of the British criminal underworld, Turner plays Joan Hannington in a TV series based on her memoir I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain's Most Notorious Jewel Thief. It charts Joan's journey from mother and housewife to jewel thief and all-out criminal mastermind.
Watch on: ITV
© 2023 Netflix, Inc.Bridgerton season 3
Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Simone Ashley, Golda Rosheuvel
What's it about: You know the drill. Scandal rules in the flamboyant, steamy Regency-era series, with this chapter focused on Coughlan's Penelope Featherington. Her long-time friend (and crush) Colin (Newton) offers to mentor her in the ways of “confidence” to help her find a husband, but the trouble starts when he begins to develop feelings for her.
Watch on: Netflix
Jonathan BirchBoarders
Starring: Jodie Campbell, Rosie Graham, Tallulah Grieve, Georgina Sadler
What's it about: This comedy series sees five underprivileged Black students win scholarships to an elite boarding school, and follows their journey into an alien world where they must contend with all kinds of complexities.
Watch on: BBC iPlayer
© 2024 Netflix, Inc.3 Body Problem
Starring: Benedict Wong, Jess Hong, Eliza González
What's it about: From Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the series is an epic adaptation of the Chinese sci-fi novel. The plot synopsis reads: “When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel, a tight-knit group of brilliant scientists must join forces with an unflinching detective to stop humanity's greatest threat”.
Watch on: Netflix
