• "Love Is Blind" season eight features singles from the Twin Cities area.
• Mason and Meg shared a connection in the pods but didn't get engaged on the show.
• A new teaser for the rest of the season shows they may have gotten back together.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for the first nine episodes of "Love Is Blind" season eight.

"Love Is Blind" is a Netflix series that has resulted in at least a few marriages — but not everyone meets their beloved.

The show's eighth season features singles from the Twin Cities area, bringing the franchise back to the heartland of the United States. Since it first launched in 2020, Netflix has spun off "Love Is Blind" into multiple international franchises and a key part of its unscripted series business.

This season, five couples make it out of the pods and on to their engagement trip. In a twist, a few couples from the pods — including 33-year-old cinematographer Mason and 31-year-old oncology nurse Meg — decide not to get engaged. At the beginning of episode six, the two seemingly split up.

Because they didn't get engaged, Meg and Mason don't feature in the three new episodes that aired this week, which focused on the couples' getaway and meeting each others' families back home. However, the new teaser at the end of episode nine shows that they'll be back this season, and heavily hints that their relationship may not have ended for good.

Mason's multiple connections affect his relationship with Meg

Mason and Meg hit it off on their first date in the pods. Mason, however, has another connection with 28-year-old artist Madison, who in turn is also dating 29-year-old commercial real estate broker Alex in the pods.

In episode two, Mason continues to bond with both Meg and Madison. In that episode, Meg learns about Mason's connection with Madison and starts to worry about their connection. Meanwhile, in episode three, Madison continues to bond with Alex — and without naming names, Mason essentially tells Alex that Madison is his top pick, not Meg.

Things start to come to a head later in that episode when Madison and Mason talk about the fact that they're both dating other people. During that date, Madison tells him that Meg is focused solely on Mason.

On their following date in episode four, Mason tells Madison that he's committed to her. She asks if he feels like she put an ultimatum on him, which he denies, and then thanks him for telling her. Later, outside the pods, Madison says that Mason is her number two. On a date with Alex later in the episode, Madison says that she intends to pursue a relationship with him. In episode five, she breaks up with Mason.

Later, in episode five, Mason tells Meg that he "validated Madison," but it ultimately "did not feel right."

"I clearly said it to the wrong person," he says.

Meg, however, is skeptical and asks Mason if he's now choosing her by default because Madison dumped him for Alex. In response, he tells her that she was always his first choice.

Their date continues in episode six. Mason reiterates his feelings, but Meg says that she won't be able to shake the doubt that he chose her because Madison became unavailable. She ends her relationship with Mason amicably, wishing him well.

"I feel a lot of regret," Mason says in a confessional. "I should never have validated Madison over Meg, and that's something that I'm gonna have to live with."

Ultimately, Madison and Alex don't get engaged in the pods either, after having a disagreement over Madison's breakup with Mason.

Meg and Mason don't appear to follow each other on Instagram

As of the season eight premiere, Meg and Mason don't seem to follow each other on Instagram. Mason also doesn't appear to follow Madison or Alex. Meg doesn't appear to follow Madison, nor vice versa.

Both Meg and Mason have posted about the new season on social media. Mason even poked fun at getting dumped by Madison over a plate of pancakes.

Despite not getting engaged, Mason and Meg's time on the show doesn't appear to be over. In a teaser for the next batch of episodes shown at the end of episode nine, Meg and Mason reunite with other participants in a pod squad meet-up — and crucially, they seem to arrive together.

"The second I got my phone, I was like, 'How's Mason?'" Meg recounts.

"He's a huge liar," Madison, now with bright pink hair, emotionally says. It's unclear if she's replying directly to Meg in the context of that conversation, or referring to someone else since she doesn't say Mason's name.

They're also not divulging anything about their current relationship status in interviews with press, though what they have said doesn't rule out a reunion.

When reflecting on the love triangle and her "Love Is Blind" experience, Meg told Glamour that she's "very happy with how life has transpired since the show ended."

Mason, for his part, told Vulture that Meg was "the clear person" for him and that he knew all along the two were "super, super compatible." He even compared their romance to the movie "Moulin Rouge," calling their relationship "the perfect love story that should have been, but ends in tragedy."

Dramatic? A bit. But it's also very much the kind of thing a guy who was still trying to make amends to his current girlfriend for his treatment of her might say.

Meg also seems to be (maybe inadvertently) dropping some unsubtle hints on social media. Most tellingly, she liked (and then unliked) a comment on one of her posts where someone said they wanted Meg and Mason to be the "Zack and Bliss" of this season.

Zack and Bliss are the fan-favorite season four couple who got engaged post-pods after Zach initially proposed to another contestant instead of her. They ultimately married in the season finale, and went on to have a child together.

At this point, it's impossible to tell for certain whether Meg and Mason got back together outside the pods. We'll just need to tune into the next batch of episodes and hear them explain what happened during the pod meetup.

The first nine episodes of "Love Is Blind" season eight are now streaming on Netflix.

• Monica and Joey were one of the engaged couples who made it to the altar on "Love Is Blind" season eight.
• They didn't get married in the end, but things ended cordially — at least initially.
• Major tea spilled at the reunion painted Joey in a negative light.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Love Is Blind" season eight.

Turns out the secret villain of "Love Is Blind" season eight was Joey Leveille — at least based on what we learned during the reunion on Sunday.

Joey, a 35-year-old physician associate, and Monica Danus, a 28-year-old who works in digital marketing, were one of five Minneapolis couples who got engaged after dating in the pods. The producers followed them through the couples' getaway in Honduras all the way to their wedding day, where Monica said she couldn't marry Joey, to Joey's apparent relief.

Things ended cordially, but the season eight reunion revealed that a lot more drama went down behind the scenes and after filming ended. Here's a recap of Monica and Joey's relationship and what they've said about their split.

Monica and Joey were the first couple to get engaged, but doubts crept in when they returned from the engagement trip

Monica and Joey went on a date in episode one, where they spoke about their families. Monica said she had a "decent-sized" family in Chile, while Joey said he's close to his parents and three sisters, one of whom died when he was a teenager.

On another date later in episode one, the pair learned that they had a surprising connection. They've both seen "The Sound of Music" multiple times": Monica because it's her family's favorite movie, and Joey because he frequently spent time at his grandmother's house as a child.

In episode two, Monica revealed that she stepped away from her job to help care for her grandma. Joey reassured her, saying that he understood her decision to prioritize her family over her career, cementing that they both had similar values when it came to their families.

Later in that episode, the two became the season's first couple to get engaged when Joey proposed to Monica. In episode three, the couple met face-to-face for the first time and had a sweet exchange — albeit one that was giving "good friends" more than romantic partners.

"You look like Tarzan," Monica told him.

"Hopefully that's a good thing," he replied.

"It's a good thing," she said.

Monica and Joey were one of the five couples that producers followed on an engagement trip to Honduras in the second batch of episodes, and things went smoothly for them there. They initially seemed very compatible, but doubts started to creep in once they got back to Minneapolis and met one another's families.

In particular, Monica's sister, who she'd called her best friend, didn't like Joey after meeting him and suspected that he wasn't genuine. This rattled Joey, who found it difficult to get past her disapproval.

On their final date pre-wedding, Monica brought up the other major issue in their relationship: She didn't feel like Joey was all that into her. She mentioned that her love language was physical touch, which Joey confirmed wasn't in his typical wheelhouse. He assured her he'd work on it, and she acknowledged that he'd improved somewhat.

During the wedding episode, it was still a toss-up whether they'd say "I do." In the bridal suite, Monica confided in her family that she was holding back in her relationship with Joey because she felt she hadn't gotten 100% from him. Joey, for his part, told the cameras it would be a yes if that's how he was feeling at the moment.

Most tellingly, Monica teared up during an on-camera interview, admitting that she felt she was basing her decision on what she thought Joey's would be.

In the end, Monica was asked first and said, "I don't, right now." She explained that she didn't think they were there yet. Joey quickly agreed with her and indicated he was going to say no too. After walking away from each other post-ceremony, they both gave different takes on why they hadn't gotten married.

Monica maintained that it was more about her feeling a lack of interest from Joey.

"If Joey had told me with his words, I am 100% in. It is you. I know it's you, I'm certain, I feel like it could have been a lot different," she told the cameras. "I would have liked a different outcome, but I want to be chosen. I deserve to be chosen. It's sad that he doesn't feel as strongly for me as I would hope. I was hoping he would be my person for the rest of my life."

Joey, meanwhile, believed that Monica said no because her sister's disapproval was an "inhibiting factor" for both of them. He also brought up his lack of physical affection and mentioned that Monica had never said "I love you" until the altar.

Joey and Monica were initially cordial after filming ended, but the reunion revealed more drama

Ahead of the season eight premiere, Joey and Monica still followed each other on Instagram. Joey had also liked some of Monica's posts on the platform, ranging from April 2024 to December 2024. Monica also liked Joey's post featuring clips from his appearance at the "Love Is Blind" season seven reunion, as well as two other posts from May 2024 and April 2024.

All this seemed to indicate that they were together, if not at least cordial, before the season concluded. Eventually, though, things changed.

During the reunion on Sunday, Monica admitted she felt embarrassed watching the show back, saying it was clear to her now that Joey was never interested in her romantically. Joey acknowledged that they'd been stuck in the friend zone, but maintained that it was because of Monica's sister's disapproval.

Even worse, Monica said that she found out Joey slid into other cast members' DMs shortly after the pod squad meet-up — while they were still engaged. Joey admitted it was true and that he had reached out to past pod connections, but said it was because he just liked to check in on people.

One of the people he'd reached out to was Madison, who was also present at the reunion. He acknowledged that his message, in which he said he wished they'd gotten to talk more, was inappropriate and came off as flirty. Monica also claimed that Joey had told her Madison was "after him" and coming on to him; when she later confronted Madison, Madison told her it wasn't true. When Monica told Joey that Madison called it a "crazy lie," Joey said he hadn't told her that Madison was coming on to him.

Joey said at the reunion that Monica had just been jealous of Madison, though he wasn't able to answer why that would have been the case if he hadn't given her a reason to be.

Both Madison and Monica seemed like they were done with Joey. Monica said that she recognized he was a good son to his parents, a good brother to his sister, and a good friend to others, but he was now nothing at all to her — and she was fine with that.

"I'm ready to shut the door. We are humans on this earth together," Monica said.

They're no longer following each other on Instagram.

The"Love Is Blind" season eight reunion is now streaming on Netflix.

• On "Love Is Blind" season eight, Sara chose not to marry Ben at the altar.
• She said no because she and Ben weren't on the same wavelength about politics and religion.
• At the reunion, Sara said they'd talked about continuing dating, but Ben ghosted her.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Love Is Blind" season eight.

"Love Is Blind" has resulted in relatively few marriages, but sometimes couples try to continue their relationships even after saying "I don't" at the altar.

That seemed like it could be the case after Sara, a 29-year-old oncology nurse, said no to Ben, a 28-year-old account executive, at the altar. The couple two had gotten engaged despite some bumpy political and ideological discussion the series' eighth season following singles from the Twin Cities area. But ultimately, Sara decided they couldn't overcome their differences.

At the reunion, Sara revealed that she and Ben had continued dating after their wedding day — until she said he ghosted her. Ben, however, had a different take on what happened in their relationship.

Here's a recap of Ben and Sara's "Love Is Blind" romance and what each person has said about their breakup.

Ben and Sara talked about politics in the pods and got engaged

In episode two, Ben and Sara bonded in the pods over a love of food, and the fact that both of their fathers make great steak. Their discussion eventually moved to deeper subjects like faith: While Ben is Christian, Sara isn't particularly religious and worries about discrimination against her sister, who is gay. In turn, Ben reassured her that he's comfortable with LGBTQ+ people and doesn't believe queerness is a sin.

During a date in episode four, Ben told Sara that he was falling in love with her. Sara thanked him, but wanted to talk more about their political beliefs. She became more engaged in politics after the election of Donald Trump in 2016, and the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.

Ben, however, said that he didn't vote in the previous election and that he doesn't have opinions on the Black Lives Matter movement. Sara candidly told him that she didn't like his responses.

"I will tell you, basic human rights, equality," she told him. "I need someone to be on the same page with me about that. I feel like that speaks volumes about who you are as a person and morals and values and, you know, how you think of others."

In episode five, the couple continued to deepen their relationship. Sara, however, still had some reservations about Ben's social beliefs and politics. Ben reassured her that he intended to grow and learn, and felt that his beliefs align with her own.

Ben proposed to Sara in episode five, and she said yes. The pair finally met face-to-face later in that episode, and were one of five couples producers selected to follow on the couples' getaway in Honduras.

Sara's doubts about their compatibility grew once they were back in Minneapolis,and she eventually said no at the altar

Ben and Sara had a great time during the engagement trip and didn't encounter any major drama. They even talked about how physically compatible they were. Unfortunately, once they returned to the real world, things took a turn.

While their parents approved of the match and seemed relatively okay with the speed of their engagement, Sara was still hung up on Ben's religion. As a devoted Christian, he attends church regularly. Sara was willing to give it a shot and attended a service with him, but she was lukewarm on it. When Ben didn't know his church's stance on LGBTQ+ issues, Sara looked for a sermon about it and didn't like the traditional and regressive messaging she found.

Though Ben clarified he didn't agree with the sermon and said he would be open to exploring other, more progressive churches with her, Sara remained uncertain. Sara's sister and her sister's partner also met Ben and questioned him over his beliefs, leaving Sara feeling even more unsure.

"I caution you as your sister, it is not real right now," Sara's sister told her after meeting Ben.

Sara also discovered a viral TikTok that Ben said was about him, where a woman alluded to a "Love Is Blind" season eight contestant having treated her poorly when they dated. Ben, for his part, admitted it was probably true but that it had happened so long ago he had no memory of it and hadn't thought to disclose it to Sara.

In the lead-up to their wedding day, Ben expressed essentially no doubts about wanting to marry Sara, maintaining that he would say yes and believed Sara would do the same. Sara, on the other hand, was plagued with doubt and even spoke about their differences while getting ready in the bridal suite.

Ultimately, she said no at the altar.

"Ben, I love you so much. But I've always wanted a partner to be on the same wavelength, and so today I can't," Sara told Ben. "I'm sorry but I don't want that to be misunderstood. I still love you and everything about you is amazing, and I care about you so much."

Ben took it on the chin and seemed unfazed, quickly responding that he understood, still loved her, and wanted to stay together to grow their relationship. Sara, clearly taken aback, demurred, telling him they'd talk about it later.

After the ceremony, Ben's friends comforted him and they all said they were surprised by the outcome. Then they prayed for healing for both Ben and Sara. Meanwhile, Sara debriefed with her mom and sister in the van, telling them about her dissatisfying conversations with Ben about LGBTQ+ issues and Black Lives Matter. She also told cameras she felt there was no "curiosity" coming from Ben to explore and expand his mindset. She also said their relationship may simply have been only on the surface level.

At the reunion, Sara and Ben told different stories of what happened after their wedding

Despite having a cordial on-screen breakup, a lot more went down between Ben and Sara after filming wrapped.

Sara revealed at the reunion that she and Ben continued to live together a week or two after the wedding and that she still had hope they could work it out. She said she and Ben had discussed her upcoming extended work assignment in Nashville and had agreed that Ben would join her there so they could continue to work on their relationship.

Sara said she drove to Nashville first, and at the end of the 12-hour drive, she discovered that Ben had removed her from Find My Friends. He didn't reach out to her initially, and then later sent what she called several scripted apology messages, which she didn't respond to.

Ben acknowledged that he and Sara had talked about him joining her in Nashville, but maintained that the final conversation they'd had right before she left gave him the impression they were broken up; according to Ben, he removed her from Find My Friends and cut her off because that's what he does when relationships end in order to heal.

According to Sara, Ben then reached out shortly before the reunion, suggesting that they should "rehearse" for the questions. Ben confirmed that Jimmy from "Love Is Blind" season six had advised Ben to make sure he was on good terms with Sara before the reunion. Sara felt that Ben was only worried about his image and that he'd essentially dropped her, while Ben countered that she ghosted him for two months by not replying to his apology texts.

In the end, Sara was left feeling that maybe the TikTok about Ben ghosting a girl was more in line with his personality than she'd realized. She had no regrets about saying no at the altar, and said she believed in retrospect that Ben was inauthentic and that he'd love-bombed her during filming.

Despite the frosty note they ended the reunion on, the two are still following each other on Instagram. During the "Love Is Blind" reunion watch party during the SXSW festival in Austin, which was attended by Business Insider, Ben and Sara were cordial, at one point standing next to one another and chatting.

The "Love Is Blind" season eight reunion is streaming on Netflix.

• Dave said Lauren was the one who got away at the "Love Is Blind" season eight reunion on Sunday.
• Lauren and David made it out of the pods, but they split before the weddings.
• Here's what to know about their breakup and the aftermath.

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "Love Is Blind" season eight.

"Love Is Blind" star Dave Bettenburg knows he screwed up when it comes to his breakup with Lauren O'Brien, and even called her the one who got away.

In season eight, Lauren, a 31-year-old working in educational sales, and Dave, a 33-year-old medical device salesman, were one of five Minneapolis couples who got engaged after dating through a wall. But they weren't destined to be one of the few successful "Love Is Blind" marriages, as they split in episode 11 before making it to the altar due to Dave's hangups about Lauren's past.

Since the breakup aired, both Lauren and Dave have addressed what happened between them, and faced each other at Sunday's reunion. Dave, in particular, is facing backlash for his behavior. Here's a recap of their relationship and what they've each said about it since.

Dave and Lauren got engaged in the pods after being in a love triangle, but their relationship quickly deteriorated

Dave distinguished himself early on in the pods portion of the season when he opened all his first dates by asking the women what was wrong with them. Despite this — and the fact that he joked that Lauren was no longer attractive as a 30-year-old woman — the two built a relationship.

The first hint of what would become a major issue in their relationship happened on their second date in episode one, when they spoke about their families. He admitted that his sister wasn't "thrilled" with him participating in the show, though he felt like it was the right decision.

The other major issue in the pods was that Dave also had a connection with another woman: Molly, a 30-year-old executive assistant. He continued to date both Molly and Lauren over the course of several episodes. Things finally came to a head in episode four, when Lauren confronted Dave and asked if he told Molly that she was his No. 1, as she'd heard Molly say in the women's living quarters. In episode five, Dave said that he didn't tell Molly that she was his No. 1, and that Lauren was the only person he had said he could see himself proposing to.

Later in that episode, Dave broke up with Molly. Afterward, Molly and Lauren had a heart-to-heart in the women's quarters and agreed that David had put them in a poor position, ending their friendship on a good note.

Despite the drama, Lauren and Dave reconciled, and in episode five, he proposed to her. During the post-engagement group vacation in Honduras, the two enjoyed getting to know one another, though Dave seemed rather fixated on finding out whether the other couples had had sex yet (he and Lauren, he made very clear, had not).

And during a boat date in episode seven, Dave brought up what would ultimately be the downfall of their relationship: He had mutual friends with two guys Lauren had previously dated, and he didn't know she'd been casually seeing someone right before going on the show. "It's a little weird that I know them," Dave said. "I don't want that to affect our relationship when we go back."

Spoiler alert: It did, in fact, affect their relationship.

Dave didn't trust Lauren and his family didn't want to meet her, which ultimately led to their breakup

Dave's distrust of Lauren bled into the issues his family had with the whole process. He didn't feel comfortable bringing Lauren to meet his family, who also didn't seem eager to meet her, given their general dislike of the whole "Love Is Blind" process and what they'd heard from others about her.

In episode 10, Dave and Lauren once again argued over his friends and family's refusal to meet her, saying he didn't want to waste their time because he doesn't have them meet just anyone. During a bowling date, Dave opined on how affected he was by everyone's outside opinions on Lauren and their relationship.

"If you don't see it with me, then I want to know," Lauren told Dave. "I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this."

In episode 11, they went to an empty movie theater to continue the conversation, once again rehashing their different points of view over Lauren's pre-"LIB" hookup: Dave believed Lauren wasn't being truthful and hadn't ended the relationship, while Lauren said that she and the guy she'd been seeing had "different interpretations" of their time together and that there was no "relationship" to end.

Ultimately, Dave broke up with Lauren after she said this was something he needed to work through himself. "You're not ready to choose someone else and be a team member with them," she said.

Dave said he was still in love with Lauren and that it was hard for him to walk away, but Lauren didn't believe that was true and said that he would have tried harder to work through their issues if he'd really loved her enough.

The two came face to face once again at the pod squad meetup in episode 11, where they each also spoke to Molly, Dave's other pod connection. Molly first talked to Lauren privately, thanking Lauren again for being kind to her when she and Dave broke up. She revealed that she had heard another woman was "all over him" when they were at the same bar with other cast members on a night that Dave stayed out and slept at his apartment after arguing with Lauren.

Lauren was surprised to hear that but told Molly that she and Dave had already broken up the night before. They vented their mutual frustrations over Dave.

Molly and Dave then spoke privately, where Molly laid into Dave about his treatment of Lauren and getting so hung up on Lauren's previous entanglement. She also criticized him for putting so much stock in his sister's opinion, at the cost of his relationship with Lauren.

Dave told the cameras he wanted to text Lauren right after their breakup but didn't. He then pulled Lauren aside, and they had an emotional conversation where Dave took responsibility for their breakup and acknowledged that he'd been closed off to her.

"It was my fault. It was my ego that got in the way of like seeing what we had. I guess what I'm saying is, I'm really sorry," he told Lauren.

He confessed his love to Lauren again and said what they'd had was real, hinting he wanted to try again. Lauren told him she was sorry he was feeling bad and wanted to believe what he was saying, but it was too late.

"I think we're past that," she said.

Dave and Lauren confronted each other at the reunion

At the reunion, which aired on Sunday, Dave was contrite. He said that he had finally gotten clarity regarding Lauren's pre-show hookup when he got a text that made him realize the man she'd been seeing had exaggerated the seriousness of their relationship in an attempt to get screen time. He said his friends and family now also knew the truth: that Lauren was being genuine all along.

Dave also revealed that he and Lauren had been talking a lot in the last few weeks, but not to rekindle their relationship. He'd reached out to apologize and tell her he was wrong ahead of the reunion taping.

When hosts Vanessa and Nick Lachey asked Dave if Lauren was the one who got away, he replied in the affirmative. Lauren, however, seemed completely uninterested in dating again. She said she "gained clarity" on their relationship within days of the breakup and realized she was light years ahead of him in emotional maturity.

Lauren said she also didn't really care that Dave and his family have now gotten the clarity he needed on her dating history because she'd known the truth all along.

Crucially, Lauren also said she didn't quite believe that Dave genuinely still had feelings for her — she pointed out that he'd had her number all year since their breakup and never reached out until recently.

However, Lauren defended Dave against the online hate he's been getting from fans, who are calling him a narcissist and manipulator in his Instagram comments. She said she doesn't think he's either of those things and just has a lot of growing and healing to do before he can enter a serious relationship.

When Business Insider attended the "Love Is Blind" reunion watch party during the SXSW festival in Austin, Lauren and Dave were cordial. They stood next to each other and even talked at the bar. Dave said during the live Q&A with Vulture reporter Jason P. Frank that they'd even been taking shots together earlier in the night.

The "Love Is Blind" season eight reunion is streaming on Netflix.

• 2024 may not have been as big a year for television as 2023 – but there were plenty of gems.
• Series like FX's "Shōgun," Prime Video's "Fallout," and Netflix's "Baby Reindeer" cut through the noise.
• Here are the BI entertainment team's favorite television series of the year.

Amid shake-ups in the television industry, 2024 still delivered a slate of great TV series ranging from familiar continuations to ambitious debuts.

That includes series like FX's "Shōgun," an immersive adaptation that brought top Japanese talent to American screens; the Brian Jordan Alvarez comedy "English Teacher," which turns high school culture wars into comedy fodder; and hits like "Baby Reindeer," which captivated the world with a story pulled from creator Richard Gadd's life.

Here are our favorites from this year.

"Abbott Elementary" season 4

Season four of "Abbott Elementary" picks up with Janine (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory (Tyler James Williams) officially dating after their slow-burn romance played in the show's previous seasons. At the start of this season, the pair are unsuccessfully trying to keep their relationship a secret from their Abbott Elementary coworkers when they return to school.

The writing of "Abbott Elementary" remains as sharp and culturally relevant as ever, and the latest season sprinkles in new characters that keep the show fresh and exciting — from Jacob's younger brother Caleb (Tyler Perez) and an IT guy named O'Shon (Matthew Law) whom the staff have a crush on to a lovable guinea pig named Sweet Cheeks who breaks through Melissa's (Lisa Ann Walter) tough exterior. — Olivia Singh

"Arcane" season 2

Netflix and Riot Games' "Arcane" is one of the most impressive and ambitious animated works of the past decade — and while it doesn't always find its footing, the end result is still so spectacular.

The series is adapted from Riot Games' massively popular video game "League of Legends," honing in on a small cast of characters who live in Piltover, the gleaming city of progress, and Zaun, its less-than-scintillating undercity. The conflict between the two cities has reached a critical point by season two. Unfortunately for all parties, so has the evolution of Hextech, a magic-powered technology that has spiraled out of control and turned one of its developers into a misguided messiah. Oops!

Season two is nothing if not ambitious and widens its scope while leveling up its already excellent animation, courtesy of the French studio Fortiche. In the process, it loses some of the intimate character work and tight focus that made its first season truly extraordinary. Still, the second season serves as a fitting conclusion and is a harbinger of good things to come from Riot's entertainment arm. — Palmer Haasch

Read Haasch's interview with "Arcane" showrunner Christian Linke.

"Baby Reindeer"

Few shows caused as much of a stir this year as "Baby Reindeer," starring and written by comedian Richard Gadd. Netflix and the creator himself billed the series as a true story based on Gadd's real-life experience of being stalked by an older woman. Unfortunately, the show's stalker character, Martha Scott, was quickly outed as Fiona Harvey, who took legal action against the streamer.

Despite all the behind-the-scenes controversy, "Baby Reindeer" is a work of art. Gadd lays himself bare as Donny, who's loosely based on himself. He's a powerhouse in episode four, which flashes back to explain the source of Donny's trauma before meeting Martha.

It's an engrossing watch with equally powerful performances from Jessica Gunning, who plays the disturbed but deeply sad Martha, and Nava Mau, who plays Donny's girlfriend, Teri. — Caralynn Matassa

Read about the legal drama behind "Baby Reindeer.'

"The Boys," season 4

If "The Boys" is Prime Video's NSFW answer to superhero fare like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, then season four feels like the equivalent of "Avengers: Infinity War" — minus a snap from a villain that wipes out half the universe.

Season four of "The Boys" is darker than past seasons, as the characters confront deep-seated traumas. For an aging Homelander (Anthony Starr), this means grappling with the legacy he'll leave behind for his son Ryan. For his nemesis Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), it means coming to terms with his looming death and trying to prevent Ryan from succumbing to Homelander's darkness.

It's a season filled with even more gory, jaw-dropping scenes and yet another Emmy-worthy performance by Starr, particularly in Homelander's gory homecoming episode.

The endgame is nearing, with a fifth and final season of "The Boys" likely premiering in 2026. Season four ends with the perfect foundation for all hell to break loose one last time. — OS

"English Teacher"

It's astounding that it took this long for Brian Jordan Alvarez to get a series order after the release of his excellent 2016 web series "The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo" — but thankfully, "English Teacher" premiered this year.

The series stars Alvarez as Evan Marquez, a beleaguered but idealistic Texas high school teacher who comes under fire at work when a parent complains about him kissing his ex-boyfriend in front of the students.

While "English Teacher" embraces the thorny politics of being an American educator in 2024, it doesn't spin them into saccharine teaching moments or cheap jokes. It mines them for character threads and comedy. — PH

"Fallout"

With "Fallout," Jonathan Nolan proved that prestige-y video game adaptations weren't exclusive to HBO. Rather than directly adapting one of the multiple games in the postapocalyptic "Fallout" universe, Nolan instead leverages the style, humor, and striking visual identity of the games to show us something new.

"Fallout" stars Ella Purnell as Lucy, a naive resident who grew up in an underground bunker known as a Vault, established to protect humanity from nuclear armageddon. However, after tragedy befalls her home, she ventures to the surface, only to learn it isn't as deserted or unsurvivable as she was led to believe.

The series features stellar performances from Purnell and Walton Goggins, who spends most of the season admirably noseless. And while it's set in the grim aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, it's also irreverently funny and endearing. — PH

Read Eammon Jacobs' review of "Fallout" and Jason Guerrasio's interview with Walton Goggins.

"Hacks" season 3

The Max original "Hacks" has only gotten better with age, and in season three, it feels like the show has hit its stride.

The show follows veteran stand-up comedian Deborah Vance, who, on the coattails of a successful comedy special, is gunning for her dream: a late-night hosting gig. After cutting her young writer, Ava Daniels, loose at the end of season two, Deborah realizes that she needs Ava — and Ava craves working with Deborah again, too.

This central relationship — and all the ways Deobrah and Ava support, encourage, and mess each other up — is constantly in flux. Season three not only succeeded in being funnier and more resonant than its predecessors but also in shifting Deborah and Ava's power dynamic into something new and a bit dangerous ahead of season four. — PH

Read Haasch's interview with "Hacks" stars Carl Clemons-Hopkins and Mark Indelicato.

"Industry" season 3

Move over, "Succession" — there's another contender for the best HBO show about horny, psychopathic capitalists. "Industry," the show about London's most dedicated and depraved bankers, finally broke through to the mainstream with its third season.

Seasons one and two delivered well-written, well-acted, character-driven drama about the highs and lows of a group of young bankers trading stocks (and spit). Still, season three upped the ante, spending more time away from the office in lavish locations, such as the English countryside, a yacht in the Mediterranean, and a Davos-like conference in Switzerland.

The change in scenery enhanced the story and deepened our understanding of the series' core group of complicated characters, most of whom have greatly evolved since we first saw them sitting and sweating at their Pierpoint desks.

All of it leads to an explosive finale that's massive in both budget and sheer plot, effectively wiping the slate clean for a now-confirmed season four. It's an appropriately daring move for a show confident in its vision. It's peak TV at its peak. — Samantha Rollins

Read Rollins' interview with "Industry" showrunners Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.

"Love Island USA" season 6

There were many (many) reality dating shows that aired in 2024. Having regrettably watched most of them, I can confirm that the latest installment of "Love Island USA" blew them all out of the water.

The franchise, which spun off of the UK edition, has the secret sauce that makes this genre sing. It's largely thanks to a format that other shows have tried — and failed — to replicate, wherein participants must constantly recouple to find true love (and win a cash prize).

Season six had a particularly explosive set of personalities among its cast, leading to some serious drama, shocking betrayals, truly memorable moments, and fan-favorite standouts, including Serena Page, Leah Kateb, and Jana Craig. — CM

"A Man on the Inside"

"A Man on the Inside" is initially presented as a spy mystery series as Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson), a widower who recently lost his wife, accepts a job to go undercover in a retirement home.

That's all background noise to the main event, which follows the lives of a kooky gang of residents who find community with each other after being left behind by their loved ones.

Anyone who has seen Danson in any of his other many roles would not be surprised that he is an incredible leading man. However, the show's real strength is the supporting cast, especially Margaret Avery, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Sally Struthers, who provide so much humor and heart that they may make you shed tears.

"A Man on the Inside" proves we really need more TV shows centered on older characters, and there's ample talent out there to make those stories worth watching. — Ayomikun Adekaiyero

Read Rollins' interview with "A Man on the Inside" creator Mike Schur.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"

Prime Video's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," a reboot of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 2005 film (mostly in name only), is deeply funny, emotionally stirring, and clever.

Sure, both titles share a similar premise — a husband and wife who are both assassins — but the television series flips it on its head to create something much better.

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine play two strangers who, upon taking a new job as shady agents for a mysterious boss, are paired together as a cover story.

The 10-episode season features a laundry list of guest stars, ranging from Ron Perlman to Micaela Coel. — PH

Read Haasch's review of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" and Jacobs' interview with guest star Ron Perlman.

"Nobody Wants This"

Rom-coms are so back.

Six years after Netflix was credited with a rom-com renaissance thanks to hits like "Set It Up" and "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," the streamer struck gold again with "Nobody Wants This," a comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. The show became an instant hit, proving audiences yearn for more high-quality modern rom-coms.

"Nobody Wants This," created by Erin Foster and loosely inspired by her love story, follows Noah (Brody), an attractive and newly single rabbi, and Joanne (Kristen Bell), the outspoken agnostic host of a sex podcast. Despite their different views on religion and lifestyle, they pursue a relationship.

Noah and Joanne's swoon-worthy first kiss scene went viral, people realized that Brody had been leading man material all along, and the show jumped to the No. 2 slot on the streamer's Top 10 list for English-language TV in the week of its debut. Unsurprisingly, "Nobody Wants This" will be returning for a second season, which begins filming in February. — OS

"One Day"

The second attempt at bringing David Nicholls' bestselling novel "One Day" to the screen (after a 2011 film adaptation) is a rousing success.

The novel of the same name is already beautifully tragic, relatable, and perspective-altering, but the Netflix show amplifies all these strengths with gut-punching performances from leads Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, who play destined lovers Dexter and Emma.

With each episode set in a different year, "One Day" takes audiences on a 14-year journey as the two grow into adults and fall in love with other people and each other, but never at the right time. For romantics or young people worried about the future, this is the show to watch from 2024. — AA

"The Penguin"

Colin Farrell leads the spinoff sequel to the 2022 film "The Batman," playing the titular comic book villain Oz "Penguin" Cobb. It was fascinating how quickly it became apparent that the show had more in common with "The Sopranos" than nearly anything DC Studios has released.

Farrell utterly transforms as Cobb, the mobster clawing to the top in Gotham after the death of crime boss Carmine Falcone in "The Batman" left a power vacuum. Still, Cristin Milioti is the real standout as Sofia Falcone, Carmine's daughter and accused psychopathic serial killer, fresh out of a stay in Arkham State Hospital. — CM

Read Jacobs' interview with "The Penguin" showrunner Lauren LeFranc.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives"

On its surface, "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" was a show greenlit solely because of a TikTok scandal where several couples in a Mormon community were implicated in an alleged swinging scandal. That premise didn't seem like it'd carry far, but turns out the swinging was possibly the least dramatic thing about these women.

After a moderately slow start, "Secret Lives" turns the dial up to 11 in episode four, a group birthday vacation where all hell breaks loose as the group of friends and frenemies start calling one another out. (Shout out to the truth box, the real MVP.)

It was hard not to root for Taylor Frankie Paul and follow her tumultuous relationship with Dakota Mortensen or to root against the deeply annoying Whitney Leavitt, who became the sleeper villain of season one. We're dying to see what becomes of MomTok when the show returns in 2025. — CM

Read Haasch's interview with Taylor Frankie Paul and Mayci Neeley.

"Shōgun"

There was no stopping "Shōgun" at the 2024 Emmys, and for good reason. Based on James Clavell's 1975 novel, the stunning historical epic focuses on an English sailor who finds himself shipwrecked in Japan and crosses paths with Lord Toranga, a powerful warlord.

With incredible performances, sweeping visuals, and mesmerizing battle sequences, it's no wonder the show set a record for the most Emmys won by a single season of television and that the creators decided to rethink their limited series plan and continue the show with second and third seasons. — CM

"The Traitors" season 2

They were the words heard 'round the reality TV-loving world: "Oh lord, not Ekin-Su."

Few shows were as memed as "The Traitors," the US iteration of the international competition series where reality stars and celebrities try to deceive one another to claim a cash prize.

Season one, which aired in 2023, was entertaining, but season two reached new heights, largely thanks to compulsively watchable characters like meme factory Phaedra Parks and "Shahs of Sunset" star MJ Javid, who gave us one of the best reaction shots of the year. — CM

Read Matassa's interview with "Big Brother" alum Dan Gheesling, who tried and failed to extend his gaming skills to "The Traitors."

"X-Men '97"

Not only did "X-Men '97" expertly capture the spirit of the original animated "X-Men" series, but it also made it feel modern and relevant to the 2020s amid some gorgeously animated action.

The performances are seamless with the original show, adding new dimensions to the Marvel Universe that fans, new and old, will appreciate.

It deserves all of the praise for easily navigating the messy Jean Grey/Madelyne Prior clone saga from the comics. Season two can't come quickly enough. — Eammon Jacobs