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Today — 22 December 2024Main stream

The best TV shows of 2024

Screenshots from Baby Reindeer, Nobody Wants This, and A Man on the Inside

Netflix; Rebecca Zisser/BI

  • 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
Chris Perfetti as Jacob, Tyler James Williams as Gregory, Quinta Brunson as Janine, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara on season four of "Abbott Elementary."
Chris Perfetti as Jacob, Tyler James Williams as Gregory, Quinta Brunson as Janine, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara on season four of "Abbott Elementary."

Gilles Mingasson/Disney

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
ekko in season two of arcane, sitting on a hoverboard and holding a golden weapon in his left hand. he's looking forward intently
Ekko in season two of "Arcane."

Netflix

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"
Richard Gadd as Donny Dunn in "Baby Reindeer."
Richard Gadd as Donny Dunn in "Baby Reindeer."

Ed Miller/Netflix

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
Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell, Erin Moriarty as Annie January, and Karl Urban as Bully Butcher on season four, episode seven of "The Boys."
Jack Quaid as Hughie Campbell, Erin Moriarty as Annie January, and Karl Urban as Bully Butcher on season four, episode seven of "The Boys."

Prime Video

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"
Brian Jordan Alvarez as Evan Marquez in The English Teacher season 1 episode 1
Brian Jordan Alvarez as Evan Marquez in "English Teacher."

Richard Ducree/FX

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"
Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in "Fallout." he's a man with a sunken face, caity for a nose, and cowboy hat standing in a desert with broken buildings in the background
Walton Goggins as The Ghoul in "Fallout."

Prime Video

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
Jean Smart, Paul W. Downs in "Hacks" season 3
Jean Smart and Paul W. Downs in "Hacks."

Jake Giles Netter/Max

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
A woman holds a phone in front of a series of desks in a financial office.
Harper (Myha'la) has a new role in season three of "Industry."

Simon Ridgway/HBO

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
"Love Island USA" host Ariana Madix
"Love Island" season six host Ariana Madix.

Ben Symons/Peacock

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"
Sally Struthers as Virginia, Danielle Kennedy as Helen, John Getz as Elliot, Susan Ruttan as Gladys, Ted Danson as Charles in episode 104 of A Man on the Inside.
Charles (Ted Danson) with residents of Pacific View in "A Man on the Inside."

Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix © 2024

"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"
maya erskine as jane in mr. and mrs. smith, standing in a kitchen and hoding a gun up. she's wearing a black ribbed sleeveless shirt
Maya Erskine as Jane in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

David Lee/Prime Video

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"
Kristen Bell as Joanne and Adam Brody as Noah on "Nobody Wants This."
Kristen Bell as Joanne and Adam Brody as Noah on "Nobody Wants This."

Hopper Stone/Netflix

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"
Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall in "One Day."
Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall in "One Day."

Ludovic Robert / Netflix

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"
Cristin Milioti in "The Penguin"
Cristin Milioti in "The Penguin."

Macall Polay/HBO

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"
A still from "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" featuring Jessi Ngatikaura, Jennifer Affleck, Mayci Neeley, Taylor Frankie Paul, Mikayla Matthews, Layla Taylor, and Demi Engemann standing next to each other in teal, white, cream, and brown dresses.
The cast of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" includes Jessi Ngatikaura, Jennifer Affleck, Mayci Neeley, Taylor Frankie Paul, Mikayla Matthews, Layla Taylor, and Demi Engemann, along with Whitney Leavitt (not pictured).

Disney / Fred Hayes

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"
cosmo jarvis and anna sawai in shogun as blackthorne and toda mariko, wearing 17th century japanese clothing and walking together in a courtyard. there's a gun and sword strapped to blackthorne's waist
Cosmo Jarvis and Anna Sawai in the "Shōgun" episode "Crimson Sky."

Katie Yu/FX

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
Ekin-Su and Dan Gheesling on "The Traitors" season two.
Ekin-Su was unexpectedly poisoned on "The Traitors."

Peacock

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"
A shirtless man holding up a blue-gloved fist with metal claws sticking out of his hand.
Wolverine in "X-Men '97."

Marvel Studios/Disney

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

Read the original article on Business Insider
Before yesterdayMain stream

'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' season 2 isn't out until next year — but the drama is already heating up

27 November 2024 at 05:33
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast
The cast of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives."

Fred Hayes/Disney

  • The cast of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" is stirring drama on social media ahead of season two.
  • Taylor Frankie Paul is feuding with her castmates after they didn't comment on her Instagram post.
  • After two years, fans are also learning more about the soft-swinging scandal involving Paul.

"The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" season one ended with two cast members potentially quitting the show and rumors of a secret affair involving its most volatile couple.

But there will likely be even more drama in season two if the cast's social media feeds are anything to go by.

After season one aired in September, The Wrap reported, citing Disney's internal data, that "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" was the most-watched unscripted season premiere on Hulu, Disney+, and Star+ — overtaking "The Kardashians" season five.

The series, which follows a group of TikTok content creators known as the Mormon MomTokers, was renewed last month for a second season with 20 episodes, instead of eight like the first.

Mormon MomTok first entered the spotlight in May 2022 over a so-called soft-swinging scandal. Taylor Frankie Paul, a member of the group, said on TikTok that she, her former husband, and other couples in Salt Lake City had swapped sexual partners without having penetrative sex.

Paul said she and her husband were getting divorced because she had an affair with one of the members of the group. Fans speculated that other members of Mormon MomTok were involved, but Paul was the only person who said she was a part of it on social media.

The scandal helped Paul and her fellow Mormon MomTok creators land their own show, but season one did not reveal more details about the situation.

The soft-swinging scandal is ramping up again

On Sunday, Makenna Gibbons, who did not appear on "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" but was rumored to be a soft-swinger, shared a five-part video on TikTok and Instagram in which she said she was part of the group.

Gibbons said she felt "ashamed" after the second night of soft-swinging and told her now ex-husband and one of the other couples that she didn't want to continue.

Gibbons didn't initially identify Paul and her ex-husband as the couple until after Paul released a rebuttal TikTok video on Sunday.

Gibbons said that one night after a big confrontation with the group, Gibbons' ex went to check on Paul. The next day, she said another couple told her that Paul had sex with Gibbons' ex that night.

She also said Paul's husband told her that his wife and Gibbons' ex had been sneaking to Home Depot "for some time now" to kiss and planned to leave their spouses. Gibbons said she divorced her husband after finding out about this.

In Paul's rebuttal video, she shared clips of her kissing Gibbons and a screenshot of a text message from Gibbons saying she wanted to kiss Paul.

@taylorfrankiepaul

Well she deserves an acting award. The amount of times SHE wanted to play.

♬ Bulletproof - La Roux

"She never asked to stop, she was one of the instigators, and sent her husband to get me, but tell your side sis," Paul wrote on the video.

Gibbons said in a TikTok video on Tuesday that her ex-husband sent the text to Paul, and she had previously told Paul about the incident. She also said the kissing video was a "flirty naughty little thing" that they did for their husbands while they were drunk and was separate from the swinging.

@kenna.gibbons

Just so we’re clear, she knew who the text came from, per our conversation. Also, interesting that she knew I was having moral anxiety about the swinging. Why would I come on here to try and hide from anything? I never denied my actions in ANY of it, in fact I said I DID participate. I will continue to take responsibility for MY actions and decisions, how they were wrong, and how they opened up a mess I wasn’t prepared for. However, I refuse to be the scapegoat for their affair. At the end of the day, wrong is wrong, no matter how easy the opportunity is.

♬ original sound - Kenna

On the same day, Paul posted another TikTok video in which she doubled down on her claim that Gibbons never wanted to stop swinging.

"My ex brought us together and said he wants to stop," Paul said.

Gibbons did not respond to a comment request from Business Insider. Gibbons didn't name her ex-husband in her videos, but fans speculate that she was married to a man named Brayden Rowley. Rowley did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

Paul is arguing with other cast members too

Whitney Leavitt clashed the most with the other cast members in season one, but Paul seems to be stirring the most trouble ahead of season two.

Last month, it was rumored that Paul had broken up with her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. They haven't denied the rumors but have appeared on each other's social media pages in recent weeks.

On Sunday, Mortensen posted a cryptic TikTok video saying he would start "telling my truth and showing my receipts." The video used the same song, "Bulletproof" by La Roux, in the background as Paul's response to Gibbons, which could indicate he's about to weigh in on that drama too.

Last week, Paul shared an Instagram story in which she called out her castmates for not commenting on her social media posts about attending this year's Country Music Awards, which were held on 21 November.

Jessi Ngatikaura hit back in the comment section of Paul's post, saying she had congratulated Paul in other ways, including texting her on the day.

"Shiiit I forgot to comment even though I'm on vacation with my family and trying not to scroll too much 🤭 I'm the worst friend!! Forgive me queen Taylor, I'll bow down now," Ngatikaura said.

Other cast members responded with what appeared to be sarcastic flattery in Paul's comment section and mocking her in TikTok videos. Paul has posted follow-up TikTok videos, implying she is not standing down from this fight.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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