2024 has been an exciting year for TV. A number of shows were released that offered an eclectic mix of topics to its viewers. From the deep-dive into Japan’s feudal history with Shogun to the surrealist comedy of Fantasmas, this year, unique and quirky shows hit the small screen. The shows have everything—from grand and fantastical productions to sensitive and personal stories—so here’s a list of 15 new TV shows of 2024 that viewers should definitely not miss.
1. Nobody Wants This
Starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, Nobody Wants This, is a romantic comedy series created by Erin Foster. It revolves around the love story between a loud, agnostic woman who is also a podcaster and an unconventional rabbi. The series proves that opposites truly attract and have received rave reviews. The show’s charm lies in its sincere performances and fun tropes that everyone has come to love.
2. Shogun
One of the most successful shows of 2024, Shogun, is a historical drama created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks and is based on a novel by James Clavell. The show features Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada, and others. The series has an eclectic mix of combat, themes of honor, a history of Japan, and a charming love story. Essentially, the series is about a 17th-century English sailor who reaches Japan and is at the mercy of a feudal lord.
3. A Man on the Inside
A comedy series, A Man on the Inside, stars Ted Danson. Created by Michael Schur, it is based on a documentary. The series revolves around Charles (Danson), who is a widower and a retired college professor. He finds a newspaper ad about seeking a retiree who is willing to investigate a missing necklace at a nursing home. The show has its quirks but it also addresses themes of aging, death, and life, which make it a wholesome series.
4. Baby Reindeer
Created by and starring Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer, is a British black comedy drama that is based on the real-life experiences of Gadd. Directed by Weronika Tofilska and also starring Jessica Gunning, the show is about an aspiring comedian, whose life turns upside down when a mysterious woman becomes obsessed with him. The show received widespread acclaim for its writing, performances, and sensitive handling of themes of abuse and trauma.
5. Fantasmas
A unique show, Fantasmas, is a surrealist comedy series directed by Julio Torres, who also stars in it. The show’s premise is also unique. It revolves around Torres’ search for a golden oyster earring through the hustle and bustle of New York City and his encounters with a variety of people. Produced by Emma Stone, the show has enthralling vignettes and feels like a fever dream. As a sketch comedy, the show tackles topics like bureaucracy, poverty, and media.
6. Disclaimer
Starring Cate Blanchett, Disclaimer, is a psychological thriller series directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Based on a novel by Renée Knight, the show follows Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett), a famous documentary journalist, who learns that her life is being made into a book and has to deal with her haunting past. The series has beautiful cinematography and offers a deftly handled view of layered characters.
7. Batman: Caped Crusader
An animated action series, Batman: Caped Crusader, is based on the famous DC comics character and is developed by Bruce Timm. The show takes inspiration from the Batman stories of the 1940s and 1950s and focuses on the adventures of a young Bruce Wayne, who has just started driving crime out of the streets of Gotham City. The series offers a fresh neo-noir take on the classic character and includes modern issues and well-fleshed characters.
8. Expats
Starring Nicole Kidman, Brian Tee, and others, Expats is a drama series directed by Lulu Wang and based on a novel by Janice Y.K. Lee. The story is about Margaret Woo (Kidman), an American expatriate in Hong Kong. The show offers an intricate look at tragedy and emotions as Margaret goes down a spiral after her son is abducted. The series interweaves stories and characters and looks at extremely relatable and morally grey people.
9. The Penguin
Starring Colin Farrell in the titular role and also starring Cristin Milioti, and others, The Penguin, is a crime drama series based on the DC Comics character. Developed by Lauren LeFranc, the show is a spin-off sequel to the 2022 Batman movie and revolves around Oz Cobb’s rise in Gotham City’s underworld. The show is dark and gritty and Farrell and Milioti’s unrecognizable performance has been particularly praised.
10. Pachinko
Based on a novel by Min Jin Lee, Pachinko, is a drama series created by Soo Hugh and stars Jin Ha, Jun-woo Han, and others. The show follows four generations of a Korean family and covers the time of 1915 to 1989. When Sunja leaves her family in Korea to start afresh in Japan she faces harsh discrimination as a Korean immigrant. The show is acclaimed for its writing and has themes of identity, survival, and legacy.
11. Say Nothing
A historical drama created by Josh Zetumer, Say Nothing, is based on the novel by Patrick Radden Keefe and covers the time period of 1970s, 80s, and 90s Northern Ireland during a time of the Troubles. It follows a group of people who navigate this tumultuous period and focus on their involvement in the Provisional Irish Republican Army and the murder of Jean McConville. The show is a compelling watch for those who are intrigued by political drama.
12. Penelope
Created by Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn, Penelope, is a coming-of-age series that revolves around a teenage girl who suddenly decides to leave her home and settle in the Cascade National Forest and slowly begins to disconnect from the modern world. Starring Megan Stott and Austin Abrams, the show has beautiful cinematography and is mostly silent, which invites viewers to introspect the overconsumption of media with the protagonist.
13. Clipped
Starring Laurence Fishburne, Ed O’Neill, Jacki Weaver, and others, Clipped is a sports drama created by Gina Welch and based on an ESPN podcast. The show is a sharp satire on corrupt institutions and revolves around the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling in 2013. Even though the subject matter is recent, under Welch’s eye, the show offers a broader scope of things behind the scenes and is an informative watch.
14. Ripley
Directed by Steven Zaillian, Ripley, is a neo-noir psychological thriller starring Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, and others. The series is based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel which was also made into a best-selling movie. The series is about a con man, Ridley (Scott), who is invited by a wealthy man to travel to Italy and bring back his son. The show does a compelling job of highlighting the protagonist’s venture into deceit and has received positive reviews for its direction and cinematography.
15. The Acolyte
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Created by Leslye Headland, The Acolyte, is a sci-fi series and is a part of the Star Wars franchise. The show stars Amandla Stenberg, Charlie Barnett, Rebecca Henderson, and others. It is set before the events of the Skywalker saga and follows a Jedi who investigates a series of crimes. The show brings back the nostalgia of interstellar adventures and has been appreciated for featuring queer actors and people of color.
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