2024 Television Diary

The highs of the past year in television reached epic proportions. Unfortunately, these gems were extremely rare, as 2024 included forgettable fare and shows striving for greatness that came up short.

In the past year, I couldn’t bring myself to finish (or get past the pilot in some cases) of a number of programs, including The Penguin, Dune: Prophecy, The Franchise, The Curse, The Sympathizer, Manhunt, A Man on the Inside, and How to Die Alone. Some of these were bad and others just weren’t my sensibility.

My consumption of new shows got sidetracked by a complete rewatch of 30 Rock and the first three seasons of Lost, both of which are fascinating television relics that will likely never be repeated.

Some of my blind spots from 2024 include the latest seasons of We Are Lady Parts, My Brilliant Friend, Pachinko,  Somebody Somewhere, and The Day of the Jackal. Hopefully, I’ll get to them all in 2025.

TOP 6

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (season 1) – An action comedy that catered to the interests of millennials, with the relationship, conversations, décor and cast. It also looked better than 99 percent of what is on television.

English Teacher (season 1) – A high school comedy that avoids stereotypes and offers a very specific world, while still feeling familiar and accessible. There is a constant barrage of jokes that will require your undivided attention.

Shogun (season 1) – An historical epic that made me laugh as often as it made my pulse skip a beat. Anna Sawai is a revelation and Tadanobu Asano is the comedic supporting star of the year.

Say Nothing (limited series) – A time-hopping drama about The Troubles in Northern Ireland maintains a rolling boil for the first half and then simmers to perfection down the stretch. The acting and set design keep you completely immersed in this world and the human stakes.

Ripley (limited series) – A slowly unfolding noir that is elevated beyond anything else on television because of Andrew Scott’s performance and the beautiful cinematography.

What We Do in the Shadows (season 6) – A new cast member, a change of scenery and a guest appearance by Steve Coogan helped this reliable comedy kick into another gear for its final season.

Really good

Industry (season 3) – Objectively a great looking television show that is creatively plotted and delivers on the emotional stakes. For whatever reason, I didn’t completely connect with this season.

Slow Horses (Season 4) – I don’t care if people were down on this season of my favorite spy thriller. Even not great pizza is still pizza.

Starstruck (season 1-3) – A mix of Notting Hill and Fleabag that benefits from time as you get more invested in the characters and their journeys.

Rivals (season 1) – This feels like Bridgerton, but for adults. The plot moves propulsively forward and there are many steamy scenes.

Scavengers Reign (limited series) – A science fiction cartoon set in a unique world and is visually stimulating. There isn’t enough plot for all the episodes, but there is exceptional voice acting and emotional finale.

Welcome to Wrexham (season 3) – It may not be the strongest season of this football documentary, but I’m always ready for the next episode and it plays all the right emotional notes.

The Bear (season 3)- The high highs of this season – the child birth episode – and the compelling visuals – everything from the premiere – could not overcome my unmet expectations, too many Faks and the superfluous feel of the narrative.

Would recommend

Agatha All Along (limited series) – A distinct entry into the Marvel cannon that is made utterly watchable by Kathryn Hahn and crackles with energy when she shares the screen with Aubrey Plaza.

House or the Dragon (season 2) – This season captures Game of Thrones action and drama, but is completely absent the charm and humor that made the show watchable. The complaints about the season finale are overblown.

Colin from accounts (season 1) – A sweet and pleasant comedy hang. I didn’t get to the second season.

Drops of God (season 1) – The visual aesthetic reminded me of Hannibal (which I loved). This is a slow cooking drama delivered in multiple languages and with a heavy dose of process.

Monsieur Spade (limited series) – It’s a cool vibe that looks good, but it goes on too long in order to service storylines that I didn’t care about. It definitely captures the spirit of the classic Sam Spade films.

Tokyo Vice (season 1-2) – Ansel Elgort is a dud as the lead and spoils pretty much everything he touches, but the rest of the show is an addictive underworld crime thriller. Ken Wattanabe and Shô Kasamatsu headline a Japanese cast that deserve a spinoff ASAP!

The Agency ^(season 1) – I wanted to love this sleek and sexy spy drama. It looks great and the ancillary storylines are engaging, but Michael Fassbender is inert in the lead.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (season 1) – This live-action remake captures some of the energy of the cartoon and far surpasses the abysmal film adaptation.

X-Men: 97 (season 1) – Takes these beloved characters on a fun new journey, but didn’t capture the spirit of the original (for this millennial).

Homicide: Life on the Streets (seasons 1-2) – An exceptional balance of episodic and serialized storytelling. It suffers from the demands of network television, but also benefits from the conventional pacing.

ZeroZeroZero (limited series) – Fuck yeah! A globetrotting look at the world of drug trafficking that looks great, creatively jumps around in time, and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Meh

Get Millie Black (limited series) – A captivating world is created for this dark crime drama, but the setting and supporting characters are abandoned for globetrotting that feels disconnected from the show. The plot is also way too complicated by the end.

True Detective: Night Country (season 4) – Jodie foster is an electric screen presence in a horror/crime show that starts with a bang and fails to sustain the quality.

The Gentlemen (season 1) – A repetitive British drama that isn’t nearly as cool or creative as Guy Ritchie’s work in film. It’s ultimately a low-stakes hang.

Hacks (season 3) – An up-and-down season with dramatic stakes that didn’t resonate and a dearth of comedy.

The Acolyte (season 1) – A few action scenes and characters embody the best of what Star Wars can be. The vast majority of the show is a slog to get through.

Boiling Point (season 1) – All the drama and none of the fun or charm of The Bear. The movie is good.

Bad Monkey (season 1) – Five episodes of a wacky crime caper story spread out over 10 episodes.

Black Doves (limited series) – The premise and Ben Whishaw kept me watching, despite a nonsensical plot and over-the-top action scenes.

Nope

Ted Lasso (season 3) – This concluding season is far too schmaltzy and lacks jokes. I didn’t care about these characters and their arcs nearly as much as the show’s creators want the viewers to care.

3 Body Problem (season 1) – The novel that inspired this series is a creative, nuanced and emotional journey. Unfortunately, those superlatives generally can’t be applied to the adaptation. Benedict Wong has a good presence.

Sugar (limited series) – A sharp pilot with a dashing Colin Farrell as a Sam Spade character is drowned out by a science-fiction twist that doesn’t work.

The Offer (limited series) – Matthew Goode is fun as legendary producer Robert Evans. The rest of this show is repetitive, clichéd, and is plotted like a bad Showtime show.

^ Reviewed halfway through the show.