It’s impossible to keep up with every show on television these days. With the sheer volume of content, selecting favorites is a challenge. Here, we narrow it down to 20 standout series from the first half of 2024, capturing the full spectrum of the year’s top releases.
Baby Reindeer’s Fictionalized Tale of Stalking
Baby Reindeer is comedian Richard Gadd’s dramatized recount of being stalked during his twenties. The Netflix limited series centers on Donnie (Gadd), a fledgling comedian and bartender whose life spirals when a woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning) becomes pathologically obsessed with him. The show dives deep into the ramifications of varied abuses and how they can corrode someone’s life. At its heart, Baby Reindeer examines the stories people tell themselves to survive and how painful confronting the truth can be.
Criminal Record Delivers Gripping Police Drama
Criminal Record, an enthralling police drama on Apple TV+, unfolds from an anonymous phone call revealing a web of racism and negligence within London’s police force. Detective Sergeant June Lenker (Cush Jumbo) delves into an old murder case managed by Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty (Peter Capaldi). Despite Hegarty’s resistance, June’s determination exposes his long-standing corruption that has ruined many lives for his personal gain.
Diarra From Detroit Adds Humor to Detective Genre
Almost like ‘Diarra from Detroit is ready to be seen!’
Diarra From Detroit, created by Diarra Kilpatrick, merges comedy with mystery in a refreshingly unique way. As Diarra (Kilpatrick), a school teacher dealing with an impending divorce, dives into a 1995 mystery involving a missing boy in Detroit, her life becomes entangled in humor and enigma. The BET+ series offers a sensational mix of whimsy and detective intrigue.
Eric Explores Darkness and Redemption
Set in 1980s New York City, Netflix’s Eric follows Vincent Anderson (Benedict Cumberbatch), a notorious puppeteer whose life crumbles when his son Edgar vanishes. Convinced that bringing one of Edgar’s monster puppets named Eric to life will lure him back home, Vincent begins to mentally unravel. The show takes us through the vacillations between corruption and blurred justice systems.
Genius MLK X Deep Dives Into Iconic Lives
National Geographic’s Genius: MLK X delivers an exceptional depiction of Civil Rights legends Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre). The show captures their childhoods, radicalization moments, and their evolving legacies, blending historical moments with profound personal insights.
The Gentlemen Brings Back Guy Ritchie’s World
The Netflix series The Gentlemen, set in the same universe as Guy Ritchie’s 2019 film, follows Army Captain Eddie Halstead (Theo James) as he unexpectedly inherits his family’s estate and gets entangled in running it alongside a cannabis empire helmed by Susie Glass (Kaya Scodelario). Full of action-packed sequences and dramatic turns, it keeps viewers engaged till the end.
One Day’s Tale of Enduring Friendship
Adapted from David Nicholls’ novel, Netflix’s One Day chronicles Emma Morley (Ambika Mod) and Dexter Mayhew’s (Leo Woodall) decades-long relationship from their university graduation night to their final moments together. This heartfelt drama explores life’s highs and lows while examining why certain connections endure.
The Psychological Thrills of Presumed Innocent
Based on Scott Turow’s bestselling novel, Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent, starring Jake Gyllenhaal as chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, deals with courtroom twists following his trial for murdering colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). Delving into Rusty’s turbulent affair amid office politics creates an enthralling legal thriller.
The Unfiltered Life in Queenie
Hulu’s Queenie, based on Candice Carty-Williams’ novel, follows Queenie Jenkins (Dionne Brown) as her life destabilizes after a breakup. Set against London’s backdrop, it explores Gen Z Black women navigating cultural expectations and emotional baggage reflecting contemporary urban challenges.
The Veil Questions Moralities in a Spy Thriller
In FX’s The Veil, Elizabeth Moss stars as MI6 agent Imogen Salter who rethinks her moral code after extracting a terrorist from a refugee camp forces existential reckonings. The fast-paced series intertwines intrigue with introspection effectively.
The Apocalypse Through Fallout’s Lens
Amazons Prime Video’s Fallout, executive produced by creators behind Westworld, adapts the beloved video game into a compelling post-apocalyptic narrative starring Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins as travelers navigating nuclear-ravaged America. Infusing humor with high-stake adventures makes it engaging for diverse audiences.
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