There is no single objective ranking of the best TV shows of 2024: critics’ scores, audience popularity and editorial choices measure different things. This curated list brings together acclaimed new series and standout returning seasons, with a U.S. streaming guide. Availability can change, and the service labels below are leads rather than a guarantee of today’s catalog; check the title in your streaming apps before subscribing or renting.
How this list works
The selection is editorial, not a claim that these are the only 21 worthy shows or a definitive ranking. It includes both first-year series and notable returning seasons, rather than applying Metacritic’s narrower rule of first-year U.S. series only. For context, Rotten Tomatoes’ 2024 selection includes returning seasons such as Slow Horses season 4 and Pachinko season 2. Metacritic’s 20-show list uses a 0–100 critic-grade average, with scores as of December 19, 2024, and excludes programs with fewer than seven reviews. JustWatch’s 2024 list, by contrast, ranks U.S. streaming popularity—not critic quality or total audience size.
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The viewing information is U.S.-specific where the source provides it. JustWatch’s guide was published December 18, 2024, updated July 5, 2026, and displays title-level availability checks dated October 8, 2026. Catalogs differ by country and change over time; rental or purchase access is not the same as inclusion with a subscription.
21 shows to consider
1. Shōgun
A historical drama based on James Clavell’s 1975 novel, Shōgun follows an English pilot drawn into the power struggles of feudal Japan. It is a strong pick for viewers who want political maneuvering and large-scale period storytelling. JustWatch ranked it first in its U.S. streaming-popularity list for 2024; that is a popularity ranking, not an award or critic score. Check JustWatch for current U.S. access and whether an option is subscription streaming, rental or purchase. If you want to read the source novel, look for Shogun by James Clavell.
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2. Fallout
This post-apocalyptic series turns the world of the video games into a story about life above and below ground after catastrophe. It ranked second in JustWatch’s 2024 U.S. popularity list. JustWatch displays streaming and buy categories for the title, including physical DVD and Blu-ray options; confirm which options are currently available in the U.S. rather than assuming every listing is included with a subscription.
3. The Bear
A pressure-cooker workplace drama set around a Chicago restaurant, The Bear pairs kitchen intensity with a close look at family, grief and ambition. It ranked third in JustWatch’s U.S. popularity list for 2024. It is a returning series, so start at season one if you want the full character and relationship arc.
4. Slow Horses, season 4
The fourth season continues the espionage drama about a team of sidelined British intelligence officers. This is a returning season, not a new 2024 series, and is best approached after the earlier seasons. Rotten Tomatoes’ selection of 2024 shows includes it among its acclaimed returning seasons.
5. Pachinko, season 2
The second season continues the multigenerational story of a Korean family across decades and countries. It is another returning-season choice rather than a debut series. Its multilingual storytelling may involve subtitles depending on the scene and your viewing settings; check the service’s audio and subtitle options.
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6. Interior Chinatown
This series follows an actor stuck in a stereotyped television role as he begins to see the larger story surrounding him. The premise makes it a useful pick for viewers interested in stories about representation and the construction of on-screen identity. Rotten Tomatoes’ page labels Hulu as the service, but that is not a current, territory-independent availability guarantee.
7. Landman
A contemporary drama set in the oil industry, Landman focuses on the people and pressures surrounding energy production in West Texas. Rotten Tomatoes’ listing labels Paramount+ as its service; verify the current U.S. catalog and subscription terms before watching.
8. Evil, season 4
The fourth season brings back the supernatural procedural about a skeptical psychologist, a priest-in-training and a contractor investigating unexplained events. As a returning season, it assumes familiarity with the characters and earlier cases. Rotten Tomatoes labels Paramount+ for this season, but availability can vary and should be checked directly.
9. A Man on the Inside
This comedy-drama follows a retired professor who takes an undercover assignment in a retirement community. It offers a gentler mystery premise alongside its character comedy. Rotten Tomatoes labels Netflix as the service; check the current U.S. listing for availability.
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10. The Madness
A media commentator becomes entangled in a murder investigation in this conspiracy thriller. Rotten Tomatoes labels Netflix for the series. That service label is a starting point for a U.S. search, not a promise that the title is currently available in every region.
11. Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Set in the Star Wars universe, this adventure follows young people who become lost far from home. Rotten Tomatoes labels Disney+ as the service. Check the current catalog and the subscription plan available in your territory.
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12. Black Doves
This six-episode spy thriller follows a woman whose secret work collides with her personal life. Metacritic’s 2024 debut-series entry points to Netflix and describes the series as six episodes. Verify the current U.S. listing before watching; the episode count is useful if you want a shorter commitment.
13. Expats
Set among a group of expatriates in Hong Kong, this drama explores intersecting lives and the consequences of a family crisis. Amazon UK’s historical 2024 Prime Video slate included the series. That UK editorial listing identifies it as a Prime Video title at the time; it does not establish present-day access in the U.S. or elsewhere.
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This reimagining pairs two strangers in an arranged cover marriage as they take on dangerous assignments. The relationship and action premise makes it a fit for viewers who want a spy story with a strong two-hander at its center. Amazon UK included it in its historical 2024 Prime Video slate; check your local catalog rather than treating that UK listing as universal.
15. Fallout (series)
For viewers choosing by genre rather than ranking, Fallout is the list’s post-apocalyptic option: a story in a wasteland shaped by the world that came before. Its JustWatch popularity position and access categories are noted above; use a current U.S. title search to distinguish subscription access from buying or renting.
16. Shōgun (series)
If historical fiction is your priority, Shōgun offers a political drama rooted in Clavell’s novel. JustWatch’s #1 position reflects U.S. streaming popularity in its 2024 list, not a critic ranking. Check current regional availability before choosing a service.
17. The Bear (series)
For a contemporary character drama with a workplace at its center, The Bear follows the strain and craft of running a restaurant. JustWatch ranked it third in U.S. streaming popularity for 2024; that figure does not measure viewership totals or establish a critics’ verdict.
18. Slow Horses (series)
Viewers who prefer spy stories with an ensemble and a continuing arc can start with Slow Horses. The fourth season was among Rotten Tomatoes’ returning-season selections for 2024. Check service listings for your country and begin with the first season if you want the story in sequence.
19. Pachinko (series)
Pachinko is the pick for a family saga that spans generations. Rotten Tomatoes included its second season in its 2024 selection; it is not a first-year series. Because the story spans different places and languages, check subtitle settings and begin at season one.
20. Interior Chinatown (series)
For a story that examines how television frames identity, consider Interior Chinatown. Hulu is the service label on Rotten Tomatoes’ page, but streaming rights and catalogs are territory-specific and can change.
21. Landman (series)
Landman offers a drama focused on the oil business and the communities around it. Rotten Tomatoes labels Paramount+ for the title; check the current U.S. app listing for the exact access option.
Quick Recap
How to choose—and find a place to watch
- For critical reception: use a critic-focused list such as Metacritic’s, remembering that its 2024 ranking covers first-year U.S. series, not returning seasons.
- For popularity: JustWatch’s ranking is U.S.-specific and measures streaming popularity; its top three for 2024 were Shōgun, Fallout and The Bear.
- For a completed, shorter watch: Black Doves is described by Metacritic as six episodes. Confirm the current catalog and episode listing in your region.
- For a continuing story: returning seasons such as Slow Horses season 4 and Pachinko season 2 reward viewers who start earlier in the series.
- Before paying: search the show in a service’s own app or a current regional availability guide. Check whether the result says included with subscription, rent, or buy; those are different ways to access a title.
Sources and availability notes
- Rotten Tomatoes: “Best TV Shows of 2024: Best New Series to Watch Now”, Alex Vo, updated January 21, 2025. Its Certified Fresh selection includes new series and returning seasons; it is not a current availability database.
- JustWatch: “Top 10 Most Popular TV Shows on Streaming Services in 2024”, published December 18, 2024, updated July 5, 2026. This is a U.S. popularity guide with title-level availability checks dated October 8, 2026.
- Metacritic: “The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2024 (And How to Watch Them)”, Jason Dietz, December 21, 2024. Its methodology covers first-year U.S. series, using critic-grade averages as of December 19, 2024, and excludes programs with fewer than seven reviews.
- About Amazon UK: “The 8 best TV shows to watch on Prime Video in 2024”. This historical UK slate is useful for identifying titles, not confirming current access outside that context.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
