It’s no secret that after the dual Writers and Actors strike, 2024 was finally the year to return to great television. And the year had its fair share of spectacular debuts of new series that wormed themselves into our hearts with strong writing, great characters, and the ability to keep us coming back for more. From broadcast procedurals to adaptations and streaming hits, we’ve compiled a list of the best new series of 2024.
Shōgun – Hulu The critically acclaimed series is easily one of the most talked about debut shows of the year, and there’s no way a list commending incredible new series is complete without it. Based on the James Clavell novel of the same name, this adaptation does justice to the genre during an era when the medium is saturated with far too many of them. And Shōgun stays faithful to the source material, elevating it with some of the most commanding actors currently onscreen.
These actors bring these characters to life, and the incredible setting, costuming, and more make this one of the best historical dramas. It’s aesthetically a masterpiece, a feast for the eyes for visually stunning effects and cinematography that’s laudworthy, and an attention to detail that makes the series immersive and authentic. As we’ve discussed, the series stays true to the source material and effectively adjusts to modern sensibilities.
It also manages to avoid things like the White Savior Trope by ensuring Toranaga and Mariko helming the political mechanizat.
