Best TV Shows of 2024 So Far: ‘Hacks,’ ‘Elsbeth,’ ‘Interview with the Vampire,’ and More

We’re over halfway through the year 2024, and there’s been plenty to discuss this year so far when it comes to television. Some of our favorite shows ended after several seasons, and others are just getting started.

There have been comedies that make us cry, dramas that made us laugh, and cancellations that we still can’t get over. 

Here’s a look at some of the best TV shows of 2024 so far:

1. Ghosts

Much like the ghosts of Woodstone Mansion, this spooky sitcom hasn’t aged a day in its three killer seasons. Ghosts is still as spunky and fresh-faced funny as ever this season, pulling off a memorable Halloween episode in the dead of winter and delivering a devastating character reveal late in the game.

Ghosts Season 3 struggled with its shorter episode order, but with writing this compelling and cast chemistry that feels otherworldly, there is little this CBS comedy cannot make us believe in.

– Alicia Gilstorf

2. Criminal Minds: Evolution

In its second season, Criminal Minds: Evolution continues to prove why it came back in the first place. Even though there was some fear that only focusing on one unsub might make things boring, the show has proven to be as exciting, intriguing, and mind-blowing as always.

– Lara Rosales

3. The Conners

There is a reason the Conner family has been a TV staple for decades. There is something so wholesome, relatable, and heartfelt about a family that is just like average, middle-class Americans all across the country.

Their struggles are our struggles, and their triumphs matter to us as well. By facing life with a quippy remark and a bunch of sarcastic comments, this family reminds us that we are never alone. There are several other reasons you should be watching The Conners as well, if you aren’t already! 

– Mads Misasi

4. Shōgun

Adapting James Clavell’s novel on an English sailor stranded in feudal Japan, Shōgun brings the past to life with thrilling intrigue and precise aesthetic accuracy. The Sengoku Period was not a nice time, and Shōgun transports its viewers back uncannily.

The dialogue, heard mostly in Japanese, enraptures even if you need subtitles — Hiroyuki Sanada as Lord Yoshi Toranaga shows how his charisma transcends language. After the success of Shōgun, FX has renewed it for two more seasons, but the first 10 episodes (initially sold as a mini-series) stand as a near-perfect season of television all on their own.

– Devin Meenan

5. Fantasmas

From the brilliant and wonderful mind of comedian Julio Torres, Fantasmas is every bit as strange and exciting as every of his other works. In each episode, Julio encounters bizarre characters, often played by famous guest stars like Paul Dano, in his search for his pearl earring.

This surrealist comedy is a delight to watch for those seeking an escape from the harsh realities of the real world and for something to make them dream a little more.

– Sam Huang

6. Hacks

Hacks Season 3 proved once again why the show is one of the best comedies on TV at the moment.

The complicated relationship between Deborah and Ava is the core of the show, and that’s what makes for such an intriguing storyline. It is a wholesome show that definitely makes TV worthwhile.

– Lara Rosales

7. Station 19

Wrapping up a seven-season series in ten episodes is no easy feat, but Station 19 Season 7 pulls it off. During this final season, Station 19’s best and brightest are put to more fiery tests, and Andy Herrera finally becomes the firehouse’s captain.

With insightful studies into beloved figures like Victoria Hughes and careful consideration of fan-favorite romances like Maya and Carina DeLuca-Bishop’s marriage, this season—once again—puts the characters first. What started as a Grey’s Anatomy spinoff series has grown into something all its own.

It has become a TV show about a found family of first responders who value each other, their community, and social change to their very core. So, even though Station 19 has ended, its legacy lives on. 19!

– Shelby Elpers

8. Resident Alien

Between Alan Tudyk’s perfectly hilarious performance as the alien going by the name of Harry Vanderspeigle and the very relatable themes of family, friendship, and what it means to be human, Resident Alien is well worth the watch. Every unique character brings something special to the table, and the series has as much heart as it does humor.

Resident Alien finished its third season this year on a major cliffhanger, and thankfully, it’s been renewed for Season 4.  

– Ashley Bissette Sumerel

9. Abbott Elementary

Having just finished its third season, the Quinta Brunson-created comedy Abbott Elementary has shown no signs of slowing down.

This year, we saw Brunson’s Janine start a new job that helped her rediscover herself, Janine and Gregory’s relationship evolved dramatically, and Abbott’s teachers and staff discovered new passions and went on new adventures. And yet, for all the characters’ shenanigans, it remained grounded and heartfelt.

– Alyssa Christian

10. Fallout 

If gleeful ultraviolence with a retrofuturistic edge is what you need, Prime Video’s Fallout has the cure for what ails you. Based on the mega-popular video game franchise, the series is easily one of the more successful adaptations out there.

Throw in titan performers like Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins, and you’ve got a recipe for immersive sci-fi success. It deftly balances dark, laugh-out-loud humor, hefty emotional beats, and thrilling action in a high-stakes setting.

– Melody McCune

11. Animal Control 

If there’s one thing the TV landscape needs more of, it’s a good old-fashioned low-stakes comedy. Enter Animal Control, a sweet sitcom brimming with dad joke-esque animal puns, hilarious performances, and Joel McHale as Jeff Winger 2.0.

Animal Control Season 2 experiments with character dynamics, giving the talented cast the space to play. And, yes, Community fans get even more delightful references this go-round.

– Melody McCune

12. So Help Me Todd 

You can always count on So Help Me Todd to lift your spirits and make you laugh. The characters (mainly Todd) get into various shenanigans to solve a case, prove a point, or win a prank war.

These characters found a spot in our hearts, so it’s a shame the series has been canceled.

– Allison Nichols

13. The Acolyte

This latest Star Wars series could be more of the same, but instead, it explores a portion of Jedi lore and the timeline that remains mostly a mystery.

By focusing on a set of twins one seemingly light and one seemingly dark, The Acolyte gives insight into the fallacies of the Jedi Order. Add to that, the performances from Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-Jae, and Charlie Barnett are out of this world.

– Mads Misasi

14. Interview with the Vampire

It is not an exaggeration to say Interview with the Vampire is the best show on TV right now — because it is. The adaptation of Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles series has managed to supersede an incredible first season with an even more compelling and intoxicating second outing set in the gothic theatre scene of Paris.

Interview with the Vampire Season 2 features superb award-winning performances, compelling villains, and those petty soap opera elements that make it a blast to watch each week. With betrayal awaiting viewers around every corner, you will be desperate to devour the twists and turns of this tale in one sitting.

– Alicia Gilstorf

15. Dead Boy Detectives

Dead Boy Detectives cleverly combines the teen genre with mystery and horror. The characters are flawed and relatable, not to mention that there’s plenty of queer representation in the show!

While the cases themselves are fun to solve, the show ultimately is a beautiful exploration of love and grief. Hopefully, the series will be renewed for a second season. 

– Sam Huang

16. Doctor Who

Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor shines as he brings a revived energy to Doctor Who. His performance style blends perfectly with it’s sci-fi storylines that can seem silly on the surface but run deeper. 

Combined with Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday and Russell T. Davies back on show-runner duties, “new Who,” is fun again.

– Breeze Riley

17. Evil

It’s unfortunate that this drama/horror series has been canceled, as this latest season of Evil (its 4th and supposedly final) has not held anything back in depicting new phenomena.

We’ve already gotten to see Katja Herbers’ Kristen stand up to Michael Emerson’s malicious Leland, and Patrick Brammell’s Andy has struggled with the aftermath of Leland’s brainwashing.

But, perhaps the most enjoyable aspect so far has been watching Andrea Martin’s nun battle demons, both large and small. It’s a shame that this continuously entertaining and inventive series will soon no longer be around.

– Alyssa Christian

18. Sweet Tooth

The series’ third season offers a fitting finale for a show all about humanity and whether we’re doomed or can be saved. The answer is somewhere in between and reflected in Sweet Tooth.

The show touches the heart while weaving a complex story from start to finish. An underrated show that should now go on everyone’s binge list.

– Jerrica Tisdale

19. Under the Bridge

True-crime limited series seem to be all the rage lately, which is why some people may have been reluctant to check out this one starring Emmy nominee Riley Keough and Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone.

However, Under the Bridge’s focus on the victim’s life prior to her murder is what makes this one stand out from the pack, and it helps that Keough and Gladstone’s performances are bolstered by a terrific young cast. While the end result may not be surprising, the journey is certainly intriguing, well-written, and expertly performed.

– Alyssa Christian

20. Wild Cards

A con woman and a demoted detective are forced to work together to solve cases, which is the best thing that could have happened to either of them.

The chemistry between Vanessa Morgan and Giacomo Gianniotti is electric. Wild Cards brings us back to the blue-sky era of USA Network in the very best way.

– Allison Nichols

21. Baby Reindeer

Sometimes, a show haunts you because it’s so raw, emotional, and bold. Baby Reindeer is one of those shows. It’s a personal story of trauma that isn’t a straightforward tale of pain, but one that also has humor, self-reflection, and a sympathetic look at the complexity of humanity.

It’s the type of series that’s rare but represents how powerful television can be.

– Jerrica Tisdale

22. Echo

Maya Lopez finally steps into the spotlight with her own series. Echo is the first of its kind for multiple reasons: it’s Marvel’s first TV-MA series and a show with a predominantly Indigenous cast.

Alaqua Cox delivers an understated, nuanced, and fearless performance as Maya, with Tantoo Cardinal also offering emotionally resonant work and Graham Greene providing comedic relief. Echo beautifully weaves Native culture into its storytelling while setting the stage for what’s to come in the MCU.

– Melody McCune

23. Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Donald Glover has a strong track record regarding TV content, from the cult comedic classic Community to Atlanta, a thought-provoking, genre-defying meditation on race and class.

Now, he can add Mr. & Mrs. Smith to that list. Glover’s dynamic with Maya Erskine truly drives the narrative, anchoring a spy thriller with grounded relationship-based elements. It’s equal parts humorous and heartbreaking, with the ending of Season 1 leaving us, as viewers, with our jaws on the floor.

– Melody McCune

24. Hotel Cocaine

Inspired by real-life events, Hotel Cocaine takes us back to the crime, cruelty, and decadence of the 1970s and 1980s Miami cocaine scene. It skillfully intermixes family struggles, suspenseful action sequences, and ethereally shot scenes.

The lead stars Danny Pino, Mark Feuerstein, and Yul Vazquez are already delivering performances early in the season that are nothing short of mesmerizing, promising to bring the series to the forefront of discussions.

– Cade Taylor

25. The Way Home

The Way Home took the Hallmark Channel to a place no one ever expected it would go. It’s just as heartfelt as you’d expect, and the focus on family and relationships is very much at the center.

But The Way Home also incorporates time travel in a really interesting way, and it takes on darker, edgier themes with stellar performances by Chyler Leigh and the rest of the cast. The Way Home Season 2 became even more complex, with more mysteries to solve and plenty of reasons to go back and watch a second time.

26. Elsbeth

This CBS comedy masquerading as a crime drama is a goofy good time. Elsbeth’s wholesome approach to murder through the lens of Elsbeth’s unwavering positivity and kindness makes it a refreshingly light take on the tired police procedural.

The show’s desire to explore unconventional detective skills by revealing the killer before the case starts allows us to play amateur detective alongside our brilliant leading lady. With scene-stealing acting from Carrie Preston and a revolving door of flashy guest stars, this is how you sell crime procedurals to a sitcom girlie.

– Alicia Gilstorf

27. Quantum Leap

This continuation of the cult classic Scott Bakula-led series took a while to find its footing, but once it did, it fired on all cylinders.

Raymond Lee’s portrayal of the charming Dr. Ben Song is easily one of its strengths, along with intriguing episodic storytelling and a dynamic supporting cast. Quantum Leap smashed cultural barriers, unafraid of uplifting marginalized voices, and presented a compelling narrative in Season 2, ending on a massive cliffhanger.

It’s a shame we won’t see how that’s resolved.

– Melody McCune

28. Young Sheldon

The spinoff of The Big Bang Theory wrapped its story perfectly this year while setting the stage for another spinoff. Young Sheldon went out with a bang (sorry, pun intended) with rich storytelling for every character, including Connie in the aftermath of the tornado and Georgie and Mandy as brand new parents. 

The series also ended with an emotional event we knew was coming: the death of Sheldon’s father. The series handled that part of the story perfectly, making it one of the most memorable episodes of television this year. 

– Ashley Bissette Sumerel

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Which of these shows have you seen this year, and which ones are you adding to your list? Let us know in the comments!

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