12 Favorite TV Dramas of 2024: 9-1-1, Bridgerton, The Diplomat, and More

This year’s best TV dramas were a mix of network procedurals, long-running favorites, and streaming thrillers. Shows like 9-1-1 got new life, while shows like Bridgerton returned with much-anticipated storylines.  

In no particular order, here’s a look at our favorite TV dramas of 2024.

1. 9-1-1

What can we say about this show that is well into its 8th season that hasn’t already been said? Well, the move to ABC this year revived the show in a way that fans weren’t expecting.

Every element is fresh, putting the stakes back on top; they’d been a bit worn out in previous years. At the start of 2024, we got a short but still impactful Season 7, which not only gave us the bisexual representation we never expected but also a few emergencies that had us holding our breaths, fearing for the lives of show favorites.

We might be in the 8th season, but the drama is still stopping us in our tracks while also being over-the-top ridiculous. It’s what makes 9-1-1 so special. No matter how intense things get, the show will likely counter it with emergencies that we can’t take any more seriously than the show does.

2. Rivals

While viewers on this side of the pond may not be familiar with Jilly Cooper’s “bonkbuster” romance novel Rivals, its adaptation on Hulu became a surprise hit. Of course, having fan-favorite David Tennant in the cast didn’t hurt!

The soapy drama follows the scandalous happenings in the small town of Rutshire with a primary focus on the battle for the local television station’s license. Even if you’re not interested in Rivals’ socio-political commentary of 1980s England, you will be reeled in by the trysts, rivalries, and heartbreak going on.

There are plenty of characters and couples to ship including aristocratic MP Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and aspiring chef Taggie O’Hara (Bella Maclean), who happens to be the daughter of Rupert’s neighbor. Scandal! They are far from a traditional pairing but you will find yourself rooting for their unconventional romance anyway.

3. The Diplomat

The Diplomat returned to Netflix in November with a shorter, but even crazier season. This season is an incredibly engrossing six episodes that make for a great binge and is elevated to completely new heights with the addition of Allison Janney to the cast.

The Diplomat continues to prove itself as a uniquely compelling political thriller, which will hopefully continue in Season 3.

4. Slow Horses

Slow Horses Season 4 featured delightful new characters, a devastating loss, and, of course, our favorite group of misfits over at Slough House.

River and his family were at the forefront of the season with an attempt on his grandfather’s life that led River to uncover secrets about his upbringing. River’s personal connection to the case of the season allowed the series to put a bit more weight behind the mysteries and reveals, resulting in a stellar season.

5. Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Smith managed to blend action, nuance, and romance in a truly fascinating way. Inspired by the original 2005 film, this series on Prime Video gave us a unique look into the complexities of what makes love “love.”

While it follows a mission-of-the-week-based premise, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine are charmingly captivating to make each episode special. Season 1’s second half really captured the emotion of it all as the Smiths’ tension was pushed to the extreme.

6. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

As with any good literary adaptation, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder gave its fans a faithfully exciting adventure. Throughout Pip Fitz-Amobi’s investigation into her missing persons case, each episode was filled with intriguing challenges. Plus, her blossoming relationship with Ravi Singh had critical challenges that were nerve-wracking! Though Emma Meyers and Zain Iqbal are returning soon, Season 1’s mystery was simply spectacular.

7. Bridgerton

Bridgerton Season 3 once again delivered another splendid romance led by Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton. The stakes were high this season due to Penelope’s identity as Lady Whistledown, which allowed for some needed conflicts and painful moments for the characters to move forward.

Despite the tensions, it still remained the Bridgerton we fell in love with in 2020, with its pearl-clutching drama and chemistry-filled cast.

8. Shōgun

Few shows this year accomplished what Shōgun did, a masterful representation of history and the impotence of language. It’s dense and yet it made all the backstory and historical context accessible for viewers, it never felt like audiences were being spoon fed information, we were present in the moment alongside the characters.

The masterful cast led by Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, and Anna Sawai and accompanied by stunning production design and epic battles, led Shōgun to be one of the events of the year and worthy of every single trophy it has earned so far.

9. Station 19

There’s no Best Drama Series of 2024 list without Station 19. The Grey’s Anatomy spinoff series confirmed its spot on the list in July 2024.

With only 10 episodes, the firefighting drama acts as a love letter to the six seasons before and the fans who fell in love with the show along the way. From fires at Seattle’s Space Needle to seemingly insurmountable wildfires, the Station 19 family walked into the flames to save lives.

All the while, theirs were changing (Jack had to stop being a firefighter) and evolving (Vic and Travis leave Seattle) and growing (Maya and Carina adopt and have children). It would take far too many words to commemorate all Station 19 accurately accomplishes in its final season — from its procedural to its serialized arcs. Ultimately, it’s the culmination of a good run and a strong standalone season of TV.

10. Black Doves

On the surface, Netflix’s espionage thriller Black Doves may look like something you’ve seen before. But the six-part drama about a politician’s wife who happens to be a spy and her assassin BFF, the show takes many of the genre’s most familiar tropes and gleefully tosses them in a blender, mixing a heavy dash of much-needed humor with an offbeat central relationship to create something that feels uniquely fresh and fun.

Powered by the sparkling chemistry between stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, what starts as an attempt to solve a murder spins out into something much more complicated, involving everything from geopolitical conspiracy to personal self-doubt.

Brisk and propulsive, the show is a delight from start to finish and will leave viewers more than ready to enlist for a second season (which, thankfully, has already been greenlit.)

11. Grey’s Anatomy

The fact that Grey’s Anatomy can still surprise its viewers after 21 seasons is saying a lot. The long-running medical drama continues to re-invent itself while finding ways to call back to its early seasons.

This year saw the show’s milestone 20th season in its entirety (returning from the writers and actors strikes) and has begun its 21st. The 20th season brought the show full circle for Miranda Bailey, in particular. 

12. Found

Found ended its first season on a cliffhanger, then set up an entirely new direction for the series in Season 2.

Doing so allowed the show to expand on its characters and their complex relationships in the sophomore season, all with its main antagonist, “Sir” now on the loose and threatening every one of them. It’s a unique take on a procedural drama that tells important stories and is filled with more suspense than ever this season.

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Contributions by: Ashley Bissette Sumerel, Allison Nichols, Mads Misasi, Shelby Elpers, Lacy Baugher, Breeze Riley, Gabriela Burgos, Christopher Gallardo, and Maryam Ahmad

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