Char Gibb’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2024

As a dystopian post-apocalyptic sci-fi junkie, I’ve binged my way through so many end-of-the-world scenarios, I’m amazed I lived to tell the tale. Not only have I watched them, I’ve watched them over and over. 

Four of my Top 10 TV Shows of 2024 are from this convoluted genre. If certain past shows were still airing, nine post-apocalyptic ones would be listed. Yellowstone would shine bright as the lone dissident, waving a branding iron and committing sins the future can’t even imagine.

My list includes excellent premieres like Dexter: Original Sin and Landman. Both are worth your time. Add Matlock to the mix and we’ve got a party started.

There’s something here for every binge-watching appetite.

Ready to discover the cream of the crop? In no particular order, here are my Top 10 TV Shows of 2024.

1. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

I’m probably The Walking Dead’s most loyal fan. It’s ridiculous how many times I’ve rewatched it since the first 2010 episode. I cried just a bit when I lost my Walking Dead festival blanket at an outdoor concert. Yeah, kind of pathetic.

So, what is it about The Walking Dead that glues me to the TV, immobilized like some strung-out zombie? I wish I knew because The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live made it worse. In this six-episode limited series, Rick and Michonne, separated for years, will stop at nothing to find each other. Or so we think.

It turns out that while Michonne is fighting tooth and nail to find Rick, he’s busy succumbing to his unwanted role in the Civic Republic Military (CRM).

This is the definition of unbelievable.

Do they expect us to buy that Rick simply decided to let his family go? Just a “See ya, kiddos, I’m giving up,” and he flakes?

This guy bit into a dude’s carotid artery and ripped out the poor sap’s jugular vein with his teeth to protect his son. Rick Grimes doesn’t give up on anything or anyone. 

There are gut-filled silos full of rushed plotlines and too many half-formulated ideas. But Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira deliver the expected heart-pounding action and character depth. No one does it quite like these two.

Even with its faults, it sits high on my list. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live breathes new life into The Walking Dead universe. And I’m still their #1 junkie.

2. Yellowstone

This month, the Dutton family said goodbye, and I almost shed a few tears. How will I learn to survive in this world without Beth’s “How to be The Biggest B*tch on the Planet” weekly dose? It’s very unsettling.

Then, a Beth and Rip spinoff was announced. That helped, but only a bit. I’m still grieving the loss of Papa John Dutton (Kevin Costner).

And now they’re all gone. Poof! The last episode aired and is known to all, with no new betrayals to look forward to. Yet. The Yellowstone Season 5 finale doesn’t disappoint, but we should all be upset the curtain fell on this modern American epic.

Yellowstone changed my view of today’s Western dramas. I discovered I liked them. What’s not to like? When long-simmering conflicts erupt into firestorms of hate and twisted revenge is the norm, I can’t get enough. 

3. Earth Abides 

Like a survivor eyeing their last can of beans, Earth Abides is impossible to resist. It explores a devastating pandemic’s aftermath with most of humanity dead. This is my kind of show, right? 

Right. Yet, oddly, what I like most about this series is the contrast to shows like The Walking Dead. I may be a walking, talking contradiction, but hear me out.

I’m thrilled with this adaptation of George R. Stewart’s 1949 novel. The producers respect the main themes of inspiration, purpose, and the psychological toll of clinging to hope.

In the Las Vegas hotel scene, Ish meets two survivors drowning their sorrows and despair. They’re considering “opting out,” and I put myself in Ish’s shoes. 

Would I give up like those poor souls? Or would I continue to try to inspire hope in others? Who would I be?  Who would you be? 

I picked Earth Abides because it offers a fresh take on the post-apocalyptic genre. It’s risky for a network to stray from the norm, and I applaud MGM+ for its daring.

4. Landman

West Texas roughnecks, wildcat billionaires, and geopolitics — Landman has it all. Created by Taylor Sheridan, it’s no shocker that this one’s on my list. 

Landman is a gritty, authentic take on the modern-day controversial oil boom. I follow this industry closely, and I wasn’t going to watch this show because I’m politically exhausted. When I’m checking out trailers, I’m looking for a break.

But Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, and Demi Moore enticed me, and I’m glad I checked it out.

Landman is another hit for Sheridan. Its energetic and honest storytelling is a refreshing change from the drivel some networks push on us.

5. House of the Dragon 

Forget everything you know about Westeros because House of the Dragon serves up a fresh batch of fire-breathing drama.

This prequel to the Iron Throne shenanigans (a.k.a. Game of Thrones) dives into the Targaryen civil war drama, and let me tell you, it’s hotter than Dragon Flame.

Season 2 cranks up the heat as the Dance of Dragons kicks off for real. I’m talking about violent battles, shocking betrayals, and political maneuvering. But what I like most is that it makes me care about these silver-haired schemers, even as they’re plotting each other’s downfall. Or maybe because they are. 

House of the Dragon is proving that in the Game of  Thrones, you win or you die — and sometimes you do both in spectacular fashion.

6. Fallout

Fallout dropped in 2024, and it’s already blowing my mind. It’s got that perfect dark survival humor that makes me fall in love with the genre all over again. However, figuring out the genre of this video game adaptation is a challenge. It’s a true “Jack of all trades.”

Ella Purnell kills it as a vault dweller thrust into the chaos of post-nuclear Los Angeles. Not the place I’d want to be.

The post-apocalyptic wasteland in Fallout is faithfully recreated and comes to life with impressive production design (kudos!). This is an important check mark for me. Also, the story is refreshing and original, making it another alternative to The Walking Dead. 

I hope this series hangs on for dear life. I’m gonna want more.

7. Dexter: Original Sin

Dexter: Original Sin delivers a heaping helping of sinister giggles that has me questioning my ethics and morality. Set in neon-soaked Miami in 1991, we have front-row seats to young Dexter’s transformation from awkward teen to America’s most lovable butcher.

Bravo to Patrick Gibson, who brings a fresh take to a role. I’m also a massive Christian Slater fan, but I won’t admit how far back we go. And don’t worry, Michael C. Hall’s iconic voiceover is still there to guide us through our warped anti-hero’s mind.

Dexter: Original Sin proves there’s plenty of life in this franchise. It’s comfort food for my inner psychopath — familiar, yet with enough new menu items to keep me coming back.

8. 3 Body Problem

3 Body Problem takes your brain on a wild ride through the cosmos with mind-bending sci-fi, and you’ll question reality.

This adaptation of Liu Cixin’s epic novel spans decades, continents, and even dimensions and is a heaping dose of first-contact anxiety. I kid you not. I’ve got to hand it to Netflix — they somehow translate this complex tale into something visually stunning and emotionally gripping.

I’ll admit, there were moments when I felt like I needed a Ph.D. in astrophysics to keep up. But stick with it because this unconventional newbie is worth it. By the time the aliens show up, you’ll be so invested you’ll root for humanity’s downfall. Or is that just me?

3 Body Problem isn’t just pushing the boundaries of sci-fi TV — it’s shattering them at the speed of light. 

9. Matlock

Oh, how I adore Kathy Bates. Every time I hear her name, I see James Cann as the hostage in a stranger’s bed, his body mangled by psycho fan Annie Wilkes. Annie, in my opinion, is Kathy’s crowning moment. 

On Matlock, Kathy serves up a different kind of justice with a side of sass as “Matty,” a retired lawyer with a hidden agenda. There are opioids involved, and that’s all I’m going to say.

I’m impressed with how creator Jennie Snyder Urman injects new life into this remake of the original 1986 Dean Hargrove series. Matlock’s generational humor is a surprising gem in the network TV landscape.

If you’re looking for something lighter, this is the one.

10. Hacks

Hacks keeps getting better, and I’m here for it.

Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance is on a mission. She’s gunning for a late-night host gig, and I’m thinking: It’s about time someone shook up that boys’ club. Deborah brings her A-game, and it’s pure gold. Hannah Einbinder’s Ava tries to keep up with Deborah’s ambition, and their dynamic is as compelling as ever. 

What I like about this season is that it keeps me laughing while tackling the cutthroat nature of showbiz.

Hacks proves why it’s one of the smartest comedies on TV. It’s funny, relevant, and it’s got heart. If you’re not watching this show, you’re missing out on some of the best television of the year.

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