As we reach the halfway mark of 2024, streaming platforms are rolling out fresh series and beloved returning favorites like there’s no tomorrow. Whether they depict alternate historical events or provide an intimate look at the human experience, these compelling shows promise to entertain, thrill, and leave viewers in awe. Poised to dominate screens and fire up more online conversations for the remainder of the year, these top-tier programs have already made a significant impact on old fans and new audiences, leaving a legacy in the competitive TV landscape.
Don’t forget to add these to your watchlist! Without further ado,here are the best 2024 shows on streaming.
Created by:Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks| Cast:Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai
Based onJames Clavell’s bestselling novel,Shōguntakes place in 17th-century Japan at the outset of a civil war. The story follows English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), who finds himself shipwrecked on Japanese shoresduring one of the country’s most turbulent periods. Thrust into a complex political web involving Japanese warlords, the Regency, the Catholic Church, and the Empires of Spain and Portugal, Blackthorne’s unexpected arrival proves advantageous for Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), once the most powerful man in Japan. Initially wary of each other, Blackthorne gradually ascends from an outsider to a samurai, while Toranaga discovers startling secrets about those who were supposed to be his loyal servants.
Shogun (2024)
When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, Lord Yoshii Toranaga discovers secrets that could tip the scales of power and devastate his enemies.
WATCH ON HULU
Created by:Graham Wagner, Geneva Robertson-Dworet | Cast: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Kyle MacLachlan
Adapted from the long-running video game series,Falloutis set in a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, where the city lies in ruins after a nuclear catastrophe, leaving no signs of life above ground. Survivors seek refuge from the deadly radiation in luxury underground bunkers. However, their safety is jeopardized when a group of violent bandits seize control of the shelters, forcing the inhabitants to return to the lawless, hellish landscape above. Confronted with immortal ghouls, laser muskets, and various radiation-mutated creatures, the exiled residents must quickly adapt to this brutal and chaotic world before the bandits catch up to them.
In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.
WATCH ON PRIME VIDEO
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2
Created by:Ryan Condal, George R. R. Martin | Cast: Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy
House of the DragonSeason 2 follows the death of King Viserys the Peacefulignites a fierce battle for the throne. In King’s Landing, the Greens seize control and crown Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), the king’s eldest son. Meanwhile, across the waters at Dragonstone, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), the named heir, is crowned by her loyal supporters, the Blacks. Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) offers peace terms, but they are swiftly rejected, prompting Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) to fortify Harrenhal. Simultaneously, Lord Corlyn Velaryon and Princess Raenys Targaryen blockade the Gullet with their fleet and dragons. As the realm teeters on the brink of civil war, Rhaenyra dispatches her sons, Princes Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault), to garner allies.
House of the Dragon
The reign of House Targaryen begins with this prequel to the popular HBO seriesGame of Thrones.Based on George R.R. Martin’sFire & Blood,House of the Dragonis set nearly 200 years beforeGame of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war with King Viserys.
WATCH ON MAX
‘The Bear’ Season 3
Created by:Christopher Storer| Cast:Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri
Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) has gone through a lot inThe Bear. In Season 1, the James Beard Award-winning chef worked tirelessly to salvage his deceased brother’s restaurant. Used to the uptight strictness that comes with fine-dining standards, Carmy was unprepared for the unruliness of running a local family sandwich shop. By Season 2, the team committed to transforming The Beef into a respected dining establishment, with only a few months and limited funds to achieve their goal. Season 3 continues to follow Carmy, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and the rest of the crew as theystrive to maintain high standards and stay in business- all while not strangling each other in the kitchen.
Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a young chef from the fine dining world, returns to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop after a tragedy. As he navigates the chaotic environment of the small kitchen, Carmy must manage the struggles of turning around the failing business while dealing with his own grief and personal demons. The series dives deep into the intense world of culinary arts, highlighting the challenges of running a restaurant, the bonds formed among staff, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.
‘The Boys’ Season 4
Developed by:Eric Kripke| Cast:Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Antony Starr
The explosive showdown between Supes and humanity reaches a fever pitch inThe BoysSeason 4. Homelander (Antony Starr), whoserecent audacious act of violencehas only fueled his god-like ego, continues to solidify his power and tighten his iron grip on the public. Meanwhile, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) is terminally ill when he discovers a man-made virus capable of killing Supes. While Homelander becomes the leading face for his fanatical followers, Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) finds herself only one step closer to the apex of political power. As the Butcher struggles with a monumental loss and his mortality, it’s only a matter of time before he steps up as The Boys continue to face ever-mounting threats.
The Boys is a drama series that explores the darker aspects of superhero culture, portraying a world where superheroes abuse their powers rather than use them for good. Centered around a vigilante group aiming to control these corrupt heroes, the series delves into themes of power, corruption, and accountability. The show features a complex narrative with multifaceted characters, offering an unfiltered look at the consequences of unchecked power.
‘Bridgerton’ Season 3
Created by:Chris Van Dusen| Cast:Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton
The marriage season is in full bloom again inBridgertonSeason 3. After spending the summer in the country following her scandalous Season 2 reveal, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) returns to Mayfair just in time for the debutante season. Unlike the other girls, however, Penelope has had little luck attracting a suitor. To make matters worse, she still feels uneasy around her former crush, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), who she overheard making rude remarks about her last season. Determined to find a husband, Penelope struggles with her lack of confidence and her mother’s lack of faith in her. Colin, recently returned from his summer travels,decides to help Penelope find a match, only to realize that has might have feelings for her all along.
Bridgerton
Set in the glamorous world of Regency London, the Bridgerton family maneuvers through the opulent and treacherous landscape of high society. Daphne Bridgerton, the family’s eldest daughter, enters the marriage market, sparking a whirlwind romance with the enigmatic Duke of Hastings.
WATCH ON NETFLIX
‘The Sympathizer’
Created by:Park Chan-wook, Don McKellar| Cast:Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Toan Le
Boldly bringingViet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the screen,The Sympathizeris an intoxicating exploration of espionage, identity, and political upheaval. Following the mysterious Captain (Hoa Xuande), a half-Vietnamese, half-French communist spy,the lines between good and bad get blurryas he’s caught in the middle of conflicting loyalties. Set against the Vietnam War’s harrowing backdrop and following the fall of Saigon, the Captain’s fate leads him to Southern California. Amid a burgeoning refugee community, his espionage duties are far from over. Encounters with familiar faces back from home threaten to reveal his carefully maintained facade. One careless slip and his life is put immediately on the line.
The Sympathizer
Near the end of the Vietnam War, a plant who was embedded in the South Vietnam army flees to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community, where he continues to secretly spy and report back to the Viet Cong.
Created by:Steven Zaillian| Cast:Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn
Adapted fromPatricia Highsmith’s bestselling novels,Ripleytakes audiences back to early ‘60s New York and Italy, setting the stage for a life of deceit, fraud, and murder. Cunning grifter Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) isn’t having much luck in the job market. Despite his skills in forgery and impersonation, it seems like no one is willing to hire the con man. His luck changes when he meets Herbert Greenleaf, a wealthy industrialist, who hires Tom to find and bring back his son, Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn), from Italy. What begins as a simple cross-continent assignment gradually becomes an obsession as Tom befriends Dicke and is pulled into his lavish lifestyle. The plot thickens when Marge, Dickie’s close friend who secretly loves him, enters the scene.
A grifter named Ripley living in New York during the 1960s is hired by a wealthy man to begin a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder.
Created by:Monica Beletsky| Cast:Tobias Menzies, Anthony Boyle, Lovie Simone
Set in an alternate version of historical America,Manhuntexplores one of history’s least understood crimes: the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. After Lincoln’s (Hamish Linklater) tragic death at Ford’s Theatre, his Secretary of War and close friend Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies) investigates the anomalies surrounding the murder,eventually tracking down assassin John Wilkes Booth(Anthony Boyle). As Stanton looks further into the case, he discovers that Lincoln’s assassination is just one part of a large conspiracy targeting several seated members of the U.S. government. Booth has evidence implicating Jefferson Davis as the mastermind behind these planned murders, but Stanton must prove his case while being scrutinized by the Confederacy.
The aftermath of the first American presidential assassination and the fight to preserve and protect the ideals that were the foundation of Lincoln’s Reconstruction plans.
WATCH ON APPLE TV+
‘Masters of the Air’
Created by:John Shiban, John Orloff| Cast:Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle
rom the creators ofBand of Brothers,Masters of the Airtells the true experiences of young U.S. Army Air Force airmen during World War II who risk their lives with the 100th Bomb Group, known as the Bloody Hundredth. Audiences take off five miles above the ground and take cover behind enemy lines, following 10 courageous and hardened men on the front lines of the war against Nazi Germany. Under the leadership of the charismatic Maj. Gale “Buck” Cleven (Austin Butler) and Maj. John “Bucky” Egan (Callum Turner), the crew faces increasing dangers as they pilot B-17 bombers, engage with enemy aircraft, drop more bands than any other unit, andendure the loss of their fellow soldiersin these life-risking battles.
Masters of the Air
During WWII, five miles above the ground and behind enemy lines, ten men inside a bomber known as a “Flying Fortress” battle unrelenting flocks of German fighters.
‘Trying’ Season 4
Created by:Andy Wolton| Cast:Esther Smith, Rafe Spall
Tryingis a refreshingly honest and heartwarming take on parenthood, following Jason Ross (Esther Smith) and Nikki Newman (Esther Smith) as they try to conceive a baby and start a family. After coming to terms with their fertility issues in Season 1, they finally decide to look into adopting. While they eventually become parents through adoption, Jason and Nikki find themselves tangled in a legal battle for custody of their adopted child. Pulling back the curtain on the picture-perfect image of parenthood, the series shows thathaving a child is a different, and most importantly valid experience for everyone. While it’s common for most parents to feel as if they have to know everything about themselves and their child, the series normalizes parents questioning their abilities to raise children, proving that at the end of the day, parents are also learning for the first time too.
In a heartfelt comedy series, a London-based couple faces the realities of trying to adopt after failing to conceive. The show captures their emotional and often humorous encounters with the bureaucratic adoption system, their relationships with each other, and their interactions with potential children.
‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’
Directed by:Keiichirō Saitō| Cast:Atsumi Tanezaki, Nobuhiko Okamoto,Hiroki Touchi
Step into the enchanting world ofFrieren: Beyond Journey’s End, where Frieren (Atsumi Tanezaki), an ageless elven mage, sets off on a whimsical quest after her heroic days. Once part of a legendary party - featuring the valiant Himmel (Nobuhiko Okamoto), the wise Heiter (Hiroki Touchi), and the stalwart Eisen (Youji Ueda) - they vanquished the Demon King. But as time flows differently for elves, Frieren watchers her companion’s age and pass on. Before bidding farewell, Heiter slyly passes Fern (Kana Ichinose), a young human apprentice, into Frieren’s care. Together, theyventure through familiar lands, relive memories, and uncover forgotten spells.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
An elf and her friends defeat a demon king in a great war. But the war is over, and the elf must search for a new way of life.
