Top TV (and a game) of 2024
Journalism is just listicles now anyway
A fortnight ago, I wrote about the best books of the year. This list is similar but with a touch more finesse. All of these items were released this year, rather than just having the singular honour of being consumed by me this year. So there’s that. Hoorah.
Shogun
An astounding television epic, 2024 was Shogun’s year in television. While recent critical favourites like The Bear, Ted Lasso and House of the Dragon had limp second and third seasons, Shogun’s beautiful historical drama has rightfully swept awards for the year. When Englishman John Blackthorne becomes shipwrecked on the Japanese coast in the early 1600’s, he enters a world of rich political intrigue. The acting and cinematography is sublime. For Australians, the entire thing is on Disney+.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Who knew we needed this? Donald Glover’s re-working of the spies-turned-lover tale is grounded, tense and hilarious. It was originally a project between Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge (can you imagine what that would have been?). Maya Erskine plays opposite Glover and make a perfect pair. It’s on Amazon Prime.
Baby Reindeer
I won’t be the first person to have told you about this series. If you missed it - yes you should watch it, yes it’s brilliant. In saying that, just once is enough. The series, adapted from a one-person show (yeah, it’s got that energy), is about a wannabe stand-up comedian and his unfortunate stalker. The show goes to dark and vulnerable places that are likely to fuck with your head. It’s on Netflix.
Ripley
Andrew Scott’s sinister recapture of Thomas Ripley (a character who’s almost been photocopied enough times that the ink is starting to run out) is fresh and energising. The beautifully shot mini-series takes its time (perhaps one episode too long for the amount of story), but Scott holds us for the entire time with his cold, psychopathic eyes for every moment. Who doesn’t want to hang out with the rich in 1960’s Italy? On Netflix.
The Diplomat
I missed this in its first year out. But I’m glad I waited for 2024’s season two, which runs seamlessly from the first, in a fast-paced, seamlessly plotted spy thriller. Kerri Russell is an experienced diplomat used to working in the Middle East. She is shocked to be thrust into the role of American Ambassador to the United Kingdom only a day after an attack on a British ship. The series features a range of outstanding American and UK actors, and is run by Debora Cahn, who previously wrote for The West Wing and Homeland. The show takes itself seriously (you’ll learn about international politics) but is also unafraid of comedy and fresh takes on familiar troupes. On Netflix.
Couples Therapy
I knew I wanted to be a couples therapist before I watched this show, but boy oh boy did it really seal the deal. The show returned (thankfully) for its fourth season this year, exploring polyamory, addiction and trauma. Every couple is real, but there are none of the trappings of exploitative reality TV. You have a very, very good therapist (the fantastic Dr. Orna Guralnik) working with diverse clients. For those who aren’t interested in therapy, I promise the show is worth your time just for the deep consideration of humanity that it provokes. The show has a different batch of couples every season, and watching how couples change over the course of eight (or so) episodes is almost always hopeful. Yes, people can heal. All episodes are on SBS On Demand.
Balatro
It should tell you something that Balatro, an independent game made mainly by a single guy, is consistently nominated for Game of the Year this year alongside multi-million dollar juggernauts developed by major studios. The premise is simple enough: you start with a standard deck of cards and must make as many high-scoring poker sets as possible. The game’s replayability comes from its amazingly fun ‘Joker’ system, allowing you to add bizarre effects to your hand and deck. If you hit the sweet spot, the numbers grow exponentially until you are hitting scores in the millions, billions and so on. High-scoring rounds on YouTube are satisfying to watch, and the game has a habit of taking over your life. Even if you’re not a gamer, this is worth checking out. It’s now available everywhere, including phones.