TV Shows I Loved in 2024

I'm all about wrapping up my year with the best TV I saw in 2024

Things that Make me Happy! Is a newsletter with recommendations and links for the cozy introvert. If you liked this issue, click on the heart button! That’s the biggest praise you can give me. You can also buy me coffee here if you’d like.

Quick note: I’m taking the rest of the year off. I’ll be in a remote beach town in South America, recharging, unwinding, and READING. I’m extremely grateful for all the likes and feedback! I love this little Substack corner we have created together. See you in 2025!!

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I’ll preface this by saying that I’m not a TV critic. I’m just a girl who loves TV, so yes, my choices are quite promiscuous, not snobby, and all over the place.

1. For when you need to shut your mind down but don’t want to lose any neurons watching Bravo.

Above, you can see my favorite Switch Your Brain Off shows! Hallmark and Netflix understand the assignment of shows that are gentle and PG in nature, and where issues are resolved in one episode. When you have a short attention span due to stress, these shows are lifesavers. If you need to choose one, I’d be a tie between The Chicken Sisters and The Way Home just because the acting is above average compared to the others.

2. For when you are craving a mystery but are too stressed out for twists or gore.

I just love cozy mysteries! They are gentle and sometimes very funny. Yes, the topic is murder, and yes, they are problematic, but in terms of keeping me entertained, there’s no other genre that comes close. My two absolute favorites this year were Murder in a Small Town, where an ex-city detective arrives in a small picturesque town, and bodies start piling up. The second one was what I think was my favorite watch of the year, Diarra from Detroit. I’ve never laughed so hard at a murder show. I even watched the full season twice; I’m rooting for a second!

3. For when you want to watch something that’s really, really good

They say we achieved peak TV, and I’m ok with that. Peak TV took itself too seriously, and it was too much. In past years, following new releases was impossible; this year, I think I had a good grasp on what was going on (even on the lesser streaming services) and had plenty of great options to choose from. My highlights were a tie between savoring the last season of the gentle but emotionally charged Somebody Somewhere and discovering Dark Winds. The first season is a masterpiece, and the second one is very solid.

4. For when you want your detectives to have depth (and good looks)

All the greatest investigators and detectives in TV and books have issues; some suffer from rage, some lost something they loved and now are in a vendetta against evil, and some are quirky and obsessive! It’s more fun when the main character has some sort of sordid backstory or a quirky trait that adds to the main storyline. This year, the small screen graced us with so many good detectives with too many issues. If you don’t know where to start, it’s a toss-up between Liz Danvers in True Detective and Alex Cross in Cross.

5. For when you want a real-life story that is better than an imagined one

I’m not very deep when it comes to docu-series, so if you watch nonfiction to learn, go somewhere else for recommendations. I enjoy documentaries that have a shock factor and are all full of weirdos. Ren Faire and Chimp Crazy are just that. The first one is about finding a successor for the Ren Fair king, and the second one is about people who are literally crazy for chimps! Enough said.

6. For when you want a weird experience that will leave you dazed, in a good way

Horror content was a standout this year! Grotesquerie was outstanding, as was Interview with the Vampire season 2. I’m very excited to see what all of these shows do next.

7. When you want to watch something that will make you cry of laughter or sadness, or both?

I had a blast watching these dramedies, which had as much heart as they had laughs. I binged and enjoyed Nobody Wants This in one weekend, and I loved the social discourse surrounding it (raves and pans) and, of course, Adam Brody's renaissance! Another one I loved was Shrinking. This season was focused on the whole ensemble rather than a main character, so I’m hoping this means we’ll get more of it. Everyone is so damn funny, but I have a soft spot for Liz(and her wardrobe).

8. When you must watch the adaptation to see if they ruined the perfect character you made up in your brain

I call this section the Reese effect. From book club to small screen seems to be a lucrative business endeavor because almost every book with buzz ends up as a limited series. These shows are not better than the book, but they are very entertaining!

What about you? What was your favorite watch of 2024?

Also, on the topic of TV. Have you voted for your favorite show/category via

Beth Lisogorsky

? I’m looking forward to her tally!