The following article mentions eating disorders and mental illness.
“Heartstopper” is a show that has been well received by lovers of the original graphic novels and the new fans that the show has brought in. On Oct. 3, 2024, the show came back for another season, based on the fourth and fifth graphic novels. The show includes many important topics ranging from mental health issues to strong love between two people.
For new fans of the show, the story follows two teens, Nick Nelson and Charlie Spring, who start off as best friends, and their unlikely friendship grows into a young love. Season 3 dives deep into their love and also the challenges they face as a couple. Charlie, played by Joe Locke, is having trouble with his eating and tries putting it off until Nick, played by Kit Connor, notices a change in him. Nick helps Charlie with his eating disorder by supporting him when he tells his parents and when he goes to a hospital for a few months to help him with his mental health and disordered eating. Their time apart is tough on both of them and their relationship, but they continue to fight for each other and find ways to love each other while separated. Throughout the scenes of Nick and Charlie, we get to see more of their friend group and the events happening in all of their lives with their relationships.
These episodes cover a lot more mature things compared to the other seasons, but the author of the series and one of the executive producers, Alice Oseman, has handled and portrayed these scenes incredibly well and made them very accurate to real-life experiences. Sometimes, shows are not able to capture the reality of mental health issues or just glaze over them and don’t dive deep. “Heartstopper” does the complete opposite and shows the reality of many teens in this day and age and what they may feel like or experience daily.
“Heartstopper” is an amazing show for people of the LGBTQ+ community to feel validated and seen in a popular show that is watched by all. This season was especially one of my favorites from the storyline to the soundtrack and is a must-watch to anyone and everyone.
“Three Body Problem” is a science fiction television show made by Netflix, based on the book series, “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” by Cixin Liu. This show was released on March 21, 2024 and has received good reviews from critics, with a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The story shows two separate timelines, starting in the 1960s in China during the Cultural Revolution, where an astrophysicist makes a crucial decision that has a great impact on the future of our society.
The second timeline we see takes place in modern London. Strange events begin to happen, intriguing scientists. The scientists discover a connection between these events leading them to discover an extraterrestrial power that serves as a threat to our humanity.
Netflix plans to make two new seasons for the show, one for each book of the “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” series. This is an interesting series showing the potential response of society when we come in contact with otherworldly forces.
One of my favorite TV shows that have come out this year is the Netflix original series, “Dead Boy Detectives.” Starring Jayden Revri and George Rexstrew as ghosts who investigate paranormal mysteries, this show explores themes of life, the consequences of our actions and learning to not be defined by our pasts.
The series is an adapted retelling of the story of Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine – originally characters that were a part of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman.” Many creative liberties, new characters and plot points were made to truly flesh out the two boys who only started out as background characters. The idea for this show is so interesting and new, and while it was unfortunately canceled after eight episodes, I wish there were more series that pushed the boundaries of storytelling like this one did.
With the inclusion of plenty of action, drama, complex relationships and just a touch of horror, “Dead Boy Detectives” might not be for everyone, but it was definitely my favorite show of 2024.
There’s only one TV series that has really stuck out to me this year, and that has been “Masters of the Air.” Not only has it shaped the potential of TV series, but it has shaped the way I see wars from the past. This show follows men who had to fly planes in the middle of World War 2, and it is so well filmed that it makes you think that you are part of the action yourself.
The star-studded cast of young actors and actresses have really shown their skill during this series. The acting was phenomenal and even though they don’t have much experience in the film industry they act like seasoned professionals. They also seemed like they were part of the war, not just actors that are part of a television series.
This series is undeniably historically accurate. Even though it is historical fiction, it is about real events and real aspects of the war. The plot of this series was incredibly captivating, keeping you in your seat the whole time. The pilots were constantly in peril, and the problem-solving strategies that they had to make at the turn of a dime were incredible. The show was fast-paced, leaving you on the edge of your seat the entire time. That is why I think it is the best TV show of the year.
In 2024, Dancing with the Stars kicked off season 33 of the beloved competition. This season had the best celebrities yet, with faces like Jenn Tran, Illona Maher and Anna Delvey attracting many viewers. The best part about the show is how the celebrities progress throughout each episode. With the help of their professional mentors, they go from amateur dancers to confident stars.
“Dancing with the Stars” has many loveable aspects, but my favorite has to be the themed nights and dances. For example, this season had a “Disney Night” where each couple prepared a dance based on one of the movies. My favorite dance was inspired by “Hercules” and performed by Rylee Arnold and Stephen Nedoroscik. This dance had unique costumes and a quick beat, allowing the audience to fall in love with it.
The winners of the competition and beloved mirrorball trophy were mentor, Jenna Johnson and reality television star, Joey Graziadei. They received the highest combination of judges’ scores and viewers’ votes during the semifinals and finals. Their win was well deserved as Graziadei showed tremendous progress throughout the season.
“Dancing with the Stars” proves to be one of the best shows of 2024. Viewers get to see a wide range of dance styles performed by celebrities and professional dancers. The show is not only entertaining but also informative, teaching many about dance styles. Overall, “Dancing with the Stars” combines talent, entertainment and competition, making it a wonderful show.
“Nobody Wants This” is a hilarious and wholly original series following the love of two career-minded individuals on seemingly different life trajectories. The romantic comedy premiered on Netflix in September and quickly cemented itself in the fabric of the genre.
The show follows agnostic relationship and intimacy podcaster Joanne (Kristen Bell), whose world utterly changes when she falls for Jewish Rabbi Noah (Adam Brody) at a dinner party. Their whirlwind relationship must endure in the face of their families, religion and careers, which threaten to break up the otherwise obnoxiously perfect romance. In following their hearts, the couple must come to terms with what they truly want from their lives and relationships, and what they’re willing to do to protect them.
A beautiful contradiction, “Nobody Wants This” explores and crosses the bounds of spirituality and romance. This gorgeous celebration of Jewish culture will have you swooning, laughing and kicking your feet in glee. They say Nobody Wants This, but that could not be further from the truth for 2024’s best television series.
“Baby Reindeer” is a Netflix psychological thriller that had everyone gripping their seats. This story follows character Donny Dunn, who is played by Richard Gadd, and his struggle with career and social relationships.
Dunn is an aspiring comedian who overall struggles and learns how to handle a difficult crowd. He has to manage the complicated dive bar audiences, heckling, and empty shows. One thing he was not expecting, however, was the struggle with new people in his life, and how much he was willing to trust them. Dunn is a character made to represent its actor, as Gadd had struggled through the true story. Gadd’s comedy show, Baby Reindeer, was the inspiration for the Netflix special.
The main plot of the story shows a woman in distress, who is comforted and taken care of by Dunn. This woman was the character Martha Scott, who began to stalk him and insert herself into his life through lies.
This show is nothing short of creepy and makes you both infatuated and disturbed with its strange nature. I found it to be a good watch for its aspects but definitely needed a few breaks between episodes due to how off-putting it is. While a good watch, I do not recommend it to the faint of heart.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) includes a wide expanse of movies, TV shows, and short films. The franchise supports a large fanbase, including me, enraptured by the rich and entertaining storyline of the films and eager to explore the lore behind every character seen on screen. To fans’ delight, on September 18 came “Agatha All Along,” a humorous and witchy addition to the MCU.
Following the character Agatha Harkness, who was first introduced in the hit show “Wandavision,” “Agatha All Along” boasts a plot more mysterious and complex than ever seen before in the MCU. The various twists and revelations throughout the series, complete with the explosive and shocking ending, made me want to immediately go back to the first episode and start again, all so I could catch the easter eggs hidden in each episode and see the plotline in a new light.
I was entranced by Agatha and her coven’s journey along the Witch’s Road. The character dynamics and aesthetics were incredible, allowing me to immerse myself in a magical, haunting world. I laughed and cried along with the characters, completely invested in their story and success. Of everything I watched in 2024, “Agatha All Along” is no doubt the best.
Warning: This article contains spoilers
“The wait is finally over.” Those were the words spoken by Dallas Jenkins, creator and director of “The Chosen” series, when he announced the release of its fourth season in theaters. “The Chosen” is about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, a Jewish rabbi who lived between 6 to 4 BC and AD 30 or 33. The show’s first season premiered on Dec. 27, 2017, starring Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, as well as other actors like Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish and Paras Patel. However, I didn’t watch it until around 2021, after the first season was made freely available through “The Chosen” app and once I was old enough to truly appreciate its depth.
Like many fans of this show, I immediately became obsessed after watching the first few episodes, binge-watching the seasons as they came out while still craving for more content. I was ecstatic upon learning that eight more episodes would make their debut midway through 2024, and it’s safe to say they did not disappoint. Despite being unlike any season that came before it, season four of “The Chosen” proved to meet beyond my expectations.
In contrast to the previous three seasons, season four of “The Chosen” focuses on the growing hatred for Jesus and his ministry by some of the religious leaders, along with the coming of his death. Episodes feature notable Biblical events, such as the death of John the Baptist, the healing of the Roman Centurion’s son, the stoning of Jesus at the temple and the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Another noteworthy incident, though not explicitly written in the Scriptures, is the murdering of Ramah — meant to be one of the unnamed female disciples of Jesus — by a Roman general.
While this season may include more violence and sensitive content than fans are used to, its message of hope and dedication to spreading the true stories of the gospels have remained the same. This installment will make you laugh, cry, sit on the edge of your seat and everything in between. Definitely add it to your watch list!
Netflix’s original series “Outer Banks” was originally released in April 2020 but has since been renewed for a fourth season. The season was released in two parts: five episodes on October 10 and five more episodes on November 7. The show follows the adventures of a group of teenagers, “Pogues,” living in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on a treasure hunt that leads them across the ocean. While on their mission, they run into many challenges and dangerous situations but work together to save what is important to them.
After three previous seasons of hunting for shipwrecks, gold, family heirlooms and lost cities, the Pogues are on a new mission to find a valuable piece of jewelry. They are enlisted by a wealthy family on a neighboring island when they are strapped for money, but it turns out there are many hidden secrets and ulterior motives. Family ties are revealed and friendships are restored throughout their adventures.
It is clear that the show is a hit, as it was the most watched show on the week of its release. Following the release of the first five episodes, the show racked up a total of 15.5 million views in the first week. In addition, the show and actors were nominated for three different awards. The action-packed series has stolen viewer’s hearts and has been renewed for a fifth and final season. Production has not begun, so there is no set release date, however, viewers can expect to see the last season in late 2025 or 2026.
“A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” is a book series about a girl named Pip Fitz-Amobi who takes on the task of solving a huge crime case that happened in her town years ago for her senior year class project. Throughout the books, she continues to solve various problems in her town that end up being connected in the future. This thrilling book series is enthralling and will keep you wanting to read more.
A couple of years prior, it was announced that a TV show “A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder” would be made. It was so exciting, as these books are perfect for adaptation into a TV show or film series. Soon after the announcement, they finally announced the cast members of the show. It was very exciting to hear that Pip Fitz-Amobi would be played by Emma Myers.
On Aug. 1, 2024, season one was finally released to the public on Netflix in the US. I watched the TV show after loving the book series and I will say that it is excellent. They added as much of the book as they could, and I think it was a very acceptable adaptation of a book. Later in the year, it was announced that the show would have a season two, which is very exciting for the future of this book series.
In 2021, the world was taken by storm with the release of “Dune,” a remake of a 1984 film inspired by a book from the 1960s. Starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, the film gained a lot of attention and continued to rise in popularity with the release of “Dune: Part Two” in March 2024. To take advantage of this newfound popularity, HBO released a prequel series entitled “Dune: Prophecy” that takes place in the same universe, 10,000 years prior to the events of the first movie. Premiering on Nov. 17 and ending on Dec. 22, the show’s first season has six episodes, with a second season currently in development.
“Dune: Prophecy” follows the story of the two Harkonnen sisters, Valya and Tula, as they battle outside forces and formulate the Bene Gesserit, a genetic project that would go on to create Paul Atreides, Timothée Chalamet’s character in “Dune,” many years later. Starring Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, and many others, “Dune: Prophecy” is an utterly captivating show filled with so much lore that helps the viewers to better understand the context of the hit “Dune” films. A short but captivating series, “Dune: Prophecy” is surely one of the best TV shows to come out of 2024.
