The best TV series of 2024

Shōgun (Disney+)

As powerful military factions engage in a tense game of chess for dominance over a feudal kingdom, Game of Thrones comparisons are inevitable. However, Shōgun delivers everything it promises in its suspenseful introduction – treachery, beheadings and even death by boiling. Inspired by true events from the height of Japan's Warring States period around 1600 and based on James Clavell's 1975 international bestseller (already adapted into a mega-successful TV miniseries in 1980), the series offers a taut narrative, rich production design and nuanced performances by actors as are Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Anna Sawai and Cosmo Jarvis – all Emmy winners. It's a chilling, stomach-churning historical drama—probably the best thing you'll see on TV this year.

Duration of the marathon: 9 hours 46 minutes

One Day (Netflix)

Is this the ultimate version of a modern yet classic love story? Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) shine as Emma and Dexter, two students who meet in a sympathetic way on July 15, 1988 - St Swithin's Day - and then meet again on the same day over the next two decades. The time jumps that give David Nicholls' novel a special charm add drama and uncertainty to the love story. While the nights are filled with Blur and appalling millennial fashion choices, the series unabashedly explores themes of class divisions, drug abuse, infidelity and death. Forget the 2011 film – this adaptation is the real deal.

Duration of the marathon: 6 hours 40 minutes

Ripley (Netflix)

If Matt Damon was in The Talented Mr. Ripley excessively charming, and Alain Delon seductively gliding in Plein Soleil, Andrew Scott now represents the most complex version of Patricia Highsmith's great intruder - Tom Ripple, who is both shrewdly reserved and mysterious. Series writer Steven Zaillian, of Schindler's List fame, uses eight episodes—and countless gorgeous Italian locations—to unravel Highsmith's tale of a murderous con man and unsuspecting Americans abroad. With Robert Elswit's high-contrast black-and-white photography as sharp as a crisp banknote, this series is a blend of high style and dark morality. The finale is truly maestoso. This is certainly one of the more interesting ones - in the selection of the best TV series of 2024

Duration of the marathon: 7 hours 30 minutes

Masters of the Air (Apple TV+)

If the series Band of Brothers and The Pacific already showed us how brutal the Second World War was on the ground, it seems that the air war over Europe is even more frightening. Created by the greats Hanks and Spielberg, we follow nine episodes of the plane massacre in this tense and epically expansive miniseries. A charismatic team of pilots (Austin Butler, Callum Turner and Nate Mann) face frostbite, hypoxia, anti-aircraft fire and Luftwaffe fighters in their effort to bomb the Third Reich. The battle scenes are chilling, and the period details are so accurate that you feel like you're right there with them. All this is based on the historical work of Donald L. Miller - about brave twenty-somethings who simply do their jobs and try to stay alive.

Duration of the marathon: 8 hours 31 minutes

Mr & Mrs Smith (Prime Video)

How do you combine the elements of espionage action, comedy and marital strife that you'd normally find in Oscar-winning dramas? The answer lies in the inclusion of Donald Glover. This star and co-creator of the series refreshed Doug Liman's somewhat average action film (and the even lesser-known 90s TV series with Scott Bakula and Maria Bello) with pointed but subtle humor. In the series, Glover and Pen15's Maya Erskine play a couple who are actually undercover spies. The dynamic between them is polished, the locations are like from the most expensive culinary magazines, and the chemistry between the two main actors is absurdly convincing. An unforgettable performance by John Turturro provides the finishing touch.

Duration of the marathon: 6 hours 31 minutes

Manhunt (Apple TV+)

Historical series are rarely served with such stylistic elaboration and tense narrative as found in Manhunt. The series centers on The Crown's Tobias Menzies as Edwin Stanton, Lincoln's Secretary of War during the Civil War, who goes on the hunt for the president's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Booth, played by Anthony Boyle (also from Masters of the Air), is a selfish actor and white supremacist who has a few days' head start on his pursuers. The narrative slowly but inexorably follows Stanton and his federal followers across the ravaged landscape as the series shows how the compromises of the Reconstruction era left a lasting impact on modern America.

Duration of the marathon: 7 hours 24 minutes

True Detective: Night Country (HBO/Sky Atlantic)

In the latest season of True Detective, considered by many to be the best since the first, it takes us to the dark Alaska, where the local population faces constant darkness, environmental problems and the mysterious discovery of frozen scientists. Jodie Foster excels as Liz Danvers, a hard-working detective who, in an uneasy partnership with local policewoman Kali Reis (Evangeline Navarro), sets out to unravel this unusual story. Showrunner Issa López, who took over from Nic Pizzolatto, deftly weaves the complex threads of the story into a tightly woven narrative that won't leave you indifferent.

Duration of the marathon: 6 hours 20 minutes

Expats (Prime Video)

A spicy drama set in the heart of bustling Hong Kong, “Expats” goes beyond the usual boundaries with Nicole Kidman in a role that, this time, is not the main attraction. Based on the bestselling novel by Janice YK Lee, the series follows the life of grieving architect Margaret Woo as she faces a family tragedy. It may seem like Kidman is reprising the role of a rich woman in crisis, but the real strength of the series lies in Lulu Wang's subtle direction. Wang successfully weaves Margaret's story into the fabric of the disintegrating expat community without neglecting the hard-working immigrants who sustain that community. Particularly outstanding is the fifth episode, which explores the lives of foreign domestic workers in a feature-length format, preventing this chosen world from finally falling apart.

Duration of the marathon: 6 hours 26 minutes

3 Body Problem (Netflix)

When David Benioff and DB Weiss, the infamous duo from "Game of Thrones", take on a subject of cosmic proportions, grandeur is to be expected. “3 Body Problem”, a series based on the acclaimed books of Chinese author Liu Cixin, is a science fiction spectacle that explores astrophysics, religious fanaticism and extraterrestrial conspiracies. The story follows a group of university friends who travel through alternate realities to uncover the truth behind mysterious suicides, but end up discovering something much bigger. Cerebral and occasionally difficult to digest, the series is a real treat for fans of deep science puzzles and interstellar intrigue.

Duration of the marathon: 7 hours 24 minutes

The Vince Staples Show (Netflix)

“The Vince Staples Show” is more than just a TV series; is a cultural phenomenon powered by the extraordinary Vince Staples. Conceived as a hybrid of reality TV and scripted comedy, the series features Staples in his hometown of Long Beach, California, where everyone knows everyone – and everyone wants something from him. From cops forcing him to hang out, to a relative needing an alibi, Staples' day is never dull. Although it is tempting to compare the series to "Atlanta", Vince Staples brings a unique blend of humor and reality that can be described as 'Adult Swim for adults'. Whether or not Netflix renews the series, Vince Staples is already making a lasting impression.

Duration of the marathon: 1 hour 54 minutes

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12 (HBO)

There aren't many series that can stay fresh and relevant over two decades, but Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm does it with incredible ease. In its twelfth season, Larry leaves his comfortable California environment and heads to Atlanta to avoid unwanted entanglements with his 'friend' Irma (Tracey Ullman). As always, there is a series of comic misunderstandings in his path, from political irregularities to unfavorable social encounters. Combined with the new podcast 'The History of Curb' hosted by Jeff Garlin and Susie Essman, season 12 offers an even deeper look into the creative process of this iconic series.

Duration of the marathon: not yet determined

Mary & George (Sky Atlantic)

If you thought royal dramas were done, "Mary & George" will pleasantly surprise you with its fresh approach. The series takes us to the 17th century British court, where a socially ambitious mother (Julianne Moore) and her seductive son George Villiers (Nicholas Galitzine) conspire to influence the almost secretly homosexual King James I (Tony Curran). With a story that revolves around betrayal, political conspiracies and seduction, "Mary & George" combines elements of historical spectacle with drama reminiscent of "Game of Thrones" - but with real historical figures. All of this is supported by excellent costumes and scenography, which completely pull the audience into that time.

Duration of the marathon: 5 hours 59 minutes

Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix)

“Boy Swallows Universe” is a series based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Australian writer Trent Dalton. The story takes us into the lives of two brothers, Eli and Gus, who grow up in a troubled suburb in Queensland during the 1980s. The series deftly intertwines elements of magical realism with brutal reality, as the brothers face the absence of their parents, the violence and crime that pervades their environment. Despite the dark themes, "Boy Swallows Universe" manages to show the unbreakable bond between the two brothers and how together they overcome obstacles on the way to adulthood.

Duration of the marathon: 6 hours 44 minutes

The Tourist season 2 (BBC/Stan/HBO Max)

After the successful first part of the series, which took us through the secrets of the Australian wilderness, "The Tourist" in the second season continues the story of the amnesiac Irish traveler Elliot (Jamie Dornan) and the Australian police officer Helen (Danielle Macdonald). This time their journey leads them back to Ireland, where their already complicated story becomes even more knotted with bloody confrontations, kidnappings and family secrets. The second season maintains the suspense and mystery while adding a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations.

Duration of the marathon: 5 hours 45 minutes

The Brothers Sun (Netflix)

The series "The Brothers Sun" is a stylized crime thriller that follows the lives of two brothers who move from Asia to the United States, where their lives become the center of violence and criminal confrontations. In collaboration with the stunt team from the movie "John Wick", the series offers top-notch action scenes, from brawls in spas to shootouts on golf courses. Family relationships and dilemmas of loyalty are also in the foreground, which gives the story additional weight and complexity. Michelle Yeoh shines in the role of the Triad matriarch, who tries to preserve the family honor in Los Angeles. This is certainly one of the more interesting ones - in the selection of the best TV series of 2024

Duration of the marathon: 7 hours 20 minutes

Each of these series offers its own unique insight into different genres and themes, ensuring that every TV fan will find something to pique their interest. In addition to the above, the year 2024 brings even more interesting series that deserve your attention.

• Hidden Palms (Starz)
  “Hidden Palms” is a new mystical drama that explores the secrets of a small seaside town where everything is not as idyllic as it seems at first glance. Secrets and lies lead the intertwined stories of the residents, who will reveal dark secrets buried deep beneath the surface.
• Echoes (Amazon Prime Video)
  "Echoes" is a psychological thriller about identity, twins and role reversal, where one twin secretly switches lives with his sister. The plot thickens when one of the sisters goes missing, setting in motion a series of events that change the lives of everyone involved forever.
• Solar Winds (Hulu)
  “Solar Winds” is a science fiction series that follows the crew of a space station at the edge of our solar system. When strange and dangerous phenomena begin to occur, the team must discover whether they are natural phenomena or something more sinister.
• The Night Agent (Netflix)
  In the creepy series "The Night Agent", we follow a young FBI analyst who accidentally discovers a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the American government. When he finds himself on the run, he must use all his skills to expose the conspirators and protect his life.

All of these series and more can be found on various streaming platforms, each offering a unique story that is sure to appeal to fans of deep dramas as well as those looking for something lighter or even creepy. Whatever your taste, TV 2024 doesn't disappoint, so grab your snacks, get comfortable and get ready to binge watch.