The best TV shows of 2024 that you (probably) didn’t watch.

As 2024 draws to a close and we get ready to jump into a whole new year (I'm not ready), it's time to look back at the past year in television.

It's been a damn good one for people who spend all their free time planted on their couch and watching their stories.

But what was the best? I'm not talking about the shows that everyone was watching, but some of the more underrated shows that slipped through the cracks.

Because let's be real: we've all seen and loved Nobody Wants This, Agatha All Along, Colin From Accounts, House of Dragon, and The Perfect Couple, but what about the other incredible shows that went under the radar?

Say no more! Add these shows to your watch list stat.

Tell Me Lies.

Image: Disney+.

If this show has passed you by this year, I beg you to give it a go. It's my secret obsession.

This college drama is a nostalgic throwback to the 2010s (very Gossip Girl) with the dark tone of Pretty Little Liars, but at the same time, the series feels entirely new and fresh.

After a two-year wait, Tell Me Lies returned for its second season in September, continuing the toxic relationship saga between Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White), two actors who are dating in real life (if you needed any more reason to become obsessed).

The new season delves deeper into the characters' messy years at Baird College, exploring the fallout from season one's events.

This is the type of show that you probably either don't know anything about, or it's literally the only thing you talk about (guilty). Season two has brought the drama to new heights, as critics have praised the show's addictive portrayal of early-20s relationship dynamics and the electric performances of Van Patten and White.

You can watch Tell Me Lies on Disney+.

Industry.

Image: Binge.

Okay, I'm aware that this show is huge right now, but at the same time, it's weirdly still a quiet achiever in the wider scheme of mainstream TV.

But season three has truly changed all that.

Set in the high-stakes world of London finance, the show follows young graduates navigating the cutthroat environment of Pierpoint & Co.

The latest season featured standout performances from Myha'la, Marisa Abela, and Ken Leung, with Kit Harington joining the cast as a charismatic CEO.

Since its first season, Industry has been pegged as the next Succession so get on it asap.

You can watch Industry on Binge.

English Teacher.

Image: Disney+.

File this show under 'TV series that will be make you laugh, cry, and feel your feelings.'

The hype is real for English Teacher, which has been drawing new fans with every episode.

Created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez, the show follows Evan Marquez, a gay high school English teacher in Austin, Texas.

The cast includes Stephanie Koenig as Gwen Sanders, Sean Patton as Markie Hillridge, Enrico Colantoni as Principal Grant Moretti, and a very important cameo by drag queen, Trixie Mattel.

Watch the trailer. Post continues after video.

The show has received a huge response from viewers, achieving an almost flawless 97 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with fans praising its queer representation and hilarious dialogue.

You can watch English Teacher on Disney+.

Fake.

Image: Paramount Plus.

I don't know a show that has gripped me quite as hard as this, from literally the first five minutes.

The Australian drama series Fake stars Asher Keddie as Birdie Bell and (an utterly creepy) David Wenham as Joe Burt.

The eight-episode thriller follows Birdie, a journalist who becomes entangled with Joe, a charming but deceptive man she meets on a dating app.

Critics have praised the series for its nuanced exploration of emotional abuse, gaslighting and romance scams.

And unsurprisingly, Keddie's portrayal of Birdie's unravelling is utterly stunning, albeit devastating to watch.

This is simply one of the best Australian dramas I've ever seen.

You can watch Fake on Paramount Plus.

Pachinko.

Image: Apple TV.

This is a perfect show to play over the holidays when you just want to get engrossed in a beautiful story that will make you reflect on your own life.

In its second season, the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series Pachinko continues the multi-generational saga of a Korean family in Japan.

Starring Lee Min-ho, Kim Min-ha, and Youn Yuh-jung, the latest season delves deeper into Sunja's struggles during World War II and her grandson Solomon's journey in 1989 Tokyo.

This is a stunning piece of storytelling, with an intricate narrative weaving between timelines and exploring universal themes of identity, survival, and family.

You can watch Pachinko on Apple TV.

Joan.

Image: Stan.

Another TV event that deserves all the praise in the world, you need to watch Joan.

Starring Sophie Turner as Joan Hannington, a real-life jewel thief in 1980s London, the six-episode series follows Joan's transformation from housewife to criminal mastermind. Frank Dillane co-stars as Joan's husband, Boise Hannington.

Come for Turner's career-best performance and stay for the throwback 1980s aesthetic and feminist overtones.

You can watch Joan on Stan.

Disclaimer.

Image: Apple TV.

This psychological thriller, starring Cate Blanchett as a renowned journalist Catherine Ravenscroft, is based on Renée Knight's novel of the same name.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the ensemble cast is impeccable, especially Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Lesley Manville.

The story picks up as Catherine discovers a mysterious book revealing her darkest secrets, as the episodes jump back and forth between the present and Catherine's unflattering younger years.

The series got mixed reviews, and I will admit it's overly melodramatic at times, but I enjoy a bit of camp and was utterly enthralled from episode one until the twisty finale. And of course, Cate Blanchette is just as great as ever.

You can watch Disclaimer on Apple TV.

Queenie.

Image: Disney Plus.

This one is for the girlies.

The TV adaptation of Candice Carty-Williams' beloved novel Queenie follows the highs and lows of 25-year-old British-Jamaican woman, Queenie Jenkins, as portrayed by Dionne Brown.

The series explores Queenie's journey through a quarter-life crisis after a difficult breakup, a friendship fight, and feeling like she's in a career rut. So it's basically as relatable as any show could be.

Queenie has been praised for its authentic portrayal of Black womanhood and the experience of migrant families living in South London. In particular, Brown's layered performance is one that deserves recognition.

This series is basically Everything I Know About Love meets Insecure, so if you enjoyed either of those coming-of-age shows about girlhood, then run don't walk to watch Queenie.

You can watch Queenie on Disney+.

Feature image: Disney+/Apple TV.