5th place is a brilliant fantasy series and yet far too unknown

While the European Football Championship and fresh episodes of The Boys and House of the Dragon dominate the summer’s television schedule, the series year 2024 has reached its turning point. That’s right, half a year is already behind us and with it hundreds of series launches that hardly anyone can keep track of. But luckily there are top lists that make it easier for you to choose your next binge.

Streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon as well as domestic TV programs had countless new series to offer in the first six months of the year. Which ones were really worth the time? And which highlights belong on every series fan’s watchlist? We have the 20 best series of the first half of 2024 chosen.

How was the list of the 20 best series of 2024 created?

As with the year-end top lists (here you can find the top 25 series 2023 and the top 25 films 2023), the Moviepilot team created individual lists with personal top 10s from the first half of the year. Overall 44 different series were nominated. As always, there were a few rules when evaluating the lists:

The best series of 2024 on Netflix, Amazon, Disney+ and more – places 20 to 11

A few of the Moviepilot editorial team’s favorite series missed out on making it into the top 10. But we don’t want to withhold them from you. These titles are in close quarters in places 20 to 11:

The best series of 2024 – 10th place: Avatar

If we were to rank the best cabbages in series, Netflix’ Avatar: The Last Airbender Of course, first place is guaranteed. The live-action adaptation of one of the best animated series of all time is once again an epic fantasy story about the (last) airbender Aang, who must stand up against the tyranny of the Fire Nation with his allies Katara and Sokka. Despite a few minor weaknesses, the impressive element-bending, the exciting characters and clever changes are convincing. The anticipation for the next two seasons is already certain.

The best series of 2024 – 9th place: Masters of the Air

With Masters of the Air Producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg deliver a spiritual successor to the successful war series Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Here we follow the stories of several American bomber pilots who fought in intense air battles during the Second World War. The ruthlessness of the war is just as moving as the personal fates of the 100th Bombardment Group.

The best series of 2024 – 8th place: Reindeer Baby

The British miniseries Baby reindeer is probably Netflix’s biggest surprise hit this year. Amateur comedian and bartender Donny Dunn treats a dejected woman named Martha to a cup of tea – with devastating consequences. Over seven episodes, a stirring mix of bitter humor, psychological horror about a toxic stalker-victim relationship and some devastating revelations unfold. Reindeer Baby is a tough read, especially because series creator and lead actor Richard Gadd uses it to process his own trauma in an autobiographical way.

The best series of 2024 – 7th place: Bridgerton, season 3

The Netflix success story of the historically inspired Regency romance Bridgerton doesn’t let up with season 3 either. After two seasons in the background, this season finally focuses on fan favorite Penelope, who wants to find her own identity and happiness between being a wallflower and a hardened gossip columnist. Even if part 1 is a little too conflict-free, the second half of season 3 manages to turn things around with devastating ultimatums, plenty of saucy love scenes and unexpected twists, proving once again why this Netflix series is so popular.

The best series of 2024 – 6th place: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Anyone who buys from Amazon Mr & Mrs Smith Anyone who expected a classic remake of the 2005 action comedy of the same name was in for a huge surprise. The spy work of the super spies living in a sham marriage with their case-of-the-week missions provides the background for a somewhat different portrait of marriage.

When Mr. Smith (Donald Glover) and Mrs. Smith (Maya Erskine) reach a new stage in their relationship in each episode – from romantic dates to family planning to couples therapy – amidst chases, shootouts and contract killings, it is refreshingly funny and honestly told.

The best series of 2024 – 5th place: Interview with the Vampire, Season 2

Do we really need another film adaptation of Anne Rice’s vampire classic? The horror series Interview with the Vampire answer this with a clear “yes”. With clever changes and a stronger focus on the underlying queerness of the story of Lestat de Lioncourt and Louie du Pointe du Lac, Season 1 delivered a sensual, bloody and toxic marriage parable.

In the second season, Louis and his vampire daughter Claudia try to make a fresh start in France. The second part also knows how to thrill with blood-soaked intrigues and exciting new bloodsuckers, while the storyline around the eponymous interview offers exciting twists about romanticized memories, repressed traumas and unreliable narrative perspectives.

The best series of 2024 – 4th place: House of the Dragon, Season 2

House of the Dragon has impressively shown that there are still many exciting stories to be discovered in the fantasy universe created by George RR Martin. The Targaryen family’s war of succession is an intense and intimate family drama that always prioritizes complex character development over bloody spectacle. Even though the second season is only a few episodes old, it is once again one of the best series entertainment of the year.

Whether you’re a sworn Team Black loyalist or Team Green unexpectedly wins your sympathies: every collateral damage of the Dragon Dance is damn painful and brings Westeros a little closer to an impending inferno. And at the latest when the winged beasts of the Targaryens soar into the sky at the halfway point of Season 2 and fight the most powerful dragon fight of the GoT franchise to date, House of the Dragon is already assured of a place in the annual best list.

The best series of 2024 – 3rd place: True Detective Night Country

As a kind of new beginning for the fantastic crime anthology True Detective The fourth season, developed by Issa Lopéz, takes us to the roughest corners of Alaska and sends the new leading actresses Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as an unlikely investigative duo straight into a frosty horror nightmare.

Night Country (the additional title of the season) unleashes a captivating atmosphere between desolation and eternal darkness that makes us question reality right from the start. Are supernatural forces at work here or are we losing our minds along with the wonderfully rugged characters? With this ambivalence, Season 4 creates one of the best crime mysteries of the year.

The best series of 2024 – 2nd place: Shogun

Let yourself be enchanted by the many subtitles in Shogun Don’t be put off, otherwise you’ll miss out on an absolute adventure masterpiece. Based on James Clavell’s literary classic, we follow the English navigator John Blackthorne to Japan in 1600 – into complex intrigues, tragic and comic cultural misunderstandings and a visually stunning production. Only one series could top this stunning series highlight in 2024.

The best series of 2024 – 1st place: Fallout

After The Last of Us was one of the best video game adaptations ever from last year, Amazon delivers with fallout a new prime example that captivates gamers and non-gamers alike. Whether it’s a post-apocalyptic wasteland or underground bunkers: the vibrant world of Fallout invites you to marvel and discover with its unique retro charm, clever ideas and bitter humor.

Will another series manage to top these masterful experiences in the coming months? We will bring you up to date with the best series of 2024 at the end of the year.

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