Best TV Shows of 2024: Plugged In’s Year-End Picks, Best TV Shows to Binge Watch

Of all the categories we comb through for these “best of” lists, television might be just about the hardest. When we look at a book or video game, we pretty much know—from beginning to end—what it contains. It’s not like Jordan Lees will be adding chapters to The Whispericks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found next month, right?

But TV is different. Many shows go for several seasons. Every season comes with several episodes. We might praise a show for its wholesome quality in Season 1, only to be surprised by a bedroom scene in Season 4. As we note in our reviews, we rarely have the capacity to watch every episode of a given series.

And then there’s this: The world of TV seems to be growing coarser with each passing year. It can be hard to find a show—especially one geared toward adults—that doesn’t come loaded with R-rated content. And kids’ shows are sometimes not much better. While many can be sweet, funny and wonderfully educational, many also come with worldview issues that might cause a sudden rise in parental blood pressure.

But all that said, we can find some quality shows in the broad world of TV these days. Few are perfect, so always check out Plugged In’s full review before giving it your stamp of approval. But here are a few shows that may just educate and entertain—shows that might touch your head, your heart and, occasionally, even your funny bone.

(PBS)

The television landscape is a noisy place, full of action and adventure and killing and dying and explosions and—yeah, it can all be a little much. For those who long for a kinder, gentler show, PBS gives us All Creatures Great and Small. Based on the books written by James Alfred Wight, All Creatures takes us to the English village of Darrowby, where young veterinarian James Herriot works to better the lives of the animals (and the people) around him. The series is, overall, incredibly wholesome—so much so that when an occasional profanity does wiggle through, it feels particularly scandalous. But just as Darrowby feels like a pleasant visit to the past, All Creatures takes us into a warmer, more welcoming show. As our reviewer Lauren Cook noted, “Sometimes it’s nice to sit back and wonder how the vets will deal with accidentally ordering too much gauze.”

(Paramount+)

With Sonic tearing up movie screens in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, let’s turn our attention to one of Sonic’s most popular rivals-turned-sidekicks: the combative red echidna, Knuckles. The show serves as a bridge between Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic 3. Knuckles’ namesake character becomes both friend and sensei for one Wade Whipple, who’s prepping for a … Reno bowling tournament. Silly? Yes, but there’s a nice note of redemption here. Wade is trying to patch things up with his estranged father. And Knuckles, while violent, is motivated by honor. The action can be frenetic and the language a bit rude, but themes of family, friendship and finding a home give this game-based show a high score.

(Netflix)

When Charles’ wife passed away, part of him died, too. His grown daughter worries that, without his longtime companion, Charles is simply wasting away. Enter a new post-retirement job—and a new purpose. Charles is now a spy for an investigation company, tasked with going undercover and exposing the (allegedly) dirty dealings in a retirement home. Netflix’s A Man on the Inside is, without a doubt, the most problem-laden show on this list, and that makes it a better fit for more mature viewers. (Be sure, of course, to read our full review.) But that content is somewhat leavened by the show’s heart. Charles’ work becomes a catalyst for connection—to help people through the roughest of times and form new bonds that create meaning and foster friendship. So for all its rough edges, A Man on the Inside comes with a very sweet core.

(Great American Pure Flix)

When James Wilson’s company undergoes some pretty traumatic changes, he’s forced to move his family out of the city and to Spring Hill, the quaint village where his wife grew up. That doesn’t sit well with the Wilsons’ middle-school daughter, Anna—until she meets Shadrach, a horse who winds up changing her life. This Hallmark-esque show is an original series from Great American Pure Flix, and it’s about as sweet and down-home as television can get. Oh, and it comes with some strong Christian themes, as well. Given Shadrach’s traditional vibe and the close-knit family at its heart, many a discerning family may gallop at the chance to watch it.

(Apple TV+)

When animals are in need of help, the Wonder Pets are first to arrive on the scene! This trio, made up of Izzy the guinea pig, Zuri the bunny and Tate the snake, are always just a call away. And when they show up, you can expect them to be singing. If the title sounds familiar, that’s because Wonder Pets: In the City is a revival of the original Wonder Pets series, which ended in 2016. And though the cast is full of new faces, each episode centers on the trio learning a valuable lesson that’ll give them just the help they need to save other woodland creatures. With helpful messages for children and nary a content issue (so far), that makes these Wonder Pets quite wonderful indeed.