Top TV Episodes of 2024: A Casual Look Back

In 2024, I watched a whopping 53 shows and picked my top episodes. Some left me wondering what even happened, while others stuck in my memory. Shows like "Shogun, " "Industry, " and "House of the Dragon" had standout moments. Let's dive into my top 10 episodes that made the year memorable. Starting with "Mr. & Mrs. Smith, " episode 6, "Couples Therapy (Naked & Afraid), " was both hilarious and revealing. The comedy spy show had spies John and Jane (Donald Glover and Maya Erskine) in couples therapy with Sarah Paulson as their clueless therapist. This episode expertly showed their missions and character growth in a unique way. Next, "The Penguin" had a gut-wrenching episode called "Cent'Anni. " Cristin Milioti’s performance as Sofia Falcone was powerful. The episode flashbacks to her time in Arkham, showing her struggling to keep her innocence amid her father's frame-up. In "Slow Horses" season 4, "Hello Goodbye" was a game-changer. The MI5 drama revealed River's (Jack Lowden) father Frank (Hugo Weaving) as a key figure in recent events, making for an intense episode with a heartbreaking twist. "House of the Dragon" season 2’s "The Red Sowing" reminded us of the show's potential. Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) ruthless tactics and Daemon's (Matt Smith) strategic mastery made this episode a highlight, despite the season's overall pacing issues.Switching to "Tokyo Vice, " season 2’s "The Noble Path" was an intense yakuza showdown. Akira Sato (Shō Kasamatsu) and Naoki Hayama's (Yōsuke Kubozuka) battle royale was unforgettable, ending with a brutal surprise. "3 Body Problem"’s "Judgment Day" was a sci-fi twist. Wade (Liam Cunningham) used advanced tech to dismantle Mike Evans' (Jonathan Pryce) ship, revealing a global threat. It was a shocking moment that left viewers speechless. "Fallout" finally delivered in its season finale, "The Beginning. " Walton Goggins as "The Ghoul" shined, revealing season-long secrets and combat we won't forget. "Industry" season 3 ended with a bang in "Infinite Largesse. " The finale packed a murderous punch, wrapping up the season and potentially the series in an explosive way. Comedy "English Teacher"'s "Birthday" was a hilarious surprise. Evan's (show creator Brian Jordan Alvarez) co-workers crashing his leather daddy party was laugh-out-loud funny and a perfect season ending. Lastly, "Shogun"’s "Ladies of the Willow World" was a visual masterpiece. John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) and Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai) share a breathtaking moment with courtesan Kiku (Yuka Kouri) that’s heartwrenching and beautifully shot.