“The Bear”
Even a less stellar season of “The Bear” still outshines most shows on TV. In season 3, Carmy and his crew have the restaurant up and running, but the chaos is never far away. Spanning what seems like just a few days, the third season dives deeper into the trauma, familial tensions, and kitchen politics that captivated audiences from the start. This season shifts gears from the relentless pace of previous installments, opting instead for moments of brooding, tension, and quiet contemplation. While this change might test some viewers’ patience, it still culminates in an ending that, though not as powerful as previous ones, remains impactful. Christopher Storer’s knack for deep, enriching character development is as sharp as ever, the acting is top-notch, guest stars are plentiful, and the show’s heart continues to beat strongly—albeit with the ever-present threat of a heart attack. It might not be the exact dish fans ordered, but “The Bear” still serves up a deeply rewarding experience. – MD [read our review]
“Conan O’Brien Must Go”
It’s been over 30 years since Conan O’Brien first hosted his first Late Night show, and somehow, the zany, anything-for-a-laugh comedian is more relevant than ever. Fortunate enough to capitalize off the renewed Gen Z-interest drummed up by the absolutely unhinged “Hot Ones” interview, “Conan O’Brien Must Go” finds Conan traveling the world searching for new friends, purpose, and laughs. Much like the travel segments of his latter late-night series, O’Brien brings his slapstick-riddled attention-seeking behavior to all-new countries in an attempt to learn something about the cultures, their food, and the local sights. Part travel show, part podcast advertisement, and part sketch series, “Conan O’Brien Must Go” is a hilarious and welcome return and re-introduction to a comedian who has spent his life trying desperately to make anyone and everyone giggle – and oh, the places he’ll go for that. – MD
“Masters of the Air”
Brought to you by the same producers behind HBO’s “Band of Brothers” (2001) and “The Pacific” (2010), aka Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s Playtone and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television, “Masters Of The Air” is the belated third in the series and arguably just as good as the inaugural one. And while well-received with a good RT score, “Masters Of The Air” has been somewhat overlooked in the TV conversation this year, and it’s definitely super Emmy-worthy. Set during World War II, the series centers on the 100th Bomb Group and follows bomber crews on dangerous missions to destroy targets inside German-occupied Europe. Led by lead writers John Shiban and John Orloff, the series tracks a brotherhood forged by extraordinary courage, tragic losses, and 11th-hour triumphs. For one, the list of directors is terrific: Cary Joji Fukunaga, Dee Rees, Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, and Tim Van Patten, and what they all pull off, especially some of these harrowing and visceral action aerial sequences, is awe-inspiring. Plus, there’s an outstanding cast too, names like Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan, who you know, but other up-and-coming actors who do some fantastic work, including Callum Turner, Bel Powley, Anthony Boyle, Ncuti Gatwa, and Isabel May. Plus, the series is full of relative unknowns, Nate Moore, Raff Law, Kai Alexander, and Sawyer Spielberg, who not only shine extraordinarily but should receive much work after this achievement. One of the best of the year and then some. – RP (read our review).
“Under the Bridge”
An American true crime drama television miniseries developed by young 29-year-old filmmaker Quinn Shephard (who already has two indie films under her belt, including “Not Okay,” there’s lots to love about the melancholy but gripping “Under The Bridge,” including its cast. The series follows the tragic murder of Reena Virk, a teenage Indian/Canadian girl and the writer who enters the hidden world of the accused killers. The series stars Lily Gladstone (“Killers Of The Flower Moon“) as a local cop and Riley Keough (“Zola“) as the writer pursuing the story, but the whole cast, including Archie Panjabi, Izzy G, and Aiyana Goodfellow are all solid players too Shephard and names like Geeta Vasant Patel (“House Of The Dragon“) and Catherine Hardwicke, are among some of the filmmakers. As our review wrote, “Under the Bridge” could have been just another tale of bullying gone too far. Still, it’s more ambitious than that, seeking to humanize and understand everyone involved and recognizing that these teenagers who have been forced to act like adults at too young an age are victims too, even if it doesn’t entirely excuse the choices they’ve made.” – RP (read our review).
“The Sympathizer”
If there’s a TV series that was highly anticipated and critically well received with RT scores nearly in the ‘90s but vanished from the conversation somehow, “The Sympathizer” was probably it. But even if it couldn’t capture the cultural conversation of the moment, that didn’t mean it was still super compelling. A black comedy, a spy thriller, a historical drama, and a war story rolled into one, the series was created by co-showrunners South Korean auteur Park Chan-Wook (“Oldboy”)— who directs the bulk of episodes, along with Fernando Meirelles and Marc Muden—and Canadian writer/director/actor Don McKellar (“Last Night”). The series, set near the end of the Vietnam War, centers on a covert operative who was embedded in the South Vietnam army and fled to the United States and takes up residence in a refugee community where he continues to spy and report back to the Viet Cong in secret. Hoa Xuande stars alongside Fred Nguyen, Khan Duy Nguyễn, and Sandra Oh, but the delightful piece de resistance is Robert Downey Jr. pulling a “Dr. Strangelove”/Peter Sellers and five different antagonist characters. Our review wrote, “From beginning to end, it’s a genre mash-up that’s not like anything else on television, a show that plays like war drama, satire, character study, and cultural commentary simultaneously.” – RP [read our review]
Best TV Shows of 2024, Honorable Mention: “The Regime” with Kate Winslet, “Tokyo Vice” season two (unfortunately canceled, too), “Hacks” season three, “The Outer Range” season two (also unfortunately canceled), Guy Ritchie’s “The Gentleman,” and Apple TV’s “Manhunt.”
