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This year, television dramas came out in abundance, giving viewers amazing performances, compelling storylines, and excellent character development. 2024 brought audiences surprise hits like Baby Reindeer, one of Netflix's most popular shows of all time, and beloved favorites like Interview with the Vampire and Industry took viewers by storm with amazing seasons.
Not only are the shows as a whole great but many individual episodes stood out overall. The penultimate episodes, the ones that moved the story forward in a tremendous way, or even the episodes that brought the season back to life, brought the best drama episodes to life. These are the best dramatic episodes of 2024, masterpieces of narrative and pacing featuring brilliant performances and even a few unexpected twists. They will be ranked based on how important they were to the show and the impact they had on audiences at large.
10 "Mercy Alone"
'Under the Bridge' Season 1, Episode 8
Image via Hulu
The season finale of Under the Bridge is wrapped beautifully because of the justice that was served and the destinations of the other characters who had fought to have closure for Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta). The trial shows Kelly (Izzy G.) finally getting convicted of the murder she committed, giving audiences a cathartic conclusion. Other characters also get satisfying developments, including Rebecca (Riley Keough) and Cam (Lily Gladstone).
Under the Bridge served a steady pace from episode to episode. Though there were some slower chapters, the overall conclusion was worth the build-up to the finale. Keough and Gladstone are great together and pull convincing performances of friends who became more, then get disconnected over the years only to reunite for a strange reason later. Izzy G., Aiyana Goodfellow and Chloe Guidry all have great performances as the classmates who had a part in Reena's death. The finale of this underrated true-crime series portrayed just how harmful and long-lasting bullying can be and what it could lead to in the future mentally for everyone involved.
Under the Bridge
Release Date April 17, 2024
Showrunner Samir Mehta , Liz Tigelaar
Seasons 1
9 "Central"
'Expats' Season 1, Episode 5
Image via Prime Video
The longest episode of the season, "Central" follows two Filipino domestic workers around Hong Kong as they navigate life with the locals. It allows the viewers to take a moment away from the drama of the elite that these women work for and gives insight into their lives. The rainy day becomes a key point in the hour-and-forty-minute-long penultimate episode and provides a stark difference in how the elite housewives live their lives while those working for them are struggling. Essie (Ruby Ruiz) and Puri (Amelyn Pardenilla) carry the majority of the episode while we see their day-to-day activities.
Lulu Wang's vision expands more in this long cinematic episode stretching wider-lense on the expats outside of the elite. The cinematic viewpoint is prominent in every way during the season, but this episode gets a broader view and allows viewers to see more than just the small world Magaret (Nicole Kidman), Hillary (Sarayu Blue), and Clarke (Brian Tee) live in. It's the best episode of the season because of how much story it packs, which finally helps to explain some concerns or questions that viewers may have throughout the season.
Expats
Release Date January 25, 2024
Seasons 1
8 'Episode 3'
"Baby Reindeer" Season 1, Episode 3
Image via Netflix
Baby Reindeer was a surprise hit that shocked Netflix viewers. This drama is a dark recounting of a personal story by creator and writer Richard Gadd. Donny tries to help make amends with Teri (Nava Mau) to get their relationship back on track, but Martha (Jessica Gunning) is still trying to contact him. During episode three, Martha's stalking becomes more manic and agrressive because she begins to lose access to Donny and isn't in the know of his schedule.
The show is already intense, especially as audiences question Donny's every move and wonder why he makes the mistakes he does. The intensity of this episode relies on the singular and outright chilling way it captures the intimate moments; Martha waits and taunts Donny from a bus stop, and audiences can feel the eerie tension. The staging and performances make the action even harder to watch. Gadd and Gunning are complete standouts throughout the season, carrying each episode in a way that makes viewers start to see the inner workings of these characters' minds abstractly.
Release Date April 11, 2024
Creator(s) Richard Gadd
Cast Richard Gadd , Jessica Gunning , Nava Mau , Michael Wildman , Danny Kirrane , Nina Sosanya , Shalom Brune-Franklin , Thomas Coombes , Mark Lewis Jones , Amanda Root , Alexandria Riley , Tom Goodman-Hill , Tom Durant Pritchard , Hugh Coles , Josh Finan , Jim Caesar , Miya Ocego , Laura Smyth , Leah MacRae , Leroy Brito , Will Hislop , Gerry Lynch , Rachel Bavidge , Gavin Drea , Gemma Page , Joe Bone , Grace Parry , Zeeny Shah , Jamie Michie , Phillip Suddick , Mark Watson , Kairi Liu , Stephen Erhirhi , JJ Bull
Seasons 1
Writers Richard Gadd
7 "Supacell"
'Supacell' Season 1, Episode 6
Image via Netflix
Supacell is one of the best new series to come out in 2024 with a concept that relates to the Black experience in a unique way. The series follows five black Londoners and their loved ones as they try to understand why they have superpowers and how they can live their lives with them. The powers come from a mutation of sickle-cell disorder, which is common in Black people. The fun thing about this series is how it follows these five people-- Sabrina (Nadine Mills), Micheal (Tosin Cole), Tazer (Josh Tedeku), Rodney (Calvin Demba) and Andre (Eric Kofi-Abrefa) as they develop these superpowers but continue to live their lives.
Episode 6 of Supacell is a jam-packed action story that brings all the people who have the Supacell together. The five Londoners have thus far fought separately, so seeing them together at the end gears up a fantastic start for season two. Though the ending has a heart-wrenching moment as Mike must deal with Dionne's death, knowing that so much more could be in store to uncover what is happening to these Supacell people is exciting.
Release Date June 27, 2024
Seasons 1
Creator(s) Rapman
6 "The Verdict"
'Presumed Innocent' Season 1, Episode 8
Image via Apple TV+
The final episode of Presumed Innocent brings everything to an end with an excellent shocking twist to wrap up the series. Rusty (Jake Gyllenhaal) is finally at the day of the ruling for his case. Accused of murder, Rusty has been through a myriad of emotions and has risked losing his family because of the affair he had with the deceased. By the episode's end, viewers learn Rusty's fate, but that isn't even the biggest moment of the finale. Though the suspense throughout the series is built well, discovering who killed Carolyn (Renate Reinsve) still carries even after the verdict is made.
The ensemble performances in Presumed Innocent demand attention from viewers. Ruth Negga always delivers in every role she steps into, and it is no different watching her as Barbara Sabich. Jaden Sabich (Chase Infiniti) also plays a significant role as the eldest child, and she really gets to shine in "The Verdict." Those final minutes of the episode really solidify where the family stands and leave an opening question about what their dynamic will look like in the future.
Presumed Innocent
Release Date June 12, 2024
Seasons 1
5 "And that's the end of it. There's nothing else."
'Interview With A Vampire' Season 2, Episode 8
Image via AMC
Chaos ensues after Claudia's (Delainey Hayles) killing, and Louis (Jacob Anderson) is out for revenge. Both Lestat (Sam Reid) and Armand (Assad Zaman) are partially responsible for her murder, and it turns even darker in the finale episode of Interview With A Vampire. Louis' need for revenge has him hiding out in the ruins of the burned-down theater. As things get heated in the past, they also get heated in the future. After hearing the conclusion of Louis' interview, Malloy (Eric Bogosian) receives a message, and viewers see that something has changed.
Jacob Anderson gives a gripping performance in this episode, showing Louis's endless pain and heartbreak at being betrayed by Armand and losing Claudia. The episode's conclusion seems like a clean-cut end until the after-credits scene shows that Louis went back to visit Lestat. With Malloy's transformation and continued communication with Louis, the episode leaves much open for the imagination to predict.
Release Date October 2, 2022
Creator
Seasons 2
Writers Rolin Jones
4 "Crimson Sky"
'Shogun' Season 1, Episode 9
Image via FX
An episode with a tragic ending but stellar performances, "Crimson Sky" is Shōgun at its best. Mariko (Anna Sawai), Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), and Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano) travel to Osaka together, with Mariko being the only one in the know of Lord Toranaga's (Hiroyuki Sanada) plans to overthrow Ishido (Takehiro Hira) and Ochiba (Fumi Nikaido). A tragic ending awaits Mariko, and she eventually dies in the fight for her life.
The build-up to such a fantastic episode was wonderful, but losing a beloved character so close to the end of the season is heartbreaking. Mariko is an inspiring and brave character who shows calm intensity in every way. Anna Sawai plays her role of this courageous woman well and has since been awarded for her stunning performance with an Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Shōgun is one that had been anticipated for months before its premiere in February. Stunning cinematography and compelling storytelling once again produced another outstanding episode. Season two of Shōgun is sure to bring more amazing writing and acting!
3 "I know who killed Cleo Johnson"
'Lady in the Lake' Season 1, Episode 6
Image via Apple TV+
Based on the best-selling book Lady in the Lake by Laura Lippman, the eponymous show tackles racism and sexism in the late 1960s. It follows Maddie (Natalie Portman), an aspiring journalist who decides to take on the case of uncovering who killed Tessie Durst (Bianca Belle) and Cleo Johnson (Moses Ingram). Maddie's ambition helps her discover that Cleo is missing and has been for months, but her self-absorbed and frantic demeanor makes it difficult to navigate a clean and easy investigation into the murders of these two people.
In an episode that deviates from the show's usual formula, "I Know Who Killed Cleo Johnson" provides a turning point, answering many questions that have been asked throughout the season. The episode is filled with trippy editing and enthralling musical numbers that show the characters leaving clues for Maddie to find out who and how Cleo Johnson was killed. Portman and Ingram deliver cutting performances, while. Alma Har'el's vision is exquisite. "I Know Who Killed Cleo Johnson" makes this sort of magical storytelling of something so horrendous come to life in a unique way.
Release Date July 19, 2024
Seasons 1
Writers Laura Lippman
2 "White Mischief"
'Industry' Season 3, Episode 4
Image via HBO
Industry makes viewers root for the worst characters even after consistently witnessing them ruin their lives. Everybody's favorite and worst character in Industry, Rishi (Sagar Radia), finds himself in a spiral. He's dealing with the issues in his marriage while also dealing with coming up short at work. Rishi's high-strung and not doing well mentally, so it causes a continuous number of bad decisions to be made on his part.
"White Mischief" puts Rishi in a race against the clock as he finds himself falling victim to his gambling addiction. The episode is filled with fast-paced dialogue and an editing compilation to match. While Industry Season 3 showed fans fantastic episodes each week, "White Mischief" was definitely one of the standouts. Not only did it allow viewers to see more of what makes Rishi the character that he is, but it also shed light on how people in his position continue to spiral down after taking one hit. "White Mischief" makes viewers see the gruesome sides of an already blatantly hyper-aware drama.
Release Date November 9, 2020
Seasons 4
Creator(s) Mickey Down , Konrad Kay
1 "2000. 2001. 2002."
'One Day' Season 1, Episode 13
Image via Netflix
One Day easily flowed together, but the gut-wrenching penultimate episode was the best by far. Yet, seeing Dexter (Leo Woodall) and Emma (Ambika Mod) finally make the leap and find each other makes it the most beautiful and fulfilling episode of the season. "2000. 2001. 2002." is the calm before the storm and serves as a perfect penultimate episode with a tragic ending. Emma and Dex are starkly different characters who have known each other for all of their adult lives, and the chemistry between Woodall and Mod compels the audience to truly be engrossed in their romance.
Seeing Emma and Dex become a couple after their tumultuous relationship through the years is refreshing. They get to be happy and achieve the dreams they've been working towards — Emma as a successful writer, while Dex finds a passion in opening his business. Tragedy isn't far away, though, which only makes the blissful scenes in the episode all that more harrowing. 2024 had several great episodes, but "2000. 2001. 2002" is the perfect encapsulation of its respective series, making it the most impactful and unforgettable dramatic offering of the year.
One Day
Release Date February 8, 2024
Creator(s) Nicole Taylor , David Nicholls
Cast Leo Woodall , Ambika Mod , Amber Grappy , Tim McInnerny , Jonny Weldon
Seasons 1
Writers David Nicholls
English (US) ·