But now and again, there are some diamonds in the rough. A television show will appear that is remarkable in its storytelling with characters that you like and want to root for. They're few and far between, but 2024 has already produced some television shows that I can happily say are kind of great and worth investing time in. 

I've compiled five different shows that I've watched all the way through and am incredibly happy with that I think you may enjoy too. I'm going to get one aspect that these shows share out of the way before I dive into the list. They aren't politically charged or woke in nature. There's no real messaging here. The creators wanted to write a good story, not sell an ideological talking point. There is no box being checked or, at the very studio-required minimum (looking at you Amazon), the box checking is kept to an absolute minimum and it was clear the showrunners weren't concerned about it. 

Here are my favorite TV shows of 2024...so far. 

5. 3 Body Problem (Netflix)

The Netflix adaptation of Cixin Liu's sci-fi book of the same name was something I thought would be nearly impossible for a Western studio to do. Not only is the West in the throes of a political intrusion into entertainment, but the story is one that many Americans might find a little too ponderous. I'm a big fan of Cixin's "Remembrance of Earth's Past" trilogy, of which 3 Body Problem is the first entry, and despite the changes made, the Western retelling of Cixin's tale holds up. 

The story melds sci-fi with horror and mystery, with the horror being a major oncoming threat hiding an even larger, but more subtle threat. "3 Body Problem" gives its answer to the Fermi Paradox, or the question of why we're seemingly alone in this great big universe of ours. The answer is that we're not, it's just that all the other races aren't stupid enough to broadcast their existence and location to the universe. 

It presents the answer to the Fermi Paradox with Cixin's "Dark Forest Theory," which paints the universe as a dark forest that is brimming with life but very quiet. The moment a creature makes itself known is the moment larger, more powerful creatures descend on, destroy, and consume it. Thanks to the Chinese communist revolution killing innocents to cheers and applause, one bitter woman announced our presence to the galaxy and now something is on the way. Humanity now has to come to terms with its predicament and prepare to defend itself.

The showrunners are none other than David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, whom you may recall were the people in charge of "Game of Thrones," a show that became a cultural juggernaut that saw the show fall on its face in the last two seasons, marring their reputations seemingly beyond repair. However, the duo managed to create something good here. They managed to transform heavy sci-fi into something a little more palatable for Western audiences. The acting is very well done, though some of the interpersonal storylines may stray into the tedious from time to time. 

Otherwise, it's a show that makes science, tech, and our place in the universe interesting to think about. 

4. Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix)

This was actually released in December of 2023, but I felt it worthy of inclusion, not only because of the timing of its release but because it got overlooked by a great many people who mistook it as another female power fantasy. I did at first too, but the Critical Drinker changed my mind with his review. I'm glad I went back and gave it a shot. The show was so good that I wrote a review of it on this very site. 

(READ: Netflix's 'Blue Eye Samurai' Is a Surprisingly Good Show and a 'Strong Female Protagonist' Done Right)

The show does sport a strong woman as its main character but this is one of the few times the trope is done right. The main character, "Mizu," is a half-Japanese, half-European woman who must hide her identity as a female during Japan's Edo period. Mizu is on a quest for revenge against her white father for raping and abandoning her mother, a heartless act in that day and age. Mizu is subjected to all sorts of abuse by her people due to her lineage, but thanks to the tutelage of a blind blacksmith, Mizu becomes a warrior. 

After much learning and many lumps, Mizu becomes a capable swordswoman and sets out to find her father. She's a capable warrior, but she's not invincible. The show never makes her so powerful that she's never touched. She loses battles and is overcome by people with superior strength if she's not careful. She does have high endurance, but it makes sense given her motivations. Moreover, Mizu is humanized on multiple occasions. You feel for her at times. 

I recommend you read my full review, but the show has a great story, characters you love or love to hate, and superb arcs. It's a samurai revenge story that shows pressure can create diamonds, even in the most unlikely people. 

3. Bluey (Disney+) 

You might be wondering why I'm putting a children's show on the list, but people who are already fans of the Australian show about a family of humanized dogs know why. "Bluey" is a unique show that is geared toward children but made with adults — specifically parents — in mind. Even if you're not a parent, this show will grow on you to a point where you become invested in the lives of the Heeler family. 

At first glance, it appears that the 8-minute-long episodes are just fun, disconnected stories but you find as you continue to watch that this isn't the case at all. "Bluey" is a continuous story about the life of the Heeler family and the community around them. You grow to care just as much about their friends and their lives as you do the Heelers. 

"Bluey" creator Joe Brumm brought all of these storylines together recently with the first 30-minute 3rd season finale episode titled "The Sign," which my wife and I unashamedly put our 1-year-old son down for a nap to watch in peace. 

While we were watching it, I couldn't help but think that Brumm had taken a different route with this episode. Normally, Bluey episodes are more geared toward children with adults a consideration but a secondary one. With "The Sign," it seemed this was reversed.  It still contains all the things children love about Bluey, but I can't help but think Brumm was speaking more to parents with its themes and heavy emotional undertones. 

I've been recommending Bluey on this website for some time, but I recommend it more heavily than I ever have after this season finale. You will feel feelings. 

2. Shogun (Hulu) 

I argued with myself about whether this needed to be in the number one spot because this show is that good. It's still early in the year, but "Shogun" might ultimately take the top spot as the best overall television show in 2024. 

Taking place in the Edo period of Japan just like "Blue Eye Samurai," the story is a screen adaptation of James Clavell's bestselling novel of the same name. The show tells a story loosely based on the real-life power struggle between local lords throughout Japan, focusing primarily on Yoshii Toranaga and his army vs. the other lords that have united against him. As this is ongoing, the isolationist Japan is developing relationships with the outer world, unintentionally becoming embroiled in the war between Portugal and England, or more accurately, the Catholics vs. the Protestants. 

Amid the struggle for control of Japan, a wildcard appears in the form of English pirate John Blackthorne, who swiftly earns the respect of Toranaga and is recruited into his army as an advisor. What unfolds is a tale of high intrigue, interpersonal struggles, and adapting to tumultuous times amid high conflict. 

It should be understood that Blackthorne is not the central character, but one of them. You'll spend a lot more time with characters speaking Japanese and reading their subtitles. However, this won't bother you as every character that gets a true focus is so fascinating you forget you're even reading as much say you're watching. That period of Japan is going to be very alien to Western audiences and will catch some people off guard with some of their more brutal customs. This show may require an element of desensitization for some. 

Still, I can't recommend this show enough. It reminds me of the high-drama television shows that actually focused on character and story exclusively. There are not a lot of forced action sequences and the character development is so good that even the most quiet moments in the show carry heavy overtones. 

If you haven't started it yet, start it tonight. 

1. Fallout (Prime Video)

I put this at number one because this isn't just really good, it's an achievement that gives me hope for the future of entertainment. I finished "Fallout" over the weekend and loved it so much that I had to write a review, which you can read by following the link below. 

(READ: 'Fallout' on Prime Is an Atomic Blast: Is This a Sign That Good Television Is Coming Back?)

Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy created the show. You'll recall they're the duo who created the masterful first season of Westworld and then proceeded to muck it up with modernity in subsequent seasons. When it was announced they would be creating a "Fallout" live-action series, my heart sank for two reasons. Firstly, it's Nolan and Joy, two people who managed to reverse Midas their creation by succumbing to the lie of the "modern audience," and secondly, it would be an adaptation of a popular video game, and these rarely work out. 

I was never so happy to be wrong about something. 

Nolan and Joy truly stuck to the source material and managed to create an outstanding television show that pleased fans of the "Fallout" series like myself and drew in quite a few more. They even added details into the show that veteran Fallout players might miss on the first go-round. Yet, it doesn't fall too deeply into the realm of being a complete fan-service show. There's real irradiated meat to chew on here. 

There's so much to talk about with this show that a shorter blurb isn't going to cut it. I don't even think my review did it full justice, but suffice it to say that this is how you do television. The interwoven story of the three main characters, their motivations, and the brutality of a world that survived an atomic apocalypse, along with the drama, satire, and dark humor, all come together to create something that should rightfully win awards. 

I will warn some of my readers. This show isn't for the faint of heart. The story of "Fallout" is primarily based on a dark timeline of human events and the aforementioned brutality is almost a character in itself. That's the nature of the "Fallout" universe, but it's hardly the main draw. The show hits deep emotional beats thanks to stellar acting and moments that feel earned. There is no "and then" storytelling here. 

Go watch "Fallout." I know I will be again.