1House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is the current king of television, which is why the Game of Thrones prequel series airs in HBO’s prime slot this summer—Sunday nights, of course. After a promising first season, season 2 of the fantasy series dives headfirst into a fiery Targaryen civil war fought on the backs of dragons. Big budget? Check. Big drama? You bet.
2The Last of Us
Though many have tried (and failed) before, The Last of Us is the best adaptation of a video game we’ve ever seen. Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, it follows an unlikely duo as they make their way across America after a zombie-like apocalypse.
3True Detective: Night Country
After a strange murder occurs in Alaska, police chief Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and state trooper Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) must sift through a web of mysteries and ghostly aberrations to catch the killer. Driving the Internet wild with theories, Night Country updated the True Detective model with a fresh new direction.
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4Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show
Breaking new ground in both documentary work and stand-up comedy, Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show is a bizarre mix of unfiltered behind-the-scenes moments and incredibly hard on-camera conversations. Whether it was best for Carmichael to explore his complicated relationships with friends, family, and former lovers in this way is up to the comedian. But as he told Esquire: “I think it’s me actually trying to heal things in my life.”
5The White Lotus
The White Lotus is currently one of the hottest vacation spots for actors. Creator Mike White turned the fictional destination into a hilarious whodunnit anthology series, with guests including Jennifer Coolidge, Aubrey Plaza, and Michael Imperioli. Poking fun at the exclusive-resort lifestyle and butchering the one percent, The White Lotus has won fans over with witty writing and intriguing mystery.
6The Gilded Age
Where The White Lotus mocks the lives of the modern-day elite, The Gilded Age harks back to the high society of 1882. The comedy series also features an excellent cast, with Nathan Lane, Louisa Jacobson, Carrie Coon, Cynthia Nixon, and Christine Baranski.
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7The Jinx Part Two
Not many true crime series can boast that they did enough sleuthing on their own to actually catch the killer. But that’s where The Jinx succeeded, after director Andrew Jarecki picked up an off-camera confession from New York real estate heir Robert Durst. In the second season, The Jinx explores Durst’s trial, where he’s accused of murdering his best friend following his wife’s disappearance.
8Industry
Banking has never included as much sex and drama as HBO’s Industry, a Euphoria-esque take on the stressful job of landing high-profile clients and trading stocks. Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington will join season 3 this fall, alongside Myha’la Herrold and Ken Leung.
9Euphoria
Speaking of Euphoria, the high school drama about sex and addiction will finally begin production on season 3 in January 2025. Stars Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, Sydney Sweeney, and Jacob Elordi will return to the series, where even more danger will likely hit our troubled teens before they can finally recover and move on.
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10Succession
Ending its run just last year, the comedy-drama about a media-conglomerate CEO—who must decide which of his three crazy kids should succeed him—took television by storm. Starring Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, Alan Ruck, and Matthew Macfadyen, Succession was popular most likely for the same reason that so many new series revolve around the idea of family legacies. (And because it was just damn good TV.)
11Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Even 11 seasons in, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is still just as entertaining as ever. Taking 30-some minutes each week to discuss the latest global news, the investigative journalism from the former Daily Show correspondent’s staff is highly informative and incredibly funny.
12The Sympathizer
Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s debut novel of the same name, The Sympathizer stars Hoa Xuande as a North Vietnamese spy in the South Vietnamese army at the end of the Vietnam War. Tortured by several antagonists—who are all played by Robert Downey Jr.—Xuande led a poignant and surprisingly humorous story that sought to finally dramatize the war from a Vietnamese perspective.
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13Barry
Starring SNL alum Bill Hader, Barry is the story of a hitman who wants to end his professional killing spree and become a Hollywood actor. As his past catches up with him, hilarious antics and insane decisions ensue.
14Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
Based on the storied rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, the Adam McKay-produced series dramatizes the Showtime-era Lakers—which featured plenty of battles between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
15How To with John Wilson
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16Telemarketers
Produced by Josh and Benny Safdie, Telemarketers follows two former employees of a telemarketing firm as they expose the insidious tactics of an unchecked industry out to scam unsuspecting victims over the phone.
17Mare of Easttown
Starring Kate Winslet and her dubious Philadelphia accent, Mare of Easttown is a crime drama about a detective who investigates the murder of a local sports hero. Though the miniseries was never intended to have a second season, a rumored spinoff set in Delco is reportedly in the works with Mark Ruffalo set to lead.
18My Brilliant Friend
Based on Elena Ferrante’s popular coming-of-age novels, My Brilliant Friend tells the story of two childhood friends from Naples who experience marriage, motherhood, and affairs while maintaining their complicated relationship with one another.
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19Fantasmas
A magnum opus by comedian Julio Torres, Fantasmas is a surrealist comedy miniseries about life in New York City and the ways in which the government restricts your access to basic everyday necessities. Torres pursues a document titled “proof of existence” and encounters unhelpful robots, brainwashed customer service reps, and tangents upon tangents featuring celebrity cameos.
20The Rehearsal
Backpacking on his hit Comedy Central series, Nathan for You, comedian Nathan Fielder decides to help people get through pivotal conversations in their lives by reenacting them repeatedly in simulated environments. The Rehearsal is bizarre, deeply heartbreaking, and the pinnacle of cringe comedy on television today.
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