Packed with prestige drama and cracking comedies, 2024 has been one of the most binge-worthy years of streaming in recent memory, says streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.

So many shows, so little time, so here are some of the best of the year.

Honourable mentions go to Landman, The Day of The Jackal, Industry, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Tokyo Vice, Shrinking, The Gentlemen, Ripley, Black Doves and Kaos.

5. One Day – Netflix

Romantic comedies served up on Netflix often induce little more than eye-rolling but One Day broke the mould with a story that was genuine, funny and tragic. Held together by its two charismatic leads Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, this series told their broken love story by showing one day of their lives every year over 14 episodes. The conceit worked like a charm.

One Day won hearts around the world then proceeded to break them.

4. The Penguin – Binge

When this spin-off to the Robert Pattinson Batman movie dropped in September I thought it was a case of another hollow cash grab and called it as much in a column at the time.

But as the series went on I realised I would have to eat my words.

Despite the comical choice of Batman villain it’s based on, The Penguin revealed itself as a gritty, emotional crime drama that channelled inspiration from TV greats such as The Sopranos.

Colin Farrell sinks totally into this gangster trying to climb Gotham City’s criminal ladder and makes the character hard to look away from. This is a step above your standard comic book-inspired affair and will even appeal to those who are otherwise uninterested in the caped crusader.

3. The Bear – Disney Plus

Much like the chefs at the centre of this culinary comedy-drama, season three of The Bear got even more experimental.

This series about a grief-stricken cook on a mission to transform his late brother’s restaurant into a dining icon continues to turn up the heat with each new season.

The show is constantly evolving and the amount of story and character development it packs into its roughly 20-minute episodes makes for cracking TV. Its constantly frenetic editing, music and script also keep things fresh. Season four is already on the way but The Bear is far from being overcooked.

2. Baby Reindeer – Netflix

Arguably the most talked-about show of the year and for good reason. Baby Reindeer was a breakout success for creator and writer Richard Gadd, who bravely put the strange, true story of a woman who relentlessly stalked him out there for the world to see. 

What started as a comedy became darker as it went on, turning into a raw psychological exploration of abuse, addiction and identity.

And yet Gadd, a stand-up comedian, always managed to keep this heavy experience afloat with his oddball sense of humour.

The controversy and conversations that swarmed around this show only catapulted it to greater fame.

The woman who stalked Gadd is now trying to sue him and Netflix for around $250 million. When that hit the headlines, it once again put Reindeer in the spotlight and something tells me we haven’t seen the end of this intriguing saga yet.

Baby Reindeer did perfectly what any good TV show should – got people talking.

1. Shogun – Disney Plus

Sweeping the Emmys with 18 wins, this epic, historical blockbuster about feudal Japan has cemented itself in TV history.

Telling a violent tale of warring factions in 1600, Shogun felt reminiscent of Game of Thrones in its ambition, full to the brim with competing, back-stabbing characters each as fascinating or dislikable as the last.

The arrival of a mysterious European ship at a fishing village is what lights the fuse for the conflict that unfolds.

Perhaps what’s most exciting about the series is just how high it’s raised the bar for streaming spectacle. From the very first minute, the awe-inspiring cinematography of the show was on full display.

Shogun is television on a whole new scale.