The 32 Best TV Episodes of 2024

2024 will be remembered for a lot of things, good and bad (and everything in between) — but around these parts, it will be remembered for specific TV episodes that stood out from the dozens, if not hundreds that viewers devour in a year. Whether it’s a weekly treat or annual binge, exceptional shows are one thing, but exceptional episodes will live on in our hearts and sometimes eclipse the very shows from whence they came.

As with every year, the IndieWire staff faces our annual conundrum of weighing good episodes against good shows and seeing where the two overlap. It was a no-brainer to pick the best episode of HBO’s “The Penguin” or “The Rings of Power” Season 2, but trickier when it came to shows like “Expats” or “A Man on the Inside” — or shows like “Pachinko,” and “True Detective: Night Country,” where the overall quality instead earned them a spot on the Best TV of 2024. Some of these shows grace our Best TV and Best New TV of the year (in which there’s some overlap), but some of them didn’t make the cut, so we give their flowers here. Whether you’ve been meaning to catch up on these shows (spoilers ahead) or shared our awe at these specific segments, 2024’s best episodes (unranked) cover a range of existential emotional journeys.

More from IndieWire

• Slamdance Greets Los Angeles Art-First with Charming and Chaotic Presentation at The Indie Awards

• For Season 6, 'What We Do in the Shadows' Had to Dress Over 200 Vampires in Brooklyn

• 'It's Not Me' Review: Leos Carax Continues Futile Quest to Rationalize Obsession with Images via Godardian Video Essay

Read on for IndieWire’s list of the 32 best TV episodes of 2024. —Proma Khosla

Check out all of IndieWire’s Best of 2024 coverage right here.

Best of IndieWire

• The 21 Best Thrillers Streaming on Netflix in December, from 'Fair Play' to 'Emily the Criminal'

• The Best Modern Westerns, from 'The Power of the Dog' to 'Killers of the Flower Moon' to 'The Hateful Eight'

• The 77 Best Animated Series of All Time: 'Daria,' 'Cowboy Bebop,' 'Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,' and More

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.