As IndieWire compiles their best of 2024 (so far), the staff faces their annual conundrum of weighing good episodes against good shows and seeing where the two overlap.
For example, it was easy enough for them to pick a singular episode of Lulu Wang's "Expats" on Prime Video, but nigh impossible to do the same with Steve Zaillian's "Ripley" on Netflix (a show which is nonetheless represented on IndieWire's Best Shows of 2024). A case was made for "The Acolyte" Episode 5, "Night" — a case that boiled down to Manny Jacinto, who instead graces IndieWire's list of the year's best performances.
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.
The dramas, comedies, and limited series of this year have already stunned audiences and critics, and they picked the best installments of the year so far.
