Warning: This list contains major spoilers.From jaw-dropping fight sequences to heart-wrenching character deaths, 2024 was filled with incredible TV moments that made the year memorable and immortalized their shows. With beloved shows coming to long-awaited and highly-anticipated conclusions and innovative new series dazzling audiences,2024 was an overall monumental year for TV. These iconic TV moments from 2024 cemented these shows as entertaining masterpieces filled with drama and high emotional stakes.
Well-written and well-developed plots and character arcs along with gripping drama are essential to making a beloved show.The best TV moments of 2024 perfectly display why their stories became so popular and won the hearts of audiences,and many are the results of long arcs culminating in an explosive scene. Ranging from excellently executed plot twists to long-awaited and heartwarming moments,iconic TV moments become instantly recognizable on social mediaand are highlights of the show.
10Sekai Taikai Turns Into A Brawl
Cobra Kai (2018-2025)
The action comedy seriesCobra Kaiis a sequel to the originalThe Karate Kidmovies that sees the resurgence of therivalry between Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). In theKarate Kidfranchise’s universe, Sekai Taikai is a prestigious and highly competitive international karate tournament, and winning it is the height of achievement as a martial artist for a majority of the characters.
Is The Sekai Taikai Real? Cobra Kai Season 6’s Karate Tournament Explained
Cobra Kai’s Sekai Taikai tournament is said to be the most prestigious karate competition in the world. But does it exist in real-life?
However,inCobra Kaiseason 6, episode 10 “Eunjangdo”, the tournament goes off the rails as Sekai Taikai turns into an all-out brawl,leading to the accidental death of a character. The high-octane and chaotic scene features several thrilling fights between the main characters, and the sudden accidental death of Kwon Jae-Sung (Brandon H. Lee) causes the stakes to skyrocket, making it the perfect and unpredictable depiction of the long-awaited tournament.
9Aemond Turns On Aegon During The Battle At Rook’s Rest
House Of The Dragon (2022-2024)
While Team Black and Team Green were busy fighting to the death, one member of Team Green was getting his vengeance against his brother and the king through attempted murder.House of the Dragonis the tale of the events that resulted in a war of succession that led to the decline of House Targaryen. By season 2, episode 4, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” the rising tension between supporters of Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’arcy) and King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) leads to the first outright battle between the Targaryens.
In a shocking turn of events,Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) attempts to murder Aegon, leaving him with severe injuries and permanently scarred by the attack.Aemond’s attack on Aegon has massive ramifications on the trajectory of the warand further fractures the bonds of the family. The chilling betrayal turns what would have been just a battle scene into a thrilling advancement of the plot and character dynamics.
8Darth Plagueis Makes His Debut
The Acolyte (2024)
While the TV showThe Acolytewas a divisive addition to theStar Warsfranchise, it is still filled with amazing scenes that add to the lore of the beloved long-running saga. For instance,The Acolyte’sfinale features theSith Lord Darth Plagueis' on-screen debut. Darth Plagueis is a formidable force, well-known for being the Sith Lord who trained one ofStar Wars’greatest villains, Darth Sidious, who becomes known as Emperor Palpatine.
11 Things Star Wars Has Revealed About Darth Plagueis, Palpatine’s Master
Darth Plagueis' story in Star Wars canon is largely shrouded in mystery, but 11 significant revelations have surfaced about Palpatine’s Sith Master.
Darth Plagueis' first appearance on the screen is a haunting and intriguing debut, as his robed figure can be seen watching The Stranger (Manny Jacinto) and Osha (Amandla Stenberg) leave the planet. Plagueis' highly-anticipated on-screen appearance raised questions about his involvement withThe Acolyte’scharacters and introduced a vast array of possible storylines thatStar Warsfans could sink their teeth into.The cameo appearance of Darth Plagueis promised an interesting continuation ofThe Acolyteuntil the show was canceled due to low viewership numbers.
7Rick Grimes And Michonne Return Home
Aptly namedThe Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live,the spin-off to the wildly popular post-apocalyptic zombie horror series followsRick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira)after they reunite following years apart and embark on a mission to return home to their children. The compelling dynamic between the married couple and their determination to reunite with their kids while taking down deadly enemies is the backbone of the series.
While Rick and Michonne taking down the Civic Republic Military (CRM) is a thrilling journey, the icing on the cake is the heartwarming and wholesome reunion between Rick and Michonne with their children. The emotional reunion is a teary affair, especially with the knowledge of the hardships the characters went through due to the zombie apocalypse.The rare happy ending for the characters inThe Walking Deadfranchise is a well-earned conclusion for the beloved characters,making it an unforgettable season finale.
6Leland Is Finally Defeated
Evil (2019-2024)
The supernatural drama seriesEvilfollows three starkly different people who become a close-knit team after they’re hired by the Catholic Church to investigate seemingly supernatural events. Throughout the series, the team realizes that the forensic psychologistDr. Leland Townsend, played by Michael Emerson, is behind the evil goings and accidents plaguing the city. Leland’s obsession with rival forensic psychologist Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) and his joy at encouraging people to commit heinous and evil acts makes him a terrifying enemy.
Leland is finally defeated in the final episode of the series, after years of inflicting trauma and targeting the lead characters, Kristen in particular.Evilseason 4 ends Leland’s arc with Kristen finally taking her tormentor down, with the help of David Acosta (Mike Colter) and Ben Shakir (Aasif Mandvi). The well-planned and well-executed climax of the final episode is a long-awaited conclusion to the show, making Leland’s comeuppance very satisfying to watch.
5Powder And Ekko Dance Together
Arcane (2021-2024)
Arcaneseason 2, episode 7, “Pretend Like It’s the First Time” is a much-needed breather during the intense final season of the animated steampunk fantasy series. TheArcaneepisode is set in a parallel universewhere Hextech was never invented, leaving the world a more peaceful place where Zaun and Piltover are on better terms. After six intense and action-filled episodes, Ekko’s (Reed Shannon) adventure in the alternate universe is a tonal shift that still manages to be a compelling story that provides depth to characters and their dynamics.
Ekko’s initial distrust of Powder (Ella Purnell) and reluctance to bond with her due to his past experiences with Jinx slowly fades away as they spend time together, ending with a sweet dance and kiss before Ekko has to return to his world and help save Zaun. Stromae’s “Ma Meilleure Ennemie” playing in the background makes the visually stunning scene even more heartwarming. The tragic last dance between Ekko and Powder provides a deeper look into the complexities of Powder/Jinx and her relationship with Ekko, making the scene a beautiful fan favorite.
Agatha All Along (2024)
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’sAgatha All Alongis a spinoff of the hit seriesWandaVisionfollowing the witch Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and a mysterious teen, who is later revealed to be Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke) as they form a coven to face the trials of the Witches' Road in hopes of getting the reward, whatever they desire the most. However, after the trial leads to the death of most of the coven, the ghost of Agatha reveals that she and her son were the original creators of the song that became the Ballad of the Witches' Road.
Agatha’s ghost informs Billy that the Witches' Road never existed and thatit was Agatha all along who perpetuated the false tale. The final episode plot twist makes a rewatching the series essential, as it changes how the audience views Agatha’s actions. Yetthe artful twist cementsAgatha All Alongas a thoughtfully and cleverly made TV show.
3Sofia Gigante Gets Her Vengeance
The Penguin (2024)
The crime drama seriesThe Penguinfollows the rise of Oz Cobb/The Penguin (Colin Farrell) as a criminal kingpin in the crime-ridden Gotham. While Farrell’s critically acclaimed performance propels the show forward, Cristin Milioti’s portrayal of Sofia Gigante (formerly known as Sofia Falcone) is the show’s scene-stealer.The Penguin’sfourth episode, “Centi’Anni,“takes a look at Sofia’s life and backstory, her father’s betrayal which led her to leave behind his name Falcone, and adopt her mother’s surname — promtping her vengeance against her family.
Is It Time We All Admit The Penguin’s Villain Is As Good As Heath Ledger’s Joker?
The Penguin has introduced an incredible new Batman villain into live-action, one who rivals the impact and fear of Heath Ledger’s terrifying Joker.
After years of being imprisoned and tortured in Arkham Asylum for crimes she didn’t commit, Sofia returns to her family home, kills the majority of her family for their betrayal, adopts the Gigante name, and takes over the family business while donning her late mother’s coat.The moment that Sofia takes down her family and embraces her transformation into a cold-blooded killer is powerfuland makes it impossible not to root for her.
2The Front Man Joins The Games
Squid Game (2021-2025)
Squid Gameseason 2 is a thrilling continuation of the story that enthralled international audiences. The second season switches things up as the game’s overseer Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), also known as theFront Man joins the deadly games as Player 001. In-ho is experienced with the deadly game as the winner of the Squid Game held in 2025, and his addition to the games is a gripping plot line.
The Front Man joining the Squid Game further opens the gates to explore In-ho’s backstory, his relationship with his brother Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon), and the financial issues that pushed him to take part in the games despite the danger. In addition, In-ho’s involvement in the games also means he can easily manipulate other players and the game itself by pretending to be a player. The thrilling arc of the Front Man joining the Squid Game ensures that season 2 is filled with drama and betrayal.
1Lady Mariko’s Sacrifice
Shōgun (2024-Present)
The critically acclaimed and record-breaking TV showShōgunis brimming with incredible and jaw-dropping scenes. However,Lady Mariko’s (Anna Sawai) heroic deathis a tragic yet beautiful TV moment that has a major impact on the historical setting.Shōgunseason one’s penultimate episode “Crimson Sky” lays the groundwork for an action-heavy and high-stakes season finale,with the death of Mariko pushing the narrative forward.
The episode is a rollercoaster, with Mariko ready to commit seppuku to prove that Ishido (Takehiro Hira) is keeping hostages, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) offering to be Mariko’s second, and the two confessing their love for each other, before ending with Mariko standing in front of the door armed to explode in defiance of Ishido. The explosive and sacrificial conclusion to Lady Mariko’s life sets the show up for major changes in the final episode. Sawai’s stellar acting carries the episode and her final death scene, solidifying the scene as one of the best TV moments of 2024.
