Network TVoffered high-quality entertainment in 2024 despite some challenges, and its best episodes are proof of that.Hollywood’s dual writers' and actors' strikesin late 2023 delayed the start of the 2023-2024 television season, but when the strikes were settled, the shortened spring 2024 season gave us some of theall-time best TV shows. This period saw many memorable episodes airing, including the finales of long-running shows such asThe Good Doctorand additions to new hits likeFound.
The fall TV season was not marred by these problems, though budget cuts after the strikes meant saying goodbye to extremely popular shows such asBlue Bloods. ThedisappointingBlue Bloodscancelation newswas offset by the return of popular franchises likeLaw & OrderandOne Chicago,along with exciting new shows. Kathy Bates’Matlockwas surprisingly successful, andall three networks offered a brilliant mix of new and old programming that made 2024 a strong TV yeardespite its rocky start.
16Young Sheldon Season 7, Episode 13
“Funeral”
Putting George Sr.’s (Lance Barber) death so close to the end ofYoung Sheldonwas a risky choice that could have backfired, but the prequel series handled it beautifully. George’s death was understated, with Coach Wilkins delivering the news at the end of the previous episode, and"Funeral" manages to be funny while still taking the Coopers' devastating loss seriously. Much of the humor comes from small moments such as Dale (Craig T. Nelson) not being able to find a seat in the living room that is not claimed by someone else.
George Sr.’s death was an important part of Sheldon’s backstory inThe Big Bang Theory,and thus, the prequel had to address it at some point during the final season.
“Funeral” also sets up the second half ofYoung Sheldon’s finale impressively, asSheldon’s difficulty processing his father’s death leads to the adult Sheldon’s (Jim Parsons) conclusion that his father was just a mandoing the best he could, not the villain he had made him out to be over the course of his life. This led to a poignant finale sequence in which Sheldon and Amy (Mayim Balik) discussed how his new insights could relate to their current roles as parents while the young Sheldon went off to college.
15Matlock Season 1, Episode 1
“Pilot”
Matlockwas originally billed as a reboot of the classic 1980s Andy Griffith mystery series about a country lawyer who did detective work to prove clients were innocent. However,Matlock’s pilot episode quickly proved that it was something completely different.
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Matlock’s game-changing premiere twistset up the series' central premise in an intriguing, exciting way and also paid homage to the original series by having Madeline (Kathy Bates) choose the fictional character’s surname as her pseudonym. This twist excited the audience and revealedMatlock’s gripping premise, which revolves around Madeline’s desire to get justice and revenge for her daughter’s death from opioid misuse.
14Blue Bloods Season 14, Episode 18
“End Of Tour”
Blue Bloods’cancelation was heartbreaking, considering that the series was still going strong after 14 years. When a fan-led movement to save the procedural failed to move the needle with CBS executives, the best that could be hoped for was a strong series finale. “End of Tour” was exactly that.The final story could have worked equally well as a season ender,but gave every member ofBlue Bloods' Reagan familya happy ending after they worked together on an intense case involving gang violence.
One of the most popular aspects of the series was the weekly family dinner scene, so it was fitting that the Reagans' farewell included one last family dinner. During this scene, Eddie revealed she was pregnant, and the family celebrated the future birth of a new member. Frank’s (Tom Selleck) final speech about how proud and grateful he was of his family perfectly summed up the series' core values.While the show could have gone on longer, it got the best send-off possible. That was a gift for its loyal audience.
13Law & Order: SVU Season 26, Episode 8
“Cornered”
Law & Order: SVU’s Dominique Carisi has gotten the short end of the stick during season 26. It was clear he was having a hard time dealing with the vicarious trauma of the job while raising kids mostly on his own,and then he was held hostage during “Cornered.”
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This strong Carisi-centered episode focused mostly on the action inside the deli where armed robbers were holding him and two female customers. It was an intense hour that opened up manyLaw & Order: SVUseason 26storylines for Carisi when the series returns from its mid-season hiatus.
12The Conners Season 6, Episode 3
“Moms and Rats”
Bev’s (Estelle Parsons) dementia storyline has been one of the saddest continuing arcs inThe Conners, but “Moms and Rats” gave her the best possible send-off. After participating in a new clinical trial,Bev was clear-minded enough that she and Jackie could spend time together and talk honestly about the pastbefore Bev left on one last “grand adventure.” Jackie was at peace with her decision to let Bev go, even though the rest of the family disapproved.
This poignant Bev/Jackie storyline didn’t sacrifice the show’s trademark humor.
Jackie now knew the real reason her mother had sent her and Roseanne away when they were children and was no longer resentful.This poignant Bev/Jackie storyline didn’t sacrifice the show’s trademark humor. Additionally, it was interspersed with an entertaining story about Darlene trying to get rid of a rat in her house. This subplot didn’t just provide comic relief from the heavier Bev scenes. It also demonstrated that life goes on, including mundane problems, adding to the emotional punch of the episode.
11Abbott Elementary Season 3, Episode 14
“Party”
“Party” offered a heartwarming and entertaining third season finale forAbbott Elementary. The episode revolved around Janine’s end-of-year party. This made it easy to includeeveryAbbott Elementarycharacter, as the party naturally lent itself to people interacting. The interactions throughoutAbbott Elementaryseason 3, episode 14 were mostly lighthearted, which helped balance the series' heavier episodes.
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However, the tone of “Party” was also significant for another reason: this installment featured Gregory and Janine’s passionate first kiss after Gregory fixed Janine’s flickering lightbulb.This exciting moment was the perfect payoff for all the sexual tension between them, and it was a great start to their romance. This scene alone landed “Party” amongAbbott Elementary’s most important and memorable episodes.
10NCIS Season 21, Episode 7
“A Thousand Yards”
“A Thousand Yards” hit an impressive milestone for theNCISfranchise:it was the 1,000th episode across all NCIS series.Thus, the producers worked hard to make this a special installment without disruptingNCIS' procedural formula. The episode honored the franchise by revolving around an old enemy who shot Vance in the back while he was arguing with his estranged son, Jared (Spence Moore II) at his late wife’s grave. This setup offered a brilliant way to get agents from every NCIS team on board for an investigation, as the enemy was targeting several former NCIS agents.
The twist connected the show’s past and present, offering a strong parallel to Jared and Vance’s rocky relationship.
While the crossovers added value and reminded the audience thatNCISis part of a popular franchise,the episode’s strongest aspect was how it connected the enemy toNCIS' past. It appeared the shooter had been manipulated by a tech billionaire, but there was a twist: she was the daughter of a man Gibbs (Mark Harmon) killed duringNCIS' pilot episode. The twist connected the show’s past and present, offering a strong parallel to Jared and Vance’s rocky relationship.
9Ghosts Season 3, Episode 8
Ghostsseason 3’s “Holes Are Bad” offered a rare look at how the ghosts behave when there are no humans around to force them to restrain themselves.Jay and Sam went away for the weekend, which meant the ghosts had the mansion to themselves. This led to interactions that couldn’t have happened if they had to deal with sharing their space, and it was fun to explore a different setup for them.
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Although the series is a comedy, not everything about the ghosts' weekend alone was funny.“Holes are Bad” proved one of the most poignant episodes of the series, as Hetty revealed the tragic circumstances leading to her death. However, the circumstances under which this reveal occurred were hilarious, balancing the dramatic and comedic aspects of thisGhostsepisode brilliantly.
8The Good Doctor Season 7, Episode 10
“Goodbye”
On the surface, centering the majority of theGood Doctor’s finale around Claire’s possible death and Glassman’s (Richard Schiff) terminal cancer diagnosis seemed like a poor idea. And parts of the episode were depressing. However, the last 15 minutes of “Goodbye” made all the sadness worth it.The seven-season series wrapped up by demonstrating that Shaun is Glassman’s legacy— and that he is paying it forward by helping other neurodivergent doctors succeed.
7Brilliant Minds Season 1, Episode 9
“The Colorblind Painter”
Brilliant Mindsoffers a unique perspective that sets it apart from the plethora of medical dramas on network television: its focus on neurological cases, which dovetails brilliantly with lead character Oliver Wolf’s (Zachary Quinto) neurodivergence. Although every episode of this series is fantastic,“The Colorblind Painter” stood out because it focused on a non-fatal condition that nevertheless was destroying an artist’s quality of life.
This was one time when Wolf couldn’t fix things for his patient, and the alternative solution he and the painter found was inspiring.
The case of a painter who had stopped seeing color for mysterious reasons was intriguing. However, the dynamic between him and Wolf was even more so, as he initially didn’t want help and was resigned to living a miserable, colorless life.This powerful episode also explored Wolf’s traumatic childhood,which allowed him to connect to the patient’s grief over losing his wife. This was one time when Wolf couldn’t fix things for his patient, and the alternative solution he and the painter found was inspiring.
