Best drama series on Channel 4 in October 2024
The West Wing
Drama
Summary:This seven-season classic, which originally aired on NBC in the States, shifts through the corridors of the White House’s West Wing, where rafts of senior political personnel aid newly elected president Jed Barlet (Martin Sheen) in the crunch decisions that shape their country and the world at large.
Why you should watch: Created by the master of ‘walk and talk’ Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing simmers with a level of authenticity that was applauded by real White House workers, while also being crowned Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmy Awards four years running. If it’s good enough for cameo stars Amy Adams, Nick Offerman, J.K. Simmons, Glenn Close, Laura Dern and Christopher Lloyd, then it’s good enough for you.
Available now
The X-Files
Crime | Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Summary:FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate unsolved cases connected to the paranormal. The dynamic between them stands on opposing beliefs; Mulder is a staunch believer in supernatural phenomena, whereas the scientifically minded Scully runs a sceptical eye over their subjects.
Why you should watch: The X-Files took its hair-raising cues from fellow TV favourites The Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks before supplanting both at the zenith of pop-culture royalty. The show, which boasted Breaking Bad’s Vince Gilligan as an occasional writer/director, employed a thrilling ‘monster of the week’ blueprint for much of its run while the first four series never dipped below 83% on the Tomato-meter.
Available now
Misfits
Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Drama | Comedy
Summary:While undertaking their community service, young offenders Curtis, Simon, Kelly, Alisha and Nathan are bestowed with strange powers when they’re caught in the middle of an electrical storm. They include time control, invisibility and telepathy.
Why you should watch: In a four-star review of the opening series,The Times hailed “a new union” on screen between “salty British street humour” and “whizz-bang special effects”. The Evening Herald went on to compliment Misfits’ “uniformly superb” central cast too, which changed after series three when Joseph Gilgun, Karla Crome and Nathan McMullen replaced Iwan Rheon, Antonia Thomas, Lauren Socha and Robert Sheehan.
Available now
The Americans
Crime | Drama
Summary:Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) and her husband Philip (Matthew Rhys) are not the couple they seem. Contrary to appearances – they’re parents to daughter Paige and son Henry – they’re actually Soviet spies posing as one inside Washington DC during the Cold War, and live next door to FBI counterintelligence guy Stan Beeman (Noah Emmerich).
Why you should watch: Who doesn’t love a carefully crafted, paranoid period piece? Since The Americans wrapped up after six supreme seasons, Rolling Stone ranked it as the 14th greatest show of all-time before Insider included it in a list of ’50 TV shows everyone should watch in their lifetime’.
Available now
This Is England '86
Drama
Summary:A four-episode spin-off from the unforgettable Shane Meadows film This Is England, this one skips to three years later as the skinhead subculture slowly dies out and World Cup fever grips the nation. Shaun is finishing high school exams while his estranged mates Woody, Lol, Smell, Gadget and Meggy coast around town searching for love and income.
Why you should watch: Lol actress Vicky McClure might be more widely recognised for her turn in Line of Duty, but for This Is England ’86 she summoned a career-best performance laced with rage and devastating vulnerability as her character’s abhorrent father Mick returns home.The soundtrack kills, as you’d expect, while critics praised its humour and scrappy ensemble.
Available now
Humans
Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Drama | Mystery
Summary:This remake of the Swedish drama Real Humans interrogates artificial intelligence from a social and psychological angle following the advent of ‘synths’. The narrative focuses on Joe and Laura Hawkins, who discover that their robotic maid has a buried consciousness.
Why you should watch: Gemma Chan, Katherine Parkinson, Colin Morgan, Emily Berrington, Neil Maskell and Baby Reindeer’s Tom Goodman-Hillall shine in their respective roles, with Digital Spy expressing an appreciation for the “fearlessness and creativity” flowing through the series. Fans were in uproar when it didn’t come back for a fourth season.
Available now
We Are Lady Parts
Comedy
Summary:The anarchic action centers on female Muslim punk band Lady Parts as they negotiate relationships and friendships on their voyage towards musical success.
Why you should watch: Writing for The Atlantic, Hannah Giorgis found the series to be “raucous”, “earnest” and “unlike anything else on TV right now”. Over at The Guardian, its rowdiness and surprising sweetness were both favourably highlighted, leading to a superlative 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Available now
It's a Sin
Comedy | Drama
Summary:Five heavy-hitting episodes chronicle the lives of gay men and their friendship circles during the HIV/AIDS crisis in Britain between 1981 and 1991.
Why you should watch: Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies collared popstar Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Keeley Hawes, Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry for his emotionally charged magnum opus, which was nominated for 12 British Academy Television Awards. The BFI said it “stands as a passionate, beautifully gay tribute to all the smalltown boys, everywhere”.
Available now
Screw
Drama | Comedy | Crime
Summary:Rose Gill (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) is a new starter in Long Marsh Prison’s C-Wing, but she’s quickly entangled in a gun-smuggling operation due to a debt held by her brother.
Why you should watch: Nina Sosanya, Stephen Wright, Laura Checkley and Ron Donachie as fellow prison guards mix things up nicely. Sabrina Barr of Metro commended Screw’s mastery of balancing danger and humour; The Telegraph called it “Porridge played straight”.
Available now
The Virtues
Drama
Summary:When his ex emigrates to Australia with their nine-year-old boy, a crestfallen Joseph (Stephen Graham) sails off to Ireland to confront painful childhood trauma.
Why you should watch: Shane Meadows and Stephen Graham combine once again to unrelentingly brutal effect while also introducing the great talent that is Niamh Algar. The Independent called The Virtues “deeply disturbing” yet “deeply impressive” as this four-parter ascended to a flawless 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
Available now
Empire
Drama | Soap
Summary:Empire charts the behind-the-scenes intricacies of a New York hip-hop and entertainment firm as members of its founders’ family attempt to seize control when he’s diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Why you should watch: From acclaimed filmmaker Lee Daniels and Dopesick’s Danny Strong, this musical drama’s secret weapon is Taraji P. Henson, who collected a Golden Globe Award for her work as Cookie Lyon. Sitting on an 84% Rotten Tomatoes score after five seasons is no small matter, either.
Available now
Blade Runner: Black Lotus
Animation | Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Action & Adventure
Summary:An amnesiac named Elle tracks down the people responsible for her violent past in order to crack open the truth about her identity.
Why you should watch: It’s the Blade Runner universe rendered through anime, with eclectic names like Brian Cox, Jessica Henwick, Stephen Root and Barkhad Abdi lending their voices to the English-language version. An “engrossing sci-fi neo-noir revenge story”, Polygon singled out its “atmospheric composition”.
Available now
Deadwater Fell
Crime | Drama
Summary:Horrors unfold in a remote Scottish village when it’s discovered that Dr. Tom Kendrick, his wife and their three young kids were drugged during a house fire that killed everyone but him.
Why you should watch: RadioTimes reviewer David Craig slapped four stars on Deadwater Fell when it first aired and The Hollywood Reporter noted David Tennant’s dead-eyed fulfilment of portraying a “seemingly admirable town pillar” in this mystery series. 88% on Rotten Tomatoes suggests guaranteed entertainment.
Available now
Help
Drama
2021 | Marc Munden | 98 mins | 15
Summary:This television film features Jodie Comer as healthcare assistant Sarah, who is looking after Alzheimer’s patient Tony (Stephen Graham) at a care home when the coronavirus pandemic first strikes.
Why you should watch: Directed with frenetic style by Utopia’s Marc Munden and written by Jack Thorne, Help took home the prestigious Rose d’Or on the international awards circuit while Comer and co-star Cathy Tyson each bagged British Academy Television Awards. The Standard argued it would “be remembered as one of the best” pandemic pieces.
Available now
Derry Girls
Comedy | Drama
Summary:Student pals Erin, Orla, Clare, Michelle and James deal with the universal challenges of teenage life during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Why you should watch: Derry Girls made such a cultural splash that Liam Neeson turned up as a police chief constable in one episode. The Irish Times dubbed it “a moving and significant piece of nostalgia” next to The Guardian’s “model of perfection” tag.
Available now
National Treasure
Drama | Crime
Summary:Riffing on the infamous Jimmy Savile scandal and Operation Yewtree, National Treasure finds the late Robbie Coltrane in the role of Paul Finchley – a comedy icon accused of raping a number of young women in the early ‘90s.
Why you should watch: The ever-reliableJulie Walters, Tim McInnerny and Andrea Riseborough add extra heft to the proceedings, which was celebrated by Variety for its “intelligent and unsentimental observations about the costs of fame and the routine concessions made to celebrity”. The Hollywood Reporter gave a shoutout to Coltrane for his “skillful shifting of moods and manners, keeping you guessing as to whether he’s just a lout or a real predator”.
Available now
The Great
Drama | Comedy
Summary:In screenwriter Tony McNamara’s warped historical satire, Elle Fanning portrays a fictionalised incarnation of Russian empress Catherine the Great, with Nicholas Hoult cast beside her as Emperor Peter III and his body double Yemelyan Pugachev, whom she strives to murder.
Why you should watch: Gillian Anderson, Jason Isaacs, Sacha Dhawan, Phoebe Fox and Douglas Hodge are further aces up The Great’s sleeve; Matt Shakman of Fargo, WandaVision and Game of Thrones directed the pilot, and iNews claimed it “should have never been cancelled” after three riotous seasons.
Available now
Ultraviolet
Drama | Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Summary:With the growing threat of viral epidemic and the possibility of worldwide environmental catastrophe, humanity has an unprecedented ability to destroy itself, and vampires need to take control of their threatened food source. CIB, an elite government force, has been formed to combat the vampire threat. But when eternal life is offered, no one is beyond temptation...
Why you should watch: Before reaching the heights of The Wire and Luther, Idris Elba appeared in Ultraviolet as a cool hunter of neck-biters, while the series was noted for its scientific approach to vampirism. Despite being axed after just six episodes, The Guardian’s review suggested its “establishment of a consistently downbeat tone becomes almost hypnotic”.
Available now
Fresh Meat
Drama | Comedy
Summary:Vod, Oregon, Josie, Kingsley, JP and Howard are university students sharing a house together in Manchester after applying late for the halls of residence. Mingling isn’t always easy when you’re drug-addled, eccentric and older than the others, short-tempered, insecure and privileged.
Why you should watch: Peep Show geniuses Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain created the show, which ran for four bingeable seasons in the end. Robert Webb and Tony Gardner are always hilarious any time they creep on screen as inept and horny lecturers. As for inevitable comparisons to The Inbetweeners, Metro decided Fresh Meat “developed into something much more sophisticated than its more-established sibling”.
Available now
The Killing
Drama | Crime | Mystery
Summary:AMC’s remake of Scandi-noir Forbrydelsen chronicles the first fortnight of the Rosie Larsen murder investigation whilst exploring three separate narrative threads: the police side of things, the Larsen clan’s grieving and a local political campaign that manages to intersect with the horrific case.
Why you should watch: Compared to David Lynch’s seminal Twin Peaks, The Killing was hyped up by The Hollywood Reporter, revealing: “When each episode ends, you long for the next – a hallmark of great dramas”. Publications such as Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide and The Vancouver Sun were equally positive.
Available now
Scandal
Drama
Summary:Ex-media consultant to the US president, Olivia Hope (Kerry Washington), struggles to unshackle herself from the past after opening her own crisis management company. She realises that her staff might be keeping even darker secrets.
Why you should watch: From Bridgerton and Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, Scandal was named one of the Top 10 Television Programmes of the Year in 2013 by the American Film Institute, and its leading star Washington garnered acting nominations at the Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys and SAGs. 93% is where this one ranks on Rotten Tomatoes, what else needs to be said?
Available now
Kiri
Drama | Crime
Summary:Set in Bristol, this four-part drama from Jack Thorne concerns the abduction of nine-year-old Kiri Akindele, who lived with her middle-class foster parents and their son before being mysteriously whisked away. Kiri lay in the incompetent social worker Miriam Grayson’s care at the time, played by Happy Valley’s Sarah Lancashire, who likes a drink.
Why you should watch: Thorne’s work received the thumbs-up from Den of Geek, which stated in its review: “However painful this particular story, his words coming from the mouth of an actor as charismatic as Sarah Lancashire make for a rare and compelling combination”. The Guardian’s Chitra Ramaswamy labelled Kiri “beautifully observed”, too.
Available now
Skins
Drama | Comedy
Summary:In this cult teen anthology, which ushers in new faces every two years, the wild ride of sixth-form unfolds before our eyes as harrowing notions like drug abuse, eating disorders, bullying and mental illness are displayed amongst the lively ensemble of characters.
Why you should watch: Skins launched the careers of future big-hitters Nicholas Hoult, Kaya Scodelario, Jack O’Connell, Daniel Kaluuya, Dev Patel, Luke Pasqualino, Joe Dempsie and Hannah Murray, who would go on to win Oscars, appear in Game of Thrones and mix it with Hollywood’s elite. The Age dubbed it a “refreshing, entertaining and worthy series”; backed up by The Guardian highlighting the “hedonism with consequences, the comedy with tragedy”.
Available now
The Undeclared War
War & Politics | Drama | Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Summary:During the run up to a British general election, a group of Government Communications Headquarters analysts beavers away at stopping a cyberattack on the electoral system, including work-experiencer Saara, who finds herself on the frontlines of a data war with Russia on her first day.
Why you should watch: Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Adrian Lester and Wolf Hall director Peter Kosminsky supply the goods for a “truly clever” TV event split across six episodes says The New Statesman. The Undeclared War is also “intelligent, chilling drama” according to The Telegraph.
Available now
My Mad Fat Diary
Comedy | Drama
Summary:Lincolnshire, 1990s. Overweight teenager Rae Earl returns to society after a four-month spell in a psych ward. She reconnects with her best friend Chloe, who is oblivious to Rae’s recent issues and thought she’d simply been holidaying in France.
Why you should watch: Sharon Rooney might’ve taken home the Best Drama Actress prize at the BAFTAs in 2015, but the show most significantly became the calling card for Jodie Comer pre-Killing Eve. In a glowing review, The Stage pointed to My Mad Fat Diary’s “unique and uncompromising perspective on adolescent angst that distresses and delights by turns”.
Available now
