This year has been a record-breaker in terms of media I heavily enjoyed. Instead of breaking everything up into a ranking on TV, movies, books, etc. — I thought, why not just put the top of each list in one place? So, feel free to judge me heavily for my choices of what was the best of 2024.
Movies
Wonka
This was the first movie I saw this year coming in on January 4th and oh boy did it set the tone for this year. It had no right being as fun and whimsical as it was. I was part of the group thinking ‘oh no’ walking into the theater and instead was smiling the entire film. It was all so silly in a way that made me embrace that childlike sense of wonder I needed.
All of Us Strangers
On the other side of the scale, following Wonka, is this masterpiece. I was drawn into this movie by Andrew Scott recently becoming a beloved actor in my mind and I was not let down. My notes on this go: “Andrew Scott and Paul Mezcal had no right speaking things that I’ve felt my entire life in such eloquent ways that I cried four times in the theater.”
This is a movie all queer people need to watch. It touches on things I never knew I felt about myself. I came out of that theater a different person.
“I’ve always felt like a stranger in my own family and then… coming out just puts a name to that difference that’s always been there.“
Dune: Part Two
The second Timothée Chalamet film of this year and also easily deserving of being on this list. I am easy to please when it comes to movies: make me forget I’m watching a movie. And that is exactly what Dune achieved. It took the worldbuilding and characters from the first part and really transformed the story from it. Plus, it helps that morally grey characters will never not be interesting and I cannot wait to see society’s reaction to Paul’s actions in the future.
The Fall Guy
This. If I had to name a movie of the year, it would go to The Fall Guy. Not because of any awards it won, doing things no one has done before, or anything technical but because it has been so long since I’ve seen a movie that is purely entertainment. Every minute of this film was fun — you can’t help but watch it with a smile. Very rarely do movies successfully go back to the essence of entertainment and succeed but The Fall Guy did so easily.
Inside Out 2
This one is for the child in me. The girl who is scared of what her friends think and wants to make all the right choices. Pixar took their existing audience from Inside Out and grew with them, making the audience both new and old feel seen in their emotions. Lately I’ve been getting fatigued by how many sequels and live action remakes Disney and Pixar have been producing, but Inside Out 2 took the groundwork laid by the first film and made something every child should watch and experience.
“I don’t know how to stop Anxiety. Maybe we can’t. Maybe this is what happens when you grow up. You feel less joy.”
Wicked: Part One
I remember seeing Wicked’s touring production when I was probably eight years old and not understanding a single second of what was happening other than loving Popular. Then, while I was studying abroad earlier this year, my friends and I saw it on the West End. Suddenly, the story made sense and it was beautiful. Characters were complex, songs were amazing, and the story intrigued me. The movie was exactly the same. The actors did an amazing job bringing this musical to life on the screen (not to mention singing live is an incredible feat). The movie theater employees are scared of me because I’m already sat for part two.
TV Shows
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Growing up I was a Percy Jackson kid. Not a crazy amount (Harry Potter held that trophy) but I really liked the books. The movies were an incredible let down so much that I refused to watch beyond the first one. But this show healed my inner child. Recently I’ve become much more of a Greek Mythology enjoyer and part of that is because of this show. Everything about it was perfect. I have no notes.
Delicious in Dungeon
I’ve never been an anime person despite trying. Something about it just never seemed interesting to me. Delicious in Dungeon put that to rest the moment a friend described it as dungeons and dragons and cooking. I finished the entirety of the show in maybe a month (if you know me, you know I take a long time to watch shows so this was impressive). It also lighted the inner cook in me and I can’t wait to cook some weird stuff up due to this show.
“Eating is, quite simply, the exclusive privilege of the living.”
Agatha All Along
Marvel recently has been slacking in my eyes. I jumped on the bandwagon, watching all movies right as Infinity War and Endgame came out, believing it to be peak cinema. Over COVID, the shows started to discourage me (not including Wandavision, Loki, and Moon Knight) and I started to lose my love for these superheroes. However, Agatha brought that Marvel obsession right back to the surface. Having a spooky show come out right around Halloween while also having all morally grey, complex characters was something I didn’t know I needed.
Arcane (Season Two)
Even a month after watching the finale I still don’t have the words to comprehend or explain why this show impacted me as much as it did.
“In all timelines, in all possibilities… only you can show me this.”
Books
If We Were Villains
M.L. Rio
It just so happened that I read this while also taking a Shakespeare class in London, so the vibes were perfect. I loved the intertwining of the plays, the constant quotes, and the mystery of it all. This was the book I finished the fastest this year and I desperately need to read something even a little similar to this story right away.
Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
This was actually a required reading for one of my classes and quickly became a top five favorite of mine. It feels as if an Agatha Christie novel saw Greek Mythology and Sci-Fi and said “I want to do that.” I will never get over my obsession with this book.
“Perhaps that is what it is like being with other people. Perhaps even people you like and admire immensely can make you see the World in ways you would rather not.”
The Book of Bill
Alex Hirsch
Growing up, Gravity Falls was one of my favorite TV shows. It continues to be so even today. Something about the weirdness of it all hit my brain in just the right way. When this book was announced, I knew it was going to be perfection and I was right. Everything about the book is fun (until trauma and scary things are revealed about the original series) and Bill Cypher’s voice is so clearly heard. I am so happy to end the year with something as amazing as this book.
Etc.
NADDPOD Campaign 3: The Ice Knife Saga
Podcast
NADDPOD (Not Another D&D Podcast) is something I’ve listened to since 2019. It’s taught me everything I know about Dungeons and Dragons. However, campaign 3 wasn’t hitting the same way as previous arcs. The Ice Knife Saga was just what I needed from a penultimate arc. It was equal parts goofs (of course) and really serious lore moments (which I always eat up). Brian Murphy cooked.
“I’m sorry… when you were calculating your risk, did you not consider frog magic?”
Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Musical
A huge factor of my love for this musical was the fact that I got rush tickets to see it on the West End in London the day of and only paid the equivalent of maybe $30 for a sixth row seat. It was unbelievable. I hadn’t heard anything about it going in and was blown away at how three completely separate stories taking place in the same apartment could be so interesting and engaging for an audience. Some of the both breathtaking moments happening during this production.
Hadestown (West End)
Musical
If you read last year’s recap of the musicals I saw, you’ll be expecting this one on the list. Hadestown is my favorite musical of all time having seen it touring with my mom last spring. For my 21st birthday this year, my friends and I got really good tickets to see the West End production while abroad and I am still recovering. Everything about it was perfection — the lyric changes, the emotions in the actors, experiencing the stage the way it was written. Everything. The official cast recording that I saw is up on Spotify as of recent, so here’s the link. Do me a favor and listen to “If It’s True.”
“Here’s the thing, to know how it ends and still begin to sing, as if it might turn out this time. I learned that from a friend of mine.”
And now we can all take a deep breath. This year was full of self-development and that is due in no small part to the insane media I was able to enjoy. Storytelling is something unlike anything else in the world. I am not the same person I was before consuming these things and I cannot wait to see what 2025 brings.
While you’re here, check out some of my favorite stories I’ve posted this year!
Answer the Call
“I just don’t know what you do all day,” Liz’s voice echoed through my room, bouncing off the wood and metal. “I’d be losing my mind.” “And that’s where we’re different,” I responded, sitting on the edge of my bed to slide on my hiking boots. “I’m having a great time out here.” “But for…
Moving On
Throughout my life, I’ve moved more than the standard person, I’d imagine. I wasn’t in a new state every year and it wasn’t because of my parents’ jobs or anything like that. My family just took a long time to find where we belonged. When I was born (as the oldest), I lived in a…
0.1 – soulmates
“Do you believe in soulmates?” “…no” “Why not?” “I don’t think there’s anything out there that decides who we love. Let alone one perfect person out of eight billion who’s perfect for you – did you know that? Earth is at eight billion people. Anyway, I think it’s selfish.” “So, you don’t think we were…
Payton Klaer 
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