The best TV shows of 2024 so far 

‘Baby Reindeer.’ (Supplied) 
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Updated 20 June 2024
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The best TV shows of 2024 so far 

  • From warlords in feudal Japan, through post-apocalyptic wastelands, to a stalker in Scotland

‘Baby Reindeer’ 

Richard Gadd’s autobiographical drama is the most talked-about show of the year, though not always for the reasons its creator — or Netflix — would have wanted. The streaming giant is almost certainly regretting the “This is a true story” splash at the start of the series, when adding “based on” could have saved them at least some of the cash it will likely lose in lawsuits from the real-life people that the too-easily-cracked characterizations have exposed. But the legal and ethical fallout shouldn’t overshadow the fact that Gadd’s painfully honest depiction of a wannabe comedian (himself) and his relationship with an unhinged female stalker is original, compelling, infuriating, and sometimes, at least in the early episodes, as funny as it is horrifying. And Jessica Gunning, as the stalker, Martha, turns in an extraordinary performance that should earn her a slew of awards. 

‘Fallout’ 

An adaptation of a post-apocalyptic video game was one of 2023’s finest shows (“The Last of Us”) and, thanks to “Fallout,” the same will likely be said for 2024. But the two shows — like the two games — are vastly different. Yes, “The Last of Us” had monsters in it, but it was largely grounded in gritty realism. “Fallout” is far more cartoonish, both in its aesthetic and its violence. It’s set in an alternate history in which a nuclear exchange between the US and China in 2077 drove many survivors underground into bunkers known as Vaults. More than two centuries later, a young woman, Lucy, leaves her Vault and ventures into the wasteland that used to be Los Angeles to hunt for her father, who has been kidnapped by raiders. Having been raised in the safety and the — ostensibly — polite society of the Vault, Lucy is woefully unprepared for the horrors that await her in the outside world.  

‘Ripley’ 

The plot of Steven Zaillian’s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s psychological crime thriller novel “The Talented Mr. Ripley” is fairly straightforward: Tom Ripley (the excellent Andrew Scott), a down-on-his-luck con-man in 1960s New York, is hired by the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf to convince his wayward son Dickie to return home from Italy, where he is living a leisurely life at his father’s expense. But Ripley sees a chance to transform his life — if he’s willing to cross some serious boundaries. Zaillian draws out the suspense with lingering shots of the Italian seaside town where Dickie is living and long sections without dialogue, carried by Scott’s commanding performance. The anomaly of shooting the series in black-and-white only helps it stand out all the more.   

‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ 

Farewell, then, Larry David. Or at least the version of Larry David that anchored this brilliant largely improvised sit-com over 12 series and 24 years. In this final season, Larry doesn’t suddenly see the light and transform into a decent human being. Instead David continued to find new ways for his misanthropic character to make us laugh and cringe in equal measure. The final episode is titled “No Lessons Learned.” That’s all you need to know, and all fans would have wanted. 

‘Shogun’ 

Kudos to FX and Hulu for making a success of a show that, the majority of the time, is in Japanese. John Blackthorne, the hero of this historical drama adapted from James Clavell’s 1975 novel, is loosely based on the English navigator William Adams, who became a samurai for the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate in the early 17th century. The show’s beautifully paced mix of political intrigue and brutal combat is compelling viewing. 

‘True Detective: Night Country’ 

With a female showrunner, Issa Lopez, and two female leads (Jodie Foster as detective Liz Danvers, Kali Reis as Trooper Evangeline Navarro), the fourth season of the anthology series naturally enraged online trolls. But this tale of the simultaneous disappearance of eight scientists living at the Tsalal Arctic Research Station in the small town of Ennis, Alaska, during the winter period when the sun never rises is immediately gripping. Lopez leans into the supernatural horror elements that were an undercurrent of the acclaimed first series, and Foster and Reis are a badass double act.  

‘Masters of the Air’ 

Executive producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks signed off from their trilogy of miniseries based on the events of World War II (from an American point of view) in spectacular fashion with this show focused on the Eighth Air Force, which was engaged in some of the war’s most-dangerous missions in Northern Europe. “This is not a narratively complex beast, replete with twists and turns,” our reviewer wrote. “Rather, it’s a show that seems to belong to a bygone era: a lovingly made, epic chronicle of remarkable people doing remarkable things during remarkable times.” 

‘Mr & Mrs. Smith’ 

When it was announced that “Fleabag” creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge had walked away from this spy series (loosely) based on the 2005 film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, which she was meant to be co-creating and starring in with “Atlanta” creator Donald Glover, there were fears the show would flop. Instead, Waller-Bridge’s replacement, the Japanese-American actress Maya Erskine, is excellent as the Jane Smith to Glover’s John Smith, matching her partner’s easy onscreen charisma all the way and giving the show a grounded heart around which to base its often-outlandish storylines. “Mr & Mrs. Smith” was a lot of fun.  


700 works entered for Dammam’s small-format art exhibition

Updated 51 min 40 sec ago
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700 works entered for Dammam’s small-format art exhibition

  • Event seeks to ‘bridge the gap between artists and the public,’ organizer says
  • Successful pieces to be announced on July 17

DAMMAM: Artists from across the country have submitted more than 700 works for the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts in Dammam’s annual showcase.

Now in its sixth year, the “Endless Possibilities for Art” exhibition focuses exclusively on works measuring 30 cm by 30 cm and seeks to deepen connections between artists and viewers by creating interactive display environments.

A total of 705 pieces from 235 artists in 25 cities were entered for this year’s show and the submission process is now closed, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Youssef Al-Harbi, the society’s director, said: “This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between artists and the public by making original artworks more attainable and fostering a deeper connection between creators and collectors through deeper sensory and visual readings of artistic works.

“It also showcases the richness of techniques and diversity of artistic schools, reflecting the cultural and visual diversity of the Kingdom’s regions and their aesthetic uniqueness.”

The show built on the society’s ongoing efforts to champion visual arts and encouraged artists and collectors to find common ground through ownership, he said.

The society will announce which works have been chosen for the exhibition on July 17.


Fontaines DC display words ‘Israel is committing genocide’ on screen at London gig

Updated 07 July 2025
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Fontaines DC display words ‘Israel is committing genocide’ on screen at London gig

DUBAI: Irish post-punk band Fontaines DC played a sold-out concert in London’s Finsbury Park on Saturday night during which the words “Free Palestine” and “Israel is committing genocide” were projected onto screens. 

Lead singer Grian Chatten performed in front of the 45,000-strong crowd dressed in a kilt and a Sinead O’Connor t-shirt, the Independent reported. 

A piece of music equipment on the north London stage was wrapped in a Palestinian flag and “Israel is committing genocide. Use your voice” came up on the screens after the last song. 

The show comes after multiple artists voiced support for the people of Palestine at the Glastonbury music festival in June.

Last week, the US revoked entry visas for members of British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan following their Glastonbury Festival set, during which frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in a controversial chant against Israel’s military.

Performing on the festival’s West Holts Stage on Saturday, the artist shouted “Free, free Palestine” before encouraging the audience to chant, “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces).” Video of the moment quickly spread online, sparking backlash.

Meanwhile, Irish rap group Kneecap drew one of the festival’s largest crowds at the West Holts Stage. Dozens of Palestinian flags flew in the crowd as the show opened with an audio montage of news clips referring to the band’s critics and legal woes.

Between high-energy numbers that had fans forming a large mosh pit, the band members — sporting keffiyehs — led the audience in chants of “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo Chara.” They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has said he didn’t think it was “appropriate” for Kneecap to play Glastonbury.

One member wore a T-shirt emblazoned with “We Are All Palestine Action,” referencing the direct-action network that targets arms factories supplying Israel.


The Open Crate: Meet the women protecting the Arab world’s artistic heritage

Updated 07 July 2025
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The Open Crate: Meet the women protecting the Arab world’s artistic heritage

BEIRUT: What’s the point of owning a beautiful collection — whether art or collectibles — if there’s no proper way to showcase or preserve it?

This question lies at the heart of The Open Crate, a platform designed to help collectors digitize and preserve their collections. Founded by art specialists Amina Debbiche and Nora Mansour, the company offers an inventory and archiving service that catalogs everything from fine art and furniture to watches, books, and pens.

“People know exactly which crypto they have in their portfolio. But when it comes to art, they don't even remember the name of the artist on the wall,” said Mansour, a Lebanese finance expert turned art curator.

Debbiche and Mansour noted the urgency of digitizing art catalogues — especially in the Arab world.

“The thing with art, especially in our region of the world, is that it’s mostly held in private hands,” said Debbiche, a Tunisian art aficionado.

The privatization of artwork in a region with hotspots of instability makes the act of documentation a deeply political one: a means of preserving the unspoken victims of war — art.

To explain this, Mansour gave Arab News a hypothetical example: think of a Palestinian family in Jerusalem whose house is looted — if their artwork is documented, there’s proof it existed. It’s a map of what you own.

“It’s like our child, you know — it’s like having a baby together,” Mansour joked.

The child they created, The Open Crate, boldly and indirectly addresses an unspoken issue that has long plagued the region. Like any child, it has the potential to grow and carve out a name that its ancestors, and future generations, can be proud of.

 


Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China

Updated 07 July 2025
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Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China

  • Nayab wins Jury Special Award, Deemak Best Editing Award at 2025 event
  • Pakistan’s film industry has seen a creative resurgence in recent years

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani films, Nayab and Deemak, have won major accolades at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival in China, state-run news agency APP reported on Monday. 

The festival showcased 27 films from SCO member states, including China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian countries. Organized to foster regional cinematic exchange, the event featured screenings, industry forums, a film technology expo, and a gala concert, with awards presented in ten categories.

The SCO Film Festival first launched in 2018 and is a cultural initiative of the multilateral bloc to promote cooperation in cinema and the creative industries among member countries. 

“Pakistani film Nayab and Deemak received prestigious ‘Jury Special Award’ and ‘Best Editing Award’ respectively at the colorful concluding ceremony of SCO film festival held at Chongqing, China,” Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Director of Pakistani movie, Nayab, Umair Nasir Ali (center) giving acceptance speech at the SCO Film Festival for the Jury Special award in China, in a picture shared by the director himself on social media on July 7, 2025. (Umair Nasir Ali/Instagram) 

Nayab, released in 2024, is a sports-drama centered on a young woman from Karachi, played by Yumna Zaidi, who aspires to become a professional cricketer despite intense family and societal opposition. The cast includes Fawad Khan, Javed Sheikh, and Adnan Siddiqui.

The film has previously won multiple awards, including Best Foreign Film and Best First-Time Filmmaker (Feature) at the World Film Festival in Cannes, and a Special Jury Diploma at the 30th Minsk International Film Festival.

“The cinema was packed, and what truly moved me was how deeply they engaged with the film,” Nayab’s director Umair Nasir Ali told APP after the film’s screen at the SCO festival. “They picked up on the layers, the emotional arcs and asked thoughtful, relevant questions that showed how closely they had followed the story.”

Deemak is a psychological horror film directed by Rafay Akbar Rashdi and starring Soniya Hussyn, Faysal Quraishi, Samina Peerzada, and Bushra Ansari. 

Screengrab of a reel showing director of Pakistani movie, Deemak, Rafay Akbar Rashdi (second left) receiving the best editing award for his movie Deemak at the SCO Film Festival held in China in a video shared on social media on July 7, 2025. (RafayRashidi/Instagram)

Set in an aging home haunted by unexplained phenomena, the film explores family tensions and mental trauma. It became Pakistan’s highest-grossing horror film when it released earlier this year, earning over Rs60 million [$211,173] in its opening week.

Pakistan’s film industry has seen a steady resurgence in recent years, with a new generation of filmmakers experimenting with genres from sports dramas to horror and social realism. 

Joyland (2022) became the first Pakistani feature to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section, and was later selected as Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars. The country has also received two Academy Award wins in the documentary short category by filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. 

Meanwhile, The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022) set new box office records, becoming Pakistan’s highest-grossing film to date and finding global audiences with its big-budget, Punjabi-language action storytelling.


Lena Mahfouf shows off vintage gown in Paris

Updated 07 July 2025
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Lena Mahfouf shows off vintage gown in Paris

DUBAI: French Algerian author and YouTube star Lena Mahfouf attended Le Bal d’Été at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris on Sunday in a vintage gown by Vivienne Westwood.

Other guests included Chanel ambassadors Keira Knightley, Kirsten Dunst, and Penélope Cruz.

Proceeds from the evening — an estimated $2 million — will go toward supporting the exhibition “1925–2025: One Hundred Years of Art Deco,” which opens on Oct. 22.

French Algerian author and YouTube star Lena Mahfouf attended Le Bal d’Été at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris on Sunday in a vintage gown by Vivienne Westwood. (Getty Images)

Sofia Coppola was the artistic director for this year’s edition of the ball and she told Vogue that she “wanted to keep the theme of a summer ball and bring the garden inside … and I approached it the same way I would a party scene in a movie.”

Legendary French hostess Countess Jacqueline de Ribes, who was captured in an iconic 1980s photograph, served as Coppola’s inspiration, with the director telling Vogue “I love the way hostesses did things then — big dresses, big flowers, color — while still being elegant and refined.

“I loved the idea of pale pink inspired by the Chanel archives — kind of Ginger Rogers — and I always loved Karl’s shirt dresses. I hope it feels personal, like a celebration of Paris and an occasion to dress up surrounded by beauty, art de vivre, and the great work of all the artisans who participated,” she added.

Sofia Coppola was the artistic director for this year’s edition of the ball. (Getty Images)

The event kicks off Paris Haute Couture Week, which this season will see provocative Georgian showman Demna take a final bow after 10 years at Balenciaga. The fashion week, which began on Monday, will also feature a debut for Maison Margiela's new chief creative.

Demna, known for his daring work as well as controversies during his decade-long stint at Kering-owned Balenciaga, will unveil his final collection on Wednesday in what is expected to be one of the highlights of the week.

Not to be confused with Paris Fashion Week, Haute Couture Week takes place exclusively in Paris - in January for spring-summer collections and July for autumn-winter.

It is a uniquely French event dedicated to handcrafted, one-of-a-kind creations made to wear at red carpets, galas, and other high-profile events.

As usual, Schiaparelli opened Couture Week, followed later in the day by shows from Iris Van Herpen as well as Lebanon’s Georges Hobeika, among other labels.