Who were 2024's winners and losers?

It was a year of Bennifer, Moo Deng, Challengers and so much more.

2024 brought with it some truly unforgettable moments in pop culture. Celine Dion returned to the stage, the solar eclipse mesmerized people around the world, and audiences held space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity in Wicked. 

There were some high highs, and there were some clear lows. So, when the dust has finally settled, who will be remembered as a winner, and a loser, of 2024?

Today on Commotion, culture critics Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Niko Stratis and Rad Simonpillai join host Elamin for an energetic look back at the year that was in pop culture.

We've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, listen and follow Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud on your favourite podcast player.

Elamin: We're going to play a game here. I have a hat with a bunch of different names and things from the past year Commotion producers have compiled — but none of us, including me, have any idea what's in here. So, it's going to get random. The idea is to get through these as quickly as I can, and I'm told there's going to be a bell that will keep us moving, which I'm worried about. So I'm going to reach into my festive bag and grab our first topic, which is … Marvel. Rad, is Marvel a winner or a loser of 2024?

Rad: They will always be losers in my mind. 

Elamin: Okay. First of all, wow. We talked about the idea that Marvel may be losing some of its grip on the box office.

Rad: Yeah, and the thing is you might say they're a winner this year because they came out with Deadpool & Wolverine, which conquered the box office and gave them the room to poke fun at themselves, and poke fun at this rough period they're having where their movies are not landing. But then here comes Deadpool & Wolverine making light of all that and winning the fans over, and reinforcing the strength of the Marvel brand, which in my mind is still losing. We're the losers in this relationship, that they're still coming out on top.

Kathleen: Well, I was going to say, it's so interesting because when you said Marvel, I was like, what Marvel thing came out this year? 

Niko: I had the same thought. 

Kathleen: Right? Deadpool & Wolverine didn't even connect to me because X-Men wasn't a part of the MCU for a really long time like always can. And so I didn't even put that together. So yes, Deadpool & Wolverine [bell rings] was a win for this year—

Elamin: We just heard the bell. So we gotta move on. The bell is ruthless.

Kathleen: I think Marvel's a loser. I will agree with that. 

Rad: Oh my God, I didn't see that coming. 

Elamin: I'm going to say Marvel is a winner because they went out and got Robert Downey Jr. back into the universe. And like, while it's loser behavior to go back to the thing that catapulted [bell rings] you to that— Okay, wow. The bell is going again. They're like, "Enough Marvel. Keep going."

Okay, next topic is Shōgun. Kathleen, you want to talk about Shōgun?

Kathleen: Shōgun was my favorite viewing experience of the entire year. I was just locked in on my couch with my husband, just deep, deep into the world of Shōgun. I think that not since Game of Thrones have we maybe been put into a world that just completely transports you like this. And the storytelling was so incredible. The acting was amazing. The twist broke me in half…. But I've loved seeing it get all the awards, love. I've loved seeing people really attached to this risk, because I think that it definitely was a risk because it's not IP that you would think would be this popular.

Elamin: Not at all. This is a show set in 17th century Japan. It is based on a 1935 novel. And then, Rad, it goes on to win 18 Emmys, the most ever for a single season of a television show. That's pretty extraordinary, and I think that teaches us something about where risk should be allocated in the industry. What does that tell you, do you think?

Rad: I think it's amazing that so many people responded to this, especially when, I feel like, the ending of Shōgun is actually fairly challenging. It's not giving audiences what they expect. So for it to endear audiences, for us to all be excited for Season 2, is absolutely a win…. They clearly did something amazing by retelling it in such a majestic, thoughtful way, and rejigging it so that we're getting [bell rings] the right perspectives. And I'm going to expand out—

Elamin: No, you don't have time. 

Rad: Listen, bell!

Elamin: Sorry, again. 

Rad: Who's holding that bell? I'm coming there!

Niko: The bell does not like me personally. 

Elamin: Well, actually, the next topic is going to be to you because I pulled out of the festive bag: Chappell Roan. Niko, a winner or loser of 2024?

Niko: I'm declaring winner because she had such a monumental year, even though a lot of people really tried to tear her down over very reasonable things that she said and did. I think this has been a year where we looked at the infrastructure and economy of being a pop star, and what that means and what is expected of people. She sort of tried to defy all those things, and still be popular and still be in the mainstream and still be in the spotlight. That is a really challenging ordeal in contrast to all the bigger stars we see.

I hope we continue to see more of the things that made her a really interesting pop star in 2025, which is to embrace queerness at a time where being queer in the public eye is being torn down more than ever before. She celebrated it in ways that a lot of other people did not, and I think that is a thing we are going to need more of. And also, someone who is willing to be outspoken.

Elamin: I think two things about Chappell Roan catch my attention. Like yes, Grammy nominations,

Niko: Also banger songs.

Elamin: Absolutely. Every song completely hits. But she's also drawing attention for the boundaries that she's setting, right? The boundaries [bell rings] No! Not the bell again. Okay, I'm moving on.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.

Panel produced by Jean Kim.