As we wind down 2021 and look to the promise that 2022 brings, let’s take a look back at the best tv shows of 2021.
The streaming landscape was dominated by Hailee Steinfeld as the lead in three shows on three separate streaming services (Apple TV+, Disney Plus and Netflix). Several series on long hiatuses (The Witcher and Succession) returned better than their previous seasons. Finally, the MCU made a major splash on Disney Plus with four outstanding series.
Before diving into the top ten list, one element that stands out is how absolutely stacked November and December were this year. Out of the 10 shows on this list, half of them debuted or ended in November or December to send 2021 out on a brighter note.
Without further ado, here are the top 10 best tv shows of 2021.
Like a snake in the grass, one show debuted on New Year’s Eve and has forced me to reshuffle this list a bit.
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Honorable Mention
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist | Season 2
The 2nd season of NBC’s now-canceled musical drama series didn’t pack quite the emotional gut-punch of the 1st season. However, the character development for Zoey over the course of the season was fantastic. Her dynamic with Max and the role reversal in the season finale teased an exciting 3rd season that didn’t come to fruition.
The reason the 2nd season makes this list is for the best episode of television in 2021. Zoe’s Extraordinary Reckoning is a phenomenal episode of television that tackles the issue of systemic racism in the tech world head-on. From the musical numbers to the jaw-dropping monologue to Zoey, John Clarence Stewart delivers a breathtaking performance as Simon.
10 Best TV Shows of 2021
No. 10: The Witcher | Season 2
The 2nd season of The Witcher is a colossal improvement over the promising but overstuffed 1st season.
Creator Lauren Schmidt made the wise decision to reduce the number of storylines in season 2. Henry Cavill is more comfortable in season 2 as Geralt of Rivia. The father-daughter dynamic between Geralt and Ciri played by Freya Allen is the show’s beating heart.
The season finale sets the stage for what should be an even better season 3.
No. 9: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier | Season 1
The 2nd MCU series to debut on Disney Plus soars on the chemistry between Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson and Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier‘s exploration into what it means for a black man to carry Captain America’s shield is powerful.
Excellent supporting cast performances by Daniel Brühl, Don Cheadle and Wyatt Russell help flesh out the world. However, it’s the performance by veteran character actor Carl Lumbly as a former super-soldier who was experimented on by the United States that steals the show. He was every bit the hero that Steve Rogers was, but instead of honor he was all but erased from history.
Poorly handled villains and a finale that doesn’t quite stick the landing set up by an excellent penultimate episode drags the series down a bit. However, the stellar fight choreography and the chemistry between the leads makes The Falcon and The Winter Solider an easy addition to the list.
No. 8: Cobra Kai | Season 4
Like a Cobra, the 4th season of Cobra Kai struck hard with precision on New Year’s Eve. The new season of Cobra Kai is easily the strongest of the series so far.
The partnership between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso at the end of the 3rd season forces John Kreese to team up as well. In the 4th season, he turns to Terry Silver, the former Cobra Kai sensei from Karate Kid III who terrorizes Daniel. Thomas Ian Griffith is sensational as Silver. Not nearly as coked out of his mind, you’re never quite sure what his game is throughout the season.
The partnership between LaRusso and Lawrence is rocky at best throughout the season. Miguel bonding with LaRusso and Sam learning from Johnny are highlights of the season. The season concludes with a fantastic karate tournament with the right winners going over in the finals.
The karate and growing relationships are highlighted for sure. However, the strongest element of the show is the theme that started the Karate Kid franchise, to begin with: bullying. The storyline between Kenny Payne and Robbie is phenomenal from start to finish. Tanner Buchanan really comes into his own this season as Robbie.
No. 7: Ted Lasso | Season 2
Ted Lasso was the No. 2 show of last year. You may think that season 2 fell off a bit. That’s simply not the case. 2021 just featured several shows returning and debuting that were just slightly better.
As good as Jason Sudeikis was last season, he may be even better this season. The therapy sessions with Dr. Fieldstone allow us to understand the dark side of the kind-hearted coach’s approach. One of the best subplots of the season is the turn to the dark side of Nate late in the season. Nate’s emotional diatribe toward Ted near the end of the season is hard to watch and brilliant storytelling
The heart that makes this show so unique is still there. I dare you not to shed a tear when Roy Kent hugs Jamie Tartt or Rebecca shows up on Ted’s doorstep at Christmas so he won’t be alone.
No. 6: Succession | Season 3
In a show as dark and destructive as Succession, it says something when the 3rd season is the darkest yet. There are brief glimpses of light, but they’re quickly snuffed out. After all of the squabbling between these siblings, they eventually find some common ground. However, even their united front can’t pierce their father’s scheme at the season’s end.
This show about terrible people who do and say awful things to each other somehow just gets more intoxicating season after season. There simply isn’t another series on television with better dialogue than Succession. The first couple of episodes of the season are a bit shaky, but once the season hits episode four it’s smooth sailing from there.
No. 5: Loki | Season 1
What starts as a fun opportunity to see Loki, The God of Mischief traveling and solving a crime in alternate timelines turns into a wonderful exploration of narcissism itself.
The chemistry between Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson carries the series throughout. Sophie Di Martino‘s performance as Sylvie, an alternate version of Loki beginning in full with the 3rd episode provides the series with a strong redemption arc for Loki. The 3rd episode is essentially a bottle episode that allows Martino and Hiddleston ample room to squabble with one another.
Add in a fun scene-chewing performance by Jonathan Majors and a heart-breaking decision by Sylvie in the season finale and you have one of the most satisfying shows of the year. The only knock against the series is a lot of the mysteries about the TVA are still unsolved at the end of the season.
No. 4: Dickinson | Season 3
Technically, seasons 2 and three both took place in 2021. Both are fantastic seasons. I decided to choose only one season for this list, but both seasons are nearly identical in quality.
Hailee Steinfeld‘s performance as Emily Dickinson was strong, to begin with, but only grew as the series goes along. The scenes between her and Sue Gilbert played by Ella Hunt are outstanding throughout the 3rd and final season. Their fights have nasty barbs that only someone who truly knows you from the inside out can hurl at you. Their intimate moments have a sweet quality that balances out the most dramatic out of all of the seasons of Dickinson.
The series has always toed the line between comedy and drama. The final season is the most dramatic. Austin’s fall and rise provide some needed antagonistic energy to the series. The focus of the civil war and the death that ensues helps illustrate some of Emily’s darkest poems.
The highlight of the season is Emily and her sister Lavinia’s trip to the 1960s. Turns out the future’s not exactly what Emily thought it would be.
No. 3: WandaVision | Season 1
Using Wanda’s magical sitcom bubble is a clever device used to explore the process of grief. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany are sensational in the series. The love between Wanda and Vision makes the ending of the season quite profound.
Kathryn Hahn is delightfully wicked as the more than she appears Agnes. Teyonah Parris also shines as Monica Rambeau, a character that will have a role to play in the MCU. The grief Monica feels is an interesting connection between her and Wanda.
The final episode is a bit of a letdown and one of the weaker episodes overall. However, the way the series finds not only the sadness of grief, but a weird sort of beauty is a lovely, unforgettable sentiment.
No. 2: Hawkeye | Season 1
Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop is pitch-perfect casting in Disney Plus’s most consistent MCU series. Hawkeye is the most grounded of any of the MCU shows. Setting the series in New York City and giving the series a countdown towards Christmas provides this story a sense of immediacy lacking in some of the other shows.
Kate’s dynamic with her mentor, an understandably grumpy Clint Baton is perfect. Kate’s mistake forces Clint to help her. At first, he sees her as a spoiled rich kid who wants to play a superhero, which she kind of is, but Steinfeld makes Kate endearing from the first scene of the show.
However, the skill she shows beginning in episode three leads to begrudging respect for her skill, genuine worry and eventually willing partner.
The series also serves as an even more fitting send-off for Natasha Romanoff than the Black Widow film accomplished. Throughout the season, the pain of losing Natasha surrounds Clint like a dark cloud.
A late in the season inclusion of Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova also connects to the end of Black Widow. She’s on a mission to take out Clint, but an impromptu girls’ night with Kate changes Kate’s course when Kate is at her lowest. The chemistry between Pugh and Steinfeld is ridiculous.
The icing on the cake for Hawkeye as the best MCU series is that it’s the only series to stick the landing in the finale.
No. 1: Arcane | Season 1
Out of all of the best tv shows in 2021 only one can stand at the top: Arcane. This animated show is the first since Game of Thrones to combine deeply personal character moments with effective world-building. This series choked me up at least once an episode. The writing in this series is better than any live-action drama this year.
Based on the League of Legends video game franchise, the series wisely focuses on the relationship between two sisters. The show’s universe opens up through their eye. The series does an excellent job of showing the well-off citizens of Piltover and poor citizens in the undercity called Zaun.
Hailee Steinfeld takes on the lead voice. Vi is a big departure from Kate Bishop and Emily Dickinson. Shaped by tragic events, she is overzealous about starting a war with Piltover’s security force. Her anger is only quelled by the love she has for her sister. Jinx as voiced by Ella Purnell is a wonderfully insane character that’s a mix of Haley Quinn and Joker in one package.
The series sets a new standard for animation in a few different ways. The visuals, camera works and action set new standards for animation. The episode length is another break from tradition. Each episode is around 40 minutes in length which really allows all of the storylines to land.
Best TV Shows of 2021 Wrap Up
There you have it the best tv shows of 2021. What are some of your favorites from this past year?
