As 2021 comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the wealth of TV shows and programs that aired. We have looked at the worst TV shows of 2021 and now it’s time to look at the best. So without further delay here is the Top 10 Best TV Shows of 2021
10) War of The Worlds – BBC/Epix
You’d be forgiven if you missed out on this, there have been so many adaptations over the years that some of them were bound to get overlooked. If you haven’t, you know what a real surprise it has been and what emotions it managed to provoke over its two-season run. Starring Gabriel Byrne and Daisy Ridley-Jones, this scifi dystopian story follows survivors as they fight for their place in the world amidst a global invasion. However, not all is as it seems in this major twist from the original story that provides it with a little extra center of emotion, depth, and gravity. The show’s story seemingly wrapped everything up in a satisfactory season 2 finale, but Epix & BBC went ahead with a 3rd season renewal. Given the major events that transpired in the second season finale, it’s anyone’s guess as to what might happen next.
9) Framing Britney Spears – FX/FX on Hulu
Most of us had a hand in this, I believe. I am more than willing to accept my part and offer apologies to Spears. This documentary, aired on FX, laid out the biased treatment of Britney Spears from the moment she broke free of the “good girl, Mickey Mouse club” shell and into her own definition of being a real woman. She was treated horrendously by the media, the people, and everyone in between. The blatant sexism regarding her and Justin Timberlake was abhorrent, to say the least. We were obsessed with her downfall and willing to do anything to ensure it happened. As Spears has now been freed of her conservatorship (#FreeBritney), it’s time to continue this reckoning and work ever more diligently to keep it from happening to any woman in the spotlight ever again.
8) Dopesick – Hulu
Reality can be a bit of a letdown at times, and even more so, incredibly depressing. This Hulu miniseries told the origin story and repercussions of the development, distribution, and criminal behavior surrounding Oxycontin and its creators the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma. A stellar cast and performances led by Micheal Keaton, Rosario Dawson, Will Poulter, Kaitlyn Dever, Peter Sarsgaard, and Michael Stuhlbarg, gave this show a prominent inclusion on my list. As someone who lived in a town ravaged by the opioid epidemic, it was heartening to see a media company take note of the severity and tragedy, and then display it with as much accuracy as they could manage. Though the end doesn’t provide the storybook ending a casual viewer might hope for, it does deliver a resounding impact on the reality of what criminal intentions lie behind the decisions of pharmaceutical companies and what they’re willing to do to keep from being held accountable for their actions.
7) Hacks – HBOMAX
Jean Smart delivers a career performance on this HBOMAX comedy series. It follows the story of a comedian reaching that certain age when Hollywood and the big wigs determine she is no longer visibly viable and what she has to do to keep herself from being pushed out of the limelight. She hires a young writer, played to perfection by Hannah Einbinder, to help her in this endeavor. The often-hilarious relationship that develops between the two ranges from constant headbutting to a delicate, loving sentiment that strikes deep in the heart of all viewers. The show does, in part, feel like some sort of homage to the late Joan Rivers as it mimics many pitfalls that plagued the iconic comedian throughout her life. Though it also does become clear that many female comedians were used as inspirations for this character as Smart effortlessly, persuasively, and impactfully walks us through the life of what it means to be an older woman in the entertainment industry. HBOMAX renewed the show for a second season in September, so here’s hoping we can expect more of the same from this impeccable team of creative masterminds.
6) Kevin Can F*** Himself – AMC
Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy has real talent. No one can deny that. While her work on the POP series was mainly comedic, there were moments where she was allowed to showcase a true dramatic aspect and even managed to sink the hearts of viewers with her layered portrayal of Alexis Rose. She was able to bring that nuance to her next project in that of AMC’s Kevin Can F*** Himself, an utterly unique hybrid of TV sitcom and dark dramedy. The show prompted viewers to see what life was really like when the cameras panned away on a sitcom, what life was really like for the typical sitcom trope of the supportive, beautiful, and loving wife of an utter baffoon. The show gave life to breaking free of fantasy in a way that still managed to hook viewers, thanks in part to Murphy’s performance and the supporting cast of Mary Hollis Inboden, Eric Petersen, Alex Bonifer, and Raymond Lee. AMC recently renewed the series for a second and final season set to premiere in 2022.
5) Chucky – USA/Syfy
The Child’s Play film series has been…well, strange and convoluted, to say the least. I wasn’t sure what to expect when it was announced the series was taking the unprecedented step into mainstream television. Not only that, but it was going to do so keeping in line with the story that’s been told across all the films (minus the Mark Hamill reboot) and feature the return of Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky, Jennifer Tilly as herself/Tiffany the doll, and Alex Vincent as Andy Barclay. The show’s premise only further intrigued audiences when it was announced the lead character would be openly gay. Some weren’t sure what to expect and others were sure it was a recipe for disaster. What unfolded, however, was a glorious continuation that was heavily dedicated as a tribute to fans of the series while maintaining the original spark developed by the creator, Don Mancini. USA/Syfy recently renewed the show for a second season so fingers crossed it’ll be just as enthralling, gory, and gloriously campy as the first.
4) Snowpiercer – TNT
This show took quite a while to get off the ground, due to the need of honoring its source and the overall nature. When it finally came to life, viewers were immediately hooked. This dystopian tale starring Daveed Diggs, Alison Wright, Mickey Sumner, Annalise Basso, Lena Hall, Iddo Goldberg, and Rowan Blanchard, with impeccable performances by Jennifer Connelly and Sean Bean, instantly made it a standout in the current primetime TV lineup. While its first season seemed to struggle a bit, its second season hit a resounding high note with the addition of Sean Bean as the primary antagonist. Though scheduling conflicts reduced Connelly’s role to a mere few episodes, her solo endeavor was one for which she’ll be remembered. The pacing and plot of the show are ever-changing and keep viewers at the edge of their seats for the duration of each episode, sometimes enthralling them deeply enough to feel as if they’re actually there. Full of twists, explosive revelations, and heartwrenching deaths, Snowpiercer is a series fans of the SciFi/dystopian genre should never ignore. The series has already finished filming its upcoming third season and was given an extremely early renewal for a fourth. Here’s hoping the continuation of the nail-biting cliffhanger in the season two finale doesn’t disappoint come January 2022.
3) You – Netflix
When this show was renewed for a second season, audiences weren’t sure how the showrunners were going to keep the story going without doing a boring repeat of what happened in the first. The definitely surprised us by the end of the second season, however, and managed to keep doing so by the end of its recently aired third. The show is carried by the dedicated performances of Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti, coming together to display a truly screwed up, yet fascinating, can’t look away dynamic unparalleled by previous performances. The show’s ability to detach from the trope of recycled plots is its second-biggest gift. It keeps viewers guessing and only works to enhance their already burgeoning desire to see what happens next. Fortunately for fans, the show was renewed for a fourth season ahead of its third season premiere, set to air on Netflix sometime in 2022.
2) WandaVision – Disney+
Kevin Feige and co. knew exactly what they were doing with this epic, superhero miniseries. A continuation of events that transpired during Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, this show tells the story of what became of Wanda Maximoff following the fateful battle with the Mad Titan, Thanos. It intrigued viewers due to the return of Paul Bettany as Vision, who had seemingly been killed at the conclusion of Infinity War. It was unique in its unparalleled transition and homages to shows like I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Full House, Growing Pains, Modern Family, and even The Office. Elizabeth Olsen delivers a career-defining performance as Wanda Maximoff, a role she began playing in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Along with Bettany as Vision, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, Kathryn Hahn as Agnes/Agatha Harkness, and returning MCU faves Kat Dennings and Randall Park as Darcy Lewis and James Woo make this show a can’t miss for fans of Marvel and TV in general. It’s one for this history book and with every episode, keep people guessing and hopeful about what comes next for The Scarlet Witch. Though this show has been billed as a miniseries, Wanda Maximoff will return to cinema screens in the upcoming MCU entry, Dr. Strange And The Multiverse of Madness, set for release on May 6th, 2022. Kathryn Hahn’s fan-favorite character will also see a return in a Disney+ original series, House of Harkness, with a yet to be revealed release date. Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau will next be seen with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel and Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel in 2023’s The Marvels.
01) Mare of Easttown – HBO
Kate Winslet has delivered iconic performances across TV and film for decades. This series was no exception to that. This HBO limited series earned its spot as the best show of 2021 due to its intimately engaging plot, its harrowing exploration of real life, and its tale of a woman who is a manifestation of every real-world person who struggles each day to get up, get dressed and keep moving forward despite it seeming like everything is working against them. This show has everything any fan of gripping television could ever want. It strikes a particular nerve in people that envigorates their sense of wonder and forces acceptance of what it truly means to be human. Though Winslet has said she would jump at the chance to return to a character she had a big hand in developing, the show has been billed as a limited series and there are no known plans, as of yet, of what further tales of heartache, endearment, and acceptance lie in wait for this beloved titular character.
