Not everyone can be a winner. In fact, there are far more terrible shows aired on TV and streaming than there are successful ones. Sometimes it takes a truly terrible show for us to appreciate the good ones we have. And to not take them for granted. So with 2021 coming to a close, let’s take a look at the 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021.
10) Cowboy Bebop – Netflix
This series was definitely one of the most looked-forward-to titles of 2021. The original series has left a lasting impact on fans around the world and for good reason. While the new show did maintain a lot of the strong elements presented in the original series – and enhanced others – it fell short when it came to the fan’s ultimate expectations as it pertained to the loyalty of the source material and being too garish to keep fans wanting for more. It’s yet to be known whether Netflix will offer another round, so until then…see you next time, Space Cowboy.
09) Fear The Walking Dead – AMC
This series, let’s be honest, has been on the downhill slide since season 4 unceremoniously killed off series’ lead Madison Clark, played by Kim Dickens. The seasons that followed her abrupt and unwanted exit haven’t exactly been the stuff of legend and clearly worlds apart from the praise received by the original series. The decision to put the focus on Morgan Jones has only been a continuing detriment to the show, with his storylines becoming less and less believable as the show goes on. If the showrunners have any sense of self-respect – or respect for the material – they’ll close the last chapter of this story before it can possibly get any worse. On to the next entry in the 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021.
08) American Crime Story: Impeachment – FX
While this show had its merits, it did seem like an ill-timed piece to capitalize on the raging tempest of American politics. Sure, who doesn’t want to take a trip down memory lane when things were only slightly less bad? The series put the focus on the three two women who were most affected by the Clinton impeachment scandal: Monica Lewinksy and Linda Tripp. While the series did effectively portray Lewinsky and Tripp as victims of circumstance, having been ridiculed and bullied by the media and American government while Clinton majorly got off scot-free, it failed in the attempt to sway viewers that Tripp was anything less than a woman out for revenge. Its biggest issue was its fear of what might be its biggest issue: Hillary Clinton. While Edie Falco did have some truly meaningful, eye-opening performances, the series choosing to ignore her for most of the show did almost nothing to squash the conspiracy-laden idea that she was somehow equally at fault for her husband’s misdeeds.
07) American Horror Story: Double Feature – FX
A very obvious addition to the 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021, it’s hard to ignore the overall shared sentiment by the fans that this show hasn’t been great since season 2 and hasn’t even been good since season 4. The anthology’s latest entry initially was able to enthrall viewers with what looked to be a return to form. However, by the end of the season, viewers were left with unanswered questions, confusion surrounding the already complex canon, and a season split into two stories, neither of which met their end with a single iota of satisfaction. It’s almost as if it’s a bad idea to cram two stories that may or may not be connected into what’s basically already a miniseries. Huh.
06) Sex/Life – Netflix
This one may be an obvious choice on a 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021 and whew, well…I think we all know of this show by now even if you didn’t watch it, due to that particular scene that went viral due to a notorious shower scene. Was this show about anything? I mean anything besides sex? To distinguish oneself from being an outright exercise of soft-core porn, at least some sort of meaningful story must be laced somewhere behind those steamy shower scenes and tales of the typical bored housewife. This show was clearly presented as shock value to viewers, hoping its notoriety would become its biggest draw – it definitely wasn’t going to be the writing, that’s for sure. Apparently, it worked because the show is coming back for another season to give those Fifty Shades of Gray fiends another fix of blah, blah, blah, sex.
05) Jupiter’s Legacy – Netflix
I wanted to like this show, I really did, I did not want it to be an addition to the 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021 and for a good chunk of it, I did have a pretty good time. But that’s the problem. The story routinely diverged its story between past and present, with the past often presenting the audience with important details relating to the far more interesting present. However, its flashbacks were majorly a miss as they dragged on while contributing very little to the overall story. It seems clear that Netflix wanted to bring their viewers their own version of what The Boys has given to Amazon Prime, but took one too many sharp turns to avoid what makes that show so effortlessly amazing. Thankfully, Netflix had sense enough to cancel this series after one season.
04) Fate: The Winx Saga – Netflix
Netflix had a so-so year with its original programming. They managed to nail 4 spots on this top ten with quite a lot of competition. When it comes to this show, where do we start? It’s basically a masterclass in camp with a terrible, lazy script and visuals pulled from Disney’s early 2000s. The show is just as forgettable as so many before it, I forgive anyone who has yet to realize it’s been renewed for a second season. While that means Netflix might work to address the issues that plagued the first season, it’s far more likely going to backfire and ensure a new type of mess they’ll do their best to ignore.
03) Call Me Kat – FOX
How did this show even make it to the pilot stage? Given the recent traumatic events of the COVID19 pandemic, viewers had very little to keep their minds distracted and their hopes held high. However, there were some bright spots. Especially in that of TV icon, Leslie Jordan and his hilarious video updates/check-ins via Instagram. The showrunners behind Call Me Kat clearly were looking to capitalize on that and the popularity of Mayim Bialik following the final season of The Big Bang Theory. It couldn’t even manage to do that properly. It featured poorly-written jokes that continuously fell flat, shallow characters, and a cast that was clearly trying way too hard to make a terrible premise look good. Somehow the show managed to snag a second season, who knows if the schtick of the first will leave a lasting stench for whatever comes next.
02) American Horror Stories – FX on Hulu
Who had the idea to take an anthology miniseries that couldn’t split two stories into a single season and then try to split 6-7 in an apparent knockoff of the Twilight Zone? I really can’t keep track of how many storylines there were. Audiences were told the episodes would be self-contained yet they featured multiple stories with recurring characters, nonsensical plots, and the typical eye-rolling camp we’ve come to expect from a Ryan Murphy production. This series also managed to snag a season 2 order, so good luck with that, viewers.
01) La Brea – NBC
and the winner of the top worst show for our list of the 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021. This was a close race for first. To be the worst of the worst is no honor and that’s okay for this show because it has none. Nor does it have any redeemable qualities. The series’ initial premise was intriguing enough, giving off vibes of Lost and something out of a Jules Verne novel. Upon watching the pilot, however, these notions and my intrigue quickly vanished. The visuals looked like something out of a cheesy Syfy movie and the writing/acting was matched perfectly for the overall (lack of) quality in both. This show also received a second season order, but the question remains whether audiences will put up with another round of the same old, same old, or switch the TV off as so many did during the pilot.
So there you have it! The 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021, did you agree with the list? are there any we missed? sound off in the comments with any shows you should be included in part two of the 10 Worst TV Shows of 2021.
