BEST OF 2021 (TELEVISION)
The 18 Shows That Made My Year
The 18 Shows That Made My Year
I’ve given up on trying to keep up with all the shows I’d like to see and have leaned in to the concept of watching what I want when I want it. Mindblowing, I know. As I’ve struggled to keep up with the myriad series I want to check out, other shows that I have actually started and enjoyed have been tossed aside, temporarily forgotten by the shiny new show that’s struck my fancy. I’ve even started keeping a legit list of those series that I want to catch up with/finish in 2022. Prioritizing series in general is the new normal in the streaming age. It has to be. You can’t watch it all, so you might as well love what you do watch.
Which brings us to the reason we’re here. Below are the television series that floated my boat in 2021. They are profound, thrilling, hilarious, romantic, inspiring, and all around awesome. I hope your faves made it. If that’s not the case, then I hope you find a new favorite among mine.
18) Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy (CNN)
Sumptuous travelogue that dives into the country, crafting a humanistic portrait while also making you long for an in-person visit. Tucci is the perfect guide, feeding you knowledge while treating you like a friend. A delectable treat for all.
17) The Gloaming (Starz)
Brooding, spooky Australian murder mystery that bobs and weaves as it pulls you along its dark and winding trail. Emma Booth and Ewan Leslie electrify as detectives with history drawn back to a cold case when a fresh murder echoes one from the past. Also features stellar turns from Aaron Pederson, Rena Owen, and Martin Henderson.
16) Breeders (FX)
Building on its strong first season, the dark comedy jumps ahead a few years so the kids are now approaching teendom while Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard expertly navigate the minefield that comes from juggling parenthood with doing what’s best for the family, the marriage, and yourself. Messy. Hilarious. Heartbreaking.
15) WandaVision (Disney+)
Grief viewed through a Marvel lens shows there is more to the venerable superhero studio than superficiality. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany are a powerhouse pairing, showing the range both actors are known for yet never get to display as Wanda Maximoff and Vision until now. The use of sitcom tropes through each episode is genius.
14) Midnight Mass (Netflix)
An apocalyptic tone poem writ large with Catholicism, humanism, and vampirism coalescing into one of Mike Flanagan’s most personal projects. Island living never seemed more claustrophobic as an isolated community becomes an incubator for guilt, intolerance, loathing, and bigotry. Did I mention the vampires? There are also vampires. This is horror that sinks its teeth in. (Yeah, I went there.)
13) Loki (Disney+)
The god of mischief took an introspective look at himself and the result is a reflective, delightful trip that continues Loki’s odyssey of becoming a more fully realized individual. Messing with time allows for a Doctor Who meets Marvel vibe that the show leans into beautifully. Tom Hiddleston revels in unraveling Loki as he rebuilds him — all while retaining his trademark wit and impish sense of humor.
12) PEN15 (Hulu)
No show in recent memory has tackled the emotional turmoil of two middle schoolers with such searing insight and a specific sense of humor. The final episodes deliver — one focusing on Maya’s mom, Yuki, is a particular standout. An undercurrent of poignancy runs throughout the final batch, but the love Maya and Anna have for each other always dominates. Their goofy, endearing personalities belie a resilience that speaks loud and clear.
11) Pose (FX)
Family has always been at the forefront of this series and in its final season, the drama doubles down on what that means. The emotional highs and lows come in waves; not crashing so much as embracing. Everything culminating in an dénouement that’s affecting and inspiring. It’s the perfect coda for a show that always aimed to aspire.
10) Evil (Paramount+)
S is for Superb. Down, down, down into the abyss we follow our intrepid investigators as their morality fights for survival against an onslaught of attacks by that dastardly deceptive foe. (You know who I’m talking about. No? Best get watching.) Terrifying without losing its dark sense of humor or its faith in humanity. The best horror on television with the best Scooby Gang since Buffy.
9) Mr. Inbetween (FX)
The deceptively simple story of a gun for hire who’s also a father, a brother, and a son packs an emotional punch. Created, written by, and starring Scott Ryan, the series tells its tale by weaving the familiarity of the mundane with a shock of violence, a smear of red against the gray. What ties it all together is the nuance, humor, and sensitivity of the script and a bravura turn from Ryan.
8) It’s a Sin (HBO Max)
Living it up in your twenties with your friends. There’s nothing better in the world. You’re high on life (and possibly something else). Maybe you’re in love. Probably having sex. Nothing can stop you. Until something tragically does. Russell T. Davies’ euphoric, devastating look at the AIDS crisis in 1980s England through the eyes of a group twentysomethings is not to be missed.
7) What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Our beloved Staten Island vampires have a tumultuous time thanks to a bevy of changes in their lives, including an identity crisis that has far-reaching implications. Never a show to rest on its laurels, this season is a reminder that complacency is the true death. The joy of this series remains intact. And a doozy of a cliffhanger ensures we’ll be waiting for the return of our fanged friends (and, yes, fine, Guillermo) with great anticipation.
6) Hacks (HBO)
Standup is not for the faint of heart. A lesson driven home in this razor sharp series about a legendary female comedian, played by the iconic Jean Smart, who gets a rude awakening when she begrudgingly takes an intrepid young female writer under her jaded wing. The prickly relationship between the pair drives this wickedly funny comedy to terrific effect. Come for them, stay for the supporting cast, especially Carl Clemons-Hopkins as Smart’s manager.
5) Insecure (HBO)
The main takeaway from these final episodes is that Issa and Molly live happily ever. Growth and success come in different forms, moving the best friends forward in ways they didn’t always expect. Laugh out funny one moment, poignant the next; the show never disappoints. One of the best comedies of the last decade. Who’s got the wine?
4) Dickinson (Apple TV+)
This is the crown jewel of the nascent streamer’s offerings. A brilliantly rendered portrait of Emily Dickinson that’s fresh, irreverent, and genuine. Writer-creator Alena Smith blows up the concept of a mannered period piece in favor of a full-bodied examination that respects the poet by not treating her as a fragile doll, but as a bird ready to take flight.
3) Bo Burnham: Inside (Netflix)
Comedy, introspection, and creativity converge in this wonderfully original piece that Burnham conceived, wrote, and filmed during lockdown. More than a stand-up special, this is the ultimate therapy session as he reveals pieces of himself while making fun of white women’s Instagram accounts and recounting what Facetiming his mom is like. This isn’t an ego trip. This is one man stripped bare during a dark period that’s inherently relatable.
2) We Are Lady Parts (Peacock)
Irrepressible. That word best defines the women of this outstanding British comedy, which has them joining forces as a Muslim punk rock band. Empowered. That word best describes how you’ll feel after watching the first series of this smart, progressive, winsome comedy. Other words may apply, but those are the main ones.
1) Reservation Dogs (FX)
Life on a reservation seems to be akin to living in a small town. Everyone knows you, or at least they seem to know your parents, and the dream of leaving it all behind for greener pastures in a city like New York or L.A. fuels at least one teen’s aspirations. The place is also filled with residents who range from those struggling to make ends meet to those happy with their life to those who march to their own beat. Finding where you belong can be hard when you’re a teenager fighting to get away from the place that keeps calling you back. Thank God your friends are in the same boat as you.
HONORABLE MENTION
All Creatures Great and Small (PBS); Back (Sundance); Batwoman (CW); Chad (TBS); Everything’s Gonna Be Okay (Freeform); Hawkeye (Disney+); Men In Kilts (Starz); Queen of the South (USA); Scenes From a Marriage (HBO); Wynonna Earp (Syfy); and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist/Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas (NBC/Roku Channel).
Joanne Thornborough is pop culture junkie with a particular love for film, TV and the printed word. Find her at @cinelitchick on Twitter.