My Favorite TV Shows of 2021
Television was strong in 2021. Very strong, actually. It’s always hard to narrow down my favorites, but that’s what I’ve done here. Below are my favorites shows of the year:
12. All Things Great and Small (PBS) This little show came out at the start of the year, and was the kindest thing I’ve seen since season 1 of Ted Lasso. It’s about a vet figuring out his way in a small town, but it’s really about community and love and goodness.
11. Last Chance U: Basketball (Netflix) Each season of this docuseries has impressed me, but this one—the first to look at basketball—is my favorite. Watching young people who’ve had difficult lives fight for their dreams is some of the most moving stories we can uncover, and this one is no different.
10. Mare of Easttown (HBO) A whodunit that is as much about the town as it is the murder. The shocking episode, which I won’t spoil here, provided one of the most memorable TV moments of the year for me. Also, Kate Winslet was very good in this show.
9. High on the Hog (Netflix) I watch a lot of food TV, and this docuseries about African-American cuisine is must-watch stuff. In addition to the food, the episodes are packed with emotion and history.
8. The Chair (Netflix) I laughed. I was furious. I saw myself. This show about an English department having some serious troubles is too short, but it’s so very good.
7. Evil (Paramount Plus) This show only got better in its sophomore season. It took more risks, and it plunged into much darker territory. The cast really shined in what is undoubtedly one of the year’s best ensembles. I can’t wait for season 3.
6. Ted Lasso (Apple TV) Yeah, the second season wasn’t as good as the first one, but it was still pretty great. I feel joy watching Ted, Roy, Beard, Keeley, Sharon, and the gang, and joy is hard to come by these days. This show, of all current series, is the one that’s probably closest to my heart.
5. Reservation Dogs (Hulu) Propelled by a fantastic scripts, this show, which looks at the lives of Indigenous youths in rural Oklahoma, is one of the most exciting debut series of the year. No show made me laugh out loud more… But it’s also not afraid to go dark, especially when dealing with suicide. Brilliant work.
4. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) Speaking of laughing out loud, that’s basically all I did while watching this show. Essentially, it follows three very odd, true-crime-obsessed podcasters who become linked together after a murder in their fancy apartment. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are all very good, as is the whole supporting cast. This show is all about the need for community, and it really hits its mark well in capturing this.
3. Midnight Mass (Netflix) Mike Flanagan is my favorite television creator, so this show’s appearance here is no surprise. In his latest horror offering, he looks at grief (again) and just how vicious and cruel it can be. The best scene of the year occurs in this series, and it involves a talk about what happens after we die. A masterwork that continues to be unpacked by me.
2. The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime) Barry Jenkins knocked it out of the park in his adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s novel. The subtle use of magical realism works really well here, and the whole show is filmed beautifully. It’s hard to watch often, but the story being told is one we should all see. Haunting. Moving. Heartbreaking.
1. Dickinson (Apple TV) A comedy—yes, a comedy—about Emily Dickinson is the best show of 2021. There is twerking and hip-hop and contemporary slang and all kinds of anachronistic elements, and it’s honestly a work of genius. The team behind the show seems set on exploring sex and class, but that’s certainly not all. This show is packed with wonderful content, and the weird guest stars make it even better. And it delivers in its finale. It really, really delivers. This year has been weird, and the weird weirdness of Dickinson just feels right.
And other comments:
Outstanding Directing: Barry Jenkins for The Underground Railroad
Outstanding Writing: Reservation Dogs
Acting Ensemble: Only Murders in the Building
Lead Actress: Hailee Steinfeld (for Dickinson)
Lead Actor: Hamish Linklater (for Midnight Mass)
Supporting Actress: Holland Taylor (for The Chair)
Supporting Actor: Martin Short (for Only Murders in the Building)