Below is our updated running tally of the TV shows most frequently mentioned by individual critics in their year-end Top Ten lists. Note that if a critic ranks more than the standard 10 shows, we will not include titles ranked 11th or worse. (We do include unranked lists of 11-20 titles, though each title gets just one-half of a point.) In case of a tie for first or second, each show will receive the full points for that position.
https://www.metacritic.com/feature/tv-critics-pick-10-best-tv-shows-of-2021
Updated: 2022-01-14
Movies + Shows
New shows and seasons in 2021. Only includes seasons with announced air dates. Ranked by show's IMDb rating.
Last Updated: June 4, 2024
January:
February:
March:
April:
May:
June:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-tv-shows-of-2021/
Episodes Watched:
Show (Season) - Episodes Watched/Total
Completed The Season
Took A Break And Belatedly Finished It
January
Arcane (1) - 9/9
Nathan For You (1) - 8/8
The West Wing (1) - 22/22
Nathan For You (2) - 8/8
Ash vs. Evil Dead (1) - 1/10
Shadow and Bone (1) - 8/8
Nathan For You (3) - 8/8
Nine Perfect Strangers (1) - 8/8
Nathan For You (4) - 7/7
Alrawabi School for Girls (1) - 1/6
American Crime Story (2) - 9/9
Emily in Paris (1) - 10/10
Emily in Paris (2) - 10/10
Maid (1) - 10/10
True Detective (3) - 8/8
Mindhunter (1) - 1/10
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1) - 12/12
Cheer (2) - 9/9
Succession (1) - 10/10
Succession (2) - 10/10
The Book of Boba Fett (1) - 4/7
Succession (3) - 10/10
Archive 81 (1) - 8/8
Mad Men (7) - 14/14
Hannibal (3) - 13/13
What We Do In The Shadows (1) - 10/10
Peacemaker (1) - 1/8
February
Silicon Valley (1) - 8/8
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2) - 20/22
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (5) - 4/20
Boardwalk Empire (1) - 1/12
Kitz (1) - 2/6
Euphoria (1) - 8/8
Euphoria: Specials - 2/2
Chernobyl (1) - 5/5
Raised by Wolves (1) - 6/10
Godless (1) - 2/7
The Circle (3) - 13/13
Stranger Things (3) - 8/8
Invincible (1) - 8/8
Veep (7) - 7/7
Trailer Park Boys (1) - 6/6
Trailer Park Boys (2) - 7/7
Euphoria (2) - 8/8
Killing Eve (4) - 1/8
March
Dickinson (1) - 10/10
Sex & The City (1) - 12/12
Servant (1) - 10/10
The Afterparty (1) - 8/8
Pieces of Her (1) - 2/8
The Boys: Diabolical (1) - 8/8
Our Flag Means Death - 2/10
Sex and the City (2) - 18/18
Pam & Tommy (1) - 8/8
Servant (2) - 2/10
Sex and the City (3) - 18/18
See (1) - 2/8
The Gilded Age (1) - 9/9
April
Severance (1) - 9/9
Pachinko (1) - 1/8
Elitè (5) - 3/8
Moon Knight (1) - 3/6
Rupaul's Drag Race (14) - 16/16
Abbott Elementary (1) - 13/13
The Baby (1) - 1/6
We Own This City (1) - 1/6
That 70's Show (1) - 25/25
Tokyo Vice (1) - 8/8
May
Schmigadoon! (1) - 6/6
The Americans (1) - 13/13
How To With John Wilson (2) - 6/6
The Americans (2) - 3/13
How To With John Wilson (1) - 6/6
Demon Slayer (1) - 3/22
Over The Garden Wall (1) - 10/10
Six Feet Under (1) - 13/13
Barry (1) - 8/8
Barry (2) - 4/8
The Other Two (1) - 3/10
The Righteous Gemstones (2) - 1/10
Detroiters (1) - 1/10
Only Murders in the Building (1) - 10/10
30 Rock (6) - 22/22
Six Feet Under (2) - 13/13
30 Rock (7) - 13/13
Sex & The City (4) - 18/18
The Time Traveler's Wife - 1/8
Sex & The City (5) - 8/8
Now & Then (1) - 1/8
The White Lotus (1) - 6/6
SPY x FAMILY (1) - 3/25
Sex & The City (6) - 15/20
True Detective (2) - 8/8
Prehistoric Planet - 1/5
Obi Wan Kenobi (1) - 1/6
Six Feet Under (3) - 13/13
June
Ted Lasso (1) - 10/10
The Essex Serpent - 4/6
Shining Girls (1) - 8/8
Under the Banner of Heaven (1) - 7/7
The Staircase (1) - 8/8
Squid Game (1) - 9/9
Yellowjackets (1) - 6/10
Irma Vep - 2/8
Ozark (1) - 10/10
Dopesick (1) - 8/8
The Dropout (1) - 8/8
Ozark (2) - 8/10
Joe Pera Talks With You (1) - 2/9
Documentary Now (1) - 7/7
Documentary Now (3) - 7/7
Station Eleven (1) - 10/10
The Bear (1) - 8/8
Documentary Now (2) - 7/7
Black Mirror (1) - 3/3
Black Mirror (2) - 3/3
Community (5) - 13/13
July
Community (6) - 13/13
Stranger Things (4) - 9/9
The Sopranos (6) - 21/21
The Man Who Fell To Earth (1) - 1/10
The Boys (3) - 8/8
Inside Job (1) - 6/10
What We Do In The Shadows (2) - 10/10
Hacks (1) - 10/10
Hacks (2) - 8/8
For All Mankind (1) - 10/10
The Wire (1) - 7/13
What We Do In The Shadows (3) - 5/10
Rap Sh!t (1) - 1/10
For All Mankind (2) - 10/10
Vanderpump Rules (9) - 17/17
Players (1) - 10/10
Rupaul's Drag Race All Stars (7) - 12/12
Paper Girls (1) - 1/10
August
Black Bird (1) - 6/6
The Sandman (1) - 1/11
The Morning Show (1) - 10/10
The Morning Show (2) - 10/10
Reservation Dogs (1) - 8/8
For All Mankind (3) - 10/10
Slow Horses (1) - 2/8
Locke & Key (3) - 8/8
Acapulco (1) - 10/10
The Rehearsal (1) - 6/6
Rupaul's Drag Race UK (3) - 10/10
Only Murders in the Building (2) - 10/10
Westworld (4) - 8/8
Mythic Quest (1) - 11/11
Physical (1) - 10/10
Patriot (1) - 3/10
Mythic Quest (2) - 6/9
September
Mr. Robot (1) - 6/10
The Rings of Power (1) - 3/10
The Patient (1) - 4/10
Central Park (1) - 10/10
Reboot (1) - 3/8
Welcome to Wrexham (1) - 6/10
Reservation Dogs (2) - 10/10
Central Park (2) - 16/16
OCTOBER
Party Down (1) - 10/10
The Midnight Club (1) - 10/10
Bad Sisters (1) - 10/10
House of the Dragon (1) - 10/10
Pantheon (1) - 8/8
Abbott Elementary (2) - 4/22
Andor (1) - 12/12
Rupaul's Drag Race UK (4) - /10
Interview with the Vampire (1) - 8/8
Trying (1) - /10
<- last updated 10/26
<- last checked missing 9/22/22
Ranking the narrative TV shows with finales in 2021
I liked everything but I organized them loosely by what I loved most.
Parameters: Season Finale had to have aired in 2021
PDF VERSION:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fNF_zgWK0qp6S_S3MyZjMgptyusiLtAXmjh4UPkHWpI/edit?usp=sharing
Shows and mini-series completed in 2021
January:
Cobra Kai Season 3 (2021) - 3.5/5
Euphoria Special - Jules (2021) - 4/5
February:
The Expanse Season 5 (2021) - 3/5
Search Party Season 4 (2021) - 3.5/5
Your Honor (2021) - 2/5
March:
Wandavision (2021) - 3/5
Servant Season 2 (2021) - 4/5
April:
Resident Alient Season 1 (2021) - 2.5/5
The Serpent (2021) - 2/5
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Season 1 (2021) - 2/5
Invincible Season 1 (2021) - 4.5/5
May:
City On A Hill Season 2 (2021) - 3/5
The Underground Railroad (2021) - 5/5
Mare of Easttown (2021) - 4.5/5
June:
Hacks Season 1 (2021) - 4.5/5
The Handmaid's Tale Season 4 (2021) - 2.5/5
July:
Loki Season 1 (2021) - 4/5
Time (2021) - 4/5
Dr. Death (2021) - 3/5
August:
The North Water (2021) - 4.5/5
The White Lotus Season 1 (2021) - 4/5
September:
Rick & Morty Season 5 (2021) - 3.5/5
Reservation Dogs Season 1 (2021) - 4.5/5
Sex Education Season 3 (2021) - 3.5/5
Squid Game Season 1 (2021) - 4/5
Never Have I Ever Season 2 (2021) - 3/5
Midnight Mass (2021) - 5/5
October:
Scenes From A Marriage (2021) - 4.5/5
Archer Season 12 (2021) - 3/5
Maid (2021) - 4.5/5
Only Murders In The Building (2021) - 3.5/5
Evil Season 2 (2021) - 4/5
Heels Season 1 (2021) - 3.5/5
Ted Lasso Season 2 (2021) - 2.5/5
November:
Kin (2021) - 3/5
American Crime Story Season 3 (2021) - 3.5/5
What We Do In The Shadows Season 3 (2021) - 4/5
Dopesick (2021) - 3/5
Foundation Season 1 (2021) - 2.5/5
Solar Opposites Season 2 (2021) - 3.5/5
December:
Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol (2021) - 1.5/5
Chucky Season 1 (2021) - 3.5/5
Succession Season 3 (2021) - 5/5
The Shrink Next Door (2021) - 3.5/5
All current TV Shows I'll be watching from August 2021 to July 2022.
Ranked by Premiere Date.
Number of different shows: 43
New shows: 11
Foundation | Dexter: New Blood | The Shrink Next Door | Around the World in 80 Days | The Book of Boba Fett | Peacemaker | Severance | Moon Knight | Prehistoric Planet | Obi-Wan Kenobi
Finished shows: 5
Space Force | Peaky Blinders | Mr. Mayor | Better Call Saul | The Walking Dead
Mini-Series: 1
Dopesick
July, 2022:
Trying (Season 3) | Harley Quinn (Season 3)
June, 2022:
The Boys (Season 3) | Ms. Marvel (Season 1) | For All Mankind (Season 3) | Westworld (Season 4) | Only Murders in the Building (Season 2)
May, 2022:
Girls5eva (Season 2) | Prehistoric Planet (Season 1) | La Flamme (Season 2) | Obi-Wan Kenobi (Season 1) | Stranger Things (Season 4)
April, 2022:
Better Call Saul (Season 6) | Barry (Season 3)
March, 2022:
Mr. Mayor (Season 2) | Atlanta (Season 3) | Bridgerton (Season 2) | Moon Knight (Season 1)
February, 2022:
South Park (Season 25) | Severance (Season 1) | Space Force (Season 2) | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Season 9) | Peaky Blinders (Season 6)
January, 2022:
Euphoria (Season 2) | Peacemaker (Season 1) | Billions (Season 6)
December, 2021:
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (Season 15) | The Witcher (Season 2) | Around the World in 80 Days (Season 1) | Emily in Paris (Season 2) | The Book of Boba Fett (Season 1)
November, 2021:
Dickinson (Season 3) | Dexter: New Blood (Season 1) | The Shrink Next Door (Season 1)
October, 2021:
Dopesick (Season 1) | Succession (Season 3)
September, 2021:
Billions (Season 5) | American Crime Story (Season 3: Impeachment) | Sex Education (Season 3) | The Morning Show (Season 2) | Foundation (Season 1)
August, 2021:
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 8) | The Walking Dead (Season 11)
January: 152 episodes + 8 movies
February: 111 episodes + 5 movies
March: 157 episodes + 5 movies
April: 125 episodes + 3 movies
May: 117 episodes + 6 movies
June: 155 episodes + 2 movies
July: 160 episodes + 2 movies
August: 128 episodes + 7 movies
September: 109 episodes + 6 movies
October: 107 episodes + 4 movies
November: 113 episodes + 3 movies
December: 150 episodes + 12 movies
Number of different shows: 109
Shows started: 60
11.22.63, Arcane, Atracadores: La serie (Ganglands), Behind Her Eyes, Belgravia, Bridgerton, Carnival Row, Da Vinci's Demons, Dickinson, Dopesick, El caso Hartung, Elite short stories Guzmán Caye Rebe, Elite short stories Nadia Guzmán, Elite short stories Omar Ander Alexis, Elite short stories Carla Samuel, For All Mankind (Para toda la humanidad), Foundation, Fury Files, Gangs of London, Hanna, Helstrom, Industry, Intelligence, La leyenda de El Cid, Loki, Los secretos de Sulphur Springs, Lupin, Maid (La asistenta), Mare of Easttown, Marvel’s Inhumans, Marvel's The Punisher, McMfia, Mrs america, Nine Perfect Strangers, Only murders in the building, Reyes de la noche, River, Staged, Stargate Origins, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: Visions, Suits, Tell Me Who I Am, The Cook of Castamar (La cocinera de Castamar), The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Flight Attendant, The Hunt for a Killer, The mysterious benedict society, The Spanish Princess, The Terror, The Undoing, The Vineyard (La Templanza), Undone, Vigil , Wandavision, What If...?, Zoey's extraordinary playlist
Shows finished: 43
11.22.63, 12 Monkeys, A Series of Unfortunate, Belgravia, Behind Her Eyes, Bordertown, Call My Agent, Da Vinci's Demons, Dopesick, El caso Hartung, Elite short stories Carla Samuel, Elite short stories Guzmán Caye Rebe, Elite short stories Omar Ander Alexis, Fortitude, Fury Files, Helstrom, Hierro, Los secretos de Sulphur Springs, Lucifer, Mare of Easttow, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s Inhumans, Maid (La asistenta), Marvel's The Punisher, Money Heist (La casa de papel), Mrs america, Nine Perfect Strangers, Reyes de la noche, River, Stargate Origins, Star Trek: The Next Generation,, Star Wars: Forces of Destiny, Star Wars: The Clone Wara, Tell Me Who I Am, The Cook of Castamar, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, The Idhun Chronicles, The Spanish Princess, The Undoing, Vikings, WHIH Newsfront, Zoey's extraordinary playlist
List of shows: 109 (141 seasons)
11.22.63 S01
12 Monkeys S04
Anatomía de Grey S17
Arcane S01
Archer S11
A Series of Unfortunate S02, S03
Atracadores: La serie (Ganglands) S01
Attack on Titan S03
Behind Her Eyes S01
Belgravia S01
Billions S05
Bitter Daisies (El sabor de las margaritas) S02
Bordertown (Sorjonen) S03
Bridgerton S01
Britannia S02, S03
Call My Agent S04
Carnival Row S01
Charité S03
Chesapeake Shores S05
Cobra Kai S03
Da Vinci's Demons S01, S02, S03
Dickinson S01
Dopesick S01
El caso Hartung S01
El cuento de la criada S04
Elite S04
Elite short stories Carla Samuel S01
Elite short stories Guzmán Caye Rebe
Elite short stories Nadia Guzmán S01
Elite short stories Omar Ander Alexis S01
Fargo S04
Fortitude S03
Foundation S01
Fury Files S01
Gangs of London S01
Hanna S01, S02
Harrow S03
Helstrom S01
Hierro S01, S02
His Dark Materials S02
Historias de Chesapeake S04
Industry S01
Intelligence S01, S02
La casa de papel (Money Heist) S03
La leyenda de El Cid S01, S02
La peste S02
Loki S01
Los hombres de Paco S10
Line of Duty S06
Los secretos de Sulphur Springs S01
Love death & robots S02
Lucifer S06
Lupin S01
Maid (La asistenta) S01
Mare of Easttown S01
Master of none S03
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S06, Specials
Marvel’s Inhumans S01
Marvel's The Punisher S01, S02
McMfia S01
Money Heist (La casa de papel) S03
Mrs america S01
Narcos: México S02
NCIS S18
Nine Perfect Strangers S01
Only murders in the building S01
Ramy S02
Reyes de la noche S01
River S01
Sex Eduacation S03
Staged S01, S02
Stargate Origins S01
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, S01, S02, S03, S04
Star Trek Discovery S03
Star Trek: Lower Decks S01, S02
Star Trek: The Next Generation S01, S02, S03, S04, S05, S06, S07
Star Wars Rebels S01, S02
Star Wars: The Clone Wars S05, S06, S07
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny S01, S02
Star Wars: Visions S01
Suits S01, S02, S03
Super Dragon Ball Heroes S02, S03
Superstore S05
Ted Lasso S02
Tell Me Who I Am S01
The Blacklist S06, S07, S08
The Cook of Castamar (La cocinera de Castamar) S01
The Crown S04
The Expanse S05
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier S01
The Flight Attendant S01
The Good doctor S04
The good fight S05
The Hunt for a Killer S01
The Idhun Chronicles S02
The mysterious benedict society S01
The Spanish Princess S01, S02
The Terror S01, S02
The Undoing S01
The Vineyard (La Templanza) S01
Transparent S02
Undone S01
Vigil S01
Vikings S06
Wandavision S01
What If...? S01
WHIH Newsfront S02
Young Sheldon S04
Zoey's extraordinary playlist S01, S02
List of movies: 62
A todo tren: Destino Asturias (2021)
Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion (2018)
Bordertown, the mural murders (2021)
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Casper (1995)
Cruella (2021)
Dumbo (1941)
Dune (2021)
Forbidden Planet (1956)
Friends: The Reunion (2021)
Gladiator (2000)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Hui Buh, el castillo embrujado (2006)
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (19984)
It happened one night (1934)
Johnny English (2003)
Jungle Cruise (2021)
Jurassic park (1993)
La historia interminable (2007)
La reina de africa (1952)
Las niñas (2020)
Los cazafantasmas (1984)
Luca (2021)
Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (2011)
Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (2011)
Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter (2013)
Miraculous LadyBug in Shanhai (2021)
Never Say Never Again (1983)
Nomadland (2021)
Once (2007)
Peter Pan (2003)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Schindler's list (1993)
Secret magic control agency (2021)
Schoolgirls
Sólo ante el peligro (1992)
Space Jam (1996)
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Spin (2021)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Star Trek: Generations (1994)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)
Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (2014)
The chronicles of narnia (1) the lion, the witch and the wardrobe (2005)
The chronicles of narnia (2) prince Caspian (2008)
The Croods: A New Age (2020)
The lost world jurassic park (1997)
The Matrix (1999)
The War with Grandpa (2020)
Wonder (2017)
Yes day (2021)
L'impero ha colpito. Ancora.
The best rated seasons
Metacritic - Best of 2021: Television Critic Top 10 Lists
by Marcil