Perhaps it’s because we were still stuck at home for the first half of the year, but 2021 was an especially great year of TV. With time to actually watch more than a few favorites, we were able to discover genres we didn’t know we loved, jump back into franchises we’d lost touch with and invest in new international obsessions.
Shows like Mare of Easttown, Succession, Ted Lasso and Only Murders in the Building will find a way on most mainstream best of the year lists. This is where we want to highlight the shows that speak to us and deal with stories affecting us. That being said, here are the best TV shows of 2021.
What If…?
This is such a fun alternate universe concept. We’ve spent 26 movies in the MCU, so at this point it feels like we know these characters in and out. What If..? gave us a chance to explore new aspects of their stories. Specifically, “What If…T’Challa Became Star-Lord?” showcased how truly important T’Challa is to the whole universe.
His presence changes the lives of everyone in the galaxy, as he’s able to make Thanos see there’s a better way and convince Yondu the Ravagers can be used for good. It’s a heart-breaking, yet beautiful tribute to Chadwick Boseman in his final performance as T’Challa.
What If…? Is streaming on Disney+.
Gangs of London
If you love mafia movies and are deeply invested in the Power universe, then you absolutely need to check out Gangs of London. When Finn Wallace, the boss of London, is killed, it sets off a chain reaction throughout the underworld that leaves no family unscathed. It’s up to the Dumanis, the brains behind the Wallace’s brawn to keep business moving. And did we mention the Dumanis are Black?
Sope Dirisu stars as Elliot, a low level soldier who moves up the ranks of the Wallace family and becomes personally involved with the Dumanis. It’s a brutal, captivating emotional series that keeps us guessing everyone’s motivations until the very end. We’re expecting season 2 sometime in 2022, and we can’t wait.
Gangs of London Season 1 is streaming on AMC+.
The Underground Railroad
Adapting Colson Whitehead’s novel would be no small feat for the most accomplished filmmaker. However, Barry Jenkins presents us with a masterclass in storytelling. At this point, we know what to expect from movies and TV shows about slavery. Even the best ones eventually end up in the same place. Never once did we feel that predictability while watching The Underground Railroad.
The series was also bolstered by the amazing performances of its cast. We’d be remiss if we didn’t highlight young Chase Dillon as Homer, the project’s most fascinating character. We’re not going to claim this is an easy watch, but this is a great example of how to tell complex stories of our history.
The Underground Railroad is streaming on Amazon Prime Video
Insecure
For its final season, Insecure is letting its characters grow up in a way they’ve never had to before. Issa is fully committed to growing her business, while Molly cares for her ailing mother. Lawrence even has to learn how to be a present father and put someone else’s needs first.
After five seasons of being intimately involved in these characters’ lives, it’s nice to see them maturing into adulthood. As fantastic as season 4 was, we’re really enjoying the relatability of season 5. Plus, we still get hilariously awkward moments of Issa trying to flirt and Kelli’s memorable one-liners.
Insecure is streaming on HBO Max.
The Equalizer
Quiet as it’s kept, The Equalizer is one of CBS’ best shows. It seems to get lost in the CBS procedural shuffle and football overruns, but it’s a really well done action drama. Queen Latifah is perfectly cast as Robyn McCall, a former CIA operator who now uses her skills to help regular citizens.
She takes on mobsters, drug dealers, crooked cops and narcissistic tech billionaires. Robyn is portrayed as a badass on the same level as Jason Bourne or John Wick. Honestly, she’s the action hero we’ve been waiting for, so it’s a shame the network isn’t giving the show a bigger push. It’s the best show you’re not watching. And as usual, Queen Latifah’s hair is perfect in every scene.
The Equalizer is streaming on Paramount+.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Obviously it was sad to see Steve Rogers leave the MCU, but we were also excited to see Sam Wilson finally suit up as Captain America. However, before we got there, Disney+ gave us six hours of quality storytelling and character development.
Of course, Sam couldn’t just jump in and be Captain America, because he still considered Steve Captain America. When the government replaced him with a bargain bin, great value brand Cap, we felt Sam’s heartbreak in our soul. Add in the always awesome Carl Lumbly finally telling Isiah Bradley’s story and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is the comics story we’ve been waiting a lifetime for.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is streaming on Disney+
WandaVision
A limited series where the characters live on TV in classic sitcoms is one of the craziest premises we’ve ever heard. The only two characters who can make it work are Wanda and Vision. Once you get past the vintage TV and laugh tracks, WandaVision is a beautiful story of grief and loss.
Through Wanda’s TV fantasy we are introduced to the adult Monica Rambeau. We initially met her as a child in Captain Marvel, but now she’s a fully grown S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who finds herself forever changed during her time in Westview. Having lost her mother during Thanos’ snap, Monica understands Wanda’s grief, but doesn’t have time for her own. She’s clearly the smartest, most capable agent, so of course her boss is threatened by her. Now literally empowered, we can’t wait to see where the character is when she returns in the film The Marvels.
WandaVision is streaming on Disney+.
Batwoman
When Batwoman announced it was casting a brand new character to wear the cowl, and she was Black, the usual backlash wasn’t a surprise. All those complaints were quickly put to rest with Javicia Leslie’s unapologetically Black Batwoman. From her new natural wig to the batsuit highlighting her curves, there is no denying this hero isn’t like the old one.
With a new hero came a new focus. Ryan Wilder’s background as a homeless ex-con, framed by a corrupt system opened the show up to explore a corner of the Bat universe we’ve never seen before. Batwoman uses its comic book origins to tell modern day stories of racial profiling, the disparities in missing women of color and police violence, setting itself apart from the rest of the genre in the best way possible.
Batwoman airs Wednesdaya at 8/7c on The CW, and streams on The CW app.
Pose
Sometimes a TV show comes along and is so ground-breaking and influential it’s impact can never be duplicated. That’s Pose. Season 3 saw our favorite characters get happy endings and bittersweet goodbyes after two seasons of constant struggle.
Though it’s only six episodes, the season provided every major character a chance to stand out and wrap up their arcs. The way the series depicted the joy of the LGBTQ community as they simultaneously fight injustice and bigotry is authentically beautiful. Producers may have always meant for it to run three seasons, but we could’ve lived in that world with Blanca, Pray Tell, Elektra, Angel and Papi forever.
Colin in Black & White
He’s been such a public, well known figure for so long it’s easy to think we know Colin Kaepernick’s story. In Colin in Black & White we learn that there’s so much more to the athlete/activist than public perception. Over six episodes, we follow teenage Colin through high school as he becomes the quarterback we watched in the Super Bowl, and learns how to keep his identity while living in a predominantly white world.
Kaepernick narrates his life as we watch it play out, intercutting it with similar stories from Black history and his own adult experiences. It’s a brilliant, unique look at how childhood shapes us into who we’re meant to be. Hands down, this is the best TV of 2021.
Colin in Black & White is streaming on Netflix.
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