2021 In Review: The 20 Best Shows

It's been a(nother) weird year. But the TV has been excellent.

In fact, even though we can venture outside more these days, the top-notch television of 2021 kept our couches as tempting as ever, thanks to addictive dramas like Paramount+'s Evil and breezy, one-sitting binges like HBO Max's Starstruck and Peacock's We Are Lady Parts.

As TVLine's annual Year in Review officially gets underway, we're kicking things off by revisiting the 20 best shows of 2021, including freshmen gems like HBO Max's Jean Smart vehicle Hacks and CBS' endlessly delightful comedy Ghosts. But not every series on our list is brand-new to the TV landscape: We're also recognizing returning shows like Apple TV+'s For All Mankind, HBO Max's The Other Two and Hulu's The Great, which came back creatively stronger than ever for their most recent episodes.

Which series claimed the No. 1 spot on our list, though? And does it match your pick for the best TV show of 2021? Scroll down to see our 20 honorees, then drop a comment with the shows you've loved in 2021.

Still to come in TVLine's Year in Review: Worst Shows of 2021, Biggest Plot Twists, Sexiest Scenes, Character Deaths That Nearly Killed Us, Shocking Cast Exits and much, much more!

Sure, Showtime's newest drama has only aired a handful of episodes, but that's enough to make us feel confident giving it a spot on this list. The premise — a plane full of high school girls goes down in the mountains in the mid-1990s, and then we catch up with the survivors as adults — is enticing. The performances from heavy hitters like Juliette Lewis, Melanie Lynskey and Christina Ricci suck you in. And the mystery at the heart of the show (what, exactly, happened before the girls were rescued?) already has us hooked for the entire season.

Set at a high-end Hawaiian resort catering to the ultra-wealthy, Mike White's delectable HBO dramedy took delight in skewering the guests' obnoxious level of privilege. But White didn't just poke fun: He also dug deep, exposing the insecurities and anxieties of guests and staff alike and finding real insight in their petty problems. The ensemble was strong throughout, but Jennifer Coolidge absolutely stole the show with an instant-classic performance as hot-mess socialite Tanya McQuoid. We can't wait to book a return trip in Season 2.

In a similar vein as Sex and the City and Living Single, Starz's Run the World was a charming celebration of love and friendship against the glitzy backdrop of New York City. Series creator Leigh Davenport added her own spin by centering the story specifically in Harlem, where we got to see four successful Black women navigating professional and personal ups and downs, leaning on each other for support in ways both funny and authentic.

A CBS remake of a British supernatural comedy? We're as shocked as Sam was upon learning that she inherited a giant estate full of spirits that the series has turned out to be one of this year's biggest delights (and a ratings success!). With a stacked ensemble of scene-stealing characters — any one of them could truly lead their own show — and quick-witted dialogue, Ghosts is a quirky, hilarious and often heartwarming pleasure that only gets better week after week.

The best show you probably didn't watch this year was Season 2 of Love Life. HBO Max's dramatic rom-com kicked off with a new protagonist in Marcus Watkins, played brilliantly by The Good Place alum William Jackson Harper. By switching the lead from Anna Kendrick's Darby to Marcus, the series' creator and writers carved out much-needed space to tackle race, class, gender politics and romance — a red-hot, will-they-or-won't-they kind of romance, punctuated by the undeniable and captivating chemistry between Harper and Jessica Williams as Mia.

We know you might not want to sign up for another streaming service, but Peacock's wonderfully uproarious and uplifting comedy about an all-female Muslim punk band is worth the cost. We Are Lady Parts has a distinctive voice, both in its ridiculously catchy original songs ("Voldemort Under My Headscarf"!) and in its depiction of young Muslim women embracing their individuality through music. If you've been sleeping on this underrated, recently renewed gem, we implore you to cue up Lady Parts and rock out to one of the most self-assured comedy debuts of the year.

On paper, Alan Tudyk starring as an alien posing as a human doctor seemed like an incredible idea. On screen, the Syfy series surpassed even our already high expectations. The show's ensemble cast matched Tudyk's talent and quirk as the town unraveled a strange murder mystery, and E.T. Harry sought to complete a device that would destroy the world. But once Harry grew to love those surrounding him, the series morphed into a morality lesson that hinged on love and acceptance, but never sacrificed laughs for its message.

The Apple TV+ alternate-universe space saga not only sidestepped the sophomore slump curse, it exceeded the incredibly high bar set by Season 1. It all culminated with a thrilling, terrifying, suspenseful, ultimately heartbreaking finale that we're predicting will go down as one of the new decade's best hours of television.

The Great is a prime example of a show that went from — ahem — great to elite in its second season. The charming historical satire again delivered quality entertainment with sharp dialogue and lavish, candy-colored costumes, while also serving up even more outlandish twists and sweet-yet-dysfunctional romance. The season? Fire. Adding Gillian Anderson and Jason Issacs as terrible but extremely good-looking parents? Icing on the medovik.

It's a testament to Season 1's strong character development that Season 2 — a high-risk endeavor that frequently veered toward more dramatic storytelling — worked on just about every level. Take, for instance, how the series delicately dissected Ted and Rebecca's respective father issues, or how it slowly steered Nathan toward the dark side. None of this is to say that Season 2 didn't deliver on feel-good moments. The Rolling Stones-soundtracked montage that followed Roy to Nelson Road to accept an assistant coaching position with AFC Richmond was just splendid. And the Christmas episode — an instant classic, if you ask us — was the equivalent of a warm hug. Suffice it to say, we're full-blown rom-communists now. That's the power of Ted Lasso.

The Paramount+ transplant followed its Season 1 cliffhanger — is Kristen possessed by a demon? — with a sophomore run exploring that question via myriad tantalizing avenues but never giving us a definitive answer... and we loved it. The not-quite-solved mystery was only one high point in a season that contained a disturbing exploration of white privilege, a near-perfect silent episode and a sobbing confession that led to a long-awaited (though Church-disapproved) kiss. Consider us #blessed.

Making our short list for a third straight season, the FX comedy raised the stakes (sorry!) with its latest run, by forcing the roommates to share Vampiric Council leadership duties, asking (and delivering shocking answers to) questions such as, "What happens when an energy vampire turns 100?" and scrutinizing the "big bang theory" (as well as The Big Bang Theory). Throw in hellhounds, a trip to small claims court and a handy Cloak of Duplication, and you once again have one of TV's laugh-out-loudest comedies.

Ah, how we missed the Roy family. (We're not sure they missed each other, though.) HBO's corporate tragicomedy came back with a vengeance, topping itself yet again with a Season 3 that has seen the Roys jockeying for position as Kendall declared all-out war on his father, Logan. Series creator Jesse Armstrong balances out all the high-stakes boardroom wrangling with a wickedly quotable sense of humor, and the cast is 10-deep with fascinating performances, led by Jeremy Strong's wildly manic, heart-wrenchingly desperate turn as former golden boy Kendall. They're horrible, they're miserable... and we can't stop watching them.

Looking for a satisfying, one-sitting binge that isn't a grisly true-crime doc? The search is over: Block out an afternoon for this charming, six-episode HBO Max gem, which stars New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo as a young woman whose one-night stand with a British movie star unexpectedly becomes something more. The chemistry between Matafeo and Nikesh Patel is easy and enchanting, and Matafeo's comedic voice is both unique and refreshing. Quality rom-coms are becoming increasingly hard to find, which only doubles our appreciation for this winning freshman.

We didn't know what to expect when it was first announced that Selena Gomez would star opposite Steve Martin and Martin Short in a true-crime series. But the Disney Channel alum more than held her own opposite the comedy legends, and together the unlikely trio delivered one of the funniest (and most unexpectedly poignant) shows of the year. Not only did the Hulu whodunit stick the landing, but the finale set in motion an intriguing mystery for Season 2 that takes the show in a whole new direction. We can hardly wait to get back on the case.

We've typed many a complimentary word this year about WandaVision, Marvel Studios' mesmerizing first foray into television. But Disney+'s Loki, which starred Tom Hiddleston as his mischievous MCU character, was equally ambitious and captivating in its performances, production design and storytelling choices. Hiddleston did something truly special across these six episodes, quickly but believably evolving Loki from a power-hungry brat to a compassionate, altruistic man. Owen Wilson, meanwhile, gave one of the year's most effortlessly charismatic performances as TVA agent Mobius. And along the way, the show posed fascinating questions about time, love and free will, building to a finale cliffhanger that left us trying to bend time and bring Season 2 as soon as possible.

Sterlin Harjo's understated dramedy played out like a quasi-hangout film. Led by a cast of mostly up-and-comers, the story followed a group of Indigenous teens in rural Oklahoma who commit small crimes to raise money for their eventual escape from small-town reservation life. The FX on Hulu series took jabs at Native American caricatures, subverting basic stereotypes with clever humor and a singular style. Its characters were wildly original (sometimes bordering on absurd), which gave its premise and setting even more dimension. Dogs wasn't afraid to blend genres and tones, nor did it hesitate to tug at heartstrings, solidifying it as one of the year's best and biggest surprises.

The first season of this so-good-it's-insane comedy was nothing short of a revelation, and although we had to wait more than two years for a second season on HBO Max (in this climate?!), we're happy to report that the show only got better — something we didn't even think was possible. From Cary's epic Grindr fail (or was it a win?) to Brooke becoming Alessia Cara's peer (by any means necessary!), these 10 episodes were among the best television had to offer all year.

A TV legend verbally eviscerating those around her was a hoot to watch, but that's not the only reason HBO Max's Jean Smart dramedy quickly rose to the top of our watchlists. There was much more to explore behind stand-up comic Deborah Vance's irritable, sarcastic surface, and watching Smart peel back her character's layers — while learning to get along with new writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) — was hysterical until it went straight for the heartstrings. With its razor-sharp writing, fiery insults and feminist lean, Hacks delivered an absolute riot that was also filled with feeling.

HBO reliably serves up a twist-laden murder mystery for us to solve every year, it seems — but even without the murder, Mare still would have been must-see TV. Yes, it gave us plenty of clues, but it also took its sweet time painting a deeply intimate portrait of a tight-knit small town where everyone knows everyone else's darkest secrets. Kate Winslet shined, of course, in a complicated role that's like nothing we've ever seen from her, but the excellent work from Jean Smart, Evan Peters and Julianne Nicholson just added more detail and texture to a masterfully observed human drama.