Alicia’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2021

2021 witnessed the return of television in significant ways, with Marvel Studios taking a swing at limited series and new comedies stepping up to fill the void NBC’s sitcom slate left behind.

From iconic superheroes like Kate Bishop debuting onscreen to comedies that combine petty scabbles and paranormal antics, television has been incredibly kind to my interests this year.

Whether it’s celebrity cooking shows or lighthearted murder mysteries, television has provided a plethora of new comfort shows to embrace.

In no particular order, here are the 10 TV shows that have made my year all the more amazing with their killer one-liners, super-sized storytelling, and captivating characters.

1. Hawkeye (Disney+)

Hawkeye already has a lot going for it as a superhero show set in New York City at Christmas. That hardly prepared me for this festive show’s caliber of storytelling.

The comic-accurate character study of Kate Bishop and Clint Barton has a refreshingly slow-paced, street-level story and explosive vigilante action that highlights the excellence of these mundane heroes.

Hailee Steinfeld and Jeremy Renner’s chemistry as reluctant partners elevates every interaction. Of course, it helps that the story so often does away with flashy action to keep Kate and Clint planted firmly on the streets, where they encounter bro-ish goons, pizza-loving dogs, and a chaotic assassin raiding their pantries.

Just when it seems impossible for Hawkeye to do more, it re-introduces Netflix’s Daredevil in big ways. It seems Marvel left the best for last because this show is the gift that keeps on giving.

2. Ghosts (CBS)

This year witnessed many sitcoms go to early graves when we needed them the most. Then, when all hope seemed lost, Ghosts appeared with a fully-formed hit that effortlessly blends comedy and the paranormal for a spooky good time.

As someone who finds great enjoyment in supernatural sitcoms, I continue to be astounded by the fact this hilarious show exists within a very obscure genre.

It’s lovely to see Rose McIver return to her wheelhouse and give iZombie fans a sitcom that echoes the quirky originality of Liv Moore’s undead tale. This comedy comes off the cusp of Julie and the Phantoms‘ tragic cancellation too, so it helps to have a new cast of loveable ghosts to embrace.

This cast is bursting with scene-stealers, and the comedy plays to an unrelenting savageness that often has the house upended over the prettiest scabbles. It’s difficult to pick favorites, but when the two oldest ghosts, Thorfinn and Sas, get together to watch reality TV, it’s tough to remain unbiased.

3. Shadow and Bone (Netflix)

High-scale fantasy has never been my forte with the complicated lore and world-building that rarely pays off. However, Shadow and Bone eased my concerns with an ensemble of book-accurate characters and stunning special effects.

As a fan of the Six of Crows duology, I am beyond happy to see these thieves get the faithful screen adaptation they deserve.

Freddy Carter brings Kaz to life with searing intensity. Amita Suman gifts Inej a powerful inner monologue. Kit Young understands the sharpshooter’s physicality so well he may have been Jesper in another life.

The Crows steal the show for me with story-arcs that speak to their chaotic dynamic and one hilariously unforgettable afternoon with a goat named Milo.

The Shadow and Bone aspects of this story come as a delightful surprise. Despite centering on the weaker books of the Grishaverse, this series uses the Crows to highlight what makes Alina and Mal’s journey worth investing in long-term.

And Ben Barnes kills it as the seductive antagonist, so there is that.

4. WandaVision (Disney+)

WandaVision became one of this year’s most notable TV phenomenons, and for a good reason. It is a tremendous work of art that has no place in Marvel’s superhero formula. But, more importantly, it made me care about Wanda and Vision, two criminally underutilized Avengers.

The limited series cleverly intertwines the superhero fantasy of these outrageous protagonists with silly sitcom tropes. The costumes are colorful, the theme songs are outrageously catchy, and the dark undertones of this mystery are unmatched.

Elizabeth Olsen is a powerhouse, commanding the comedy genre with perfect line delivery. Her ability to go from a 1950s housewife to a terrifying antihero in seconds is breathtaking.

Paul Bettany compliments her with a charm summarized in his delivery of, “What is grief if not love persevering?”

The series has Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness, one of this year’s most remarkable villains. Randall Park, Kat Dennings, and Teyonah Parris team up for a few memorable shenanigans, and regardless of its controversy, that Quicksilver cameo is epic!

5. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine will always hold a special place in my heart for creating characters so ridiculously funny and allowing a man as obsessed with pop culture as Jake Peralta to exist.

Police brutality made this final season of the cop comedy understandably difficult. Yet, this show manages to keep its ridiculous banter and self-aware joke repetition up until the end; while attempting to shed light on the need for police reform.

In their final days, the Nine-Nine never lose sight of what makes this sitcom a blast with the return of Doug Judy and a finale that doubles as the squad’s last heist — a precinct tradition so violent and outrageous it accidentally defined a show’s legacy.

It is comforting to know I will have this cast of chaotic coworkers and their iconic lines to return to when needed.

And it is cool, cool, cool of this workplace sitcom’s final scene to confirm that, while it is time to say goodbye to the 99th precinct, the Halloween Heists will never truly die.

6. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Only Murders in the Building couldn’t be more of my jam with its grand New York setting, upbeat murder investigations, and a cast brimming with stars whose projects consumed much of my childhood.

It could coast on star-power and aesthetic, but this series is savvier than that, and who doesn’t appreciate a good challenge.

The podcast formatting allows this subtle, satirical humor to shine in a spectacle of voiceovers and deadpan dialogue. The murder mystery is genuine and plays the long game, leaving us just as clueless as these amateur sleuths at times.

The cast is fabulous, with Steve Martin and Martin Short bringing their historical banter and clashing personalities to each investigation. But it is Selena Gomez’s reserved Mabel that acts as this group’s glue, anchoring the murder of Tim Kono in real grief while decimating the no-nonsense “straight-man” role.

With its loveable cast of notable comedians, confining brownstone backdrop, and sophisticated Sherlock Holmes sleuthing, Only Murders in the Building is the whimsical mystery this grim year calls for.

7. Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

No show understands how to produce soothing comfort television like Ted Lasso. This comedy has taken over our lives with its ability to transcend comedy using characters who exemplify the best of humanity, even in their darkest hours.

This fish-out-of-water tale features a stellar cast that continues to challenge harmful stereotypes with unwavering loveability. Jamie Tartt goes as far as to prove the cruelest humans can be cute headband-wearing cinnamon rolls with the right nudge.

Ted Lasso Season 2 witnesses more enriching dynamics as Roy Kent finally gives Ted’s rom-communism. Keeley and Rebecca’s friendship continue to be the best female relationship as they encourage each other to make the tough calls even if it means spending time apart.

“Carol of the Bells” is a personal favorite, bringing the found family full circle while gifting Higgins with the win he’s worked tirelessly for as the show’s punching bag. Roy, Keeley, and Phoebe reenacting scenes from Love Actually is pretty great too.

There’s no show doing it like Ted Lasso. This is a one-of-a-kind experience for comedy and television enthusiasts alike.

8. Titans (HBO Max)

I admit Titans is not on this list because it is top-tier television. Unfortunately, thanks to a questionable trajectory, this series has struggled. However, within that struggle is a gritty superhero show that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Titans has become a comfort show for me. It lacks the intense stakes of the Marvel series, and I can enjoy this superhero romp through Gotham on a basic level. The characters, however, offer something much deeper to invest in.

They are all impeccably cast, from Anna Diop’s Starfire to Dove and Hawk. Barbara Gordon is a season stand-out as she proves disabilities elevate the lens and provide an opportunity to challenge how characters command space in action series.

I credit my desire to invest in Batman’s brooding crew to Brenton Thwaites’ Dick Grayson. He has made Robin a tangible entity that rightfully despises Batman. This season even confirms his endgame with Kory as fans met the daughter of Nightwing and Starfire — Nightstar, gah!

Nothing will stop this crew from worming their way into your heart. So I continue to look forward to new episodes if only to see Nightwing wave those glowy batons around like the circus dork he is.

9. Selena+Chef (HBO Max)

As someone that loves cooking shows and celebrity appearances in cooking shows, Selena+Chef is a dream come true and a welcoming nostalgic trip as someone who grew up on shows like Wizards of Waverly Place.

What I didn’t expect was for this Selena Gomez-led cooking experiment to become such a comforting reprieve during the pandemic. It continues to be a lovely form of TV escapism from heavier fictional content with colorful rainbow knives and a kitchen I can fantasize about owning for a few fleeting moments.

Gomez brings an amateur curiosity to the kitchen that takes the pressure off me to know what I am doing and caters to a less predictable format than reality food competitions. So you can sit back and enjoy watching someone else learn to cook the takeout you’re probably ordering for dinner.

As far as cooking shows go, this one checks off several of my pop culture interests and is easily digestible binge-watching.

10. Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

Teen dramas are a right of TV passage and have defined many of my teenage years with their over-the-top conflict, crazy love triangles, and problematic characters.

Never Have I Ever keeps that noble tradition going for a new generation with the continuation of Devi’s coming-of-age tale. I love this dramedy’s ability to approach Devi’s culture clash with honesty and hilarious eye-rolling ignorance.

Devi is the worst in that way, and I appreciate her awfulness because teenagers are fundamentally terrible creatures. They never make the right decisions, so having Devi embody that chaos on a problematic level and still be a protagonist we can embrace is commendable.

Never Have I Ever is also ridiculously amusing, thanks to Mindy Kaling’s comedic genius and tennis legend John McEnroe’s deeply bias narration of a teenage girl’s life.

It boasts a great love triangle that makes choosing between Ben and Paxton an impossible feat for both Devi and those watching. But I can always get behind the highs and lows of a messy love story!

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What TV shows from 2021 make your list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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