Ashley’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2021

It’s no secret that 2021 wound up being another unique year for television. Some shows were forced to pivot in ways they didn’t plan on, and others told even more powerful stories than they might have in years prior. 

For me, it was a mix of lighthearted comedies, thrilling dramas, shows the used music, and nostalgic revivals/reboots/re-imaginings that had me glued to the television screen. 

Narrowing down my top 10 favorites wasn’t an easy feat at all, but these are the ones that either brought me some comfort and joy, that were masterfully well done, or that I simply couldn’t stop watching once I began.

In no particular order, here are my top TV shows from 2021.

1. Saved by the Bell

In an age of reboots, revivals, and mixtures of both, no other TV series has returned in a way more skillful than Saved by the Bell did. Its second season proved to be even better than the first, offering hilarious callbacks to the original series and poking fun of its own self while offering a new, more substantial story. 

The new group of students faces topical issues alongside typical relationship drama, and the original cast members are given opportunities for their characters to experience growth from the versions of them we knew in the 90s. 

Everything is so brilliantly connected to the original series. The jokes are perfect, and every detail is thoughtful — some so minor and smart that only the most obsessed fans who watched the series on repeat every weekday as a child will catch them (myself included).

2. Dexter: New Blood

Speaking of reboots and revivals, Dexter: New Blood really exceeded expectations. The return of Dexter had to offer something new, and it had to justify its existence in the first place. Set 10 years after the Dexter series finale, Dexter: New Blood does exactly that, with his son Harrison finding him in the small town of Iron Lake, where he’s started a new life and has been living under a new identity. 

What makes the new iteration of Dexter so special is that it focuses on character growth for Dexter Morgan as well as the possibility of repairing his relationship with his son — who he realizes may share some of his own dark tendencies. 

The setting is so wildly different that it does feel like a different show altogether, though we’re centered on a character we know and love — and maybe, just maybe, who we love even more after seeing these new episodes. As an added bonus, we get to see a new side of Deb, who is now alive only in Dexter’s mind. 

3. Ted Lasso

Look, I’m obviously not the first person to wax poetic about Ted Lasso. I’m not even the first person to do so in this series of lists for Tell-Tale TV. But, I’m going to give it a go regardless. 

Ted Lasso Season 1 was joyous comfort TV in a time where people really needed it. Ted Lasso Season 2 went in a different direction, and it did so for the better. It dove deeper into its characters, and in doing so, it had its fair share of difficult moments. We learned more about Ted and his struggle with anxiety, in particular — and those character developments only made him, and the show as a whole, more interesting and valuable.

It also even spent more energy on relationships and friendships, and it offered an incredibly satisfying arc for Brett Goldstein’s Roy Kent — and plenty of fun and funny moments along the way.

4. This Is Us

This Is Us has been must-see TV for me since it first began. Is it an emotional rollercoaster? Sure. And that’s part of what makes it great. There’s something cathartic about crying over the most minute details of the Pearson family’s journey.

These aren’t tears evoked from character deaths that cause shock value, but instead from heartfelt moments and realistic connections. The mystery element that has us putting the pieces together makes the storytelling unique, and it’s impossible not to be invested in every single one of their characters. 

As it heads into its final season, the twists keep coming. I’m eager to see where Kate, Randall, and Kevin all end up by the end.

5. You

You was captivating from the start, but You Season 3 somehow surpassed the first two seasons in every way. Of every show on this list, this is probably the one I’d consider the most binge-worthy, because truly, one I started Season 3, I just couldn’t stop.

How could I? Joe Goldberg’s character was even more intriguing after having met his match with Love. Their relationship made for fascinating storytelling, especially as new parents, and in a new setting that wasn’t exactly conducive to anyone who had a habit of murdering people.

Just when you thought the story couldn’t take any more shocking turns, it turned itself on its head. It was just such a fun, wild ride. 

6. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Put this one down as the cancellation that broke my heart the most this year, too. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist told a powerful, meaningful story about grief and loss that was as fun to watch as it was heartbreaking. Of course, what makes the series special is that much of the story is told through music. 

It’s a wild premise — Zoey Clarke hears the people around her singing “heart songs” that let her know their innermost thoughts. That ability makes her learn a thing or two about herself as well. With so much talent and so many joyful moments, it really is a shame that it was canceled after two seasons.

Though I’m grateful we got the chance to see a somewhat proper ending with the show’s wrap-up movie Christmas special, Zoey’s Extraordinary Christmas, which did tie up some loose ends in a satisfying way.

7. The Big Leap

The Big Leap is the TV series that caught me most by surprise this year. It centers on a group of people who all join a reality dance competition. Most of them are down on their luck or underdogs in some way, and that’s what really makes it special. After all, who doesn’t like to root for the underdog? 

The dance competition allows for interesting conflict, and more emotional stories come out of it all than what you might expect. It’s also just as fun watching the hosts and producers manipulate things behind the scenes, and slowly become even more likable themselves as we understand their own struggles.

The series is simply a joy, and I’m just over here hoping that it gets renewed. 

8. Lucifer

Here’s another TV series I’m really going to miss. Lucifer’s final season was such a blast to watch this year. Tom Ellis’s performance as Lucifer Morningstar is excellent, especially as he becomes more vulnerable.

The final season is fun, funny, and heartbreaking all at once. It offers the kind of indulgent goodbye that the series deserves, complete with a truly satisfying ending.

Most importantly, it leaned heavily on Lucifer’s growth in addition to his relationship with Chloe. The idea that the devil himself could be somehow redeemed? That’s incredible storytelling.

Of course, this year also included the second part of Lucifer Season 5, and seeing God himself played by Dennis Haysbert was a real treat. We got a musical episode too.

9. Yellowjackets

The newest show on the list, Yellowjackets is a can’t miss thrill ride. It follows a group of teen girls who survived a plane crash, then jumps forward to see those survivors as adults — and how that traumatic experience has affected their entire lives since. 

With the flashbacks, nostalgia runs high as the girls listen to popular 90s music and make references to shows like Saved by the Bell, but it’s the girls’ will to survive in the middle of nowhere, with no help in sight, that makes it truly compelling television.

There’s also a mystery involved when it comes to the present day, and we start to learn clues about what it was the girls really had to do when they were lost out there. 

It’s the kind of intriguing drama that really has me looking forward to new episodes each week.

10. Grey’s Anatomy

And finally, this may be the most predictable series to land on my list. Grey’s Anatomy has been one of my favorite TV shows for, well, a really long time. It’s one of the few shows that I arrange my schedule around — it’s rare that I miss a Thursday airing, and it’s something I look forward to throughout the week.

Even when it falters, Grey’s Anatomy is still an entertaining drama series telling powerful stories with standout performances. It remains topical, diving into real issues in ways that not many other shows could dream of, and because it’s such a long-standing series, now in its 18th season, it’s able to show character growth in unique ways. 

It’s also impressive how the series continues to re-invent itself while making effective nods to the early seasons, keeping everything connected. This year also marked the return of even more characters who had left in the past, with appearances from Eric Dane, Chyler Leigh, Sarah Drew, and Kate Walsh.

Granted, we also lost some beloved characters too, but again, even when Grey’s Anatomy goes in a direction we don’t necessarily love, it still manages to be a standout.

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What were your favorite TV shows this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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