Sean’s 2021 TV Show Rankings: 76 Shows in One Comprehensive List
#20 – #11: Loved.
20.) Only Murders in the Building – Season 1
Who knew that Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez would be a winning combo?
19.) The Expanse – Season 5
After four seasons of galaxy expansion, protomolecules, and a random ten episodes on a strange planet, season five of The Expanse is what the show should have been all along. Rebellion and war between Earth, Mars, and the belt. Great season.
18.) Cobra Kai – Season 3
Lucky for us we were able to have Cobra Kai bookend the year, on January 1st and December 31st! Season 3 was a lot of fun, but this isn’t the last of karate we have seen on this list…
17.) The Morning Show – Season 2
Not nearly as strong as the first season, The Morning Show was still able to have a great season after a phenomenal final four episodes. The first half wasn’t as strong, keeping it from being higher.
16.) Succession – Season 3
Similar to the previous entry, this season of Succession was great but not consistent enough to be higher on this list. Of course the finale was maybe the best episode of any show in 2021.
15.) Lupin – Part 1
The first “part” of Lupin really surprised me. Lupin is essentially a modern, French version of Sherlock Holmes, who also happens to be a master thief. The second part (#33) wasn’t quite as good, but together they make for a great watch.
14.) Money Heist – Part 5
The finale of the Spanish Money Heist had a very solid finish. The first two parts are clearly the class of the series, but part 5 was still great TV.
13.) Heels – Season 1
A wrestling show with former Arrow star, Stephen Amell? Sean, clearly you’re biased! Maybe, but this is also a hell of a TV show. Heels goes well beyond the wrestling aspect of the show and is really about a very conflicted and hurting family. Get Starz for a month and check it out.
12.) Cobra Kai – Season 4
Cobra Kai hits the list for the second time, nearly getting into the Top 10. Released on New Year’s Eve, the Karate Kid spin-off continues to impress with some great laughs, drama, and of course, karate. The final showdown over the course of the last two episodes of the season was all-time. I have no doubt Season 5 will continue to kill it.
11.) Outer Banks – Season 2
To think how much Outer Banks has evolved from Season 1 is pretty crazy. From being set exclusively in the Outer Banks to trips to Nassau, Charlestown, and freighters in the middle of the Atlantic, Season 2 took the show to a new level. This show is stupidly ridiculous and I love every second of it. Season 3 is confirmed so Netflix can live another day. Chase and Mads foreva.
Top 10! Best of the Best
10.) Mare of Easttown
HBO dropped its 2021 hammer relatively early in the year, getting 16 Emmy nominations, winning 4 of them. All were deserved, as the show was excellent and included what may have been the best scene in TV all year in episode 5 with some serious True Detective vibes.
9.) Loki – Season 1
The MCU is all over this Top 10. Again, while I’m generally biased, Kevin Feige and Disney+ hired a slew of incredible writers and directors for their shows. Loki was very impressive, taking a truly wild concept and turning it into great television. Tom Hiddleston has always been in the upper class of acting in the MCU and that was only solidified in Loki.
8.) Invincible – Season 1
Going into the year, I wasn’t aware that a cartoon could be so bloody. Invincible is probably the most R-rated animated show or movie I have ever seen and at times borders on too much, but it really doesn’t change how great it can be. Every episode brings something a little different and the story is phenomenal.
7.) Ted Lasso – Season 2
The second season of Ted Lasso wasn’t as perfect as the first season, but it only just missed that mark. A few episodes fall short, but the rest are great. The Christmas episode is literally perfect and the Roy Kent episode is just awesome. Nate the great is super easy to hate.
6.) Squid Game – Season 1
I wish I had no idea what Squid Game was about going into it because then I would’ve been even more shocked by how messed up the show is. Great show built off a crazy, inhumane concept that constantly has you asking WTF?! Loved it.
5.) WandaVision
It’s at this point on the list where any of the remaining shows could have landed in the number one spot. WandaVision held the title for about half of 2021. It was that good. Truly a concept unlike anything else before, WandaVision somehow managed to turn an MCU show into a mystery that saw superheroes traveling through six different decades of classic sitcoms. The writing, acting, intrigue, and eventual epic conclusion easily made the case for best show of the year.
4.) Arcane – Season 1
Alert, alert! A cartoon has entered the top 5!! I put Arcane on one night on recommendation, not really expecting much. Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Arcane has everything you could want out of an action show. Fast paced with a great story and better characters, this might have been the most fun I had with a show this year.
3.) Hawkeye
Scratch that, Hawkeye was the most fun I had watching TV in 2021. The final MCU show of the year and in my opinion, the best. We knew what Jeremy Renner could bring to the table as Hawkeye after a year in the Avengers, but what was truly unexpected was how great. Hailee Steinfeld was as Kate Bishop. She stole every scene she was in and the chemistry between her and Renner, as even more so with Florence Pugh’s Yelena was incredible. So much fun and full of heart, I loved Hawkeye.
2.) Sex Education – Season 3
Sex Education has failed to disappoint in any of its three seasons, and the third likely topped the first as the best yet. Hard to describe as anything but phenomenal, and honestly I’m getting a little tired of gushing over these top shows of the year, so all I’ll say is that everything about Sex Education is perfect and it is an absolute must watch for everyone.
1.) The Witcher – Season 2
I had to make a choice! Ultimately, the second season of The Witcher was my favorite tv show of the year. Far less confusing than the first with a singular timeline instead of several like the first season, The Witcher was able to tell a cohesive story while also bringing the character of Ciri to the forefront, who played a more minor role in the first season. The main characters work perfectly together and it was hard to not be invested all season. As a plus, the action was just as good, if not better, than the first season. The Witcher wins the day for 2021 and I can’t wait to watch it again.
Thanks for following along, the list has already begun for 2022!
