12 Great TV Shows to Finally Watch in 2021

Stop procrastinating.

12 Great TV Shows to Finally Watch in 2021

No shade on traditional New Year's resolutions but just figuring out good series to watch in 2021 feels like a low-stakes resolution in itself. Although the pandemic has given us a slight breather from the relentless onslaught of new television programming being released daily, there's still an overwhelming amount of very good shows to binge this winter. 

Whether you're looking for classics your friends still can't believe you haven't watched (yeah, The Sopranos is as iconic as everyone says), modern epics like The Crown, or buzzy dramas that are only one season in like I May Destroy You and Russian Doll, our staff shares the one notoriously good series they're finally resolving to watch in 2021. 

The Crown

I have zero attention span for binging TV series, but am resolved to watch all seasons of The Crown. There's only so much willpower one has against Helena Bonham Carter, Olivia Colman, and really good costumes—and with the newest season chronicling Princess Diana's time at Buckingham Palace, I'm preemptively hooked. —Shanna Shipin, commerce editor (Stream now on Netflix)

Lovecraft Country

I don't do horror TV—I'll leave the room if I catch wind of something unnecessarily bloody and violent coming on the screen because why subject myself to the mental trauma? That said, I'm willing to keep my daylights on well into the evening hours to finally watch Lovecraft Country. I know the actors are phenomenal—I've been a fan of Jonathan Majors since The Last Black Man in San Francisco—and the story manages to be both entertaining and relevant to today's sociopolitical climate (so I've been told, thank you group chats) which is why I'm willing to make an exception. —Michella Oré, editorial assistant (Stream now on HBO)

The Sopranos 

I don't really care for media about men, but enough hot girls have raved about the iconic mob drama that I'm ready to tap into my Italian roots and give it a try. I just have to convenience my boyfriend to rewatch it from the beginning for the fifth time. —Bella Cacciatore, beauty assistant (Stream now on HBO) 

I May Destroy You

I've purposely tried assuage my anxiety and fragile mental health status by consuming television  that's the equivalent of candy during quarantine (Smash, The Flight Attendant, and endless reruns of '90s chill pills including Sex and the City, A Different World, and Beverly Hills, 90210) but I know in my soul 2021 is when I binge Michaela Coel's fictionalized masterpiece about the aftermath of her sexual assault. —Perrie Samotin, digital director (Stream now on HBO Max)

Friends

This might be the year I finally get around to watching Friends. I've seen episodes here and understand the references that have permeated pop culture, but from what I've seen the show feels...overrated? Still, I've always wondered what I'm missing that everyone else sees, so maybe if I start from the beginning I'll finally get it. —Anna Moeslein, senior editor (Stream now on HBO Max)

Watchmen

I've never been into superhero shows, movies, or anything Marvel—I know, I feel all the judgment coming—because I feel like they only fit into a good versus evil paradigm and I prefer shows rooted in reality. But this series, based on the 1986 comic, is about superhero but also a pointed commentary on all that's going on in our country right now so I'm excited to watch. Plus,  Regina King herself plays the complex, flawed “shero,” so sign me up. —Ru Wolle, assistant to the editor in chief  (Stream now on HBO Max)

Gossip Girl

I've only seen the first season of Gossip Girl so when photos from the set of the reboot were released earlier this year, I got inspired to revisit the original series ahead of its premiere. I'll be catching up with the world's most famous Upper East Siders for a little escapism in 2021. —Madeline Hirsch, social media manager 

Dynasty

I’ve seen so many screencaps and gifs of the 1980s melodrama Dynasty that I feel like I’ve already seen it. However, after watching the reboot, I feel like I need to start the original. I already can’t wait for all the fashion to come my way in 2021. —Khaliha Hawkins, producer (Stream now on Amazon Prime Video)

The Vampire Diaries 

As an avid fan of soapy teen TV, I'm embarrassed I haven't checked out The Vampire Diaries, which I'm assuming is about hot vampires doing...vampire things? Anyway, my fellow Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars lovers are insisting I watch this fang-toothed melodrama, so that's what I'll be doing this winter. Ian Somerhalder, let's Zoom after I'm done. —Chris Rosa, entertainment editor (Stream now on Netflix)

Russian Doll

Natasha Lyonne's Netflix dramedy is just under four hours long, it got perfect reviews, and at some point in 2021 I am going to finally watch it and have the same catharsis people had two years ago when it came out, and it's going to be great. I don't know what's stopping me—it's about a Jewish woman stuck in a time loop. I'm a Jewish woman stuck in a timeloop! Then I'm going to watch Search Party and Insecure. You just wait—in the next 365 days, my dad is going to remember his HBOMax password and give it to me, and then I'm going to understand the prestige TV zeitgeist of 2019. —Jenny Singer, staff writer (Stream now on Netflix)

Schitt's Creek 

This has always seemed like a show I'd be into (I haven't seen a single episode but already know I identify very much with Moira and I'm fine with that) but just haven't gotten around to. Enough friends have raved about it that I'm finally committing to giving my reruns of The Office a break and starting something new in 2021. —Macaela MacKenzie, senior health editor (Stream now on Netflix)

Succession 

I keep stalling because one, I have so many new shows to watch I can barely keep up, and two, I hear it takes like four or five episodes before it really gets good. That’s a lot of commitment! But still, I’m going to try. —Jessica Radloff, West Coast editor  (Stream now on HBO)

This story originally appeared on: Glamour - Author:Condé Nast