The Best TV Shows of 2021, So Far

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The Best TV Shows of 2021, So Far

The best TV shows of 2021 have been a steady source of comfort in a chaotic year. Whether you were planning your entire life around the Friday night episodes of WandaVision or grieving over the final season of The Bold Type, there was a lot to keep you occupied while the world…well, you know. And while we might not be as reliant on television for all our entertainment needs as we were in 2020, watching and discussing a buzzy series remains a forever favorite pastime.

Thankfully, 2021 has already delivered some great ones. See our picks for the best TV shows of 2021—so far—below.

RuPaul’s Drag Race, season 13

RuPaul switches things up in season 13, hosting six lip-sync-for-your-life showdowns off the bat. This season delivers some of the most incredible looks of the show and introduces us to beloved new queens! Watch on Amazon Prime Video.

Call Me Kat

Mayim Bialik follows up her star turn in The Big Bang Theory with Call Me Kat, in which she plays a 39-year-old woman who uses her wedding fund to open a café in Louisville, Kentucky. Humor, heart, and most important, hella cats. Watch on Hulu.

Mr. Mayor

Tina Fey is one of the executive producers behind Mr. Mayor, which stars Ted Danson as a rich billboard magnate who runs for mayor of Los Angeles with less-than-pure intentions…and winds up winning. Come for his chemistry with Holly Hunter, stay for Bobby Moynihan and Vella Lovell as his overwhelmed staffers. Watch on Hulu.

Dickinson, season 2

Hailee Steinfeld is delightful in this fictional retelling of poet Emily Dickinson’s life. Season 2 brings even more fun, romance, and weirdness to the fore, giving the series a fresh new life by introducing great new characters. Available on Apple TV+

Walker

After 15 years on Supernatural, Jared Padalecki steps into a new (but equally iconic) role: Cordell Walker. Yes, the actor leads the charge of this Walker, Texas Ranger, reimagining, and he’s joined by Keegan Allen (Pretty Little Liars) and Lindsey Morgan. Watch on The CW.

WandaVision

One of the most talked-about series of 2021, this meta sitcom about Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) appeals to fans of Marvel as well as fans of classic television. It’s a smart, sophisticated take on suburban happiness and superhero tropes that will keep you guessing. And don’t miss Kathryn Hahn as Agatha! Watch on Disney Plus.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Speaking of Marvel event series, this action-packed series about the Falcon’s transformation into—spoiler warning—Captain America is a highlight of 2021. If your TikTok feed suddenly became flooded with Sebastian Stan thirst posts this spring, blame Disney+. Streaming on Disney+.

Fate: The Winx Saga

Winx stars five young women attending a magical boarding school where they hone their powers while trying to navigate love and friendships. The show polarized viewers when it premiered, but whether it’s good or bad is up to you to decide. Streaming on Netflix.

Superstore, the final season

With neither a bang nor a whimper but a bittersweet hug, this under-seen sitcom bowed with a pandemic-centric final season that managed to handle its coronavirus plot lines better than anything else we caught this year. Finally, minimum wage workers take the spotlight! Watch the entire series on Hulu.

Firefly Lane

Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke star as two friends who experience 30 years of highs, lows, tragedies, fame, and family drama. Grab your tissues. Streaming on Netflix.

Clarice

Who doesn’t need another version of Silence of the Lambs' heroine, agent Clarice Starling? This one stars Rebecca Breeds in the titular role, set a year after the events of Lambs, as she tries to process her trauma while investigating a new string of homicides. Watch on Paramount Plus.

Superman & Lois

Tyler Hoechlin is Superman and Elizabeth Tulloch is Lois Lane in this new series, in which the couple tackles their hardest mission yet: parenthood. Watch on The CW

Mare of Easttown

Filling the hole left by Big Little Lies and The Undoing, the latest HBO murder mystery quickly became a must-watch-live event, lest spoilers reach viewers’ eyes before the latest episode did. Watch on HBO Max.

The Handmaid’s Tale, season 4

The riveting series returns! June (Elisabeth Moss) may have escaped Gilead, but she’s hardly free: Everyone’s after her, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep her quiet. But why make a clean getaway when you can start a war? Watch on Hulu.

The Bold Type, the final season

Magazine life has never looked so fun. (We should know.) The fizzy, feminist show came to a conclusion this year, though we’re sure these characters will keep having adventures for ages. What are you waiting for? Binge the whole thing now. Watch on Hulu.

Younger, the final season

Even second chances have to come to an end. After seven seasons, Liza still hasn’t quite landed on what type of life she wants to have, or who she wants to live it with…other than her friends, of course. The dramatic and romantic series concludes this year, and parting is such sweet sorrow. Watch on Paramount Plus.

Shadow and Bone

Based on the best-selling YA series by Leigh Bardugo, this instant hit for Netflix enthralled viewers with its mix of violence, fantasy, romance, and sumptuous Russian-esque design. Watch on Netflix.

Hacks

One of the most biting comedies of recent years, this new series follows a stand-up legend paired with a bratty upstart as they do whatever it takes to get a laugh. Watch on HBO Max.

Halston

The rise and fall of one of the biggest names in American fashion are chronicled in this flashy limited series from—who else?—Ryan Murphy. Watch on Netflix.

Girls5Eva

This laugh-out-loud (and sometimes sing-out-loud) comedy follows a former girl group that had one hit 20 years ago but decides to reunite to try to make it in the streaming age. You will envy their friendships and their wardrobes, but probably not their paltry residuals. Watch on Peacock.