The Best TV Shows of 2021 – An Irresistible Watch List for You!

Sure, the world outside seems to be having its own YA apocalypse moment. But that is just all the more reason for you to wind down and catch a few hours of the television (or laptop). While the movie business may have taken a hit, streaming marches on. Here are some of the best TV shows of 2021 for you to watch –

Marvel’s Loki (out 11th June, 2021; Disney+)

Even those who are not diehard fans would recognize fan-favorite Loki, the tragic figure turned trickster god who gets a second (or is it third?) lease of life due to the events of Avengers: Endgame. 

Unlike the other two big releases – ‘WandaVision’ and ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’, Loki is the most ‘movie-like’ – huge effects, high-stakes plot, and a character that you don’t have to read up the Wiki page about.

In terms of the larger picture too, Loki is the most important of Marvel’s TV shows, as it can open up the MCU to the multiverse and allow the introduction of the characters Marvel has finally brought back home.

Shadow and Bone (Out Now; Netflix)

Combining two of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse novel series, Shadow and Bone manages to outgrow its YA roots thanks to a unique setting, excellent casting, and diverse storylines. The show is expected (or rather hoped) to go on for at least a few more seasons, so the first eight episodes do feel like an established setup rather than an adventure.

Nevertheless, the adaptation has been faithful enough to delight fans, and newcomers, especially those who like the fantasy genre, will surely be well-served too. It is the best kind of escapist fantasy, which makes it one of the ideal tv shows.

The Witcher (late 2021, Netflix)

The first season of the fantasy series based on Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski was extremely well received, became one of Netflix’s most watched shows. The first season followed the converging part of the titular Witcher (a grumpy Henry Cavill), a powerful sorceress, and a young princess reckoning with her destiny.

Lauded for its intertwining plotlines, non-linear narrative, and faithfulness to the fantasy genre, the Witcher makes for a very compelling watch. There is plenty of action and gore, but also great characters, intriguing storylines, and a very melodic bard. Catch the first season now or you might miss out.

Foundation (late 2021, Apple TV)

Adapting one of the greatest and most theoretically dense stories of science fiction is no easy feat, but hey, Apple has the resources to pull it off. Foundation follows the aftermath of a brilliant scientists’ discovery of a new branch of studies, one that shows an inevitable collapse of the Galactic Empire, set in humanity’s distant future.

The TV adaptation is likely to have less math and more action, but would still make for a compelling watch. Foundation is perhaps the most ambitious of Apple’s TV shows – if you liked it, Apple might be sitting on a goldmine of content for years to come.

Jupiter’s Legacy, (7th May 2021, Netflix)

Running high on its adaptation-spree success, Netflix is set to release another comic-book turned series. Jupiter’s Legacy follows the trails and tribulations of a superhero unable to overcome its generational gaps, the pressure of public presence, and the questions of love, loyalty, and power.

Helmed by a stellar cast, the show is bound to draw comparison to the other messy superhero franchise of Netflix – Umbrella Academy. Nevertheless, Jupiter’s legacy presents fascinating contrasts to other superhero franchises, especially Marvel, in exploring from the start – the dark side of superheroes.

Physical (18th June, Apple TV+)

Helmed by the magnetic Rose Byrne, Physical pulls you back through time to the 1980s. When her controversial husband begins a bid for the state assembly, Sheila supports him on the surface, but spirals into a complex and complicated relationship with herself and her self-image.

Buoyed by the her love for aerobics, Sheila might have the chance to use the upcoming VCR technology to build a new empire – only if she manages to not crash before she gets there.

Cowboy Bebop (Late 2021, Netflix)

Perhaps the most controversial entry on this list, Netflix’s live adaptation of the iconic anime did not receive a very warm response, partly due to the fact that what makes Cowboy Bebop iconic is the art style, themes, and narratives that are firmly tied to the anime genre. Despite this, Netflix had pushed ahead.

The show’s production underwent considerable strain, with first John Cho’s (who plays protagonist Spike) injury, and then with the pandemic. Initially slated for 2020, Cowboy Bebop has a place in the list of TV shows 2021.

Gossip Girl Reboot (July 2021, HBO Max)

While Kristen Bell is back as the iconic narrator of the teen drama series, Gossip Girl isn’t what you remembered. Featuring an all new and more diverse cast, the show takes a skip ahead to the present times and deals with a new slate of characters and their privileged but messy lives.

While some have suggested that many of the plotlines and general teen angst of Gossip Girl may no longer have a place in the Gen Z culture, others were quite excited for the reboot. How do you think the show fared with its new outlook?

Impeachment – American Crime Story (late 2021, FX/Hotstar)

After two installments covering the OJ Simpson trial and the assassination of the founder of Versace, the anthology series had found its next big story – the Bill Clinton – Monica Lewinsky Scandal.

What makes it very interesting is the fact that the show is being co-produced by Lewinsky herself, who has over the years gone from a much-abused and the other woman to a passionate and powerful public speaker.

As such, the installment is likely to have a new perspective and insider information about the scandal, which redefined American politics and women’s relationship with media for years to come.

Lord of the Rings (Late 2021, Amazon Prime) 

Bankrolled by one of the world’s biggest and richest company, this sprawling multi-season series is set to cover the time long before the main books, set in the Second Age of Middle Earth.

The move is kind of a risk, to take a beloved series but then push out the main characters by a massive span of time, but many are nevertheless excited to get back to the magic of the series once again.

The production has been kept very strictly under wraps, but the first season is believed to have cost at least an eye-watering 500 million dollars, meaning whatever came your way was bound to be big.

So mark your calendars, because there are a lot of good things that came your way in 2021!