The best TV shows of 2021 — and how to watch them

It’s not that Long ago, few people would have thought it possible to utter the terms “quality original content” and “streaming” in the same sentence. In fact, the first stream-only movie to win an Emmy for Best Drama—The story of the maid–only do so in 2017. Now there’s great content on almost any streaming service, from Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon for newcomers like HBO Max and Apple TV+. It’s almost discouraging. Actually, it is difficult. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know what to watch, we recommend starting with these — our favorite shows of 2021.

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Wonderful thing

Although most of us know the story of how Catherine the Great’s marriage to Peter III ended, Wonderful thing doesn’t mind much for historical accuracy, which is part of its outrageous charm. The first season did a great job establishing Nicholas Hoult as the rather goofy and dangerous boy of an Emperor who always acted on his will, and Elle Fanning as a woman. Young is confident and unafraid to seize any opportunity that can bring her closer to the kind of power she desires. (When she wasn’t rolling her eyes at her husband.) With the characters and their motives (or lack thereof) firmly established, creator Tony McNamara created more space for more characters to join the picture. pictures — the better to help Catherine maneuver and manipulate.

Hacks

Jean Smart is always the best thing about any TV show she’s ever been on, even though she’s often the standout member of a cast. With Hacks, she could take the center stage – quite literally – as Deborah Vance, an aging Las Vegas legend whose handlers are pushing her to add some edge to the action. mine. That “edge” comes in the form of something cynical (Hannah Einbinder, daughter of Saturday night live legend Laraine Newman), who was blacklisted by Hollywood for a malicious tweet that went viral. While the series is about a nonchalant “mentorship spirit” turning into a more natural partnership, there is never a doubt that it is Vance who is in charge and Smart who is at the forefront of her game. that. The 70-year-old actress won her fourth Emmy for the role – her first for Lead Actress.

There are only murders in the building

It was only a matter of time before someone took the haunting society’s true crime podcast and figured out how to make that the basis of an official series. While, on paper, There are only murders in the building sounds like it could easily draw itself into a corner in a single note, the amazing — and very natural — chemistry between Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez who made this Hulu series — tell about a trio of detectives in an armchair trying to solve a grisly murder. happening in their New York City apartment building — to a whole new level. The second part has been confirmed.

Booking dog

Taika Waititi is officially everywhere — you name it writing, directing, producing, acting. It’s amazing how he finds time to sleep, let alone create (with Sterlin Harjo) a brand new – and completely groundbreaking – movie like Booking dog. The story centers on four Native American teenagers (Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, and Paulina Alexis) living on a Native American reservation in Oklahoma and dreaming of getting out. What made the series so revolutionary was that it was the first TV series to feature an almost entirely native North American cast and only native writers and directors. What makes it so great is that, in doing so, it quietly removes toxic misconceptions about Native Americans while giving an authentic voice to a population that is still underrepresented. display.

Heir

Just when you thought creator Jesse Armstrong’s HBO series about the incredibly powerful – and incredibly dangerous – Roy family was the show most talked about, it came along with Season 3 After that, it became the most controversial topic. While some thought the series got off to a slow start to the third season, it’s certain that in the end, the power struggle for Roy’s media company was a completely wild ride.

White Lotus

Like Armond (Murray Bartlett), a highly resilient drug addict who works as the manager of the ultra-exclusive White Lotus resort, White Lotus seems out of nowhere that became the program that everyone is talking about. In a way, it shares some DNA with Heir in that it portrays white manhood in all its ugly, selfish, forgetful dysfunction. But with some swollen testicles, you’ll never be able to see. The series was created by Mike White (Enlightenment), has a talented cast, although Jennifer Coolidge remains the most memorable. It has also been renewed for a second season.

Yellow jacket

Although this may seem like a cop, Yellow jacket is the best kind of series that should go on with as little knowledge as possible. What can be said is that it is like a cross between Lord in the air and Bad girls, but with a kick-ass ’90s soundtrack. Its non-linear structure, which changes over time from today to the 1990s, keeps the story fresh and always surprising. What makes it so unique and engaging is that it’s sometimes a survival story, but a story where teenage girls are making the rules. Juliette Lewis, Christina Ricci and star Melanie Lynskey.

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