Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao in “Mythic Quest”Ĭourtesy of Apple TV+ 9. I’m indebted to my fellow critics who vigorously ring the bell for their favorite programs throughout the year, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with for their own requisite, irrational rankings.) (And please, read every Top 10 list you can. But there has to be a little bit of absurdity to this insurmountable, incredible task. Perhaps it would’ve been simpler had I just extended my Top 10 to a Top 20. But lists are also indomitable, arbitrary, and perpetually fluid. The process, the structure, the slow tailoring until it’s just right.
I have to allow for the possibility, because at some point this year, they were that essential to my TV viewing life. Most days, I believe the Top 10 list would remain just as it is, but maybe for a few months out of the year, these alternative picks would move their way up. Officially, these aren’t the best shows of the year. But it’s just as likely a show outside of that list will take top priority, and with that concept in mind, I’ve included an Alternative 10 list, too. Tomorrow morning, one of the shows in my Top 10 could be the most valuable story to that moment. And yet, at the end of the day, there are only three things I know for certain about TV in 2021: “ The Underground Railroad” is the best program of the year, “ Succession” is the only good show on TV, and there’s nothing as rewarding as watching “ I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.” I stand by all of these statements, while acknowledging each one could apply to any of these shows. 10 in descending order - no asterisks or exceptions needed. These are the 10 best shows of 2021, ranked from No.
Below, there’s a classic, uniform Top 10 list. Which is why this year, I’ve decided to split my list in two. Top 10 lists aren’t just expected, they’re valuable real estate.
'The Last of Us': Everything You Need to Know About HBO's AdaptationĮmmy Predictions: Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - 'Ted Lasso' vs. The Best New TV Series of 2021 - What to Watch for Years to Come, from 'Acapulco' to 'Yellowjackets'
The 25 Best Breakthrough Performances of 2021 One writer may want to use their list to highlight how 12 programs defined each of the previous 12 months, while another branches out beyond scripted fare and documentaries to include sports and theater.
And those voices rarely say the same thing.
The ubiquity of Top 10 lists also allows review aggregators to compile a somewhat definitive critics’ list, expanding the number of series in consideration by the number of critics with varying tastes, time, and voices. Not only do they provide an excuse to look back and organize your thoughts on the year that was, but they help audiences find more, better TV - whether it’s by discovering diamonds in the rough or giving hastily labeled pebbles a second look. If your picks are too predictable, did you dig deep enough? If they’re too obscure, are you too far removed from popular culture? And can any one person really have seen every top-tier series released over a 365-day span?īut lists, especially Top 10 lists, are also a gift.
Indignation is the only rational response to being asked to weigh your personal subjective opinions against professional objective analysis in order to winnow 500 new programs into a hierarchical list of the 10 “best “shows. Plenty of critics bemoan their annual duty of ranking the year’s best TV shows - and rightfully so.