Year-End Lists

A hand-curated, browsable index of notable year-end lists. Follow the link for each list to see essential commentary from its author, at the source.

2021

Polygon: The Best TV Shows of 2021

09 December 2021

The Other Two

Polygon: The Best TV Shows of 2021

[see also 2022]

Atlantic: The 16 Best TV Shows of 2021

09 December 2021

Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham

The Atlantic: The 16 Best TV Shows of 2021

[see also 202320222020]

Washington Post: Inkoo Kang: Best of TV 2021

09 December 2021

The Lady and the Dale - Nick Cammilleri & Zackary Drucker

Inkoo Kang: Best of TV 2021, as published by The Washington Post

[see also 20232022202020152014]

Honorable mentions

Entertainment Weekly: Kristen Baldwin: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2021

08 December 2021

Reservation Dogs

Kristen Baldwin: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2021, as published by Entertainment Weekly

[see also 2023202220202010s20192018]

Honorable Mentions

New Yorker: Doreen St. Félix: The Best TV Shows of 2021

08 December 2021

Doreen St. Félix: The Best TV Shows of 2021, as published by The New Yorker, in no particular order

[see also 2020]

Bonus Awards for Consistent Excellence

Rolling Stone: Alan Sepinwall: The 20 Best TV Shows of 2021

08 December 2021

For All Mankind

Alan Sepinwall: The 20 Best TV Shows of 2021, as published by Rolling Stone

[see also 2023202220202010s2019201820172016]

Boston Globe: Matthew Gilbert: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2021

03 December 2021

Matthew Gilbert: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2021, as published by The Boston Globe

[see also 2023]

The Second Ten

Sight & Sound TV Poll: The 10 Best TV Series of 2021

03 December 2021

It's a Sin

Sight & Sound Magazine: The 10 Best TV Series of 2021, the results of the Sight & Sound TV Poll

[see also 20202019]

Variety: Caroline Framke: Best TV Shows of 2021

03 December 2021

High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America

Caroline Framke: Best TV Shows of 2021, as published by Variety

[see also 202220202018]

Honorable mentions

Variety: Daniel D’Addario: Best TV Shows of 2021

03 December 2021

The Investigation - Tobias Lindholm

Daniel D’Addario: Best TV Shows of 2021, as published by Variety

[see also 202220182016]

Honorable mentions (in alphabetical order)