At the time of writing, we find ourselves anchored almost exactly halfway through the year 2021.
It has been a trying time, of course, for many reasons, but the creativity of the major TV studios and the indies – at a time when making shows is even more difficult than ever – has to be applauded.
After all, 2021 has been another golden year for new TV series as well as the continuation of some old favorites. When looking at the release schedule for Netflix, Amazon Prime and the other key streaming sites, there are plenty more gems to enjoy in the second half of the year also.
Peaky Blinders will return for a sixth and final season, with the no-nonsense gang taking their domination of the underground gambling scene in Birmingham, England to new heights. If you prefer your casino games without a side of bloodshed, maybe give this instant classic UK series a miss and play at an online casino instead.
The Thing About Pam is the true crime drama we need this year; the curious place-shifting of La Brea could be the sleeper hit of the year; and the CSI team pack up their forensic equipment and head to Vegas.
In the meantime, here’s a rundown of the best TV produced in 2021 if you fancy relaxing on the sofa for the evening.
Mare of Easttown
While never knowingly underselling the viewer, Kate Winslet is a revelation in Mare of Easttown.
Set in a sleepy small town, a brutal murder shakes up the local community and moves some to action – not least Winslet’s character Mare, who needs to crack the case while preventing her own life from unravelling.
Set and filmed in Philadelphia, this HBO seven-part show will leave you feeling a sort of dizzying rush from its claustrophobic production to its heart-wrenching portrayal of a good-hearted soul in a dark place.
The journey to the satisfactory conclusion is very much a ride worth taking.
WandaVision
When a TV show is almost impossible to explain in mere words, you know as a viewer that you are in for a rollercoaster ride.
WandaVision, which is Marvel’s maiden voyage into the world of TV, sees Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprise their roles of Wanda (the Scarlet Witch) and Vision, as originally played in the Avengers: Endgame movie.
Initially, you think that the show is simply a ‘fish out of water’ look at superheroes trying to live an ordinary life in a small town while concealing their powers.
However, shifts in time and tone make you realize that Wanda and Vision find themselves in a situation where life is not all that it seems, and fans of dazzling cinematography will love the skips back to the past to an altogether simpler time…wasn’t it?
The Underground Railroad
Engrossing, captivating and uplifting, you will find yourself rooting for the lead character Cora as she looks to leave slavery behind by taking a ride on the Underground Railroad of the title.
Pursued by a slave-catcher menacingly played by Joel Edgerton, Cora’s journey will have you on the edge of your seat.
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from Colson Whitehead and helmed by Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins, The Underground Railroad manages to avoid being too syrupy or heavy-handed in its exploration of slave culture and the horrors that many African Americans had to face.
Lupin
A slightly unhinged central character is driven to seek revenge and redemption after his father is killed.
So far, so template. However, Lupin takes viewers on a journey into a world that is far beyond the 101 of dramatic writing, and with the outstanding Omar Sy powering the action as the eponymous lead, this is a drama series that takes plenty of unexpected twists and turns.
Set amid a stunning Parisian backdrop, you may have to squint to read the subtitles of this Netflix powerhouse, but it will be oh-so worth it.
Search Party
While not exactly family-friendly fare, Search Party – into its fourth season – remains one of the most unique and gripping takes on the serial killer trope.
You won’t know whether to laugh or cry – seriously, the tone switches from comedy to drama and back again in the blink of an eye – now that Dory has been held captive by The Twink, and what started as a parody of privileged millennials has taken an altogether darker twist.
Anchored by bewitching performances from Alia Shawkat and Cole Escola, Search Party is a slow-burning masterpiece.
It’s a Sin
Deep dives into the AIDS pandemic in London in the 1980s does not exactly scream knockabout fun, and it has to be said that It’s a Sin makes for heavy and unsettling watching at time.
However, the ensemble cast also has some fun along the way, with safe-pair-of-hands writer Russell T Davies once again weaving his magic.
With sumptuous cinematography, It’s a Sin is a love letter to London in the 80s as well as a heavyweight tour de force, and the heady mix of joy, fear and living each day like it’s your last will have you reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion.
Cobra Kai
Put your hands up if you thought that a TV spin-off of a movie franchise made three decades ago would be must-watch television in 2021?
The success of Cobra Kai must have taken all parties involved somewhat by surprise, but the unique twist – Ralph Macchio and William Zabka play aged versions of the characters they brought to the big screen in the 1980s – means that the series works both as a standalone project and those seeking a warming hit of retro kitsch.
Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence rekindle their rivalry of the original The Karate Kid movie, and you will be immersed in the world of intrigue and honor in the dojo.
A runaway success for Netflix, now is the perfect time to catch up with Cobra Kai, with the fourth season expected at the end of 2021.