Ranked roundup
The best series of 2021
25 ranked · updated July 2026
The television landscape of 2021 was defined by a bold collision of high-concept fantasy, visceral animation, and intimate character studies. These standout series pushed narrative boundaries, blending complex explorations of grief and morality with the kind of genre-defying storytelling that keeps audiences captivated long after the final credits roll.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score combining each title's average rating and rating count (minimum 100 ratings to qualify, weighted toward titles with more votes), filtered to series released in 2021.
Arcane
Christian Linke
Arcane earns its top spot through its breathtaking fusion of steampunk aesthetics and a deeply emotional narrative regarding the tragic fracture of sisterhood.
Explores: Sisterhood, Dystopian Society, Technological Advancement vs. Social Decay.
Invincible
Invincible revitalizes the superhero genre by pairing a grounded, coming-of-age exploration of legacy with unflinching, brutal depictions of power and consequence.
Explores: Father-Son Relationship, Superhero Legacy, Brutal Superhero.
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Mushoku Tensei stands out for its meticulous approach to the isekai genre, prioritizing profound character growth and the genuine weight of a second chance.
Explores: Second Chance, Redemption, Character Growth.
Only Murders in the Building
Steve Martin
Only Murders in the Building succeeds by masterfully balancing sharp true-crime parody with the surprisingly tender, intergenerational bonds formed within a New York apartment.
Explores: True Crime Obsession, New York City, Intergenerational Friendship.
Horimiya
Horimiya captures the delicate charm of high school romance by focusing on the authentic vulnerability required to drop one's social facade for another.
Explores: Hidden Identities, Unexpected Friendship, Social Outcasts.
Young Royals
Lisa Ambjörn
Young Royals is an essential watch for its raw, honest portrayal of the friction between personal identity and the rigid expectations of royal duty.
Explores: Royal Life, Boarding School, Class Differences.
Vincenzo
Vincenzo delivers a unique blend of dark comedy and legal thriller, anchored by a protagonist whose pursuit of justice is as ruthless as his adversaries.
Explores: Justice, Revenge, Corruption.
Tokyo Revengers
Tokyo Revengers thrives on its high-stakes premise, using time travel not just for spectacle, but as a desperate vehicle for redemption and changing one's fate.
Explores: Time Travel, Gang Violence, Redemption.
Clarkson's Farm
Clarkson's Farm offers a refreshingly chaotic look at the agricultural learning curve, turning the simple act of farming into a compelling, high-stakes comedy of errors.
Explores: Amateur hour, Learning curve, Man vs. Nature.
WandaVision
Jac Schaeffer
WandaVision is a masterclass in psychological storytelling, using the structure of sitcom parody to peel back layers of trauma, grief, and manufactured reality.
Explores: Grief and Loss, Illusion vs. Reality, Control and Manipulation.
Tear Along the Dotted Line
Zerocalcare
Tear Along the Dotted Line provides a poignant, self-deprecating look at existential angst that resonates through its unique, deeply personal visual and narrative style.
Explores: Existential angst, Social commentary, Self-deprecation.
Snowdrop
Yoo Hyun-mi
Snowdrop excels as a tense historical drama, skillfully weaving a narrative of forbidden love against a backdrop of high-stakes political intrigue and moral uncertainty.
Explores: Forbidden Love, Political Intrigue, Moral Dilemma.
TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy-
TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy- distinguishes itself within the fantasy genre by focusing on the community-building efforts of an outcast protagonist navigating a hostile new world.
Explores: Summoned to Another World, Outcast Protagonist, Building a Community.
Loki
Michael Waldron
Loki offers a fascinating exploration of free will and identity, placing a complex anti-hero within the bureaucratic machinery of the multiverse.
Explores: Redemption, Fate vs. Free Will, Bureaucracy.
1883
Taylor Sheridan
1883 serves as a visceral, unflinching study of the American frontier, capturing the brutal reality of the pioneer experience and the desperate search for survival.
Explores: Manifest Destiny, Pioneer Life, Immigration to the West.
The Beatles: Get Back
Peter Jackson
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Creative Process, Band Dynamics, Music History.
Mare of Easttown
Brad Ingelsby
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Grief, Trauma, Family Dysfunction.
Komi Can't Communicate
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Social Anxiety, Making Friends, High School Life.
My Name
Kim Jin-min
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Undercover Agent, Organized Crime, Betrayal.
Mouse
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Justice vs. Revenge, Trauma.
Navillera
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Mentorship, Late-Life Dreams, Overcoming Obstacles.
Women's War: Bachelor Murder Case
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Murder Investigation, Jealousy, Competition.
Beyond Evil
Sim Na-yeon
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Small Town Secrets, Partnership.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Dave Filoni
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Clone troopers, Moral ambiguity, Post-war society.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Yu Je-won
A standout among the best series of 2021.
Explores: Small Town Romance, City Slicker vs. Small Town, Healing.
Common questions
What are the best animated series from 2021?
The top-rated animated series from 2021 include the steampunk-inspired Arcane, the brutal superhero drama Invincible, the isekai adventure Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, the gang-focused Tokyo Revengers, the introspective Tear Along the Dotted Line, and the fantasy comedy TSUKIMICHI -Moonlit Fantasy-.
Which 2021 shows feature time travel?
Several acclaimed series from 2021 utilized time travel as a central plot device, including the shonen gang anime Tokyo Revengers, the Marvel superhero series Loki, and the sitcom-inspired psychological thriller WandaVision, which plays with time through its varying television eras.
What are some highly-rated mystery and thriller shows from 2021?
Top mystery and thriller contenders from 2021 include the true-crime parody Only Murders in the Building, the mafia-legal thriller Vincenzo, the psychological drama WandaVision, the historical espionage thriller Snowdrop, and the gritty, high-stakes superhero narrative found in Invincible.