Here are 24 series from 2021 that received the highest scores on Metacritic (an aggregator site that collects reviews for movies, games, and series). This is not a popular trend, but rather a cross-section that demonstrates the preferences not of individuals, but of critics in general.
How we've grouped data:
- releases are placed from top to bottom and left to right, from highest to lowest, and in alphabetical order;
- the data is current as of the end of December 2021. With more reviews, the layout may change;
- only series with at least 7 reviews are taken into account.
What We Do in the Shadows — 96 points (FX / 3 season)
Genre: comedy
What is remarkable: good-luck vampires are unsuccessfully terrorizing the streets of New York and competing with various monsters for a place under the moon.
Succession — 92 points (HBO / 3 season)
Genre: drama
What is remarkable: the irrepressible struggle of relatives for the throne of the head of the family, a wealthy media mogul and the owner of a large firm.
The Underground Railroad — 92 points (Prime Video / mini-series)
Genre: drama
What is remarkable: a fantastic story about a secret railroad that saved the lives of black fugitives in the 19th century.
It's a Sin — 91 points (HBO Max / mini-series)
Genre: drama, comedy, history
What is remarkable: a few friends move to London in the 1980s, where they will enjoy big city fun, adulthood and the AIDS epidemic.
Last Chance U: Basketball — 90 points (Netflix / 1 season)
Genre: documentary, sports
What is remarkable: players from the college basketball team are not only struggling with the challenges of growing up, but also trying to make their way into the sport. The catch is this is their last chance.
Curb Your Enthusiasm — 89 points (HBO / 11 season)
Genre: comedy
What is remarkable: Larry David, who created Seinfeld, plays himself, a middle-aged and tired screenwriter who confronts comical troubles and numerous neuroses.
Muhammad Ali — 88 points (PBS / mini-series)
Genre: documentary, sports, biography
What is remarkable: a comprehensive look at the life and career of the most popular boxer of his time. The series touches on his political views, attitudes towards war, religion and race.
I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson — 87 points (Netflix / 2 season)
Genre: comedy
What is remarkable: an absurd and surreal journey through the subconscious of a famous comedian that revived the almost forgotten art of sketching.
Tuca & Bertie — 87 points (Adult Swim / 2 season)
Genre: cartoon, comedy
What is remarkable: two reckless birds conquer the adult world of ups and downs.
This Way Up — 86 points (Hulu / 2 season)
Genre: comedy
What is remarkable: after a vacation in a psychiatric hospital, 30-year-old Ein tries to return to a quiet life: she finds a job, falls in love and avoids a new nervous breakdown in every possible way.
The Great — 86 points (Hulu / 2 season)
Genre: comedy, history
What is remarkable: a satirical sitcom about young Catherine's ascent to the throne of the Russian Empire.
Feel Good — 86 points (Netflix / 2 season)
Genre: drama, romance
What is remarkable: two friends are trying to build a romantic relationship and simultaneously fight off judgmental relatives, alcoholism and drug addiction.
Elizabeth Is Missing — 86 points (PBS / mini-series)
Genre: drama, detective
What is remarkable: in addition to the fact that 80-year-old Maud has dementia, she is also sure that her best friend Elizabeth is missing.
Painting With John — 86 points (HBO / 1 season)
Genre: documentary, comedy
What is remarkable: John Lurie, an eminent saxophonist and artist who now lives in the Caribbean, reflects on life and paints pictures.
The Beatles: Get Back — 85 points (Disney+ / mini-series)
Genre: documentary, music
What is remarkable: from the recording of the latest album to the final concert on the roof, the series by Peter Jackson will tell about the end of the legendary The Beatles.
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song — 85 points (PBS / mini-series)
Genre: documentary
What is remarkable: the story of underground “black churches” that appeared in America with the first slaves.
McCartney 3,2,1 — 85 points (Hulu / 1 season)
Genre: documentary, music
What is remarkable: Paul McCartney and Rick Rubin, whose importance cannot be overestimated, talk about music in all its forms.
Ted Lasso — 85 points (Apple TV+ / 2 season)
Genre: comedy, sport
What is remarkable: the world of big English football is troubled by the arrival of Ted Lasso, a clueless but infinitely charming American coach.
Hemingway — 85 points (PBS / mini-series)
Genre: documentary, biography
What is remarkable: a mini-documentary series about Ernest Hemingway from the creators of the 2017 18-hour epic “Vietnam”.
Dave — 84 points (FX / 2 season)
Genre: comedy, music
What is remarkable: the slightly neurotic Dave, who will soon turn 30, sincerely believes that he is destined to become the greatest rapper in human history.
Evil — 84 points (Paramount+ / 2 season)
Genre: horror, drama, detective
What is remarkable: a skeptical psychologist investigates and periodically exposes events that the public thinks are “miracles.”
The Crime of the Century — 84 points (HBO / mini-series)
Genre: documentary, crime
What is remarkable: an investigation into the opioid epidemic in the United States, which began due to the bad faith of pharmaceutical companies and politicians.
Too Close — 84 points (AMC+ / 1 season)
Genre: thriller, drama
What is remarkable: forensic psychiatrist Emma Robertson must determine the defendant's sanity.
Back — 84 points (Sundance Now / 2 season)
Genre: drama, comedy
What is remarkable: after his father's death, Stephen takes over the family pub, but at the same time, his brother Andrew, a dangerous sociopath, invades his life.
See you next year!
