The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2021

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 28, 2021

Above are the highest-scoring first-year TV series (including limited series) debuting in the United States between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. Shows are ranked by Metascore (an average of grades from top professional critics on a 0-100 scale) prior to rounding based on scores as of December 24, 2021, and any programs with fewer than 7 reviews are excluded. One-off TV specials and made-for TV movies are ranked separately at the end of the gallery.

16 of 23 photo by HBO

86 Painting With John (HBO)

(#5) Artist/musician/actor/hermit John Lurie hosts an unusual and tranquil six-episode HBO series in which he shares his paintings and reflects on his life at his scenic home in the Caribbean. It's destined to become a cult favorite much like his similarly offbeat previous series Fishing With John, which aired two decades ago.

“A hypnotic, meandering, surreality-TV walk into the knotty jungle of Lurie’s mind that explores living as an art form in itself. ... Lurie isn’t teaching painting. But he’s teaching something. Patience, purpose, attentiveness to your inner voice. It may seem rambling or self-indulgent at times. But the digressions are the point. The show, which at six half-hour episodes does not overstay its welcome, is like an apprenticeship with a crotchety bohemian Yoda.” —James Poniewozik, The New York Times

Watch it on HBO Max (6 episodes)

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