The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2021 So Far
Which newcomers on the small screen have impressed reviewers the most during the first half of the year? Above, find the highest-scoring first-year TV shows (including limited series and specials) debuting between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021. Only shows with at least 7 reviews from professional critics are included.
Kate Winslet returned to TV for the first time in a decade to star in a seven-part HBO series as a struggling detective who investigates a murder of a young girl in a small Pennsylvania town. The buzzy miniseries (which drew attention both for its twisty story and its use of regional Delco accents) comes from writer Brad Ingelsby (The Way Back) and reunites Winslet with Guy Pearce, the co-star of her previous HBO series Mildred Pierce, which earned both actors an Emmy. Julianne Nicholson, Jean Smart, and Evan Peters also star, while Craig Zobel (Z for Zachariah) directs every episode. Though conceived as a miniseries, there is a chance Easttown could return for a second season.
“It’s the first true must-see drama of 2021, an excellent ensemble piece that works as character study, murder mystery, and actor’s showcase. Finely detailed in both setting and character, it’s a tapestry of a mini-series, a piece that centers one of our best living actors while also providing rich, complex characters for an extended ensemble of fantastic performers.” —Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
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