The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2021 So Far

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – July 1, 2021

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.

13 of 21 photo by PBS

85 #8 (tie): Hemingway

The latest PBS documentary series from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick spends six hours tracing the life of author and daiquiri lover Ernest Hemingway, with narration from Peter Coyote.

“'Hemingway' is an engaging and beautifully constructed character study and proof that whatever Burns chooses to cover as a filmmaker will more than likely become the definitive documentary on that specific topic. In Hemingway’s case, it’s a story that is a lot more sensitive than one could’ve imagined.” —Kiko Martinez, Variety

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