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.

14 of 21 photo by Courtesy of STV Productions

86 #6 (tie): Elizabeth Is Missing

A BBC production that aired on PBS's Masterpiece in the opening week of 2021 after first debuting in the UK in 2019, this 90-minute adaptation of Emma Healey's best-seller stars Glenda Jackson in a BAFTA-winning performance as a woman who must overcome her own dementia to solve the mysterious disappearance of her friend.

“With equal parts sensitivity and suspense, 'Elizabeth is Missing' displays an emotional range that is sometimes uncommon in crime by interweaving it with an intensely personal drama. The result is mesmerizing.” —Ashlie D. Stevens, Salon

Where To Watch