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.
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. Painting follows a similarly offbeat cult 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
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