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.

9 of 21 photo by Saima Khalid/Peacock

83 #12 (tie): We Are Lady Parts: Season 1

A co-production between Peacock and the UK's Channel 4, this six-episode comedy centers on an all-female Muslim punk band in London. Critics hailed the series as funny, fresh, and upbeat, and mainly had just one complaint: It was way too short.

“You can feel the plot straining at the confines of just six episodes, and an easy solution would be for someone to please, for the love of little green apples, greenlight a second season. Because what We Are Lady Parts does well, it does extremely well, and its infectious spirit and charming characters deserve a chance to play on.” —Liz Shannon Miller, Collider

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