Best of 2021: Television

/ giltnerbros

Oh, hello!

Yes, ranking Television is dumb. Especially since there are now more shows than there are hours in a year to consume them. Perhaps we’re reaching an inflection point, the moment when there is truly too much of a good thing, the first sign of the impending singularity? Or perhaps we’re in the golden age of short-form, visual storytelling? It’s a real glass-half-full/glass-might-become-sentient-and-destroy-humanity situation.

That being said, here are thirteen(ish) shows we enjoyed that stood above the field in our eyes.

13. Anything Mindy Kaling is associated with:

Never Have I Ever – Season 2
The Sex Lives of College Girls

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12. Hellbound

A show so interesting you’re more than willing to look past the low-quality CGI monsters.

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11. Mare of Easttown

When Kate Winslet does TV, she really does TV.

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10. White Lotus

Apparently this show was created to fill a pandemic void in HBO’s schedule.
What luck.

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9. I Think You Should Leave – Season 2

The highest form of comedy. Brett has an interesting story about someone calling him a piece of shit in a bar. Ask him about it sometime.

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8. Dave – Season 2

I initially wasn’t sure about Dave season 2, but somewhere between gay-chicken and breaking Kareem’s leg, I was won over.

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7. Exterminate All The Brutes

A proper look at colonialism. Brett & Jason haven’t seen it. We’re trusting Casey here…

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We interrupt this countdown of the best shows of 2021 to bring you...

BRETT’S REALITY CORNER

Welcome to Brett’s Reality Corner! It’s time to take a quick break from the more serious programming to talk reality TV, specifically Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Season 2 – an all-time Top 10 season of reality television which deserves a place in the hall of all time classics such as: The Challenge: Rivals and Jersey Shore Season 1.

Below Deck has always been a solid show, but this season turned it up 10 extra notches with an absolutely perfect cast that provided nonstop drama. Aside from a turbocharged dose of hookups and fights, this season also included a yacht crashing into docks, a love/hookup PENTAGON, and a post-season pregnancy drama. The shit doesn’t end.

Now back to the countdown.

6. Squid Game

You don’t need us to tell you anything about Squid Game. Unless you’ve been living under a rock. In which case, are you okay? Under a rock you say? How? Why? We have questions…

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5. How To with John Wilson – Season 2

Jason’s actual favorite thing that exists. The perfect cross between home movies, poetry, and the chaos of New York City that you never knew you needed.

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4. It’s A Sin

History of the AIDS epidemic told with pure joy, love, and boundless energy. Devastating and beautiful.

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3. Station Eleven

Only 5 episodes have been released (as of this being written) and it made the list. That tells you all you need to know.

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2. Succession – Season 3

    Come for the Roy family drama. Stay for Tom and Greg.

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    Number 1: Midnight Mass

    Maybe you have to be raised Catholic to vibe with this show the way we did. Entertainment with a dash of therapy. An easy #1 in a year full of fantastic television.

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    Thanks for reading!

    Let us know if you disagree (unless you’re disagreeing about Midnight Mass, in which case, keep it to yourself).

    Did we miss anything? Did we overrate anything? Let us know!

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