The Best Is Yet To Come: The Biggest Shows To Watch In 2021
You’ve binged every episode of WandaVision and gorged on Loki. You have solved the mystery in Mare of Eastown and rewatched all of The Sopranos. And now you’re looking around wondering… what’s next? Which amazing slice of TV gold can I get through now? Well, look no further, my tube-loving friend. These are the biggest scripted shows coming your way in 2021.
40. Monsters at Work
On: Disney+
Dropping: July 2
Remember Monsters, Inc. – that incredible Pixar film from 2001 that scored $528 million at the global box office? Oh, and what about the 2013 prequel: Monsters University? That one made $743 million! So, people are no doubt very excited about Monsters At Work, which is a spin-off show developed by Bobs Gannaway. It’ll be a – ahem – “monster” hit!
39. Gossip Girl
On: HBO Max
Dropping: July 8
There’s one secret HBO Max has let slip. No, it’s not the identity of Gossip Girl – but it is the next best thing. The reboot of Gossip Girl is dropping on the streaming service on July 8. Joshua Safran is taking charge of the latest bunch of NYC teens to fall under the Gossip Girl lens. XOXO.
38. Schmigadoon!
On: Apple TV Plus
Dropping: July 16
Looking around, it seems that 2021 is the year of the musical. Apple TV Plus is keen to get in on the act, and Schmigadoon! is its best bet. This parody series from Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio is about a couple stuck inside a 1940s musical. So, expect big laughs, big heart and – hopefully – big beautiful musical numbers.
37. Ted Lasso: Season two
On: Apple TV Plus
Dropping: July 23
Ted Lasso is such a success that Apple has commissioned a further two instalments. The second season drops this summer, and fans will expect it to be just as delightful as the first. And as for season three? Let’s hope it’s a perfect hat trick! The show – which revolves around a severely underqualified soccer coach – was developed by Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis and Joe Kelly.
36. Masters Of The Universe: Revelation
On: Netflix
Dropping: July 23
Kevin Smith is better known for adult-focused movies such as Clerks and Chasing Amy. How come he’s the guy bringing He-Man to Netflix, then? Well, he’s just a huge fan! The same goes for the astounding voice cast, too. We’re talking Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lena Heady and Alicia Silverstone, folks. By the power of Grayskull!
35. What If…?
On: Disney+
Dropping: August
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is making its animated debut with What If…? The ten-episode series from showrunner Ashley Bradley has a funky concept, too. Each instalment will play out a Sliding Doors-style scenario. Like, what would have happened if Peggy Carter became Captain America? We’ll also be treated to Chadwick Boseman’s final performance as the Black Panther.
34. Reservation Dogs
On: FX on Hulu
Dropping: August 9
Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo are bringing a wholly original show to FX on Hulu this summer. Called Reservation Dogs, the comedy is about Indigenous teens in Oklahoma trying to beg, borrow or steal their way to California. And the best part is that all the important roles on screen and off are actually filled by Indigenous people.
33. Nine Perfect Strangers
On: Hulu
Dropping: August 18
Take one look at the cast of Nine Perfect Strangers and tell us you’re not excited! We’re talking Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Regina Hall, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans and Bobby Carnivale. You’ve got showrunners David E. Kelley and John Henry Butterworth, too. It revolves around a group of city folk on a mission to better themselves in a health resort. When does this thing start already?!
32. The Walking Dead: Season 11
On: AMC
Dropping: August 22
In its prime, The Walking Dead reportedly commanded 18 million viewers for a single episode. And while the show is nowhere near as popular now, it’s still the most-watched series on AMC, according to Statista. Showrunner Angela Kang is also promising that season 11 – the last of the main show – is going to be bigger and better than ever. Grr!
31. Only Murders in the Building
On: Hulu
Dropping: August 31
Comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short are teaming up once again for Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. Selena Gomez also joins the pair in a show about a group of true-crime fanatics trying to solve a murder mystery. Steve Martin apparently created the show alongside John Hoffman.
30. Yellowstone: Season four
On: Paramount Network
Dropping: summer
Season three of Yellowstone ended with the show’s highest-ever viewing figures, as per The Hollywood Reporter. That’s five million viewers, partner! So, it was only a matter of time before Paramount Network delivered season four of Taylor Sheridan and John Linson’s Western. And fans shouldn’t have long to wait before they can catch up on the Kevin Costner-fronted drama.
29. Foundation
On: Apple TV Plus
Dropping: fall
Even if you don’t know the name David S. Goyer, you’ve probably seen some of the stuff he’s made. The Dark Knight? Goyer co-wrote that. Man of Steel? Yep, that was one of his, too. And now Goyer’s bringing his touch to Foundation – an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s classic novels. This’ll be a big one, for sure.
28. Clickbait
On: Netflix
Dropping: 2021
The potential dangers of social media are pretty scary. And that’s basically the whole point of Netflix’s new show Clickbait. In this series – created by Tony Ayres and Christian White – a terrible crime has been committed. The reason? Social media. The twist? Each character in the show could have done it…
27. Money Heist: Season five
On: Netflix
Dropping: September 3
Anticipation is high for Netflix’s biggest non-English language show. Luckily, fans will be getting not one but two doses of Money Heist in 2021! The first part of season five lands on September 3, and the second offering comes three months later. But as Álex Pina’s heist drama is so bonkers, there’s no telling what will happen next.
26. Impeachment: American Crime Story
On: FX
Dropping: September 7
Ryan Murphy is finally bringing us another instalment of American Crime Story. The previous seasons explored the O.J. Simpson trial and Gianni Versace’s murder, but this time we’re looking at Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial. Clive Owen will be the president, with Beanie Feldstein as Monica Lewinsky and Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp.
25. Y: The Last Man
On: FX on Hulu
Dropping: September 13
Y: The Last Man – based on a multi-award winning comic book series – is all about how this one guy is the only man left in the world. And on the show, women take the lead in front of and behind the camera. Yep, the cast is headlined by Diane Lane, and the ten episodes are spearheaded by Eliza Clark.
24. Sex Education: Weason three
On: Netflix
Dropping: fall
If 2020 hadn’t been so… well, 2020-ish, then we might have had a third season of Sex Education already. But now new episodes will be dropping at some point in 2021. And that’s not a surprise considering that Laurie Nunn’s show is a huge hit. Just be warned: star Asa Butterfield has warned fans that they’re “not ready” for what’s in store…
23. Dexter
On: Showtime
Dropping: fall
Dexter debuted in 2006 and ran for eight seasons. Though some people weren’t happy with how the show ended – and now there’s a chance to revisit it. Yes, Michael C. Hall and showrunner Clyde Phillips are bringing Dexter back for ten blood-spattered episodes! The fan-favorite series will apparently drop on Showtime in the fall of 2021.
22. You: Season three
On: Netflix
Dropping: fall
Nielson announced in 2021 that You was the tenth-most streamed original show of 2020. And according to those same stats, fans binged on almost 11 million minutes of Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti’s stalker drama. What can we expect from this season, then? Well, the ending of season two was pretty shocking – so hopefully they’ll unpack that!
21. Chucky
On: Syfy and the USA Network
Dropping: fall
Everybody’s favorite kill-crazy doll is returning to screens in 2021. That’s right: fans of Chucky’s eight movies can look forward to ten whole episodes of Chucky in the fall. Viewers will also be thrilled to know series creator Don Mancini is the driving force behind this new show. Plus, Chucky’s original voice – Brad Dourif – is back on vocals!
20. Ms. Marvel
On: Disney+
Dropping: winter
Ms. Marvel may not have been around as long as Iron Man or Thor, but she’s proven just as popular. It’ll be exciting, then, to see how Bisha K. Ali brings Kamala Khan – played by Iman Vellani – to life in Ms. Marvel. Maybe she’ll even battle her way into the wider MCU!
19. Pieces of Her
On: Netflix
Dropping: winter
You’ve heard of Karin Slaughter, right? Yeah, she’s the writer who’s flogged more than 35 million books all over the world, according to Variety. Well, Pieces of Her is based on one of Slaughter’s novels focusing on an outing gone wrong – and it’s got a heck of a cast. Created by Charlotte Stoudt, Pieces of Her the show will star the Oscar-nominated Toni Collette among others. Count us in!
18. Midnight Mass
On: Netflix
Dropping: winter
If you’re looking for something spooky to watch, then you can’t go wrong with a Mike Flanagan joint. Remember The Haunting of Hill House? Yep, the guy behind that terrifying masterwork has now created Midnight Mass. It involves a priest, a remote island, some miracles – and bad omens. Get prepared for this one around Christmas…
17. The Witcher: Season two
On: Netflix
Dropping: winter
Netflix must have known it had a hit on its hands with The Witcher. Why else would the platform announce a second season before anyone had even seen the first one? And guess what? The streamer was right. It reported that roughly 76 million people checked out Lauren S. Hissrich’s show first time around. So, expectations will be high for The Witcher take two.
16. Succession: Season three
On: HBO
Dropping: winter
HBO must know it's on to a good thing with Succession. Jesse Armstrong’s show was a runaway success at the 2020 Emmys, after all. It took home seven prizes altogether – including the highest honor for best drama. And with new cast members Adrien Brody and Alexander Skarsgård coming up in season three, Succession looks set to continue its reign.
15. NCIS: Season 19
On: CBS
Dropping: winter
NCIS was one of the most-watched shows of 2020 – and probably still is in 2021! Just check out its numbers. On Netflix, NCIS took up over 28 million minutes’ worth of people’s viewing time, according to Nielsen. And ten episodes of the show were among the most-watched telecasts of 2020 as well. Here’s hoping season 19 drops in 2021!
14. The Blacklist: Season Nine
On: NBC
Dropping: winter
NBC has The Blacklist confirmed for Friday nights on its 2021-22 schedule. And Jon Bokenkamp’s crime drama has been on no one’s blacklist for quite some time. Seriously: 14 million minutes of the show streamed on Netflix in 2020, Nielsen notes. But – spoiler alert – how will it cope after star Megan Boone made her exit at the season eight finale?
13. Ozark: Season four
On: Netflix
Dropping: winter
As per Nielsen, the most-streamed Netflix original series of 2020 was about a financial adviser. And no, we’re not joking. Mind you, fans probably didn’t stream over 30 million minutes of Ozark for its useful money advice. Yet those numbers do suggest people will be looking forward to the final season of Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams’ hit.
12. Bel-Air
On: Peacock
Dropping: 2021
This is a story all about how… a guy made a YouTube trailer and got a two-season commission from Peacock. Yep, Morgan Cooper’s serious take on Will Smith’s hit ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air got over six million views on YouTube. Then Smith himself got involved, and the rest is history. Apparently, Chris Collins will be the showrunner on Bel-Air.
11. Vikings: Valhalla
On: Netflix
Dropping: 2021
For those of you who miss History’s Vikings, fear not: a sequel is coming soon! Created by Die Hard writer Jeb Stuart, Vikings: Valhalla takes place a century after the original. But the new show will no doubt still deliver the blood, sweat and tears that fans expect. And the best news? There are 24 episodes in the first season!
10. FBI: Season four
On: CBS
Dropping: winter
How popular is FBI? Well, the most-watched episode of 2020 hooked in 14.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen. The show regularly entertains 11 million people, too. That’s pretty darn popular! So, it’s probably not a secret that Craig Turk and Dick Wolf’s procedural has a fourth season on the way. CBS apparently has it scheduled for Tuesday nights during its fall season.
9. FBI: Most Wanted: Season three
On: CBS
Dropping: winter
FBI spin-off FBI: Most Wanted has proved to be almost as popular as its parent show. Nielsen notes that Rene Balcer’s follow-up boasts almost nine million regular viewers – reaching nearly 13 million during its peak. And just like the dogged FBI agent it portrays, FBI: Most Wanted is not going anywhere. Season three will drop on Tuesday nights on CBS.
8. FBI: International
On: CBS
Dropping: winter
As if two FBI shows weren’t enough, Dick Wolf will now deliver a third. FBI: International will debut with a massive three-hour crossover event involving both FBI and FBI: Most Wanted. The series will then continue to air on Tuesdays on CBS. What makes this FBI show different, then? Answer: the agents are weapon-less and abroad!
7. Law & Order: For the Defense
On: NBC
Dropping: winter
You’ve heard of Law & Order and CSI, right? They’re pretty big shows! So, you know it’s a huge deal that Dick Wolf of Law & Order and Carol Mendelsohn of CSI have teamed up to create Law & Order: For the Defense. The twist this time is that we’ll be following the defense team instead of the prosecution.
6. Chicago Fire: Season ten
On: NBC
Dropping: winter
If you’re one of the many fans of Chicago Fire, you’ve got plenty to look forward to! That’s because Michael Brandt and Derek Haas’ firefighter drama has been renewed until season 11. You can pretty much block out your Wednesday nights in the fall, then. Yep, Chicago Fire is going to be the 9:00 p.m. mainstay for some time to come.
5. Chicago Med: Season seven
On: NBC
Dropping: winter
When NBC renewed Chicago Fire for three seasons, it also backed Chicago Med to run for the same time. After all, this show attracts about 11 million viewers to every telecast, Nielsens reports. That means producer Dick Wolf will basically close off your Wednesday nights with hours of Chicago-based fun and games!
4. Chicago P.D.: Season nine
On: NBC
Dropping: winter
Closing out Wednesday nights on NBC will be season nine of Chicago P.D. Yes, that’s another feather in producer Dick Wolf’s cap! So, what is the secret to his massive success? In 2015 Wolf told The Hollywood Reporter his shows “are not flashy. But they run for hundreds of thousands of miles.”
3. Young Sheldon: Season five
On: CBS
Dropping: winter
CBS has scheduled Young Sheldon for Thursday evenings for, well, the next three years. That’s right: Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro’s The Big Bang Theory spin-off has reportedly been renewed until at least its seventh season. And considering it’s the only sitcom still drawing a massive audience, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.
2. Hawkeye
On: Disney+
Dropping: winter
Marvel has successfully shifted from movies to TV with binge-worthy shows such as Loki, WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. And the final TV series of its “phase four” release schedule is Hawkeye. This one’ll see Jeremy Renner’s Avenger trying to teach Hailee Steinfield’s Kate Bishop how to hero. Also, Jonathan Igla is the man in charge.
1. The Book of Boba Fett
On: Disney+
Dropping: December
Remember that gasp-inducing finish to The Mandalorian? Well, The Book of Boba Fett will now continue the adventures of everyone’s favorite bounty hunter. Mandalorian alumni Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni – along with director Robert Rodriguez – are calling the shots, too. That means Disney will be hoping to end 2021 with a major bang!
