All The TV Shows I Watched In 2021, Ranked

I was brainstorming blog posts recently and I thought to myself, “what did I watch on TV this year?”

Okay fine, it didn’t go exactly like that. But I still asked myself what I actually watched. And the answer is, I don’t know. There’s a mixture of TV shows that I watched this year, shows that I had never seen before and shows that I watched again and again (already looking forward to my re-watch of Gilmore Girls in 2022). One of my goals for the new year is to watch less TV and read more, particularly in order to reduce screen time, but there’s something about starting a new series on a weekend with your favorite beverage in hand and nothing on the agenda.

I hesitated about including my 2020 watch list in it, but I think that some of those shows I watched in 2020 will make its way on the 2021 list partly because these shows had a second season premiere in 2021 or I simply just didn’t finish the series until this year. That being said, these are the shows that I started (and maybe finished) in 2021.

Before I dive into the shows that I watched in 2021, the following shows are loosely ranked—meaning that the first one isn’t particularly my least favorite, but I definitely saved the good ones for the bottom, and the best one for last.

Bachelor in Paradise, Season 7

Ugh, I don’t want to hate on Bachelor shows, partly because they’re such good trash, but this season just didn’t do anything for me. There was no Paradise filmed in 2020, so there were A LOT of Bachelor contestants to hit the beaches this past summer in Mexico. Some notable contestants from this past BIP season were: Abigail, Brendan (ugh), Pieper, Demi (ugh), Deandra, former Bachelorette Becca Kufrin, Jessenia, Ivan, Grocery Store Joe Who Doesn’t Own a Grocery Store Anymore, Serena C., Serena P., Kenny, Mari, Maurissa, and Riley. The only things that come to mind when I think of that summer in Mexico were the whole Brendan and Pieper Instagram followers debacle, a similar pre-Paradise hookup debacle concerning Chris and Alana, and Ivan being dismissed from the beach. Other than that, I can’t remember any drama. However, all three couples who remained (Kenny and Mari, Riley and Maurissa, and Joe and Serena P.) are all still strong, and Thomas and Becca.

Overall, I just didn’t like this season. I normally love BIP for its highly produced drama in flip flops, but I think there were just too many contestants being added. But I can’t write about BIP without mentioning the FAB and completely random hosts: David Spade, Lance Bass, Titus, Lil Jon, and Bachelor’s own Wells Adams. David Spade was the best host to usher in the premiere beach arrivals, Lil Jon was the most incredible narrator throughout the entire season, and Wells, well let’s just say, I think he nailed his audition to be the show’s permanent host.

Grey’s Anatomy, Season 18

The new season of Grey’s Anatomy aired, as it has been doing for 15 years. Can’t Ellen Pompeo catch a break? She obviously wants to quit the show, but who can have Grey’s without Meredith Grey? The new season was not it for me, and frankly, I still have to catch up on a couple of episodes including the winter finale. Nothing stands out to me, except for Meredith moving to Minnesota part-time and I guess Amelia, too, but I don’t like to keep up with her. I have no idea what’s going on with Jo, except that she adopted a baby and switched careers to being an OB, but that’s about it. The show just isn’t it for me, and hasn’t been since Derek. I miss the old cast!

Outer Banks, Season Two

The long-awaited season two of Outer Banks released in 2021, and I had so many questions … that went unanswered? Maybe I need another re-watch, but I feel like the new season just brought a deeper storyline to the one already created. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still intense and I’ll watch the third season in one day again. Sarah’s family situation seems a little far-fetched to me. Personally, my favorite character was Pope—I think he’s the most realistic. I liked JJ’s storyline in the first season, but I think in season two he takes it a little too far. I want a redemption arc for JJ. Kiara is just fantastic in either season, in my opinion.

The Bachelorette, Season 16 + 17

This year, we had back-to-back Bachelorette seasons and my one question for the Bachelor producers is … why? I would’ve been perfectly happy with just Michelle’s season, but no—you had to include Katie? Whatever, I digress because Katie’s season was still entertaining and packed with drama—and attractive men. Andrew S., Justin, Michael A., Mike P., and so many more. Katie’s season was like any other Bachelorette season … filled with drama, laughs, and love. The only thing that I really didn’t like was Katie’s 12 Days of Messy on Instagram … and even Katie wasn’t a fan when reflecting on it a month later. Michelle’s season, on the other hand, was a different story. Michelle’s season was composed, mature, and just on a whole new level. A lot of Bachelor Nation experienced burnout this season (who can blame them?) but I, like the rest of Bachelor Nation who stuck around, continued to show up. There was little to no drama on the show, or at least drama that carries over from one episode to the next. Michelle shut down any whisper of drama and sent anyone home that even smelled toxic. (Jaimie, Martin, for some examples.) Love who Michelle picked, by the way!

The Sex Lives of College Girls, Season One

Mindy Kaling delivered not one, but TWO amazing shows in 2021! Her show on HBO Max, The Sex Lives of College Girls, is comedic gold. And honestly … it’s not cheesy, but relatable. (Okay, some parts have to be cheesy, it’s still a TV show.) Each character was just so well-written. I was HOWLING at almost every episode and somehow, a little nostalgic (and cringing) to my own college experience. Watch on HBO Max!

The Morning Show, Season Two

Oh man, The Morning Show took me on an emotional roller coaster every Friday when I got home from work and somehow made me angry each time I watched it. I thought season one was intense, but season two? BUCKLE UP. The entire season follows the news cycle (or lack thereof, actually) of the time between January 2020 to March 2020, when COVID was in its early stages. This is all the while recovering from the aftermath of the final episode in season one, where Bradley and Alex blew up TMS on air. Alex comes back reluctantly, Bradley fights for more power and political coverage—and finds a new love interest that I did NOT see coming. Oh, and Mitch is still on our screen, but instead, he’s in Italy reflecting on his life and everything that got him to his current state. Cory, surprisingly, became my favorite character this season and I’m not mad about it. Watch on Apple TV.

And Just Like That

The reboot of Sex and the City came in late 2021 and … I’m eh about it. I want to like it, and for the most part, I do. I like how they’re rewriting a lot of the bad jokes from the original and not making Carrie so self-involved (although she still is a little self-involved). They addressed Samantha’s absence just fine, although I’m not okay that she’s not a part of the reboot. I am NOT okay with that Big twist at the end of episode one, and although I do understand where they’re going with Carrie’s storyline of being independent, what’s a Carrie without her Big? Miranda’s storyline is just fine, and I like seeing Charlotte (and Harry!) come to terms with her daughter’s changing gender identity. Overall, I think I’ll continue tuning in especially to see Miranda come into her own and realize who she really is, Charlotte continuing to maintain her family, and Carrie exploring herself.

The Circle, Season Three

My September plans included obsessing over the latest game of The Circle. I obsessed over this game show on Netflix in late 2020 when season two came out. Personally, season one was my absolute favorite (no one can come in between me and my love for Joey and Shubham), but season three comes in second place, with season two trailing behind. Season three had a few surprises that the previous seasons didn’t have, like a shock blocking and a chance to act like someone else in the game. And, a surprise ghost that was played by a random player. I think with this season, alliances were drawn much more clearly with the Wolfpack and The Band standing against each other. Plus, Michelle Buteau is a phenomenal host that I am SO excited to see come back with a new season.

Never Have I Ever, Season Two

A great sitcom created by Mindy Kaling starring the young, talented Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Devi) and the incredibly attractive Darren Barnet (Paxton). When season two hit my Netflix queue, I immediately started watching … and binged it in one day. I felt sort of eh about Devi’s storyline about being a “player” but I think I warmed up to her by the end of the season. (She’s still a dork at heart.) Still—I had such high hopes for her when season one ended! I do think the show did a great job incorporating Devi’s grief for her late father into her storyline and how it made an impact on her and her relationships. I definitely liked her mom and cousin each having a deeper storyline—I liked their own separate storylines equally as good!

Bridgerton, Season One

Technically, this came out in December of 2020, but I watched it in 2021. I fell in love with this show and am SO excited for season two. I loved it so much that I dove into the series and am now on the fifth book. Shonda Rhimes (and Julia Quinn, author of the Bridgerton novels) delivered this show so well. The music, the intertwined storylines, the fashion … all of it is so good.

AND THAT’S IT! I’m sure there are a few other shows that I forgot … but these are the shows that stuck out to me. I have a goal of reading 50 books this year so I’m not sure how much TV I’ll be watching, including the shows that I watch on repeat (New Girl, Gilmore Girls). But I’m sure I’ll sneak in a few shows here and there.