The Biggest TV Shows To Watch In 2021
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The entertainment industry may have ground to a halt in 2020, but there's plenty to look forward to in 2021 and beyond.
2020 was a year full of delays and postponements across most entertainment, and TV was no exception. It felt as though everything from superheroes to sci-fi was put on hold or shoved into the indefinite future thanks to production shutdowns and schedule shuffles. It's not all doom and gloom, however--with any luck, 2020's misfortune will make for a jam-packed 2021 with all the projects we were looking forward to watching this year settling into their new time slots in the near future.
Unfortunately, one of the byproducts of 2020's massive upheaval is a lot of "to be determined" premiere dates, even into next year. And while we'd love to give you some guarantee that everything on this list will absolutely, positively be hitting small screens in 2021, we're not oracles. That said, we've done our best to keep our ears to the ground and or eyes on the horizon in terms of tracking productions picking back up and filming progressing through the pandemic uncertainty. Rest assured, we're looking forward to shows like Lord of the Rings, Y, and Loki as much as you are.
The good news is that there are a handful of up-and-comers who have locked in their premiere dates, and more shows are being announced every week. So here's our breakdown of 2021's most anticipated shows to look forward to.
Animaniacs
Hulu, November 5
The much-loved anarchic animated show returned after more than 20 years last year, and Season 2 arrives in November. Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are back for another 13 episodes of chaotic fun, with Hulu stating it will feature "pop culture parodies, musical showstoppers, takedowns of historical baddies, and even some important safety tips."
Dexter: New Blood
Showtime, November 7
Forensic technician and serial killer Dexter Morgan was last seen taking up a new career as a lumberjack when the popular series ended back in 2013. But Michael C. Hall is set to revive the character in a new limited revival series, which will air later this year. While most plot details are currently unknown, we know the show will begin several years after the events of the finale, and Hall will be joined by Clancy Brown as the main antagonist. A short teaser has been released, which you can watch here.
The Shrink Next Door
Apple TV+, November 12
The acclaimed Amazon series Homecoming showed that a podcast could successfully be turned into a gripping show, and hopefully The Shrink Next Door will do the same. It reunites Anchorman stars Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd, with Rudd playing a psychiatrist who slowly starts to invade the life of one of his patients, played by Ferrell. It's adapted from Joe Nocera's podcast by Georgia Pritchett (Succession, Veep) and looks like a compelling and darkly funny exploration of obsession and manipulation.
Tiger King 2
Netflix, November 17
Tiger King might have been one of Netflix's biggest hits last year, but the announcement of a second season was a surprise. The imaginatively titled Tiger King 2 will pick up where the first season left off, with Joe Exotic in jail for attempting to arrange a hit on his zoo-keeping nemesis, Carole Baskin. Baskin has already condemned the new season--but the trailer confirms she's in it, so... who knows? Either way, this return to visit to some compellingly awful people will be one of November's must-watch shows.
Hit-Monkey
Hulu, November 17
This animated Marvel show focuses on a monkey who becomes an assassin--specifically, a Japanese Macaque out for vengeance against a criminal gang. Ted Lasso's Jason Sudeikis voices Bryce, a deceased hitman who appears only to Hit-Monkey and offers him advice from beyond the grave, and the voice-cast also includes George Takei and Olivia Munn. The recent trailer suggests an unusual, action-packed series that should stand out from other Marvel shows out there.
Star Trek Discovery, Season 4
Paramount+, November 18
The latest season of the Star Trek show will see the crew of the Discovery face its biggest threat yet--a massive "gravitational anomaly" that seems to be causing chaos across the galaxy. Although there's plenty more small-screen Trek on the way, Discovery remains the flagship show, and fans will be keen to see where Season 4 takes the series. It once more stars Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham, Doug Jones as Saru, Anthony Rapp as Stamets, and Mary Wiseman as Tilly.
Cowboy Bebop
Netflix, November 19
There have been some really unfortunate live-action anime adaptations in recent years, from Ghost in the Shell to Death Note. However, we can't help but look forward to seeing a new take on one of our favorites, Cowboy Bebop. It's been confirmed that the show will be released in November 2021.
The Wheel of Time
Amazon, November 19
Amazon's upcoming adaptation of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time fantasy book series takes place in a world where magic exists but only some women are able to use it. It will star Rosamund Pike as the powerful Moiraine, plus Sophie Okonedo as Siuan Sanche, Kae Alexander as Elmindreda "Min" Farshaw, Kate Fleetwood as Liandrin Guirale, Peter Franzen as Stepin, and Clare Perkins as Kerene Nagashi. The showrunner for The Wheel of Time is Rafe Judkins (Agents of SHIELD), and Uta Briesewitz (Westworld, Stranger Things) is directing the first two episodes.
Hawkeye
Disney+, November 24
Hawkeye is the fourth MCU show to hit Disney+ and features the return of Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton. The show sees Barton drawn back into the superhero life when he teams up with young wannabe-Hawkeye Kate Bishop, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The recent first trailer revealed the series will be set during the holidays, with Clint and Kate taking on some bad guys in Christmas-themed New York. Let's hope there's also more footage of the amazing-looking Rogers: The Musical.
The Witcher Season 2
Netflix, December 17
The Witcher was one of Netflix's most popular shows in 2019, and it's a no-brainer that the streaming service has a second season in the works. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has said that The Witcher Season 2 will arrive in 2021, and that the story will be more linear than Season 1, which we criticized for its confusing structure. There's also a spin-off on the way, The Witcher: Blood Origin, though we likely won't see that for a while yet.
Book of Boba Fett
Disney, December 29
Although we won't get a third season of The Mandalorian this year, the spin-off show The Book of Boba Fett is set to hit Disney+. The series was teased at the end of The Mandalorian Season 2, and it looks like it might focus on the iconic bounty hunter taking over Jabba the Hutt's old Tatooine-based criminal gang. With Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Robert Rodriguez handling joint-showrunner duties, it should deliver something exciting and action-packed.
Doctor Who Season 13
BBC America/AMC, 2021 TBD
Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker recently announced that she will be leaving the role of iconic Timelord, with current showrunner Chris Chibnall also exiting the long-running sci-fi series. However, fans still have one more season from the pair to watch, which is set to arrive later this year. The action-packed recent trailer released during Comic-Con@Home revealed that Game of Thrones star Jacob Anderson will be joining the cast, alongside comedian John Bishop as the latest member of the TARDIS crew.
The Expanse Season 6
Amazon, 2022
Amazon announced that The Expanse will return for a sixth--and final--season before Season 5 had even begun streaming on the Prime Video service. We don't know much about it yet, as we'll have to wait and see what happens in Season 5. But given what a good home Amazon has been for the series (after rescuing it following its cancellation by Syfy), we're expecting more greatness. If production goes smoothly and Amazon sticks to a consistent release schedule, we're expecting The Expanse to release in late 2021.
1899
Netflix, TBD
This intriguing new Netflix show has been developed by Jante Friese and Baran bo Odar, the minds behind the acclaimed sci-fi series Dark. It will focus on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the voyage of an immigrant ship from Europe to New York at the end of the 19th Century. The passengers encounter a long-missing and seemingly deserted second ship adrift in the ocean, and things start to get very weird. 1899 doesn't have a release date yet, but Netflix has released this first ominous teaser.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
CBS All-Access, TBD
For many viewers, the best thing about Star Trek Discovery Season 2 was the addition of Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike. Mount wasn't the first actor to play Pike, but his charming, charismatic performance made him an immediate fan favorite, and there were demands for him to get his own show almost as soon as that season ended. In May 2020, it was confirmed that this is happening, and Mount, Ethan Peck (as Spock), and Rebecca Romijn (as Number One) will return for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The new show will be set a decade before the original Star Trek series, and will follow the trio on adventures around the galaxy in the Enterprise.
Halo
Showtime, TBD
Production on the Halo TV show began in 2019, but was subsequently shut down in 2020 due to COVID. 343 Industries' Kiki Wolfkill gave an update over the summer, and we're still hoping to see the series in 2021.
Peacemaker
HBO Now, January 2022
Peacemaker is one of the main characters in James Gunn's highly aniticated The Suicide Squad, and he's also set to get his own spin-off HBO Max show. John Cena will reprise his role as a character that Gunn describes as "douchey Captain America," while Gunn has written the entire series. The movie isn't out until this summer so there aren't many details about the show yet, but we know that Jennifer Holland and Steve Agee will also reprise their roles as NSA agent Emilia Harcourt and John Economos from the film. In addition, Chris Conrad will play the DC antihero The Vigilante and there's a role for Terminator 2 star Robert Patrick as well.
Better Call Saul, Season 6
AMC, 2022
Better Call Saul is that rare thing--a spin-off that's every bit as good as the original show. After six years, the Breaking Bad prequel reaches its final season, and star Bob Odenkirk, who plays shady lawyer Saul Goodman, stated that it will be a "supremely intense" final batch of episodes. We know that it will run for 13 episodes, making it the longest season of the lot.
House of the Dragon
HBO, 2022
Has enough time passed since the Game of Thrones series finale for the public to embrace another Westeros adventure? We'll find out when House of the Dragon debuts on HBO. The show will trace the history of the Targaryen family--specifically, it'll focus on King Viserys I (Paddy Considine)--who ruled Westeros two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones--and his children, who fought for the throne in a bloody civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Unfortunately, we're not expecting to see it until 2022.
Stranger Things Season 4
Netflix, 2022
Netflix has confirmed that Season 4 of its hugely popular sci-fi fantasy show will return next year. We don't know much about the plot for this latest season, but with Hopper seemingly captive in a Russian prison and the Byers family leaving Hawkins at the end of the Season 3, it's set to be the most expansive season yet. All the main cast are set to return, and this time will be joined by Nightmare on Elm Street icon Robert Englund, playing a disturbed psychiatric hospital inmate named Victor Creel.