2021 was an exceptional and marvelous year for TV shows. The year opened doors to never-before-seen hits and unexpected underdogs. While the pandemic may have caused the miserable year of 2020, the entertainment industry boomed to new heights in 2021. TV shows have gained considerable popularity over the last years, specifically on streaming services. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and many more have become big platforms that give their audiences the perfect binge-session, especially during the pandemic.
With streaming services roping millions, TV shows broke records in 2021. As Squid Game topped charts toand Disney+ Marvel TV series gave fans a new saga, Google recently listed the most trending and searched Netflix shows of 2021. As the year ends with immense hopes for 2022, the list brings in the perfect recap of the exceptional year for TV entertainment.
Firefly Lane
In spite of its melodramatic, cliched, and soapy story, Firefly Lane has an emotional, romantic thematic throughline in its heart. And though the Netflix series may not have gained the attention of the critics, the show hooked fans with its corny yet relatable and heartwarming narrative.
The story unfolds in layers as it explores the relation between Tully and Kate. Firefly Lane focuses on their 30-year long friendship since their days as neighbors, as the titular suggests to their midlife crisis. An extremely addictive 10 hours of binge, the show runs through its old-fashioned narrative in season 1 while leaving the audience desperate for its return.
Ginny And Georgia
A show centered around a tender mother-daughter relation seems to be Gilmore Girls all over gain; however, this Netflix series is anything but. Ginny and Georgia is a mix of the thriller, comedy, and coming-of-age genres.
The show follows a cunning mother and her alienated relation with her kids, dealing with a life crisis in love, relationships, and identity. The young adult drama had a strong start in early 2021, buzzing popularly on the Google radar for a long time since. With ten episodes in season 1, fans couldn't be more thrilled with the show's renewal. And while the show received mixed reviews, the multiple storylines and brilliant cast did manage to garner attention, spurring newer expectations from season 2.
Manifest
With its official announcement of the final season, Manifest definitely marks a new hit for Netflix after its potential cancelation. The series' doubtful renewal even seemed eerie to the story itself.
The plot revolves around characters' manifestation after seemingly going missing years ago in an unknown incident before their plane could land. The lead brother-sister duo tries to fit the pieces and investigate the truth behind the missing flight incident. After Netflix picked up the series, Manifest hit new heights with a streaming-rating record, soaring for six weeks straight even after being pushed from the No.1 spot on their rankings.
Sweet Tooth
After the end of his Marvel stint, Robert Downey Jr. made a successful comeback with a family adventure series Sweet Tooth. Renewed for season 2, Sweet Tooth was one of the unexpected underdogs of 2021.
Based on the comic by Jeff Lemire, produced by Warner Bros, DC Entertainment, and Team Downey, the series focuses on the birth of hybrid babies set in a post-apocalyptic world where the pandemic has wiped half the population. A parallel realism of what the world is facing currently, the story is an emotional rollercoaster that starts slowly, while the latter half reveals more hidden mysteries. The series puts forward a pleasing aesthetic, and protagonist Gus' innocence and optimism eventually earn the audience's attention.
Lupin
2021 truly is the year for thrillers to take the frontline. The French mystery-thriller series about Assane Diop trying to take revenge on the wrongful death of his father through conning and thievery is a must-watch for con-loving audiences.
The show brilliantly displays exceptional visuals, with an intense storyline and brilliant central performance to tie the entire series together. Being one of the few non-English series' to break the records in 2021, Lupin received a monumental positive response from the audience. With its unofficial season 3 announcement, the quick-moving series is all set to bring in new mysteries and adventures.
Cobra Kai
The revival show of the age-old Karate Kid series, Cobra Kai, is brilliantly written and redesigned nostalgia displaying fan fiction at its best. Reviving a beloved franchise is a risky business, considering it needs to appeal to the newer and the older fans. However, Cobra Kai is a stupendously successful comeback.
With the show teasing the redemption arc of Johnny and the follow-up of Daniel's life and their relationship with each other, Cobra Kai provides a new perspective on bullying and its consequences. And, with newer and fresher plotlines and characters, the show exceeds expectations and gives Karate Kid fans a much-needed unique series to binge through the end of 2021.
The Witcher
The fantasy hit show has garnered attention since its first release in 2019 and has only skyrocketed since. With Henry Cavil reprising his role, the show even became more intense over season 2.
The Witcher may not be as gruesome as Game Of Thrones, but it still has its share of violent fight scenes. The action scenes also possess well-supported visuals which are gorgeously constructed. The dark fantasy created for fantasy-loving adults exhibits the beauty of "The Continent" and the atrocities faced by its characters. The successful show has even been slated for its prequel in 2022 after its phenomenal release of season 2.
Money Heist
After four long years of scheming and plotting, Money Heist bowed out on its epic finale in 2021. La Casa Da Papel, the Spanish TV series famously known as Money Heist, got picked by Netflix in 2017 and became a worldwide phenomenon.
Following its season 1 success, the show quickly rose to the top to become Netflix's most-watched non-English TV show. After winning accolades on various award shows, the TV show became a fable to tell for generations, so much so that it became a popular Halloween costume since its release as well. From the brilliant acting, the suspenseful cliffhangers, and explosive technical craft, the show provides a perfect viewing experience. Alex Pina, the creator of the series, briefs a simple idea behind the show's success; Money Heist needs to be entertaining with characters who can evolve and display emotional relations above all else.
Bridgerton
From the luxe period drama set amidst extravagantly posh mansions, the colorful, exuberant outfits, and the elegant, lavish tea parties, Bridgerton became a surprising hit with people worldwide watching it over its Christmas release in 2020.
A guilty pleasure binge-able telly, Bridgerton seems like any other period drama; a simple facade of feminism, political bickering, and family clashes, the show soon gives the plain story scandalous twists. And with the series' varied diversity in its casting, it seems like nothing like what the viewers would have already seen. The announcement of Bridgerton's season 2 dropping soon following the major success of season 1 was all the more exquisite.
Squid Game
To top the list would be the massive phenomenon in TV of 2021, which is undoubtedly the underdog Squid Game. The South Korean show took the streaming service to new heights, with 1.65 billion hours of the show viewed in its first 28 days. Such numbers made it a foregone conclusion that Squid Game would be the most searched TV show on Google for 2021.
A worldwide phenomenon, the survival show took a new spin on classic childhood games while focusing the thematic core of the show on inequality and greed. The series' influence was so huge that it even popped up in 2021's Halloween decor. Squid Game became the biggest series the streamer had seen yet, with the show earning multiple accolades and awards for 2021. It created a cultural frenzy that still seems to be going on as the fans wait highly in anticipation for its season 2.