If you haven’t watched all of these yet, then you need to correct that immediately!
We’re now into the second half of the year, so we’re looking back over the first six months of 2021 and taking stock of the best bits.
We’ve already done the best movies of 2021 so far, and the best games of 2021 so far, so here we are with the very best NEW shows of the year to date. No second seasons or spin-offs or anything like that, all new stuff, all worth your time on the couch.
5. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT
The minds behind Booksmart (very funny) and You (very thrilling) combine their might for this addictive, propulsive, darkly-comedic murder-mystery. The whole thing is held together by Kaley Cuoco’s stellar leading performance, who appears to be channeling Jennifer Aniston-as-Rachel Greene, but if she found herself in the middle of a violent crime and cover-up. One of those shows you’ll find it difficult not to watch in its entirety over the course of one day.
The Flight Attendant is available to watch on NOW.
Clip via HBO
4. INVINCIBLE
What initially feels like might be a mix of Rick & Morty and The Boys quickly develops a personality and vibe all of its own, thanks to the often very shocking plot developments, as well as INSANELY stacked voice cast. By the end of this first season, many of the episodes will have scorched some unforgettable imagery into your mind, and anyone who complains about Superhero Fatigue will definitely find their second wind watching this show.
Invincible is available to watch on Prime Video right now.
Clip via Prime Video
3. WANDAVISION
Well, this was a surprise, wasn’t it? Yes, the final episode couldn’t quite stick the landing of the almost overwhelming brilliance from the previous episodes, but that is almost always the case when the mystery box at the centre is as tantalising as this. Elisabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany present such layered performances that it is almost a shame that they were put in the shadow of Kathryn Hahn’s scene-stealing majesty. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was fine, and Loki is shaping up nicely, but WandaVision proves that Marvel and Disney+ don’t see their shows as being “lesser than” when it comes to the time and care invested, compared to the big screen blockbusters.
WandaVision is available to watch on Disney+.
Clip via Marvel
2. IT’S A SIN
Landing in January, right after a lockdown Christmas, none of us were emotionally stable enough for this to arrive when it did. Initially a giddy high of watching a group of teens truly discover themselves in 1981 London, the constant background hum of the AIDS virus soon envelops everything, and ultimately breaks our hearts entirely, with Olly Alexander’s central performance providing the heart of the show.
It’s A Sin is available to watch on All 4.
Clip via Channel 4
1. MARE OF EASTTOWN
Every now and again, we’ll get a show that features a brilliant, A-list actress in a great mystery thriller. We’re talking Nicole Kidman in The Undoing. Amy Adams in Sharp Objects. Reece Witherspoon in Big Little Lies. But with Mare Of Easttown, the bar has been raised yet again, delivering one of the very best shows of the last decade. Kate Winslet’s outstanding performance is assisted by an entire town of brilliant supporting actors, all tied into a shocking and sad murder case that has the power to tear them all apart. Brilliantly told from the first frame to the final credits, we can’t recommend this enough.
Mare Of Easttown is available to watch on NOW.
Clip via HBO
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
