Best TV watched in 2021
If you're reading this, congratulations! For seriously, getting through every last day of 2021 calls for a triumphant toast, even it it feels like all you have to show for surviving the year is a heap of empty cheese puff bags. (I honestly ordered my family a case of twelve bags of Barbara's Cheese Puffs as part of our Christmas celebrations, so, no judgment here.)
One of the things I was consistently grateful for throughout the year was the pleasant distraction, the laughter, the swoons, and the artistry provided by streaming shows. So here are the best shows I watched this past year, in alphabetical order:
Daphne and the Duke in Bridgerton
Bridgerton. (Netflix.) Fluffy, steamy Regency romance. Lots of fun. Everyone watched it; I don't even have to describe it.
Cast of Brooklyn 99
Brooklyn 99. (Hulu.) Endearing and hilarious. Bonus points for corgi, LGBTQ friendliness, and some actors from The Good Place and The Office.
The duke and the cook in The Cook of Castamar
The Cook of Castamar. (Netflix.) Forbidden romances everywhere! Not to mention gorgeous costumes and cinematography. En Español with English subtitles.
A kiss in Lovely Writer
Lovely Writer. (YouTube.) Thai BL (boylove) that is also a parody of BL. Clever and sweet and soapy. I shipped them instantly, and it usually takes me a while to work up to shipping a couple.
Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short in Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building. (Hulu.) Super cute, funny, and smart. Heartily approve of Selena Gomez as the new third amigo.
The lovable band of criminals in Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone. (Netflix.) Though I love fantasy, I can also be picky about fantasy, so it's notable that I ended up really liking this. Lots of charisma.
Cast of Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso. Though I care almost nothing for sportsball, I loved this show as much as everyone said I would. It is full of love and friendship. And funny lines.
Gong Jun and Zhang Zhehan in Word of Honor
Word of Honor. (Netflix, YouTube, Viki.) The natural follow-up to my obsession with The Untamed, this is yet another fine example of a heck of a lot of gay flirtation getting slipped past the Chinese censors. And ridiculously beautiful robes and wigs. And many creative ways to get killed, including getting your throat sliced open by that decorative fan there.
Cast of Once Upon a Time on Lingjian Mountain
Honorable mention: Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain. (Netflix.) A comedic version of those historical Chinese fantasy shows. Pretty silly, but ultimately with more depth than I expected, and plenty of talented and lovely folk.
I hope some of these bring you joy in 2022-and, more importantly, that many other things do too.