Best TV Shows of the Year: 2021

From gifted teen doctors to otherworldy gods, grumpy ghosts to curious spiders, spooky thrills to catchy musicals and more, there was no shortage of excellent TV shows the whole family could enjoy this year. Loki makes the top of Senior Editor of TV Polly Conway's list for its adventure, philosophy, and super-cool production design. It's a great pick for families with teens trying to figure out their place in the world. Editor of TV and Streaming Marina Gordon loves that families of teens can enjoy Schmigadoon! as a send-up of musical-genre cliches or just as a musical itself. Celebrate the year with these and the rest of the picks on this list with your family.

Don't miss the rest of our 2021 favorites: Movies | Books | Video Games | Apps

Filter by:
Ada Twist, Scientist Poster Image
TV

Ada Twist, Scientist

age 3+

Fun series sparks preschoolers' interest in science.

Network: Netflix (2021)
Alma's Way Poster Image
TV

Alma's Way

age 3+

Sweet show celebrates Puerto Rican culture, problem solving.

Network: PBS Kids (2021)
Lucas the Spider Poster Image
TV

Lucas the Spider

age 3+

Adorable spider and friends teach positive lessons.

Network: Cartoon Network (2021)
Waffles + Mochi Poster Image
TV

Waffles + Mochi

age 4+

Funny puppets explore food with Michelle Obama and celebs.

Network: Netflix (2021)
City of Ghosts Poster Image
TV

City of Ghosts

age 5+

Cute animated docuseries teaches the history of Los Angeles.

Network: Netflix (2021)
Super Sema Poster Image
TV

Super Sema

age 5+

Fun Africa-set STEM superhero series has great role models.

Network: YouTube (2021)
The Ghost and Molly McGee Poster Image
TV

The Ghost and Molly McGee

age 7+

Funny ghost-girl buddy story has mild ghoulish scares.

Network: Disney Channel , Disney+ (2021)
Secrets of Sulphur Springs Poster Image
TV

Secrets of Sulphur Springs

age 8+

Chilling mystery series is lots of fun, has some scares.

Network: Disney Channel (2021)
We the People Poster Image
TV

We the People

age 8+

Modern Schoolhouse Rock makes great bops from U.S. civics.

Network: Netflix (2021)
Wolfboy and the Everything Factory Poster Image
TV

Wolfboy and the Everything Factory

age 8+

Fab fantasy adventure with great lessons about empathy.

Network: Apple TV+ (2021)
Maya and the Three Poster Image
TV

Maya and the Three

age 9+

Teen warrior princess fantasy tale is funny, has violence.

Network: Netflix (2021)
Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. Poster Image
TV

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

age 10+

Teen doc's adventures are poignant, funny in great reboot.

Network: Disney+ (2021)
The Wonder Years (2021) Poster Image
TV

The Wonder Years (2021)

age 10+

Gentle nostalgia, keen insight in race-flipped reboot.

Network: ABC (2021)
Loki TV Show Poster Image: A collage of the characters, with Loki in the center
TV

Loki

age 11+

Charming romp through time has lots of action violence.

Network: Disney+ (2021)
Rutherford Falls Poster Image
TV

Rutherford Falls

age 13+

Fresh, winning sitcom has unique characters, sharp humor.

Network: Peacock (2021)
Schmigadoon! Poster Image
TV

Schmigadoon!

age 13+

Colorful, surreal musical theater spoof is teen-friendly.

Network: Apple TV+ (2021)
The Great North Poster Image
TV

The Great North

age 14+

Occasional rude humor on sweet animated family show.

Network: Fox (2021)
We Are Lady Parts Poster Image
TV

We Are Lady Parts

age 15+

Brilliant comedy rejects stereotypes; swearing, smoking.

Network: Peacock (2021)