NB: 100% opinionated and personalized list. Choices limited to my personal viewing history, and shows were chosen based on originality, creativity and uniqueness (as those are 3 main factors I look for in TV shows).

Top 25 TV Shows of 2021:

• 25. Reservation Dogs (FX on Hulu)

Reservation Dogs follows a group of 4 Indigenous teenagers living in rural Oklahoma, as they try to make and save money by almost any means necessary, to get away from their boring and despondent lives. It's easy-going, thoughtful, and quite realistic besides the occasional moments of surrealism. The dialogue feels very authentic, and it, along with its charming and slightly quirky characters, provides a lot of witty humor. It's also fun and youthful, especially for a series that aims to capture the mundane of living in a small town such as the one it portrays. But as if like a foreshadowing of what's to be revealed later on, you can sense the dark cloud hanging over the characters' heads from the very 1st episode.

• 24. Invincible (Amazon Prime Video)

Ironically with its old-school art style and visuals, the most attractive thing about Invincible are the bloody, gory and gruesome action sequences. But it has much to give in plot as well; intriguing mysteries, interesting conflicts, thoughtful commentaries on humanity etc., making it one of the better offerings from the comic-book catalog we've seen in a while.

• 23. Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine (Showtime)

There seems to be a recent uptick in documentaries lately, but most of them don't come with the creative execution seen here in Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine. Narrated by Giancarlo Esposito, and retracing the rise to fame of one Daniel Hernandez a.k.a Tekashi 6ix9ine, it may surprised you how much of a multifaceted story is told here. From corny fashions, to gangs, to domestic abuse etc., this isn't just a documentary about the controversial rapper, but also one about the attention craved social-media age we live in, where people are constantly exploiting it for fame and money.

• 22. Threesome (Viaplay)

Threesome is a relationship drama that shows us why it's a bad idea to have a threesome with your monogamous partner without discussing it first (...and probably why it's a bad idea to get into a long-term monogamous relationship with anyone in the first place). A Swedish production set in London, the tone is bleak and brooding, which makes the moment we see our main couple walking out of that room after committing the most audacious act in their 7-year ongoing relationship, feel like they'd just disposed of a body they both accidentally murdered. Told from the woman's perspective, where most romance-dramas like to keep things vague, Threesome is a very open book. It's a series about how communication and self-interests can affect a relationship, so not anything out of the ordinary for this type of series, but one that elicits a strong reaction from its audience, mainly because of the 'black and white' dynamic between the main couple. There's clearly a wrong and right here, Siri's doubts and conflicts are quite reasonable, and will even be relatable to many viewers, but the series allows her make wrong decisions and take the wrong route at every intersection. We don't often get intentionally despicable main characters on our screens, especially for shows like this, and thus, the series provides a new angle on a familiar premise. For that reason, Threesome is one of the noteworthy offerings of 2021, even if not the most unique or creative thing.

• 21. Cruel Summer (Freeform)

90s nostalgia seems like the natural 'next step' for media to make after the long run of 80s nostalgia we've been had for the past 5 years. And Cruel Summer delivers just that, paying homage to 90s film & TV in setting, style, and themes; looking and feeling like something that could've been made in the decade as well. Concurrently set over the summers of 1993, 1994 and 1995, this teen-drama, psychological-thriller mash-up is about the complicated conflict between a formerly-missing popular teen girl Kate and 'geek-turned-chic' girl Jeanette who apparently "stole her life". It's a series handles serious topics such as grooming, PTSD, defamation, aiding and abetting etc. with much care, and it's interesting the way they tie this all in with the otherwise trivial 'high school girl obsessed with being popular' premise. With a slow-burning mystery, great performances and a set of characters you can never trust, Cruel Summer consistently and coherently written, with no forgotten detail or loose ends in its mystery. The final scene was the icing on the cake in that regard.

• 20. オッドタクシーODDTAXI (TV Tokyo/AT-X)

It's not the most eye-catching, but even if you're not a fan of its anthropomorphic art-style, ODDTAXI may win you over with its stellar writing and rich dialogue. Following the middle-age taxi driver Odokawa (who's a walrus), as he listens to a radio talk show and have casual yet enlightening conversations with various passengers, the series impressively connects these seemingly random characters and their conversations to its main mystery of a missing teenage girl. That's the most impressive thing about Odd Taxi you see, the way it lays out these miscellaneous characters and their dissimilar motives into well structured interconnecting storylines. There are some great characterizations here too, from the attention-seeking hippo who wants to go viral, to the obsessive game-developer puma with the tragic backstory, and the first episode that introduces us to a very grumpy taxi-driving walrus only scratches the surface of his in-depth backstory. His tendency to be evenly serious and sarcastic influences the tone of the series, as it constantly shifts from pensive to comic... maybe not as smoothly as you'd hope, but there are some genuinely hilarious witty humor here amongst its chilling mystery.

• 19. ホリミヤHori-san to Miyamura-kun (Tokyo MX/GYT/GTV/BS11/MBS)

Horimiya is a nice, heartwarming rom-com/slice-of-life anime that brings together the unlikely couple of Kyoko Hori and Izumi Miyamura. With a high school setting, Horimiya gives us the intricacies of young, innocence love when everything just works smoothly. Despite being animated, it has a very realistic feel to it, and the dialogue and voice acting adds a lot to that realism. It's subtle but wholesome, especially when it comes to character development, and of course there are a few humorous moments here and there. Horimiya is also a lot more well drawn than you might think on first sight. Its glistening character art, bright lighting, realistic background art, glittery visual effects are expressive while at the same time quite nice to look at. The ambient soundtrack is pretty dope too and complements the art-style quite well, so is the opening title sequence, which I honestly think is one of the best I've ever seen. Don't expect anything too eventful, but Horimiya is a very well done anime with a lot of spark.

• 18. The Serpent (BBC One)

Set across various Southeast Asian countries in 1970s, a time and place where the hopeful, love-centric, drug-filled and philosophical 'travel hippie' lifestyle was prevalent, The Serpent, a miniseries based on notorious serial killer Charles Sobhraj and his lover/accomplice Marie-Andrée Leclerc, is appropriately written to be a conflicting romance story as much as it's written to be a psychological crime-drama. The layout of the series might leave you a bit skeptical at first, as it switches back and forth between past and present constantly every other 2-3 scenes, but you soon realize it is done this way to heighten suspense and drama. It is an intense series, very nail-biting as the series not only portrays the victims of Charles Sobhraj during his "bikini killer" stint, but also the ones that narrowly escaped his grasp. Putting much emphasis on the apathy of the embassies and Bangkok police department towards the initial investigations, the series has its intentionally frustrating moments too, especially when you realize these parts must have been quite accurate since Charles Sobhraj was already a fugitive in different countries yet could parade around Bangkok scamming people without even being discreet.

• 17. Sonny Boy (Tokyo MX/KBS/SUN/BS Asahi/RAB)

With no introduction, opening theme song, or title card, Sonny Boy greets us with 90's style 2D animation, with flat lighting and simplistic setting that often changes and moves around giving viewers an acid/LSD-like experience. Though not exactly the case for the very first episode, which centers a high school surrounded completely by darkness, as the 36 students inside, some with newly gained superpowers, try to somehow make their way back home. Sonny Boy is surreal, imaginative, and most likely unlike anything else we've seen before. The school and the students are first sent adrift into a void-like alternate dimension, and soon after discovers a multiverse of unique worlds/dimension (if you can even call them that). For instance, a world that doesn't allow you to use other people's stuff without paying for it; a world where invisible monkeys play baseball etc. And the constant discussion here, is about the rules of each of these worlds, how to get home, or whether or not this is all some phenomenon or if one of the students is actually responsible. Somehow Sonny Boy always stays on topic, and it consistently throws new twists and mysteries at the viewers.... though quite confusingly I must add.

• 16. Landscapers (Sky Atlantic/HBO)

Revolving around the true story of the 1998 murders of Nottinghamshire residents William and Patricia Wycherley, Landscapers depicts the last few days of freedom and interrogations of Susan and Christopher Edwards, an introvert middle-age English couple who though they could trick the criminal justice system. The story itself is nothing more than the ordinary, but Landscapers lifts itself well above the average crime-drama with a bold concept, involving artsy and inventive execution of scenes that often breaks the 4th wall. It's as short as it should be, quite experimental, and well casted with Olivia Colman and David Thewlis serving up great performances in the lead roles.

• 15. Топи (KinoPoisk)

Топи aka Topi (a.k.a Marshes) is a mystery-thriller that follows a group of 5 young-adult Muscovites who travels to rural Russia in search of a monetary, but ends up in a outmoded, 18th century looking village where strange and creepy occurrences seems regular. Written by the famous Russian author Dmitry Glukhovsky, his approach here is to build its mystery plot around a familiar basis, make the viewer think they know exactly what's going on, then tear down the walls of that basis, opening the door for new mysteries and new intrigue. The series maintains intrigue with twists and turns after twists and turns, strategically breaking down the walls of its own premise again and again... and it's a slow-burner for the most part, but avoids being monotonous. Visually, Topi looks rugged and darkly lit, and though it might not be the most pleasing, the darkly-lit visuals does intensifies its bleakness and grittiness, as this is a series that tends to throw stomach-turning imagery at the audience, from maggots, to chopped off animal heads etc. It all looks quite realistic here, and another very convincing feature is the location, as he village looks very authentic... like it's an actual abandoned Russian village from the 18th century. This setting and overall grittiness works together to fuel a very chilling and suspenseful mystery-thriller that'll keep you guessing.

• 14. D.P. (Netflix)

D.P. is a thriller about conscription in South Korea, that requires male citizens between the ages of 18 and 28 to perform compulsory military service for 2 years. It follows Private Ahn Joon-ho, a humble junior who by mere coincidence ends up as a D.P. going on adventurous mission with the overdramatic jokester Corporal Han Ho-yul to capture deserters. There are fight scenes, chases and frequent light-hearted humor, but D.P. isn't just fun and games. It exposes the gruesome nature of what these soldiers have to go through, taking an unflinching look at bullying, the effect it has on mental health and larger societal questions about the mandatory military service in Korea. It's a very well produced series, with setting, choreography and cinematography on par with the average big-budget action movie. It's also very well acted, with Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo-hwan especially giving wonderful performances. Plot-wise it's almost close to a case-of-the-week format, but continuous thread running throughout each episode that slowly builds to quite an emotional finale.

• 13. 平家物語 (FOD)

This anime retells The Tale of the Heike, an epic account of the struggle between the Taira clan and Minamoto clan for control of Japan at the end of the 12th century in the Genpei War. It is one of the foundational works of Japanese literature, and the anime presupposes the audience's pre-existing knowledge of its events by framing the story around the doomsaying visions of a psychic orphan. Looking exactly like a traditional Japanese watercolor painting come to life, the art style is lively, with elegant brushwork and carefully applied motion smearing that allows for a remarkable degree of smooth, dynamic motion. This is one of the most beautiful animation you will ever see, and the soft and moving musical score aided by traditional Japanese instruments complements it perfectly. All the music and motions unite in perfect harmony to form a seamless, captivating hold.

• 12. Velkommen til Utmark (HBO Nordic)

Velkommen til Utmark is a Norwegian neo-western set in the north, and it is unconventionally good. Mainly a composed look into the day to day life of a fictional remote town, the kind of place where everyone literally knows everyone. There's a corrupt sheriff, an alcoholic shepherd, a nature-worshipping Sami, a God-hating pastor, a grieving pimp, Albanian prostitutes etc., some with caricatural quirks like the sheriff's frequent bowl movements, but they're all profoundly human in contradictions. With dry, effortless humor, the inhabitants of this fictional town are in a connected web with alcoholism, domestic abuse, gambling addiction, bootlegging, sex work etc. But it is not a plot-driven series, it's quite a slow-burner where breathtaking landscape often steals the show. Offering a mixture of sweeping and wide shots of beautifully naturalistic and barren landscapes that is captivating and evokes a feeling of wistfulness, the series' visual prowess is enough so to substitute constant drama and keep our eyes peeled to the screen.

• 11. Maid (Netflix)

Inspired by memoirs of Stephanie Land, Maid is devastating and emotional, but at the same time, a lovely and inspirational piece of work concerning domestic abuse. It pulls at your heartstrings. Our main character Alex has all the chips stacked against her, from an abusive boyfriend, an unreliable mother, an untrustworthy father, and seemingly no friends at all, but she still strives to crawl out of the deep dark hole she found herself in with her 2-year old daughter Maddy by her side. But reaching to the top of that hole will be quite a struggle indeed, as she hops around from sleeping in her car to couch surfing to temporary housing with all the government aid she can get. It's a series that cares just as much for documenting poverty, and in that sense, may remind you of the softer side of Shameless (US). Margaret Qualley channels her inner-Fiona Gallagher for a very moving performance full of strong facial expressions. Though, the best part of the series is the untouchable mother-daughter bond between Alex and Maddy, along with all the other empathetic, complex and complicated relationships that either develops, changes or fizzle out over the course of 10 episodes.

• 10. Thunder in My Heart (Viaplay)

The most surpringly great show of 2021, Thunder in My Heart isn't just another typical young-adult series about complicated romances. No, it actually has a meaningful topic at its core that the plot, character development and romances are centered around -- narcissistic, manipulative and abusive parents. Specifically for this story, Thunder in My Heart is about our main character Sigrid having to deal with her abusive father. It explores how this has impacted and influenced her view of people and the world, even down to the type of guys she chooses to fall in love with. It also shows how such trauma can manifest insecurities or how trying to fix things without acknowledging when one's wrong can make the situation even worse. You'll also be surprised by how much Thunder in My Heart takes on and accomplishes in 6 short episodes. It is a character study, a romantic drama and a coming-of-age series all in one. It is raw, emotional, and truthful too with scenes that pack a punch when needed, and acting that feels as genuine as the sentiments.

• 9. Eden (Stan)

Filmed in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia and other exotic-looking places where nature is still prominent, Eden is one of the most visually pleasing shows you'll come across. It's a spectacle fueled by luscious locations, warm lighting and majestic transitional sequences; further heighten by hippie fashions, neatly organized decors, an artistic but precise approach to editing and efx, and wide/overhead shots of gorgeous landscapes, ocean views and stylish architecture. The mood of the series, influenced by these breathtaking visuals, transitions from tranquil and whimsical in the daytime, to eerie and peculiar at night. This works quite well for its 'missing person' mystery, making what would otherwise be a typical case feel fresh and unique. The story is also told from the perspective of different characters each episode, as we see the same events play out several time from each's point of view. Hedwig is the center piece character here (brilliantly played by BeBe Bettencourt), whose quite a mystery herself as well, with her brooding eyes and nonchalant attitude, the best part of series is trying to break into her psyche as the series slowly unlocks her troubled past.

• 8. 나빌레라Navillera (tvN)

Based on the webtoon of the same name, Navillera is an emotional roller-coaster ride, and when I say that I don't mean it as a hyperbole. Just about every emotion a viewer can have is exploited here, starting with the hopefulness, fear and skepticism of seeing a love one pursue an impossible dream, to joyous laughter and upliftment from seeing them go through with it, to the gut-wrenching anger and heartbreak at the idea of it all falling apart. Centering around Shim Deok-chul, a 70 year old retired mail-man who's dreamt of being a ballet dancer since childhood, and Chae-rok, a young, up and coming ballerino who may be having second thoughts about his career, Navillera tells the story of doing the impossible, but it remain positive throughout. It's a story of dreams, perseverance, and achieving goals against all obstacles. A motivational story for all audiences, with 2 main characters whose individual journeys stories meet at the perfect time and place, and several other characters to love, laugh and cry with.

• 7. Delete Me (Viaplay)

Created and written by Marie Kristiansen, Delete Me is somewhat of a fusion of 2 other Norwegian teen-dramas, but told unconventionally in its own style. It follows 3 main characters, Marion, Marit and Lenny, all involved in the drama surrounding a 'revenge porn' video, leaked in the midst of their russefeiring ("russ celebration"). But the trick here is, Delete Me takes a reverse-format to its storytelling, heightening its mystery and what would otherwise be an average plot by presenting it from 'finish' to 'start', and later even revealing the story behind the story, one of a friendship breaking apart disastrously. Yes, Delete Me may take a bit more effort to piece together than what a lot of viewers are willing to give to a teen-drama of its kind, but if you are someone who appreciates a unique artistic vision coming together in full fruition, then the non-linear storytelling format, along with its energic camera-work and flashy neon-like visuals, will be enough to engage you.

• 6. Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof (Amazon Prime Video)

Based on the non-fictional book of the same name, which was already adapted into the 1981 film Christiane F. - Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo, many may already be familiar with this shockingly heartbreaking story, to the point where they are disdained by the idea of a modernized and stylistic retelling. But don't misunderstand, even though it plays into and gives illustrations of the fantasy Christiane, Babsi, Stella and all the other unlucky characters experienced while hooked on heroine, the devastation and gut-wrench of the story still remains. With cold visuals blending in with the bleakly environment of the messy 70s West German drug dens, sweet and charming but vulnerable characters too young to be caught up in the cruel and inconsiderate lifestyle they find themselves in, and a plot that puts great emphasis on parental neglect and peer pressure, Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo is one of the most daring series I've actually come across in a long while. One that goes from gratifying to gut-wrenching, all while carrying an abundance of poignance and emotional weight.

• 5. The Newsreader (ABC)

Anna Torv gives an absolutely outstanding performance as the sleep-deprived newsreader with severe anxiety, Helen Norville. And it is easily the best performance I've seen this year, from a series that gives a fictionalized and dramatized look behind-the-scenes of television news circa 1986. Anna Torv isn't the only praise-worthy thing about The Newsreader though, as its recreation of a 1980s newsroom is a premise both its writing and production hits out the park. Covering the Challenger explosion, Lindy Chamberlain’s release and exoneration, Haley’s Comet, the Russell Street bombing, the AIDs crisis, and the Chernobyl disaster, the series shows just how eventful a year 1986 was, and it's exhilarating and compelling watching as our news team scram to get and deliver these news stories first.

Anna and Dale's relationship is the heart of the series. It is one that is bound to end in disaster because of obvious reasons, but their chemistry is undeniable, to an effect where you want them to be and stay together without complications. The will-they-wont-they trope used here is actually genuine and plays into the plot quite well, so does their lack of sexual tension that you will notice so subtlety in 1st episode. The series isn't too heavily focused on the relationship aspect though, it has its priorities straight. It's treated like a ticking timebomb that looms in the background, and it's really about how it affects their personal lives and development more than anything else. By the final episode it can also be used as a lesson on why it's most likely a bad idea to publicly date co-workers. The Newsreader is a very well-done series, and probably the best production coming out of Australia in a while.

• 4. ワンダーエッグ・プライオリティWonder Egg Priority (NNS)

On its own the opening episode of Wonder Egg Priority is one of the most fascinating pieces of work I've ever seen. It's fast-paced, puzzling and appropriately vague, as it smoothly switches between cheerful and melancholy tones, jumping from scene to scene, leaving enough room for viewers to wonder obsessively about its imaginative and mystical 'dream world'. The first thing that dazzles you though is its brightly colorful visuals and lavish animation with consistently incredible layouts and drawings. This is presented over upbeat J-pop/electronic soundtracks, with flashy outfits, grotesque cartoonish 'monsters' and other colorful ornaments, but the unique thing about Wonder Egg Priority, despite the way it looks and sounds, it's actually a very dark, heavy themed anime, with a concept inspired by female suicides in Japan.

Over the course of 12 episodes, Wonder Egg Priority gives us a mash-up of psychological-horror and teen-drama. Our 4 extremely charming and devastatingly relatable characters, venture into the dream world and engage in violent combats against "seeno evils", "haters" and "wonder killers" in order to fight the 'temptation of death' and save others who've succumb to it. But in the real world, they themselves struggle with traumatic circumstances, such as depression, social anxiety, body dysmorphia, cutting, bullying, neglect etc. that may very well lead them to similar fates. The OVA special is probably one of the most underproduced episodes I've ever seen, and it really ruined the ending of an otherwise brilliant series. But even so, the impact of those first 12 episodes were not diluted. Wonder Egg Priority remains one of the most creative and innovative works of 2021.

• 3. 오징어 게임 (Netflix)

A series that I had the pleasure of watching on the day of its release (out of boredom and my repulsion of watching another season of Sex Education), it's almost mind-blowing how globally recognized this Korean blend of thriller, horror and survival-drama became. I was lured into Squid Game by it's colorful and crafty yet creepy playground-esque production design that shines through even the poster. But even if you have a vague idea of what this series is going to be beforehand, it may surprise you how well it builds such a compelling and investable main character within just 15 minutes; how well it also develops a guiltily exciting, nail-biting and devastating story from an interesting yet familiar concept; and how significantly the characters' moralities, vulnerabilities and empathies comes into play throughout the series. Squid Game is a series about capitalism and how it affects human nature, as our characters put themselves in an all or nothing situation for a shot at a better life. But how far are they willing to go? That comes as a surprise to most of the characters themselves. Sure it's often an intense and bloody affair, but it's also quite a humorous one, and often very poignant as well, providing quite a rollercoaster ride of emotions with every single episode.

• 2. Anna (Sky Atlantic)

Anna's is a cruel and unjust world, but in the strangest of ways, also a beautiful one. A world without adults, who've all succumbed the fatal red fever seemingly rooted in human biology, thus, a world where kids get to be their unadulterated selves... at least until their time comes to meet a similar fate. And it really shows you how unhinged children can be without adult supervision, to much more shocking degrees than just playful chaos and disorganization. Visually, it's a mixture of mountainous landscapes, forestry and an abandoned city, set on the Mediterranean island of Sicily. The breathtaking cinematography intricately explores the anarchic setting and finds beauty within the chaos. And it is complemented by vibrant colors, though that aspects works in contrast to the ominous tone and all the audacious violence we see on screen. The 6 episodes of Anna alternates wonderous, dreamlike imagery with cruel, nightmarish sequences, made even more so by the idea of violence being done to and by children. There are multiple characters, whose tragic backstories are poignantly told via flashbacks. And though their present-day may be more wild and energic compared to the despondence of sick adults unwillingly giving over control of the world to prepubescent children, it is equally as melancholy, because now these children live and have gotten used to the idea of dying once they've reached puberty.

• 1. Blindspotting (Starz)

Based on the critically-acclaimed 2018 movie of the same name, but this time centering around Ashley, Sean, Trish, Rainey etc., the wife and family of Miles who are left to pick up the pieces after his incarceration (along with quirky newcomer Earl with some incarceration history of his own), Blindspotting's first of many merits comes from emphasizing the inconvenience and discomfort of having to crash with a close relative or in-laws during a rough patch. Its second? Finding a creative and unique way to convey its hard-hitting social commentary, expressing it through compelling dub poetry monologues and enchanting interpretive dance sequences. These surrealistic moments of visual and verbal art pushes the characters' thoughts and feelings front and center, and also provides means for a tonal shift whenever it is time to do so (since Blindspotting is both a comedy and a drama). And there's also an abundance of culture to be experienced here as well. This series is Oakland down to the bone, from the music selection, to the slideshows, to the dialect etc. this series really does bring the beauty of Oakland (Bay Area) to our screens (even if only partly filmed in the actual place).

Blindspotting is a creative avant-garde, taking on complicated social constructs with erratic but deftly comedic flair, and it may very well leave a lot of viewers discombobulated as it doesn't serve up all its ideas in recognizable form. What's universal though, is the humane way in which these characters are written and presented. The eternal bond amongst their petty hostilities, their shared and individual woes, and the way they cope by finding love and laughter during a bad time. All this delivered to our screens by great performances from a cast whose chemistry is off the charts. Blindspotting is the full package. A series that is as funny as it is emotional, as lifeful as it is sentimental, as much of a social-commentary as it is a creative experiment, and it's all these aspects, as well as the writers knowing when to implement them, that makes this series one of the best offerings of 2021. With captivating, though-provoking, and fulfilling effect, Blindspotting is a series that accomplishes everything it sets out to do.

Hey folks — looking for newer series to dive into. Here’s what I’ve already seen and liked:

Vikings: Valhalla, Shōgun, The Office, Parks and Rec, The Paper, Community, Narcos, Ozark, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Rookie, Squid Game (1 & 2), Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Peaky Blinders, Money Heist, Prison Break.

I’m into gritty crime, historical epics, smart thrillers, and funny workplace comedies. Not into superhero or reality shows.

What should I watch next? Preferably stuff from 2021 or newer.