6 Worst TV Shows of 2021
I watched 67 different television shows and programming in 2021 and most of them were good. With so many shows to keep up with, I try to only dedicate time to ones that have received good reviews. But sometimes I’m watching a show as it airs, so the reviews aren’t in yet, which is the case for almost all of the shows I’m about to talk about. The following are the worst TV shows I watched in 2021:
6. Big Little Lies, Season 2 (HBO Max)
Big Little Lies, adapted from the novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty, was all the rage when it debuted on HBO in 2017. Because of its popularity, the show, originally a limited series, became a regular series with the announcement of a season two, which was released in 2019. I didn’t get into the show until 2021, but wow the first season was so good! The show begins with an unidentified murder, and the first season is dedicated to the lives of five mostly wealthy women who all love and hate each other, diving into themes of class, marriage, secrets, domestic abuse, and more. Season one was a tightly paced, intriguing, and addicting show filled with phenomenal performances from the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and others. Season two, unfortunately, is a huge drop in quality compared to the first. Season two isn’t based on the original novel. Instead, it’s based on a new story Moriarty wrote. Despite the huge addition of Meryl Streep to the cast in season two, her character is mostly a disappointment and doesn’t really antagonize the characters as deeply as she could’ve. And the aftermath of the events of season one, with the courthouse drama, isn’t as well-executed or interesting as anything that preceded it in season one. Overall, season two just feels like an unnecessary epilogue to a phenomenal first season. While far from being awful, and still entertaining, the huge drop in quality from season one is the reason the show is on this list. I would suggest anyone who hasn’t seen Big Little Lies yet to just stick with season one and end it with that.
5. Alice in Borderland (Netflix)
Alice in Borderland debuted on Netflix at the end of 2020 and was a big enough hit to be renewed for a second season just a few weeks later, but I hadn’t heard of it until Squid Game blew up and there was renewed interest in the show (due to some similarities). Having been blown away by Squid Game, I was excited to love Alice in Borderland. Unfortunately, I found myself disappointed. The idea of Tokyo citizens being forced to play survival games, while also trying to figure out why in the world this is happening in the first place, is intriguing, it lacks the thematic depth and character development present in superior shows like Squid Game. The games are convoluted, characters thinly-written, and pacing is poor. Alice in Borderland may leave you in bored-land more than anything.
You can read more about my thoughts on Alice in Borderland here.
4. High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Season 2 (Disney Plus)
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series debuted near the end of 2019 as a Disney Plus launch show and it quickly became one of my favorite shows, so it breaks my heart to say it was one of the worst shows I saw when it returned in season two. Olivia Rodrigo and Joshua Bassett’s lead characters are more grating than ever before, and their relationship is legitimately annoying. Conflicts are contrived. The original songs, and musical sequences based on Beauty and the Beast, are not as memorable and lack the charm of season one. The show is filled with too many romances, too many will-they-won’t-theys, and too many love triangles. The one saving grace is episode 9, “Spring Break,” which takes a slightly experimental approach to the show’s usual mockumentary format, and features a charming guest appearance by Asher Angel. Let’s hope season three returns to its former glory.
3. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney Plus)
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier had the unfortunate responsibility to follow up to WandaVision, a show that became a pop culture phenomenon. And… it’s not great. The show focuses a lot on Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson taking on the mantel of Captain America, and what it means to be a Black Captain America, but the show deals with race in a sloppy manner. For example, the reversal of expectations/fake out when cops showed up to arrest Bucky, the white guy, instead of Sam, felt insulting. Erin Kellyman’s Karli Morgenthau is an awful antagonist whose motivations are left in the dark for far too long for it to matter once it’s all revealed. I actually got annoyed with her and the Flag Smashers because they were just so underwritten and, frankly, boring. Unfortunately, the series is a must-watch if you want to keep up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe because now all of Marvel’s shows and movies are interconnected. If you haven’t seen the show yet, prepare for a long and dull six hours. Sigh.
2. What If…? (Disney Plus)
Aside from WandaVision, Marvel’s What If…? was the most exciting announcement. The idea of an anthology-style show featuring alternate scenarios from what we’ve already seen in the MCU movies has a lot of potential! What if T’Challa was Star-Lord? What if everyone was zombies? But, alas, Marvel ruined it by giving us episodes that don’t feel complete, ugly animation designs, and Marvel’s inability to keep their heads out of their own asses by, again, making every episode of this anthology be connected by the season finale.
1. Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu)
I was excited for Nine Perfect Strangers because it was based on a novel by Liane Moriarty, the author of Big Little Lies, and starred an impressive cast that included Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Regina Hall, Manny Jacinto, and many others. The show is centered around nine strangers who participate in a wellness retreat operated by a mysterious woman named Masha (played by Kidman). But there’s more to the retreat than meets the eye, and the guests soon discover each other’s secrets, as well as Masha. Unlike Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers is a chore to get through. Its many reveals are poorly paced, Masha’s “secret” and plans are underwhelming, and the characters are more annoying than they are compelling. Kidman, who was great in Big Little Lies, is laughable here and has a questionable Russian accent. Just do yourself a favor and watch season one of Big Little Lies instead of this.