Well, folks, we made it. It’s officially 2021, and even though most of the global-scale problems of 2020 aren’t over yet, I’m feeling pretty optimistic for this coming year. But no matter how you feel about politics or pandemics or your chances of getting a vaccine before summer, one nice, low-stakes thing to look forward to is 2021’s TV lineup.
With so many production issues caused by the pandemic in 2020, I expected the 2021 slate of release dates to be pretty bare. But while there may not be a jam-packed schedule of new series dropping this year, there are still some pretty exciting releases coming up, so today, I’ll give you a preview of what TV’s to come so you’ll have something to add to your 2021 calendar.
Also, we’ll be talking about streaming services, and specifically which ones you need (and don’t need) to optimize your TV-watching for the rest of our time at home.
Thanks for reading, and as always, don’t forget to share this newsletter with all the TV lovers in your life!
The Most Exciting New TV Coming Out in 2021
Image credit: Disney/Marvel
Note: For this list, we’re only including new series and revivals, so although lots of excellent already-on series are releasing seasons this year, we’re going to cover just the ones that will be fresh in 2021.
WandaVision (Disney+)
Also: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Hawkeye, and Ms. Marvel
Image credit: Disney/Marvel
The first in a much anticipated lineup of Marvel Studios series coming to Disney+, WandaVision drops January 15. While everyone involved has remained tight-lipped about the series, my best guess is that it will be a psychic powers-aided trip through the brain of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), otherwise known as the Scarlet Witch. We also know we’ll be seeing Paul Bettany reprise his role as the Vision, and if you’re caught up on the latest movies in the MCU, you might realize that something...isn’t quite right.
This year, we’ll also get to see Tom Hiddleston back as Loki in his very own series, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, respectively, will hit Disney+ in the first half of 2021 as well. Later in the year, you can expect to see Jeremy Renner back in the metaphorical tights in Hawkeye, and MCU newcomer Iman Vellani will lead the brand-new Ms. Marvel.
It’s a big TV year for Marvel fans, and it feels like Disney and Marvel Studios are experimenting with mediums to continue exploring the universe we’ve spent so many blockbusters in. I like the idea of longform storytelling and character work for these beloved characters (appearances in crowded, 2-3 hour movies don’t ever feel like quite enough), so I’m excited to see how it all pans out.
Gossip Girl (HBO Max)
Image credit: Gotham/Getty Images
I consider myself something of a reboot expert, but I’m not sure how to feel about this remake of Gossip Girl, coming to HBO Max in 2021. The original series hasn’t even been off the air for a decade, and some might say it’s too soon to bring it back — it hasn’t quite been long enough to feel like a nostalgia play. That said, the prospect of following a new, possibly more diverse set of rich-kid teens through their soapy, drama-filled years in a fancy private high school has many original fans excited.
A strong new cast, including Emily Alyn Lind (The Babysitter), Whitney Peak (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), and Tavi Gevinson (The Twilight Zone), make up the new class of privileged teens. We don’t know yet how many members of the original cast may make appearances, so we’ll have to wait until the series comes out to find out if any old favorites might show up.
Until then, XOXO, Gossip Girl.
The Lord of the Rings (Amazon Prime)
Image credit: Amazon Prime
Fans of Middle-earth have had this series on their radars for a while now, but Amazon (and everyone involved) has kept pretty quiet about the details. What we do know is that this series will go on record as the most expensive series ever made, at an estimated $1 billion. We also know that it’s likely going to be a prequel series, based on the maps and other limited promotional materials we have available to us at this point, and we know that the series already has a pretty expansive cast. Not many details are known about the plot just yet.
It’s an ambitious move by Amazon’s streaming service, and as a longtime Lord of the Rings fan myself, I’m hopeful it will pay off.
Dexter (Showtime)
Image credit: Showtime
Like Gossip Girl, Dexter ended less than a decade ago. However, instead of an all-new cast leading this reboot, the original Dexter Morgan himself, Anthony Michael Hall, will lead this revival of the series. We haven’t seen many details yet, but we can hope that any reboot of the hit series, which followed the life and times of a serial killer with a moral code, will keep up the bloody fun of its original run.
Which Streaming Services Are Worth Subscribing to in 2021?
Let’s just come right out and say it: streaming is getting confusing. What initially seemed like a good way to avoid ironclad contracts and expensive cable packages has become a thousand-piece puzzle of options that will keep even the most TV-savvy on their toes. With more time stuck at home (though hopefully not much more!) ahead of us, there’s no better time to find the streaming services that will best fit your TV needs — and your budget.
I’ll go into more depth on this topic in a future issue, especially to acknowledge that not everyone is me and that everyone needs to find a lineup to fit their own unique circumstances. For now, I’m going to tell you which I’m subscribed to and why:
Netflix
Cost: $14-$18 per month
Why I’m subscribed: Others in my household are subscribed, so this is an easy one for me. But also, many of my favorite series are Netflix originals. If the service keeps pumping out such high-quality original series, such as The Witcher and Stranger Things, I can’t see myself getting rid of this subscription anytime soon.
Worth subscribing to? Yes
Hulu
Cost: $6-$12 per month
Why I’m subscribed: It came bundled with my Spotify subscription. I honestly don’t use it much, other than for a few select series (like What We Do in the Shadows and Bob’s Burgers).
Worth subscribing to? Maybe — if you care about current network TV series
Amazon Prime
Cost: $9-$13 per month
Why I’m subscribed: People in my household are subscribed to the full Prime membership. There are a few series I watch on it, including some TV from the UK (like Humans and Poldark) and a few original series (including Patriot and Carnival Row), but I don’t consider it the home of must-see TV.
Worth subscribing to? Maybe — if you use Prime’s other membership benefits
HBO Max
Cost: $15 per month
Why I’m subscribed: It has a massive library of good content, including classic movies, as well as sections specifically for Cartoon Network, DC, HBO, Studio Ghibli, and more. My watchlist is huge and keeps growing because it has so much to offer.
Worth subscribing to? Yes
Apple TV+
Cost: $5 per month
Why I’m subscribed: I got a free one-year subscription with the purchase of an Apple device. Otherwise, frankly, I wouldn’t have this subscription. There are a few good things in the lineup (including Ted Lasso), but there’s really not a whole lot here yet.
Worth subscribing to? No
Disney+
Cost: $7 per month
Why I’m subscribed: My family loves Disney movies, and it’s great to have such a full library of them right at our fingertips. In addition, recent originals, such as The Mandalorian and the recorded Hamilton, make me optimistic that the massive lineup of announced series will maintain the high level of quality we’ve seen from the service so far.
Worth subscribing to? Yes — especially if you have kids
SHOWTIME
Cost: $9 per month
Why I’m subscribed: It came bundled with my Spotify subscription. This streaming service is great for movie lovers, but doesn’t have much to offer on the TV front.
Worth subscribing to? No
Bonus Features
For today’s bonus features, something a little different: some recommendations. Here are the 20 shows that, because they were amazing or because they were silly or because they were cathartic or because they were just a good distraction, got me through 2020 (and where to stream them in the US):
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu)
The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix)
Carnival Row (Amazon Prime)
The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)
Barry (HBO Max)
Queer Eye (Netflix)
The Musketeers (Hulu)
BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
Legion (Hulu)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
The Circle (Netflix)
Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access)
Poldark (Amazon Prime)
New Girl (Netflix)
The Great British Baking Show (Netflix)
Selling Sunset (Netflix)
Salvation (CBS All Access)
Patriot (Amazon Prime)
And that’s all for this week! Looking forward to a 2021 full of TV and hopefully plenty of other very good things.
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