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New year, new TV. That’s the way it goes, and that’s in fact what happened in January, 2021. Despite the best efforts of the world, the television did not stop in the first month of the year. In fact, we got a ton of great new shows, as well as many happy returns.
But perhaps the big story here is Apple TV+, at least where Decider’s picks for the best of the month are concerned. The oft-maligned streaming service came in hard in January with the return of Dickinson, Servant, and the debut of Losing Alice, all excellent shows that nabbed spots on our list. For a streaming service some critics would want to write off as an also-ran, that’s a pretty darn good showing.
That’s not all, though. Marvel Studios’s first TV series, the fourth season of a critically acclaimed comedy, and even Tiger Woods ended up on our list. How did we choose said list? Why, it’s easy. The Decider staff sent in their top five picks. Those were weighted, culled together, and resulted in the list you see below.
Looking to catch up on 2020? The best of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November are here, as well as our Best of the Year. But that’s old news. Let’s get to the new stuff:
'Lupin'
Netflix
Lupin is an aggressively charming showcase for one of the most charismatic performers in the entire world. French actor, comedian, and chameleon Omar Sy plays Assane Diop, a modern man inspired by the fictional exploits of Arsène Lupin. Diop uses a mix of genius and charm to plan daring heists, but his real weapon is his gift of reading people. Like the legendary Lupin, Diop uses people’s own biases against them, predicting their reactions and exploiting them for his own gain. A modern day Robin Hood story, Lupin is thrilling, sophisticated, and a heck of a lot of fun. — Meghan O’Keefe
'Superstore'
NBC
Superstore is saying goodbye after five years on NBC, but the sitcom is giving us a strong finish. After taking a brief hiatus this winter, the show has returned for more Cloud Nine shenanigans, where Jonah (Ben Feldman), Dina (Lauren Ash), and the rest of the employees are carrying on without Amy (America Ferrera). With their final season, Superstore continues their legacy of touching topics network TV often shies away from, and even incorporates the coronavirus pandemic without a single zoom screen — a true feat. — Greta Bjornson
'Tiger'
HBO
If you haven’t yet watched the two-part Tiger Woods documentary on HBO, you are in for a treat. It’s got everything all the best docs do: a riveting story, plenty of salaciousness, a rise and fall and rise again, and oh yeah, a lot of golf. Tiger’s story is a fascinating one, not just because he is an absolute phenom in the sport, but because he is as regular as it gets when it comes to being chewed up and spit out by the fame machine in America. You’ll admire, appreciate and pity him along the way, and while he has no involvement in the documentary as it mostly features people that are no longer in his life, hearing their accounts gives a lot of perspective to his unique life. — Lea Palmieri
'WandaVision'
Disney+
No other TV show did as much TV-ing as WandaVision did in January. Marvel Studios’ first Disney+ series is way more than just a superhero show. It’s a love letter to television history and an intricately executed homage to the shows that defined pop culture of the 20th century. It’s also a totally surreal mystery as viewers—along with the residents of Westview—try to figure out why they’re stuck in Wanda Maximoff’s TV land. But even if you removed all the Marvel mythology, WandaVision would still be a class act sitcom with delightful performances from Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, and Kathryn Hahn. Ain’t that a gas? — Brett White
'Losing Alice'
Apple TV+
One of the most tense shows of 2021 has nothing to do with murder, kidnappings, or dimension-altering television. It’s about one woman, a script, and a deep desire to make the best movie possible. Despite its simplicity, Ayelet Zurer’s restrained and ever-complex role in Apple TV+’s Losing Alice will keep you gasping. — Kayla Cobb
'Dickinson'
Apple TV+
Dickinson was already one of the most delightfully absurd shows on television, but Season 2 upped both the delightful and the absurd quotients tenfold. The comedy’s sophomore run follows Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) as she grapples with her complicated feelings for Sue (Ella Hunt) and her desire to be published. While Steinfeld is sharper than ever as the young poet, the real joy of Dickinson Season 2 is its expanded focus on the rest of the family, a decision that gives supporting cast members Anna Baryshnikov, Toby Huss, and Adrian Enscoe a chance to shine. It’s Dickinson’s world, and we’re all just living in it. — Claire Spellberg
'Servant'
Apple TV+
When you’re starting with a show that revolves around a mother mistaking a doll for her actual baby, it’s hard to raise the stakes. That’s likely why in its second season, Apple TV+’s Servant is less concerned with answering the countless questions it raised in Season 1, and instead looks inward, diving deeper into the characters. If Season 1 showed the budding stages of trauma over a lost child, this new installment is more focused on showing just how crazy-making that pain can be. The result is a twisted thriller that feels fresh, while paying homage to the horror era of hagsploitation. — Kayla Cobb
'Pretend It's a City'
Netflix
If you don’t know Fran Lebowitz, you’ll get to know her very well in Pretend It’s a City, the new 7-episode docuseries directed by her longtime friend, Martin Scorsese. Lebowitz has been sharing her opinions regarding New York City, slow-walkers, subways, sidewalks, sexism, and more for over fifty years as a writer and public speaker. Now, thanks to Netflix, she has a new platform on which to air her many grievances. You’ll get just as much enjoyment out of Scorsese laughing hysterically as you will from Lebowitz’s zingers—their friendship is genuine, sweet, and clearly built on mutual respect. But more than anything, this docuseries is a vehicle for Lebowitz to do her thing, and, after years of practice, she does it very well. — Anna Menta
'Cobra Kai'
Netflix
Cobra Kai is pure, unadulterated entertainment. Netflix’s wildly popular Karate Kid reunion series once again produced a dazzling mix of humor and heart as the battle for the soul of youth karate in and around the San Fernando Valley raged on. The third season not only included predictably terrific performances from Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and the immensely talented young ensemble, but Martin Kove (John Kreese) and Courtney Henggeler (Amanda LaRusso) also delivered magnetic, nuanced performances with their enhanced screen time. Featuring a bevy of incredible fight scenes, layered storytelling, and an unbelievable finale, Cobra Kai continues to be the best around. — Josh Sorokach
'Search Party'
HBO Max
Search Party Season 4 was easily the darkest installment of the series yet. Dory Siefe (Alia Shawkat) has been imprisoned by Chip (Cole Escola), the stalker fan who thinks he’s her best friend. Her friends are oblivious, instead with Drew (John Reynolds) working at a Disney-esque theme park, Elliott (John Early) becoming a conservative commentator who hates (???) gay people, and Portia (Meredith Hagner) playing Dory in the movie of their lives. Yet even with the extremely harrowing story of the breaking of Dory, particularly by season’s end the series has found increasingly ridiculous ways to amp up the story. In particular, the last chunk — featuring a bottle episode focused on what has been happening to Chantal (Clare McNulty), and a mind-bending season finale that feels like a series finale — released by HBO Max this week stand among the best the series has ever done. Just, next season maybe take it a little easier on our favorite murderer, okay? — Alex Zalben
