Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
July, 2021, was the month of mustachioed men. From Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) on Apple TV+’s breakout hit Ted Lasso, to Murray Bartlett’s rapidly collapsing Armond on HBO’s The White Lotus, to (sometimes) Tim Robinson on Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave, some of the best shows released this past month featured dudes with a little something something on their upper lip.
Was that the secret to their success? Maybe, maybe not. There are certainly plenty of shows on Decider’s list of the Best TV of July 2021 that don’t have men with ‘staches. But perhaps… Perhaps they would have been higher on our list if they did. For example, Disney+’s Loki was great, but imagine how much greater it would have been if they included a Loki (Tom Hiddleston) Variant with some stubble? Pretty great, I’d say. Or if Tuca & Bertie‘s animated birds grew beakstaches? That would be fun.
Look, not to keep hammering this point, but even our number four show, Schmigadoon!, included a fantastic mustache on supporting played Alan Cumming’s mayor. If leads Cecily Strong or Keegan-Michael Key had a mustache, it could have ranked even higher. So while there are some amazing shows on our list, perhaps they could have been even more amazing. Just saying.
Now, a word on methodology. The staff of Decider sent in their personal picks for the five best shows of the month. I ignored those, and chose what I wanted, instead. Kidding. Their picks were weighted, culled together, and then form the list you see here. So while that does give a show everyone watches a slight advantage versus a show not everyone watched (sorry, Masters of the Universe: Revelation), it does lead to a gamut of choices of great TV.
If you’re looking for some previous picks? Check out January, February, March, April, May, June and the Best TV Shows of 2021… So Far. For the best TV shows that aired at least one episode this July? Read on…
'Love Island'
Hulu
The entire world was buzzin’ to finally have Love Island back this summer, and Season 7 of the UK series is not disappointing. With new episodes added daily to Hulu, there’s nothing “fake” about how fun this season has been so far. Iain Stirling’s voiceover has been spot-on and hilarious, especially in the Unseen Bits episodes, and Laura Whitmore is an excellent host of this romance circus, which is quite evident in the After Sun recap episodes as well. If you’re not watching already, consider this your sign that you GOT A TEXT and Islanders, it’s time to tune in. — Lea Palmieri
'Dr. Death'
Peacock
Peacock’s Dr. Death is an engrossing thriller that’ll have you saying “just one more episode.” Based on the podcast of the same name, Patrick Macmanus’ critically-acclaimed miniseries stars Joshua Jackson as Dr. Christopher Duntsch, an arrogant surgeon whose staggering incompetence (and/or malevolence) leads to the enigmatic doctor maiming or killing a slew of patients. Also starring Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, AnnaSophia Robb, and Grace Gummer, the eight-episode series is a compelling, terrifying mix of entertainment and intrigue. If you already streamed Dr. Death, a four-part docuseries, Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story, is now streaming on Peacock. — Josh Sorokach
'Loki'
Disney+
Loki might have kicked off its epic story in June, but it was July when it brought it home with two episodes that shocked even the most unflappable of MCU fans. After traveling through doomsdays and falling for a female variant of himself, our hero (?!) Loki (Tom Hiddleston) finds himself stranded at the end of time. There he meets charming and dangerous versions of himself, played by Richard E. Grant, an Alligator, and more. However the real stunner of a showdown came in the Season finale when the MCU finally revealed its Phase 4 villain…the incomparable Jonathan Majors as Kang and all his Variants. Loki was a weird and wonderfully warped journey for the MCU and we can’t wait for Season 2. — Meghan O’Keefe
'Tuca & Bertie'
Adult Swim
When Lisa Hanawalt’s adult animated comedy first premiered, it was clear that this was a special show. Season 2 cements that fact. As silly and joyful as this world always is, this latest installment is more emotionally poignant than ever before. No show has better portrayed the contradictory sense of loneliness that occurs when you’re surrounded by people yet at odds with yourself, whether those people are your best friends or a bachelorette party. Nor has any other show better explored the odd sense of loss that creeps up when your best friend starts to date someone new. Television has a habit of flattening people, reducing the human experience to a series of predictable emotions. Thanks to Hanawalt as well as Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish’s electric performances, that never happens in this Adult Swim show. Time and time again, Tuca & Bertie captures the nuance that defines what it means to be human. — Kayla Cobb
'Never Have I Ever'
Netflix
Devi Vishwakumar is back in Season 2 of Never Have I Ever and just as charmingly self-destructive as ever. There’s something irresistible about this teen comedy from creator Mindy Kaling, a writer who genuinely loves romantic comedies and knows how to put those love triangle tropes to good use. Star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan is as hilarious as she was in Season 1, and might just be one of the most talented teen actors of our day. While Team Paxton has plenty to chew on this season, personally I’m #TeamBen all the way. — Anna Menta
'Schmigadoon!'
Classic Broadway collides with comedy TV in Apple TV+’s hilariously upbeat Schmigadoon! Basic couple Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) set off on a backpacking trip to mend their stale relationship; instead, they find themselves intruding on a perfectly imagined 1940s musical world. If you regularly tune into Apple TV+’s hit Ted Lasso on summer Fridays, you’ll find this new romp equally endearing. With a stacked cast of Broadway and TV stars alike — Kristen Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, Alan Cumming, and Jane Krakowski, to name just a few — Schmigadoon! is full of sing-songy greatness. — Fletcher Peters
'I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson
Netflix
No show made me laugh longer or harder in 2021 than I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. The second season of this delightfully absurd sketch series is a brilliant mix of smart and silly, delivering banger after banger in six short episodes. The whole season is a breezy ode to well-crafted sketch comedy, but Episode 2 (Dan Flashes, the Bob Odenkirk sketch, sloppy steaks) and Episode 6 (Tammy Craps, Driver’s Ed/Tables) are, and I don’t use this term lightly, iconic. — Josh Sorokach
'The White Lotus'
HBO
Mike White’s often hilarious, always skin-crawling and cringeworthy story of a group of rich a-holes staying at a Hawaiian resort is equal parts incisive and invasive. From moment to moment, you’ll either be shrieking with laughter over the horrific circumstances being thrown at oblivious characters like Jake Lacy’s frat boy husband, or cringing in horror over the career woes of his newlywed wife, played by Alexandra Daddario. Also featuring a career best performance by Jennifer Coolidge, and a revelatory one from Murray Bartlett as hotel concierge Armond, The White Lotus is a beautifully filmed show that you’ll only be able to watch with one eye open, peeking through your hands in horror. — Alex Zalben
'Ted Lasso'
Apple TV+
20 Emmy nominations are cool and all, but there’s no golden statue for how nice this show makes everyone feel in their hearts. Ted Lasso returns for Season 2 with weekly episodes streaming on Apple TV+ and is every bit as wonderful as the first season. The Diamond Dogs are delightful, the footballers are somehow fitter, and Rebecca & Keely remain the gal pals we wish we were BFFs with. Jason Sudeikis brings his signature charm, comedy, and caring qualities to Ted to ensure this remains the show everyone is talking — and gushing — about each week. — Lea Palmieri
