With movie theaters closed, one thing quickly changed in my life: I watched a lot of TV! In total, I watched 33 shows, ranging from miniseries to multiple seasons of the same show. They include light, comfort TV, as well as heavy dramas and spy stories.

I’m listing my favorites below, but I’m fully aware there are many more I haven’t watched!

8 – The Flight Attendant

I’ve been a fan of Kaley Cuoco’s for a long time (you can read my article about The Big Bang Theory), so I was excited to watch her new project – and she didn’t disappoint! Based on a book, The Flight Attendant follows the story of Cassie (Kaley Cuoco), a flight attendant with a drinking problem who finds herself involved with a murder investigation. It’s a type of whodunnit, but it’s structured in a more light and entertaining way, with split screens and good songs in the background. It has been renewed for a second season, even though one season was the right size for this story, in my opinion.

Streaming on HBO Max. Watch the trailer here.

7 – Schitt’s Creek

I wrote earlier this year about the joy of watching all seasons of Schitt’s Creek during quarantine, so I was extremely happy when the show won all of the Comedy Series categories during the Emmy Awards! It truly is an uplifting show and a great way to spend your time! The characters are hilarious and the message is heartwarming.

Available on Netflix. Watch the season 6 trailer here.

6 – Homeland

After eight seasons, Homeland ended earlier this year, with a very satisfying finale. Even though the show had its ups and downs during the years, with some disappointing seasons, the last one managed to go back to basics and focus on Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) and Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin). The series finale was my favorite episode, where those two characters had to face their ethical differences and solve the issues they had between them.

Available on Showtime. Watch the season 8 trailer here.

5 – Normal People

Based on the novel by the same name, Normal People is a delicate portrait of a couple falling in love (and dealing with heartbreak) during their last year in high school and first years of college. Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is shy and lonely in high school. With no friends and ignored by her own family, she finds solace and companionship in Connell (Paul Mescal), a very popular student. However, once they’re both in college, their roles change and their relationship gets more complicated and the lack of proper communication between them makes it worse. It is an extremely well done show, with a beautiful cinematography. Both leading actors give wonderful performances and are able to convey just how hard it is to feel like “normal” people.

Available on Hulu. Watch the trailer here.

4 – Mrs. America

It is very common to talk about the women’s movement in the 1970s, but it’s rare to see the other side equally portrayed, and that is what Mrs. America does. It follows the fight to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in the US and the unexpected backlash led by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett). It is important to remember that watching shows based on real events is not the same as watching a documentary or a journalistic piece. Many aspects have been changed, but the main essence of the show remains true to what happened all those decades ago.

Available on Hulu. Watch the trailer here.

3 – The Crown

I have been a fan of The Crown since the beginning and, although the first season is still my favorite, season 4, released in November, gives us nearly perfect TV entertainment. Focusing on the 1980s, the show is involved in many controversies this year, since it shows Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) being mistreated by the royal family. Just like Mrs. America, the show takes some liberties in order to create a more interesting plot, but they work well. Once we all remember it’s not a documentary, but a dramatization of real events according to Peter Morgan’s imagination of what happened, we can all enjoy it more.

Available on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.

2 – The Queen’s Gambit

Who knew a show about chess would be so interesting? Based on the 1983 novel of the same name, The Queen’s Gambit is a coming-of-age drama that follows the story of an orphan named Beth (Anya Taylor-Joy), a chess prodigy. Sure, it features a lot of chess, as we witness her improvement throughout the episodes, but it also deals with mental health, addiction, friendship, family, and the lack of women in that field.

Available on Netflix. Watch the trailer here.

1 – The Undoing

It’s really hard to explain why I thought The Undoing was the best show this year without spoiling the end, but I’ll do my best. It is a murder mystery where the main suspect is Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant), an oncologist married to Grace Fraser (Nicole Kidman). He’s accused of killing an woman named Elena (Matilda De Angelis), whose son attends the same school as the main couple’s son (Noah Jupe). Based on a novel, The Undoing misleads the audience and leaves us guessing until the end while letting us enjoy New York City in the background.

Available on HBO. Watch the trailer here.

Honorable Mentions (Not Released in 2020)

The West Wing (1999 – 2006)

After years of having The West Wing on my watch list, I was finally able to watch it in 2020! I was surprised about how current it feels: you could really air many of the episodes today and they would work perfectly, especially during the election. It’s also sad to realize that many of the problems and the discussions in our society remain the same even after 20 years of its creation.

Gilmore Girls (2000 – 2007)

As I mentioned in a previous post, I rewatched Gilmore Girls to celebrate its 20th anniversary and it was more enjoyable than I thought! It is still a wonderful show, even after all those years.

May 2021 bring us more shows to enjoy!