In 2021, the last thing people wanted to watch was a dark TV show.
Amid the ongoing pandemic, viewers were looking for something a bit lighter to binge after turning off their computers and walking the short distance to their couches. I mean, who wants to watch Ellen Pompeo go into a COVID-induced coma on Grey's Anatomy when you might know someone who is going through the same thing?
That's an extreme example, of course, but TV shows and moves are often meant to be an escape from reality.
So, the return of Ted Lasso, Emily in Paris and more series were a godsend. Whether it was intentional or not, the cast and crews behind these amazing shows gave us those warm and fuzzy feelings we were missing out on after spending more than a year in quarantine.
Ted Lasso's Hannah Waddingham put it best in an August interview with The Wrap, saying, "We all wish that 2020 as it happened just didn't happen. But since it did happen that way, and that is when we happened to come out, it's just like, well, if we were of some help, then happy to have helped."
As per usual, the series weren't all sunshine and rainbows 24/7. But we had to give a shoutout to shows like This Is Us—because without the bad times, we wouldn't be able to fully appreciate the good.
To see the shows we're grateful to have watched in 2021, check out the gallery below!
Yes, there's death in this Hulu series, but Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin infuse every scene with humor and lightness. It also inspires such happiness to see these three characters, who were once strangers to each other, become a family as they solve the murder of Tim Kono.
As adults, it's so much easier to look back on the ups and downs of our teenage years with a sense of humor. It's what makes this Mindy Kaling-created show so hilarious because there's an understanding that everything will work out for Devi, who is portrayed with sincerity and empathy by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.
Jason Sudeikis' Apple TV+ show inspired joy with its heartfelt and inspiring storylines. And though season two explored what it means to be sad and lose hope, Coach Lasso taught us that all we need to do is believe in ourselves and those around us.
This Peacock series, brought to you by the same creators of The Good Place and Parks & Recreation, celebrates indigenous cultures and communities. Starring Ed Helms and Jana Schmieding, this is one of those feel good shows that reminds viewers that the good always outweighs the bad.
In this Netflix Original, newcomer Emily has a rude awakening when her bubbly, go-getter attitude is met with resistance from the chic Parisians. But with time, the fashionable marketing executive has chipped away at the cold hearts of her French counterparts, and finds love in the process. The European backdrop certainly is dreamy, too.
Season two of the series is streaming now on Netflix.
Adults and teens can learn a lot from this Netflix series that highlights the importance of acceptance. Starring Gillian Anderson, Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa and others, the series navigate real world problems with a sense of humor and empathy that is positively refreshing.
While completely heartbreaking at times, this NBC show also gives us those warm and fuzzy feelings with its portrayal of the Pearson family. And as the show continues its final season, the writers are sending off the Pearsons with their best episodes yet.
Here's to all the good to come in 2021!