Russian vampires, religious horror, a Bergman remake, and other impressive projects in our list of the top 10 new TV series of 2021.

This year was marked by a boom in Russian streaming services, which began releasing series eagerly picked up by Netflix and Apple TV+. Discussions of the show 'Squid Game' were everywhere. Finally, we got an impressive game adaptation, which had seemed impossible. What are we getting at? It's time to name the top 10 new TV series of 2021 according to the 'After Credits' editorial team.

'Mare of Easttown'

Platform: HBO

— is a wonderful detective story. A scattering of suspects with obvious and not-so-obvious motives, clues scattered here and there, unexpected twists in the investigation, meticulous attention to the smallest details. It's all stunning.

Roman Kovalev

Better than 'True Detective': review of the series 'Mare of Easttown'

'Mare of Easttown' is a new hit that everyone who loves quality stories should watch. And we'll tell you why.

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At the same time, the series works even better as a dramatic story. The intricate web of fates that you couldn't make up on purpose. Overcoming psychological trauma under the guidance of a psychologist. Trying to find yourself and a couple of bottles of beer after another lousy day as therapy. The series has it all, and it doesn't just invite the viewer to play detective, but offers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people who can harbor incredible pain and experiences.

Roman Kovalev

'Vampires of the Central Strip'

Platform: Start

'Living is also work,' as the best vampire in Smolensk, played by Yuri Stoyanov, says. He became the main character associated with the new Russian series that everyone recommended watching this year. And there are reasons for that.

win over the viewer with their charm, ease, provincial character, and characters. Yes, it lacks interesting plot twists or high-quality graphics (sometimes necessary), but you easily overlook this, surprised at how you watch several episodes in a row.

Roman Kovalev

'Vampires of the Central Strip': How Yuri Stoyanov Played a Russian Vampire

'Vampires of the Central Strip' changed the lead actor during filming, and perhaps won popular love thanks to this decision.

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We were helped to laugh at the problems of vampires and unravel the plot's mystery by director Anton Maslov. Notably, the series does not copy the West or anyone else's ideas. The jokes are all adapted to local life, the characters are familiar with familiar problems. Everything is colorful and original.

If you want to immerse yourself in a mix of the atmosphere of 'Night Watch', listen to the wonderful soundtracks of the bands 'Agatha Christie' and 'Mumiy Troll', and see what captivated critics about this project, watch episode after episode, and then the Christmas special.

'Midnight Mass'

Platform: Netflix

A new creation by Mike Flanagan, where he revealed himself as a screenwriter and once again proved that horror is his genre. While 'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'The Haunting of Bly Manor' were based on already written works, 'Midnight Mass' became a personal statement for the director, a reflection on past experiences.

This is not a horror in the traditional sense, although it will be quite creepy at times. This time, Flanagan presented a strong drama with reflections on death, faith, and religion, packaged in a genre story. Biblical miracles, fighting inner monsters, fear, and crimes justified by ostentatious good—the director focuses on vulnerable people and their demons instead of mysticism and jump scares, with external evil becoming a metaphor for this. 'Midnight Mass' is a wise parable about blind faith, which can become a deadly weapon, and the destructive power of self-persuasion—in the best traditions of Stephen King. At the same time, it is also full of love and kindness.

'Reservation Dogs'

Platform: FX

Go back to the times of Taika Waititi and 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople', remember that atmosphere, humor, and light storytelling. Now jump back to the future and turn on 'Reservation Dogs' to embark on a similar journey with teenagers again.

But this time, we learn a bit more about the culture of Native Americans. It's important to note that the creation involved a team entirely composed of Indigenous peoples of North America—and this happened for the first time on American TV. This is worth mentioning because that's where the immersion into the atmosphere begins.

As viewers, you will be presented with myths, legends, social history, and stereotypes about Native Americans, which will seem like a breath of fresh air among the usual westerns where we are used to seeing them. A sort of criminal children's reading in a small reservation, from which children want to escape, but first prove their coolness to another gang. A comedy with a leisurely narrative and good social subtext.

'Maid'

Platform: Netflix

Going through what the main character of the series 'Maid' goes through is akin to madness. Experiencing psychological violence, being left penniless and homeless, with a small child and a crazy mother in tow. It all sounds like the script of a grim documentary on some federal channel's daytime schedule.

But in reality, all these circumstances are needed to show the bright story of a strong woman. Yes, it's hard for her. Yes, sometimes you want to give up and go with the flow. But for the sake of her child, her talent, her future, she continues to fight. She continues to find joy in the little things. And how this is shown and played by the magnificent Margaret Qualley (and her real mother Andie MacDowell) is truly impressive. Without ever descending into bleakness or vulgarity, the series shows a real heroine.

Roman Kovalev

'Scenes from a Marriage'

Platform: HBO

Making a remake of Ingmar Bergman, almost frame by frame... It seemed unlikely that anything worthwhile would come of this idea. However, Hagai Levi in his 'Scenes from a Marriage' managed, through small nuances, to create a fully independent and, most importantly, relevant work.

Even though the theme of fading love is as old as the world, context always makes its adjustments. And Levi managed to convey this context in every detail. This is especially true regarding the shift in gender roles in marriage.

And there's no need to mention that the duo of Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain turned out to be simply divine. Already for the opportunity to bask in their incredible charisma for several hours, you want to say a big human thank you to the creators of the project.

Roman Kovalev

'Only Murders in the Building'

Platform: Hulu

The recipe for a great new series: take interesting characters, give them good dialogue, place them in intriguing situations, season it all with excellent music and an original approach to each episode—and voila! You get such an impressive final product that a parody of the detective genre becomes a full-fledged crime comedy.

'Only Murders in the Building' found the perfect balance between classic Hollywood comedies (here, the long-time duo of best friends, Steve Martin and Martin Short, are responsible for this) and modern sarcastic meta-commentary on culture. Selena Gomez delivers the most nuanced performance of her career, balancing her older partners. And the seventh episode is almost genius.

'Crystal'

Platform: Kion

The series by Dushan Gligorov draws you in like a well-written and unpredictable detective story. But besides that, it raises important topics that are not usually discussed on screen here—about sexual violence, its consequences for victims, and how others perceive them. No, there is no didacticism or moralizing here, but it gives a very clear picture of what these people might face. And this fact alone deserves respect.

The main trump card of 'Crystal' is undoubtedly the script with a fascinating story and very ambiguous characters. The series is also good from a visual perspective: nice and atmospheric views of the town, deftly captured close-ups of the characters, pleasant color grading. If Kion continues to produce projects of this level, the key players in Russian streaming will have a hard time.

Roman Kovalev

'Arcane'

Platform: Netflix

became a real surprise of 2021. Few could imagine that a series based on the lore of a MOBA game would be something worthwhile. At best, something on the level of the DOTA animated series would come out, but Riot Games and Fortiche Productions truly surprised viewers.

Evgeny Belousov

Before They Became Famous: Review of 'Arcane' (Season 1)

Not long ago, 'Arcane', based on the popular game League of Legends, ended on Netflix. We tell you why it claims to be the most outstanding animated series of the year.

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Development took a full 6 years. There was no expectation of colossal success, because all the creators wanted was to make a quality project that fans would like. The goal was exactly that: 'We do it long, high-quality, and for 'our own'. But it turned out for everyone. Not only fans fell in love with 'Arcane', but also those who are not even familiar with League of Legends. It's logical, because it often happens that a project made with intelligence and soul for a specific audience creates a bomb effect. And the wave from this explosion then flies around the world.

Netflix acted more as a platform where the content was placed, and it didn't miscalculate. 'Arcane' became a real gem in the streaming service's library (generally a successful year for them). The animated series turned out to be so colorful, bright, dramatic, and multifaceted. Not a single flat character (even the antagonists are not simple and have clear motivation), an adult dramatic plot, and gorgeous visualization. Every frame can be examined endlessly, and the steampunk world and fight choreography are comparable to the biggest blockbusters. The second season will be released no earlier than 2023, but viewers understand that to relive the emotions of the first season, they are ready to wait. We hope the expectations will be met.

'The White Lotus'

Platform: HBO

— is a story about rich white people vacationing in Hawaii, which deftly balances between blatant satire and subtle psychological sketches from the lives of broken personalities. And watching this play in several acts is damn fascinating.

Roman Kovalev

'The White Lotus': Vacation Purification, or The Rich Also Cry

'The White Lotus' is a new satirical HBO series about a vacation in Hawaii that turns into hell...or purgatory.

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The show's authors show the transformation and rebirth of their characters, their overcoming of a kind of purgatory, which is the luxurious hotel 'The White Lotus'. After all, the rich are also people. They can cry and be vulnerable.

Roman Kovalev

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