Best TV Series
This year, the contenders for Best TV Show are interesting. Not only do they span a variety of genres, but they also show the impact of streaming on television entertainment. Three of the five nominees come from a streaming platform, just going to show just how significant those platforms have come to our overall entertainment consumption. We’ve also got a range of brand new shows as well as returning favorites making this a truly tight field.
- Cobra Kai (Netflix)
- Heels (Starz)
- Midnight Mass (Netflix)
- Squid Game (Netflix)
- What We Do in the Shadows (FX)
Best Comic Book TV Series
This year, we’ve split out the television shows based on comic books into their own category and for good reason. 2021 saw a wealth of shows that took their inspiration from the pages of beloved comics and not only were there plenty of shows to choose from, but they were all a bit different in their tones and themes — even the ones that happen to come from a shared universe.
Best Animated TV Show
While 2021 gave us some impressive live-action offerings, animation was bringing their A-game as well, with new seasons of beloved favorites and new shows for fans to become completely obsessed with.
- Arcane (Netflix)
- Invincible (Amazon Prime)
- Rick and Morty (Adult Swim)
- Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+)
- Star Wars: Visions (Disney+)
Best TV Actor
Heroes, supervillains, antiheroes, and everything in between were key components of television leads in 2021 and these actors brought them all to life with fine performances that made us laugh, cry, and sometimes both at the same time.
Best TV Actress
2021 saw some incredible female characters grace the small screen thanks to powerhouse performances by some brilliant actresses. These nominees captivated us with their incredible talents, bringing to life characters that embody the full range of the human experience.
- Sophia di Martino (Sylvie, Loki)
- Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff, WandaVision)
- Jung Ho-yeon (Kant Sae-byeok, Squid Game)
- Katie Siegel (Erin Greene, Midnight Mass)
- Hailee Steinfeld (Kate Bishop, Hawkeye)
Best First TV Appearance
This past year a lot of comic book favorites made their live action debuts on the small screen and the actors who brought them to life exceeded even our wildest expectations. From villains to heroes, to characters you just can’t help but love, these nominees made our favorite characters truly a delight to watch.
- Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), Wandavision
- Bart Allen (Jordan Fisher), The Flash
- Gus (Christian Convery), Sweet Tooth
- Maya Lopez/Eco (Alaqua Cox), Hawkeye
- Mobius M. Mobius (Owen Wilson), Loki