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11 TV Lines From 2021 That Are Absolute Perfection, And 6 That Should Have Stayed In The Writers Room

Yes, Squid Game is on here twice.

Andria Moore
by Andria Moore

BuzzFeed Staff

2021 has been a great year for TV. HBO dropped White Lotus and Season 3 of Succession, Netflix watched as Squid Game took over the world, and Marvel has STAYED feeding us with miniseries after miniseries.

Marvel / Disney / Via giphy.com

With all that greatness came a few notable flops as well. So to round off this year, let's recap the best and worst lines in 2021 TV history.

🚨 Warning: This post contains MASSIVE spoilers for many 2021 TV shows! 🚨

Note: This post also has mentions of sexual assault.

BEST: In Ted Lasso, when Higgins gives Keeley sound advice about pursuing her career.

Apple TV / Via youtube.com

I personally did not expect it, but way to go, Higgins.

WORST: In Gossip Girl, when Julien tries to sabotage Zoya and then two seconds later publicly announces that she, herself, is a bully.

HBO Max / Via youtube.com

Cringey is the least of its problems — it just flat out doesn't make sense.

BEST: In Sex Education, when Jean gives Aimee this poignant speech about how the trauma she's experienced isn't her fault.

Netflix

WORST: In Sex/Life, Billie's opening monologue whining about how her husband is almost perfect.

Netflix

Are we supposed to think this is romantic...?

BEST: In Squid Game, Ji-yeong's final line that completely encapsulates the entire message of the show (and absolutely wrecked me to the very core of my being).

Netflix

I can't even look at her face without sobbing.

BEST: And then also in Squid Game when Il-nam delivers this heartbreakingly prophetic line about why he did what he did.

Netflix

The biggest plot twist of 2021.

WORST: In Elite, when Patrick uses this embarrassing line to try and persuade Ander to cheat on his boyfriend.

Netflix

Have the writers of this show ever actually met a teen?

BEST: In WandaVision, when Vision somehow manages to turn pain into strength.

Disney / Marvel / Via youtube.com

Possibly the greatest line of television to ever exist. 

BEST: In Succession, when Shiv casually roasts Kendall and simultaneously summarizes the entire season.

HBO

Logan Roy also has more than a few zingers this season.

WORST: In Cowboy Bebop, when Woodcock uses this extremely problematic line as a pickup.

Netflix / Via youtube.com

And that's why it got cancelled. 

BEST: In Loki, when Loki exposes governmental corruption all in one breath.

Disney +

A very close second is his line, "Love is a dagger. It's a weapon to be wielded far away or up close. You can see yourself in it. It's beautiful."

BEST: In The White Lotus, when Tanya debates where she should spread her mother's ashes.

HBO

The hypocrisy between what the rich say and what they do throughout this show is briliant. 

WORST: In I Know What You Did Last Summer, when Lennon summarizes her personality in the worst way possible.

Amazon Prime / Everett Collection

It goes beyond cringey and borderlines on disturbing.

BEST: In Insecure, when Lawrence tried to ask Kelli about Issa, and she completely understood the assignment.

HBO

"In abundance."

BEST: In The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, when Sam perfectly articulates what it means to be a hero.

Disney  / Marvel

A+ speech from MY Captain America.

WORST: In Riverdale, when Betty decides Riverdale shouldn't be included in "places in the US."

CW

Do the writers really think they're doing something clever, or do they just not care anymore?

BEST: And finally, in Never Have I Ever, when Devi talks herself into getting a tattoo using solid logic.

Netflix

Possibly the most 2021 line I've ever heard.

The year is almost over, and we're looking back on 2021. Check out more from the year here! And let us know what your favorite TV lines are from 2021!