The most underrated TV performances of 2021

It's hard to single out just one performance from the final batch of episodes in Hulu's "Pen15," but these three women deliver a masterclass on a whole different level. Few stars have ever managed to pull off the level of realism and tenderness that Erskine and Konkle have crafted as they played their 13-year-old selves.

In the final half of season two, Erskine's real mother, Mutsuko, shines in her own solo episode. Each of these actresses beautifully portrayed the nuance and pain and joy found in experiences of women, and they deserve more attention for it. —Kim Renfro, entertainment correspondent

"Inside" as a Netflix special is far from underrated this year, but it's worth noting how much the audience of Bo Burnham's latest endeavor seems to take his acting performance at face value. He combines a believable amount of naked vulnerability and earnestness with a layer of self-deprecation in a way that makes you believe you aren't watching a performance but instead a deeply personal video diary of sorts.

Burnham has always been a phenomenal actor (see "Promising Young Woman"), but "Inside" is a whole new level of capturing his innate charm and thoughtfulness and packaging it into an uncannily relatable entertainment experience. The fact that he wrote and directed himself through the whole thing makes it even more impressive. —Kim Renfro, entertainment correspondent

"The Underground Railroad" was a triumphant and devastating series that not nearly enough people seemed to be taking note of when it premiered on Amazon earlier this year. Thuso Mdebu shoulders an enormous weight throughout the show, delivering a steady, determined, and heartbreaking performance. —Kim Renfro, entertainment correspondent

Everyone's been talking about Jeremy Strong, but the team at Insider couldn't stop gushing about the other stars of "Succession."

Macfadyen delivers one of television's most satisfying character evolutions on "Succession" season three. In a span of just nine episodes, he takes Tom Wambsgans from chew-toy to top dog in the Roy family hierarchy, capturing the deep wounds his character experiences along the way with masterful subtlety. —Claudia Willen, entertainment reporter

Braun's hilarious portrayal of Greg, an outsider in the world's most vicious family, brings instant levity to an otherwise intense show. His awkward and cringeworthy-in-a-good-way acting seals the deal, making Greg an instant fan-favorite. The season 3 scene when he asked Logan for a rum and coke in a one-on-one meeting could singlehandedly win Braun an Emmy. —Becca Cohen, breaking news fellow

Culkin is the funniest character in "Succession," period. In the hands of a less talented actor, Culkin's lines could come off as cringey, but he possesses the comedic talent to deliver each one perfectly. —Tom Murray, entertainment editor

Linklater is given a tall order in his role as a charismatic new priest in a small town, but he handles it with aplomb. The show's rambling dialogue takes on new life with Linklater who delivers his sermons with Shakespearean force. His mother was a founder of the Shakespeare & Company drama troupe, which might explain a thing or two. —Tom Murray, entertainment editor

Gilford showed his range as the deeply broken Riley Flynn in Netflix's latest horror series, "Midnight Mass." Riley's storyline was heartbreaking, powerful, and moving, and Gilford showed every ounce of emotion on his character's face right until the very end. —Caralynn Lippo, entertainment editor

Bartlett lended pure, armchair-gripping chaos to his role as Armond the resort manager. Much like Adam Sandler in "Uncut Gems," Bartlett's reckless descent in the show provided the majority of the tension that made this series so compulsively watchable. —Tom Murray, entertainment editor

Smart is the unsung hero of the brilliant "Mare of Easttown." Playing the sarcastic, iPad-obsessed matriarch, Smart delivers some of the best lines in the series such as: "I'm sorry I'm not more maimed for you!" —Tom Murray, entertainment editor

In just 10 episodes, Qualley turned her character, Alex, into a multi-dimensional, empathetic, and quietly powerful protagonist who you just couldn't stop rooting for no matter how the tides shifted. —Paige DiFiore, freelance lifestyle and entertainment editor

I instantly fell in love with Bela's quirky, upbeat, and female-forward personality, but the fact that Kaur was also able to act gracefully through a rather difficult and emotional storyline at the end of the series proves how well-rounded of an actress she is. —Becca Cohen, breaking news fellow

I think it's fair to say that every time Goldstein appeared as Roy on season 2 of "Ted Lasso" I laughed out loud. Watching Goldstein bounce between the classic angry Roy and the new in-touch-with-his-emotions Roy was a complete joy and I look forward to seeing more character development in future seasons. —Becca Cohen, breaking news fellow

Olivia Holt is largely known as a Disney darling thanks to early roles in family comedies like "Kickin' it." Freeform is Disney's adolescent equivalent, but on the Tia Napolitano-run "Cruel Summer," Holt showed audiences how nuanced her talent is.

Across multiple timelines spanning three years, Holt plays pretty, popular, perfect Kate Wallis, who turns guarded and sullen after being targeted, groomed, and abused by her vice principal. The range that the role requires is extensive to begin with, but Holt will leave you in awe after "A Secret of My Own," the episode which finally gives viewers an in-depth look at Kate's life with her abuser. —Esme Mazzeo, TV/entertainment fellow

Nicdao was the breakout star of the first season of "Mythic Quest," and only shone more in its second season. The manic energy and vulnerability that Nicdao brings to Poppy Li make the character, who is navigating the workplace as a new, sometimes-toxic boss, sing. —Palmer Haasch, entertainment reporter

On the one hand, Bean (as Mr. Wilford) made "Snowpiercer" season 2 much more compelling and often overshadowed the protagonists of the show. Yet his brilliant performance as such a detestable, irredeemable character meant I couldn't get enough of Mr. Wilford even as I was cursing his name. —Ayomikun Adekaiyero, junioro entertainment reporter

Starz's "Run the World," a spirital successor to shows like "Living Single" and the recently-wrapped "Insecure," is very much an ensemble series. But Webb is a scene-stealer time and again as the bold, unapologetic Renee. —Caralynn Lippo, entertainment editor

In a cast significantly larger than its predecessor, Thomas Doherty stands out for his portrayal of Max Wolfe. The 26-year-old Scottish actor is mesmerizing, seamlessly playing up the charming side of a character constantly in pursuit of pleasure while deftly delivering emotional, and sometimes heartbreaking, performances elsewhere on the show. —Olivia Singh, senior entertainment reporter

This Netflix comedy about a lesbian romance floundering in the face of addiction is extremely underrated overall, and star-creator Mae Martin is absolutely fantastic in it. She's funny with an extreme ease and subtlety and also strong in the more dramatic moments. (Charlotte Clymer, who plays her girlfriend, is excellent as well.) —Allie Pape, features editor

Harris only appears in the first episode of this five-part miniseries about the rise of HIV/AIDS among gay men in the UK, but he makes a powerful impression. He's introduced as a charming Savile Row tailor who takes a shy, closeted underling under his wing, but the performance quickly turns dramatic, with a conclusion that will haunt you weeks after watching. —Allie Pape, features editor

It was always going to be hard to top her "Christmas came early" sketch in season 1, but Harrison managed with her faux-"Shark Tank" character, who delivered three or four of the season's most memorable lines in about 90 seconds. Her other sketch, as a woman obsessed with her trunkful of filthy tables, was equally hilarious. —Allie Pape, features editor

Known for playing flamboyant characters, Martin delivers an unusually subtle turn in this otherwise big, goofy, and preposterous supernatural procedural. As a devout nun with demon-fighting powers that have been marginalized by decades of clerical sexism, she offers a perfect mixture of wryness and melancholy.

Michael Emerson's delightful, scene-chewing turn as an agent of Satan has gotten most of the "Evil" attention, but Martin proved herself every bit his match in their scenes together. —Allie Pape, features editor

Olson, who's been working big, broad, and hilarious on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" for the past decade and a half, gets to show some subtler dramatic chops as the aimless daughter of Jean Smart's hard-bitten Vegas comedienne.

Her Deborah Jr. (a.k.a. "D.J.") could have been a cliche of a clueless trust-fund baby, but Olson infuses the character with realism and heart, showing just how hard it can be to grow up in the long shadow of a domineering mother. —Allie Pape, features editor

Talk about comedic prowess! Williams as Mia Hines brings both lightness and seriousness to the show. The chemistry between her and her co-star, William Jackson Harper, jumps off the screen. I haven't found myself this invested in a fictional love story in years. Even with their outrageously messy flaws, the way they embody their roles makes you root for their happiness instead of seeing them as villains, which is hard to pull off. —Keyaira Kelly, health editor

As the mild-mannered Colin Robinson, Proksch is hardly the most chaotic roommate in the vampire household (that would go to either Nadja or Nandor). But Proksch brings a surprising amount of depth to his character, grounding Colin's soul-sucking docility with humor and quiet emotion. He's never the loudest person in the room, but Proksch's performance still makes Colin one of the funniest people on the show, especially this season. —Libby Torres, entertainment reporter

Nicole Beharie always gives stellar performances, standing her ground with other heavy-hitting actors. In "Scenes From a Marriage," there's a buzz around her as soon as she appears on screen — opening the door for Jessica Chastain's character's life-changing decision which ultimately is the driving force of the show.

Beharie commands attention, vulnerability, and power in her portrayal of a businesswoman, wife, and mother who is trying to find answers to some of life's hardest questions. —Charise Frazier, weekend life editor

Pedretti's knack for playing dark and sinister roles can appear so effortless that the audience forgets how much work the actress is putting into each and every moment on screen. Oftentimes, we know exactly what Pedretti's character, Love Quinn, is thinking without the actress uttering a single word — her body language and facial expressions speak volumes.

However, that isn't to say she doesn't still surprise us. Pedretti takes the "femme fatale" TV trope and completely turns it on its head with her nuanced performance and her killer chemistry with actor Penn Badgley. —Erin McDowell, reporter for editorial partnerships