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50 Best Hulu TV Shows to Watch Right Now

Forget Netflix and chill: Hulu and hang out instead with these 50 binge-worthy Hulu TV shows

50 Best Hulu Tv Shows To Watch Right Now Ft
RD.com, getty images, via hulu.com

Head over to Hulu

It’s been 15 years since Hulu launched, and 10 since the streaming service debuted its first foray into original scripted programming. Since then, the streamer has exploded with new content and has also beefed up available shows we loved from cable and network TV. But with so much to choose from, how can you pick? To help you out, we rounded up the 50 best Hulu TV shows available to subscribers with the press of a button.

Whether you’re looking for shows about historical figures, Stephen King tales, crime dramas, the best shows about doctors, dystopian fantasies, sci-fi thrillers or romances—or you’ve already plowed through the best TV shows on Netflix and Apple TV and need more streaming content to fill the void—we’re confident you’ll find your next favorite binge on Hulu. On top of a steady slate of high-quality originals like The Great, Only Murders in the Building and The Handmaid’s Tale, the service has deals in place with numerous networks including FX, AMC, ABC, A&E, Freeform, BBC America, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Lifetime, Starz and Bravo to offer some of their finest content. This includes some of the best reality TV showssitcoms, kids shows, Korean dramas and even a few of the best TV shows of all time.

Our selections for Hulu’s must-see TV have garnered high ratings, awards, critical praise and impressive scores on Rotten Tomatoes, and some have even ignited debates on social media. Some of the shows on our list have also generated tons of buzz (not easy to do with the abundance of great television these days) to become the most-watched on Hulu, or to introduce breakout stars. So get your snacks for your TV marathon ready, and read on for the best TV shows on Hulu to watch tonight!

50 Best Hulu Tv Shows To Watch Right Now 1
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The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–present)

Long before the abundance of dystopian novel series and movie franchises, Margaret Atwood wrote one of the best books of all time: 1985’s The Handmaid’s Tale, about women forced to bear children for powerful leading families of a theocratic totalitarian regime. Starring Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Samira Wiley, Alexis Bledel and Ann Dowd, Hulu’s Emmy-winning original adaptation can be a very grim, disheartening watch. But it’s also an important one that uses an intimate, narrow focus to deliver broad commentary on women’s body rights, distrust in the media and religious fanaticism that should serve as a warning for us all. It’s one of the best TV shows on Hulu.

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The Great (2020–present)

This madcap meander through 18th-century Russian history puts a very entertaining, wickedly bawdy, savagely feminist and loosely accurate spin on the rise of Catherine the Great as she tries to topple her philandering husband Peter’s gluttonous, classist regime. Similar in look to Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and in tone to The Favourite and Cruella, which were both written by the show’s creator, Tony McNamara, it offers dialogue that moves at a lightning-quick clip—don’t be surprised if you have to hit rewind to catch some of the zingers and vodka-infused potshots amid the drunken debauchery. One of the best Hulu TV shows, The Great is anchored by pitch-perfect leads Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, with a colorful community of supporting talent—it’s historical fiction as you’ve never seen it before.

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Normal People (2020)

This limited series based on Sally Rooney’s novel follows the young love of Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal), who come from different sides of the tracks in their small Irish town yet find themselves inexorably drawn to each other. After a secret romance in high school, they continue to flow in and out of each other’s lives throughout university, doomed to repeat the great love affair–tragic breakup pattern over and over again.

One of the best book-to-TV adaptations, Normal People is television for grown-ups: multi-dimensional characters you’re quickly invested in, nuanced vulnerable performances that truly capture the complications of modern-day relationships, steamy sex scenes and meaty dialogue that leave you shaking your head, yelling at the screen (“You are meant for each other! Why can’t you see that?”), crying and thinking long after you’ve hit the off button.

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Difficult People (2015–2017)
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Difficult People (2015–2017)

Despite their similar-sounding names, this is a very different show than the aforementioned Normal People. Difficult People is a comedy set in New York that centers around two jaded, self-involved aspiring comedians who hate everything—happy people, twee baby names, celebrities, hipsters, kids at Broadway plays, working out, holidays, their families, their day jobs as a TV blogger and a waiter, socializing, taking the subway—except each other. Although the show’s humor isn’t for everyone, the clever, sardonic, outspoken duo of Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner is not afraid to say the quiet part out loud, and the lampooning is vicious and incessant over the course of the show’s three seasons. Plus, there are hilarious cameos from funny people like John Mulaney, Tina Fey, Fred Armisen and Patton Oswalt. If you’ve already gotten through all of this year’s best comedy movies, give this series a try.

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What We Do in the Shadows (2019–present)
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What We Do in the Shadows (2019–present)

A spinoff of a 2014 vampire movie written by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement about undead flatmates in New Zealand, this Emmy-nominated mockumentary series follows the sometimes sucky (get it?) and mundane Staten Island lives of three ancient bloodsuckers, an “energy vampire” who drains the energy out of both the living and the dead, and a human who desires to be turned before discovering he comes from a long line of vampire hunters. In between hunting for virgins and feuding with werewolves, they go to city council meetings and potlucks with the neighbors while trying to figure out life in the new world. Vamps have never been more relatable or cleverly written, playing continually on centuries of lore and decades of vampire pop culture. The fourth season premieres on FX July 22, 2022, and will be available to stream on Hulu the next day.

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Only Murders in the Building (2021–present)
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Only Murders in the Building (2021–present)

Two boomers—a once-famous TV cop (Steve Martin) and a washed-up theater director (Martin Short)—and a disdainful millennial (Selena Gomez) first bond over their mutual obsession with a true crime podcast. But after a dead body is discovered in their fancy apartment building, the unlikely trio teams up to make a podcast of their own called Only Murders in the Building, detailing their attempt to solve the murder.

Equal parts comedy, social commentary and whodunnit—all packed with superb actors in small-ish parts (Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, Amy Ryan, Jane Lynch and Sting, as himself)—the clever series is the seriously funny hit no one saw coming. The chemistry of the multi-generational alliance is off the charts, and the jokes appeal to a wide audience. Plus, Short is the funniest he has been in years, stealing scene after scene. The second season premieres June 28, 2022—so if you’re in search of good TV shows on Hulu, look no further.

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Ramy (2019–present)
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Ramy (2019–present)

The eponymous comedy follows the spiritual journey of a first-generation Egyptian-American millennial torn between being a good Muslim and having a good time in his politically divided, post-9/11 New Jersey neighborhood. Ramy tries to stay on the righteous path with help from leaders at his mosque and his family but is often led astray by his friends and love interests. In a time of growing hate crimes and problematic cultural appropriation in pop culture, genuine on-screen representation matters—that’s certainly a big part of why this is an important binge, but it also happens to be a really good show that earned a Peabody nomination and a Best Actor Golden Globe for lead Ramy Youssef.

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Castle Rock (2018–2019)
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Castle Rock (2018–2019)

Welcome to the Stephen King-verse, in which the titular town of Castle Rock is populated by people, places and things referenced in the binge-worthy author’s canon, such as Misery‘s Annie Wilkes, Shawshank Prison, sheriff Alan Pangborn, Juniper Hill asylum, Harmony Hill cemetery and Cujo the rabid dog. These Easter eggs add a special scavenger hunt element for fans of the books, but the J.J. Abrams–produced series also stands on its own as a psychological drama, scary story and supernatural mystery brought to life by a charismatic cast that includes Sissy Spacek, Lizzy Caplan, Melanie Lynskey, Tim Robbins, Bill Skarsgard and André Holland.

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Pam & Tommy (2022)
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Pam & Tommy (2022)

This new (and controversial, as Pamela Anderson did not give it her seal of approval) Hulu original falls into the growing genre of image rehab—a reexamination of celeb women that also includes I, Tonya, The Eyes of Tammy Faye and the Monica Lewinsky season of American Crime Story. With Lily James and Sebastian Stan as the Baywatch blonde and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, this comedic true crime limited series chronicles the double-standard, reputation-marring aftermath of the couple’s stolen honeymoon sex tape. Lee famously came out of it as a genitally blessed cooler-than-cool rocker, while Anderson was slut-shamed, mocked on late-night TV and scarred professionally and personally. Pam & Tommy puts a feminist reframe on this interesting time capsule of the early days of the internet, featuring a feat of ’90s hair, makeup and prosthetics. Seth Rogen and Nick Offerman costar.

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Reservation Dogs (2021–present)
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Reservation Dogs (2021–present)

Four friends living on a reservation in Oklahoma plot their escape to California by running scams and committing petty crimes, while contending with a rival teen gang and a devastating loss. Reservation Dogs is essential viewing for its smart wit, giant heart and sensitive and authentic portrayal of modern res life. It also features incomparable on-screen and behind-the-scenes indigenous representation and participation: Created by Seminole/Muscogee Creek filmmaker Sterlin Harjo and Maori Oscar winner Taika Waititi, who hired only indigenous writers and directors, the show stars four Native American leads. Even if you generally turn your nose up at teen TV shows, give this one a shot. A quick watch, the first season contains eight half-hour episodes, with a second season premiering August 3, 2022.

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This Is Us (2016–2022)
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This Is Us (2016–2022)

The tearjerker series aired its final episode on NBC May 24, 2022, so now’s the perfect time to catch up on Hulu (or re-watch for that matter) every episode of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the Pittsburgh Pearsons across multiple timelines. At the center of the flashbacks, flash forwards and present-day drama are husband-and-wife duo Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore) and their Big Three: twins Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Kevin (Justin Hartley), and Randall (lead actor Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown), the Black son they adopted.

This Is Us is all the things families are—caring, emotional, annoying, silly, supportive, protective, encouraging, discouraging, combative and complicated—but never shies away from taking on the tough stuff, including abandonment issues, marital strife, racism, alcoholism, mental health, bad parenting and loss of loved ones. Just don’t go into any binge without arming yourself with a full box of Kleenex, as this show could give our favorite sad movies a run for their money.

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A Teacher (2020)
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A Teacher (2020)

Most of the time teachers change their students’ lives in heartwarming and positive ways—but that’s definitely not the case in this limited series. Senior Eric (Nick Robinson) is hot for teacher (Kate Mara), who is dissatisfied in her marriage and suburban Texas life and enjoys the attention. They soon discover they have things in common—mostly dysfunctional families and put-upon childhoods—and as the ill-advised friendship accelerates into a dangerous predatory dalliance, they ultimately have to face the consequences. Beautifully shot with well-developed and relatable characters, A Teacher presents the affair as both titillating and traumatic, which pushes viewers into uncomfortable spaces.

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Pen15 (2019–2021)
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Pen15 (2019–2021)

Real-life thirtysomethings Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play versions of themselves as goofy middle-school dorks who long to be popular and adored in the year 2000. Surrounded by actual teen actors, the duo, with the help of hindsight, captures the magic and complexities of female friendship and discovering your sexuality. They nail the overwrought emotions of adolescence on literally every topic, from the serious (like your parents’ divorce) to the fleeting (an ill-timed pimple before your first boy-girl party). Hailed by critics who appreciate that they always put the cringy material ahead of their vanity, Pen15 handled sensitive subject matters with delicacy and heart, just like some of the best books for teens you read as an adolescent.

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Abbott Elementary (2021–present)
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Abbott Elementary (2021–present)

Creator, writer and star Quinta Brunson takes a magnifying glass to the unfunny and flagging state of the U.S. public school system—and somehow successfully mines it for jokes. Proving the network sitcom isn’t dead yet, the mockumentary-style workplace comedy, which follows a group of dedicated Philadelphia teachers and their slightly problematic principal as they desperately try to give their underserved students a fighting chance at getting an education, is loved by real-life educators. Initially airing on ABC, the show’s first season is also streaming on Hulu; Abbott Elementary will return for a second season as well.

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The Golden Girls (1985–1992)
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The Golden Girls (1985–1992)

Thank you for being a great show about friends of a certain age, generally underrepresented in pop culture. One of the best ’80s TV shows, it was so good that it nabbed 11 Emmys, and 37 years after it debuted it is as popular and revered as it ever has been. Four older women—Southern man-eater Blanche (Rue McClanahan), spacey but sweet Midwesterner Rose (last surviving main cast member Betty White, who recently died just shy of her 100th birthday), snarky divorced teacher Dorothy (Bea Arthur) and her cranky, frank mother Sophia (Estelle Getty)—share a house in Miami and get into plenty of hysterical shenanigans. The Golden Girls also delved into ahead-of-its-time taboo territory, touching on topics like suicide, gay marriage, AIDS and the active sex lives of gray-hairs. Now that the unrivaled charismatic quartet are eating cheesecake together in the sky, it’s a good time to pull up a wicker chair and settle in to relive the golden days of TV.

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Shrill (2019–2021)
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Shrill (2019–2021)

Saturday Night Live star Aidy Bryant is delightful in Shrill as Annie, a plus-size reporter who, like many a curvy human before her, has let the world (including her deadbeat boyfriend and her mom) tell her she isn’t good enough as she is. After attending a body-positive pool party and writing an article that goes viral, she decides she has had enough of the dieting and fat-shaming and starts down a path to find happiness and acceptance. She’s so charming, relatable, sidesplitting and persistent that viewers can’t help but love her journey and ultimately be uplifted.

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How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)
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How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014)

Destined for the ranks of classic shows, this CBS sitcom followed Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) as he explained to his kids how he met their mom—and the long, twisted tale lasted, wait for it, nine legendary seasons. As endearing and charming as it was hilarious, How I Met Your Mother unfolds through flashbacks populated by Mosby’s besties, including the world’s best couple Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan), whose engagement sends Ted’s search for a soulmate into high gear. Ultimately, the audience meets the mother, but this is one of those series that’s about the journey, not the destination. The show also gave the world one of TV’s greatest characters of all time, Barney Stinson, a snarky, suit-wearing, fast-talking womanizer played by Neil Patrick Harris, who was nominated for an Emmy four times for the role.

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How I Met Your Father (2022–present)
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How I Met Your Father (2022–present)

One of the streamer’s most recent debuts, this sitcom is the female version of the aforementioned How I Met Your Mother. In How I Met Your Father, Sophie (Hilary Duff, with her future self played by Kim Cattrall) tells her future son the story of his parents’ introduction while waxing comedic about the perils of dating in the age of Tinder. Like Ted Mosby before her, most of the time she’s really elaborating on the adventures of her close-knit friend circle—which is more diverse this go-around. It remains to be seen if the reboot will leave the same legacy or last as long as its predecessor, but it is off to a solid start and will be back for a second season.

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Mrs. America (2020)
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Mrs. America (2020)

Given the current renewed debate over Roe v. Wade and the never-ending fight against the patriarchy, the limited series Mrs. America is equal parts women’s history lesson, celebration of girl power and cautionary tale of what happens when women don’t have each other’s backs and allow themselves to be manipulated into maintaining the male-dominated status quo. Cate Blanchett masterfully portrays real-life conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, who mobilized religious, mostly white, Midwestern and Southern housewives to fight the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. While helping to grow the anti-choice movement and get Reagan elected, her faction became a thorn in the sides of prominent feminists like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm and Bella Abzug. The series is a who’s-who of high-flying female talent, including Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Banks, Margo Martindale, Melanie Lynskey, Sarah Paulson, Tracey Ullman and Uzo Aduba, who won an Emmy for her role.

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Broad City (2014–2019)
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Broad City (2014–2019)

The critically acclaimed web series created by and starring Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, both alums of New York improv troupe Upright Citizens Brigade, moved to Comedy Central for five wonderful, weird and weed-infused years—and now those seasons are streaming on Hulu. Their loyal, enviable friendship is the heart of Broad City, but most of the time the show puts the humor front and center, harping on the struggles of being young, sexy and broke in NYC. Helping that cause are guest stars like executive producer Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Rachel Dratch, Janeane Garofalo, Jason Mantzoukas and Amy Sedaris.

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Veronica Mars (2004–2007; 2019)
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Veronica Mars (2004–2007; 2019)

Hulu resurrected this near-perfect series, one of our picks for best crime shows and best teen TV shows, more than 10 years after the first handful of seasons aired on UPN/The CW. Veronica Mars follows a sarcastic and smart teen detective trying to solve the murder of her best friend, while restoring her disgraced sheriff dad’s reputation and finishing high school in a seaside California town. It was a career-making turn for the relatable and charming Kristen Bell, who had comedic timing in spades in the titular role. The show put funny first but always had a more serious undercurrent that touched on class politics and the aftermath of trauma at a young age. Even though the Hulu season is a bit lacking when compared with the original, by that point you’ll care so much about Mars and company that you’ll happily tune in anyway.

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Harlots (2017–2019)
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Harlots (2017–2019)

Sex, thugs and bordellos color the scandalous and high-stakes world of this provocative period drama about two feuding madams (Samantha Morton and Lesley Manville), their successful 18th-century London brothels and the girls in their care. The campy, often raunchy and sometimes twisted storylines are meant to be seductive and tantalizing, but Harlots is also a female-forward discourse on power, survival and family. Jessica Brown Findlay and Liv Tyler co-star.

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Love, Victor (2020–present)
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Love, Victor (2020–present)

A spin-off of the heartfelt 2018 film Love, Simon and the acclaimed YA novel by Becky Albertalli it was based on, this series adds a coming-out element to a coming-of-age story, this time with a Latinx flavor. Like Simon before him, new student Victor (Michael Cimino) is struggling with his sexual orientation, trying to figure out where he fits in the gay community and coming up with a plan to tell his parents the truth. When he does, his disappointed Catholic parents have to start their own journey on how to get right with his news. Love, Victor‘s third and final season premieres June 15, 2022.

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Claws (2017–2022)
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Claws (2017–2022)

This pulpy, over-the-top and outrageous piece of neon escapism from TNT takes place in central Florida—where else would you find nail salon owner Desna (Niecy Nash) and her animal-print-clad coalition of technicians, to whom she acts as hen mother? Her escapades include getting mixed up in a Dixie Mafia money-laundering operation run out of a strip club by “Uncle Daddy,” who also operates a pain clinic (read: illegal opiate dispensary); keeping herself from getting shorted; and saving enough money to get a place in the better part of town for herself and the other women. Eventually, though, keeping the women safe becomes her full-time job as she travels further and further down the criminal rabbit hole. Nash “nails” this role, and Claws‘s big-haired world of tacky taste is endlessly fascinating.

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American Horror Story (2011–present)
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American Horror Story (2011–present)

The edgy anthology series from modern-day TV titans Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk uses a recurring troupe of actors, including Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett and Denis O’Hare, to tell a new tale of terror every season, like elongated scary movies. Though all editions are connected in the same universe (sometimes very distantly), and often noodle on the same themes, such as addiction, oppression, abuse and infidelity, the characters and settings change. Murder House (the OG) will always hold a special place in our hearts for bringing the whole world into existence, but narratives about witches, a haunted vampire hotel, a killer cult, circus freaks, a creepy summer camp and apocalypse survivors make for good fright-night viewing too. Also check out the Hulu original offshoot American Horror Stories, which premieres its second season on July 21, 2022.

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East Los High (2013–2017)
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East Los High (2013–2017)

This addictive teen soap in the vein of The O.C. is set in the far less glamorous neighborhood of East Los Angeles. Through the course of the show’s run, the Latino cast members fight, fall in love, betray friends, go to school, make bad choices, witness a murder, face discrimination, debate losing their virginity—and dance, go to dance camp and perform at dance competitions. Besides all the dancing, what sets East Los High apart is that in a sort of “after-school special” approach, the writers teamed up with public health organizations to weave in information about safe sex, reproductive health, nutrition, STIs and resources for help in situations like teen pregnancy and domestic abuse. Hopefully, this could subconsciously aid the underserved target audience in making better choices IRL.

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The Act (2019)
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The Act (2019)

There are more true crime documentaries and books out there than anyone can possibly get through—but this is one mother of a true crime tale. Based on a 2016 BuzzFeed article and headlined by Patricia Arquette, who won an Emmy for her role, the limited series digs into the toxic relationship between a mother with Munchausen syndrome by proxy and the daughter she leads to believe suffers from multiple fictitious maladies. Daughter Gypsy (Joey King) thinks her mom is her best friend, but as she gets older and smarter she realizes what’s going on and cooks up a scheme with a boyfriend she meets online to, ahem, take care of her problem. In this genre, viewers usually know (or can guess) the ending, so it’s the telling of the tale that’s paramount. Between the superb actors and the well-paced buildup to the conviction crescendo, this show has its act together.

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Casual (2015–2018)
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Casual (2015–2018)

Newly divorced therapist Valerie (the quirky Michaela Watkins) and her teen daughter (Tara Lynne Barr) move in with Valerie’s immature sworn-bachelor brother Alex (Tommy Dewey). All three dip their toes in the dating pool, often using the online hook-up app Alex created, while preferring to keep things, as the show’s title suggests, Casual for different reasons. Then they talk about it—a lot. The show’s strengths are its sharp dialogue, introspective conversations and exploration of adult brother-sister dynamics. Through their new cohabitation, blind dates, one-night stands and taxing visits from their mom (Frances Conroy), growth happens.

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Grey's Anatomy (2005–present)
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Grey’s Anatomy (2005–present)

From her first-day fling with the guy who turned out to be her boss to her epic battle with long Covid, doctor Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) has gone through a lot during her 18-season rise from resident with mommy issues to widowed, world-renowned surgeon with three kids. And Grey’s Anatomy‘s streaming situation is almost as twisty as the show itself: It’s one of the most addictive hospital shows on Netflix, with seasons 1 to 17 available there, and season 18 joining the lineup at the end of June 2022. But the current season (Grey’s has been renewed for season 19) always airs on ABC and then is available on Hulu the following day. Got that? Bottom line: For old Grey’s, head to Netflix; for new Grey’s, watch on Hulu.

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High Fidelity (2020)
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High Fidelity (2020)

Like other recent film-to-TV reboots, this one-season remix of the 2000 John Cusack film based on Nick Hornby’s novel alters the gender of the main character. But the Zoë Kravitz vehicle High Fidelity is more than a nostalgia play, taking its subversion to the next level by upending the rom-com formula of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back. Rob is now Robyn, a music snob working in a record store, still obsessing over top-five lists and the one that got away—but this Rob also has to deal with the added oppression of being single and sad in the age of social media.

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Four Weddings and a Funeral (2019)
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Four Weddings and a Funeral (2019)

Creator Mindy Kaling also reboots a beloved rom-com, the 1994 Hugh Grant film that’s one of the funniest movies of all time. But this time, there’s a far more diverse cast of millennials and updated, 21st-century romantic trappings. Maya (Nathalie Emmanuel) flies to London for the wedding of a friend from college, where she connects with several old buddies. Myriad personal crises and love stories unfold through three more weddings and, of course, a funeral. You’ll also spot an actor from the original movie in a new role. Although this one-season Four Weddings and a Funeral is not as good as the film, it’s an entertaining rainy-day romp nonetheless.

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Devs (2020)
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Devs (2020)

Some Hulu TV shows can be watched while paying bills, flipping through a magazine or texting friends about weekend plans. This is not that kind of show. This limited series, which explores quantum computing and whether life is predetermined or decided by free will, demands your full, undivided attention—and even then you might have to watch some parts again. A software engineer (Sonoya Mizuno) looking to uncover what really happened to her boyfriend goes toe-to-toe with their tech company’s malevolent guru (Nick Offerman) and his many fanatical minions. Devs is ambitious, dark and dense, with cinematography on par with a big-screen production.

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Helstrom (2020)
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Helstrom (2020)

The children of a mysterious dark-side serial killer, estranged siblings Daimon and Ana Helstrom (Tom Austen and Sydney Lemmon) are blessed with unreal bone structure, the ability to craft scathing quips on the fly and demon-fighting powers—the latter of which they’re going to need when they must join forces to track down a recently escaped evil entity (who may or may not be their dad), plus stop an underground organization that holds possessed people captive. A stand-alone Marvel story based on the 1970s comic, Helstrom has a built-in audience in Marvel completists, but fans of serial killer stories, superheroes or paranormal plots have reason to tune in as well.

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Looking for Alaska (2019)
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Looking for Alaska (2019)

Based on a 2005 novel by popular YA author John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) and brought to the small screen by the creators of The O.C. and Gossip Girl, this teen drama fixes its sun-dappled soft lens on Miles (Charlie Plummer), who has just started at a new high-pressure boarding school in Alabama. He quickly makes friends, as well as a few enemies, and falls hard for a rebel named Alaska. Looking for Alaska takes time to fill out the secondary characters, including a gay teacher and a Black scholarship student, before tragedy strikes unexpectedly. As the gang tries to make sense of what transpired, there is also more soul-searching and reflection on topics like consent, depression, anxiety, racism, privilege and casual sexism, ultimately making this one-season show universal, topical and relatable.

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Killing Eve (2018–2022)
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Killing Eve (2018–2022)

This is not what Eve (Sandra Oh) signed up for when she joined MI5: She is bored, desk-bound, pushing papers and generally wasting her spy smarts. That is until Villanelle (Jodie Comer, who won an Emmy for her role), an equally good-at-her-job psychopathic assassin with mercurial moods and a killer wardrobe, lands on her radar. The four-season series (three of which are currently on Hulu, with the fourth likely coming soon) follows their very sexy, chic, fierce and ultimately dangerous game of cat-and-mouse driven by mutual appreciation and fascination. Killing Eve deliciously subverts the male-dominated spy movies genre while benefitting from the electric chemistry between the actors and wanderlust-provoking locations.

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Woke (2020–present)
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Woke (2020–present)

With today’s numerous police brutality trials, Black Lives Matter demonstrations and raging debates over Critical Race Theory, Woke is not just a comedy but a conversation starter. A racial profiling incident involving Black cartoonist Keef Knight (Lamorne Morris) and Bay Area cops leads to a public meltdown and threatens his burgeoning career just as it’s about to go mainstream. Inanimate objects like his Sharpie start talking to Keef and accuse him of selling out and turning a blind eye to the systemic racism that exists even in liberal San Francisco. This leads him to reexamine his own identity and culture politics, and introduces him to new people who further challenge him and his work. Looking for more watch suggestions? Check out these funny movies on Hulu as well.

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Solar Opposites (2020–present)
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Solar Opposites (2020–present)

This chortle-inducing cartoon show from the twisted mind of Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland follows four aliens who crash-land in suburban America while escaping their exploding home planet. They spend a good amount of time learning human ways and trying to befriend their neighbors before debating whether or not to hate them. Two of them see only a failed dying planet and a population that doesn’t live up to its limited potential, but the others feel quite the opposite, especially when it comes to TV, junk food and extracurricular activities. Their true mission, though, is to protect a living super computer called Pupa until it takes its true form and terraforms earth. A fourth season of Solar Opposites is coming soon.

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11.22.63 (2016)
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11.22.63 (2016)

Another product of Hulu’s relationship with J.J. Abrams and Stephen King, this eight-part event series based on King’s novel is a must for fans of historical fiction—or conspiracy theories. High school teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) is approached by a stranger (Chris Cooper) who found a portal to the 1960s. He challenges Jake to travel back in time to solve, and maybe even prevent, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But as time-traveling Jake digs deeper into the mystery and forms attachments with people he meets in the past, he realizes that trying to change the course of history is dangerous work. An engaging “what if,” 11.22.63 rewards viewers with solid acting, fabulous costumes and an eye for era details.

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Hoarders (2009–present)
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Hoarders (2009–present)

Even if you only watch this show as a cautionary tale to motivate yourself to Marie Kondo your own place, it’s time well spent. But Hoarders is also a very sensitive and well-done if bizarre documentary series that provides a fascinating and sad look inside the lives of compulsive hoarders. Each episode holds an intervention and examines the “collections” of everything from newspapers and dolls to animal menageries and fast-food trash. The show, which originated on cable network A&E, tries to get to the root of why the subject can’t let go of things, a condition most often linked to something psychological or traumatic, with the massive clean-up efforts impressive and hopeful.

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Dollface (2019–2022)
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Dollface (2019–2022)

Unfortunately for Jules (Kat Dennings), the guy she hung all her hopes and dreams on for five years while she abandoned all forms of female bonding just dumped her over huevos rancheros. A fantasy sequence featuring a literal cat lady (voiced by The Mindy Project‘s Beth Grant) shows her the error of her ways as she tries to rekindle her connections with her gal pals (played by Brenda Song, Shay Mitchell and Ester Povitsky) in order to learn how to be a better friend and love being single. Lighthearted and fun, Dollface is Sex & The City for a new generation. Sadly, the show was canceled after two seasons.

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Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. (2021)
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Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. (2021)

For those who love adult stop-motion animation or all things Marvel comes M.O.D.O.K., a megalomaniacal super villain whose determination to take over the world blinds him to his wife and children’s growing unhappiness and his company’s financial issues—and that’s before he gets stranded in the past. Easter eggs cater to Marvel fans, but the wider audience of this one-season series can appreciate the blistering speed at which a top-notch voice cast (including Patton Oswalt and The Goldbergs‘s Wendi McLendon-Covey) skewers everything from tech bros to influencers, marriage and the Marvelverse itself.

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Little Fires Everywhere (2020)
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Little Fires Everywhere (2020)

On paper, the Richardson family and matriarch Elena (Reese Witherspoon) look perfect, but a little scratch below the surface reveals a much more dysfunctional paradigm. When a mysterious mother and daughter (Kerry Washington and Lexi Underwood) enter this suburban powder keg and disrupt the balance, the facade of secrets and lies goes up in flames—literally and figuratively. The limited series presents a juicy puzzle to solve at home, and watching powerhouses Witherspoon and Washington duke it out on screen is good fun. Based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller (one of the books by Asian authors everyone should read), the Emmy-nominated Little Fires Everywhere is also an interesting exploration of motherhood and the all-consuming, complicated role it can become.

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Dopesick (2021)
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Dopesick (2021)

Ripped from the headlines, this miniseries aims to tell the story of how one greedy company, Purdue Pharma, started one of the worst drug epidemics in American history when it created OxyContin and then lied about its addictiveness in order to market it. Coming at the topic from various angles, including the Purdue boardrooms, a Virginia mining community, the DEA and the government, Dopesick‘s serious subject matter is tackled by heavyweights including Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Kaitlyn Dever and Rosario Dawson.

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Nine Perfect Strangers (2021–present)
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Nine Perfect Strangers (2021–present)

Nine Perfect Strangers is one of many Hulu TV shows based on a New York Times bestseller—this one by mystery books author Liane Moriarty, who also wrote the novel that HBO’s Big Little Lies is based on. Both shows star Nicole Kidman—here, the Oscar winner plays Masha, a mysterious and intense guru who runs a secluded health-and-wellness retreat, and who has recently been plagued by death threats. The nine clients come for a variety of reasons, ranging from unprocessed grief and addiction to broken hearts and stalled careers, which leads to some heavy scenes about trauma, psychological damage and ultimately healing. But the assembled cast has the acting chops to pull it off; in fact, with names like Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall and Luke Evans, this might be the most high-wattage TV ensemble in quite some time. A second season is reportedly in the works.

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Crossing Swords (2020–present)
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Crossing Swords (2020–present)

Still sad that Robot Chicken ended? Check out this adult stop-motion animated Hulu TV show from the profane poultry’s creative team. Using peg people, they conjure a medieval yarn about an earnest peasant who wants to make up for past mistakes and prove himself to his horrible family by becoming a squire in the king’s court. Unfortunately for Patrick (Nicholas Hoult), who lands his dream job at a tournament, the kingdom is run by cruel and crude crooks, cheaters and charlatans. The voice cast of Crossing Swords is great, and there are some very deep and layered jokes for people who enjoy the genre, but be warned, as overall it is raucous and raunchy.

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Future Man (2017–2020)
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Future Man (2017–2020)

The bro comedy and sci-fi movie references are strong with this one. It starts with the basic plot of the 1984 flick The Last Starfighter, in which a video game has been sent back in time to identify the one person with the skills to stop the annihilation of the human race. Of course, that person is a loser who lives at home with his parents (Josh Hutcherson). From there, Future Man becomes a wild ride through the decades as Josh and two no-nonsense soldiers from the future (Eliza Coupe and Derek Wilson) jump around the past trying to stop humanity’s extinction. Perfect for fans of sci-fi stories and rapid-fire pop culture references—as long as they aren’t offended by filthy jokes.

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Single Drunk Female (2022–present)
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Single Drunk Female (2022–present)

After publicly hitting rock bottom at her job at an NYC media company, twentysomething Samantha (Sofia Black-D’elia) is forced to go to rehab, do community service and move back to Boston to live with her passive-aggressive widowed mom (Ally Sheedy) in this series from cable network Freeform. After immediately relapsing, Samantha gets into far more trouble stuck in her hometown, trying to figure out how to get her life back while surrounded by people she’s hurt, people who drink and people who say all the wrong things about her sobriety. Single Drunk Female walks a fine tonal line between punchlines and proselytizing to serve up entertainment with a shot of reality about alcoholism and how hard it is to stay clean. The show has been greenlit for a second season.

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Better Things (2016–2022)
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Better Things (2016–2022)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better (or funnier) warts-and-all meditation on single motherhood and female middle-age than creator and star Pamela Adlon’s very personal, raw, bracingly honest Peabody Award winner from cable network FX. Based heavily on Adlon’s life as an unconventional mom of three daughters, Better Things is at times bittersweet, bawdy and bold in its dealing with the daily highs and lows of the often thankless task of parenting, from the banal (soccer practice pickups, figuring out dinner) to the moving (consoling her daughters after first periods and first breakups).

While trying to prepare the girls to go out in a world that is far from fair or feminist, she also navigates the hustle of Hollywood, the ups and downs of dating and living in L.A., and the strain of looking after an aging parent. Devoted moms will relate to how little time she has left for herself, but all women will feel seen as she encounters society’s unreasonable expectations, sexism, ageism and judgment. It’s one of the best Hulu TV shows on the streamer.

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The Path (2016–2018)
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The Path (2016–2018)

Like the cult it’s about, this show will suck you in pretty fast. Part thriller, part romance and part supernatural mystery, The Path focuses on the fictional Scientology-like Meyerist Movement, based in upstate New York. The head of a family of followers (Aaron Paul) has begun to question his faith after he has a scary vision during a training, and as he starts to realize the group may rely on nefarious means to thrive. Power struggles, marital strife, brainwashing and the potential damage of an unhealthy attachment to religion are all examined at length. Michelle Monaghan and Hugh Dancy co-star in The Path‘s three seasons.

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Carrie Bell
Carrie Bell brings more than 20 years of experience writing about entertainment, pop culture, travel and lifestyle topics for national magazines, newspapers and websites to RD.com, where her coverage runs the gamut from road trip guides to Star Wars locations you can visit in real life, best crime shows to infamous awards show scandals. She has a journalism degree, two spoiled cats, a wicked snow globe collection and a desire to visit all 50 U.S. states by age 50 (she just hit No. 41).