The best shows on Hulu right now (September 2024)
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September means fall is right around the corner, and with that comes a lot of exciting new shows. Sure, the traditional September release time frame isn’t necessarily what it used to be with streaming joining linear network TV. But September still remains a hot month for new and returning shows, including on streaming services like Hulu.
Later this month, there’s a new instalment from Ryan Murphy in the true crime spac,e along with the second season of a steamy, soapy drama. Plus, you can continue watching episodes week-to-week of the new fourth season of Only Murders in the Building while trying to solve the crime along with the trio of amateur sleuths. Once you’re done exploring these options, peruse the rest of this list of the best shows on Hulu right now to find your next favorite series.
Looking for something else? We’ve also rounded up the best movies on Hulu, the best shows on Netflix, the best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and the best shows on Disney+.
American Sports Story (2024) [New]
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Josh Andrés Rivera, Jaylen Barron, Lindsay Mendez
Created by: Stuart Zicherman
A 10-episode limited sports anthology series hailing from Ryan Murphy as part of his American Story anthology series for FX, American Sports Story chronicles the life, career, downfall, and death of New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez. If you’re familiar with the case, Hernandez had a promising future in football until he was arrested and eventually convicted for murder. The story morphed into a discussion of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease that is increasingly common among football players and that Hernandez was posthumously diagnosed with. There were also questions around sexuality, childhood trauma, mental health, and alleged childhood sexual assault.
The real story took so many twists and turns and American Sports Story sets out to dramatize Hernandez’s life and the horrific events. Josh Andrés Rivera (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) plays Hernandez and Patrick Schwarzenegger (Gen V) is Tim Tebow. The series is sure to reignite conversation around the case.
Tell Me Lies (2022) [New]
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Drama
Cast: Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Catherine Missal
Created by: Meaghan Oppenheimer
Tell Me Lies tells the story of Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White), who started a romantic relationship back in college. Over a period of eight years, their relationship has its ups and downs, all of which you can see in candid form through the two seasons to date.
Also starring Tom Ellis (Lucifer), who is married to the show’s creator, Meaghan Oppenheimer, in real life, the soapy series is based on the 2018 novel of the same name written by Carola Lovering. Emma Roberts is counted among its executive producers. James Jackson of Times (UK) praises the “slickly written” show and the way the story “unveils lies and shifting perspectives” and manages to “capture the magnified emotions of that time of life around the turn of your twenties.”
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
Metacritic: 76%
IMDb: 8.3/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery
Cast: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez
Created by: Steve Martin, John Robert Hoffman
What do you get when two you combine two comedic icons with a Disney Channel actor turned pop music star? Apparently, it’s a buddy-type comedy about three strangers. Steve Martin (who is also the co-creator of Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are all residents of an upscale New York building who come together because they share an obsessive passion for true crime. But when they find themselves actually involved in one, then two, and yet another, the situation gets increasingly hairy, and their sleuthing skills are put to the test.
Out of the gate, the series was praised for the charming central characters, along with the “hilarious and insightful” story that takes a silly look at society’s obsession with this tragic genre. The show has had a long list of guest and supporting stars, including Tina Fey, Sting, Nathan Lane, Shirley MacLaine, and, for season 3, Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd. With season 4, the list gets even bigger as the investigation shifts to the mysterious death of Jane Lynch’s Sazz Pataki.
Solar Opposites (2020)
Metacritic: 72%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 5
Genre: Comedy, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Created by: Justin Roiland, Mike McMahan
From the creators of Rick and Morty, this Hulu original animated sitcom, which has a solid 92% aggregate critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, sees four aliens crash-land into a suburban American town. While waiting for the right moment to take over Earth, they do their best to learn the ways of humans and live among them — but they each have their own perceptions about human behavior and what is awful versus awesome.
With an impressive voice cast, including both main and recurring characters, Solar Opposites has been a hit for Hulu. So it comes as a surprise that the series has already been renewed for a sixth season as well.
Reasonable Doubt (2022)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Drama
Created by: Raamla Mohamed
Looking for a good legal drama to sink your teeth into? Returning for a second season, Reasonable Doubt follows Jax Stewart (Emayatzy Corinealdi), a corporate defense lawyer who has a knack for handling high-profile cases. Her challenges go beyond her time in the courtroom, though, as she is dealing with a separation from her husband in her personal life while trying to juggle a demanding case load as well. Throwing another wrench into things, a former client named Damon Cooke (Michael Ealy) has been released from prison and is now working as a public defender on the other side of the law.
Created by Raamla Mohamed, who was a writer on Scandal, you can expect a similar tone and feel with Reasonable Doubt. The story is loosely based on the real life of celebrity attorney Shawn Holley, best known for being a member of O.J. Simpson’s legal defense team, who serves as a producer. Reasonable Doubt, which adds Morris Chestnut to the cast for season two, is one of those hidden gems on Hulu with rave reviews that you probably didn’t even know existed.
Line of Duty (2012)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 6
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast: Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar
Created by: Jed Mercurio
Police procedurals are a dime a dozen, but there’s a reason we love them so much. While they all have minor overarching stories, they’re the kind of shows you can throw on in the background, or watch after missing several episodes, and not feel lost. Line of Duty fits the bill, a BBC Two serial drama with six seasons under its belt. Each follows the Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12) within a fictional police force that is tasked with “policing the police.”
Earning numerous award nominations through its run, Line of Duty has developed somewhat of a cult following. Fans love the fact that the series dives into an area of procedurals that isn’t already played out with one of the many other procedurals on the air today: sussing out corrupt cops working with organized crime. The interrogation segments, many of which can run for much of an episode, are considered one of the show’s strengths, building intensity at a level that isn’t usual in your garden variety procedural.
Marvel's Hit-Monkey (2021)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure
Cast: Fred Tatasciore
Created by: Josh Gordon, Will Speck
Marvel’s Hit-Monkey is an adult animated series based on the Marvel character of the same name. Hit-Monkey (Fred Tatasciore), an unjust and violent monkey, teams up with Bryce (Jason Sudeikis), the ghost of a former American assassin, to take down the criminal underworld in Tokyo. The pair later travel to New York City.
As unlikely pairing head out on various missions, their ultimate goal is to find and murder the employer of the assassins who killed Bryce. Inspired by Japanese animation, Hit-Monkey is both funny and extremely violent. There’s wonderful chemistry among the voice cast members, which also includes Olivia Munn, George Takei, Leslie Jones, and Cristin Milioti. A visual spectacle, Hit-Monkey is a must-watch for Marvel fans, both those who know the story and those who may not be familiar with it.
Futurama (1999)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 12
Genre: Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Animation, Drama, Action & Adventure
Cast: Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Phil LaMarr, Lauren Tom, David Herman, Frank Welker
Created by: Matt Groening
Although it didn’t attain immortality like its unending older brother The Simpsons (which now has the most scripted episodes of any prime-time series), Matt Groening’s other cartoon, Futurama, established an identity of its own as a funny, often poignant vision of the future. The show follows Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a delivery boy who stumbles into a cryogenic pod and wakes up a thousand years in the future. He ends up working for an interplanetary delivery company, working with a variety of colorful characters, including steely cyclops Leela (Katey Sagal) and hard-drinking, sociopathic robot Bender (John DiMaggio). Futurama is an inventive comedy, with every episode going in some wild directions, and it has an incredible cast of oddballs to bounce off each other.
Unprisoned (2023)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Kerry Washington, Delroy Lindo, Marque Richardson
Created by: Tracy McMillan
Kerry Washington is back on the small screen in Unprisoned, a comedy about Paige, a single mom and therapist who finds her already messy life thrown for a loop when her father is released from prison after serving a 17-year sentence. He moves in with her and her teenage son, and the new family of three must find a way to get along.
While the show is a comedy, it also unpacks a lot of more dramatic topics like childhood trauma, forgiveness, grudges, and boundaries. Receiving high praise in early reviews, Unprisoned is dubbed a “snappy comedy” with heavy themes, with both lead actors, including Delroy Lindo as Paige’s father, Edwin, shining in their respective roles.
Clipped (2024)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Ed O'Neill, Jacki Weaver
Created by: Gina Welch
This sports drama based on the ESPN 30 for 30 podcast called The Sterling Affairs is a dramatization of the story of Donald Sterling, former owner of the L.A. Clippers, and his 2014 scandal. Sterling (Ed O’Neill) was caught on tape making racist remarks, and when the audio was leaked, it set off a series of events for the team. Laurence Fishburne plays Clippers coach Doc Rivers, Cleopatra Coleman plays V. Stiviano, Sterling’s assistant, and Jacki Weaver plays Shelly, Sterling’s wife and longtime business partner.
As a re-creation of the scandal, Clipped, which hails from FX on Hulu, is delivered in six episodes. FX describes the series as charting the “collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less-functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.” If you followed this scandal closely a decade ago and you’re a basketball fan (Clippers or otherwise), you’ll want to tune in.
Shardlake (2024)
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Cast: Arthur Hughes, Anthony Boyle, Sean Bean
Created by: Stephen Butchard, C. J. Sansom
For lovers of period dramas, Shardlake will be right up your alley. The four-part series is based on the C.J. Sansom historical mystery novels. Set in the 16th Century during Henry VIII’s reign, Matthew Shardlake (Arthur Hughes) is hired by Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean) to look into the death of a commissioner.
Dark, moody, and fitting for those who love shows like The Tudors, The Great, and Peaky Blinders, Shardlake has all the elements you’d expect from such a story, including deceit, politics, and murder. John Powers of NPR calls Shardlake “beautifully acted” and says the show surprisingly pulled him in.
The Bear (2022)
Metacritic: 85%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri
Created by: Christopher Storer
When he left his job in the world of fine dining to take over his family’s small-town sandwich shop, Carmen (Jeremy Allen White) had no idea what he was in for. Not only is he dealing with the grief of family loss, he is also trying to navigate a professional world very different from the one he knows. That includes the challenges of running a small business, and doing so with a team of rough-around-the-edges employees who are initially none too pleased to have him bossing them around. Nonetheless, “Carmy” is determined to succeed professionally. But to do so means sacrifice, often at the expense of his personal growth and happiness.
From FX, the comedy hails from Christopher Storer, the man behind successful shows like Ramy and Eighth Grade. The Bear has been a delightfully entertaining, deeply emotional watch with episodes that tug at the heartstrings. The series is mainly about Carmy’s journey to succeed, if he can get out of his own way, that is. But as the story progresses, it’s about the personal and professional development of all the people who work with him. As each one stops underestimating themselves, they find passion and drive they didn’t know they had, giving every character a moment to shine. The show is as inspiring and uplifting as it is frantic and emotionally draining at times, a delight for the senses in every way.
Shoresy (2022)
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Jared Keeso, Tasya Teles
Created by: Jared Keeso
If you’re a fan of the Canadian comedy Letterkenny, you’ll love Shoresy. In Letterkenny, the character of Shoresy is never seen by face, and that’s for good reason: He is actually played by the show’s creator Jared Keeso, who also stars as the lead character, Wayne. In this spinoff, Shoresy is seen in all his glory. He has decided to move to Sudbury to help a flailing local hockey team, bringing his unique sense of small-town Canadian flare.
Apparently, Shoresy is one of the most popular characters from Letterkenny when it comes to merchandising, so fans were excited to learn more about his story in this comedy that is rife with Canadian slang and other familiar humor.
Under the Bridge (2024)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Crime
Cast: Lily Gladstone, Vritika Gupta, Chloe Guidry
Created by: Quinn Shephard
Looking for your next true-crime obsession? Under the Bridge tells the harrowing story of Reena Virk, a 14-year-old girl from Canada who was beaten and killed by a group of fellow teens in the late ’90s. The story made national headlines in the Great White North, shedding light on the extreme dangers of bullying, racism, and violence among young girls. Virk’s involvement in rebellious activities, minority status, strict religious upbringing, and surrounding of peers influenced by street gang culture, led to a childhood marred with challenges and incessant bullying that eventually grew to full-blown murder.
Under the Bridge dives into the tragic story in the form of a true-crime drama with Vritika Gupta playing Virk and counting Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife), and Riley Keough (Daisy Jones & the Six) among its cast. Despite being a dramatization based on a horrifically true story, Under the Bridge has been praised for presenting the story in a sensitive way, focusing on the main theme of bringing attention to the seriousness of bullying and teenage violence and intolerance. The Chicago Sun Times’ Richard Roeper sums it up nicely in his review, noting that the show is a “sobering reminder this sort of thing still happens to this day, and far too often.”
We Were the Lucky Ones (2024)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Joey King, Logan Lerman, Robin Weigert
Created by: Erica Lipez
A gripping historical drama miniseries, We Were the Lucky Ones is a dramatization of the Holocaust, with the central figures being the Kurcs, a family of Polish Jews. As Hitler’s reign of terror progresses, the family scatters, with some ending up in the U.S. and others in concentration camps. The series follows their journey after the war as the surviving family members try desperately to reunite with their loved ones.
From a talented young cast led by Joey King and Logan Lerman to the emotional and heart-wrenching story inspired by real people, the series, which was released in late March 2024, is a poignant look at a dark time in history. Lacy Buagher Milas of Paste Magazine calls We Were the Lucky Ones a series “whose whole is so much greater than the sum of its parts.” She adds that the handling of themes like family, loyalty, love, trauma, and tragedy are “almost painfully prescient when compared to our current global moment.”
Extraordinary (2023)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Comedy, Action & Adventure
Cast: Mairéad Tyers, Sofia Oxenham, Bilal Hasna
Created by: Emma Moran
With two seasons under its belt, Extraordinary is one of those hidden gems on Hulu that won’t disappoint. Combining superhero comedy with a coming-of-age theme, it’s about Jen (Máiréad Tyers), a 25-year-old living in a world where everyone obtains some type of superpower once they turn 18. That is, everyone but Jen. She’s the only “regular” human, and it’s taking a toll on her. The series follows Jen’s journey as she tries somehow induce the powers she is supposed to possess while coming to terms with the fact that she needs to accept who she is before she can become who she can be.
The British series has been well reviewed, scoring a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for both of its seasons. The laughs are plenty, from Jen’s new cat, who she discovers is a shape-shifter (even her pet has powers!) to her ridiculous and desperate attempts to harness a power, any power. Extraordinary is a sharp, funny, and witty series about peer pressure to be like everyone else in a way you’ve never seen.
American Horror Story (2011)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 12
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Emma Roberts, Matt Czuchry, Kim Kardashian
Created by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk
American Horror Story is an anthology series, with each season centering on its own unique story, including a core cast with changing roles from season to season (along with some notable new additions from time to time). Each season provides scares and frightening psychological storylines, whether they take place within a troubled family home, amid a coven of witches, or inside a hotel of circus freaks.
American Horror Story is a unique drama that capitalizes on the work of series creator Ryan Murphy. While some seasons are better reviewed than others, the cast is always top-notch and the stories always thrilling, disturbing, and entertaining. The latest season, American Horror Story: Delicate, features Emma Roberts, Suicide Squad‘s Cara Delevingne, and Kim Kardashian.
Welcome to Wrexham (2022)
Metacritic: 75%
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Documentary
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney
This is about as close to a real-life Ted Lasso story as we might get. When actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds decided to purchase a small-town Football Association of Wales club, the third-oldest in the world, they knew nothing about managing a sports team and arguably less about football. They also didn’t know one another very well at the time. But they saw an opportunity to revive a struggling club that was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing number of less-than-enthusiastic fans.
You can watch their process to turn the team around in this docuseries that highlights both the passion and camaraderie of these actors, who are determined to bring positive change and hope to a community. Welcome to Wrexham combines humor with heartwarming stories about a working-class town and two Hollywood comedic geniuses getting to know the game, the people, and the inner workings of a team in hopes of bringing home a victory.
Shōgun (2024)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, War & Politics
Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai
Created by: Justin Marks, Rachel Kondo
Receiving rave reviews right out of the gate, Shōgun is a spectacular reimagining of the 1980 TV miniseries and the James Clavell novel on which that was based. Three people end up in the same place by happenstance: John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), an English sailor, Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), a powerful daimyo, and Lady Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a woman who has been dishonored by her family.
While the story in Shōgun is largely fictional, it’s also loosely based on real historical events, with each character based on a real person. Blackthorne, for example, is based on English navigator Williams Adam, who became a samurai. He was taught by Tokugawa Ieyasu, on whom Toranaga is based, while Mariko is modeled after Hosokawa Garasha, an aristocrat from the Sengoku period. With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, Shōgun is poised to be one of the best new shows this year. CNN’s Brian Lowry calls it an “intoxicating combination of action, romance, and political intrigue.”
Feud (2017)
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Drama
Cast: Tom Hollander, Naomi Watts, Calista Flockhart
Created by: Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, Michael Zam
The second season in the anthology series from Ryan Murphy, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans examines the true story of Truman Capote’s feud with New York City high society socialites. After he pens a fictionalized version of their scandalous lives in his novel Answered Prayers, these ladies make it their mission to ruin him.
The series is eight episodes long and is based on the Laurence Leamer novel Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era. Feud: Capote vs. The Swans has an impressive cast that includes Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloe Sevigny, Calista Flockhart, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, and Jessica Lange. The White Lotus’ Tom Hollander tackles the role of Capote.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
Rated: TV-PG
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Family
Cast: Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri
Created by: Rick Riordan, Jonathan E. Steinberg
Fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson book series especially have fallen in love with Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a fantasy series based on the stories that have been popular tween/teen (and even adult) reading since 2005. The title character, played by Walker Scobell, is a 12-year-old demigod, the son of Poseidon. The Greek god Zeus believes the young man has stolen his thunderbolt. Percy, with the help of his friends, goes on the hunt to find the missing thunderbolt. He hopes to restore order to Olympus, the palace where powers from all the gods and goddesses unite.
With Riordan himself heavily involved in the project as co-creator, the series has been praised for sticking with the source material. Some critics, in fact, say Percy Jackson and the Olympians is better than the film series, a testament to the acting, storytelling, and depiction of the fictional world. Though it’s technically a Disney+ series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is also streaming on Hulu.
Moving (2023)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Zo In-sung
Created by: Kang Full, Park In-je
A must-watch South Korean drama, Moving is finally coming to Hulu with a dubbed version for English-speaking audiences who can enjoy it without subtitles. A Disney+ original directed by Park In-je, the man behind the popular Netflix series Kingdom, Moving is a supernatural drama about three teenagers who discover they have superpowers.
The series, which became Disney+’s most-watched Korean original globally, follows the high schoolers as they deal with their superhuman abilities and their parents figure out what they are capable of doing. Critics call Moving a fascinating superhero series with character arcs for the parents that are just as compelling, if not more so, than that of the kids.
Culprits (2023)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Crime, Drama
Cast: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton, Eddie Izzard
Created by: J Blakeson
A high-stakes heist series, Culprits is about a crew that believes they have pulled off the perfect heist. Once all is said and done, they go their separate ways, taking on new identities and living their best lives in different parts of the world. But when one gets killed, then another, it’s clear someone knows what they did and is coming for revenge. Now, they may need to come back together to save the lives of the remaining group members and catch who is picking them off, one by one.
Premiering on Star via Disney+ before coming to Hulu, Culprits has been well-received by both critics and viewers alike. The action crime drama is praised for its pacing and hints of horror that give it a unique spin. “Slick, chic, and blood-soaked,” writes one reviewer. Culprits is poised to be one of the best heist dramas in recent years.
Letterkenny (2016)
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 12
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Jared Keeso, Nathan Dales, Michelle Mylett, K. Trevor Wilson, Dylan Playfair, Jacob Tierney
Created by: Jared Keeso
Set in the remote, rural town of Letterkenny (populated, the show tells us, entirely by hicks, skids, hockey players, and Christians), Jared Keeso’s comedy Letterkenny follows a group of hicks: Wayne (Keeso), his friend Daryl (Nathan Dales), sister Katy (Michelle Mylett), and Squirrelly Dan (K. Trevor Wilson), as well as a pair of hockey players, Reilly (Dylan Playfair) and Jonesy (Andrew Herr). The show revolves around their lives and encounters with the other eccentrics in the town.
It’s a show deeply rooted in Canadian culture, with heavy use of slang. But even those unfamiliar with the vernacular will quickly come to appreciate the show’s deadpan wit. The show comes to an end after its 12th and final season.
A Murder at the End of the World (2023)
Seasons: 1
Genre: Mystery
Cast: Emma Corrin, Brit Marling, Clive Owen
Created by: Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
Thanks to the success of movies like Glass Onion and shows like Poker Face and Based On a True Story, the murder-mystery genre is experiencing a revival of sorts. A Murder at the End of the World is in the same vein as Knives Out and the movies that inspired it, like Clue and Death on the Nile, in that it centers around an ensemble cast of characters invited to a location, only for one of them to wind up dead.
The Crown’s Emma Corrin stars as Darby, one of the guests invited to a reclusive billionaire’s estate. She also happens to be an amateur detective. When someone is found dead not long after joining the party, Darby takes it upon herself to use her skills and investigate and stop another murder from happening. The FX series, which has just seven episodes, also stars Clive Owen, Alice Braga, and Jermaine Fowler.
Fargo (2014)
Metacritic: 85%
IMDb: 8.9/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 5
Genre: Crime, Drama
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Hanks, Martin Freeman (season 1); Kirsten Dunst, Ted Danson (season 2); Ewan McGregor, Carrie Coon, Mary Elizabeth Winstead (season 3)
Created by: Noah Hawley
Based on the Coen brothers’ beloved film of the same name, Fargo returns to the icy plains of Minnesota, a place where nefarious plots are conceived and enacted by otherwise seemingly normal folks. The TV adaptation features a rotating all-star cast that has included Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman, not to mention Colin Hanks, Allison Tolman, and Chris Rock.
Each season, which takes place in Minnesota North and South Dakota, and/or Missouri, stays true to the same black comedy and deadly mishaps that made the original film so popular. The fifth season adds Jon Hamm, Ted Lasso‘s Juno Temple, Stranger Things‘ Joe Keery, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Dave Foley to the cast list
Ash vs Evil Dead (2015)
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Comedy, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Bruce Campbell, Lucy Lawless, Ray Santiago
Created by: Sam Raimi
You can watch the full series of Ash vs. Evil Dead, a sequel series to the popular Evil Dead movies created by Sam Raimi, including all three seasons before its untimely cancellation. Bruce Campbell reprises his role as Ash Williams, who is now, 30 years after the events of the last movie, working as a stock boy in a value grocery store. Naturally, however, Ash must roll up his sleeves and get to work once again when he’s faced with the return of the Evil Dead.
Now joined by two friends Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo), the trio must do what’s necessary to save humanity. For fans of the original movies, Ash vs. Evil Dead provides a new perspective and an interesting future story for the beloved hero.
Bob's Burgers (2011)
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 14
Genre: Comedy, Animation
Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman
Created by: Jim Dauterive, Loren Bouchard
At first, Bob’s Burgers struggled to find traction in Fox’s animation block, failing to pull in the dedicated audiences of Family Guy and The Simpsons. Over the last more than a decade, however, the Belchers have emerged as an entity all their own, a family struggling to make ends meet, but never struggling to cheer each other up and have as good of a time as they can. The characters never age, but the sitcom only seems to get better with time, fixating on the fictional family and their burger joint.
With a feature film that celebrates the show’s success as well (note that the movie is no longer streaming), there’s no better time to start binging the Belcher family’s escapades.
Reservation Dogs (2021)
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime
Cast: Devery Jacobs, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Jewel Alexis
Created by: Taika Waititi, Sterlin Harjo
With a predominantly Native American cast and crew, Reservation Dogs provides a comedic glimpse into indigenous life. When four indigenous teenagers living on a reservation in rural Oklahoma set their sights on moving to a wonderful and exotic place they know as California, they are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. That means engaging in criminal activities to acquire the funds they need to leave. But when a rival gang shows up in town, the boys find themselves fighting crime as much as they are committing it.
Having premiered in early August 2021, the series, which ends after season 3, has received rave reviews. With an almost perfect 98% Certified Fresh RottenTomatoes rating, critics say it’s a “low-key comedy that deftly captures the malaise of youth and Rez life.”
Archer (2009)
Metacritic: 79%
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 14
Genre: Comedy, Action & Adventure, Animation
Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter
Created by: Adam Reed
Sterling Archer is an agent for a dysfunctional intelligence agency in this animated sitcom that takes inspiration from franchises like James Bond and mid-century comic art. Relying on reference-heavy humor and meta-comedy, Archer revolves around the narcissistic, womanizing secret agent Archer and his seven colleagues, each with their own quirks, like his snarky mother, delusional and psychotic personal assistant, and a morally bankrupt scientist.
The later seasons of Archer, which was originally created for basic cable network FX and then moved to sister network FXX, are designed like an anthology, with each season having its own self-contained story. Season 14 is the long-running show’s last.
What We Do in the Shadows (2019)
Metacritic: 83%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 5
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou
Created by: Jemaine Clement
This isn’t your typical vampire drama — it’s actually a mockumentary comedy that presents the idea of vampires living among us, going about their mundane daily lives. At the heart of the story, which is based on the 2014 movie of the same name, are four vampires living as roommates.
The leader has a penchant for useless house meetings while another dabbles in pornography, and two others are having a “secret” affair. It’s full-on hilarity and perfect for anyone looking for an anti-vampire show that pokes fun at the typical tropes instead of playing into them. Critics call it “delightfully absurd” and “ridiculously fun.”
Welcome to Chippendales (2022)
Metacritic: 70%
IMDb: 7.1/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama, Crime, Comedy
Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford
Inspired by the K. Scot Macdonald and Patrick MontesDeOca book Deadly Dance: The Chippendales Murders, learn the backstory of Somen “Steve” Banerjee, the Indian businessman and entrepreneur who founded Chippendales. He was running a successful L.A. club, but once he added a male stripping dance troupe, it turned heads: This was something that hadn’t been seen before in America. Banerjee’s story from there, however, takes some dark and ominous turns, leading to murder. Kumail Nanjiani (Eternals, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Silicon Valley) tackles the lead role with vigor and commitment, bringing the mogul to life on screen.
The Handmaid's Tale (2017)
Metacritic: 81%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 5
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes
Created by: Bruce Miller
In a not-too-distant future, after an environmental disaster causes widespread infertility, an extremist cult in the United States stages a coup, establishing the totalitarian state of Gilead. In this new society, women are relegated to subservient roles, and due to the low birth rate, a class of women called “handmaids” is conscripted to bear children for the leaders of Gilead. The protagonist of The Handmaid’s Tale, Offred (Elisabeth Moss), is one such woman, forced to have ritualized sex with Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) to provide him and his wife with a child. Living without any rights or power, Offred tries to survive each day, hoping to one day be free. The Handmaid’s Tale is a masterful adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s grim novel of the same name, with excellent performances and gorgeous, oft-disturbing scene composition.
Ramy (2019)
Metacritic: 85%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Ramy Youssef, Mohammed Amer, Hiam Abbass, Dave Merheje, Amr Waked, May Calamawy, Laith Nakli
Created by: Ramy Youssef, Ari Katcher, Ryan Welch
The streaming world is awash in introspective, character-driven comedies, and while Ramy’s format will feel familiar, it adds a new wrinkle. The eponymous character (played by comedian Ramy Youssef) isn’t just a millennial dealing with the awkward ups and downs of work and dating in the 21st century. He’s also a Muslim and trying to lead a moral life in amoral times. Ramy wades in ambiguities and its protagonist’s hypocrisies and hang-ups; for instance, he’s uncomfortable kissing a Muslim woman on their first date, but fine hooking up with non-Muslims, for which the former chews him out. It’s a show with a unique perspective and a willingness to present its characters in an unflattering light.
Atlanta (2016)
Metacritic: 93%
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 4
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield
Created by: Donald Glover
Donald Glover is a modern Renaissance man: Since launching a comedy career via skits circulated on YouTube, he has branched into rapping, acting, and even showrunning, with the remarkable, surreal comedy-drama Atlanta. The show follows a dogged college dropout named Earn (Glover), who sleeps at his on/off-again girlfriend’s place and struggles to provide for their child. When he learns that his cousin Alfred is starting to achieve success as a rapper — stage name: Paper Boi — Earn becomes his manager. There is not much of an overarching plot to Atlanta. Most episodes play out like short films, and the show experiments with a variety of stories and formats — one standout episode is presented entirely as an episode of a local interview show, complete with fake commercials. Daring and frequently poignant, Atlanta is one of the most exciting shows on TV today.
The Americans (2013)
Metacritic: 89%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 6
Genre: Crime, Drama
Cast: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Holly Taylor
Created by: Joseph Weisberg
Hailing from FX, The Americans originally aired for six seasons from 2013 to 2018. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys star as Soviet KGB intelligence officers posing as American suburbanites, living with their two kids just outside of Washington. The spy drama was universally praised for its writing, characters, and acting. Set in the ‘80s, it covers stories surrounding the Ronald Reagan administration, examining issues from the perspectives of both the KGB and the FBI. Contributing to its sense of realism is the fact that the show was created by Joe Weisberg, a former CIA officer. Named by many critics as being among their favorite TV dramas of all time, it’s worth a watch, even years after the show concluded its run.
Love, Victor (2020)
Metacritic: 69%
IMDb: 8.1/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 3
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Michael Cimino, Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel
Created by: Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger
A refreshingly modern take on your typical coming-of-age teen drama, this series follows a young man named Victor as he navigates life in a new high school and embarks on a journey to self-discovery, including figuring out his sexuality. The series is set in the same world as the 2018 teen drama Love, Simon, which starred Nick Robinson as the title character. Robinson is now a producer and narrator, helping Victor through his struggles and providing guidance. The spinoff series, which ended after season 3, received an overwhelmingly positive reception, with the consensus being that it’s an easily digestible and entertaining watch.
The Orville (2017)
Metacritic: 36%
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 3
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson
Created by: Seth MacFarlane
While critics might not be as kind to Seth MacFarlane’s newest show, fans absolutely love it. With three seasons of the comedy-drama under its belt, the show takes a sci-fi-inspired look at life 400 years into the future. The crew aboard the U.S.S. Orville, an exploratory ship, sets out to see what’s going on in the universe and discover new things (and dangers) in outer space. But as they discover new life, they also have their own complicated lives and personal relationships to deal with. Expect typical Macfarlane humor, social commentary, and parodies that any fan of his other works will enjoy.
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
Metacritic: 70%
IMDb: 8.9/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington
Created by: Dustin Lance Black
Andrew Garfield (one of the best Spider-Men ever) stars in this FX series as Detective Jeb Pyre, a devout Mormon man who begins to question his faith following the investigation of a murder. Inspired by the true-crime bestseller of the same name by Jon Krakauer, a young woman and her baby daughter were murdered in 1984. As Pyre looks into what happened, he uncovers truths about the Latter-day Saints (LDS) religion and how unwavering faith by other devout followers may have played a role in the killings. The seven-episode season has been well received by early reviewers, who describe it as a stunning look at one’s crisis of faith.
The Dropout (2022)
Metacritic: 74%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, Utkarsh Ambudkar
Created by: Elizabeth Meriweather
In 2003, entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes founded the biotechnology company Theranos that promised to offer a revolutionary new method for blood testing. By 2015, she was was the richest self-made billionaire in America, but after the validity of her tech came under fire, it all fell apart, leading to her indictment and eventual conviction in January of this year for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Based on the Rebecca Jarvis ABC Audio podcast of the same name, The Dropout stars Amanda Seyfried as Holmes and follows the story of how she and Theranos COO Ramesh Balwani (Naveen Andrews) misled and defrauded investors. If you’re curious about the story, The Dropout beautifully dramatizes events that Rolling Stone’s Alan Sepinwall says “would feel too absurd to be true if we didn’t already know otherwise.”
PEN15 (2019)
Metacritic: 86%
IMDb: 8.0/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 2
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Mutsuko Erskine
Created by: Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Sam Zvibleman
These days, coming-of-age stories are a dime a dozen, but few of them are as novel — or cringeworthy — as PEN15. Co-creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle star as 13-year-old versions of themselves, allowing the series to address topics and situations many would consider taboo if performed by younger lead actors. The two find their footing in hormone-fueled incidents involving masturbation and AOL Instant Messenger, not to mention everyday encounters with parents, principals, and the kind of insult-spewing preteens you can expect to find at any middle school. It’s all served with a heavy dose of ’90s-inspired nostalgia, meaning if the show’s no-holds-barred look at adolescence isn’t enough, perhaps the constant references to the Spice Girls will be. The final episodes of season 2, which will be the show’s last, are now streaming.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)
Metacritic: 71%
IMDb: 8.8/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 15
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney
Created by: Rob McElhenney
What South Park is to late-night animation, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is to sitcoms. Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day — who also created and write the show — star as three best friends who kind of hate each other, while Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito round out the cast as the infamous Dee and Frank. The group often finds itself in some of the most absurd situations as the members push into the uncharted and irreverent comedic territory for which the show is well known, usually as a result of their own botched schemes. The show is on its 15th season, though it has already been renewed through to season 18.
Dopesick (2021)
Metacritic: 66%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 1
Genre: Drama
Cast: Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg
Created by: Danny Strong
With a star-studded cast and a topical and controversial theme, it’s no surprise that this miniseries has turned heads. Based on the Beth Macy nonfiction book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America, the drama takes Big Pharma head on through its riveting and emotional eight episodes. The series explores the opioid crisis in America, looking at the situation from various angles, focusing its lens on the marketing of the drug OxyContin and Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. From pain relief to addiction, regulators, drugs salespersons, and legal issues, it delves deep into the devastating effects of drug addiction in the country and the people and companies being held responsible in the court of public opinion.
Legion (2017)
Metacritic: 82%
IMDb: 8.2/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 3
Genre: Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast: Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza
Created by: Noah Hawley
Noah Hawley, the creator of FX’s Fargo, tries his hand at telling a superhero story with Legion, a visually dynamic series that isn’t your typical man-in-a-cape origin story. The show follows David Haller (Dan Stevens), a man who, having heard voices in his head since a young age, starts the series in a psychiatric hospital. His official diagnosis is schizophrenia, but after meeting another patient, Syd Barrett (Rachel Keller), who can switch bodies with anyone she touches, he discovers that the voices in his head are a sign of his own latent powers. Fitting for a show about a man who may or may not be insane, Legion is a hallucinogenic ride, with psychedelic visuals and format-breaking sequences that keep David — and the viewer — confused as to what is real.
The X-Files (1993)
Metacritic: 65%
IMDb: 8.6/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 11
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Crime
Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi
Created by: Chris Carter
Chris Carter’s science fiction drama, The X-Files, operated under one simple premise: The truth is out there. FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate unsolved mysteries called X-Files. These X-Files deal with paranormal activity, aliens, UFO sightings, and various phenomena. Mulder believes in the existence of alien life while Scully offers scientific explanations for the mysterious happenings, with their relationship serving as the show’s bedrock.
Sons of Anarchy (2008)
Metacritic: 68%
IMDb: 8.5/10
Rated: TV-MA
Seasons: 7
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Tommy Flanagan
Created by: Kurt Sutter
A biker gang, the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (aka SAMCRO), makes ends meet by trafficking guns and subverting the law at every turn. However, when the gang’s young vice president Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) discovers the diary of his deceased father, he begins to question SAMCRO’s business decisions. This puts Jax at odds with his stepfather Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman), who presides as the club’s president. The series tells the story of Jax’s efforts to keep the club together while balancing his complicated family life.
Broad City (2014)
Metacritic: 82%
IMDb: 8.4/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 5
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Hannibal Buress
Created by: Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson
Ilana and her best friend Abbi are two 20-something women, living in New York. Abbi is a struggling artist, working at a fitness center while she attempts to get her career off the ground. Ilana, on the other hand, does everything in her power to avoid working, and instead pursues all manner of pleasurable distractions, including sexual escapades and consuming large amounts of marijuana. The two are often pulled into crazy situations, frequently as a consequence of one of Ilana’s ill-conceived plots. Broad City has received high praise from critics due to its clever writing and subtle-yet-effective message of female empowerment.
Cowboy Bebop (1998)
IMDb: 8.9/10
Rated: TV-14
Seasons: 1
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation
Cast: Koichi Yamadera, Unsho Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara
Created by: Hajime Yatate
Anime is often labeled as a niche genre, but like with all forms of media, there are breakout examples that transcend the genre, crossing over in appeal. Cowboy Bebop is a prime example. Set in the early era of humanity’s colonization of the solar system, a ragtag group of bounty hunters led by Spike Spiegel (Steven Blum) makes ends meet by taking in wanted criminals, while simultaneously trying to avoid the law and powerful criminal organizations. This space-western has been lauded as one of the best anime series ever made, with a memorable cast and compelling story, featuring one of the most iconic final scenes ever.
