The best shows on Hulu right now (May 2023)

Class of '09 (2023) new

Genre Drama, Crime

Cast Brian Tyree Henry, Kate Mara, Sepideh Moafi

Created by Tom Rob Smith

Available on FX on Hulu, Class of ’09 may just be your next spy thriller binge favorite. The suspense thriller stars Kate Mara (Chappaquiddick) and Brian Tyree Henry (Atlanta) as FBI agents dealing with the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology within the U.S. government.

Told through multiple timelines, Class of ’09 follows the agents as they progress through their ever-changing jobs, with AI technology becoming more and more ingrained in what they do and having far-reaching implications. The limited series includes eight exciting, high-action episodes.

A Small Light (2023) new

Genre Drama

Cast Bel Powley, Liev Schreiber, Joe Cole

Created by Joan Rater, Tony Phelan

watch on Hulu

A Small Light tells the real-life story of Miep Gies, who sheltered her employer Otto Frank’s family during World War II, including Anne Frank, who famously went on to pen a diary about living in hiding under Nazi persecution. Bel Powley (The Morning Show) stars as the title character.

Available on National Geographic with episodes streaming the following day on Hulu (as well as Disney+), the biographical drama has been criticized for some historical inaccuracies. While the character may be a combination of Gies as well as Bep Voskuijl, who also helped the family and smuggled notes from the building, A Small Light is a gripping drama nonetheless, that examines one of the biggest historical events of the 20th century.

The Great (2020) new

Genre Drama, Comedy

Cast Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox

Created by Tony McNamara

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Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult star in this satirical, genre-bending drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from boring outsider to Russian Empress. The anti-historical romp through 18th-century Russia would make Chekhov blush and throw his vodka. It’s a fictionalized series that leans into some of its historical characters’ basest, silliest, and most stereotyped characteristics, which makes for some great fun. Fanning’s Catherine is delightfully intense and idealistic with just a touch of sadism toward her depraved, dopey husband, Peter III.

Mayans M.C. (2018) new

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast J. D. Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Edward James Olmos

Created by Kurt Sutter, Elgin James

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A spin-off of the popular FX series Sons of Anarchy, this crime drama follows the Mayans M.C. motorcycle club as they become allies of the Sons. Set in the same universe, the series begins two years after the events that ended SOA’s run, miles away in the fictional town of Santo Padre in California.

While Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes is a gifted young man, he finds himself being pulled into the dark criminal underworld of the cartel seeking vengeance, and, like Jax Teller from SOA, can’t seem to make his way out. Mayans M.C. concludes with its fifth and final season.

How I Met Your Father (2022)

Genre Comedy

Cast Hilary Duff

Created by Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger

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How I Met Your Father might not be Emmy-winning material, but the sitcom, a spin-off of mid-2000s hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother, is finding its footing as it continues to delight fans who revel in the current Gen-Z-centric angle. Like the original, with a gender reverse for the premise, adult Sophie (Kim Cattrall) is telling her son in the year 2050 the story of how she met his father. But, like Ted Mosby in HIMYM, she dances around the issue by teasing story after story about how she met her core group of friends in New York and all the men she dated before finally settling down. Played by Hilary Duff in the present day, the show sometimes tries too hard to earn the same favor as the original. But we all need a good guilty pleasure now and then, and for fans of HIMYM, How I Met Your Father is worth a watch.

Unprisoned (2023)

Genre Comedy

Cast Kerry Washington, Delroy Lindo, Marque Richardson

Created by Tracy McMillan

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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.

Good Trouble (2019)

Genre Drama

Cast Cierra Ramirez, Zuri Adele, Sherry Cola

Created by Joanna Johnson, Peter Paige, Bradley Bredeweg

watch on Hulu

If you watched The Fosters, you’ll love the concept behind this Freeform drama, which follows the characters of Callie and Mariana as they become young adults and move to Los Angeles to enter the working world. It’s a relatable show even on its own for anyone growing up as part of Gen Z (or for parents of Gen Z kids). You see the struggles dealing with jobs, a communal living situation, meeting new friends, and adjusting to adult life. The first season of Good Trouble received a perfect score from Rotten Tomatoes, with critics applauding the way the show “deftly captures what it’s like when you’re in your early 20s and just starting out.”

Animaniacs (2020)

Genre Animation, Comedy

Cast Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, Tress MacNeille

watch on Hulu

Sparking nostalgia from the original, Steven Spielberg and his company Amblin Entertainment (in association with Warner Bros. Animation) return to create this reboot of the popular animated comedy musical. Originally from the ’90s, Animaniacs entertained kids with characters like Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, and The Goodfeathers, and pleased parents with the sneaky adult humor that went right over kids’ heads; from the sexual innuendo to dated pop culture references. Many of the original voice actors reprise their roles in a similar variety show format with different skits following different characters and their own independent plotlines. For anyone who grew up in the ’90s, Animaniacs is a must-watch throwback series, with kids or without. The series concludes with three seasons.

Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021)

Genre Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast Jeremy Shada, Ashley Liao, Aimee Garcia

Created by Henry Gilroy

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A joint venture series with Peacock, this original is set in the same universe as How To Train Your Dragon, but takes place 1,300 years in the future, in modern-day times. Dragons are now just things of fantasy, myth, and legend. But when a fissure opens up the Earth, and a group of misfit kids discover where the dragons have been hiding all this time, they do their best to keep it a secret. For fans of the franchise and family viewing, Dragons: The Nine Realms is a fun, adventurous watch for the whole family.

Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019)

Genre Drama

Cast Ashton Sanders, Siddiq Saunderson, Johnell Young

Created by RZA, Alex Tse

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Everyone loves a good success story, and in the case of the Wu-Tang Clan, it’s about a group of a dozen men who bucked the odds and rose above a life of violence and crime to great success in a life where they expressed themselves through music. This drama, which is highly rated by critics and audiences, alike, tells the backstory of Wu-Tang’s formation. It starts back in New York in the ’90s, during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic, when rapper Bobby Diggs, aka RZA, brought the 12 men together, pulling them away from negative temptations and, despite all odds, working to pursue their passion for music. It’s a story of resilience, choices, and hope for a better life, which concludes with its third and final season.

The 1619 Project (2023)

Genre Documentary

Cast Nikole Hannah-Jones

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Delivered in six parts, this limited docuseries delves deep into American history and both the contributions of Black Americans and consequences of slavery. Each episode of The 1619 Project is adapted from essays that appeared in The New York Times best-selling Nikole Hannah-Jones novel The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story. The episode titles are indicative of the focus of each one, and the ways slavery has shaped how we live without realization or acknowledgment. These include “Democracy,” “Race,” “Music,” “Capitalism,” “Fear,” and “Justice,” with each episode just as powerful as the next. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hannah-Jones hosts The 1619 Project, which was, in part, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey.

Letterkenny (2016)

Genre Comedy

Cast Jared Keeso, Nathan Dales, Michelle Mylett, K. Trevor Wilson, Dylan Playfair, Jacob Tierney

Created by Jared Keeso

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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.

Welcome to Chippendales (2022)

Genre Drama, Crime, Comedy

Cast Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford

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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.

Alaska Daily (2022)

Genre Drama

Cast Hilary Swank, Jeff Perry, Matt Malloy

Created by Tom McCarthy

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After a career misfire, investigative journalist Eileen (Hilary Swank) decides it’s time for a fresh start. So, she moves to Anchorage, Alaska, to take a job at a daily newspaper. But although Eileen feels she won’t be dealing with the same level of drama she did back in New York City, she finds herself caught up in a case about a series of missing persons in the town. Working on reports about the missing and murdered Indigenous persons crisis in Alaska, Eileen leverages her big-city skills to shed light on a critical issue. At its heart, Alaska Daily is a love letter to local journalism and its importance in the media landscape.

Only Murders in the Building (2021)

Genre Comedy, Crime, Mystery

Cast Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez

Created by Steve Martin, John Robert Hoffman

watch on Hulu

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 played by Steve Martin (who is also the co-creator of the show), Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who come together because they share an obsessive passion for true crime. But when they find themselves actually involved in one, the situation gets hairy. 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. Keep an eye out for guest appearances from Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, Shirley Maclaine, and more in season 2.

The Handmaid's Tale (2017)

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

Cast Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes

Created by Bruce Miller

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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)

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

watch on Hulu

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.

Abbott Elementary (2021)

Genre Comedy

Cast Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James

Created by Quinta Brunson

watch on Hulu

Lauded for its relatability and honest look at the trials and tribulations of the public school system, Abbott Elementary is delivered in mockumentary style. The story begins with a documentary crew recording teachers working in underfunded schools. The sitcom’s creator, Quinta Brunson, also stars as Janine, a second-grade teacher navigating life with her colleagues, students, and the school’s tone-deaf principal. While every day is a challenge, the teachers simply want to do the best for their kids. But that’s easier said than done. Having picked up multiple Emmy wins for its sophomore season, Abbott Elementary is a must-watch for anyone with kids and especially for teachers who will be nodding their heads the whole way through.

Atlanta (2016)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield

Created by Donald Glover

watch on Hulu

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.

Reservation Dogs (2021)

Genre Drama, Comedy, Crime

Cast Devery Jacobs, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Jewel Alexis

Created by Taika Waititi, Sterlin Harjo

watch on Hulu

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, and with a second season now streaming, the series 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.”

The Americans (2013)

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Holly Taylor

Created by Joseph Weisberg

watch on Hulu

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.

Killing Eve (2018)

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona Shaw

Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge(developed for television by)

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For MI5 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), the life of a spy is more mundane than the movies make it out to be. She’s stuck working at a desk, and the most excitement she sees is late-night karaoke rather than infiltrating high-tech facilities or something similar. Eve gets a shot at a much livelier case when someone murders a Russian politician and Eve correctly deduces the assassin was a woman. Soon, she is on the trail of the assassin, Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a highly-skilled killer with no conscience who takes an interest in the woman hunting her. Blending drama, humor, and international spy antics, Killing Eve is an exceptional psychological thriller, built around a complicated cat-and-mouse relationship. The series ends with its fourth and final season.

What We Do in the Shadows (2019)

Genre Comedy

Cast Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou

Created by Jemaine Clement

watch on Hulu

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.”

The Bear (2022)

Genre Comedy

Cast Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri

Created by Christopher Storer

watch on Hulu

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, including a team of rough-around-the-edges employees and the challenges of running a small business. Nonetheless, Carmen is not only determined to succeed professionally but to grow personally as well. From FX, the comedy hails from Christopher Storer, the man behind successful shows like Ramy and Eighth Grade.

The Old Man (2022)

Genre Action & Adventure, Drama

Cast Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, Amy Brenneman

Created by Jonathan E. Steinberg, Robert Levine

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With Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow heading up the cast, The Old Man is a winning thriller. Based on the Thomas Perry novel of the same name, Bridges plays Dan Chase, a former CIA operative who, after retirement, went to live off the grid. But when his location is discovered and an assassin tries to kill him, Chase ends up on the run. Meanwhile, Harold Harper (Lithgow), the Assistant Director for Counterintelligence at the FBI, wants to take advantage of Chase being out of hiding to discuss some unfinished business between them. Early reviewers call The Old Man a “dazzling intense dramatic thriller,” propped up, in large part, by the stand-out performances of its leads.

Love, Victor (2020)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Michael Cimino, Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel

Created by Isaac Aptaker, Elizabeth Berger

watch on Hulu

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)

Genre Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson

Created by Seth MacFarlane

watch on Hulu

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.

Shoresy (2022)

Genre Comedy

Cast Jared Keeso, Tasya Teles

Created by Jared Keeso

watch on Hulu

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 are excited to learn more about his story in this six-episode comedy that is rife with Canadian slang and other familiar humor.

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

Genre Crime, Drama, Mystery

Cast Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington

Created by Dustin Lance Black

watch on Hulu

Andrew Garfield 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)

Genre Drama

Cast Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, Utkarsh Ambudkar

Created by Elizabeth Meriweather

watch on Hulu

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.”

Rick and Morty (2013)

Genre Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Cast Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer

Created by Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland

watch on Hulu

Creators Dan Harmon (Community) and Justin Roiland (House of Cosbys) teamed up to create one of the best animated comedies in years. The basic premise centers on Rick (Roiland), a scientist who employs the help of his grandson, Morty, to assist him with dangerous quests and various schemes across space and time. The Adult Swim series is chock full of biting satire and clever humor, and moreover, has garnered a cult following in the wake of its successful and highly-acclaimed first season.

PEN15 (2019)

Genre Comedy

Cast Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Mutsuko Erskine

Created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Sam Zvibleman

watch on Hulu

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)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney

Created by Rob McElhenney

watch on Hulu

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.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Season 15: Official Trailer | FXX

Samurai Champloo (2004)

Genre Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama

Cast Ayako Kawasumi, Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato

Created by Shinichiro Watanabe

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This popular Japanese anime from Shinichiro Watanabe, the same director of the anime Cowboy Bebop, is set in the Edo era from 1603 to 1868 … but with influences of hip-hop music. Swordsman Mugen, Jin, a ronin, and brave young girl Fit set out to find the sunflower samurai. The series, which includes two volumes, is structured like a road movie, and fans love the central theme of accepting death combined with the compelling characters and the complex and unique stories.

Party Down (2009)

Genre Comedy

Cast Ken Marino, Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan

Created by Paul Rudd, John Enbom, Rob Thomas, Dan Etheridge

watch on Hulu

It’s a wonder that with such a star-studded cast, this sitcom only lasted two seasons in 2009 and 2010. Written in part by Paul Rudd, it follows a group of caterers in Los Angeles who rub elbows with the “who’s who” of Hollywood thanks to their jobs. But they are all pining to one day make it big and eventually become the ones being served the food, not the other way around. Airing on Starz and well-received by critics, the ratings just weren’t there, and the show got the ax. It didn’t help that two of the biggest stars left for what would become hugely successful shows: Jane Lynch snagged a leading role on Glee, and Adam Scott was cast on Parks and Recreation. Take a nostalgic look back at this lesser-known series that is considered one the most underrated TV series of its decade.

Dopesick (2021)

Genre Drama

Cast Michael Keaton, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg

Created by Danny Strong

watch on Hulu

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.

Bob's Burgers (2011)

Genre Comedy, Animation

Cast H. Jon Benjamin, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman

Created by Jim Dauterive, Loren Bouchard

watch on Hulu

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 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 on the way to further celebrate the show’s success, there’s no better time to start binging the Belcher family’s escapades.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish

Created by Dick Wolf

watch on Hulu

Sometimes, all you want to do is sit down and escape into a formulaic police procedural, and as the longest-running prime-time live-action series in U.S. history, it’s safe to say that Law & Order: SVU is worthy of being at the top of the list. The first and most successful of the many Law & Order spin-offs, this version deals with particularly troubling crimes, including rape, pedophilia, and domestic violence. Often times, stories are taken right from actual headlines, embellished for dramatic effect, while others are inspired by real-life cases from the past (and some from outright fiction). With fairly compartmentalized episodes, you can easily watch at your leisure anytime there’s “nothing on TV.”

Archer (2009)

Genre Comedy, Action & Adventure, Animation

Cast H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter

Created by Adam Reed

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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 this series, which was originally created for basic cable network FX then moved to sister network FXX, are designed like an anthology, with each season having its own self-contained story.

Legion (2017)

Genre Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza

Created by Noah Hawley

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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.

Community (2009)

Genre Comedy

Cast Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi

Created by Dan Harmon

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Community saw its fair share of ups and downs while on NBC but this Dan Harmon comedy is one of the funniest shows on TV — its first three seasons were, at least. The show centers around a group of newly acquainted friends who attend a blunder of a community college. Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, and Donald Glover headline this hilarious show while Jim Rash’s turn as the dean is as funny as any character on TV. It’s no longer on the airwaves, but rumors of a forthcoming movie persist.

Homeland (2011)

Genre Drama, Action & Adventure, Crime, War & Politics

Cast Claire Danes, Maury Sterling, Numan Acar

Created by Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa (based on Prisoners of War by Gideon Raff)

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This spy thriller kept fans glued to their screens for eight seasons as they watched Claire Danes brilliantly portray Carrie, a CIA agent trying to balance her career with her bipolar disorder. The series began when Carrie believed that a sniper from her team who had been captured by al-Qaeda had been turned and posed a threat to the team. The plot evolved and spiraled from there to touch on a long list of twists and turns, and viewers couldn’t get enough of the story. The series garnered consistently favorable reviews through to the end, with the final season lauded for being “tautly thrilling” and providing a fitting finish to the captivating story.

Fargo (2014)

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

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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 and Allison Tolman, and stays true to the same black comedy and deadly mishaps that made the original film so popular.

The X-Files (1993)

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Crime

Cast David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi

Created by Chris Carter

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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)

Genre Crime, Drama, Thriller

Cast Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Tommy Flanagan

Created by Kurt Sutter

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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.

The Venture Bros. (2004)

Genre Comedy, Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast Christopher McCulloch, Michael Sinterniklaas, James Urbaniak, Patrick Warburton, Doc Hammer, Steven Rattazzi, Dana Snyder

Created by Christopher McCulloch, Doc Hammer

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Adult Swim’s long-running (the series has been airing off and on since 2003) dark comedy The Venture Bros. is a hilarious, occasionally depressing exploration of failure and legacies, set in a world full of colorful characters. Originally built as a parody of ‘60s adventure shows like Jonny Quest, The Venture Bros. focuses on Dr. Rusty Venture (James Urbaniak), a once-famous boy adventurer who fizzled out, growing up to become a failed scientist. Now the owner of his father’s company, the show follows Rusty, his two sons Hank (Christopher McCulloch) and Dean (Michael Sinterniklaas), and their bodyguard, secret agent/bulky murder machine Brock Samson (Patrick Warburton), through various adventures and schemes, flitting through various genres and story structures. The humor is weird but often brilliant — one particularly strange episode reimagines the Scooby gang as a bunch of drug-addled fiends — but what truly stands out about the show is how it has built a vast world full of recurring, oddball characters whose relationships evolve over time.

Broad City (2014)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Hannibal Buress

Created by Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson

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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.

Arrested Development (2003)

Genre Comedy

Cast Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett

Created by Mitchell Hurwitz

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Despite getting canceled by Fox in 2006, Ron Howard and Mitchell Hurwitz’s Arrested Development saw critical success across the board. Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Michael Cera star as family members of the very dysfunctional Bluth family living in Newport Beach, California. The show centers around Michael Bluth (Bateman) as he’s forced to assist his off-the-wall relatives after the family business comes under fire.

Futurama (1999)

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

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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.

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

Genre Action, Adventure, Animation

Cast Koichi Yamadera, Unsho Ishizuka, Megumi Hayashibara

Created by Hajime Yatate

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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.

Cowboy Bebop (Original Series) - Official Funimation Trailer

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