The 105 best shows on Hulu right now (July 2022)

Only Murders in the Building (2021) new

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 played by Steve Martin (also 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, Sting, and more in season 2.

Feud (2017) new

Genre Drama

Cast Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Judy Davis

Created by Ryan Murphy

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Fans had long been calling for this Ryan Murphy anthology series to make its way to Hulu for streaming. Originally airing on FX, the first season covered the famous rivalry between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis, naturally called Feud: Bette and Joan. The setting is in 1962 following the filming of the movie What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Nominated for 18 Emmys and winning two, a second season of Feud called Capote’s Women, covering the story of Truman Capote and his many high society female friends, is currently in the works.

The Bear (2022) new

Genre Comedy

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

Created by Christopher Storer

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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.

RuPaul's Drag Race (2009)

Genre Reality

Cast RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and others (varies by season)

Created by RuPaul

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There’s good reason that this series has earned numerous Primetime Emmy Awards, including not only for RuPaul as host but also as Outstanding Reality-Competition Program; in 2018, the series became the first to ever win in both categories the same year. The contestants set out to win the race to become the next big drag superstar. They receive mentorship and coaching from RuPaul, as well as critiques on their performances in different challenges from a panel of judges. Now on its 13th season, you can catch seasons 2 through 9, now streaming.

The Old Man (2022) new

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

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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.

Vida (2018)

Genre Drama

Cast Melissa Barrera, Mishel Prada, Ser Anzoategui

Created by Tanya Saracho

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A story of sisters coming together despite their differences, Vida holds an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score for all three of its seasons. Lynda “Lyn” is a free-spirited vegan with a desire to date wealthy Caucasian men, while her older sister, Emma, is a Type-A high-paying corporate executive who also happens to be queer. The two Mexican American sisters are estranged until they must come together again following their mother’s death. After returning to their old neighborhood, they are forced to not only confront their past, but also learn new things about their mother’s life and who she really was. Originally airing on Starz, Vida is praised for its fresh perspective and “earnest and heartfelt take on identity and what it means to belong.”

Pistol (2022)

Genre Drama

Cast Toby Wallace, Anson Boon, Louis Partridge

Created by Craig Pearce

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Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Yesterday) directs this biographical drama miniseries that tells the story of the controversial and iconic band Sex Pistols, its lead guitarist Steve Jones, and the various events that led to their rise to fame. Told in six parts, viwers learn about the English punk band’s career in the ’70s and how they are credited with not only influencing the punk movement but also popular music on the whole. The series features an A-list cast, with Australian actor Toby Wallace as Jones, Thomas Brodie-Sangster (The Queen’s Gambit) as the band’s promoter and manager Malcolm McLaren, and Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones) as English model and actress Pamela Rooke.

Glee (2009)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele

Created by Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk

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When it comes to influential shows of the 2010s, Glee is near the top of the list. The musical comedy-drama is built on the momentum from movies like High School Musical. It’s also an entertaining and heartwarming series about a group of high school misfits. Each student doesn’t fit in for various reasons, but when they come together under the tutelage of Spanish teacher and Glee club director Will Schuester, they make magic. With themes of hope and acceptance, Glee was also praised for its handling of sensitive subject matter, from race relations to teenage pregnancy, bullying, and sexual identity. The musical numbers, meanwhile, will have you singing and dancing along the whole way through.

The Orville (2017)

Genre Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Seth MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson

Created by Seth MacFarlane

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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

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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.

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), with whom Katy has a three-way relationship. 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.

Queen Sugar (2016)

Genre Drama

Cast Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe

Created by Ava DuVernay

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Created by Ava DuVernay who also executive produces alongside Oprah Winfrey and others, Queen Sugar tells the story of three estranged siblings from Louisiana who find themselves reuniting when their elderly father passes away. With the family patriarch gone, the two sisters and brother must figure out the future of the family sugarcane farm. Two NAACP Image Awards and a dozen nominations solidify Queen Sugar’s praises for its openness in dealing with issues with criminal justice racial inequalities and other issues impacting Black Americans. The show’s first season was praised for its “authenticity of culture and strong performances throughout.” There are six seasons to date and the series will end with a seventh and final season set to premiere in summer 2022.

Candy (2022)

Genre Crime

Cast Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy Simons

Created by Nick Antosca, Robin Veith

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In Texas in the 1980s, housewife Candy Montgomery was accused of murdering her neighbor and best friend Betty brutally attacking and hitting her 41 times with a three-foot ax. Montgomery later claimed it was self defense. Embroiled in scandal, however, involving an affair with Betty’s husband, Candy went to trial and the outcome shocked the nation. In this drama based on the true story, Jessica Biel plays Candy and Melanie Lynskey plays Betty. While early reviews have been mixed, the performances of the two leads are universally praised.

Dragons: The Nine Realms (2021)

Genre Animation, Action & Adventure

Cast Jeremy Shada, Julia Stiles, Aimee Garcia, Lauren Tom

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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, it’s a fun, adventurous watch for the whole family.

Young Rock (2021)

Genre Comedy

Cast Dwayne Johnson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Stacey Leilua

Created by Nahnatchka Khan, Jeff Chiang

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has catapulted his career from iconic professional wrestler to one of the highest-paid actors in the world. But his road wasn’t always an easy one, and some of his childhood stories are as unbelievable as they are wonderful life lessons. He fashions these stories into this sitcom, set up in the year 2032 as Johnson, now running for U.S. President, recalls how he is able to relate to the everyday people of America. Through flashbacks of his time at three ages, including grade school, high school, and college, fans see what life was like for a young Rock, who his mom affectionately called “Dewey.” From cavorting with some of the most well-known wrestlers as part of a wrestling family from a young age (his father is wrestler Rocky Johnson) to his unique stories about growing up without money and dealing with typical (and atypical) coming-of-age issues, it’s both funny and sweet. What makes the show all the more entertaining is that the stories stem from real events that happened in Johnson’s life.

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

Genre Crime, Drama, Mystery

Cast Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sam Worthington

Created by Dustin Lance Black

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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.

Mayans M.C. (2018)

Genre Crime, Drama

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

Created by Kurt Sutter, Elgin James

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A spinoff 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 Pedre, 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.

Atlanta (2016)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield

Created by Donald Glover

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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 Girl From Plainville (2022)

Genre Drama, Crime

Cast Elle Fanning, Chloë Sevigny, Colton Ryan

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It’s a story that shocked the nation. When teenager Conrad Roy died by suicide, a series of troubling texts sent by his girlfriend Michelle Carter had people reeling. Did she not only convince him to kill himself, but even go so far as to urge and dare him to do so? In the end, Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and this drama miniseries sets out to depict the story of these two teens, from the moment they met to their personal lives and the events that led up to Roy’s death along with the trial that followed. Early reviews praise the “outstanding performances” of the leads, Elle Fanning and Colton Ryan, and the “strikingly effective treatment” of the sensitive and troubling subject matter.

The Hardy Boys (2020)

Genre Drama, Mystery

Cast Rohan Campbell, Alexander Elliot, Adam Swain

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Brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, 16 and 12, aren’t too happy about having their big-city lives upended to move to a small town. But once there, they find themselves caught up in a mysterious, secret investigation. Believing that their father, a detective, may have uncovered something about a case, they take it upon themselves to help. Who can they trust? It seems that suspicions run just as deep in a small town as they do in the city. The enduring history of the Hardy Boys, which originated in 1927 by several ghostwriters known under the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon, then re-created as Hardy Boys Casefiles in 1987, makes this a must-watch for any fan of the characters.

Casual (2015)

Genre Comedy

Cast Michaela Watkins, Tommy Dewey, Tara Lynne Barr

Created by Jason Reitman, Zander Lehmann

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It’s one of those Hulu originals that has quietly flown under the radar but has been well received by critics and audiences, alike. Through four seasons that originally streamed from 2015 to 2018, the story follows a newly-single mother named Valerie (Michaela Watkins), and her teenage daughter, as they move in with Valerie’s single brother, Alex (Tommy Dewey). While both adults try to navigate single life, and teenager Laura (Tara Lynne Barr) navigates her typical coming-of-age situations, there’s plenty of head-butting. Dubbed a comedy-drama, Tommy spends his days working on his popular dating site Snooger while Valerie tries to get back into the dating scene after finding her husband with a younger woman. With short half-hour episodes, it’s an easy and fun show to binge your way through in a weekend or two.

Bloods (2021)

Genre Comedy

Cast Samson Kayo, Jane Horrocks, Lucy Punch

Created by Samson Kayo, Nathan Byron

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Fans love comedies about mismatched pairings, and Sky1’s British sitcom Bloods, which was acquired by Hulu for exclusive streaming rights in the U.S., tackles it beautifully. Receiving rave reviews for its first season, Maleek, a loner who believes he’s the bee’s knees, finds himself partnered on the job as a paramedic with a happy-go-lucky, overly enthusiastic, recently divorced woman named Wendy. While Maleek is initially annoyed by having to work day in and day out with this woman he can’t stand, they soon realize that it’s all about the very important, literal life-and-death job, and they need to rely on one another more than they realize.

Claws (2017)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Niecy Nash, Karrueche Tran, Carrie Preston

Created by Eliot Laurence

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When five female manicurists at a small salon are thrust into the criminal underworld by laundering money for an organized crime unit, they begin to realize they might be on to something worth grabbing all for themselves. So, they work their way up and eventually create their own criminal empire. But it’s not without controversy and drama as they must deal with rival organizations and crime families, violence, death, and other issues that get in their way. Critics praise the acting, visuals, and energetic pace of the TNT drama, which ended after its four-season run.

Good Trouble (2019)

Genre Drama

Cast Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Zuri Adele

Created by Joanna Johnson, Peter Paige, Bradley Bredeweg

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If you watched The Fosters, you’ll love this Freeform drama, which continues the story a few years later, following 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, however, 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 received a perfect score from Rotten Tomatoes, with critics applauding the way Good Trouble “deftly captures what it’s like when you’re in your early 20s and just starting out.”

The Dropout (2022)

Genre Drama

Cast Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, Utkarsh Ambudkar

Created by Elizabeth Meriweather

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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 her 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.”

Better Things (2016)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Pamela Adlon, Mikey Madison, Hannah Alligood, Olivia Edward, Celia Imrie

Created by Pamela Adlon, Louis C.K.

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The age of the subversive sitcom continues with Better Things, a dark, caustic comedy about growing older and raising kids. The show follows Sam Fox (Pamela Adlon), a struggling actress raising three kids by herself in Los Angeles. Sam juggles her attempts to advance her career and have fun with her responsibility to her daughters, each of whom presents their own unique difficulties. Adlon and co-creator Louis C.K. (who is no longer involved) previously worked on the surreal comedy-drama Louie, and Better Things shows a similar mean streak, narrowing in on the grimy, depressing aspects of parenthood that other sitcoms gloss over.

Snowfall (2017)

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Damson Idris, Carter Hudson, Sergio Peris-Mencheta

Created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio, Dave Andron

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Set in 1980s Los Angeles during the height of the crack epidemic, this crime drama beautifully weaves through the early days of the drug problem as it plagued the city and impacted culture and politics. The story is viewed from the perspectives of multiple intersecting characters, notably a young drug dealer, a Mexican luchador, a CIA operative, and the niece of a Mexican crime boss. It’s one of those shows that has flown under the radar for several seasons, originally airing on FX, but has consistently garnered positive reviews. The show was created by John Singleton, best known for writing and directing Boyz n the Hood, which earned him an Academy Award nomination at the tender age of 24 (and the distinction of being both the youngest person and first African American to be nominated in the Best Director category). Critics laud the accurate recreation of the setting and the lead performance of Damson Idris.

America's Book of Secrets (2012)

Genre Documentary

Cast Lance Reddick, Barry Aird, Jonathan Adams

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From organized crime to government cover-ups, the War on Drugs, cults, presidential assassination attempts, secret societies, and even extraterrestrials, there’s no stone left unturned with this History Channel docuseries about the mysteries that abound in American history. With four seasons under its belt, which of which are available for streaming, the show explores topics that have intrigued Americans and for which curious, inquiring minds want to know more. Some of the latest episodes delve into topical issues like deadly pandemics and the existence of U.S. presence in space. It’s educational, thought-provoking, and entertaining, sure to spark conversation. Plus, it’s easy to pick and choose which episodes pique your interest.

The Food That Built America (2019)

Genre Documentary

Cast Campbell Scott

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Have you ever wondered about the origin stories of your favorite cola or how titans like Henry Heinz, Milton Hershey, John and Will Kellogg, or the McDonald brothers built their empires from small food chains or businesses to massive market leaders? The History Channel reality show focuses on a different brand in each episode, delving deep into the backstories of how big food and drink brands came to become such icons in America, which sometimes involved making ruthless business decisions. The show was so well received that its three-episode first season was expanded to 19 episodes for season 2. Discover everything from how the “TV dinner” came to be to how ice cream empires are built, who the real kings of the burger are, and the secrets behind “gum slingers.” Season 3 features the stories of titans like Orville Redenbacher, Debbi Fields, and Tom Carvel. Alongside the show, a companion podcast was also launched in partnership with OZY Media.

Trolls: TrollsTopia (2020)

Genre Family, Animation, Kids

Cast Skylar Astin, Amanda Leighton, Sean T. Krishnan, David Fynn

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Sing and dance along with the Trolls from Troll Village in Trolls: Trolltopia, based on the DreamWorks Animation 3D computer-animated comedy musical film franchise. Poppy, now Queen of the Pop Trolls, does her best to unite all the Trolls from the land, despite their musical genre differences. The goal? That they can all live in harmony, both literally and figuratively. It’s a fun watch for the whole family.

Pam & Tommy (2022)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Seth Rogen

Created by Robert D. Siegel

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It’s as much a story about a celebrity couple in the ’90s as it is about society’s interest in their private lives. Sebastian Stan and Lily James transform into model/actor Pamela Anderson and Motley Crue founding member and drummer Tommy Lee, depicting their tumultuous relationship. At the heart of the story is the unauthorized release of their sex tape, which set off a cultural obsession that has since shifted from VHS tapes and VCRs to social and digital media. While neither celebrity is involved in the project, it is based on the 2014 Rolling Stone article that discusses how the tape was stolen and released. Critics praise James’ performance in particular for giving the series “undeniable heart.”

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

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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.

Top Chef (2006)

Genre Reality

Cast Katie Lee, Padma Lakshmi

Created by Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz

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Having spawned multiple spin-offs, Top Chef has become one of the most revered food competition series of this generation. Airing since 2006 on Bravo and still going strong, the show pits chefs against one another in an intense battle of cooking prowess, where their dishes are judged by a panel of professional chefs and other top names from the food and wine industry. Gain inspiration for your own home cooking, salivate over the mouth-watering dishes, or simply sit back and marvel at how the chefs use every creative tool in their arsenal to make dishes that “wow” based on various themes, instructions, or challenging limitations.

Single Drunk Female (2022)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Sofia Black-D'Elia, Ally Sheedy, Rebecca Henderson

Created by Simone Finch

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Samantha is pushing 30 and trying to get her life together, dealing with alcohol addiction. Following a public breakdown and hitting rock bottom, she decides to move back home with her overbearing mother and clean things up with the help of her sponsor. The first season of this Freeform comedy has received positive reviews, particularly for the lead Sofia Black-D’Elia and Ally Sheedy, who plays her mother Carol.

Brassic (2019)

Genre Comedy, Drama, Crime

Cast Joseph Gilgun, Michelle Keegan, Damien Molony

Created by Joseph Gilgun, Daniel Brocklehurst

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Dubbed Sky One’s most successful comedy in years when it debuted in 2019, Brassic, a colloquial pronunciation of the medical dressing Boracic (and Cockney rhyming slang for skint or insolvent) takes place in a fictional town called Hawley where Vinnie O’Neil (Joe Gilgun) and his friends reside. As members of the working class, Vinnie and his closest confidants still can’t seem to make ends meet, so they commit crimes to keep up. But over time, some start wondering if there’s a better world out there for them. With three seasons under its belt, each with just six episodes, the British show is filming a fourth.

Brassic - Trailer (Official) • The British Binge-cation on Hulu

This Is Us (2016)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown

Created by Dan Fogelman

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Ending with its sixth season, This is Us is one of those watercooler shows fans talk about after every episode, speculating about every nuance, potential misdirection, and clues they believe to have been revealed about critical outcomes. Telling the multi-generational story of the Pearson family through several timelines, including flashbacks to several different time periods, flash-forwards, and present day, fans see the moments that shaped the family and the paths they have taken in life. It’s one of those shows you need to watch with a box of tissues handy. But plenty of heartwarming and comedic moments amidst the sadness balance it out, resulting in a show, and characters, that are easy to get emotionally invested in.

Women of the Movement (2022)

Genre Drama

Cast Adrienne Warren, Tonya Pinkins, Cedric Joe

Created by Marissa Jo Cerar

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Delivered in six parts, this historical drama tells the gripping and emotional story of Mamie Till-Mobley, who sought justice following the 1955 murder of her son Emmett in the Jim Crow South. Based on the Devery S. Anderson book Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement, it’s an important event in history told through the eyes of a grieving mother who was not afraid to put her own life at risk to ensure that her son’s death was not in vain.

The Cleaning Lady (2022)

Genre Drama, Crime

Cast Élodie Yung, Adan Canto, Martha Millan

Created by Miranda Kwok

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There are no lengths a mother won’t go to for her child, but after Thony De La Rosa travels to the U.S. from the Philippines to help her son receive urgent treatment for a rare and life-threatening disorder, she finds herself caught up in a precarious position. When the procedure falls through, Thony, a trained medical doctor, takes a job as a cleaning lady. But after witnessing a murder, and revealing her medical skills in an effort to save her life, she is recruited by a mobster to work as his cleaner. Thony then begins a dangerous double life that she can’t seem to escape from.

Abbott Elementary (2021)

Genre Comedy

Cast Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James

Created by Quinta Brunson

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Lauded for its relatability and honest look at the trials and tribulation 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. It’s a must-watch for anyone with kids, and especially for teachers who will be nodding their heads the whole way through.

black-ish (2014)

Genre Comedy

Cast Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Marcus Scribner

Created by Kenya Barris

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ABC’s Black-ish is one of many shows to have sprung up during the latest sitcom renaissance, which seems to emphasize distinct points of view not often seen on TV. This particular sitcom follows the Johnsons, an upper-middle-class family in America. Parents Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross) try to raise their children, whom they worry may be growing up in a vastly different milieu than they did. The show takes a critical look at issues of race and identity in contemporary America, balancing heavy social commentary with character-driven comedy.

New Amsterdam (2018)

Genre Drama

Cast Ryan Eggold, Freema Agyeman, Janet Montgomery

Created by David Schulner

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“How can I help?” That’s Dr. Max Goodwin’s manta as medical director of the fictional New Amsterdam public hospital, and words you’ll hear him utter over and over again each episode. Despite the predictability as far as stereotypical medical dramas go, the soapy series is worth watching thanks to its talented cast and ridiculous yet thoroughly entertaining storylines. The story begins when Goodwin, believing his secret cancer diagnosis is a death sentence, decides to run the hospital the way it should be run, ignoring all the red tape and bureaucracy that might otherwise hold a medical facility back from providing sufficient medical care to all of its patients. Naturally, the powers that be are none too pleased with Goodwin’s “no rules” strategy and the risks it brings along with it, even if deep down they agree with his caring intent. As the series progresses, Max gets increasingly impassioned about changing societal issues of all kinds, using his position at the hospital to elicit widespread change.

Castle Rock (2018)

Genre Mystery, Drama

Cast Lizzy Caplan, Tim Robbins, Elsie Fisher

Created by Dustin Thomason, Sam Shaw

watch on Hulu

If you’re in the mood for a psychological horror, Castle Rock, based on stories, themes, and characters by Stephen King, will fit the bill. Set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, there are elements from King’s storytelling, from mythology to dark and terrifying, all weaved into one. With two seasons under its belt, the Hulu original show might not have lasted beyond that. But the two seasons were praised for the “meticulously crafty mystery,” making them a must-watch for any fan of King’s works, further solidifying his status as the “King of Horror.”

The New York Times Presents (2020)

Genre Documentary

Created by The New York Times

watch on Hulu

Tackling topical and cultural issues, this series, a spin-off of The Daily podcast, was originally called The Weekly, but for its second season, switched to a monthly series in the format of standalone investigative documentary episodes. From how New York City handled the COVID-19 pandemic to the killing of Breonna Taylor, the career and conservatorship of pop star Britney Spears, the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy, Gen-Z’s focus on social media influencing, and the tragic execution of Nathaniel Woods, the series touches on the pulse of what’s going on in modern times. Each monthly episode streams on Hulu the day after airing on FX.

Skins (2007)

Genre Drama, Comedy

Cast Nicholas Hoult, Dev Patel, Kaya Scodelario

Created by Bryan Elsley, Jamie Brittain

watch on Hulu

While the show was controversial when it first launched in the U.K. in 2007, fans began to warm to Skins and its irreverent and honest look at teen sexuality and other coming-of-age topics. Within each of the seven seasons, every episode focused on a character, or group of characters, and their struggles with everything from mental illness to sexuality, substance abuse, death, bullying — every topical teen issue you could imagine. The series originally aired for six seasons and after a possible film spin-off was shelved, a final season aired three years later to wrap up the story, with some original cast members returning. An American remake was attempted but only lasted a single season on MTV, making this version the one to watch.

Godfather of Harlem (2019)

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Forest Whitaker, Erik LaRay Harvey, Elvis Nolasco

Created by Chris Brancato, Paul Eckstein

watch on Hulu

Forest Whitaker shines in this Epix crime drama as Bumpy Johnson, the real-life New York City gangster from the 1960s. The true story of Johnson’s release from prison after a decade, and his attempts to take back his neighborhood from the Italian mob, makes for gripping, edge-of-your-seat TV. Touching on everything from the Genovese crime family to Johnson’s alliance with Malcolm X, Godfather of Harlem has been lauded for its smart writing and Whitaker’s layered portrayal of Johnson as both a drug kingpin and a man simply trying to get back to life outside of lockup.

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.

Samurai Champloo (2004)

Genre Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Drama

Cast Ayako Kawasumi, Kazuya Nakai, Ginpei Sato

Created by Shinichiro Watanabe

watch on Hulu

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.

Staged (2020)

Genre Comedy

Cast David Tennant, Michael Sheen, Anna Lundberg

Created by Simon Evans, Phil Glynn

watch on Hulu

This British series has largely flown under the radar, yet the simple but effective premise and tremendous acting talents of Michael Sheen and David Tennant have resulted in critics giving quiet praise to the comedy. In the first season, the acting pair play fictional versions of themselves in the present day, attempting to rehearse a performance over videoconferencing due to the pandemic. As the actors try to run their lines and capture the essence of their characters, the director, Simon (played by Simon Evans, who also created and directed the show itself), does the best he can to manage the technical issues and the actors’ inflated egos. The timely series, which was introduced during the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, was called a “welcome distraction” by The Independent’s Louis Chilton, who describes it best as an “eminently watchable portrait of two artists as petulant, egotistical children.”

Marvel's Hit-Monkey (2021)

Genre Action & Adventure, Animation

Cast Fred Tatasciore, Jason Sudeikis, George Takei

Created by Josh Gordon, Will Speck

watch on Hulu

OK, this one is weird and super cool. When a violent monkey is somehow supernaturally tied to Bryce, the ghost of a former American assassin, the result is a team that can take out the criminal underworld with reckless abandon. Voiced by Fred Tatasciore, a veteran voice actor who has voiced notable characters such as Yosemite Sam and the Hulk, Hit-Monkey is a Japanese snow monkey and the title character from the Marvel comics of the same name that this Hulu original series is based on. Bryce, meanwhile, the upbeat assassin who grows fond of Hit Monkey’s rebellious nature while alive and reappears as a ghost to him after his death, is voiced by Ted Lasso‘s Jason Sudeikis. Hit-Monkey marks the second original Marvel series to be available through Hulu (the first being Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.).

The Great (2020)

Genre Drama, Comedy

Cast Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox

Created by Tony McNamara

watch on Hulu

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.

Animaniacs (2020)

Genre Animation, Comedy

Cast Jess Harnell, Maurice LaMarche, Tress MacHeille, Rob Paulsen, Frank Welker, Andy Milder, Abby Trott

Created by Wellesley Wild (showrunner), Tom Ruegger

watch on Hulu

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

The Next Thing You Eat (2021)

Genre Docuseries

Cast David Chang

Created by David Chang

watch on Hulu

David Chang is best known for his Momofuku restaurant empire and television shows like Ugly Delicious (not to mention being the first celebrity winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire). He continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment world with this series that explores food in a different way than others. It’s just six episodes but the show delves deep into the future of what we eat. Will hamburgers as we know them exist in 30 years or will lab-created “meat” become the norm? Are robot pizzamakers making flipping pies a dying art? What about robot deliveries? Chang doesn’t just talk with chefs and journalists but also explores the topics from the perspectives of entrepreneurs, scientists, and others. It’s an interesting look at what we eat, why, and how food might evolve in the far, or even near, future.

Mom (2013)

Genre Comedy, Drama

Cast Allison Janney, Jaime Pressly, Mimi Kennedy

Created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, Gemma Baker

watch on Hulu

There’s good reason that Allison Janney has taken home multiple Emmy awards for her role in this sitcom. It’s not only thoroughly entertaining and well-acted, but it also tackles serious subject matter in a lighthearted way that is informative and eye-opening. Janney’s character is Bonnie, who has struggled with addiction and reunites with her grown daughter Christy (Anna Faris), who has also had her own battles with addiction. Together, they try to help one another stay sober and clean up their lives, all while dealing with additional struggles, from cancer and domestic violence to gambling and teen pregnancy. It sounds depressing, but as a sitcom, Mom manages to nicely balance the dark aspects of the story with humor, thanks in large part to the talented cast and clever writing. Check out all eight seasons.

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.

Shrill (2019)

Genre Comedy

Cast Aidy Bryant, Lolly Adefope, Luka Jones

Created by Aidy Bryant, Alexandra Rushfield, Lindy West

watch on Hulu

Saturday Night Live‘s Aidy Bryant stars in this comedy about a young woman navigating life in the big city. While she wants to change the course of her life, she’s happy with her plus-sized body, though some believe her size holds her back. With aspirations to become a journalist, however, Annie’s confidence helps her push back against a world that thinks she isn’t good enough. The Lorne Michaels-produced series ran for three seasons and was lauded for its “sharp social commentary” and themes of self-acceptance.

Queens (2021)

Genre Soap, Drama

Cast Brandy Norwood, Eve, Naturi Naughton

Created by Zahir McGhee

watch on Hulu

The music industry has gone through tremendous change over the last few decades, but the concept of the attempted comeback is nothing new. This musical drama explores it from the perspective of a once-popular group of female hip-hop innovators who decide to reunite after several decades and reclaim their fame as a girl group. Now in their 40s, however, and with a music industry and genre that looks nothing like it did in the ’90s, the “Nasty Bitches” are in for a wild ride. With Eve, Brandy, and Naturi Naughton heading up the cast, all of whom have first-hand, real-world experience about what it was like to be famous singers in the ’90s, alongside Nadine Velazquez (My Name is Earl), expect plenty of musical numbers and sharp and biting lyrics from these talented individuals.

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.

Castle (2009)

Genre Drama, Crime

Cast Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Jon Huertas

Created by Andrew W. Marlowe

watch on Hulu

A staple in the primetime TV line-up through the mid-2000s, Castle is your typical formulaic crime-comedy-drama about a homicide detective who is reluctantly paired with a best-selling mystery novelist with a knack for helping her solve unusual crimes. With parallel stories of the unique crimes they encounter and their own personal hate-to-love relationship, it’s a satisfying watch, or rewatch, for fans of the police procedural genre.

Saturday Night Live (1975)

Genre Comedy, News

Cast Michael Che, Pete Davidson ,Chloe Fineman, Colin Jost, Kate McKinnon, Ego Nwodim, Chris Redd, Cecily Strong, Kenan Thompson, Melissa Villaseñor, Bowen Yang (season 47)

Created by Lorne Michaels, Dick Ebersol

watch on Hulu

Airing now for more than four decades, it’s tough to imagine a weekend TV line-up without Saturday Night Live providing hearty laughs during late-night viewing and viral sketches that pique conversation the next day. While the cast has changed over the years, the sketch comedy show has served as a launchpad for some of the biggest names in entertainment of late, from Jimmy Fallon to Will Ferrell and Ted Lasso‘s Jason Sudeikis, all of whom were cast members. Let’s not forget other comedic icons who graced fans with their talents over the years, from Eddie Murphy to Chevy Chase and the late Norm Macdonald. While you can’t watch the entire series run on Hulu (you’ll need NBC’s Peacock for that), you can view the last 23 seasons, including episodes from the currently airing 47th season.

Shark Tank (2009)

Genre Reality

Cast Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, Kevin Harrington, Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner

Created by Mark Burnett

watch on Hulu

Talk about the American dream. Americans from all walks of life present their businesses, ideas, inventions, and concepts to the panel of “sharks,” wealthy venture capitalists like billionaire Mark Cuban and Daymond John, creator of FUBU, in hopes of receiving an investment and a possible business partner. While some of the ideas are outlandish or the entrepreneurs overinflate their business’s value, leading to rejection, some huge brands have actually launched on the show. The most notable is Ring, which appeared on an episode as its previous name Doorbot and went on to become one of the biggest companies in smart home security. From a device to lift your feet while on the toilet to a simple scrubbing brush, the show has seen it all. While it inspires creativity, Shark Tank is also a great show for learning the basics of business. The ribbing among sharks makes for an entertaining watch, too.

Grey's Anatomy (2005)

Genre Drama

Cast Ellen Pompeo, James Pickens Jr., Chandra Wilson

Created by Shonda Rhimes

watch on Hulu

There’s good reason this series has become the longest-running scripted primetime medical drama: Every season brings a fresh, new take on the personal and professional lives of a team of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals working at Seattle Grace Hospital. While there has been a revolving door of cast members, including some major character deaths, the title character, Dr. Meredith Grey, remains at the heart of the show. With intense crossover episodes, special episodes that present like mini-movies, and heart-wrenching storylines, the series that brought to life doctors “McDreamy” and “McSteamy” continues to capture the attention of its core audience, and attract new viewers.

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.

Family Guy (1999)

Genre Animation, Comedy

Cast Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis

Created by Seth MacFarlane

watch on Hulu

Being the brainchild of Seth MacFarlane, it’s no surprise that Family Guy‘s storylines, while absurd, often toe the line between humor and social commentary. The Griffin family is an eclectic bunch that includes the dimwitted dad Peter, evil baby Stewie, and the highly intelligent anthropomorphic pet dog, Brian. It’s no secret that MacFarlane and his team often include stories that touch on current events, using the series and the family in meta fashion as a parody of American culture. The adult animated sitcom has received its share of criticism, but more than two decades later, the series is still going strong.

The Good Doctor (2017)

Genre Drama

Cast Freddie Highmore, Richard Schiff, Hill Harper

Created by David Shore

watch on Hulu

While some fans question the depiction of autism and the embellished and gimmicky storylines that sometimes come part and parcel with this medical drama, Freddie Highmore’s performance is universally praised. He plays Dr. Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident who also happens to be an autistic savant. While Dr. Murphy has incredible skills and abilities, these also come with unique challenges. The show isn’t just about how the staff learns to navigate Shaun’s unique abilities, but how Shaun grows as a person as well as he tries to leave his troubled past behind him.

The Simpsons (1989)

Genre Family, Animation, Comedy

Cast Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright

Created by Matt Groening

watch on Hulu

Chances are you watched The Simpsons as a child, and the adult animated sitcom endures as the original that influenced so many that came after it. The Simpsons family members haven’t aged, but that’s OK, because while the characters remain their same lovable selves, the meta-humor storylines have evolved with the times, managing to stay relevant even after three decades. Not only is The Simpsons the longest-running animated sitcom in the U.S., but it’s also the longest-running sitcom, period, in the country as well as the longest-running prime-time TV series. Clearly, the show is doing something right in its parody of the typical middle-American family, spawning tons of merchandise not to mention plenty of catchphrases. D’oh!

Home Economics (2021)

Genre Comedy

Cast Topher Grace, Caitlin McGee, Jimmy Tatro

Created by Michael Colton, John Aboud

watch on Hulu

Imagine three siblings, each of whom followed their own path in life, with the rebellious slacker and youngest brother ironically emerging as a millionaire while the other two seemingly more intelligent and successful siblings struggle with their careers. It’s a refreshing story that examines the concept of social status and its awkwardness within a single generation of a family. The fact that Home Economics is inspired by the real-life story of its co-creator Michael Colton makes it all the more interesting. The talented cast of familiar faces and the beautiful balance between corny jokes, typical sitcom tropes, and heartwarming moments makes Home Economics worth watching with the whole family. Plus, it’s finally a new sitcom that isn’t a reboot or revival of an old concept.

The Conners (2018)

Genre Comedy

Cast John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert

Created by Matt Williams

watch on Hulu

Decades later, the Conner family is back in this spinoff/continuation series of the ground-breaking ’80s and ’90s sitcom Roseanne. Just as with the original, The Conners tackles difficult and timely social, economic, and political topics head-on, with a focus on life as a lower- to middle-class American family. From addiction to financial struggles, immigration, and even the COVID-19 pandemic, no topic is off-limits. Yet the witty dialogue, frequent sarcasm, and quirky characters add doses of laughter that help bring both perspective and humor to difficult situations.

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.”

Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)

Genre Crime, Drama

Cast Christopher Meloni, Danielle Moné Truitt, Ainsley Seiger

Created by Ilene Chaiken, Dick Wolf, Matt Olmstead

watch on Hulu

Marking the return of Christopher Meloni to the franchise, this, the latest spin-off in the long-running and ever-growing franchise, sees the actor reprise his role as Detective Elliot Stabler, who, following the murder of his wife, has come out of retirement to join a special task force investigating organized crime. Unlike other Law & Order series, this one sees a single case covered over multiple episodes, so you’ll enjoy a longer story with a slower build, but with plot twists that will keep you engaged all the way through.

Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019)

Genre Drama

Cast Ashton Sanders, Siddiq Saunderson, Johnell Young

Created by RZA, Alex Tse

watch on Hulu

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.

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.”

American Horror Story (2011)

Genre Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, and others (varies by season)

Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk

watch on Hulu

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, one that capitalizes on the work of series creator Ryan Murphy.

Archer (2009)

Genre Comedy, Action & Adventure, Animation

Cast H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter

Created by Adam Reed

watch on Hulu

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.

The Handmaid's Tale (2017)

Genre Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama

Cast Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes

Created by Bruce Miller

watch on Hulu

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.

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 just premiered in early August 2021, the series is already getting rave reviews. With a perfect 100% Certified Fresh RottenTomatoes rating, critics say it’s a “low-key comedy that deftly captures the malaise of youth and Rez life.”

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)

Genre Comedy, Crime

Cast Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews

Created by Michael Schur, Daniel J. Goor

watch on Hulu

Parks and Recreation creator Michael Schur and director Dan Goor struck comedy gold yet again with their action-comedy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Andy Samberg stars in the show, which focuses on a fictional police department precinct in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Andre Braugher plays the yin to Samberg’s yang, providing dry yet hilariously timed humor during each episode. In just its first season, Brooklyn Nine-Nine took home two Golden Globe trophies. The series will conclude after its eighth and final season.

Legion (2017)

Genre Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza

Created by Noah Hawley

watch on Hulu

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.

This Way Up (2019)

Genre Comedy

Cast Aisling Bea, Sharon Horgan

Created by Aisling Bea

watch on Hulu

Irish comedian, actor, and writer Aisling Bea both wrote and stars in this British comedy-drama about Aine, a young single woman living in London and teaching English as a second language. The story picks up after Aine leaves a rehabilitation center following a nervous breakdown and deals with picking up where she left off in life. That includes coping with both the personal and professional pressures, with the help of her worried sister, Shona. Its first season was a huge success, with a perfect 100% audience score and a 92% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which described the show as a comedy about “moving on, moving forward, and trying to find happiness.” Season 2 starts streaming on Hulu beginning July 9, giving you lots of time to binge season 1 first.

DAVE (2020)

Genre Comedy

Cast Dave Burd, Taylor Misiak, Andrew Santino

Created by Jeff Schaffer, Lil Dicky

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Rapper/comedian Lil Dicky became internet famous after releasing his song “Ex-Boyfriend” on YouTube back in 2013, then released his debut rap album, Professional Rapper, in 2015. He went on to collaborate with the likes of Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and Wiz Khalifa. In 2020, Dicky, real name David Andrew Burd, worked with producer Jeff Schaffer to create a comedy series based on his life, and, as it turns out, the talented rapper is a talented comedian, too. Burd stars in the series as a fictionalized version of himself, a neurotic young man living in a small suburban town who believes he can make it big in the rap game. GaTa, Burd’s real-life hype man, plays himself on the show, including depicting his real-life battle with bipolar disorder. Critic reviews for the first season applaud the “juvenile sense of humor,” for those who appreciate those types of jokes. It’s a refreshing and fun show with a laundry list of A-list guest stars, not to mention Kevin Hart counted among its executive producers.

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.

Solar Opposites (2020)

Genre Comedy, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Created by Justin Roiland, Mike McMahan

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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, the series has been a hit for Hulu.

Lost (2004)

Genre Action & Adventure, Mystery

Cast Naveen Andrews, Emilie de Ravin, Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Maggie Grace, Josh Holloway, Malcolm David Kelley, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Evangeline Lilly, Dominic Monaghan, and others

Created by J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Jeffrey Lieber

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One of the most talked-about shows of the early- to mid-2000s, this drama combined elements of supernatural with sci-fi and general intrigue. A group of survivors winds up on a mysterious island after the commercial jet airliner they’re traveling on supposedly crashes. Every episode delves into character backstories, raises questions, and introduces strange new happenings. You’re continually drawn into the compelling, puzzling, mind-bending twists and turns — it’s near impossible to watch just one episode per sitting! Binge all six seasons of this J.J. Abrams series that has widely been considered one of the greatest of all time.

Image: https://www.hulu.com/series/lost-466b3994-b574-44f1-88bc-63707507a6cb

Vikings (2013)

Genre Action & Adventure, Drama

Cast Alex Høgh Andersen, Jordan Patrick Smith, Marco Ilsø

Created by Michael Hirst

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History (the network) melds historic accuracy with epic action in Vikings, a dramatized recounting of a prolific figure in Scandinavian lore, Ragnar Lothbrok. Vikings follows the exploits of the cunning Ragnar (Travis Fimmel) as he becomes the most powerful ruler of Europe’s Viking Age, or at least, the one the history books and Nordic sagas remember him as. The show has received much acclaim during its run thus far — and without the gratuitous nudity common to most cable epics — earning it numerous Emmy nominations for both effects and design.

Mrs. America (2020)

Genre Drama

Cast Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba

Created by Dahvi Waller

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The effort to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was one of the central battlegrounds of the women’s movement in the 1970s. Mrs. America chronicles that fight and the unexpected backlash brought by Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett), dubbed “the sweetheart of the silent majority.” Told through the eyes of Schlafly and second-wave feminists Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug, and Jill Ruckelshaus, Mrs. America is a political drama that adroitly plays both sides of the aisle, depicting one of the toughest political battles of the 20th century. The series explores how this fight helped give rise to the Moral Majority and completely shifted the American political landscape.

Little Fires Everywhere (2020)

Genre Drama

Cast Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Megan Stott

Created by Liz Tigelaar

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Hollywood A-listers Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington burn their talented acting candles bright in this gritty miniseries as both show off their talents for pulling off seriously dramatic — and highly emotional — roles. Based on the 2017 Celeste Ng novel of the same name, the period series is set in the ’90s and highlights the dramatic differences between these two women. While they share motherhood in common, they come from very different socioeconomic backgrounds, making them markedly different people with very different lives and life experiences. It beautifully examines the dichotomy between wealth and privilege and hardship and sacrifice. Reviews criticize the series for playing it safe sometimes, but there’s no denying that it’s electric when Witherspoon and Washington share screen time.

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.

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.

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.

Veronica Mars (2004)

Genre Mystery, Drama, Comedy

Cast Kristen Bell, Enrico Colantoni, Jason Dohring

Created by Rob Thomas

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Fans were outraged when this teen noir mystery drama, airing from 2004 to 2007, was canceled prematurely. It has since developed a cult following and even spawned a follow-up film in 2014 as well as an eight-episode fourth-season revival in 2019, 12 years after the original cancellation. Putting Kristen Bell on Hollywood’s radar as a young actor to watch, the show starred the then up-and-comer as the title character, a high school student who works as a private investigator at night with her detective father. While a mystery at heart, Veronica Mars is really the story of a sharp-tongued young woman and her somewhat atypical yet still very relatable coming-of-age story. You can binge all four seasons.

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

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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 Muslim 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.

Nathan For You (2013)

Genre Comedy, Documentary

Cast Nathan Fielder

Created by Nathan Fielder, Michael Koman

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Life is tough for small business owners, but if your business is struggling, there’s one man you can turn to for help: Nathan Fielder (playing a fictional version of himself), a consultant with a metaphorical briefcase full of bizarre marketing ideas and social anxiety. When an ordinary business owner finds themselves in a tricky situation, Fielder strolls into their lives like an awkward Rumpelstiltskin, ready to solve their problem in some bizarre way. Nathan for You is a brilliant mockumentary, with Fielder’s outlandish marketing stunts confusing the ordinary folk entangled in them — his parody coffee shop Dumb Starbucks even made international news!

Catch-22 (2019)

Genre Comedy, Drama, War & Politics

Cast Christopher Abbott, Kyle Chandler, Daniel David Stewart

Created by Luke Davies, David Michôd

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Adapting a great work of literature, particularly one as stylish as Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, is a daunting task, but George Clooney and company managed to do it, more or less successfully, in this six-part miniseries. Set during World War II, Catch-22 follows Capt. Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), an American bombardier desperate to get out of the war. He wants to take advantage of the military’s policy of discharging any soldier on the basis of insanity. Unfortunately, Yossarian’s desire to get discharged for insanity is stifled by the military’s Catch-22 clause: Anyone who is crazy can ask to be discharged, but anyone asking to be discharged is clearly thinking rationally. So Yossarian keeps flying missions, and his superiors keep raising the number of missions required to end the war, and the war seems no closer to ending. Catch-22 is a darkly hilarious examination of the horrors of bureaucracy (and war), with a brilliant cast including — along with Abbott — George Clooney, Kyle Chandler, Hugh Laurie, and Julie Ann Emery.

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.

Key & Peele (2012)

Genre Comedy

Cast Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele

Created by Keegan-Michael Key

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Great sketch shows have been in short supply for a while now, which makes it all the easier to appreciate the short but brilliant life of Key & Peele. Starring former MADtv members Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, the show is an adventurous collection of sketches that blend absurdist humor and social commentary. See, for example, a skit in which white news anchors complain about the dangers of “black ice” on the streets at night, to the indignation of their black colleagues. Not every sketch is political, however; sometimes they just freak out about the latest Liam Neeson film. Both hosts bring manic energy and throw themselves fully into a variety of roles.

Adventure Time (2010)

Genre Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Pendleton Ward, Olivia Olson, Jeremy Shada

Created by Pendleton Ward

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Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time amassed a huge audience over its ten-season run, one that crosses over into numerous demographics, making it a contemporary classic for adults and kids alike. The stories of best friends Jake and Finn in the magical Land of Ooo are a joy to watch. Whether the duo is protecting the land from the evil (and misunderstood) Ice King or helping a young vampire navigate her family life, Adventure Time captures a sense of adventure and fun, while providing a subtle maturity that speaks to older audiences.

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.

Firefly (2002)

Genre Drama, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Cast Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, Ron Glass

Created by Joss Whedon

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Before he was the mastermind behind Marvel’s cinematic universe, Joss Whedon was known for creating memorable television series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly. While the latter only lasted for one season before it was ultimately canceled and later revived with the film Serenity, it has garnered a rabid cult following. The sci-fi series is set just after an interplanetary civil war between the populated inner system planets and the outer planets, where life resembles the American West. The series is well known for its cast of likable characters, including Nathan Fillion’s Mal Reynolds, who captains the titular ship and is arguably the coolest space criminal since Han Solo.

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.

Harlots (2017)

Genre Drama

Cast Samantha Morton, Lesley Manville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Dorothy Atkinson, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Kate Fleetwood, Holli Dempsey, Douggie McMeekin, Edward Hogg, Richard McCabe, Danny Sapani, Hugh Skinner, Eloise Smyth, Liv Tyler, Sebastian Armesto, Julian Rhind-Tutt

Created by Alison Newman, Moira Buffini

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This historical drama follows Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton), a madam running a brothel in 18th century London. Eager to climb the social ladder — and dodge the authorities — Margaret moves into the territory of her former boss, high-class madam Lydia Quigley (Lesley Manville), sparking a war between the two. Caught up in Margaret’s schemes are her two daughters, Charlotte (Jessica Brown Findlay) and Lucy (Eloise Smyth), whom she has pushed into prostitution. Despite the lurid subject matter, Harlots is never merely titillating; this is a show with a keen eye for the power dynamics at work in its setting, and how hierarchy turns even sex into a cold transaction. A complicated drama with intriguing characters, Harlots is a great show for people who like their historical dramas on the seedier side.