1. Atlanta: a show from the mastermind of Donald Glover and director Hiro Murai that follows an up-and-coming rapper and his manager, which portrays the modern-day Black experience with a healthy dash of surrealism.
  2. The Bear: a fast-paced, emotionally volatile show about a fine dining chef who takes over a Chicago beef shop after his brother’s suicide. Cast: Mallori Johnson, Micah Stock, Ryan Kwanten, Gayle Rankin, Austin Smith, David Alexander Kaplan, Sophina Brown, Sheria Irving Genre: Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA The newest FX offering is a compelling time travel drama written and adapted from the Octavia E. Butler novel of the same name by playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Dana (Mallori Johnson) is a young Black woman who has just moved to Los Angeles. While there, she starts to experience a series of unsettling time-traveling episodes where she’s transported to a plantation in the antebellum South. There, she is forced to reckon with dark secrets about her ancestry while simultaneously surviving slavery and navigating her current relationship with her boyfriend Kevin (Micah Stock) along the way. Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields, and Darren Aronofsky also executive produce this series, which blends horror elements with modern-day racial reckonings through a historical lens. Watch it on Hulu starting December 13.  Cast: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis Genre: Mockumentary comedy Seasons: 2 Episodes: 15 Rating: TV-PG The workplace mockumentary is back and better than ever in this quaint, razor-sharp show that teachers are saying is a painfully accurate representation of their day-to-day experience. Abbott Elementary takes place in an underfunded, predominantly Black elementary school in Philadelphia where teachers don many hats, and pretty much have to laugh to keep from crying. Its cast, which includes creator and BuzzFeed alum (!) Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams of Everybody Hates Chris fame, and rapper Zack Fox, shines, and it’s gotten ABC its highest ratings in years, not to mention a dedicated legion of fans and three Emmys. It’s worth a watch, since it single-handedly revives the workplace sitcom in a way never seen before, improving upon a beloved genre with trademark millennial dry humor and a lot of heart. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu.  Cast: Chloe Bennet, Tenzing Trainor, Alan Cumming, Michelle Wong Genre: Animated children’s show Seasons: 1 Episodes: 10 Rating: TV-PG This 10-episode spinoff series of the 2019 DreamWorks movie brings back Abominable stars Chloe Bennet and Tenzing Trainor as two kids who stumble across a yeti on top of a Shanghai apartment building and set off on a journey to bring him home, and replaces Eddie Izzard with Alan Cumming as a billionaire who joins their crew, Burnish. This new animated series introduces even more mythical creatures from Asian folklore that the gang have to band together to protect, and Everest the yeti returns to make an appearance as well. If your kids (or you) loved the movie, they’ll be over the moon at this expansion of the beloved universe. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu.  Cast: Joey King, Patricia Arquette, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny, Calum Worthy, Margo Martindale, Juliette Lewis Genre: True crime limited series Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: PG-13 Munchausen syndrome by proxy is put under the microscope in this stranger-than-fiction, limited true crime series based on the events that led to the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard in 2015 by her own daughter. To say that Gypsy Rose (expertly portrayed by Joey King) is a prisoner in her own home would be an understatement. She’s endured years of medical torture and infantilization as the helpless victim of her abusive mother, Dee Dee, who parades Gypsy and her many feigned “ailments” around as a show pony for money, clout, and mass pity. Eventually, though, Gypsy realizes her mother is the one making her sick, and begins to open a Pandora’s box of dark family secrets that grow increasingly unsettling up until the show’s pulse-pounding climax. —Julia Lynn Rubin Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, Tom Kenny, Olivia Olson Genre: Animated series, fantasy comedy drama Seasons: 10 Episodes: 283 Rating: TV-PG Adventure Time is one of those Cartoon Network gems that are an automatic pick-me-up, no matter what mood you’re in. It features Finn (who is 14? 28? it’s hard to tell, and doesn’t matter) and his best friend, Jake, a friendly talking dog with magical shapeshifting powers. Many, many high jinks ensue in the Land of Ooo, with a colorful cast of characters (including several LGBTQ ones!) and plenty of surprisingly deep life lessons about the power of friendship. It’s relentlessly wholesome and the animation is adorably chipper, but it’s one of those profound cartoons that are almost more for adults than for kids. After 10 seasons, it’s one of the most beloved animated shows out there, and worth giving a visit whenever you’re feeling down. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Lily Rabe, Kathy Bates, Frances Conroy, Billie Lourd, Denis O’Hare Genre: Anthology horror Seasons: 10 Episodes: 113 Rating: TV-MA It should tell you a lot about this show that I, certified hater of all things horror, binge-watched the first couple of seasons in a matter of weeks. Its rotating anthology cast features legends like Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett, delivering fresh scares, wacky characters, iconic dance sequences, and delightfully over-the-top plotlines with each season. It’s gory and often disturbing, but the humor, lightheartedness, and sheer talent of the cast make it completely worth your time. My personal favorites are the first and third seasons (Murder House and Coven), but they’re all a riot to watch with friends — or just if you’re tired of watching the same old TV formats over and over, because this show is never short of surprises. You can watch all 10 seasons on Hulu, and after you take a second to recover, start preparing for the next three, since it’s been renewed for up to Season 13. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Maximiliano Hernández, Holly Taylor, Keidrich Sellati, Noah Emmerich, Annet Mahendru, Margo Martindale Genre: Period thriller Seasons: 6 Episodes: 75 Rating: TV-MA This hybrid spy drama/family drama/period piece of a show racked up 18 Emmy nominations, four Emmy wins, a Golden Globe win, and two Peabody Awards during its five-year run. Creator and cowriter Joe Weisberg is a former CIA officer who channeled all the stories he heard in the field into this slow-burn drama, about a pair of married KGB agents living undercover as a regular couple in suburban Virginia. They have two all-American children who are blissfully unaware of their spying shenanigans, and much of the show centers on protecting them from their parents’ life of espionage. It’s ultimately a marriage story, as both Elizabeth and Philip grapple with their devotion to their ideologies, their dangerous jobs, putting up appearances, and romancing others for the cause, all while navigating their ever-changing relationship. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Lucky Yates Genre: Animated comedy Seasons: 13 Episodes: 131 Rating: TV-MA Where some shows follow the exploits of capable US intelligence agencies, this deadpan animated comedy chooses to center on one of the most dysfunctional imaginable. Zany, insightful, and very, very adult (though still recognized and acclaimed by some of the stuffiest award bodies, including the Emmys and the Critics’ Choice Television Awards), Archer feels like a direct response to the idea that animation is only for kids, blending exciting espionage with rapid-fire, laugh-out-loud satire and characters you’ll come to feel are your friends (or coworkers). It was renewed for its 13th season last year. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Jason Bateman, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross Genre: Comedy Seasons: 5 Episodes: 84 Rating: TV-MA This is the story of a wealthy family who lost everything and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together. Arrested Development began as a beloved cult show that was canceled too soon, but has grown into one of the most respected and beloved TV shows of this century. The show has a perfect cast and hysterical writing, but what Arrested Development does best is callbacks and recurring jokes. The show will quietly build up a joke in the background for an entire season before finally making it pay off in the most ridiculous and hilarious way imaginable. This makes it endlessly rewatchable, as you will keep discovering new jokes you never noticed before. —Blake Harper  Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, Zazie Beetz Genre: Comedy-drama, satire Seasons: 4 Episodes: 35 Rating: TV-MA One of the city of Atlanta’s top rappers and his manager, who just happen to be cousins, are looking to make a name for themselves in this comedy drama created by Donald Glover (also known by his stage name of Childish Gambino). Ambitious and eccentric, Atlanta proves that Glover’s acting and writing chops are just as sharp as his musical skills. The show feels like a natural extension of the famed city, capturing the daily grind of life as well as the myth and magic of modern hip-hop. Glover made history with this show by becoming the first Black actor to win in the Outstanding Directing category of the Emmys. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jon Bernthal, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA This FX show about a fine-dining chef who comes home to Chicago to run his family’s Italian beef sandwich shop following his brother’s suicide is an absolute dream for food lovers and TV nerds alike. The production is as true to life as it gets, the camerawork is impeccably chaotic, the music is banging, and the performances are perfect. Artfully tousled Shameless alum Jeremy Allen White nails the countenance of a masochistic young chef who’s addicted to the grind of the kitchen; Ayo Edebiri shines as his newcomer sous chef who’s determined to turn the restaurant around; and Ebon Moss-Bachrach is perfect as Richie, Carmy’s “cousin,” right-hand man, and walking embodiment of the city of Chicago. The rest of the cast, which includes Matty Matheson and Odd Future’s Lionel Boyce, is indistinguishable from the colorful members of a real-life kitchen family struggling to get by. Much like in cooking, every element comes together seamlessly, culminating in one of the best, most explosive first seasons that I’ve seen in a really long time. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, Larry Murphy, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Jay Johnston Genre: Animated sitcom Seasons: 13 Episodes: 240 Rating: TV-PG Bob Belcher is a third-generation restaurateur who firmly believes that the quality of his food should speak for itself, and while his wife, Linda, supports his dreams and at times offbeat culinary creations, she’s tired of the slowness and the risk they run of going out of business. This beloved animated comedy series features a family so adorable and relatable, you probably know real-life versions of each member. There’s also a delightful cast of recurring characters, including the kind but bumbling handyperson Teddy and the wonderfully antagonistic health inspector Hugo, who is always seemingly out to make Bob’s life miserable. It’s also one of the longest-running animated series of all time, with a whopping 240 episodes under its belt and a movie under its belt, and it may soon even crack the top 10 and join the likes of The Simpsons and Looney Tunes. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer, Hannibal Buress, Paul W. Downs, John Gemberling, Arturo Castro, Stephen Schneider, Chris Gethard, Susie Essman, D’Arcy Carden Genre: Comedy Seasons: 5 Episodes: 50 Rating: TV-14 What began as a buzzy comedy web series ended as a true Comedy Central juggernaut with Broad City stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer finding their young and adoring audience. The titular characters played versions of themselves as twentysomething best friends trying to navigate the nuances of young adulthood in New York City, though their misadventures would often lead them down some truly bizarre and hilarious paths. Both actors and comedians are graduates of New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, cofounded by funny lady herself Amy Poehler, who would go on to executive-produce the series. Much like the beloved “boy” buddy comedies Superbad and The Big Lebowski, Broad City carved out a space for women to fully (and proudly) take part in stoner culture. The show also addressed the double standards of “female likability,” allowing its stars to be as wacky as possible while providing a healthy amount of meta-commentary and self-awareness (in one amazing scene, Ilana visits a sex therapist because she hasn’t been able to orgasm since Donald Trump’s election). As witty as it is endearing, Broad City will keep you laughing until the very end, and by then, you won’t want it to be over. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz, Seth Green, Michelle Trachtenberg Genre: Supernatural drama Seasons: 7 Episodes: 144 Rating: PG-13 Buffy was based on a mildly successful film of the same name, but it took no time at all for the TV adaptation to take on a life of its own. The show’s intricate storytelling, thoughtful character development, and quick-witted sense of humor earned it a rabid fanbase, and for seven seasons, those fans delighted in watching Buffy protect Earth from vampires, demons, and whatever other evil forces popped up. During its time on the air, Buffy was often dismissed by critics, but in the years since it ended, it’s received a massive critical reevaluation, with some people even giving it credit for its role in ushering in TV’s golden age. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Michaela Watkins, Tommy Dewey, Tara Lynne Barr, Nyasha Hatendi, Frances Conroy, Julie Berman Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 44 Rating: TV-MA After discovering that her husband is cheating on her with a younger woman, Valerie (Michaela Watkins) tries to figure out what’s next in her life while living with her brother, Alex (Tommy Dewey), and teen daughter, Laura (Tara Lynne Barr). Dewey and Barr are both fantastic, but the show is unquestionably carried by Watkins, who delivers the best performance of her career as a divorced mom trying to figure out what the hell she wants in the endlessly complex world of modern dating. Watkins never tries to hide Valerie’s flaws or insecurities, but she also never loses sight of why it’s impossible not to root for her. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, George, Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 11 Episodes: 275 Rating: TV-PG In a chaotic, miserable world filled with pesky responsibilities, wouldn’t it be nice to have a place where you can forget life’s mundane troubles and just take it easy for a while? That simple but resonant idea is the engine that kept Cheers running for over a decade. Sure, there were love triangles and occasional workplace debacles, but the reason millions of viewers kept coming back every week was to watch Sam (Ted Danson), Norm (George Wendt), Carla (Rhea Perlman), and the rest of the gang share a couple of laughs over a few ice-cold beers. And almost three decades later, that appeal remains as potent as ever. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman, Jin Ha, Zach Grenier, Cailee Spaeny, Karl Glusman, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Alison Pill Genre: Sci-fi Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA If you’ve been craving something as eerie as Black Mirror that isn’t an anthology, Devs might be your ticket to sci-fi heaven. The FX limited series takes you inside the cutting-edge Silicon Valley company called Amaya, a fictional tech giant that feels much like a character itself. Following her boyfriend’s apparent suicide, software engineer Lily Chan (played by Sonoya Mizuno, who crushed it in Alex Garland’s equally eerie feature films Annihilation and Ex Machina) begins to suspect foul play. During her investigation, Lily realizes all roads lead to Amaya’s enigmatic CEO Forest (played brilliantly by Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman) and Devs, the company’s secret development division. While a limited series, the show manages to tackle a vast number of talking points both philosophical and scientific, and with vivid cinematography and clever storytelling, it keeps viewers guessing every step of the way. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Julie Klausner, Billy Eichner, James Urbaniak, Andrea Martin, Cole Escola, Shakina Nayfack Genre: Comedy Seasons: 3 Episodes: 28 Rating: TV-14 Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner are two jaded 30-year-old comics living in New York City, and life for them is…well, difficult. While seemingly everyone around them is finding success and love, the pair struggle with their unrewarding day jobs while performing at a local comedy club by night. It’s a good thing they have each other, though, since all too often, they land themselves in increasingly awkward situations. The 30-minute comedy executive-produced by Amy Poehler is deftly written and, unfortunately, lasted for only three short yet awesome seasons. Oscar winner Gabourey Sidibe takes on a surprising comedic supporting role, and rising comic Cole Escola also appears. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Michael Keaton, Kaitlyn Dever, Rosario Dawson, Peter Sarsgaard, Michael Stuhlbarg, Will Poulter, John Hoogenakker Genre: Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA It doesn’t get much more topical than Dopesick, a look into the corporate workings of America’s opioid epidemic. Specifically, it attempts to show how one company, Purdue Pharma, orchestrated and fueled the rise of the “nonaddictive” painkiller Oxycontin. The show shuffles between the perspectives of a doctor in small-town Appalachia whom Purdue Pharma uses to peddle Oxycontin (played by Michael Keaton, who also executive produces), a young addict, lawyers attempting to bring down the company, a DEA worker investigating the FDA, and the evil Sackler family behind it all. It’s a limited series based on the book Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy, and a quick, educational watch that might make you a little more frustrated than you ever wanted to be on a Wednesday night. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Naveen Andrews, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Laurie Metcalf, Bill Irwin, William H. Macy, Mary Lynn Rajskub Genre: Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA Evidently, we all love shows about scammers, and according to our very own Danica Creahan, The Dropout is the cream of this year’s con-loving crop. Amanda Seyfried is excellent as the black-turtleneck-wearing, fake-deep-voice donning, weird grifter queen Elizabeth Holmes, founder of multibillion-dollar medical company Theranos, which claimed to revolutionize blood testing and (spoiler alert!) was also a complete fraud. It’s created by Liz Meriwether of New Girl fame and, unlike its competitors in the niche genre, leans into the complete absurdity of its protagonist and the societal conditions that allowed her to get so far. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Vannessa Vasquez, Gabriel Chavarria, Danielle Vega, Alexandra Rodriguez, Carlito Olivero, J. D. Pardo Genre: Teen drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 61 Rating: TV-14 In this gritty teen drama featuring an all-Latino cast, two teen cousins fall in love with the same popular football player. Issues like violent crime, immigration, sex, drugs, and teen pregnancy are all approached in thoughtful, culturally relevant ways, and you root for each high school senior who walks through the doors of fictional high school East Los High. Much like Skins and its rotating generations, every new season of the show features a new group of kids in a teen soap that finds strength in its many absorbing characters. The more you know: East Los High was originally a social experiment conducted by a team of social scientists and health workers in cahoots with screenwriters and studio executives working to reframe issues of sex and sexual health for young Latinas. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Josh Thomas, Kayla Cromer, Adam Faison, Maeve Press Genre: Comedy Seasons: 2 Episodes: 20 Rating: TV-14 Created by Australian comedian Josh Thomas, who gave us the award-winning series Please Like Me, this show, his latest venture, follows Nicholas, a neurotic Australian man in his 20s who travels to visit family in Los Angeles. There, he learns that his father is terminally ill and wants him to be the guardian to his two teenage half sisters because, as luck would have it, their mother is already dead. While it may not sound like a barrel of laughs, the show manages to be simultaneously sweet, poignant, warm, and witty. Oh yeah, and awesomely, there’s an actor in the cast (Kayla Cromer) who plays an autistic character and is actually on the autism spectrum herself. Cromer made headlines when she publicly spoke about her disability at a press event, and following the absolute disaster that was Sia’s film Music, it’s great to have positive representation in a show that seems to deeply respect each of its characters. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, Jesse Plemons, Jean Smart, Ted Danson, Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, David Thewlis, Chris Rock, Jessie Buckley, Jason Schwartzman, Ben Whishaw Genre: Crime, comedy-drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 41 Rating: TV-MA Before the first season aired, there was some confusion over why Fargo needed to exist at all. After all, was anyone really asking for the critically acclaimed 1996 film of the same name to be turned into a TV show? And to make matters worse, the Coen brothers’ involvement seemed to be almost nonexistent. But despite having all the ingredients of a disaster, Fargo ended up working tremendously well, as creator Noah Hawley managed to retell the Coens’ story in a way that felt completely fresh, using the longer, looser medium of television to explore the characters in depth. Rather than continue the story into multiple seasons, Fargo treats each season as its own self-contained story, making it one of the most distinct and compelling shows on TV. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, Adam Brody, Lizzy Caplan, Josh Radnor, Christian Slater Genre: Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA This FX adaptation of journalist and New York Times staff writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s 2019 novel of the same name tells the story of 41-year-old doctor Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg), whose ex-wife Rachel (Claire Danes) drops off the kids in the middle of the night and disappears without a trace. Lizzy Caplan (turning down the Party Down revival!) plays Toby’s best friend who provides a close perspective on the slow dissolution of the upper-class couple’s marriage over 14 years, and also narrates the series. It’s got all the makings of a modern-day rich-people New York City post-divorce tale (middle age! The perils of dating apps! A wife who makes more than her husband! Commiserating in Central Park!), as well as a stellar cast who are more than capable of adapting the bestselling novel into something wholly original for the Hulu platform. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin, John Mahoney, Dan Butler Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 11 Episodes: 264 Rating: TV-PG Spinoffs rarely work out, but Frasier is the major exception to that rule, as Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) has proved to be television’s little engine that could. The character was supposed to be on only a few episodes of Cheers as Diane’s love interest, but instead, Crane became one of the bar’s regulars until the show’s end. He then got his own show, which focused on the psychiatrist’s move to Seattle to reunite with his estranged father and brother. Frasier ended up lasting 11 seasons and remains a fan favorite to this day, so much so that Paramount+ is planning to revive the series for a new season sometime this year. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Heather Morris, Naya Rivera, Darren Criss, Harry Shum Jr., Chord Overstreet Genre: Musical, teen comedy-drama Seasons: 6 Episodes: 121 Rating: TV-14 No one could have predicted the cultural impact that this wacky, extremely politically incorrect, unabashedly camp show about a high school glee club had on an entire generation. And whether you’re a seasoned Gleek hoping for a rewatch or a lover of musicals, this beloved show is finally available on streaming after several years of deprivation to satisfy all your nerdiest cravings. It’s a welcome reprieve from the ultra-gritty high school shows of the current day, chock-full of classic tropes and the dumbest drama imaginable. Many of the musical covers are genuinely better than the originals — and if nothing else, you’ll walk away with a bunch of new songs to secretly jam out to when no one’s looking. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Betty White, Beatrice Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 7 Episodes: 180 Rating: TV-PG We’ve all (likely) been through enough hardship to last us a lifetime this past year, so why not enjoy one of TV’s best and most “golden” comedies? You really can’t go wrong with this long-running, Emmy-winning television sitcom. It stars four delightful older single women who share a friendship and a home in Miami. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia will forever be engraved fixtures in pop culture, still frequently quoted for their quick-witted dialogue and the excellent way the actors play off one another as an ensemble. It’s rare to find a show about womanhood this progressive, and even rarer to find one this darn good. The show consistently took on a number of important issues that weren’t really talked about on television (drug addiction, homelessness, gay rights, HIV) without ever feeling heavy-handed. Instead, the characters drove the storyline, with a premise that was inherently feminist in nature. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Zuri Adele, Sherry Cola, Beau Mirchoff Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 68 Rating: TV-14 In this slightly edgier spinoff of ABC’s family drama The Fosters, sisters Callie and Mariana move to Los Angeles and start their adult lives. It’s been described as “TV’s first good Gen Z drama,” as the two move into a loft of diverse young people and attempt to navigate their respective workplaces with their progressive values in mind. Callie clerks for a judge (a conservative one, imagine that), and Mariana is one of two female software engineers at a tech company. The girls grapple with social justice issues like police brutality (Black Lives Matter founder Patrisse Cullors is a consultant and writer) and misogyny while also navigating hookups, friendships, workplace drama, and finding themselves in the big city. At the end of the day, it’s a fun and smart coming-of-age show that pays close attention to young people today. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Sacha Dhawan, Charity Wakefield, Gwilym Lee, Adam Godley, Douglas Hodge, Belinda Bromilow, Bayo Gbadamosi, Sebastian de Souza, Florence Keith-Roach, Danusia Samal Genre: Historical black comedy-drama Seasons: 2 Episodes: 20 Rating: TV-MA If you decide to check out The Great because you think it’s going to be like Bridgerton’s cousin or great-cousin or even distant cousin twice removed, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed…and thoroughly shocked. The Great is the furthest thing from any quaint period show on TV right now, and it’s absolutely delightful. We follow Elle Fanning, who plays a young Catherine the Great, as she marries into the Russian royal family and attempts to gain political power. After adjusting to married life with Nicholas Hoult, of course, who is hilarious as the boorish, immature, and downright evil King Peter. The best part of the show is that everything — the sex, the violence, the corruption, the political games — is completely over the top; but when you really examine the history, you realize that the show may not be exaggerating that much after all. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross, Chloe Bailey, Issa Rae, Chika, Ayanna Pressley, Marsai Martin Genre: Docuseries Seasons: 1 Episodes: 6 Rating: TV-PG This six-part docuseries from the minds of Oprah Winfrey, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Michaela Angela Davis explores Black hair and how it is inextricably intertwined with the identities, joy, and persecution of Black women throughout history and pop culture. Six guests (Chloe Bailey, Issa Rae, Chika, Ayanna Pressley, Marsai Martin, Oprah) will share their personal experiences, or Hair Tales, guided along by conversations from the hosts. It’s a quick, but deeply important watch, whether you’re a casual fan of these phenomenal women, or someone who can identify personally with their stories. Productions for and by women of color are few and far between on major streaming platforms, and something as unapologetic as The Hair Tales is sure to make viewers laugh, cry, and tune the hell in. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu.  Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Alexis Bledel, Joseph Fiennes, Samira Wiley, Yvonne Strahovski, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Amanda Brugel, Bradley Whitford, Sam Jaeger Genre: Drama Seasons: 5 Episodes: 50 Rating: TV-MA Based on the scorching novel by Margaret Atwood and starring the incredible Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale television adaptation goes beyond where the book ends and takes viewers deep into the dystopian alternative America known as Gilead. It’s a totalitarian, neo-puritanical regime, and a complete nightmare of a place for anyone who’s not a straight white male in charge. June (Moss) is our protagonist, traumatized by the incidents that led her to become a “handmaid” (read: sex slave), but headstrong enough to be willing to join the growing underground resistance. The first season won eight Emmy Awards out of a whopping 14 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, making it the first series on a streaming service to take home this award. (Yes, that was just four years ago.) Moss has taken home her share of accolades as well, including Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (she’s also credited as a producer on the show). The series returned for a fifth season in September. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Samantha Morton, Lesley Manville, Jessica Brown Findlay, Dorothy Atkinson, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Eloise Smyth, Kate Fleetwood, Holli Dempsey, Douggie McMeekin, Edward Hogg, Richard McCabe, Danny Sapani, Hugh Skinner, Liv Tyler, Sebastian Armesto, Julian Rhind-Tutt Genre: Period drama Seasons: 3 Episodes: 24 Rating: TV-MA Set in the grimy streets of 18th-century London, Harlots is all about the women who run a city brothel and their ongoing war with a ruthless rival madam. It stars greats like Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton, if you weren’t sold already. Here, sex is the city’s most profitable business, and moral ambiguity is the name of the game. Outlandish and hedonistic in all aspects (the costumes and makeup are reason enough to tune in), Harlots tackles topics (like classism) that are just as relevant in the 21st century as they were hundreds of years ago, in a rare show that may just treat sex workers with the onscreen respect they deserve. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Zoë Kravitz, Jake Lacy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, David H. Holmes Genre: Romantic comedy Seasons: 1 Episodes: 10 Rating: TV-MA The sublime Zoë Kravitz stars in this gender-flipped adaptation of Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel (which was also adapted into a John Cusack film in 2000). The resulting show is empathetic, sweet, and anchored by excellent performances. Record store owner Rob (Kravitz) stews and obsesses over heartbreaks, recent romantic encounters, and failed relationships, always managing to find the perfect top-five hits to match her emotions. Even though it’s an adaptation, the new High Fidelity is anchored by modernity, including the messiness of millennial dating, using social media to stalk an ex, and grappling with just how oppressive Instagram culture and expectations can feel. While the show was sadly canceled after one season, it’s well worth a watch and may go down as a cult classic in a few years’ time. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Sean Evans Genre: Talk show/interview show Seasons: 19 Episodes: 267 Rating: some episodes TV-MA Is this technically a YouTube show? Yes. But your favorite celebrities are getting being disarmed and/or obliterated by spicy chicken wings while they answer questions about their lives and careers — and who doesn’t want to see that on streaming? Host Sean Evans is perfectly poised in the face of absurd levels of spice, the banter is impeccable, and the show’s research team is next-level — it’s not uncommon for guests to take a break from their sweaty suffering to commend the thought-provoking questions coming their way. Each episode is a cool 20–30 minutes, but anything can happen in that amount of time, (see: Eric André smashing a plate on his head). So far, only four seasons are on Hulu for your viewing pleasure, but it’s currently in its 19th season, with the rest available on the First We Feast YouTube channel. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Lisa Kudrow, Clea DuVall, Nat Faxon, Will Forte, Tony Hale, Sharon Horgan, Jason Mantzoukas, Sam Richardson Genre: Animated sitcom Seasons: 1 Episodes: 11 Rating: TV-14 Formerly titled Therapy Dog, this brand-new adult animated sitcom was co-created by Veep alums Clea DuVall (we’ve seen her nail roles on Broad City and The Handmaid’s Tale), Jennifer Crittenden (who got her start writing for The Simpsons), and Gabrielle Allan (a former producer of the goofy yet profound classic Scrubs), so we already know we’re in great hands here. The satirical show follows a standard poodle named Honey (voiced by Lisa Kudrow) who runs group therapy sessions to help neighborhood animals manage their neuroses, whether these were brought on by their owners or each other. We’ve seen animated shows try (and succeed) to get into the minds of animals before, including the beloved BoJack Horseman, and this clever, zany show with a knockout voice cast is no exception. Whether dealing with a coyote appearance, a disastrous haircut at the groomer’s, or anxiety about pooping inside, the show humorously poses and attempts to answer the eternal pet owner’s question: What are our pets really thinking? —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, Joelle Carter, Natalie Zea, Walton Goggins, Jere Burns Genre: Crime drama Seasons: 6 Episodes: 78 Rating: TV-MA Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) just wasn’t made for these times. The deputy US marshal believes in the Old West style of justice, which obviously does not fit in with the more modern sensibilities of law enforcement. After gunning down a fugitive, Givens is reassigned to Kentucky, where he was born and raised, forcing him to confront his past while also bringing his unique brand of law and order to the crime-ridden jurisdiction. Justified has absolutely no basis in reality, feeling more like a combination of an old Western and a classic action movie, with totally awesome results. The heart of the show is Olyphant’s performance, as he keeps you rooting for Givens even as he does things that are extremely questionable from a moral perspective. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele Genre: Sketch comedy Seasons: 5 Episodes: 53 Rating: TV-14 Remember the smash 2017 horror flick Get Out, which took Hollywood by storm with its razor-sharp writing? How could you forget it? It was written and directed by Jordan Peele, one-half of the brilliant comedy duo Key (Keegan-Michael Key) and Peele. This is, arguably, their comedy magnum opus, a sketch show from the brilliant minds of two men who previously worked on Mad TV. Each episode has sketches featuring characters played by both stars who have inspired countless memes that remain popular on Twitter to this day (who can forget the President Obama meet and greet that got reconfigured to lampoon a number of franchises, including DC Comics and even the NBA?). —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Kim Bodnia, Fiona Shaw, Darren Boyd, Owen McDonnell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, David Haig, Sean Delaney Genre: Thriller, romance Seasons: 4 Episodes: 32 Rating: TV-14 Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) is an MI5 agent who ends up on a team that is after an extremely dangerous international assassin who goes by the name of Villanelle (Jodie Comer). After the two cross paths, Villanelle becomes obsessed with Eve, and surprisingly, that feeling proves to be mutual, as Eve becomes consumed by her desire to understand Villanelle. Killing Eve is a smart, exciting show that explores a variety of different themes and ideas, but make no mistake: The thing that makes the show so addicting is the relationship between Eve and Villanelle. Despite being on extreme opposite sides of the law, the two are undeniably drawn to each other, and no matter how hard they try, neither of them is able to completely walk away. The show’s controversial fourth and final season made its way to the platform on July 10 of this year. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Jared Keeso, Nathan Dales, Michelle Mylett, K. Trevor Wilson, Dylan Playfair, Andrew Herr, Tyler Johnston, Alexander De Jordy Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 10 Episodes: 68 Rating: TV-MA Siblings Wayne and Katy run a small farm and produce stand in rural Letterkenny, Canada, where they are often bombarded by their small town’s many kooky and at times abrasive inhabitants, including townies, farmers, drug addicts, and members of the local hockey team, to name a few. What began as a YouTube comedy series called Letterkenny Problems has evolved into the wonderfully weird and smartly written series it is today, with the same sort of goofy, off-the-cuff wit that made comparable shows like Trailer Park Boys and Schitt’s Creek so darn popular. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Joshua Jackson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jade Pettyjohn, Lexi Underwood, Megan Stott, Gavin Lewis, Jordan Elsass Genre: Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA The bestselling 2017 novel by Celeste Ng became an Emmy Award–winning limited series in March 2020 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, back when we all needed some escapism to get us through the beginning of quarantine. The story takes place in the Cleveland suburbs of Shaker Heights, Ohio, during the late ’90s. Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington give some of the best performances of their careers as high-strung mothers whose fates become intertwined and upended in ways that can only be described as beautifully tragic. The show leans heavily into its melodrama but is peppered with plenty of humor and heart, so it never comes across as corny. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Michael Cimino, Rachel Hilson, Anthony Turpel, Bebe Wood, Mason Gooding, George Sear, Isabella Ferreira, Mateo Fernandez, James Martinez, Ana Ortiz, Anthony Keyvan, Ava Capri Genre: Teen drama, comedy Seasons: 3 Episodes: 28 Rating: TV-14 When Becky Albertalli’s debut novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, hit it big, a film adaptation soon followed. That was the smash hit Love, Simon, a 2018 coming-of-age teen rom-com in which closeted teen Simon Spier struggles to balance friends, family, and a cruel blackmailer while trying to solve the mystery of an anonymous classmate he’s fallen in love with online. Now we have Love, Victor, a spinoff of the film that was, amazingly, the first major Hollywood studio production to focus on a gay teenage romance. It also grossed a whopping $66 million worldwide at the box office. Love, Victor stars Michael Cimino as the charismatic Victor, a new student at Creekwood High School, the same universe in which the book and first film took place. The show allows Victor to grapple with both his orientation and ethnic identity (he’s Puerto Rican and Colombian American) while remaining sensitive and nuanced in its portrayal of marginalized teens. Throughout the series, Victor regularly reaches out to the famed Simon Spier to help him navigate the ups and downs of high school. It may sound angsty, but the breezy rom-com is often anything but, offering a delightfully charming and lighthearted addition to the franchise and teen television at large. The show entered its third and final season in June. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Iwan Rheon, Robert Sheehan, Lauren Socha, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Antonia Thomas, Joe Gilgun, Karla Crome, Nathan McMullen, Natasha O’Keeffe, Matt Stokoe Genre: Sci-fi, comedy-drama Seasons: 5 Episodes: 37 Rating: TV-MA This campy, high-energy British science fiction thriller was all the rage with teens when it aired in the 2010s. It follows a group of five London juvenile offenders doing community service who develop strange superpowers after a freak electrical storm hits town. As we learn their complicated, sometimes tragic backstories and watch their personalities and newfound powers clash, we grow more in love with this hilarious and divisive group of misfits. There was a big push to develop a stateside adaptation for Freeform in 2016, but by 2018 the idea had fizzled out completely. And that’s probably for the best, if the American reboot of the British channel E4’s teen show Skins is any sort of blueprint. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Kayli Carter, Ari Graynor, Melanie Lynskey, Margo Martindale, John Slattery, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tracey Ullman, Sarah Paulson Genre: Historical miniseries Seasons: 1 Episodes: 9 Rating: TV-MA This 2020 historical drama received a whopping 10 nominations at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Writing. Its stars (who include Cate Blanchett and Uzo Aduba) also received noms for their ensemble work in this loose dramatization of 1970s activists working to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and the unexpected backlash led by conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly. The story is told through the eyes of women working in that era and expertly explores one of the nation’s toughest battlegrounds during the culture wars. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Sharon Rooney, Claire Rushbrook, Ian Hart, Dan Cohen, Jodie Comer, Nico Mirallegro Genre: Teen comedy-drama Seasons: 3 Episodes: 16 Rating: TV-MA Based on the book by Rae Earl, this BAFTA-winning British teen drama was critically acclaimed and beloved by audiences for its frank, funny, and realistic portrayal of a teen girl’s journey with mental illness and body image. Sixteen-year-old Rae is snarky, sensitive, and struggling after spending four months in a psychiatric hospital, though the show never speaks down to her or its audience. The cast is beyond lovable, and because the story unfolds in the mid-’90s, we get plenty of fun nods to Oasis and forgotten expressions of adolescent angst. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Regina Hall, Luke Evans, Asher Keddie, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Tiffany Boone, Manny Jacinto, Grace Van Patten, Zoe Terakes, Bobby Cannavale Genre: Drama miniseries Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA She was riveting on Big Little Lies, and now Nicole Kidman is back as star and executive producer of Nine Perfect Strangers, yet another adaptation of bestselling author Liane Moriarty’s work, set in a boutique health-and-wellness resort that promises restoration for nine of its highly stressed city dwellers over the course of a 10-day retreat. Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans, Michael Shannon, Regina Hall, Bobby Cannavale, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg (American Vandal), Asher Keddie (Offspring), Manny Jacinto (The Good Place), and Tiffany Boone (The Following) also star in this ensemble piece in which each character we’re introduced to is more colorful than the last. And like any good cult (if that’s indeed what this eerie group turns out to be, as I have yet to reach the inevitable twist), the resort staff helpfully cuts each of them off from communication with the outside world the second they step through the doors, confiscating their phones under the guise of “healing” as they lay on the hypnotic love-bombing. It’s a subtle, creepy, yet effective start to an intriguing and trippy new mystery drama that takes its time letting you get to know everyone and settle into its strange new world before the really weird stuff starts to go down. Believe me, it does get strange. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Desmond Eastwood, Aislín McGuckin, Sarah Greene, Frank Blake, India Mullen, Eliot Salt, Fionn O’Shea, Seán Doyle Genre: Drama miniseries Seasons: 1 Episodes: 12 Rating: 15+ (UK) Based on the bestselling novel of the same name that was ranked by numerous publications as one of the best books of the 2010s, Normal People could’ve gone in a different (more commercial and slightly more predictable) direction. Instead of leading with known stars, as many adaptations are wont to do, the series broke out two new actors: Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. It used the award-winning source material as a jumping-off point to a smash-hit series, which gave BBC Three its best-ever week on iPlayer by receiving over 16.2 million program requests across the 12 episodes. Marianne and Connell are from the same small town in Ireland, but their backgrounds couldn’t be more different. High-achieving Marianne has a bleak home life, while popular athlete Connell remains silent for much of the time she’s bullied at school. We viewers follow their complex and trying romantic relationship from the time they’re in secondary school to their undergrad years at Trinity College, resulting in a show that’s truly as captivating and uncompromising as the novel by Sally Rooney that it’s based on (Rooney cowrites here, too). —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, E. J. Bonilla, Bill Heck, Leem Lubany, Alia Shawkat, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Amy Brenneman Genre: Drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 7 Rating: TV-MA Jeff Bridges plays a former CIA operative on the run from a team of assassins in this sizzling spy caper, which also stars John Lithgow, Alia Shawkat, and Amy Brenneman. It’s full of your usual espionage-inspired twisting and turning, betrayal, and romance, but the show’s septuagenarian star stands out in its various sharply choreographed action scenes. It’s a sober turn for Bridges, and the first time we’re seeing the Oscar-winning star as a leading man in a TV series. His poise and confidence onscreen makes this show worth a watch, especially if you can’t get enough of all the spy content this month.—A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Aaron Dominguez, Amy Ryan, Cara Delevingne Genre: Mystery, comedy Seasons: 2 Episodes: 20 Rating: TV-MA A show where Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez live in the same apartment building and start a true crime podcast together? It sounds like something straight out of fanfiction, but it’s here, now in its second season, and it’s the buddy comedy–murder mystery you’ve been waiting for. Here, the unlikely friends bond when they witness a mysterious death in the building and, being the true crime aficionados they are, take it upon themselves to solve the murder. It’s surprisingly heartfelt, with each character hiding secret emotional baggage of their own, and plenty of boomer–Gen Z jokes that make this the perfect show to watch with your parents when they complain that there’s nothing good on TV (or streaming) anymore. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Nick Offerman, Seth Rogen, Taylor Schilling, Jason Mantzoukas Genre: Historical comedy-drama miniseries Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA Sebastian Stan plays Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, Lily James plays Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, Seth Rogen plays the disgruntled electrician who steals their sex tape, and Jason Mantzoukas plays the voice of Lee’s penis — yes, you read that right — in this crime thriller/romance/historical miniseries about the illegal distribution of the world’s most infamous sex tape. It’s a romp through a very specific point in history when the internet was a lawless place, celebrity culture was at its most toxic and invasive, and also, somewhere, somehow, two young famous people fell in love and got tangled up in something way beyond themselves. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Ryan Hansen, Martin Starr, Lizzy Caplan, Jennifer Coolidge, Megan Mullally Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 2 Episodes: 20 Rating: TV-MA Starz, sadly, canceled this gem back in 2010 after only two seasons, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t well worth revisiting (and rumor has it that a revival is currently in development). It’s a real shame it lasted only two seasons, because it was six years in the making, with many of its episodes conceptualized years before it was even made. The half-hour comedy follows six aspiring Hollywood actors and writers who work small-time catering gigs to get by in hopes of eventually hitting it big, and is cowritten by Rob Thomas, the man who gave us the likes of 90210 and Veronica Mars. The cast also features Glee’s Jane Lynch, the iconic Jennifer Coolidge, and comedy legend Adam Scott of the acclaimed Parks and Recreation. Whether they’re catering a conservative college event or an adult entertainment awards afterparty, this is one party that never stops being riotously funny. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan, Emma Greenwell, Rockmond Dunbar, Kyle Allen, Amy Forsyth, Sarah Jones, Hugh Dancy Genre: Drama Seasons: 3 Episodes: 36 Rating: TV-MA Here, Aaron Paul (aka the lovable Jesse Pinkman on Breaking Bad, a golden age TV staple if there ever was one) plays Eddie Lane, a member of a New Age spiritualist group (read: cult) known as Meyerism. Little do his devoted wife (an important figure in said cult) and children know that Eddie’s been having a crisis of faith lately after a vision about the movement’s founder. Eddie decides to secretly meet with a Meyerism defector, putting himself and his family at a level of risk that they can’t even fathom. While this Hulu original was unfortunately canceled after its third season, it’s developed quite a — cough — cult following of its own, reminding viewers of TV excellence like The Americans and The Leftovers. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Steve Carell, Domhnall Gleeson, Linda Emond Genre: Thriller Seasons: 1 Episodes: 7 Rating: TV-MA If you’re a fan of The Americans, this more understated thriller from aforementioned creators Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg offers a completely different, but still enthralling, thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Domhnall Gleeson plays a serial killer who holds a therapist (Steve Carell) hostage so he can seek help for his homicidal tendencies. The only characters onscreen are Gleeson, Carell, and the people they imagine or recall in the form of flashbacks; both characters, as well as the viewer, have no choice but to accept (or take advantage of) the humanity of the other. Domhnall and Carell are operating at the top of their craft, and the understated cinematography makes for a completely original viewing experience that offers a unique psychological twist on the serial killer fare we’ve seen so far — albeit one that’s as understated as it as heart-pounding. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, Mutsuko Erskine, Richard Karn, Taylor Nichols, Melora Walters, Taj Cross, Dallas Liu Genre: Comedy Seasons: 2 Episodes: 25 Rating: TV-MA Picture this: 13-year-old outcasts in the year 2000 grappling with every preteen issue you could possibly imagine. The cast is played by actual seventh-graders, save for the stars, adult actors Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, who play themselves as…their younger selves. It may sound like a one-note joke of a show, having thirtysomethings dress up as awkward children while lampooning all of their behaviors, but the strong second season, which only topped the first, proved that PEN15 is certainly no one-trick pony. As a millennial myself, I admit I mostly tuned in for the nostalgia factor alone (the AIM Buddy Profile sound effects still haunt my dreams to this day), though the show proved to be so much more than that, chock-full of painfully relatable moments and memories both good and bad that we’ve all long since buried but now honestly enjoy reliving. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek, Charlayne Woodard, Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross, Angel Bismark Curiel, Dyllón Burnside, Sandra Bernhard, Jason A. Rodriguez Genre: Drama Seasons: 3 Episodes: 26 Rating: TV-MA Pose boldly carves a space for Black and Latinx gay and transgender dancers participating in New York City’s vivid ballroom scene as it comes of age in the late ’80s. It shines a spotlight on a subculture largely persecuted throughout history, and the AIDS crisis looms large over the occasionally tumultuous, but largely tender relationships to be found within the Houses. The balls are mesmerizing to watch, as are the performances; stars Michaela Jaé Rodriguez and Billy Porter made Emmy history by becoming the first transgender woman and gay Black man, respectively, to be nominated for and win in a major acting category. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Ramy Youssef, Hiam Abbass, Amr Waked, Dave Merheje, Mo Amer, May Calamawy, Laith Nakli, Bella Hadid Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 3 Episodes: 30 Rating: TV-MA Ramy Hassan (played by show creator Ramy Youssef) is a first-generation Egyptian American living in a politically divided New Jersey neighborhood. He feels torn between his more traditional Muslim American family and his desire to conform to American millennial culture at large. It may sound like a great setup for a drama, but Ramy is really a comedy at its core, with moments of profundity that hit you like a ton of bricks. Its story grapples with important questions of identity and addresses the problems of its characters with equal parts compassion and complexity. In 2020, Ramy Youssef won a Golden Globe for Best Actor, TV or Musical Comedy, and no doubt his endearing acceptance speech helped him gain a legion of new fans and viewers. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor, Paulina Alexis Genre: Teen comedy-drama Seasons: 2 Episodes: 18 Rating: TV-MA It’s rare we get to see Indigenous people represented onscreen, let alone portrayed as well-rounded, complex characters and not racist caricatures. Luckily, Reservation Dogs aims to smash stereotypes and get positive Native rep onscreen in one go, and it does both brilliantly. This rough-and-tumble new 30-minute comedy was created by Sterlin Harjo — a Seminole and Muscogee filmmaker from Oklahoma — and Taika Waititi, a Maori director from New Zealand. We follow the misadventures of four scrappy, smart Oklahoma teens from the local reservation — known simply as the Village — who are saving up money to move to California…until a rival gang threatens their territory. Their weapon of choice? Paintball guns, and yeah, those hurt. While passed out from the shock of it, our protagonist, Bear (Tribal’s D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai), has a hilarious vision from a bungling Native warrior who asks him point blank, “What exactly are you doing for the community?” It stirs something in the sweet-natured teen, who soon encourages his bandits to go from criminals to crime fighters. From the first scene when the teens artfully steal a food truck in exchange for cash (and tons of chips, which they bargain for), I immediately thought of the British teen classic Skins, and that’s a high compliment. With a killer soundtrack, empathetic storytelling, and lush cinematography, this is a welcome new addition to Hulu and an absolute must-watch for fans of Euphoria, Sex Education, and The End of the F**king World. It returned for a second season Aug. 3. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu.  Cast: RuPaul, Merle Ginsberg, Santino Rice, Michelle Visage, Billy Brasfield, Ross Mathews, Carson Kressley Genre: Reality competition show Seasons: 14 Episodes: 191 Rating: TV-14 Speaking earlier of The Golden Girls, it’s one of drag queen RuPaul Charles’s favorite shows and is oft referenced in his popular reality competition show, RuPaul’s Drag Race, a groundbreaking series that originated as a kind of Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model satire before evolving into the global phenomenon it is today. Each episode, RuPaul and his judges seek to find “America’s next drag superstar” through a series of challenges and intense competition among their cast of stellar drag queens, with RuPaul acting as both mentor and mother figure. For now you can catch seasons four through nine, plus four All Stars seasons although hopefully, Hulu will add more soon, since the show is still running and doing extremely well. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, Neil Flynn, Ken Jenkins, John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes, Eliza Coupe, Kerry Bishé, Michael Mosley, Dave Franco Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 9 Episodes: 182 Rating: TV-14 Scrubs is one of those very special shows that take on a life of their own along the way. It may seem like your typical hospital sitcom on the surface, but it’s anything but, with a compelling cast of main and side characters, superb writing, a humorous but realistic take on the medical student’s journey, plenty of tear-jerking moments that don’t rehash the same old preposterous medical situations, the best TV bromance of all time, and, most of all, a quirky self-awareness that’s not afraid to get weird with it (just wait for the incredible musical episode). Scrubs follows medical students and eventual doctors J.D. (Zach Braff), Turk (Donald Faison), and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) through their residency, learning lessons about love, mortality, and friendship at Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. If you’re looking for a new bingeworthy obsession (nine whole seasons’ worth — the last of which is a teaching hospital season featuring Dave Franco, among others), Scrubs is a classic you can’t pass over. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy, Jennifer Robertson, Emily Hampshire, Tim Rozon, Chris Elliott, Dustin Milligan, Sarah Levy, John Hemphill, Karen Robinson, Rizwan Manji, Robin Duke, Steve Lund, Noah Reid Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 6 Episodes: 81 Rating: TV-14 This Canadian comedy classic has finally made its way to the platform, but not before setting the record for most comedy Emmys won by a single season and garnering an enormous fanbase for its offbeat, witty humor. When the Roses’ video store empire suddenly crumbles, the family is forced to move into a motel in a tiny town that they bought for a laugh. Dan Levy (who is also the show’s creator) plays the son alongside his real-life and TV father Eugene Levy, with the incomparable Catherine O’Hara and Annie Murphy as the family’s soap opera matriarch and spoiled daughter, respectively. Its characters are supremely lovable despite their many, many flaws, and the plethora of wholesome familial moments just might be the catalyst for your new binge-for-hours comfort watch. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Aidy Bryant, Patti Harrison, Lolly Adefope, Luka Jones, John Cameron Mitchell, Ian Owens Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 3 Episodes: 22 Rating: TV-MA In the Shrill universe, “fat” is not another f-word — rather, it’s used by its plus-size lead without shame or reservation. Saturday Night Live’s supremely talented Aidy Bryant plays Annie, a Portland, Oregon–based journalist who struggles with patronizing, demeaning comments from friends and strangers alike. Maybe if I was just sweet enough and nice enough and easygoing enough with any guy, that … would be enough for someone, she thinks in the pilot episode, an emotionally jarring intro that, thankfully, ends with her realizing that she doesn’t need to be sweet or nice or easygoing; she can just be unapologetically her. The series is loosely based on the memoir Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman, penned by comedian and activist Lindy West (the woman who notably recalled taking an online troll to task in an unforgettable segment of This American Life), and is an incredible piece of both comedy and drama writing with nuanced characters and a highly relatable protagonist. Its third and final season is one you won’t want to miss. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Pamela Hayden, Tress MacNeille Genre: Animated comedy Seasons: 34 Episodes: 730 Rating: TV-PG What is there even left to say about The Simpsons? If you are a fan of any American comedy from the last 30 years, it’s pretty much guaranteed that it was massively influenced by this groundbreaking animated series about an average, middle-class family living in a small town in an undisclosed state. If you are somehow watching The Simpsons for the first time, do yourself a favor and watch  only the first 10 seasons, which are widely considered the series’ golden age (though true purists will tell you the real golden age was seasons 3–9). The rapid-fire jokes still land over two decades later, but what may surprise you is how sweet the show actually is beneath its cynical surface. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Hannah Murray, Larissa Wilson, Joe Dempsie, Mike Bailey, Mitch Hewer, Dev Patel, April Pearson, Kaya Scodelario, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Jack O’Connell, Merveille Lukeba, Lisa Backwell, Luke Pasqualino, Lily Loveless, Ollie Barbieri, Megan Prescott, Kathryn Prescott, Dakota Blue Richards, Alexander Arnold, Freya Mavor, Laya Lewis, Sean Teale, Will Merrick, Sebastian de Souza, Jessica Sula, Sam Jackson Genre: Teen comedy-drama Seasons: 7 Episodes: 61 Rating: TV-MA This beloved British teen comedy drama was unafraid to tackle topics that other teen shows shied away from, including substance abuse, teen pregnancy, eating disorders, and mental illness. Instead of being cloying or patronizing, Skins went in with guns blazing, armed with its surreal and funny scripts; lovable cast, which changed generations three times over the show’s six-year run; and addictive soundtrack, which truly captured the angst and uncertainty of mid- to late-’00s teenage ennui. From the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to a brilliant intro by Fred Segal, music played a key role in this show’s emotional effectiveness and long-lasting impact, with fans like myself clambering to download each new track featured. Not to mention, Skins served as a launchpad for the likes of Dev Patel, Nicholas Hoult, and Daniel Kaluuya, so if you want their origin stories, start here. While I’m in my 30s, it remains one of my personal all-time favorites and never stops surprising and delighting me no matter how many times I rewatch. There was briefly an American adaptation, but it’s best not to mention that one, as it doesn’t hold a candle to the original. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: America Ferrera, Ben Feldman, Lauren Ash, Colton Dunn, Nico Santos, Nichole Sakura, Mark McKinney, Kaliko Kauahi Genre: Sitcom Seasons: 6 Episodes: 113 Rating: TV-14 As reliably quirky as it was funny in its six seasons on NBC, this blue-collar comedy series followed an oddball family of employees at a supersize mega-store called Cloud 9, a Walmart composite of sorts. America Ferrera and Ben Feldman animated the hyper-specific portrayal of modern American life, broaching topics like economic distress, sexual harassment, and cultural appropriation. Remarkably, its topics of the hour always managed to feel organic rather than ham-fisted or “thesis-driven.” Never was this more true than in its very last season on air, engaging directly with current events and making COVID-19 a “character” within its story. Frantic shoppers loading up on TP? Check. Never-ending lines of customers? Check! While Cloud 9 may now be closed for business, Hulu is ensuring that a steady stream of customers still make their way through its automatic doors. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: N/A Genre: Reality competition Seasons: 43 Episodes: 624 Rating: TV-PG For the past 21 years, Survivor has captivated audiences with its bingeworthy format and memorable cast members, all while becoming the first highly rated and most profitable US broadcast reality television show. Its first 11 seasons, in fact, are rated among the top 10 most-watched shows of all time, and for good reason: It’s continually gifted us with nail-biting moments like a tribal council session that ended with a much-beloved player getting eliminated without a single vote and a daughter voting out her own mother. The setup is fairly simple: Sixteen castaways are marooned in an isolated location to “outwit, outplay, and outlast” one another for a $1 million prize. They must acquire all of their own food (once their small ration of rice and/or canned food runs out), fire, and shelter while competing in grueling challenges that test their physical, emotional, and mental endurance. One by one, players vote one another off the island, and just when you think the stakes can’t get any higher, oh, do they ever. Survivor returned for its 42nd season in March. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu (seasons 1–39 are available to stream). Cast: Aisling Bea, Sharon Horgan, Tobias Menzies, Aasif Mandvi Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 2 Episodes: 12 Rating: TV-MA Four months after checking out of a London rehab facility after having a “teeny little nervous breakdown,” ESL teacher Áine is doing her damnedest to get her life back together. Dark, emotive, and touching, the British comedy drama stars and is written by Aisling Bea and consistently tackles topics of mental health with sensitivity and empathy while remaining unfailingly funny. The series also stars Sharon Horgan, whom fans of the recently concluded Catastrophe will be happy to see, and is highly recommended to those who also enjoyed gems like Breeders, Fleabag, and Derry Girls. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Elisabeth Moss, David Wenham, Peter Mullan, Thomas M. Wright, Holly Hunter, Gwendoline Christie, David Dencik, Ewen Leslie, Alice Englert, Nicole Kidman Genre: Mystery drama Seasons: 2 Episodes: 13 Rating: TV-MA Jane Campion’s gripping mystery drama is set in a remote mountain town in New Zealand and follows a brave Australian detective named Robin Griffin (again, the screen-stealing Elisabeth Moss) who specializes in sexual assault. Griffin finds herself at odds with the small town’s many dark and deadly secrets, and we follow her down this winding and unnerving rabbit hole. The first season deals with the investigation of a missing and pregnant 12-year-old girl, while Season 2 is set in Sydney five years later, and Detective Griffin is once again in charge of a horrifying missing person’s case. Delightfully, Season 2 stars film legend Nicole Kidman, who would, of course, go on to star in similar prestige TV like Big Little Lies and The Undoing — one has to assume Campion’s successful leap from the big to the small screen had a tremendous impact on her (and the industry at large). —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Andrew Garfield, Gil Birmingham, Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Denise Gough, Wyatt Russell, Billy Howle, Chloe Pirrie, Seth Numrich, Adelaide Clemens, Rory Culkin, Sandra Seacat Genre: Crime drama miniseries Seasons: 1 Episodes: 7 Rating: TV-MA Andrew Garfield is at his straitlaced best playing a Mormon detective in this critically acclaimed miniseries based on a Jon Krakauer book. The book’s full name is Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith, telling you pretty much everything you need to know about the plot, which concerns the double murder of a young woman and her infant daughter in the heart of Utah’s Mormon country. And in true Andrew Garfield fashion, the story wouldn’t be complete the protagonist grapple with his own faith as he gets deeper and deeper into the belly of the beast that is radical LDS fundamentalism. It’s helmed by Milk and J. Edgar writer Dustin Lance Black, who grew up in a Mormon household, and the personal influence is clear in this tense, beautifully acted drama that left me deep in thought long after it was over. —A.J. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs III, Teddy Dunn, Jason Dohring, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Francis Capra, Enrico Colantoni, Ryan Hansen, Kyle Gallner, Tessa Thompson, Julie Gonzalo, Chris Lowell, Tina Majorino, Michael Muhney Genre: Teen mystery drama Seasons: 4 Episodes: 72 Rating: TV-14 Before she was the internet’s most relatable mom, Kristen Bell was best known as Veronica Mars, a high schooler turned amateur sleuth following the death of her best friend. The premise might sound like a Nancy Drew imitation, but Veronica Mars sets itself apart by exploring themes that would horrify sweet, innocent Nancy, including death, sexual trauma, and substance abuse. The show initially lasted only three seasons before getting canceled, but it developed a cult following over the years, especially as Bell’s career grew. It was eventually revived for a movie in 2014 and a fourth season in 2019. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, Dan Stevens, Juliette Lewis, Andrew Rannells, Robin de Jesús, Nicola Peltz Genre: Crime drama Seasons: 1 Episodes: 8 Rating: TV-MA Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, Mark Proksch Genre: Mockumentary, comedy horror Seasons: 4 Episodes: 40 Rating: TV-MA New Zealand director Taika Waititi writes, edits, and stars in this delightful expansion of the 2014 film of the same name (which also received critical acclaim and was based on a 2005 short). Set in Staten Island, What We Do in the Shadows is a brilliantly paced and written mockumentary-style comedy horror that focuses on the lives and escapades of three traditional vampires (yes, the kind that drink blood and everything) as well as one “energy vampire” (think the toxic social kind), all of whom live together as ancient creatures attempting to navigate the modern world. It’s delightfully absurd, charming, and off-kilter, building upon the lore of the film that the show is based on in fresh and fun ways while never losing steam. Comedy fans, rejoice: It returned for a fourth season July 12. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, Mitch Pileggi Genre: Sci-fi, drama Seasons: 11 Episodes: 218 Rating: TV-14 As television aficionados often argue, without Twin Peaks, there would be no X-Files; and without The X-Files, there likely wouldn’t be such a wide range of equally horrifying modern favorites, like The Walking Dead and American Horror Story. Each episode, special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate what are known as “X-files,” or strange, unsolved cases involving the paranormal. While Mulder is a true believer in all things spooky, doctor Scully is a staunch skeptic, offering an intriguing ideological balance for the audience. The science fiction–drama series aired from 1993 to 2002 and briefly returned for an 11th season in 2016 (much like Twin Peaks in 2017). However, audience and critical reception over the hyped “event series” was lukewarm, to say the least, especially given Anderson’s decision to quit the franchise. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Sutton Foster, Debi Mazar, Nico Tortorella, Hilary Duff, Miriam Shor, Peter Hermann, Molly Bernard, Charles Michael Davis Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 7 Episodes: 84 Rating: TV-14 She may have gotten her start on the Disney Channel as the adorable Lizzie McGuire, but Hilary Duff’s acting career is still going strong in this fun and intelligent New York City fantasy. Here, she plays Kelsey Peters, a 26-year-old book editor who befriends our main protagonist, Liza Miller (Tony Award winner Sutton Foster). Liza is a divorced 40-year-old woman and mother who’s decided to take a shot at faking her youth by passing herself off as 26. Her newfound confidence helps land her a stressful assistant job, where she befriends Kelsey and must grapple with the potential fallout of everyone discovering her massive secret. Darren Star is the creator and producer, and if you liked (or hate-liked) his latest TV offering, Emily in Paris, you’ll love this one. —J.L.R. Watch it on Hulu. Cast: Chris Geere, Aya Cash, Desmin Borges, Kether Donohue Genre: Comedy-drama Seasons: 5 Episodes: 62 Rating: TV-MA You’re the Worst starts as an anti–rom-com as Jimmy (Chris Geere) and Gretchen (Aya Cash) meet as they’re ranting about the myth of finding true love outside a wedding (that Jimmy was just thrown out of). But through five seasons, the show digs deeper and transforms into one of the most thoughtful and honest examinations of romance in recent memory. You’re the Worst is not afraid to ask the really big and scary questions about relationships and connection that each of us has in the back of our mind, but is also smart enough not to pretend to have all the answers. Plus, it’s extremely funny, as Geere and Cash both excel at hurling needlessly cruel but brutally honest insults at whoever crosses their path. —B.H. Watch it on Hulu. For $5.99 a month (or $11.99 if you don’t want ads), you can now have access to countless movies and TV shows on Hulu. Not ready to commit? You can test it for free for 30 days.

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