The 74 Best TV Shows on Hulu Right Now (June 2023)

The Bear is still cooking with gas. After a delicious (and stressful) first season, the FX hit is back on Hulu and just as unmissable as ever in Season 2. Yes, Chef! It joins our list of the best shows to watch on Hulu right now, along with the latest seasons of chaotic comedy It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and nostalgic teen drama Cruel Summer. Other recent additions include Season 2 of The Great and the new limited series Class of '09. 

There's a method to our madness when it comes to our picks for this list. Our selections are focused on new releases, original shows from Hulu and FX, and critical hits you can't stream anywhere else, as well as a handful of underrated favorites you might not find on other lists. These are the best shows to watch on Hulu right now. 

Last updated June 22; newer additions are at the top

The Bear

For fans of: Being stressed out, the art of cooking
Number of seasons: 2

Shameless's Jeremy Allen White heads back to Chicago in this dark dramedy set at the Original Beef of Chicagoland, a flailing, old-school sandwich joint. White plays Carmy, an experienced chef with a background in French cooking who is left in charge of the restaurant after the death of his brother. The series moves at a breakneck pace and operates at an Uncut Gemsian stress level as Carmy's attempts to rehabilitate the Original Beef's kitchen and keep the business afloat are met with hostility from the staff, but it's also a thoughtfully messy exploration of grief, capitalism, and fractured family dynamics. It was a smash hit when it debuted, and in Season 2, The Bear still has the secret sauce. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

For fans of: The worst people you've ever met in your life
Number of seasons: 16

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the highest form of escapist humor on TV, like if the average person's id was in control of a long-running cable comedy. Following the daily lives of a morally bankrupt, self-absorbed, clinically insane, often irredeemable foursome who own and operate a bar in Philadelphia, Sunny is the kind of series that delights in refusing to let its characters grow as people. As a unit, the gang has only succeeded in becoming more narcissistic and clueless to the world around them as the seasons have stretched on. They continue to behave terribly and never learn from their mistakes… but in a really funny way, thanks to the beauty of the 30-minute sitcom format, which allows the show to blow itself up every week and reset the clock in the next episode. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Cruel Summer

For fans of: Secrets and lies, '90s fashion, Y2K fashion
Number of seasons: 2

Season 1 of Cruel Summer is the best kind of summer beach read in TV form. Told across three years in the early to mid '90s, the drama jumps between the perspectives of two teens who know more than they're saying: Kate (Olivia Holt), the kidnap victim, and Jeanette (Chiara Aurelia), the wannabe popular girl who took over her life. As their secrets spill out, the season builds to a jaw-dropping ending. Wisely, Cruel Summer left that story alone when it returned for Season 2, which centers on the doomed love triangle between small-town computer whiz Megan (Sadie Stanley), exchange student Isabella (Lexi Underwood), and Megan's childhood best friend Luke (Griffin Gluck). It's also playing with a different kind of nostalgia: Get ready to relive the fashion of the Y2K era. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

The Secrets of Hillsong

For fans of: Investigative journalism, holding the powerful accountable
Number of seasons: 1

The Secrets of Hillsong is about far more than celebrity pastor Carl Lentz's affair and ousting from Hillsong NYC — the shocking events that made global headlines in 2020. Yes, Carl and his wife Laura Lentz gave their first interviews since then in FX's four-part docuseries. But the show, just like the original reporting from Vanity Fair that it's based on, is more interested in the systemic corruption at the international megachurch — and what its former congregants have to say about it. [Trailer]

The Great

For fans of: Palace intrigue, beautiful costumes, satire 
Number of seasons: 3

The Great is Hulu's most visually exquisite comedy series, and if you like admiring period costumes and production design, that should get you in the door. But you'll stay for the witty writing from creator Tony McNamara — an Oscar nominee for co-writing the screenplay for The Favourite, a movie The Great is very much like — and for the charismatic performances from stars Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. Season 3 finds Catherine the Great (Fanning) expanding her power beyond the borders and Peter (Hoult) trying to fill his time with hobbies that don't involve him getting murdered. The Great knowingly and openly plays fast and loose with the historical record, which allows for maximum drama and delightfully anachronistic humor. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]

Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi

For fans of: Food shows, travel shows, having a political conscience 
Number of seasons: 2+

Top Chef's Padma Lakshmi is a trustworthy successor to Anthony Bourdain in her travel docuseries about cuisine across the United States. This show is so much more than a chance to watch in abject jealousy as Lakshmi eats delicious-looking food; its edge lies in its celebration of the cultures that have helped define American food. In Season 2, Lakshmi highlights Puerto Rican food, Appalachian cuisine, Fililpino grub, and more. This is the kind of show that examines all the ways food brings us together but also looks at the ways food has been weaponized against the people who brought it here in the first place. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Class of '09

For fans of: FBI thrillers, near-future technology, industry disruption
Number of seasons: 2

Bryan Tyree Henry and Kate Mara head to the FBI academy and beyond in this limited series thriller about a group of unorthodox FBI cadets — Class of '09, baby! — whose careers are laid out over multiple past, present, and future timelines, and how they change over the course of their lives with the incorporation of artificial intelligence into the criminal justice system. Phew, that's a mouthful, and you'll want to pay close attention to keep track of all the intertwining threads so the twists pay off. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

A Small Light

For fans of: Historical drama, doing right
Number of seasons: 1

This National Geographic limited series is based on the true story of Miep Gies, a Dutch woman who, along with her husband Jan, helped hide the Frank, van Pels, and Pfeffer families from the Nazis during World War II. The eight-part series stars Bel Powley as Gies, Liev Schreiber as Otto Frank, and Billie Boullet as Anne Frank. The series is also on Disney+. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Saint X

For fans of: Island vacations gone wrong, melodrama, timeline-jumping
Number of seasons: 1

This eight-episode limited series is adapted from Alexis Schaitkin's novel about a family on an island vacation that's devastated after the elder daughter is found dead. A pair of local employees at the Caribbean resort immediately become suspects, but years in the future, the victim's younger sister (Alycia Debnam-Carey) searches for the truth. The series is told in different timelines and explores themes of race and class. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Tiny Beautiful Things

For fans of: The inimitable Kathryn Hahn, women
Number of seasons: 1

If you are a sentient being that is alive and can think for itself, then you're a Katheryn Hahn fan. In her new series, an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's 2012 collection of essays from her advice column, Hahn stars as a writer whose life is in flux as she looks back on her younger years to remember the person she wanted to be. The series takes place in two timelines: one as an adult, and another when she was a teenager. It's got all the hallmarks of a tearjerker, so keep a hanky handy. All eight episodes will be available on the premiere date. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Dave

For fans of: Dick jokes, but also the artistic process, man
Number of seasons: 3

If you're like me, you watched a couple of episodes of Dave and got turned off by all the sophomoric dick jokes and gave up. But then you heard it got better, so you watched a bit more, and sure enough, it did. By the first season finale, you thought to yourself, "Damn, this IS a good show." The series, now in its third season, has only gotten better as it's gone on. Dave and Dave — the show and the neurotic rapper who is simultaneously self-shaming and extremely cocky — both grow on you, even with all the bumps along the road. Few shows cover the artistic process and its frequent collision with being a likable human like Dave, because it knows that the two are at odds with each other. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

UnPrisoned

For fans of: Complicated family comedies
Number of seasons: 1

Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo (what a combo!) star in this touching comedy about a woman (Washington) who welcomes her father (Lindo) back into her life and into her house to live with her and her teenage son (Faly Rakotohavana) after he's released from prison. It's a dysfunctional family sitcom, while also touching on the problems of the industrial prison complex. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

History of the World, Part II

For fans of: History of the World, Part I, complete and utter silliness
Number of seasons: 1

Hulu is both making history and making up history in this series that's the long-awaited sequel to Mel Brooks' 1981 comedy movie History of the World, Part I. Nick Kroll got Brooks' blessing to continue the film that spoofs events from history, and Brooks participated in some capacity in the silly show both as an actor and in its writers room. And with Brooks on board, comedians who were influenced by him were lining up to be part of the show, including EPs and series regulars Ike Barinholtz and Wanda Sykes, and a guest list that might set the record for the most funny people in one series: Kumail Nanjiani, Taika Waititi, Seth Rogen, Danny DeVito, Tim Baltz, Sam Richardson, and dozens more play various figures from history. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

More on Hulu:

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• How to Get a Hulu Free Trial and Other Deals That Hulu Offers
• Hulu Live TV Channel List 2022: What channels are on Hulu with Live TV?
• What to Watch on Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, and More in May

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence

For fans of: True crime, creepy sh--
Number of seasons: 1

The newest "this is so bizarre it can't be real" docuseries to hit streaming covers the case of conman Larry Ray, who formed a mini-cult made up primarily of students at New York's Sarah Lawrence College starting in 2010. Ray, who was living in his daughter's dorm room (red flag!), used psychological and physical methods to manipulate a group of college students to his will. The timing of the series works out pretty well for Hulu, because Ray was just convicted of sex trafficking, forced labor, and more in a New York court and sentenced to 60 years in prison. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Extraordinary

For fans of: Avoiding adulting, creative superpowers, cats, Wet Leg
Number of seasons: 1

Somehow among the glut of superhero shows, Emma Moran has created a comedy about people with superpowers with a unique twist: In a world where everyone gets suped up on their 18th birthday, 25-year-old Jen (Máiréad Tyers) still has yet to discover her superpower, leaving her feeling left out and cranky. But with the help of her friend Carrie (Sofia Oxenham), who can channel the dead, and a cat named Jizzlord, she navigates the professional and romantic life of a powerless Gen Zer. Extraordinary is the fresh, funny face of a generation that can't be bothered, and Tyers and Oxenham are absolutely delightful. Hulu didn't promote this one at all, for some reason, and that was a huge mistake. Seek out this gem immediately! -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Letterkenny

For fans of: Canadians eh, wordplay, fighting, beer, hockey, catchphrases
Number of seasons: 11

Canada's well known for its feel-good comedies like Schitt's Creek and Kim's Convenience, in which characters grow and learn lessons about life through their experiences with each other. Letterkenny is not that. The cult comedy about a small Canadian town full of hicks, tweakers, hockey players, burly natives, and not much else is mostly conversations about genitalia, drinking, fighting, and whatever else goes on inside the minds of these Canucks, but don't let the subject matter fool you. Letterkenny is one of the smartest shows around, with rapid-fire dialogue and wordplay that's essentially Shakespeare on speedballs. You'll be quoting this show nonstop to your friends after one episode. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Kindred 

For fans of: Octavia E. Butler, sci-fi, excellent creative teams
Number of seasons: 1

This genre-bending series adaptation of Octavia E. Butler's groundbreaking 1979 novel is a sci-fi psychological thriller about race and generational trauma. It's an ambitious show with big ideas. It follows Dana James (Mallori Johnson), a young Black woman and aspiring writer who moves to Los Angeles and becomes unstuck in time, flashing back and forth between the present and a plantation in 1815, a place to where she and her family are intimately connected. Zola's Janicza Bravo directs the pilot, and Darren Aronofsky is an executive producer. -Liam Mathews [Trailer | Review]

Welcome to Chippendales 

For fans of: Scandal adaptations like The Dropout, male strip clubs
Number of seasons: 1

Not all stories featuring male strippers are created equal, so don't expect a Magic Mike-esque romp from Welcome to Chippendales. The series is another adaptation of a scandalous true story, following Somen "Steve" Banerjee (Kumail Nanjiani), his journey to creating a male strip club empire, and his eventual murderous downfall. In his review for TV Guide, Matthew Jacobs said, "It doesn't overplay its final stretch or try to be more penetrating than it's capable of. The show dresses its sorrowful core in spandex and bow ties, painting a portrait of prosperity undone by pride." -Allison Picurro [Trailer | Review]

Fleishman Is in Trouble 

For fans of: Divorce, aging, unreliable narrators, "Fight Song"
Number of seasons: 1

Based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner's 2019 novel of the same name, Fleishman Is in Trouble is a biting, slow-burning divorce dramedy about unreliable narrators, getting older, and the paths life takes us down. Jesse Eisenberg stars as Toby Fleishman, a recently divorced liver doctor whose new experimentation with the New York City dating scene is complicated when his ex-wife (Claire Danes) drops their two children off at his home without warning and promptly disappears. You might be tempted to believe you know where this story is headed, but we recommend sticking with it. It's funny, sad, and special. -Allison Picurro [Trailer | Review]

Schitt's Creek 

For fans of: Dysfunctional families, folding in the cheese
Number of seasons: 6

The comedy that's one of the biggest beneficiaries of the "Netflix bump" is now a Hulu exclusive. Things are different in the streaming era. Schitt's Creek, the closest thing TV has to a warm blanket, aired on CBC and Pop TV from 2015 to 2020 and follows the Rose family as they see their massive fortune dwindle, forcing them to relocate to the small Ontario town of Schitt's Creek. Though its early seasons aired quietly, it became a massive hit in its later seasons and smashed Emmy records when it won all seven major comedy awards in 2020, including acting wins for stars Dan Levy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, and Annie Murphy. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Ramy 

For fans of: Immature boys, the Muslim experience, New Jersey
Number of seasons: 3

Ramy, Ramy Youssef's semi-autobiographical dramedy, stars Youssef as Ramy Hassan, a first-generation Egyptian American man-boy living with his family in New Jersey. Ramy is in a perpetual war with himself, unable to find the balance between becoming what he believes to be a "good Muslim" and doing the things a lot of American twenty-somethings do, like dating and partying. It's an insightful and heartfelt look at faith, family, and how being a dirtbag won't actually get you very far in life. -Allison Picurro [Trailer] 

Abbott Elementary 

For fans of: Teachers, optimism, mockumentaries
Number of seasons: 2

Abbot Elementary is a mockumentary in the vein of The Office or Parks and Recreation about an underfunded public elementary school in Philadelphia, where the teachers try to provide for their students as best they can without getting burnt out by the lack of resources, respect, administrative support, and difficulty of the job itself. The main character is Janine Teagues (series creator Quinta Brunson), an idealistic second-grade teacher in her second year on the job. Every episode, she tries to go above and beyond the call of duty, with alternately triumphant or humbling results. The show has a sweet-and-salty sense of humor and a cast of characters who feel like people who could actually exist in real life. We've all relied on commiseration with competent coworkers to help us endure bad bosses like Ava Coleman, the preening and vindictive principal hilariously played by Janelle James. We called it the best show on TV right now for a reason, and now we even have some well-deserved Emmy wins to back us up. -Liam Mathews [Trailer] 

Atlanta

For fans of: Donald Glover's mind, hip hop 
Number of seasons: 4

I'm not the only Atlanta fan who was underwhelmed by Season 3, the weakest of Donald Glover's comedy's otherwise stellar run. But its fourth and final season is still a must-watch for anyone curious about how such a provocative series is going wrap things up. It haded back to Atlanta, thankfully, after Season 3 sent the characters to Europe, forcing Earn (Glover), Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (LaKeith Stanfield), and Van (Zazie Beetz) to reckon with the ways they, and their hometown, changed in their absence. -Allison Picurro [Trailer] 

The Handmaid's Tale

For fans of: Fighting the patriarchy, pain
Number of seasons: 5

Who needs escapism when you can have the least escapist show on TV? The Handmaid's Tale has developed a reputation for being a huge downer as real life has inched closer to life in Gilead, the totalitarian theocracy the series imagines as the future of America. But the refusal to offer easy relief can be cathartic in its own way, and The Handmaid's Tale's one-step-forward, two-steps-back revolution makes every rare moment of real progress hit harder. Over the span of the series, June (Elisabeth Moss) has gone from trying to survive in Gilead to fanning the flames of rebellion — and potentially getting a little too caught up in her quest for revenge. Blessed be the hashtag resistance. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

The Patient

For fans of: Serial killers trying to work on themselves, Dunkin' coffee
Number of seasons: 1

The genius team behind The Americans, Joe Weisberg and Joe Fields, is now the genius team behind The Patient, an FX-produced psychological thriller miniseries starring Steve Carrell as a therapist who is taken hostage by a serial killer (Domhnall Gleeson), who wants to curb his homicidal urges through therapy. The first step toward not murdering people is admitting you have a problem. -Tim Surette [Trailer | Review]

Welcome to Wrexham

For fans of: Deadpool, Mac, football (the kind that's actually soccer)
Number of seasons: 1

If Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were both real-life Ted Lassos, but they were the owners instead of the coach — so they're both Rebecca Welton — the documentary about them would be Welcome to Wrexham. Basically. This FX docuseries follows Reynolds and McElhenney's purchase of a struggling Welsh football club, Wrexham A.F.C., in 2020, and their attempts to turn its fortunes around while learning the ropes. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

This Fool

For fans of: Aimless adults, cupcakes, OGs named "Fatass," Christofuh
Number of seasons: 1

Comedian Chris Estrada plays a 30-year-old man who isn't in any rush to grow up; he still lives at home with his parents in South Central Los Angeles, he's more than happy to avoid any confrontation with the gang members in his neighborhood, and he works at a gang rehabilitation non-profit called Hugs Not Thugs with his streetwise cousin, who just got out of jail. If that's not enough to pique your interest, the always welcome and incredibly funny Michael Imperioli appears as the program's founder, and Matt Ingebretson, Patt Bishop, and Jake Weisman, the trio behind the cult hit Corporate, co-created the series with Estrada. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Reservation Dogs

For fans of: Troublemaking teens, raps about frybread
Number of seasons: 2

Reservation Dogs is the ideal show to kick back with: a chill hangout comedy about friends getting into scrapes. The series centers on four Native American teens (played by D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Factor) looking for a way out of their rural Oklahoma reservation after the death of their friend. To fund an escape to California, they steal trucks and cause trouble, landing themselves in a turf war with a much more intimidating gang. Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, Reservation Dogs is brought to the screen by an all-Indigenous lineup of writers, directors, and stars, who've built an authentic world that feels loved and lived-in from the start. It's also a riot. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

The Americans

For fans of: Secrets, liars, spies, Keri Russell
Number of seasons: 6

One of the best TV shows of the last decade is finally moving streaming services after living on Amazon Prime Video for as long as it's been streaming. The FX series stars Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell as Soviet spies living undercover as Americans in Virginia in the 1980s during the height of the Cold War, while raising their none-the-wiser children as regular Americans and befriending the FBI agent (Noah Emmerich) who lives next door. It only won four Emmys during its six-season run, but it should have won about 20 more. It's near-perfect television with one of the best series finales of all time. -Tim Surette [Trailer]     

What We Do in the Shadows

For fans of: What We Do in the Shadows (the movie), Jackie Daytona, the Superb Owl
Number of seasons: 4

Think about some of the greatest hangout comedies of all time, with roommates and their disparate personalities clashing in close quarters. Now make them vampires. That sounds like a doomed concept that will run out of jokes before the first virgin can be sucked dry, but it's working for What We Do in the Shadows, one of the best comedies on TV right now. The mockumentary follows three bloodsuckers, their human familiar, and a being so boring that he drains the life out of others as they cope with a technologically advanced world that fears them and is fascinated by them. It's like a goth kid's Seinfeld. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Only Murders in the Building

For fans of: Murder podcasts, making fun of murder podcasts
Number of seasons: 2

Only Murders in the Building is at the center of a strange and wonderful Venn Diagram. It's got sleuthing, Steve Martin and Martin Short, Selena Gomez, jokes about podcasts, fake Broadway musical flops, and Sting. The comedy-crime-farce hybrid follows a trio of neighbors — an egotistical actor with one long-ago TV hit (Martin), a washed-up Broadway director (Short), and an enigmatic artist (Gomez) — who come together to investigate murders in their building. The series is a cozy, old-school mystery about three lonely people with secrets that gets both sadder and sillier as it goes. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Love, Victor

For fans of: Love, Simon, coming out stories
Number of seasons: 3

This Is Us executive producers Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger dive back into the world of Love, Simon — the 2018 film starring Nick Robinson that they also wrote together — with a charming sequel series, Love, Victor. Michael Cimino leads the series as the eponymous teenager, Victor, who moves with his family to Atlanta and finds himself at Simon's old high school, living in the shadow of what seems like the most romantic coming-out story of all time. Season 1 focused on Victor trying to navigate a social life at a new high school while also trying to figure out his sexuality despite pressure from his very Catholic family, with Simon acting as his coming-out guide via email. The sophomore season allows Victor more room to carve out his own space in the LGBTQIA+ community after coming out to his family. And the third and final season finds Victor and his friends getting ready for life after high school. -Megan Vick [Trailer]

The Orville: New Horizons

For fans of: Star Trek, Seth MacFarlane
Number of seasons: 3

When Seth MacFarlane's underrated The Orville is good, it's a wonderful homage to Star Trek with self-contained stories that span a wide range of genres and themes about humanity and technology. When it's not as good, it's a show that can't figure out what tone it's going for, but it's still a lot of fun to watch. A move from Fox to Hulu means better special effects, which were already sometimes pretty solid for a network sci-fi series. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Shoresy

For fans of: Letterkenny, fast talk, sports
Number of seasons: 1

This spin-off of Canadian comedy Letterkenny gives more screen time to one of the show's most popular characters, hockey bro and insult dispenser Shoresy. And when I say more screen time, I mean it; we'll actually see the normally hidden Shoresy's face. And you know what? He looks an awful lot like Letterkenny creator Jared Keeso. Letterkenny's been quality for years, so there's no reason to think this won't be good, too. Give your balls a tug and tell your mom to check it out. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Pistol

For fans of: Trainspotting, music dramas, overexcited editing
Number of seasons: 1

Danny Boyle is one of the biz's most daring directors, and he takes a big swing — more Trainspotting than Slumdog Millionaire — with this dramatization of the Sex Pistols' rise from working-class degenerate obscurity to punk rock legends. Shot as though it was made in the '70s, Boyle splices and dices stock footage and classic music performances (Bowie! Hawkwind!) into this original drama for a frenetic ride that ultimately honors the revolutionary era of music in England. It's also messy and hedonistic, maybe too much so, a bit like the Pistols themselves. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Conversations with Friends

For fans of: Sally Rooney, Ireland, love quadrangles
Number of seasons: 1

Few are better at capturing the essence of melancholy horniness than Sally Rooney, which is a big part of what made Hulu's 2020 adaptation of her novel Normal People such a hit. Now Hulu has Conversations with Friends, an adaptation of Rooney's first book, which follows two college students (Sasha Lane and Alison Oliver) who fall into a messy, complicated, sexy entanglement with a married couple (Joe Alwyn and Jemima Kirke). It's full of simmering emotions and Irish accents and sex scenes — basically, all the stuff you loved about Normal People. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Candy

For fans of: The true crime to scripted series pipeline, the '80s, Melanie Lynskey
Number of seasons: 1

There has literally never been a better time for people who love watching beautiful actors play real criminals. In this true crime limited series, Jessica Biel stars as Candy Montgomery, a Texas housewife who murdered her friend, Betty Gore (Melanie Lynskey), with an ax in 1980 and was infamously found not guilty. The series comes from The Act's Robin Veith and Nick Antosca, and is not to be confused with HBO Max's upcoming Candy Montgomery dramatization Love and Death, which stars Elizabeth Olsen and is written by David E. Kelley. That's right, we're getting two separate series about the same case in the same year. Look, this may be a case of the snake eating its own tail, but in Candy's defense, it did mark its territory by being released first. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Under the Banner of Heaven

For fans of: Andrew Garfield, true crime, the mysteries of Mormonism
Number of seasons: 1

It's Andrew Garfield season, baby. He may have lost the Oscar to Will Smith (although Garfield arguably should've won one years ago; feel free to DM me on Twitter if you're interested in hearing my thoughts on his performance in The Social Network), but what does that matter when he has a new TV show coming out? The series, inspired by John Krakauer's 2003 true crime book, stars Garfield as a detective investigating the 1984 murder of a woman (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her baby in suburban Utah. His own Mormon faith is tested as the case leads to him uncovering dark secrets about the Church of LDS. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Girl From Plainville

For fans of: When real crimes are fictionalized, Glee
Number of seasons: 1

If you can stomach just one more dramatization of a true story, then save room for The Girl From Plainville. Hulu's take on Michelle Carter, the high schooler at the center of the 2014 "texting suicide" case that saw her boyfriend, Conrad Roy, kill himself after Carter texted him encouragement to do so, focuses the story on Carter and Roy rather than the sensationalism of the alleged crime. It's a more thoughtful take than other recent true-story series like The Dropout, Super Pumped, and WeCrashed, studying the possible mental health issues, depression, and teenage isolation that drove Carter (Elle Fanning) and Roy's (Colton Ryan) behaviors. Fanning and Ryan are fantastic as the star-crossed teen lovers, garnering sympathy out of something so tragic as their long-distance relationship unfolds, and the series avoids the big mistake others commit: Instead of making heroes out of its central characters, it makes them fully dimensional. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

American Crime Story

For fans of: Scandals, the Murphyverse, famous actors playing famous people
Number of seasons: 3

Ryan Murphy's oeuvre at FX moved from Netflix to Hulu in early March 2022, making Hulu the exclusive streaming home for his award-winning anthological takes on true crime. Arguably the best work he's ever produced is Season 1 of American Crime Story, a sharp re-examination of the O.J. Simpson murder trial that starred Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, Murphy mainstay Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark, Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden, and more. Other seasons weren't as well received, but are still worth checking out; Season 2 looks at the murder of fashion icon Gianni Versace and Season 3 digs into the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton affair. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Pose

For fans of: Representation, history
Number of seasons: 3

How wrong we were to believe we'd seen a full, three-dimensional representation of the LGBTQ community on TV before Posearrived in 2018. The FX series, set decades ago in the New York City ballroom community, has served to show us how much we don't know and haven't seen. In this heartwarming and often hilarious drama, the trans women who started the ballroom scene -- the scene that's made black/Latinx gay lingo like "slay," "read," and "spill the tea" mainstream — get their due, making them the subject of the story instead of the afterthoughts. Through characters Blanca (Mj Rodriguez), Elektra (Dominique Jackson), Angel (Indya Moore), and Pray Tell (Billy Porter), we befriend queer people of color who've banded together for survival, for love, and the pursuit of happiness. It's radical for humanizing trans people and portraying their unique experiences with compassion, but it shouldn't be: It's fundamentally an engrossing, uplifting show stuffed with drama and heart. Consider it essential viewing. –Malcolm Venable [Trailer]

The Dropout

For fans of: Scammers, turtlenecks
Number of seasons: 1

Amanda Seyfried dons so very many black turtlenecks to play disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in this limited series about the rise and fall of the infamous startup that was never really much of anything. It takes us back to the beginning, when Holmes was an idealistic Stanford dropout who entered the tech world with the bold idea of trying to disrupt the blood testing industry by inventing a machine that could get accurate tests from incredibly small amounts of blood, and managed to rope some very rich people into her plan. And, well, we all know how that worked out! The show has the unenviable task of trying to dramatize an already incredibly bizarre scandal, and it never really gets as weird as it should, but at the end of the day, this is a story that has to be seen to be believed. Just don't go in expecting Seyfried to quite ever reach the confounding depths of the real Holmes' infamous baritone voice. -Allison Picurro [Trailer | Review]

Better Things

For fans of: Not sugarcoating motherhood, being alive
Number of seasons: 5

For five seasons, Pamela Adlon's bittersweet comedy was the most human show on TV by a mile. It's all because Better Things, following the daily life of Sam Fox (Adlon), a single mother of three and a working actor, found the joy in celebrating the mundanity of existence. From its lovingly shot cooking scenes to the casual way it examines the daily sacrifices parents make for their kids, this is a show about the little moments that make us who we are and make life worth living. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Pam & Tommy

For fans of: The "reevaluating '90s news stories" limited series subgenre, discomfort
Number of seasons: 1

One of the internet's first celebrity scandals gets dramatized — and exploited — in Hulu's Pam & Tommy, a new miniseries about the frenzied events surrounding the 1995 leak of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's sex tape. Lily James stars as Anderson alongside Sebastian Stan as Lee. They're both made up to look uncannily like the real thing, and James in particular gives a mesmerizing performance that's one of the only reasons we recommend watching this show. The other reason, frankly, is just that you have to see this one to believe it. It's a spectacle that includes a talking penis and Andrew Dice Clay as a mobster. Just don't go in expecting the vindication Pamela Anderson deserves. The real Anderson is not involved in the show. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer | Review]

Single Drunk Female

For fans of: Improving yourself, comedy about real life
Number of seasons: 2

Get to know Sofia Black-D'Elia, the effervescent star of Freeform's new dramedy about a young woman in recovery from alcoholism. Black-D'Elia is fantastic in it, capturing the highs and lows of self-care with heart and humor, and Ally Sheedy returns to your screens as her mother. It's based on the personal experiences of creator Simone Finch, so it has plenty of authenticity, and best of all, one of Black-D'Elia's co-stars is a MASSIVE orange cat named Josh. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

How I Met Your Father

For fans of: How I Met Your Mother, of course
Number of seasons: 1

The long-awaited and even longer-feared offshoot of the once-beloved How I Met Your Mother is here, with Hilary Duff as the single New Yorker on a quest for love and Kim Cattrall as the older version of the character telling an incredibly elaborate story to her son of how she met his father, when really the whole thing could have been summed up in just a few minutes. While not what I would call "good," there might be something here for How I Met Your Mother superfans. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Creamerie

For fans of: The Last Man on Earth
Number of seasons: 1

This quirky comedy series from New Zealand takes place in a near-future where a virus has wiped out all of the world's men, except one. But the show isn't about him. It's about the three women who take him in, Alex (Ally Xue), Jamie (J.J. Fong), and Pip (Perlina Lau), who are all dealing with the strange world they're living in in different ways. It's a very funny, six-episode hidden gem that people who wished Y: The Last Man was funny should check out. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]

PEN15

For fans of: Cringe comedy, Y2K nostalgia
Number of seasons: 2

When PEN15 premiered in 2019, it got a lot of attention for its big gimmick: Co-creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, adult women in their 30s, star as middle school-aged versions of themselves, surrounded by a cast of actual 13-year-olds. But that gimmick is only one of the reasons to keep watching. To be in middle school is to exist in a waking nightmare, and it's clear in everything, from their caved-in posture to the awkward expressions on their faces, that Erskine and Konkle remember that. PEN15 has put Maya and Anna through the trials and tribulations of sleepovers, pool parties, and first kisses. They practice witchcraft. They play team sports. They join the school play. Every TV show wants to make you feel something, but PEN15 burrows down inside you, sticks to your bones, and makes sure you never forget the things it shows you, much like adolescence. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Godfather of Harlem

For fans of: Mafia history
Number of seasons: 2

Forest Whitaker stars as the titular crime boss Bumpy Johnson in this thrilling historical crime drama based on real people. The violent series from Narcos creator Chris Brancato follows Johnson as he returns home from a long prison sentence and finds that his Harlem kingdom has been overtaken by the Genovese family. So Bumpy has to go to war with the Italians to take back what he feels is his. To do so, he allies with Malcolm X (Nigel Thatch), whose ascent to a place of political and social influence Bumpy assists and complicates. The show plays fast and loose with the historical record, but that creates room for Bumpy to interact with historical figures played by great character actors including Vincent "The Chin" Gigante (Vincent D'Onofrio), Joe Bonanno (Chazz Palminteri), and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (Giancarlo Esposito). Godfather of Harlem runs first on the lesser-known cable network/streaming service Epix – Season 1 premiered in 2019 and Season 2 streamed in 2021– but Disney-owned studio ABC Signature produces it, which may be why both seasons are now available on Disney-owned Hulu. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]

The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For

For fans of: True crime, the year 2003
Number of seasons: 1

The energetic three-part docuseries The Curse of Von Dutch tells the story of the bitterly disputed origins, deliriously excessive peak, and violent downfall of the clothing brand Von Dutch, which was ubiquitous during that period in the 2000s when Paris Hilton was the most famous person in the world. The main characters — and they are all characters — are the various guys who each claim to be the true creator of the Von Dutch brand. They all tell their side of the story with the tall-tale charisma of a guy holding court at a bar where he gets free drinks. And they have a ton of crazy stories, involving murder, betrayal, and Tommy Lee. -Liam Mathews [Trailer]

Queens

For fans of: Girls5eva, '90s hip-hop
Number of seasons: 1

Queens can best be described as "Girls5eva, but make it dramatic." The show focuses on four women, played by Eve, Brandy, Naturi Naughton, and Nadine Velazquez, who once made up a very famous '90s hip-hop group known as the Nasty Bitches. After a series of events, they broke up and went their separate ways, all going on to live unsatisfying lives. Fast-forward to the present day, where they're given the chance to reunite and show the world they've still got it. "It" being talent, but also a host of personal problems that have the potential to hold them back from a second chance at the limelight. The best thing about this show is the fact that three out of four of the leads are played by actual musicians, who are able to show off the fact that they're all still really good at rapping, and Queens shines brightest when it lets Eve, Brandy, and Naughton do their thing when their characters have to perform. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Next Thing You Eat

For fans of: Eating, making sustainable choices, robots
Number of seasons: 1

They told us the food of the future would all look like Dippin' Dots. Not so fast. In this six-episode docuseries, chef David Chang explores the food science that could change the way we eat — and the ways it's being driven by a changing planet. That sounds hard to stomach, but Chang makes it fun and kind of hopeful, with episodes that go deep on issues like the environmental impact of beef and the future of food delivery. Celebrity guests like Danny Trejo and Anderson .Paak also sweeten the deal. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

A Million Little Things

For fans of: This Is Us, D-R-A-M-A, friendship
Number of seasons: 4

In its hunt to chase the runaway success of This Is Us, ABC brought on A Million Little Things, a family drama that replaced family with friends when three pals are left reeling by the sudden suicide of the friend that brought them all together. Like most primetime soaps, it isn't going to win any Emmys, and it gets pretty heavy with subjects like addiction, infidelity, and many, many secrets. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Brockmire

For fans of: Baseball, booze, incredibly creative insults
Number of seasons: 4

One of our greatest regrets we'll have as a species as a meteor hurtles towards Earth is that we never gave Hank Azaria an Emmy for his role as Ken Brockmire, Brockmire's silky-voiced baseball play-by-play man who stumbles down a path of self-destruction after his marriage implodes. The comedy, which ran for four wonderful seasons on IFC, makes the profane an art as Azaria hurls insults at everything, but it's also a sharp look at redemption as Brockmire seeks recovery physically and mentally. The mundaneness of baseball makes for a perfect backdrop, allowing the show to mix sports gags with well-drawn characters in the foreground while also conjuring up enough drama to keep things interesting. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Dopesick

For fans of: True stories, hating Big Pharma, acting
Number of seasons: 1

Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, and Kaitlyn Dever star in this devastating miniseries adaptation of Beth Macy's Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America, which looks at the beginning of the opioid crisis in America from the push of OxyContin by one company to its spread through the working class, to the DEA's pursuit of the truth. Is it a feel-good story? Not really, but it's a fascinating look at the audacity of Big Pharma to put profits over life. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Castle

For fans of: Unlikely partnerships, mystery authors, Nathan Fillion's whole deal
Number of seasons: 8

You can finally cozy up with a lighthearted procedural again now that Castle is back on streaming. The ABC series stars Nathan Fillion as mystery novelist Richard Castle, who begins following NYPD detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) for research and winds up consulting on colorful cases. Castle and Beckett's relationship, especially in the early seasons, is built on an entertaining blend of trust and tension, and although the murders they solve sometimes get serious, the show's overall vibe is playful enough for a breezy weekend marathon. When Castle is fun, it's really fun. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Champaign ILL

For fans of: Idiots, Detroiters, Sam Richardson and Adam Pally
Number of seasons: 1

You probably missed this comedy when it came out in 2018, but we won't blame you because it was on YouTube Premium. But now's your chance to peep it since it's been given another life at Hulu. When two talentless members of a rapper's entourage (Adam Pally and Sam Richardson) are forced to provide for themselves when the rapper dies, the move back to Champaign, Ill. to live out their dreams. It doesn't go too well! -Tim Surette [Trailer]

This Way Up

For fans of: Fleabag, but with Irish accents
Number of seasons: 2

In a perfect world, someday we'll talk about This Way Up with as much reverence as we talk about Fleabag. Created by and starring Aisling Bea, the dark comedy begins in the aftermath of a depressive episode; when we meet Áine (Bea) at the beginning of Season 1, she's recently out of rehab for "a teeny little nervous breakdown." The comedy and the tragedy of the show comes out of Áine's interactions with the people in her life — the ways she tries to keep the depths of her suffering from her protective older sister, Shona (Sharon Horgan); her fledgling, potentially romantic connection with Richard (Tobias Menzies); and her tragic friendship with Tom (Ricky Grover). It's a snapshot of a life in the process of being rebuilt, of what it's like to not simply ignore but actually live with mental illness. It's messy and chaotic and hilarious in all the best ways. You will also absolutely walk away with "Zombie" by the Cranberries stuck in your head, but that's part of the charm. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Bob's Burgers

For fans of: Burger puns, workplace comedies that are also family comedies
Number of seasons: 13 

Don't let the animation fool you into thinking Bob's Burgers is crude or just for kids. It's one of the best family comedies, not to mention one of the best comedies about working-class characters, on TV right now. The Fox sitcom follows the Belcher family, whose burger restaurant is an all-hands-on-deck job that even the kids get roped into. The show is straightforward about their constant financial stress, which leads to some of the family's best hijinks but also highlights how hard they work to care for each other. Parents Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) and Linda (John Roberts) have an enviably healthy marriage, and each Belcher kid is encouraged to be as delightfully weird as they want. Bob's also serves up some of the best puns in the game. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Devs

For fans of: Philosophical debates, Alex Garland's sci-fi, San Francisco
Number of seasons: 1

After movies like Ex Machina and Annihilation, Alex Garland is proving to be one of sci-fi's most exciting creators, and his TV debut features all his trademarks. Devs is packed with philosophy and intellectual discussions about existence, technology's place in society's advancement, and the dire consequences of tinkering with fate, almost to the point that it's too cerebral. But take it slow and you'll find a beautifully filmed single-season series that has big points to make about the dangerous precipice advanced computing has us inching toward. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Eric Andre Show

For fans of: Eric Andre, surreal talk shows, shameless male nudity
Number of seasons: 5

It's hard to describe The Eric Andre Show in a way that makes any kind of sense. Presented in the style of low-budget public access TV, it could technically be called a talk show. It's hosted by noted purveyor of chaos Eric Andre, who plays a hyper-fictionalized version of himself, and he's joined by his detached co-host/straight man, Hannibal Burress. Every episode begins with Andre violently destroying his set, and his eventual monologue usually spirals into a series of dark musings dragged out from the depths of his mind. He invites celebrities, who are sometimes real and sometimes intentionally bad impersonators, into the mess. The guests typically come in blissfully unaware of what is about to happen to them, which is clear from their often shocked, furious, and terrified faces. Andre's host spares no one and never acknowledges that anything is out of the ordinary, even as things get progressively more bizarre, like the time live rats were released on Stacey Dash's feet. This show is definitely not for everyone, but I can guarantee is that it's not like anything else you'll ever watch. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

For fans of: Breaking glass ceilings, the inner workings of a Minneapolis news station, jokes!
Number of seasons: 7

One of the greatest sitcoms of all time, The Mary Tyler Moore Show is so packed with first-rate funny people that it launched three spin-offs: Valerie Harper's Rhoda, Cloris Leachman's Phyllis, and Ed Asner's Lou Grant. But the heart of the classic comedy series is Mary Tyler Moore's Mary Richards, who's "making it after all" as a producer at a low-rated Minneapolis news station. As an unmarried woman focused on her career, Mary was a rarity on television, opening doors for women who came after. Still, being groundbreaking was never the only thing that made The Mary Tyler Moore Show — or Mary Richards — great. The show has endured because it's laugh-out-loud hilarious, the story of coworkers who unexpectedly begin to cherish each other. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Fargo

For fans of: Parkas, violence, guys with names like Dick "Deafy" Wickware
Number of seasons: 4

Noah Hawley's comical crime anthology series based on the vibes of the Coen Brothers is set in and around the titular Midwestern city across various decades, multiple crime families, and multitudes of bad luck. But what's always consistent — besides the accent and the incredible character names — is the quality of the casts, which have included Jean Smart, Ewan McGregor, Billy Bob Thornton, Chris Rock, Martin Freeman, and many more. Seasons 1 and 2 are the show at its best: violent, hilarious, and thematically off-the-wall. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

High Fidelity

For fans of: Zoë Kravitz, hanging out in Brooklyn record stores
Number of seasons: 1

A televised adaptation of the 2000 film of the same name, High Fidelity finds Zoë Kravitz stepping into the role of disaffected record store owner Rob, previously played by John Cusack. The show has a "no thoughts, just vibes" energy, but the conflict hinges on Rob's top five greatest heartbreaks of all time, which she's still in the process of getting over when we meet her. Kravitz makes the updated version of the sardonic record store owner her own, breaking the fourth wall to talk to the audience, allowing us to gaze upon the rich tapestry of her failed relationships, her veil of detachment cracking into something much more vulnerable with each episode. As Rob, she's dry, witty, and effortlessly cool, inviting us to share her skepticism of the mere concept of love. While it's a shame Hulu cut High Fidelity short after a truly great first season, you shouldn't let that deter you from checking out this gem of a series. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Freaks and Geeks

For fans of: One-season wonders, hating high school
Number of seasons: 1

It's always a big deal when Freaks and Geeks, the short-lived cult-classic dramedy that aired on NBC from 1999-2000, returns to streaming after a stay in DVD-only exile. What's even more exciting is that Hulu shilled out the cash to keep its original classic rock soundtrack fully intact, meaning fans can jam out while watching Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) and her slacker pals navigate high school in 1980, just as creator Paul Feig intended. Freaks and Geeks' cast — which also includes Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Busy Philipps, John Francis Daley, James Franco, and Martin Starr — makes it the ultimate "before they were famous" throwback. Plus it's just brilliant. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Justified

For fans of: Snappy dialogue, Westerns, swooning over Timothy Olyphant
Number of seasons: 6

One of Elmore Leonard's literary characters became television legend with FX's Justified, arguably the best adaptation of Leonard's work on any screen. U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, brought sexily to life by the sexy Timothy Olyphant, watches over the backwoods of Harlan County in Kentucky, cutting down fugitives with firepower and insults, both of which bad guys never recover from. It has the best dialogue of any TV show ever (my opinion), with poetic prose Leonard himself would chuckle at, and a rotating cast of criminals with more personality than most shows' main characters. Also, Walton Goggins! -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Please Like Me

For fans of: Saying, "I just watched this great show. You've probably never heard of it."
Number of seasons: 4

Created, co-written, and occasionally directed by its star Josh Thomas, this Australian dramedy series follows Josh (played by Thomas), a listless twentysomething who, shortly after being dumped by his girlfriend and subsequently realizing he's gay, moves back home to care for his depressed mother (Debra Lawrance). The show is most notable for its unique blend of comedy and tragedy, but it's the rare series about unhappy people that will make you feel better rather than worse. Its spiky, self-involved characters are made more likable for their unlikability, and even the most tertiary players feel like fully realized people in a way that feels very special. If you enjoy Please Like Me, be sure to check out another Thomas-created series, Everything's Gonna Be Okay, also available to stream on Hulu. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

The Terror

For fans of: Historical horrors, Jared Harris
Number of seasons: 2

AMC's The Terror is less about jump scares and gore as it is the methodical deconstruction of one's sanity in the face of terror, which is to say, this is cerebral horror at its finest. Both seasons of the anthology series immerse themselves in history, with Season 1 on board an expedition to find the Northwest Passage in the 1840s while a man-eating polar bear hunts them and Season 2 set at a Japanese internment camp plagued by ghosts during World War II. If you've only got time for one, sail along with Season 1, which is a modern horror masterpiece with a final image that will never leave my mind. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Casual

For fans of: Adult siblings, the misery of dating
Number of seasons: 4

Plenty of shows have a lot to say about "the times we live in," but unlike many other shows trying to do exactly that, Casual does it with deft care. Tommy Dewey and Michaela Watkins star as siblings Alex and Valerie, who end up raising Valerie's teenage daughter together, all while trying to navigate the dating world. At the start of the series, Valerie has recently divorced her husband, Alex has committed to life as a bachelor, and Tara Lynne Barr's Laura is just trying to make it through high school in one piece. All three have romantic obstacles to overcome and various hang-ups to deal with, and the world of social media dating doesn't make it any easier. It's an excellent show that came onto the scene around the same time as other shows about people in California being sad, like You're the Worst and Transparent, so it never really got the recognition it so deeply deserved, which is exactly why it deserves your attention now. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Superstore

For fans of: The plight of the American working class, but make it funny
Number of seasons: 6

For six seasons, Superstore was one of network TV's hidden treasures, a sweet, clever comedy with a surprising rebellious streak. The show uses its setting in a Middle American box store to dig into issues like unionizing, healthcare, and immigration that rarely get this kind of coverage on television, especially network sitcoms. These aren't Very Special Episodes: They're just facts of life for the show's diverse array of characters, so the topical storylines feel as natural as the jokes. Superstore may be honest, but it's never a drag; it's also got cute workplace romances and a perfectly weird sense of humor. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]

Mr Inbetween

For fans of: The secret lives of hitmen
Number of seasons: 3

It's almost certain that a hitman lives a more interesting life than you, but FX's dark comedy Mr Inbetween wants you to know that's only true half the time. The Australian series follows hitman Ray, played by creator Scott Ryan, not just when he's hitmanning, but when he's living that other, less interesting part of his life — you know, with the ex-wife, kid, sick brother, etc. One moment he's dropping a body in a shallow grave, the next he's telling his young daughter about the birds and the bees. Going back and forth between Ray's dual lives provides a tonal whiplash that's more chiropractic than paralyzing; seeing both sides of Ray straightens out a seemingly disjointed character whose job is at odds with his family life. The result is a complete portrait of a complicated man who is just trying to get paid for killing... and to be the best dad he can be. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

Mrs. America

For fans of: Cate Blanchett, feminist history
Number of seasons: 1

Cate Blanchett! That's all you really need to know, but we'll tell you the rest anyway. The stylish FX on Hulu historical drama Mrs. America looks back on the battle for the Equal Rights Amendment of the early 1970s. Blanchett plays Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative author who fought back against the ERA, making her the show's charismatic antihero. The all-star cast also features Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, and Sarah Paulson. -Tim Surette [Trailer]

The Real Housewives of Potomac

For fans of: Altercations
Number of seasons: 7

Almost every installment in the Real Housewives universe is valuable in its own way, but Potomac has solidified itself as the franchise MVP. The ladies of Potomac have long been serving up their share of incredible moments (lest we ever forget the mime), like that headline-making physical altercation (not a fight — an altercation) between Monique Samuels and Candiace Dillard in Season 5. RHOP is the crown jewel of reality programming, an example of what we could always have if casts were willing to commit to being as audaciously entertaining as this group of women always is. Raise a glass of champagne to them. -Allison Picurro [Trailer]

Little Fires Everywhere

For fans of: Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, skewering white liberals
Number of seasons: 1

Little Fires Everywhere, an adaptation of Celeste Ng's 2017 novel of the same name, stars Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington as mothers on a collision course. Witherspoon plays Elena Richardson, a wealthy, rigidly Type-A mom of four; Washington is Mia Warren, a restless artist on the run from her past. Elena and Mia's tense coexistence implodes when they take opposite sides in a legal battle between a local couple trying to adopt a Chinese baby and the immigrant mother fighting to get her daughter back. The miniseries can get soapy, but it's also surprisingly incisive, expanding on the book's exploration of race and class tensions — and it builds to a scorching finale. -Kelly Connolly [Trailer]