The best shows on Hulu

If catching up on your favorite TV shows and discovering new ones are high on your priority list, Hulu and EW have your back. The streamer has a vast library of current and classic titles available right now, and we're narrowing down your choices to the titles everyone is talking about.

*Titles recently added to the EW recommendations list are denoted with an asterisk.

A Teacher

School never looked so scandalous and, frankly, traumatizing than in this FX on Hulu original. Starring Kate Mara (House of Cards) as high school English teacher, Claire Wilson, the 10-episode drama follows the educator as she grows bored in her marriage and begins a sexual relationship with her 18-year-old student, Eric Walker, played by Nick Robinson (Love, Simon). The miniseries—created by Hannah Fidell and based on her film of the same name—looks at the illicit relationship through a post-#MeToo lens, delving into the complexities and consequences of a predatory relationship, as well as touching on the aftermath of the abuse. Just be warned, the show's exploration of the concept of grooming may be triggering for some, and the somewhat rushed and unresolved ending may leave you more flabbergasted than an AP English pop quiz.

Talent: Kate Mara, Nick Robinson, Ashley Zukerman, and Shane Harper

Abbott Elementary

Lisa Ann Walter, Janelle James, and Sheryl Lee Ralph on the ABC sitcom 'Abbott Elementary.'. ABC/Prashant Gupta

Class is in session: Quinta Brunson's delightful half-hour ABC mockumentary series Abbott Elementary follows a ragtag group of dedicated teachers (and one chaotic but lovable principal) at an underfunded Philadelphia public school. Despite a faltering school district, the teachers—composed of an A+ cast that includes Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, and William Stanford Davis—are determined to help their young pupils succeed. Look out, John Krasinski: Williams is coming for your camera-stare crown.

EW grade: A- (Read the review here)

Talent: Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, and William Stanford Davis

Angel

In the spinoff of the cult classic and much beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the chosen one's former beau, Angel (David Boreanaz), sets up shop in Los Angeles on a mission to "help the helpless." Thankfully, the brooding vamp is joined on his quest to make the mean (read: demon-riddled) streets of Hollywood safer—and gain redemption for his many centuries of brutal slaughter—by sharp-tongued, Buffy ex-pat Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) and charming Irish chancer (and demon) Doyle (Glenn Quinn). Over the course of five seasons, new demons, ex-watchers, and unlikely friends join Angel Investigations, battling everything from hellish beasts to law firms and somehow Angel still finds time to brood in the most smoldering of ways.

Talent: David Boreanaz, Charisma Carpenter, Glenn Quinn, J. August Richards, Alexis Denisof, and Amy Acker

Beverly Hills, 90210

For ten seasons, fans couldn't get enough of Darren Star's teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 about a group of privileged high school students attending a school in posh Beverly Hills. The newest students when the show begins are twins Brandon (Jason Priestly) and Brenda (Shannen Doherty) Walsh, who recently moved to Southern California with their parents from Minneapolis. Their new city is much different from their middle America beginnings, but they quickly fall into a group of popular kids including Dylan McKay (Luke Perry), Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth), Donna Martin (Tori Spelling), David Silver (Brian Austin Green), and Steve Sanders (Ian Ziering). Beverly Hills, 90210 tackled many taboo topics of the time like drug abuse, domestic violence, homophobia, sex, date rape, and AIDS.

Talent: Jason Priestly, Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry, Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, and Ian Ziering

Blossom

Back in 1991, the coolest girl on TV was Blossom Russo, the titular character from the hit sitcom Blossom played by Mayim Bialik. For five seasons, viewers followed the Italian American teen as she navigates life and love alongside her dad Nick (Ted Wass), brothers Tony (Michael Stoyanov) and Joey (Joey Lawrence), and her best friend Six (Jenna Von Oÿ). Although the show is a comedy, important teen topics like addiction, sexual assault, and teen pregnancy are dealt with over the course of its five-season run. Bialik recently told EW she's been trying unsuccessfully for years to reboot the series but she and creator Don Reo have "had a lot of trouble getting our network onboard." The good news is: They haven't given up.

Talent: Mayim Bialik, Michael Stoyanov, Joey Lawrence, Jenna Von Oÿ, and Don Reo

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Take a trip back to the late-'90s for some quippy one-liners, truly excellent fashion choices, and gruesome demons who turn out to be metaphors for teen angst and growing up. This WB supernatural drama does so much more than just deliver a thrill of the week or big bad of the season. Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy, the titular vampire slayer, the series follows the one girl chosen in each generation to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness. Luckily for our Buff, she has her Scooby gang of best friends—Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter)—her lover Angel (David Boreanaz)—who also happens to be a vampire with a soul—and her fatherly watcher (someone who teaches and guides the slayer) Giles (Anthony Head) to help her on her quest to rid the world, but mostly Sunnydale where she lives, of all evil. On the surface, this show may be campy and quirky, but Buffy became a cult classic for a reason. Its mix of emotional gut punches along with literal gut punches and poignant yet evergreen storytelling means this show still slays today.

Talent: Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Boreanaz, Charisma Carpenter, Alyson Hannigan, and Seth Green

Cheers

Before the internet peaked and people didn't get lost on social media via their mobile phones, folks checked in weekly at the place where everyone knows your name: Cheers. The series follows bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson), a former baseball player-turned-Lothario throughout the show's 11 seasons. He falls in love at least twice and it's as complicated as anyone can imagine.

Talent: Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson, George Wendt, Kelsey Grammer, Shelley Long, and Kirstie Alley

Claws

Oh, the trouble that encircles five West Florida manicurists due to a series of unfortunate events on TNT's Claws. Niecy Nash leads the talented female cast as Desna Simms, owner of Nail Artisans, who gets herself and her colleagues—played by Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Karrueche Tran, and Jenn Lyon—caught up in various criminal activities. Follow the ladies as they climb the criminal business ladder, but watch out as the mistakes pile up.

EW grade: No grade (Read our review)

Talent: Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston, Judy Reyes, Karrueche Tran, Jenn Lyon, Harold Perrineau, Dean Norris, and Jimmy Jean-Louis

Dollface

Created by Jordan Weiss and produced by Margot Robbie's production company, Luckychap Entertainment, the Hulu original comedy is based on Weiss' own experience of abandoning female friendships when in a romantic relationship. Dollface follows Jules (Kat Dennings) who, after being dumped by her boyfriend of five years, realizes—thanks to a fantasy sequence featuring a literal cat lady (a human body with a cat head played or voiced by Beth Grant who we know best for playing Bev from The Mindy Project)—that she has allowed her life to center around her crappy ex-boyfriend and hasn't really been overly excelling at work or socially. To get her life back on track, Jules reaches out to her college besties, Madison (Brenda Song) and Stella (Shay Mitchell), to reconnect and really learn how to be a friend and, essentially, a "girl" again. Dollface's story is heartwarming and relatable and while these girls have nothing on Broad City's Ilana and Abbi, there's still enough frivolous fun in the Hulu comedy to hold your attention through 20 episodes. Hey, we've all been there with that friend who gets into a relationship and suddenly we only know they're alive from their posts about their "best friend," a.k.a. their boyfriend, on Instagram.

Talent: Kat Dennings, Brenda Song, and Shay Mitchell

Dopesick

Based on Beth Macy's book of the same name, this series takes a look at the origins of the opioid crisis in America. Michael Keaton stars as small-town doctor Samuel Finnix who is sold on OxyContin by sales rep Billy Cutler (Will Poulter) as a less addictive opiate for his patients. This eight-part series shows the destructive impact of the drug on communities like Appalachian mining towns as its use spreads, and later as crime in the area prompts investigations by a DEA agent (played by Rosario Dawson) and two assistant U.S. attorneys (Peter Sarsgaard and John Hoogenakker).

EW grade: A- (Read our review)

Talent: Michael Keaton, Rosario Dawson, Peter Sarsgaard, John Hoogenakker, Will Poulter, and Kaitlyn Dever

For Life

Aaron Wallace (Nicholas Pinnock) was framed for drug crimes he didn't commit, but he won't just roll over and play dead. While serving his prison sentence, he becomes a lawyer who focuses on freeing his fellow inmates with discrepancies in their cases. As he learns how the system works (and doesn't work), he finds the breadcrumbs that could help him return to his family as a free man. But things are complicated and frustrating when trying to expose fraud within the system, and his life is on the line nearly every week as he fights for freedom.

Talent: Nicholas Pinnock, Joy Bryant, Indira Varma, Dorian Crossmond Missick, and created by Hank Steinberg

Four Weddings and a Funeral

Mindy Kaling breathed new life into Richard Curtis' Four Weddings and a Funeral with a Hulu miniseries of the same name, featuring a diverse cast led by Game of Thrones star Nathalie Emmanuel. For 10 episodes, four American friends reunite in London to attend a wedding, but nothing goes as planned. For the next year, friendships and relationships are tested, all leading to four weddings and a funeral.

Talent: Nathalie Emmanuel, Nikesh Patel, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Harish Patel, and Dermot Mulroney

Felicity

Before J.J. Abrams went to a galaxy far, far away, there was Felicity, a TV series about the lengths a high school senior will go to for a crush. Keri Russell portrayed the titular character who makes the last-minute switch from attending Stanford University to the University of New York after Ben (Scott Speedman) laments he didn't know her better in a yearbook inscription. Although things don't end up as she imagined exactly, Felicity realizes she was exactly where she needed to be—controversial haircut and all.

EW grade: B+ (Read our review)

Talent: Keri Russell, Scott Speedman, Scott Foley, Ian Gomez, and Amy Jo Johnson; J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves series creators

Frasier

Dr. Frasier Crane is listening, so grab a comfy spot on the couch and catch up with the comedy series that has a revival coming down the pipeline. Kelsey Grammer stars as the titular character, a psychiatrist, and now radio talk show host, who was first introduced on Cheers. After a divorce, he departs from Boston and heads to his hometown of Seattle. But as he's planning to live the life of a swinging bachelor, his father Martin (the late John Mahoney) moves into his apartment after an accident leaves him impaired. The family comedy also stars David Hyde Pierce as Frasier's brother Niles, and Jane Leeves portrays Martin's physical therapist, Daphne Moon.

Talent: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, and Peri Gilpin

Related reading: Eddie unleashed

Freaks and Geeks

Paul Feig gives viewers an inside look at the high school experience in Freaks and Geeks, the short-lived comedy series that helped launch the careers of Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, James Franco, and Jason Segel, among others. Cardellini stars as Lindsay Weir, a smarty pants star student who rebels and wants to be part of a different crowd. This journey of self-discovery causes tension between the teen and her parents, who notice she's slacking and hanging out with the "freaks." The series also shows what high school is like for the geeks at school, namely through Lindsay's brother Sam (John Francis Daley), who in the premiere is saved from a bully after his sister threatens to beat him up.

Talent: Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Busy Phillips, Jason Segel, John Francis Daley, Samm Levine, Martin Starr, and created by Paul Feig. Judd Apatow served as executive producer.

Fresh Off the Boat

ABC's Fresh Off the Boat may be a story about a Tawainese American family, but many immigrant communities could relate to the hilarious (and sometimes heartbreaking) experiences felt by the Huang family. Randall Park and Constance Wu played parents Louis and Jessica Huang, respectively, raising three boys in Orlando in the mid-1990s. The older generation, which also includes sassy-yet-strict grandma Jenny (Lucille Soong), is caught between the traditions of their ancestors and their new life in the United States, while their sons are much more American than apple pie.

Talent: Randall Park, Constance Wu, Lucille Soong, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler, Ian Chen, and Luna Blaise; created by Nahnatchka Khan

Genius: Aretha

The life of the legendary singer Aretha Franklin plays out for audiences in Nat Geo's Genius: Aretha, with Cynthia Erivo taking on the lead role. Across eight episodes, viewers are transported to her early years in the 1950s before she became the Queen of Soul and then follow her throughout her illustrious career which saw her earn 18 Grammys and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Talent: Cynthia Erivo, Courtney B. Vance, David Cross, Malcolm Barrett, Patrice Covington, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, and Rebecca Naomi Jones

The Girl From Plainville

Hulu's docudrama takes a closer, delicate glimpse at the events ahead of and proceeding Conrad Roy's (Colton Ryan) suicide and his girlfriend Michelle's (Elle Fanning) sentence of involuntary manslaughter, as she ensured his attempt was successful. The Girl From Plainville draws viewers in with exaggerated, fantasy sequences inspired by Michelle's TV obsession Glee—which is a fever dream on its own—and other trance-like reenactments of their text exchanges that examine the dysfunctional patterns between the pair, attempting to show all sides of the tragedy and humanize the young girl who was brutalized by the media. With showstopping performances by Fanning, Ryan, and Chloë Sevigny (who plays Colton's grieving mother), this miniseries is an uncomfortable yet meaningful watch deserving of a visit.

Talent: Elle Fanning, Colton Ryan, Chloë Sevigny, Aya Cash, Norbert Leo Butz, Michael Mosley, Ella Rubin, and Kylie Lya Page

The Golden Girls

It's been decades since The Golden Girls made their debut and they're as popular now as ever. The series, created by Susan Harris, follows four women of a certain age; Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and her mother Sophia, who are spending their golden years together in a Miami home full of wicker, cheesecakes, and "Picture it, Sicily" stories. The multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning comedy was ahead of its time, dealing with taboo topics like immigration, gay marriage, the sexual behavior of older women, and suicide.

Talent: Betty White, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty

Related reading: Why you'll never see a Golden Girls reboot

The Great

Elle Fanning stars as Russia's queen Catherine, on her way to becoming Great. Nicholas Hoult is positively petulant, and downright quirky as her husband—Russia's ruler, Peter, a man who lacks the ability to control his whims, and turns malevolent over things like beards at court. Luckily, Catherine realizes she has a duty to the Russian empire, and enlists those close to Peter, like Sacha Dhawan's Orlo, to help her in a plot to seize power.

Talent: Elle Fanning, Nicholas Hoult, Sacha Dhawan, Phoebe Fox, and Charity Wakefield

Grey's Anatomy

If medical shows are your thing, surely the longest-running primetime medical drama is your next binge. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series follows surgical intern, and the daughter of the famous general surgeon, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) as she starts her medical training at Seattle Grace Hospital (the hospital name changes multiple times as the seasons go on), befriending her fellow interns and falling in love with her dreamy attendings. Over the course of Meredith's educational adventure, she's kept busy by the most bizarre medical mysteries (Anyone remember the guy who swallowed 10 doll heads?!), sexual relations in the on-call room, and the deaths of pretty much everyone she meets. Still, it's a fun ride, for the most part, just keep the tissues on hand.

Talent: Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, Justin Chambers, T. R. Knight, Chandra Wilson, and Patrick Dempsey

The Handmaid's Tale

In a dystopian future, a totalitarian society has taken over the United States, where fertile women known as "handmaids" serve to bear children for society women unable to have them in The Handmaid's Tale. In present-day Gilead, the story of June Osbourne (Elisabeth Moss)—renamed Offred after the civil war changed the world forever—is assigned to work in the home of the highly influential Waterford family. She was forced to leave behind her husband and daughter, though they are never far from her mind. There are attempts at freedom by the Handmaids, with varying degrees of success, but not everyone makes it out of Gilead alive.

EW grade: A (Read our review)

Talent: Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, Max Minghella, and Bradley Whitford

High Fidelity

Zoë Kravitz embraces her acting legacy from mom Lisa Bonet in this Hulu series. Based on the Nick Hornby novel of the same name, High Fidelity tells the story of Rob, a record store employee who revisits past relationships with a little help from music and pop culture.

Talent: Zoë Kravitz, Jake Lacy, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Parker Posey

Home Economics

A sweet and often rocky relationship between three siblings is explored in ABC's Home Economics, with Topher Grace, Caitlin McGee, and Jimmy Tatro portraying the trio. Although things appear to be perfect on the surface, each is struggling with either a personal or professional matter that seems easier to tackle when they're there for one another. Parents, spouses, and kids bring an extra layer of fun and frivolity.

Talent: Topher Grace, Karla Souza, Caitlin McGee, Jim Tatro, and Sasheer Zamata

How I Met Your Mother

Created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, the CBS sitcom ran from 2005 to 2014 and starred Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby, a New York singleton endlessly searching for the love of his life and the future mother to his kids. Narrated by 2030 Ted (the late Bob Saget), the protagonist takes an extremely circuitous route, explaining to his son and daughter how he did (finally!) meet their mother. The elaborate recap also heavily features Ted's best friends, Marshall (Jason Segel), Lily (Alyson Hannigan), Robin (Cobie Smulders), and Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), who really must be credited for most of the show's appeal, considering Ted is often insufferable. Nine seasons spawned plenty of potential mothers for Ted's future kids, countless enduring catchphrases, courtesy of Barney (see: "Haaaave you met Ted?" "Legen—wait for it—dary!" and "Suit up!"), and many genuinely hilarious and touching moments between the group. Yes, the final season is a bit of a letdown, and let's not even get started on the controversial ending (!!), but before that long-awaited reveal, there's so much fun to be had with the gang that HIMYM truly is worth the binge. Challenge accepted?

Talent: Josh Radnor, Neil Patrick Harris, and Cobie Smulders

The Kardashians

If you thought the Kardashian clan was done with their reality TV empire, then, bible, you were so wrong. (They get their f---ing asses up and work!) The Kardashians bring back pop culture's favorite family on the small screen with a bigger budget and Hulu as its new home. The show still captures the deadpan, escapist entertainment of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, but with new relationships (Kourtney and Travis Barker), more candid interactions, and the everlasting drama that all make it so fun to sKIM right through.

Grade: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯(Read our review)

Talent: Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, and Kendall Jenner

Killing Eve

There's a psychopath assassin on the loose and she's managed to elude capture, but can she keep running forever? That proves to be a challenge for Villanelle (Jodie Comer) on Killing Eve because one of the most clever British intelligence investigators is on her case. Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) easily gets drawn into Villanelle's bloody path and manages to get truly obsessed with the hired hitwoman, risking her job, her marriage, and many times, even her life.

Talent: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, and Fiona Shaw

Little Fires Everywhere

You don't need to have read Celeste Ng's hit 2017 novel Little Fires Everywhere in order to watch the miniseries inspired by the same name, but if you did, it won't take anything away from your TV-watching experience. Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon take the lead in the drama in the roles of Mia Warren and Elena Richardson, both mothers who love and protect their children fiercely which leads to many uncomfortable moments. The series itself does a great job of creating very tense and emotional moments between two of Hollywood's most beloved leading ladies. And the star power doesn't end there: Joshua Jackson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Jesse Williams, Anika Noni Rose, AnnaSophia Robb, and Sarita Choudhury appear.

Talent: Kerry Washington, Reese Witherspoon

EW grade: A- (Read our review)

Living Single

Before there was Friends, there was this show about friends living and loving in New York. The series premiered in 1993 and quickly became one of the most popular Black actor-led shows of its time. Living Single was set in the Brooklyn apartment of cousins Khadijah James (Queen Latifah) and Synclaire James (Kim Coles) and their unofficial roommates, Maxine Shaw (Erika Alexander) and Régine Hunter (Kim Fields). Though Shaw and Hunter had their own apartments, they spent an exorbitant amount of time with the James cousins. Things get even more complicated when Maxine and Synclaire find love just doors away.

Talent: Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, Erika Alexander, Kim Fields, T.C. Carson, and John Henton

Love Island, UK

'Love Island' TV show — Contestants on the U.K. version of 'Love Island.". ITV

I got a text! And it says Love Island UK is ready to be your guilty pleasure—if it isn't already. There's something addictive about watching a handful of British islanders going wild in the sun in their search for love in a paradise setting. Will the girls find a boy with the perfect "banter" (conversation)? Will the boys find a bird (woman) who is totally "fit" (very attractive to them) in the villa? Will Casa Amor's new arrivals upset the balance of those already coupled up? Did we mention there is an Australian version on Hulu, too?

Love, Victor

For anyone who hasn't been following Love, Victor, a series set in the same world as the 2018 film Love, Simon, time to get watching. Follow Creekwood High School student Victor (Michael Cimino) as he comes out to his family and navigates life as a gay teen. Season 1 focuses on his self-discovery, while seasons 2 and 3 are heavy on romantic entanglements. Just be prepared for some serious cliffhangers. Luckily, EW's got you covered.

Talent: Michael Cimino, Nick Robinson, Ana Ortiz, James Martinez, Mekhi Phifer, Sophia Bush, Ali Wong, Rachel Hilson, and Andy Richter

Luther

Before Idris Elba was part of nearly every big James Bond rumor, he was Detective Chief Inspector John Luther in the British drama Luther. While the titular character is a great detective, he easily gets caught up in the darkness of the crimes he handles on a day-to-day basis as part of the Serious Crime Unit. And it doesn't help his mental health at all that while he's pouring everything he has into his work, he's also trying to avenge the murder of his wife. Things really start going downhill for Luther after meeting psychopath murderer, Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), as lines get blurred between the pair.

Talent: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Rose Leslie, and Warren Brown

Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.

Patton Oswalt voices the titular character on Marvel's M.O.D.O.K, also known as George Tarleton. M.O.D.O.K., which stands for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, is a floating robotic-engineered head who is about to go through a midlife crisis after being let go from both his evil organization A.I.M. and his family. His wife Jodie is played by Aimee Garcia, and their son Lou is voiced by Ben Schwartz.

Talent: Patton Oswalt, Aimee Garcia, Melissa Fumero, Ben Schwartz, Jon Daly, and Wendi McLendon-Covey

Mayans M.C.

The world created by Kurt Sutter on the FX hit Sons of Anarchy expanded in 2018 with the storyline focused on this Mexican rival motorcycle gang in Mayans M.C. Emilio Rivera, who portrayed Marcus Alvarez on Sons, reprises his role and moved up to the honorary position of Padrino, which means godfather in Spanish. A whole cast of new characters lines up as part of the M.C., though throughout the show's two seasons, many old faces reappear in their original roles. And in true Sutter fashion, it's best not to get too attached to any character because you never know when they'll meet the reaper.

EW grade (Season 2): B+ (Read our review)

Talent: Edward James Olmos, Emilio Rivera, Danny Pino, J.D. Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Richard Cabral, Michael Irby, Tony Plana, Ada Maris, and Sarah Bolger

Medium

Allison DuBois (Patricia Arquette) is a psychic medium working for the Phoenix, Ariz. district attorney's office helping to solve open criminal investigations. She's married and she and her husband Joe (Jake Weber) have three daughters, all of whom also have supernatural powers. Medium is not so much scary as it is interesting to watch Allison balance work life with being a busy wife and mother, as well as hearing dead people.

EW Grade: B+ (Read our review)

Talent: Patricia Arquette, Jake Weber, Miguel Sandoval, Ryan Hurst, David Arquette, and Margo Martindale

Related reading: Patricia Arquette haunts the small screen

McCartney 3, 2, 1

Rick Rubin has worked with some of the best—Tom Petty, Eminem, Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Adele, Nine Inch Nails, and Red Hot Chili Peppers to name a few—but in McCartney 3, 2, 1, he gets to take off the producer hat and just be a wide-eyed super-fan. In this six-episode doc, the Grammy-winning producer goes down the wormhole on the Beatles catalog, Wings, and Paul McCartney's solo music, getting beyond well-worn tales from Macca's early days. Shot in a studio in black and white, and mixed with archival footage and photos, this one takes a deep dive into the world of a living legend, whose music and musical collaborations are forever fascinating.

The Mindy Project

Dr. Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) is a successful OBGYN trying to find the balance between her personal and professional life in The Mindy Project. Set in New York City, audiences are introduced to wacky and extremely good-looking characters both in and out of her practice. The rom-com also finds Lahiri dating lots of eligible, gorgeous men, though as the story unravels, we discover just how complicated love in the big city really is.

Talent: Mindy Kaling, Chris Messina, Ed Weeks, Anna Camp, Stephen Tobolowsky, Ike Barinholtz, Beth Grant, Xosha Roquemore, and Fortune Feimster

Miranda

Before Tom Ellis went to the dark side and became Lucifer, he was the hunky object of affection of a joke shop owner in the British comedy Miranda from comedian Miranda Hart. The three-season series features the self-deprecating titular character who often finds herself in awkward situations that lead her to breaking the fourth wall. Never too far away is Miranda's mum (Patricia Hodge) who doesn't understand why her daughter doesn't just get a proper job and a husband, and she lets Miranda know this as often as she can. The series is comedy gold and inspired Mayim Bialik's remake for Fox, Call Me Kat.

Talent: Miranda Hart, Tom Ellis, Sarah Hadland, Patricia Hodge, James Holmes, and Sally Phillips

Mr Inbetween

Ray Shoesmith (Scott Ryan) is a hitman with a heart in FX's hidden gem Mr Inbetween, whose violent career begins to take a serious toll on him as he attempts to compartmentalize each complicated layer of his life with varying degrees of success. In one moment Ray can be reading a bedtime story to his daughter—though one that's inappropriate—and the next he's killing someone.

Ryan shared insight with EW in 2019 about his character's unusual career saying, "He doesn't kill for pleasure; it's just a job." Director Nash Edgerton added, "He's a complicated human, like us all. Just because he does a job that society doesn't agree with doesn't mean he is all bad."

Cast: Scott Ryan, Justin Rosniak, Brooke Satchwell, Chika Yasumura, Natalie Tran, and Nicholas Cassim

The New York Times Presents

The New York Times Presents "Framing Britney Spears" might be the most well-known installment of this FX on Hulu docuseries, but there are—so far—a dozen episodes to take a deep dive into. One of them, "Who Gets to be an Influencer?" highlights Collab Crib and its mansion full of Black social media stars-on-the-rise/content creators, as they attempt to grow their follower counts, and call into question inequities of algorithms, sponsorships, and advertising.

Normal People

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal star as Marianne and Connell, schoolmates in a quiet Irish town who begin a secret relationship during high school in this drama based on Sally Rooney's best-seller of the same name. The BAFTA award-winning, and Emmy-nominated series follows the pair as they weave in and out of each other's lives, as friends or lovers, through college and beyond, and while dealing with family and mental health issues. The pair's chemistry is palpable a huge part of the draw of the 12-episode series.

Talent: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Sarah Green, Aislín McGuckin, and Desmond Eastwood

Only Murders in the Building

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez play three true crime-obsessed residents (Charles, Oliver, and Mabel) of the same Upper West Side apartment building, whose passion draws them together after one of their fellow residents is murdered. In this comedic murder mystery, the trio starts to investigate the crime—and make an accompanying podcast—uncovering bizarre secrets of the denizens of their building.

EW grade: B (Read our review)

Talent: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, and Amy Ryan

The O.C.

All four seasons of the southern California-set, sexy and scandalous teen drama, created by Josh Schwartz and starring Ben McKenzie, Peter Gallagher, Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, and Rachel Bilson, are available to stream on Hulu. The addictive series follows troubled teen Ryan Atwood (McKenzie) as he's taken in by philanthropic lawyer Sandy (Gallagher) and his wife Kristen (Kelly Rowan). While Ryan sets up shop in the wealthy family's pool house, he befriends their son Seth (Brody) and classic girl-next-door Marissa (Barton) and tries to get by at Newport Beach's fancy Harbor School, where everyone drives Bentleys and looks like Abercrombie & Fitch models. The sunny show definitely isn't afraid to delve into darker issues—indeed, despite Ryan's rough background, he actually turns out to be one of the better-adjusted teens in town. Sure, by season 4 things get a little weird—there's even a trip to an alternate universe thrown in there—but if you're longing for some early 2000's nostalgia, California, here we commmmmme.

Talent: Ben McKenzie, Peter Gallagher, Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, Kelly Rowan, and Rachel Bilson

Pam & Tommy

Before there was Kim Kardashian and Ray J, there was Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. Based on the true story, Hulu fictionalizes how Baywatch star Pam (Lily James)—who's rarely taken seriously by her peers—and tattooed Mötley Crüe musician Tommy (Sebastian Stan) had their privacy stripped bare once their sex tape was leaked by their contractor (Seth Rogen), who seeks revenge on Tommy after being swindled out of his earned money. The miniseries heightens the intrusive realities of celebrity life through the lens of voyeurism, while also amplifying the distinct consequences Pam faces due to being a female sex symbol in Hollywood. Take a peak at Pam & Tommy, which tells the cautionary tale of explicit home videos and giving the shaft to your electrician (pun intended).

Grade: B- (Read our review)

Talent: Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Seth Rogen, Taylor Schilling, and Nick Offerman

Pen15

The awkwardness of being a 7th-grade girl in the year 2000 is celebrated in Hulu's original comedy Pen15. Creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle star as younger versions of themselves, Maya and Anna, two besties who support each other as they traverse the horror that is middle school, boy crushes, mean girls, their developing bodies, really awful haircuts, and braces. Set in a pre-cellphone, pre-social media era, Pen15 offers an amusing, and also cringey look, at a preteen life in a slower-paced time. Both seasons are streaming, and both of them got an A from EW.

Talent: Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle

EW grade: A (Read our review)

Queens

Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, and Brandy Norwood heat up the screen as four former bandmates who regroup after two decades apart to once again take on the world—with a little help from a very Cardi B.-esque young rapper. This one features hot performances, atop loads of the kind of delicious personal drama that will keep us tuning in, and maybe even learning a few of those dance moves.

Talent: Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, Brandy Norwood, and Taylor Selé

Ramy

Ramy Youssef is the most complicated uncomplicated guy in America and he has a story to tell about the Muslim American experience going boldly into a conversation that not many have dared to have on television. In Ramy, he's torn between his traditional Muslim traditions and just wanting to be a regular American guy, not doing either quite well. It's hilarious, sad, and relatable all at the same time, and he masterfully—and artfully—pushes viewers into uncomfortable spaces.

EW grade: A- (Read our review)

Talent: Ramy Youssef, Mahershala Ali, Hiam Abbass, Dave Merheje, Amr Waked, and Steve Way

Reservation Dogs

From Taika Waititi and co-creator Sterlin Harjo, the comedy Reservation Dogs (an FX on Hulu exclusive) follows four Indigenous teenagers in Oklahoma, who rob and steal in an attempt to get enough cash to get out of town and off to the magical place they believe California to be. But there are plenty of obstacles in their path including meth heads, a new-to-the-reservation rival gang, the law, and, of course, guilt. It's worth noting that this critically acclaimed series is breaking ground behind the scenes. Every writer, director, and main actor is Indigenous.

Talent: D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis, Lane Factor, and Elva Guerra

The Resident

Fox's The Resident is a medical drama where love and ego reign supreme. Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry) is a young and talented medical professional who exists in more of a gray area than in the black and white. What this means is, that Conrad is willing to break the rules for his patients and what he believes in even if it means losing his job. It's worth noting that working for bosses like the chief of surgery and later CEO (and later back again) Randolph Bell (Bruce Greenwood) is basically torture for anyone they deem beneath them, but things get really intense at Chastain Park Memorial with the addition of neurosurgeon Barrett Cain (Morris Chestnut) in season 3. Cain has too many secrets to hide and an ego that barely fits in the building.

Talent: Matt Czuchry, Morris Chestnut, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Emily VanCamp, Manish Dayal, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Bruce Greenwood, Jane Leeves, and David Allen Grier; created by Amy Holden-Jones, Hayley Schore, and Roshan Sethi

Saved by the Bell

Hey, preppies! Your Saturday morning veg sessions in front of the TV may be over, but the content you loved so much lives on—like with Saved by the Bell. Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) runs the halls of Bayside High, the fictional school in California where the young, fabulous, and privileged attend. He and his friends Slater (Mario Lopez), Screech (Dustin Diamond), Kelly (Tiffani Thiessen), Jessie (Elizabeth Berkley), and Lisa (Lark Voorhies) are always coming up with schemes and pranks to keep principal Belding (Dennis Haskins) on his toes.

Talent: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Tiffani Thiessen, Mario Lopez, Elizabeth Berkley, Lark Voorhies, Dustin Diamond, and Dennis Haskins

Scandal

There's no drama too big in the White House that can't be cleaned up by Olivia Pope, a professional fixer played by Kerry Washington for seven seasons on the hit Shondaland series Scandal. It's impossible to tease all the twists and turns that transpire in the highest office in the land, but they're extensive and they're juicy. Not even Pope can resist the call of the drama, which makes for some of the most scandalous moments of the series.

Talent: Kerry Washington, Guillermo Diaz, Tony Goldwyn, Bellamy Young, Joshua Malina, Henry Ian Cusick, and Scott Foley

Sons of Anarchy

On the surface, Sons of Anarchy is a show about a motorcycle club and the mayhem brought on by its shady roster of members. But if you dig deeper, the drama is really a show about family, loyalty, and how it's never too late to do the right thing. Those loyalties are tested often, and for people not on the up and up, the reaper is never far away.

EW grade (season 2): C+ (Read our review)

Talent: Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman, Katey Sagal, Maggie Siff, David Labrava, Theo Rossi, Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates, Emilio Rivera, Jimmy Smits, Ryan Hurst, Drea de Matteo, and Kurt Sutter

The Split

After originally debuting stateside on SundanceTV in 2018, The Split, a riveting family and legal drama, is currently available on Hulu for those looking for a truly solid binge. Nicola Walker (MI-5, Luther) heads up the cast as Hannah Stern, a divorce lawyer, who recently left the family firm run by her mother, Ruth. To complicate matters, her new firm employs an ex who still has a thing for her. Oh, and her father, who abandoned the family three decades ago, is back and wants to reconnect. Add to that can of worms the fact that each episode involves a nasty divorce among Britain's famous, wealthiest, or aristocratic and you get some completely consuming TV.

Talent: Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Annabel Scholey, and Fiona Button

Station 19

Life is tough when you're a firefighter, treading the line between hero and Normal Joe and all the messiness it entails. On Station 19, viewers get a peek into the lives of Seattle Fire Department's Station 19 and what goes on behind the scenes for its dedicated service workers struggling to find the perfect work-life balance while doing their best to break as few hearts as possible. The series centers on Andy Herrera (Jaina Lee-Ortiz), whose battles include finding her place at the fire station where her father Pruitt Herrera served honorably as captain. Her private life is messy, but the same can be said of all her colleagues. Those problems often spill over into their professional lives. Fans of Grey's Anatomy will particularly love Station 19 because a lot of characters come to play in their world and vice versa.

Talent: Jaina Lee Ortiz, Miguel Sandoval, Jason George, Boris Kodjoe, Grey Damon, Barrett Doss, Jay Hayden, Okieriete Onaodowan, and Danielle Savre

This Is Us

Grab plenty of tissues before sitting down to watch all six seasons of This Is Us, the popular series following the Pearson family across multiple timelines. At the center of the drama are the husband and wife duo of Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca (Mandy Moore), and their three children: two of three surviving triplets Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Kevin (Justin Hartley), and their adopted third Randall (Sterling K. Brown). Part of the fun of the time jumps is being able to admire the work of the young actors bringing to life the Big Three during different decades.

Talent: Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Chrissy Metz, Justin Hartley, Sterling K. Brown, Jon Huertas, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, and Dan Fogelman

This Way Up

Irish actress, writer, and producer Aisling Bea stars as Aine in the dark comedy This Way Up, about a woman trying to put her life back together following a mental breakdown. With Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe) playing her well-meaning, but also not-very-put-together sister Shona, there are plenty of moments of hilarious awkward comedy (like when their mother encourages them to perform a duet of the Cranberries' "Zombie" at a party for Shona's soon-to-be father-in-law). Season 2 dramedy comes in the form of Aine trying to find a routine, and sort out her feelings for her employer Richard (Outlander's Tobias Menzies), with Shona figuring out if she can still marry Vish (Evil's Aasif Mandvi) after developing feelings for colleague Charlotte (Game of Thrones' Indira Varma). We previously told you this was one to watch to take care of that Fleabag withdrawal, and, with season 2, we're telling you again.

Talent: Aisling Bea, Sharon Horgan, Tobias Menzies, Aasif Mandvi, and Indira Varma

Ugly Betty

Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) may lack the looks the vapid people at a prestigious fashion magazine require to admire and respect someone, but they'll soon learn why underestimating her is bad news. Anyone can invest in a makeover to improve upon one's outer beauty, but no one can steal your intelligence and dedication in Ugly Betty.

Talent: America Ferrera, Tony Plana, Vanessa Williams, Ana Ortiz, Ashley Jensen, Judith Light, Michael Urie, and Silvio Horta

Related reading: 5 rules to keep Ugly Betty looking good

UnREAL

Let's get UnREAL for a minute because your next binge has to be Lifetime/Hulu's scandalous drama that takes on the behind-the-scenes world of reality dating shows (mostly The Bachelor franchise) and all the wild and dangerous manipulation that goes along with it. For four seasons, the series followed Shiri Appleby (Roswell) as young and troubled reality television producer Rachel Goldberg as she's pushed to her limits (and then some) by her unethical boss (Constance Zimmer) who will do whatever it takes to secure high ratings and see herself rise to the top. The two women go to any lengths necessary to create salacious content that will keep viewers enthralled, while the contestants suffer the consequences. Created by Marti Noxon and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, UnReal is as addictive as its reality source material, but without commercial breaks and endless recaps, it's way more of a breakneck and thrilling ride.

Talent: Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer

What We Do in the Shadows

Yes, FX's What We Do in the Shadows is based on the Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi film, but it's so much more! The series has taken the idea of shooting a mockumentary about the lives of vampires and expanded it with a talented cast of supernatural beings mucking about and causing mayhem in New York's Staten Island. Well, at least that's what it's about on the surface. As the series unravels, the story dives into vampire Nandor the Relentless' (Kayvan Novak) familiar Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) who desperately wants to be turned by his master until he discovers he's the descendant of vampire killer Van Helsing. This makes for interesting situations at their home, as Guillermo battles evil beings protecting his ungrateful roommates without their knowledge until he bares of it all and has no choice but to embrace his destiny.

Talent: Matt Berry, Kayvan Novak, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, and Mark Proksch; created by Jemaine Clement; Taika Waititi and Clement are executive producers.

White Collar

Back in USA Network's golden era of blue skies television, there was White Collar. The series follows Neal Caffery (Matt Bomer), a talented and sly con artist working as a criminal informant. Caffery had a talent for getting under the skin of Special Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) but it was their chemistry, mixed in with the magic of costars Willie Garson, Tiffany Thiessen, Marsha Thomason, and the incomparable Diahann Carroll, that made the show a hit for six seasons.

Talent: Matt Bomer, Tim DeKay, Willie Garson, Tiffany Thiessen, Marsha Thomason, Diahann Carroll, Sharif Atkins, and Hilarie Burton; created by Jeff Eastin

Wild Crime

ABC News makes its first foray into creating original content for Hulu with the new true-crime series Wild Crime. What makes this series unique in the genre is it focuses on cases set among rugged and remote American landscapes. The first installment, of which there are four episodes, follows National Park Service Special Agent Beth Shott and rangers as they look into the mysterious death of Toni Henthorn in Rocky Mountain National Park, and the subsequent investigation of her husband, Harold Henthorn. As with all true crime, this one takes immediate twists and turns, with a surprising subplot prompted by a number of anonymous letters investigators received, urging them to look into another woman's death.

The Wonder Years

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times—it was The Wonder Years. Fred Savage stars as Kevin Arnold in the popular, coming-of-age dramedy set between 1968–1973 in a middle-class suburban neighborhood in the U.S. The series, which ran for six seasons on ABC from 1988 to 1993, follows Kevin's family life, school years, and, more importantly, his infatuation with Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar). Josh Saviano, who plays Kevin's best friend and confidante, Paul Pfeiffer, becomes a much bigger part of the series as the show moves its focus away from Kevin's family life.

Talent: Fred Savage, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Olivia d'Abo, Alley Mills, Jason Hervey, Danica McKellar, and Paul Saviano

Young Rock

What was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson like when he was growing up? NBC's Young Rock explores this very topic with super fun time jumps featuring young Rocks of all ages. Adrian Groulx plays Johnson aged 10, Bradley Constant at age 15, and Uli Latukefu from ages 18-20 years old.

Longtime wrestling fans also get to see a lot of the classic wrestlers from the golden age of WWE (then known as WWF) including Andre the Giant (Matthew Willig), The Iron Sheik (Brett Azar), Junkyard Dog (Nate Jackson), and Randy "Macho Man" Savage (Kevin Makely), to name a few. But the biggest wrestler of them all, as Johnson would certainly agree, was his father Rocky Johnson (Joseph Lee Anderson) who died in 2020.

EW grade: B+ and B- (Read our review)

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Joseph Lee Anderson, Stacey Leilua, Ana Tuisila, Adrian Groulx, Bradley Constant, Uli Latukefu, Rosario Dawson, and Randall Park

Y: The Last Man

Hundreds of thousands of rats run panicked through city streets, forcing a couple to take refuge atop a car, as the rodents flee a terrifying global shift in the premiere episode of Y: The Last Man, one that leads to the death of any mammal with a Y chromosome (par one man). Once the show shifts into its post-apocalyptic-event state, this drama picks up steam, putting Diane Lane's Congresswoman Jennifer Brown into the president's seat, where she attempts to restore some sort of order. This FX on Hulu series, based on the DC Comics series from Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, has a healthy cast of intriguing female and transgender male characters to fuel the drama, perhaps the least of which is the lone cisgender man—Yorick—who was leading the life of a broke and unsuccessful magician prior to the incident.

EW grade: C (Read our review)

Talent: Diane Lane, Ashley Romans, Ben Schnetzer, Olivia Thirlby

Younger

When Liza Miller (Sutton Foster) needs to breathe new life into her career, she decides that lying about her age is the way to go. Not to spoil too much, but her plan works, at least for a while. Liza, who is coming off a divorce at the start of the series, ends up learning a lot about herself along the way including how much damage a little fib can cause. Not everything is dark, however. There are friendships, fun, and love affairs to be had across the seven-season series currently available via Hulu.

Talent: Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, Nico Tortorella, Debi Mazar, and Peter Hermann

90 Day Fiancé

Relationships are messy, and they're even messier when couples are separated by many miles. That's the premise of TLC's 90 Day Fiancé, bringing together a loving pair who live in different countries, with the American-born partner filing a K-1 Visa to bring their foreign partner to live in the United States. The series has been a huge success for the network and has spawned several spin-offs. It's obvious that some people have something other than love on their mind when they sign up for this long-distance relationship, but most of them, surprisingly, make it down the aisle.

Talent: Includes Darcey Silva, Paola Mayfield, Loren and Alexi Brovarnik, Anfisa Arkhipchenko, Jorge Nava, Nicole Nafziger, Azan Tefou, Chantel Everett, and Pedro Jimeno

9-1-1

Kenneth Choi, Ryan Guzman, Peter Krause, Aisha Hinds, and Oliver Stark in the season 5 premiere of '9-1-1'. Jack Zeman /FOX

This Fox emergency services drama has been taking viewers on the wildest rides alongside the police officers, paramedics, firefighters, and dispatchers in the Los Angeles area. Created by Ryan Murphy, the series follows the lives of a group of first responders, including LAPD patrol sergeant Athena Grant-Nash (Angela Bassett), LAFD Station 118 captain Bobby Nash (Peter Krause), and 911 operator Maddie Buckley (Jennifer Love Hewitt) as they contend with everything from your average house first to airplane crashes and zoo breakouts. Don't worry, in addition to all the crazy catastrophes, there's plenty of heart and humor between the heroic responders to keep this show almost grounded. Just don't binge too many episodes at once or you'll never leave your home again out of fear of all the bizarre ways you could get hurt.

Talent: Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Connie Britton

9-1-1: Lone Star

If you're a fan of ridiculous intense Ryan Murphy dramas and have already binged your way through Fox's 9-1-1 series, why not give its spin-off a whirl? Set in Austin, Tex., Lone Star stars Rob Lowe as Captain Owen Strand, a firefighter who was the lone survivor of his Manhattan firehouse on 9/11. After a tragedy strikes a firehouse in Austin, similarly leaving only one survivor, Owen relocates to help them rebuild. The show's first season also stars Liv Tyler, as well as a diverse ensemble including, Natacha Karam (NBC's The Brave), Brian Michael Smith (Queen Sugar), Jim Parrack (True Blood), and newcomer Rafael Silva. Season 2 saw Gina Torres join the cast as Tommy Vega, an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) replacement captain. Together the crew faces everything from freak dust storms to Owen's lectures on adequate skin care. Hey, you can't say the man hasn't earned some high-end lotion.

Talent: Rob Lowe, Liv Tyler, and Gina Torres

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