If you’re looking for the next platform to support your TV binging tendencies or one-off episodes that bring background entertainment to mundane activities, Hulu has you covered. From Star Trek and Saved By The Bell to Friday Night Lights and Handmaid’s Tale, the most iconic episodes in television can be found on Hulu.
There are multiple viewing options, all of which can be enjoyed with a free trial. With plans starting at $5.99/month, leveling up at $11.99/month for ad-free service, and working up to $70.99/month for ad-free Hulu + Live TV. There’s also add-ons for HBO Max, Cinemax, Showtime, and Starz that are included with the Live TV package. And don’t forget the bundles for Disney+/ESPN+, Spotify, and Sprint users.
Hulu also boasts a hefty selection of original content ranging from all genres of movies and shows. The service allows two simultaneous streamers too, compared to HBO Max which allows 3, Netflix with 1-4, and Disney+ with 4. Hulu with Live TV is great for users seeking current shows, as they stream major network shows the day after they air.
Now it’s time to get to the good stuff, some of the best quality shows you can find on Hulu.
The Handmaid’s Tale
- Released in 2017
- Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, Ann Dowd
- Seasons: 4
A dystopian production of Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, is set in a post-war society that grows out of the second American Civil War. Environmental pollution and sexually transmitted diseases have ravaged the fertility rates in this newfound society. The plot follows the main character, Offred, as she is damned to life as a handmaid. She’s a fertile woman who is forced into sexual enslavement and is impregnated to bear children for a married couple. Offred is a defiant and stout character and she captivates the viewers along her journey as she remains hopeful at the prospect of reuniting with her family one day.
This gripping series uses extremist interpretations of biblical themes and oppression in American society today to create opportunities for conversation and debate. The Handmaid’s Tale is thought-provoking, intense, and great for watching with others.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
- Released in 2005
- Starring: Charlie Day, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, and Danny Devito
- Seasons: 14
This classic American sitcom is a mindlessly entertaining compilation of the ridiculousness that “The Gang” (as they call themselves) gets into, one episode after the next. Based in an Irish pub in South Philadelphia, this multi-decade comedy skit became the longest-running live-action comedy series in American television history when the series was renewed in 2020 with four new and upcoming seasons.
Perfect to throw on as background entertainment or to check out at the end of a long day with, “The Gang’s” banter is bizarre, witty, and written for a crowd not easily offended. And an adorable fun fact, two of the characters, Mac and Deandra, fell in love during the making of the series and are married to date!
M*A*S*H
- Released in 1972
- Starring: Alan Alda, Gary Burghoff, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr, Harry Morgan
- Seasons: 11
This iconic series is a mashup (pun intended) of wartime dark comedy and drama. It’s been adapted from a novel to a movie to this series and is an acronym for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. The story takes place during the Korean War and was aired at the time of the Vietnam War. The brilliant scripting creates entertainment with an undertone of dissent against America’s role in the Cold War. M*A*S*H is one of the most-watched shows in US history, and its final episode, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen”, was the most-watched television broadcast in American history from 1983 to 2010. Larry Gelbart, writer of the M*A*S*H pilot, wrote the script for this first-ever episode in two days, unable to resist the last-minute opportunity to turn this already iconic novel into a TV series. It seems to have worked out pretty well for him!
Rick and Morty
- Released in 2013
- Starring: Justin Roiland, Spencer Grammer, Dan Harmon, Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke
- Seasons: 5
An entertaining and eccentric relationship between a mad scientist and his grandson takes the dynamic duo, Rick and Morty, through a cyclone of different realities, planets, dimensions, and portals. Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon created this adult sci-fi animated series and paired twisted humor with a vivid imagination. Harmon has described the show as a cross between The Simpsons and Futurama, incorporating both family life and science fiction. With a heavyweight placed on the out-of-this-world aspect of the show, there is room to step outside the realm of work, life routine and laugh through this representation of a supernatural world.
Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia
- Released in 2016
- Starring: Hamilton Morris, Jason Wallach, Timothy Wyllie
- Seasons: 3
This beautiful conglomerate of science, culture, and spirituality takes the viewers through Hamilton Morris’ deep dive into the world of psychoactive substances. The documentary series began as a monthly column for Vice Magazine in 2009 and evolved into a film production when Morris received the opportunity to make it one. The show has been transformative in enlightening mainstream culture on the science behind recreational substances that have long been stigmatized. This docuseries is an informative pastime that keeps the viewer engaged through vivid storytelling and visuals.
