And with that, The Bear has come to an end. Hulu’s Emmy-winning drama released all eight episodes of season 5 on June 25. That was the final season, so don’t expect new episodes this time next June. The Bear will always hold a special place in my heart as the rare instance where I preferred binge-watching over a weekly release.

With The Bear finished, it’s time to explore Hulu for more shows. My top pick is arguably Hulu’s crowning achievement in the limited series format. Other shows on the list include a workplace comedy, a heartfelt dramedy, and a chaotic young-adult soap.

4

Tell Me Lies

A teen drama on steroids

If you like something, stand up and defend it. That’s what I’m about to do with Tell Me Lies, Hulu’s messy and addictive drama. It’s a story with more twists than a maze. It’s a car crash you should avoid, but you can’t stop watching. It reminds me of the 1990s teen soaps, but with more juicy drama.

Tell Me Lies is told over the course of eight years. In the fall of 2007, college freshman Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) meets junior Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White) and embarks on a passionate, tumultuous relationship. In 2015, the group reunites for an unexpected wedding. Two things can be true: I don’t root for any of the seven leads in Tell Me Lies, and I loved watching every second of it.

All three seasons of Tell Me Lies are now streaming on Hulu.

3

Not Suitable for Work

Mindy Kaling tackles young professionals in NYC

Mindy Kaling has been making audiences laugh since her days as Kelly Kapoor in The Office. As great as Kaling is as a comedic actor, she’s a better writer, having created several successful TV shows like The Mindy Project, Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Running Point. Kaling’s latest creation, Not Suitable for Work, which premiered this month, chronicles the transition from adolescence to adulthood through the eyes of a group of 20-somethings living in New York City.

AJ Pascarelli (Ella Hunt) is a novice analyst at an investment bank. Her roommate and best friend, Abby (Avantika Vandanapu), is an assistant for a celebrity stylist. Davis (Will Angus) works at the same investment bank and lives across the hall from AJ with his two roommates, Josh (Jack Martin) and Kel (Nicholas Duvernay). The show then follows many of the tropes of an ensemble comedy, including work troubles and romantic affairs. It’s a charming binge, especially if you’ve experienced those anxious feelings in your early 20s. I bet a lot of you can relate to the crush across the hallway and the boss you fear at work. ​​​​​​​

The entire first season of Not Suitable for Work is now available on Hulu.

2

Ramy

A comedy that wears its heart on its sleeves

Ramy Youssef is a thoughtful comedian. He’s not boisterous onstage. Instead, he keeps everything in a conversational and laid-back tone. It’s not complete silence, but Youssef’s specials are rather quiet because he’s unafraid of a long pause. It’s a different approach to comedy, but it delivers. Youssef injects that unique blend of comedy into his Hulu show Ramy, a semi-autobiographical look at his life.

Youssef plays Ramy Hassan, an Egyptian-American who navigates his complicated life in New Jersey. Ramy constantly grapples with his faith — he wants to be a devout Muslim, but an American lifestyle frequently conflicts with those beliefs. Ramy is a heartfelt series about a young Muslim man trying to do the right thing despite his constant mistakes. I appreciate Youssef’s vulnerability and fearlessness to address existential questions.​​​​​​​

Ramy’s three seasons are all streaming on Hulu.

1

Normal People

Prepare to be moved

April 2020 was a tough time around the world, including the U.S. Many people spent most of their time inside due to the pandemic. Like many others, I turned to TV as a distraction. One of the shows I heard about was Normal People, the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name. I gave it a shot, and by the end of the Hulu miniseries, I couldn’t stop crying. What a beautiful piece of television.

In an Irish high school, Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal) is a popular athlete who struggles to express his emotions. Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is an outspoken rich kid with zero friends. Together, Connell and Marianne embark on a secret relationship. The series then follows their path to Trinity College. It’s one of the most realistic depictions of young love I’ve ever seen. It’s a show that will make you smile one moment and wipe tears from your cheeks the next. I hope Mescal and Edgar-Jones work together again because their chemistry is undeniable.

Stream all 12 episodes of Normal People on Hulu.

More content to watch on Hulu

If you’re already on Hulu, you might as well explore what the streamer has to offer. If you want to laugh, Hulu has some hilarious comedies, including Big Daddy and Mrs. Doubtfire. For movies with more critical acclaim, check out some Oscar-winning movies like Brokeback Mountain and Sentimental Value.

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