MTV/Fox/FX
As many different services vie for your attention, Hulu has really upped the ante in terms of its streaming catalog. While the service may be getting rid of its free content, there are more than a few reasons to stick with it. So here are the best shows on Hulu right now. For the sake of brevity, the TV shows included on the list are only ones that have their entire series run (thus far) available for your enjoyment.
30. The Path (1 Season)
Hulu
When you combine the narrative power of Jason Katims with a firecracker cast, there was no way that The Path was one to miss. As he sees his family get deeper and deeper into a cult called “Meyerism,” Aaron Paul’s Eddie Lane starts to suffer from a crisis of faith. However, his wife, Sarah (Michelle Monaghan), is a lifelong member, and the pull of the charismatic leader Cal (Hugh Dancy) is a strong one. Everything begins to unravel, bringing ugly secrets to the surface and the choice between personal belief and family responsibility is explored. It isn’t always an easy watch, but it is a worthwhile one.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
29. Daria (5 Seasons)
MTV
If there ever was a character who spoke to the angsty teen inside everyone, it was Daria Morgendorffer. A ’90s MTV classic, Daria was the voice of a generation, but honestly, the show speaks to teenagers from every decade. If you’ve ever been embarrassed by a sibling, thought your peers were idiots, and been condescended to by adults, Daria will strike a nerve. With incredibly clever one liners, honest insights into the pain of first love, and a winning cynicism that elevates it above a run-of-the-mill cartoon, Daria should be your next nostalgia binge.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
28. Dead Like Me (2 Seasons)
Showtime
Before you watch Bryan Fuller’s American Gods, go back in time for this underrated deep cut about the afterlife. When George (Ellen Puth) gets killed by a toilet seat falling from a space station, she discovers that life after death is a lot like the mundanity of living. She still has to hold down a soul-crushing job, her coworkers still don’t like her, and she’s still kind of an asshole. However, with Fuller’s deft approach to character building, a novel premise, and great performances from actors like Mandy Patinkin, Dead Like Me is worth a first, or second, look.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
27. Casual (2 Seasons)
Hulu
Casual could have been just another character-driven family dramedy, but it has managed to deftly avoid the pitfalls of that prevalent genre. While the second season has veered more into the drama aspect of “dramedy,” it is still as sharply written and realized as ever. Even as we cringe as the characters make increasingly self-destructive choices, they are compelling enough to keep you coming back episode after episode. Plus, Michaela Watkins manages to make the journey of finding yourself after divorce realistic and watchable. Eat Pray Love this is not.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
26. Broad City (3 Seasons)
Comedy Central
There are few shows out there that are as consistently manic and hilarious as Broad City. The dream team of Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson make living in New York seem like a screwed up fairy tale, and yet it is still more realistic than almost every other depiction of twentysomething life in the Big Apple. Their apartments are terrible, their sex toys are plentiful, and they are there to expose the cult-like nature of the co-op. While the jokes fly fast, they still manage to work in some pathos, especially in season three, which examines the changeable nature of friendship and how some relationships aren’t made to last.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
25. Scrubs (9 Seasons)
NBC
Scrubs is more than “Guy Love.” Despite the show’s penchant for trafficking in absurd humor, Scrubs managed to pack in deeply emotional moments while also getting called “the most accurate television show about the medical profession.” While the final season may have been a departure from the original charm (it did give us Eliza Coupe, though, so it gets a pass), Zach Braff has never been more likable than he was as J.D., who was navigating his time at Sacred Heart from intern to physician. With hilarious moments of genuine friendship to the most cutting insults you wish you could use but fear HR repercussions, Scrubs proves that you don’t have to be an over the top soap opera or led by a genius misanthrope to keep people watching. Scrubs is showrunner Bill Lawrence at his best, and it definitely holds up to repeat viewings.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
24. Party Down (2 Seasons)
Starz
There is always a little twinge of sadness when you finish a Party Down binge. With only two short seasons, there is always a feeling of “what could have been.” A show about people who can really only be classified as “losers,” Party Down masks a sharp emotional pain beneath hilarious guest stars and “Are we having fun yet?!” If you have ever been disappointed by how your life has turned out, be it by circumstance or your own bad choices, you will painfully relate with someone on the titular catering crew. Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan have killer chemistry as two self-destructive people who see themselves as better than their circumstances but refuse to make the kind of decisions that will help them get what they want. It’s easier to coast along and mock the absurd customers than to actually try.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
23. The I.T. Crowd (5 Seasons)
Channel 4
One of Hulu’s main strengths is its extensive catalog of British television. One of the highlights is the bizarre world of The I.T. Crowd, a series that good-naturedly mocks the absurdity of corporate culture and geek culture in equal measure. Honestly, this is the show that The Big Bang Theory wishes it could be. As Moss (Richard Ayoade), Roy (Chris O’Dowd), and Jen (Katherine Parkinson) waste time in a dead-end tech support job, lurking in the forgotten basement of the most generic corporation in recent memory, the absurd adventures and outlandish supporting characters make The I.T. Crowd even funnier with every rewatch. Whether you understand the evils of Windows Vista or the plight of goths in the workplace, there is something for everyone at Reynholm Industries. God damn, these electric sex pants!
Add To Hulu Watchlist
22. The O.C. (4 Seasons)
FOX
For a certain generation, The O.C. was it. Whether you wanted to be them or date them, the affluent teens of Orange County are the benchmark of the teen drama genre. The O.C. was that perfect intersection of escapism and easily digested indie rock, and gave us new twists on the classic high school archetypes. It wasn’t a perfect show (“Hide and Seek” is ruined forever), but in a genre filled with bad performances and unearned melodrama, The O.C. felt like a breath of fresh air. As Ryan Atwood (Ben McKenzie) went from a delinquent in Chino to at home at the Cohens’, fans all learned a little bit about growing up along the way. Also to never, ever go to Tijuana. This show gave us Sandy Cohen, best television dad ever, and the iconic “You know what I like about rich kids? Nothing.” and for that, we are grateful.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
21. Peep Show (9 Seasons)
Channel 4
There are few sitcoms as endlessly inventive and bitingly funny as Peep Show. Born from the hilariously warped minds of British comedians David Mitchell and Robert Webb, the series focuses on Mark and Jez, two combatant roommates who are both failing at being an adult in their own awful ways. Told from different character perspectives, viewers get an inside look into their inner monologues. You’ll may cringe into your sofa at some of their foibles, but never stop laughing. As these two idiots try and fail to successfully navigate life, at least they have the best and sharpest jokes.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
20. Review (2 Seasons)
COMEDY CENTRAL
Watching Review can only be described as a five star experience. Andy Daly’s idiotically earnest Forrest MacNeil takes on the task of reviewing real life experiences, and nearly ruins his own life in the process. As he reviews life experiences like drug use, divorce, prison, and starting a cult, MacNeil seems willfully unaware that he is ruining his own life in the process of rating life. Daly is the classic “that guy from that thing” of comedy, so it’s great to see him get a vehicle that truly showcases how hilarious that he can be. It’s astounding how good Review is, and you’ll be just as angry as the rest of us to learn that it only got three short seasons before cancellation. For that: 0ne star.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
19. South Park (19 Seasons)
COmedy Central
Any show that has lasted as long as South Park is bound to have its ups and downs. The irreverent antics by some forever-grade-school kids isn’t for everyone, but it’s impossible to discount its cultural impact. On top of repeatedly killing Kenny, South Park has time and time again taken on the absurd parts of modern life and turned a warped microscope on them. No one gets out unscathed, from Kanye West to internet commenters, but to be skewered by the brilliant minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone is an honor in itself. Spending 19 seasons in South Park, Colo., may seem like a daunting task, but it is an ultimately rewarding one. For the most ambitious of television binge watchers, South Park is their comedy Everest.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
18. Black Books (3 Seasons)
Channel 4
Do you love alcohol and hate other people? Then Black Books is the show for you. Set in a used book shop run by a cantankerous Irishman who courts failure with every action he takes, Black Books is a beautiful wine lolly of a television show, one so clever that you won’t even mind the laugh track. (How do British sitcoms get away with the laugh tracks?) Bernard (Dylan Moran), Manny (Bill Bailey), and Fran (Tamsin Greig) are the classic underachievers of the sort that litter British TV, but done in an exceptionally absurd way. They destroy their kitchens, make their own wine, and avoid cleaning up their utter filth, and you’ll wonder how they even keep their shops open. If you want to take your witty retorts to the next level, Black Books is your necessary curriculum.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
17. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (3 Seasons)
FOX
The antics of this New York police precinct are endlessly hilarious, with every character getting their moment to shine. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has one of the most wonderful casts currently on television, and it hasn’t slowed down a bit from its banner freshman season. While it is technically Jake Peralta’s (Andy Samberg) show, it’s one of the few true ensemble shows on television right now. It’s not that Samberg isn’t good, he is, but the same could also be said of Stephanie Beatriz’s Rosa or Terry Crews’ Terry or almost every other character. A workplace comedy at its core, Brooklyn Nine-Nine proves that showrunner Mike Schur is on a hot streak that shows no sign of slowing down.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
16. Sons of Anarchy (7 Seasons)
FX
While the show may have lost a little steam in the middle of its run, when Sons of Anarchy was good, it was electric. As Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) struggled to find his place as the leader of his father’s old motorcycle gang, he is often made to wonder if the violence and stress on his family is worth the adrenaline and power. Kurt Sutter is a divisive figure in Hollywood, but he caught lightning in a bottle with SoA. With an endless parade of shocking moments and killer characters, few shows will keep you on the edge of your seat in the same way. You’ll be awfully glad you aren’t a part of SAMCRO, but you won’t be able to look away all the same. Just don’t go out and buy a motorcycle on a whim. You probably can’t pull off the leather. A television binge is the safer way to go.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
15. Spaced (2 Seasons)
Channel 4
Fans of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz need to return to the show that birthed the miraculous creative team of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, and Nick Frost. Spaced captures the Gen X experience in a totally unique way. Like a hopelessly nerdy Reality Bites, the trials of Tim (Pegg) and Daisy (Jessica Hynes) will feel painfully real for those of us who have had dead-end jobs, dead-end relationships, and a seemingly dead-end life. It’s not all so bad, though. Despite the sometimes dire circumstances, the show maintains a pleasant optimism. Even if The Phantom Menace let you down, at least you can rewatch the original Star Wars trilogy as many times as you want. While the show is decidedly more low key than Wright’s future film endeavors, you can see the trademark style coming through in every single frame.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
14. You’re the Worst (2 Seasons)
FXX
If you’re looking for a show that will kick you in the balls and then pass you a mimosa, You’re the Worst is that show. It might have you crying tears of laughter in one scene, then leave you wondering “this is a COMEDY, right?!” in the next. It’s that dichotomy that makes it so vital to the modern television landscape. You owe it to yourself to be introduced to the familiar toxicity of Gretchen (Aya Cash) and Jimmy (Chris Geere) before the FX comedy returns. There are few comedies that so aptly mock modern mores of adulthood while still treating its characters with compassion, even if they don’t deserve it. Plus, there are few shows that perfectly express how it feels to be clinically depressed. Come for the trash juice, stay for the insight.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
13. Misfits (5 Seasons)
E4
There is a rough-around-the-edges quality that makes Misfits irresistible. A rotating team of adolescents gain supernatural powers while they’re fulfilling their criminal community service requirements, but the X-Men they are not. It’s not easy to categorize them as “the good guys” considering all of the people they accidentally kill, but they certainly mean well. Fans of Game of Thrones and Preacher will see some familiar faces, but the whole cast is aces. There are rumblings of an American remake, but hopefully that will never come to fruition. There is something so decidedly British about Misfits, but not in the stuffy way that people assume. It’s gritty, it’s crass, and to water that down for stateside sensibilities would be a crime.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
12. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (10 Seasons)
FX
There’s no denying that the protagonists of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are amoral psychopaths. (Looking at you especially, Dennis.) But there are few shows out there that will elicit the same belly laughs. As these raging narcissists hang around Paddy’s Irish Pub, you will be struck by the lack of self awareness while at the same time hoping things never change. Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day shine especially bright, sucking into a vortex of kitten mittens and Nightman. Whether or not you believe in a higher power, you will thank your gods that you are better adjusted than these assholes. Still, even after 10 seasons, we wouldn’t have them any other way.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
11. Rick and Morty (2 Seasons)
adult swim
Many wondered how Dan Harmon would follow up the perfection that was Community at its peak, and he certainly delivered with Rick and Morty. Like a demented version of Back to the Future, Rick and Morty follows a super scientist and his less-than-genius grandson on a variety of adventures. It’s part cartoon, part “cosmic horror.” Who knew that following a vomiting scientist and his dimwitted grandson could be so brilliant? Rick and Morty is a demented work of escapism for adults that’s not to be missed. It’s also a still relatively underground show that’s waiting to burst forth into a broader audience. Get in on the goodness now.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
10. Archer (6 Seasons)
Fox
While it started as a hilarious James Bond spoof, Archer has really evolved into a show that can stand on its own. As super spies Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) and Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler) are out doing the cool derring do for ISIS (not that ISIS), the rest of the desk jockeys are left to deal with their mess and a lack of unionization. Archer quickly banishes the idea that cartoons are just for children (seriously, this show is not for children) with enough sex, drugs, and terrible behavior that Bond himself would blush.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
9. Twin Peaks (2 Seasons)
CBS
Even though it’s been off the air for decades, the mysteries of Twin Peaks still torment viewers. While a few answers may be coming with the 2017 revival, anyone familiar with David Lynch’s masterwork knows that they’ll probably be left more confused than ever. After the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) peers beneath the veneer of the small town of Twin Peaks, Wash., and finds a strange darkness under the surface. If you’re a fan of bizarre mysteries and a damn fine cup of coffee, Twin Peaks is the head trip for you.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
8. Happy Endings (3 Seasons)
ABC
In a fairer world, Happy Endings would have run for 10 seasons and gotten a movie. Alas, that is not the world that we live in, and this weird little romcom only lasted for three seasons. While it appeared to be yet another show about twenty- and thirtysomethings livin’ life in the big city, the mile-a-minute jokes, screwball humor, and stereotype-breaking characters made it something different. If you spend your time wondering what a three-way marriage between Mandy Moore, Michael Moore, and Mary Tyler Moore would look like, this is your show. Despite a not-so-happy ending in 2013, fans (and the cast) are still hoping for a miracle renewal by a streaming service or whatnot. Stranger things have happened. Either way, this is the perfect show for your next weekend bingeathon, even if it will just leave you wanting more.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
7. The X-Files (9 Seasons)
Fox
Many sci-fi shows have come into the geeky pantheon of television, but The X-Files remains a benchmark. While the revival series wasn’t quite what fans were hoping for, seeing the unbeatable team of Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) back in action was a treat. Still, going back to the beginning is the only way to go with the show. Whether you get caught up in the monster of the week storylines or like digging into the overarching mythology, The X-Files will stick with you for years to come.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
6. Battlestar Galactica (4 Seasons)
SYFY
Another imperfect sci-fi entry, Battlestar Galactica dared to be different. Following in the Star Trek vein of “thinking person’s science fiction,” Battlestar Galactica was equal parts thrilling and frustrating. After most of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol are wiped out by the Cylons, humanity is left to wander space looking for a new home. Under the leadership of Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Rosen (Mary McDonnell), the military ship Galactica is the only thing standing between the remaining humans and the Cylon threat. This Peabody Award winning show featured ever shifting alliances, interesting philosophical ponderings, and plot twists that will make you scream in frustration, and is a must watch show for more than just sci-fi fans.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (7 Seasons)
Warner Brothers
Joss Whedon has gone on to giant blockbusters since his days on The WB, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer will forever be his magnum opus. Buffy offered the perfect blend of horror, comedy, and feels, with episodes and characters that have stuck with viewers for years. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s titular slayer perfectly balanced the ordinary pains of growing up against the extraordinary and supernatural circumstances that come with living on a Hellmouth. The clothing and catchphrases might be deeply rooted in the ’90s, but the themes are timeless. Even if you don’t know your standard demon curse from an ancient rune, Buffy is essential. It’ll rip your heart out, but you’ll like it anyway.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
4. Community (6 Seasons)
NBC
Has there ever been a sitcom as downright clever as Community? Aside from the gas leak year, Community was quicker than nearly every other comedy out there, with jokes flying fast but also taking seasons to reach a punchline. After getting caught with a phony degree, former lawyer Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) heads to Greendale Community College to get a legitimate degree. There he gets into increasingly hilarious hijinks with his Spanish study group. Between paintball wars, zombie outbreaks, and the increasingly ridiculous presence of Senor Chang (Ken Jeong), Community is never, ever boring. Quit living in the darkest timeline and get to watching.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
3. Seinfeld (9 Seasons)
Castle Rock
For a show about nothing, Seinfeld has left a cultural imprint that few shows can boast of achieving. Back before shows about neurotic people were the latest trend, Jerry Seinfeld blended his own neuroses with his stand up act, creating a New York landscape that many could relate to. With stories based on the minutiae of relationships and every day living, Seinfeld embedded itself in the cultural zeitgeist like few shows have done. Even if you’ve never seen an episode, you still know about the Soup Nazi and Newman. Plus, Veep fans will enjoy seeing a pre-presidential Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the hilariously frazzled Elaine Benes. If you’ve been meaning to watch the show that has made people laugh for decades, Hulu has you covered.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
2. Louie (5 Seasons)
FX
While “middle aged white male angst” shows are a dime a dozen, Louie is without a doubt the best. Taking the wry observations and crushing pessimism from his stand up, Louis C.K. paints a beautiful picture of a mediocre man. Louie screws up at being a dad, screws up in his romantic conquests, and pretty much screws up his entire life. It’s almost physically painful at times, but the sharp writing and honest insight into middle age (or honestly any age) will ring true to many. You won’t always like Louie; hell, you might not even always root for him. But you won’t be able to look away.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
1. Parks and Recreation (7 Seasons)
NBC
There simply isn’t a better show to binge watch than Parks and Recreation. Hilarious, smart, and relentlessly sunny, Parks and Recreation is a balm to weary viewers. Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope has joined the ranks of television icons, but the supporting cast is no less wonderful. If you’re looking for a show about good people trying to do good things while making good jokes, Parks and Recreation will be your new favorite show. While the first season feels a bit too much like a riff on The Office, it finds its feet in season two and never lets up. While so much of today’s comedy is mired in cynicism, Parks and Recreation will make you want to do better. It also gets better with each rewatch, so pour yourself some Snake Juice and enjoy.
Add To Hulu Watchlist
For everything else you should be streaming on Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, check out our comprehensive What To Watch guide.