Once again, 2021 was a big year for Hulu. The streaming service might not be quite on the level of Netflix or Disney+ in of subscribers but it has carved out its own place among streaming services. Along with an impressive catalog of shows from other networks, Hulu has its own great original content.
Following the historic success of The Handmaid's Tale, Hulu has continued to put out quality TV shows. 2021 saw them release all sorts of intriguing shows, whether they were comic book series connected to FX, miniseries based in reality, strange Marvel animated shows, or almost anything in between.
Y: The Last Man (6.0)
The hype surrounding comic book of the same name, the show seemed to have an established fanbase and a setup that would lead to some truly intriguing storylines and episodes.
The show takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious event resulted in the death of every mammal with a Y chromosome with the exception of one man and his pet monkey. Alas, it was canceled after one season. Reviews said there was a lot of potential and that it got better over time but the slow start was sometimes frustrating.
American Horror Stories (6.1)
Another production from FX, American Horror Stories is an extension of the immensely popular and long-running anthology series, American Horror Story. The key difference here is that instead of telling a different story with each season, this new take had a unique tale for each episode.
The cast included a mix of AHS veterans like Matt Bomer, Billie Lourd, and Naomi Grossman with up and coming stars like Kaia Gerber, Madison Bailey, and Sierra McCormick. Overall, critics were pretty mixed on the show with some episodes being far better than others.
Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. (6.3)
These days, there are so many shows about superheroes and villains that it can be especially difficult to stand out. That's what helped make Marvel's Avengers video game), M.O.D.O.K. has a pretty goofy look.
So, the show runs with that and is a stop-motion animated comedy. The titular character has to balance trying to be a major villain and his failing family life. Praise was given to the animation style, the fun storylines, and the talented cast that includes Patton Oswalt, Aimee Garcia, Melissa Fumero, and more.
The Premise (6.4)
Once again, FX helps bring an anthology series to Hulu. Unlike American Horror Stories, The Premise is more based on a mixture of comedy and drama. Created by B.J. Novak of The Office, each episode focused on a different current issue in the world.
Considering Novak's history as a strong writer, it makes sense that it was a praised aspect of the series. The cast was also pretty loaded with episodes featuring O'Shea Jackson Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Tracee Ellis Ross, and more.
Nine Perfect Strangers (7.0)
Although 7/10 is a good score, it could be said that Big Little Lies and boasting a remarkable cast including Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Samara Weaving, and Luke Evans, expectations were high.
Centering on a group of strangers who come together at a mysterious resort designed to help them all get past their various issues, the entire premise hooked audiences immediately. While the performances were top-notch up and down the cast, some felt the plot got erratic as things progressed.
Hit-Monkey (8.0)
Along the same lines as Marvel's M.O.D.O.K., Hulu released another Marvel animated series in Hit-Monkey. Again, this was something that lent itself well to animation because of just how wacky the setup for the show actually is.
Just reading the synopsis will likely make you do a double-take as the show centers on a Japanese snow monkey who becomes a lethal assassin through Tokyo, all while being mentored by the ghost of an American hitman. The show is pretty wild but that's why it has worked so well.
Reservation Dogs (8.1)
Not to be confused with the Quentin Tarantino flick from the early '90s, Reservoir Dogs, FX on Hulu brought the world the iconic Taika Waititi, the comedy-drama focuses on a quartet of Native American teenagers growing up on a reservation in Oklahoma.
The show was an instant success with fans and critics alike appreciating nearly every aspect of it. Reservation Dogs has also helped introduce some talented actors to the world who are poised to break out due to it.
Only Murders In The Building (8.2)
One of the most addicting series of 2021 had to be Only Murders in the Building. Starring (and produced by) Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short, the show centers on their trio of true-crime podcast obsessed characters as they start their own podcast to investigate a murder in their Manhattan building.
By expertly blending hilarious moments with some truly shocking plot twists, Only Murders in the Building became a hit that people were talking about weekly. With a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a huge cliffhanger, audiences are anxiously awaiting season 2.
The Handmaid's Tale Season 4 (8.3)
As noted, The Handmaid's Tale was the first true hit for Hulu. Although it certainly had many fans, it was a true success critically to the point where season 1 won Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys, becoming the first streaming show to do so.
Quality has remained strong over the years and 2021 saw season 4 hit the streaming service. Taking the average rating for each episode shows that it was another great season with tremendous work from the likes of Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, and the rest of the cast.
Love, Victor Season 2 (8.4)
2018's Love, Simon was a critical darling focusing on a closeted gay teen who is forced to come out to his school due to getting blackmailed. When Hulu announced a spin-off/sequel series, fans of the film were excited and it lived up to the hype.
Season 1 of With more great writing and likable characters, the show was once again a success.