You're sitting on the couch. The remote is basically glued to your hand. You’ve scrolled past the same three thumbnails for twenty minutes, and honestly, the "Recommended for You" section feels like it’s gaslighting you. It happens to everyone. Hulu’s library is a weird, beautiful, chaotic mess of prestige FX dramas, comfort sitcoms that have been running since the Bush administration, and those random true-crime docs that make you lock your front door twice. Finding shows to watch in Hulu shouldn't feel like a full-time job, but here we are.
The thing about Hulu is that it isn’t just one thing. It’s the home of The Bear, which is essentially a 30-minute panic attack disguised as a cooking show. But it’s also where you go when you want to watch Eraserhead at 2:00 AM or catch up on why everyone is yelling about The Kardashians. It’s a hybrid beast.
The FX Factor: Why Hulu is Secretly HBO's Biggest Rival
If you want the "good stuff"—the shows that win Emmys and make people look smart at dinner parties—you have to look at the FX on Hulu tab. It’s the gold mine.
Take The Bear. You've probably heard the shouting. It’s loud. It’s sweaty. Jeremy Allen White plays Carmy, a fine-dining chef who returns to Chicago to run his family’s gritty sandwich shop. It’s a masterclass in tension. What’s fascinating is how the show handles grief without being "weepy." It’s just raw. If you haven't started it, you're missing the cultural zeitgeist. It’s fast-paced, but then it slows down for these long, agonizing monologues that feel like a stage play.
Then there’s Shōgun. This isn’t just a "show." It’s a massive, sweeping epic that feels like Game of Thrones if it actually respected history and focused on the intricate politics of feudal Japan. The production value is staggering. Every kimono, every sword clink, every bow—it’s all intentional. Hiroyuki Sanada is a powerhouse. It’s the kind of show that demands your full attention; you can't just scroll through TikTok while watching this one, or you’ll have no idea why someone just committed seppuku.
The Weirdness of Reservation Dogs
Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi did something special here. Reservation Dogs follows four Indigenous teens in rural Oklahoma. It’s funny. It’s heartbreaking. It’s supernatural? Sort of. There’s a spirit guide who died at the Battle of the Little Bighorn but didn't actually do any fighting because his horse tripped. It’s that kind of humor. It’s rare to see a show that feels so grounded in a specific place yet feels so universal in its themes of wanting to escape your hometown. This is top-tier shows to watch in Hulu material because it’s finally finished, meaning you can binge all three seasons without waiting.
True Crime and the "Based on a True Story" Obsession
Hulu has a bit of a monopoly on the "prestige limited series based on a scandal" market. You remember the headlines, and now you get to see Amanda Seyfried wear a black turtleneck and talk in a deep voice.
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- The Dropout: This is the Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos story. It’s a fascinating look at how a 19-year-old convinced the world’s smartest people that she’d revolutionized blood testing. Seyfried captures the blinkless, haunting stare perfectly.
- Dopesick: This one is heavier. Michael Keaton stars in a look at the opioid crisis and the rise of OxyContin. It’s frustrating. It’ll make you angry at the Sackler family, but it’s essential viewing.
- Under the Bridge: A more recent addition starring Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough. It’s a grim, atmospheric look at the 1997 murder of Reena Virk. It avoids the "trashy" true crime tropes and focuses on the complexities of girlhood and systemic failure.
Sitcoms That Don't Feel Like Sitcoms
We need to talk about Abbott Elementary. Technically, it’s an ABC show, but most of us watch it on Hulu the next day. It’s the spiritual successor to The Office and Parks and Rec, but it has more heart. Quinta Brunson created a world that feels lived-in. The stakes are small—like getting a new rug for a classroom—but they feel huge to the characters.
And then there's Only Murders in the Building. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. It shouldn't work on paper. The age gap is weird. The premise—three strangers in a luxury NYC apartment building start a podcast about a murder—is very "2021." But the chemistry is undeniable. It’s cozy. It’s "Coastal Grandmother" aesthetic mixed with a whodunit. It’s the perfect show to watch when it’s raining outside and you have a blanket.
The Bear: A Deep Dive into Kitchen Stress
Let's go back to The Bear for a second. Why are people so obsessed? It’s the "Yes, Chef" of it all. The show captures the specific trauma of the service industry. Season 2, specifically the episode "Fishes," is an hour-long descent into a chaotic family Christmas dinner. It features guest stars like Jamie Lee Curtis and Bob Odenkirk, and it’s genuinely one of the most stressful hours of television ever produced. If you’re looking for shows to watch in Hulu that provoke a physical reaction, this is it.
The Sci-Fi and Horror Corner
Hulu doesn't get enough credit for its genre offerings. The Handmaid’s Tale is the big one, obviously. It’s based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, and while it has moved far beyond the book, Elisabeth Moss continues to give a performance that is basically 90% extreme close-ups of her face looking terrified or furious. It’s bleak. Very bleak.
If you want something a bit more fun, check out Extraordinary. It’s a British comedy set in a world where everyone gets a superpower on their 18th birthday... except for Jen. She’s 25 and still waiting. It’s foul-mouthed, hilarious, and deeply relatable for anyone who feels like a "late bloomer."
Then there’s A Murder at the End of the World. Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij (the duo behind The OA), it’s a tech-noir mystery set in a remote, snowy retreat. It deals with AI, climate change, and Gen Z sleuthing. It’s stylish and weird in all the right ways.
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Missing Pieces: What People Get Wrong About Hulu
A lot of people think Hulu is just for "next day" TV. They think it’s just a place to catch Grey's Anatomy if you missed the broadcast. That’s a mistake. The original programming has overtaken the library.
Also, the interface? Kinda clunky. Let’s be real. Navigating it can be a pain compared to Netflix’s seamless "Are you still watching?" guilt-tripping. But the depth of the library makes up for it. You have access to the entire Criterion Channel-adjacent films sometimes, and the "Hidden Gems" are actually hidden.
Have you watched The Great? Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. It’s an "occasionally true" story about Catherine the Great. It’s violent, sexy, and incredibly funny. It doesn’t care about historical accuracy; it cares about vibes. "Huzzah!"
The Reality of Streaming in 2026
With the Disney+ and Hulu merger (the "one-app experience"), things have changed. You might find your Hulu content living inside the Disney+ app now. It's a bit confusing. But the core library remains. The search for shows to watch in Hulu has actually become harder because the algorithm is trying to shove Marvel movies down your throat while you're just trying to find a quirky indie dramedy.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Binge
Stop scrolling. Seriously. The paradox of choice is real. If you’re paralyzed by the options, here is a quick decision tree based on your current mood:
- You want to feel stressed but inspired: The Bear.
- You want to solve a mystery while feeling wealthy: Only Murders in the Building.
- You want to learn about 1600s Japan: Shōgun.
- You want to laugh at the absurdity of public education: Abbott Elementary.
- You want a dark, satirical take on history: The Great.
The best way to handle Hulu is to use the "My Stuff" feature aggressively. When you see a trailer or hear a recommendation, add it immediately. Don't rely on the home screen. The home screen is a liar. It shows you what they want you to watch, not necessarily what's good.
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Also, check the "Expiring" section. Hulu is notorious for rotating licensed content out quickly. If you see an old favorite like Lost or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, watch it now before it migrates to another platform. The streaming wars are still raging, and your favorite show is the collateral damage.
A Note on the "Must-Watch" List
The term "must-watch" is thrown around a lot. But on Hulu, it actually applies to a few specific titles. Fargo (the TV series) is one of them. Each season is a new story, a new cast, but the same "Minnesota Nice" mixed with brutal violence. Season 5, starring Juno Temple and Jon Hamm, was a return to form—weird, feminist, and darkly comedic.
There’s also Normal People. If you want to feel everything and then cry for three days, this is the one. Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones have chemistry that feels almost voyeuristic to watch. It’s a beautiful adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel. It’s quiet. It’s intimate. It’s devastating.
How to Maximize Your Subscription
If you're paying for Hulu, make sure you're getting the FX library. That is where the value stays. Shows like Atlanta, Better Things, and Justified (both the original and the City Primeval revival) are all there. These aren't just filler; they are some of the best-written television episodes of the last decade.
Don't ignore the documentaries, either. Summer of Soul is a masterpiece directed by Questlove. It’s about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. It’s vibrant, musical, and historically significant. It won an Oscar for a reason.
Stop searching for "the perfect show" and just pick something. The beauty of the current era of shows to watch in Hulu is that even the "mid-tier" shows are often better than the best shows from twenty years ago. The production quality has leveled up across the board.
To get started right now, go to the search bar and type in "FX." Ignore the trending tab. Look for The Old Man if you like spy thrillers, or Dave if you want a surrealist comedy about a neurotic rapper. The options are there; you just have to look past the first row of tiles.
Take the "My Stuff" list and prune it once a month. If you haven't started a show in 90 days, you're probably not going to. Delete it. It clears the mental clutter. Then, pick one of the heavy hitters mentioned above—Shōgun or The Bear—and commit to at least three episodes. Some shows need time to breathe before they hook you. Enjoy the binge.