Best Hulu Shows and Original Series to Watch (September 2023)

Creator: David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris

Cast: Murray Hill, Neil Patrick Harris, Bianca Del Rio, Haneefah Wood, David Burtka

Neil Patrick Harris (A Series of Unfortunate Events) and his husband, David Burtka (How I Met Your Mother), host this delicious show where drag queens are teamed up and compete to dish up the best themed dinner party for the judges. Drag Me to Dinner is like if you put My Super Sweet 16, Drag Race, and Nailed It into a blender and it blew up into a massive splatter of confetti, laughter, and sass. This reality competition is queer television at its best, simply allowing people all across the LGBTQI+ spectrum to be themselves and show off their skills (or lack thereof) in a fun and supportive environment.

Created by: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan

Cast: Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele

Let’s get one thing out of the way — some parts of Glee have not aged particularly well. Still, there’s no denying this show was a cultural phenomenon when it was in its prime. Sure, there are some wacky storylines, but those covers are bops from start to finish. At its best, Glee is witty, creative, and unlike anything that came before it. It features incredible young talent, launching several careers, as well as featured musical royalty like Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, making for an enjoyable — albeit extremely chaotic — time. – Taylor Gates

Creators: Jill Girling, Lori Mather-Welch

Cast: Hailey Romain, Margherita Barbieri, Abigail O’Regan, Sam Darius

Dance school drama and witchcraft meet in Spellbound, a new fantastical series from co-creators Jill Girling and Lori Mather-Welch (Find Me in Paris). Blending high-school angst with magical mayhem, Spellbound is a whimsical drama about teenage Cece (Hailey Romain), who not only is training at the Paris Opera Ballet School but must also learn to understand and control her newly discovered witch abilities. Cleverly building an original mythology, Spellbound trickles fantasy into a modern Paris, allowing co-stars Margherita Barbieri, Abigail O’Regan, and Sam Darius to shine alongside Romain. Spellbound is an ideal watch for viewers who miss short-lived series like The Secret Circle and Fate: The Winx Saga.– Yael Tygiel

Creators: Wendy Molyneux, Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, Minty Lewis

Cast: Nick Offerman, Jenny Slate, Will Forte, Dulcé Sloan

The Great North is a delightful animated comedy series from creators Wendy Molyneux, Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin, and Minty Lewis. The Great North follows members of the Tobin family, led by patriarch Beef (Nick Offerman), a divorced father of four, and features the voices of Jenny Slate, Will Forte, and Dulcé Sloan. Similar to Bob’s Burgers, The Great North offers hilarious yet wholesome stories with progressive messaging earned through oftentimes absurd scenarios that are deliberately crafted for the location. In the case of The Great North, that is a small town in Alaska. The Great North is truly an underrated gem and ideal for audiences who enjoy adult animation even when it’s not slathered in gore and curse words. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Mariska Hargitay, Ice T, Kelli Giddish, Dann Florek, Christopher Meloni

Spun-off from Dick Wolf’s Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU has spent nearly a quarter of a century as the most beloved series in the entire franchise. Law & Order: SVU stars Mariska Hargitay, the last remaining original cast member, along with Ice T, who joined in season 2, resulting in a gripping drama made for binge-watching. Earning itself the claim as the longest-running primetime drama series in TV history, Law & Order: SVU continues to entertain as it progresses with relevant storylines often inspired directly by true stories while providing captivating plots which, while at times border on absurd, are grounded deeply in compassion. –Yael Tygiel

Cast: Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén

From the brilliant mind of creator Jemaine Clement (Moana), What We Do in the Shadows is one of the most cherished vampire comedy series to grace screens, earning both general acclaim and critical accolades. Enhanced by the mockumentary format and inspired by a 2014 film that shares the same name, What We Do in the Shadows builds off a simple premise of centuries-old vampires living together in the modern world. Portraying the vampire trio are Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, and Natasia Demetriou, alongside their human familiar, played by Harvey Guillén (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), who rounds out the ridiculously talented and hilarious cast. – Yael Tygiel

Creators: Chris Addison, Simon Blackwell, Martin Freeman

Cast: Daisy Haggard, Martin Freeman

Co-created by Chris Addison, Simon Blackwell, and Martin Freeman (Black Panther), who also co-stars with Daisy Haggard, Breeders is a charmingly entertaining dark comedy series from the UK. Centered around Paul and Ally (Freeman and Haggard), Breeders explores the universal parental experiences resulting in the joys and trials of raising children. Evolving over four seasons, Breeders follows the growth of Paul and Ally’s children as they hit adolescence and enter their teenage years. Breeders delightfully uncovers humor stemming from mundane, everyday situations, as well as the constant opinions from loved ones, including in-laws and friends. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Peter Krause, Dax Shepard, Craig T. Nelson, Lauren Graham, Max Burkholder

Parenthood is a modern adaptation of the 80s film of the same name following three generations of a family that explores the trials and tribulations of being a parent in different phases of the process, from the pressures of being a grandparent and head of the family to the struggles of being a brand-new father. The show exists in a similar realm as its contemporary Modern Family but approaches the family dynamics in more grounded ways, creating an earnest show that parents at any stage can relate to. Plus, the cast is stacked with amazing actors, including Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), Monica Potter (Classified), and Erika Christensen (Will Trent). — Tauri Miller

Creator: Daisy May Cooper, Selin Hizli

Cast: Daisy May Cooper, Lenny Rush, Selin Hizli

Written by the two leads, Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli, Am I Being Unreasonable? is a twisty comedy that plays with thriller tropes while delivering an emotionally complicated tale of lost love and affairs. The story follows Cooper as Nic, an unhappily married mess of a mom who meets her new best friend in Hizli’s Jen. But after a night of drinking together, Nic spills a secret that could blow up her whole life, and the only one with proof is Jen — who seems to have a few secrets of her own. Cooper and Hizli are spectacular together and use every bit of talent they have to balance the comedic moments with the crushing emotional themes. – Tauri Miller

Executive Producers: David Sloan, Nancy Glass, Jon Hirsch

Betrayal: The Perfect Husband adapts the hit Glass podcast Betrayal about Spencer Herron, a beloved high school teacher who was secretly leading a double life filled with affairs, inappropriate relations, and sexual assault. The docuseries approaches the incident from the perspective of Herron’s high school sweetheart-turned-wife Jen Faison, who gives insight into the relationship she thought she had and how it quickly crumbled before her eyes. But it’s not just Faison who was affected. The documentary brings forth a myriad of women that Harron was involved with, including the student who helped bring him down. It’s a fascinating true-crime story that takes advantage of the new visual media it’s being adapted into. – Tauri Miller

Executive Producer: David Sloan, Beth Hoppe, Jeremy Dear, Fred Hepburn

Cast: Noel Biderman, Darren J. Morgenstern

The Ashley Madison Affair is a three-part docuseries that details the infamous hacking incident that exposed all the user data from the scandalous website that facilitated extramarital affairs. The series breaks down the origins of the site by featuring interviews with the founder Darren J. Morgenstern and the former CEO Noel Biderman, then gives a play-by-play of the events leading to the dissemination of millions of users’ names and addresses — something that led to extortion, divorce, and even suicide. The journalists also talk to the people most affected by the leak: the unsuspecting spouses of the Ashley Madison users. The ABC News Studios team does an excellent job of contextualizing the hacking event while addressing the ethics of the site, the fallout of the leak, and the pain felt by everyone involved.

An original reality cooking competition that can be described as The Circle meets Top Chef, Secret Chef follows ten contestants competing for money in a playfully mysterious bunker-like kitchen setting. Created by and featuring chef David Chang, Secret Chef delightfully follows the players as they cook, taste, and judge each other in secret, showcasing their flavorful culinary masterpieces. Competitors include Danielle Harris, Leon Brunson, and Sydney Buck. Secret Chef invites people with varying skills and experiences, ranging from professional restaurant creators to social media home cooks, challenging them to perform tasks through instructions from a mischievous animated chef’s hat. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, Paul Barber, Steve Huison, Lesley Sharp

The Full Monty is an original series determined to continue the journey of the beloved British comedy film by writer Simon Beaufoy. Reuniting many of the brilliant original cast, including Robert Carlyle (Once Upon a Time), Mark Addy (Game of Thrones), Paul Barber, Steve Huison, and Lesley Sharp, The Full Monty hilariously explores the cherished and iconic characters 25 years after their legendary strip show in Sheffield. While the original film set a foundation for the series, leaning heavily into ridiculous comedy, this delightful series doesn’t shy away from emotional moments and meaningful messaging about friendship, resilience, and succeeding over adversity.– Yael Tygiel

Cast: Anna Delvey, Allison Blackman, Lauren Pepin, Swati LaPerre

The Age of Influence is an absorbing yet undeniably sad six-part documentary series that explores a variety of true stories that shine a spotlight on some of the largest social media scandals and the negative realities of modern influencer culture. Society continues to be impacted by taste-makers on social media platforms, and The Age of Influence feeds on that truth, as well as the world’s fascination with scam stories like The Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna’s namesake Anna Delvey, allowing series like this one to succeed with its examination of lesser-known cases of fraud, greed, and drugs. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes

Cruel Summer is a teen drama set in the mid-90s that jumps between the perspective of two high school girls: Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), a popular girl who is abducted, and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia), who steps into the social vacuum left by Kate. This isn’t a show that has heroes and villains but rather a full tapestry of gray characters making desperate decisions out of self-preservation, which makes the intersecting journey between these two leads delightfully complex. The show also finds a way to keep the audience hooked through the shifting timelines of three years and the anthology-like perspective shifts that would be show-breaking if they weren’t executed so well.

Creator: Tony Phelan, Joan Rater

Cast: Ashley Brooke, Billie Boullet, Andy Nyman

A Small Light is a biographical drama set in WWII during the German invasion of the Netherlands about a brave Dutch woman named Miep Gies, who helped hide Jewish refugees, including the family of Anne Frank. Bel Powley (The Morning Show) as Geis is fantastic — every frame she’s in is filled with a presence and resolve that leaps off the screen. But she’s not the only one pumping life into this story. Ashley Brooke (White House Plumbers) as Margot Frank and Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) as Otto Frank are marvelous additions to the cast, providing more depth and context to Anne Frank’s family while lending the necessary gravitas to the plight of the Jewish people.

Cast: Brian Tyree Henry, Kate Mara, Sepideh Moafi, Brian J. Smith

Kate Mara, Brian Tyree Henry (Bullet Train), and Sepideh Moafi (The L Word: Generation Q) all co-star in Class of ’09, a unique drama that centers around a group of FBI agents who trained together before going their separate ways. Creator Tom Rob Smith provides a solid foundation for the ensemble cast to dive into. Through the eight-episode first season, Class of ’09 offers a delicate exploration of themes like humanity, legacy, and justice, unraveling a story spread out over three decades. Utilizing an unexpected narrative style that cleverly weaves through timelines, Class of ’09 considers life choices and captivates with answers that only beg more questions. – Yael Tygiel

Created by: Dustin Lance Black (based on the book of the same name by Jon Krakauer)

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Denise Gough

It takes a lot to make a true-crime series memorable these days, but this FX latest (which is dropping exclusively on Hulu, just to make it a little more confusing) is one that delves into the intricacies of religion and humanity in a way that makes it a can’t-miss. Andrew Garfield continues his reign over the last year or two on our screens in a leading role as Mormon detective Jeb Pyre, who finds his beliefs challenged firsthand when he’s tasked with investigating the murder of a mother (Edgar-Jones) and child — and the case might be more entangled within the Church of Latter-Day Saints than anyone could have predicted. The Lafferty family has a reputation within the Mormon community, compared to celebrities of a sort, but it turns out they may be hiding a darker side — and rising tensions between the members have clearly led to a terminal breaking point. – Carly Lane

Creator: Zachary Heinzerling

A three-part documentary series, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence explores a horrific true story of betrayal that began taking place in the fall of 2010. Directed by Zachary Heinzerling, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence pulls back the curtain on the still-unfolding case that centers around a middle-aged father and convicted felon named Larry Ray who controlled and manipulated a group of unsuspecting college students, luring them into a twisted sex cult. Featuring exclusive interviews with some survivors of the tragic events, as well as audio recordings of the monster himself, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence seamlessly unravels the unbelievable and bizarre journey. – Yael Tygiel

Cast: Alycia Debnam-Carey, Josh Bonzie, West Duchovny, Jayden Elijah, Betsy Brandt

Based on Alexis Schaitkin’s novel, Saint X is a gripping psychological drama about the drastic ripple effects caused by a young woman’s murder while vacationing with her family. Featuring an incredible cast, a gorgeous Caribbean backdrop, and a captivating mystery in the core, Saint X unravels the tale through multiple timelines, uncovering dangerous facts as the victim’s surviving sister hunts for the truth. Starring Alycia Debnam-Carey (Fear the Walking Dead) and West Duchovny, as well as Michael Park and Betsy Brandt, Saint X is adapted for television by Leila Gerstein, who steers the first season of the series, navigating eight compelling episodes. – Yael Tygiel