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Hulu’s ‘Furious’ Isn’t a ‘Black Widow’ Copycat—It’s a Superior Thriller
Hulu’s "Furious": A Fresh Take on the Cat-and-Mouse Thriller
TL;DR: Furious is a new 8-episode Hulu series starring Emmy Rossum as an FBI agent hunting a female serial killer. It’s inspired by the 1987 movie Black Widow but goes way deeper with complex characters, Greek mythology themes, and a revenge plot tied to sex trafficking. Think Killing Eve meets The Dropout — smart, twisty, and surprisingly funny.
What’s the Big Deal?
You know those shows where a determined woman chases a dangerous woman? That’s practically its own TV genre now. We’ve seen it in:
- Killing Eve (BBC America) — Sandra Oh hunting Jodie Comer’s stylish assassin
- Lucky (Apple TV+) — Anya Taylor-Joy in the latest entry
- Black Widow (1987 movie) — The OG that started it all with Debra Winger chasing Theresa Russell
Furious is the newest addition to this club, but it’s not just a copycat. It takes the formula and makes it weird, deep, and genuinely surprising.
Meet the Players
| Character | Actor | You Might Know Them From |
|---|---|---|
| Alice Black (FBI Agent) | Emmy Rossum | Fiona in Shameless, Angelyne |
| The Killer (many names/disguises) | Lola Petticrew | Say Nothing |
| Alice’s Boss | Danny McCarthy | — |
| Nora (FBI Superior, mythology buff) | Quincy Tyler Bernstine | — |
| Wealthy Lawyer Victim | Rob Delaney | Catastrophe, Dying for Sex |
| Supporting Cast | Scoot McNairy, Jake Lacy, Rob Yang, Steve Way | Ramy, The White Lotus, etc. |
Important: There are zero weak links in this cast. Everyone brings their A-game — even the smaller roles (shoutout to Steve Way for being hilarious and heartbreaking).
The Plot (Without Spoilers)
The Setup
- Alice Black is an FBI agent who annoys basically everyone — including her boss
- She’s obsessed with catching a female serial killer who:
- Uses fentanyl to kill wealthy men
- Changes identities like outfits
- Watches her victims die up close (creepy opening scene!)
- The killer’s latest target: a rich lawyer (Rob Delaney) — but she doesn’t kill him right away
The Twist
Instead of a quick hit, she plays a long con:
- Sleeps with him
- Let him think he’s in control (he makes her sign an NDA — lol)
- Secretly manipulates him into her trap
- He thinks he’s the cat; she knows she’s the spider
The Deeper Layer
This isn’t just "killer kills, cop chases." The show asks: Why?
- The killer’s motive: REVENGE (not money, not thrill)
- Her past involves a sex trafficking ring of young girls
- Uncomfortable parallels to the Jeffrey Epstein case (explicitly referenced)
- Greek mythology frames it all: Nora (the FBI boss) teaches that Medusa and the Furies weren’t just monsters — they were angry victims
Why It Works: The Secret Sauce
1. The Creator Knows Flawed Women
Elizabeth Meriwether didn’t just make a thriller. She also created:
- New Girl (sitcom genius)
- The Dropout (Elizabeth Holmes/Theranos — flawed woman)
- Dying for Sex (woman with cancer explores sexuality — flawed woman)
She writes women who are messy, funny, scary, and human — sometimes all at once.
2. It’s Not Just "Good vs. Evil"
- Alice (the cop) is abrasive, difficult, not very likable
- The killer is monstrous but you understand her pain
- The men? Mostly oblivious, arrogant, or complicit
- Everyone has layers
3. The Cat-and-Mouse Game Is Fresh
They don’t even meet until halfway through the 8 episodes. When they do? The show shifts into a higher gear entirely.
4. Tone Balance: Dark + Funny
Like Fleabag or Barry, Furious makes you laugh right before it gut-punches you. Steve Way’s character = perfect example.
Key Themes to Watch For
Callout: Big Ideas Under the Surface
- Mythology as metaphor — Medusa/Furies = women punished for men’s crimes
- Power dynamics — Who’s really hunting whom?
- Trauma responses — Revenge, control, dissociation
- Systemic complicity — The lawyer, the FBI, the Epstein echoes
- Female rage — Not "hysteria" — justice
Summary
Furious could’ve been just another "woman chases woman" show. Instead, it’s:
- Smart — trusts you to keep up
- Original — takes a 1987 movie and makes it 2024-relevant
- Well-acted — Rossum, Petticrew, Delaney, Bernstine = fire
- Thematically rich — mythology, trauma, power, justice
- Perfectly paced — 8 episodes, no bloat
Bottom line: If you liked Killing Eve but wanted more depth, or The Dropout but wanted more thriller — this is your show.
FAQ
Do I need to watch Black Widow (1987) first?
Nope! The show stands completely on its own. The movie is just an Easter egg (it’s even credited in the opening titles).
Is it super violent/gory?
It’s a thriller about a serial killer — so yes, people die. The opening scene is intense (fentanyl injection, watching someone die). But it’s not torture porn — violence serves the story.
Is it funny? Like, actually funny?
Yes. Dark humor, awkward moments, sharp dialogue. Meriwether’s sitcom background shows. You’ll laugh and feel guilty about it.
How many episodes? Is it finished?
8 episodes total. All available on Hulu (check your region). It’s a complete story — no cliffhanger waiting for Season 2.
Who’s the "main" character — Alice or the killer?
Both. The show splits time fairly evenly. You get inside both their heads. That’s what makes the collision so good.
Ready to watch? Fire up Hulu. Just maybe don’t eat dinner during Episode 1.
