Furious: A Thrilling New Show About Power, Trauma, and Justice

What Is "Furious"?

Imagine a TV show that feels like a puzzle where every piece matters. "Furious" is a new thriller streaming on Hulu that takes on big, scary topics—like powerful people hurting teenagers and getting away with it—but does it with smart writing, great acting, and even some dark humor. Think of it as a crime story for our times, inspired by real-world headlines about figures like Jeffrey Epstein.

Important Point: This isn’t just another "serial killer vs. cop" show. The real villains aren’t the murderer or even the abusive boyfriend. The true bad guys are wealthy, powerful men who traffic teenage girls and use their money and connections to stay silent.

The Two Main Characters: Two Sides of the Same Coin

The show follows two women whose lives run on parallel tracks—like two train lines that never cross but go the same direction. They’re haunted by the same demons, and the show takes its time letting you see how similar they really are.

1. Catherine (Played by Lola Petticrew)

• Who she is: A killer, but not a random one.
• Her targets: Rich, privileged men in New York.
• The twist: Every man she kills helped traffic her when she was a teenager.
• The connection: They’re all linked to a dying billionaire named Jay Easton (Peter McRobbie), who’s protected by his icy adult daughter (Hope Davis).

2. FBI Agent Alice Black (Played by Emmy Rossum)

• Who she is: A lonely agent with almost no friends.
• Her trauma: Her ex-boyfriend (also a cop, played by Jake Lacy) used to beat her up—dragging her out of the shower to do it. Her male colleagues blamed her for it.
• The aftermath: She can’t take showers without falling apart. That’s the kind of tiny, heartbreaking detail this show does so well.
• Her journey: She spots a pattern in the murders… and eventually sees a kindred spirit in Catherine.

Doppelganger Alert: The show literally calls them doppelgangers—two people who look different but share the same wounds and fight the same war.

Why This Show Works: The Secret Sauce

1. It Balances Darkness with Humor

• The show knows its subject is grim (trafficking, abuse, corruption).
• So it uses gallows humor—jokes that make you laugh so you don’t cry.
• Characters laugh to keep from crying… and then they cry anyway.
• You’ll get genuine laughs that "leave your throat before you can even question yourself."

2. The Twists Feel Earned, Not Desperate

• Every time you think "Furious" might jump the shark (do something crazy just for shock value), it pulls back to character and story.
• The plotting is described as "tight as a perfectly thrown spiral"—everything connects.

3. It’s About Cycles, Not Just Crimes

• The show digs into how abuse perpetuates itself.
• It’s about the different ways women suffer at men’s hands—and how power protects power.
• Moral outrage isn’t shouted; it’s layered into writing and performance.

The Cast: A Masterclass in Acting

Bonus: The music by Ariel Marx uses low strings and trip-hop beats to build dread perfectly.

Why It Matters Right Now

The show arrives when stories about powerful men exploiting teen girls are everywhere:

• The never-ending Epstein saga
• The recent arrest of the Tate brothers (facing extradition to the UK)

But "Furious" doesn’t just ride the news cycle. It digs deeper into:

• Poisonous power dynamics
• How far authorities go to protect their own
• The long tail of trauma

And it does all this with suspense that never falters.

How to Watch

FURIOUS
Starring: Emmy Rossum, Lola Petticrew, Scoot McNairy, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Jake Lacy, Steve Way, Hope Davis, Peter McRobbie, Campbell Scott, Rob Yang, Riley Vinson, Danny McCarthy, Rob Delaney
Created by: Elizabeth Meriwether (Dying for Sex)
Loosely based on: The 1987 movie Black Widow
Streaming: Three episodes out now | New episodes Mondays through August 31 on Hulu

Summary

"Furious" is one of the best shows of the year because it:

• Takes a ripped-from-headlines premise (Epstein-era trafficking) and makes it deeply personal
• Gives us two damaged, brilliant women on a collision course
• Uses dark humor to make the unbearable watchable
• Features a top-tier ensemble cast where even tiny roles shine
• Never cheats—twists are earned, plotting is tight, emotions are real
• Turns a crime thriller into a study of power, trauma, and what justice looks like when the system is broken

If you want a show that respects your intelligence, breaks your heart, makes you laugh uncomfortably, and keeps you guessing—watch "Furious."

FAQ

1. Is "Furious" based on a true story?

No, but it’s inspired by real-world dynamics—especially the Jeffrey Epstein case and similar scandals involving powerful men trafficking minors. It’s loosely based on the 1987 film Black Widow.

2. Do I need to watch Black Widow (1987) first?

Not at all. "Furious" stands completely on its own. The 1987 movie is just a loose inspiration.

3. Is this show very violent or graphic?

It deals with horrific subjects (trafficking, abuse, murder), but the review emphasizes character and psychological depth over gratuitous violence. The horror is in the implications, not just gore.

4. How many episodes are there, and when do new ones come out?

Three episodes are available now. New episodes drop every Monday through August 31 on Hulu. Total episode count hasn’t been specified, but it’s a limited series.

5. Who would like this show?

Fans of:

• Smart, character-driven thrillers (True Detective, The Killing, Sharp Objects)
• Stories about trauma and resilience (Dying for Sex, Say Nothing, Unbelievable)
• Ensemble casts where everyone brings their A-game
• Shows that tackle real-world evil without being preachy

Review by Chris Vognar (Boston Globe)
Follow him: Instagram @chrisvognar | Bluesky chrisvognar.bsky.social