“Furious” – Hulu’s Addictive New Drama

Books, movies, and television shows featuring serial killers are all the rage these days, but it takes a unique talent to bring fans a different spin on these oft-told tales. Elizabeth Meriwether, best known for creating series like New Girl, Single Parents, and Dying For Sex, has come up with a fresh twist on the genre with the electrifying drama Furious, which is now streaming on Hulu.

Furious is the story of Catherine, a former sex worker who’s something of an avenging angel. She’s on a mission of revenge, murdering those who sexually trafficked and abused her, as well a number of other women, including a close friend of hers.

What makes Furious such a fascinating and original entry in the serial killer genre is that Catherine isn’t the only one who’s a damaged soul. Alice, the FBI agent pursuing her, as well as several members of her team, have secrets of their own. Alice sees something of herself in Catherine, and their game of cat and mouse threatens to reopen some old wounds. The investigation brings memories of the trauma she herself suffered in the past back to the surface. Every discovery Alice makes about Catherine feels like a mirror to her own experiences and reveals some uncomfortable truths about her own dark side.

Alice is the hunter, and Catherine is the hunted, but Furious blurs that distinction and turns it on its head. Portrayed with an extraordinary mixture of toughness and vulnerability by Emmy Rossum, Alice is not the straight arrow, emotionally stable law-enforcement hero we’re used to seeing in this kind of series. Her history of trauma has shaped her persona in ways she hasn’t fully dealt with, and the closer she gets to Catherine, the more difficult it becomes to prevent professional detachment from becoming personal obsession.

Catherine is a killer, but she’s not presented as a straightforward villain. Lola Petticrew’s incredible performance imbues the character with a combination of intelligence, fragility, and an all-consuming anger, fueled by her relentless need for revenge. She can be frightening one moment, and deeply emotional the next. Her dedication to her mission and her violent methods are truly horrifying, but the motivation for these murderous acts is understandable, given the horrible things that happened to her.

The supporting cast includes Scoot McNairy, Jake Lacy, and Quincy Taylor Bernstine, who provide top-notch work as Alice’s colleagues. Steve Way is terrific as a disabled person who becomes caught in Catherine’s web. The show is at its best when the psychological sparring match between Alice and Catherine, their interactions with each other, and the people in their orbits take center stage. Furious is often disturbing, but its relentless pace, surprising twists and turns, brilliant cast, and excellent writing all combine to create a powerful story you won’t soon forget.

-John Visconti

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