Options on TV right now seem unlimited in nearly every genre, with new shows releasing almost daily, and currently, a new show on Hulu combines the grittiness of HBO’s Mare of Easttown with the character-driven female story of Killing Eve. It is an intersection that most did not know they needed until they got it.
Both of these shows amassed widespread acclaim for how they tackle their subject matter. Each series focuses on murder investigations told through a female lens. The underlying premise was the same, but approached differently, which made the stories unique.
For fans of crime, and for fans of Mare of Easttown and Killing Eve, this show captures all the elements that hooked viewers.
Furious Season 1 Official Trailer
Hulu’s Furious is not an easy watch at times, but it is one that feels entirely necessary. The subjects it focuses on are never sugarcoated or pushed to the side. The show follows FBI agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) as she investigates Catherine Grace (Lola Petticrew), a female serial killer targeting a web of abusive, predatory men. Grace herself was a victim of these men, who sex-trafficked her when she was young.
It is no secret how many viewers love crime and true-crime stories. While the story of Furious is fictional, its subject matter is rooted in real issues. Furious is unapologetic about itself and challenges the viewer. Alice and Catherine walk their own paths to their differing definitions of justice. As the show goes on, however, viewers see those lines begin to blur, and how the shape of what they believe justice to be begins to gradually change. It also leads to their personal growth and influences how they shape their futures.
It’s a story of female rage, but it is also a story of female empowerment. Alice and Catherine carry trauma related to men in their lives that have wronged them, and their parallel journeys in coming to terms with it reflect their distinct yet parallel personalities. Alice’s abusive ex-boyfriend, Marshall Connelly (Jake Lacy), is a detective with the NYPD. Catherine’s wealthy abusers are still successful. But where Alice quietly goes on with her life, Catherine targets and kills these men one by one, using lethal doses of fentanyl.
Furious shows the feminine side of rage
As its title suggests, Furious deals quite a bit with rage. But the show is careful to frame it in a way that reflects why, even if it does not necessarily condone the actions of its characters. While Catherine hunts down the men who wronged her, Alice channels that anger into consensual, violent hookups with men from dating apps. Everyone deals with trauma differently, as the show demonstrates.
It also deftly utilizes a more feminine touch to juxtapose the gritty realities. Catherine, for example, keeps her drugs in a tin box decorated with stickers and rhinestones, which is at visual odds with her mission. However, that drives home the point that she is still soft at heart beneath her anger.
The cat-and-mouse chase that transpires between Alice and Catherine is undoubtedly the heart of the show. Their interactions help shape each other’s stories, leaving the end of season one with an intriguing cliffhanger. It’s the kind of cliffhanger that has viewers desperate for just a little bit more.
Recently, it was announced that the show was renewed for season two, but no further information has been given. Where will that leave Alice and Catherine? Viewers will just have to tune in and see.
