Coming off The Dropout and Dying for Sex, Liz Meriwether proves she’s one of the most dynamic showrunners on television with Furious on Hulu. Hopefully, Emmy voters will remember it next year.
It’s hard to believe the woman who gave us “It’s Jess!” is giving us one of the most sociopathic performances on television this season in Catherine (or whatever name she’s going by) on Hulu’s Furious.
Or is it that far-fetched? Showrunner Liz Meriwether always features complicated female characters at the center of her shows, whether it’s a biotech CEO desperate to believe her technology works or a woman on a journey of sexual liberation while dying from cancer.
But there isn’t just one complex heroine at the center of Furious: There are three.
The Cat and Mouse Chase of Hulu’s Furious
Furious stars Emmy Rossum as Alice, a former cop turned FBI agent on the trail of a female serial killer Catherine, played by Lola Petticrew, who offs men who participated in sexual activities with her while she was trafficked. In addition to this dueling dynamic, Quincy Tyler Bernstine plays Nora Washington, head of the sex crimes unit who has secrets of her own as she mentors Alice.
This show is truly a high-wire act in the way it balances all of these gripping performances, with each character having their own motivations beyond what’s on the page. Why does Alice hire men on the internet to hit her? How can a woman who works as a caregiver also have a dying man hidden in her van? What has driven Nora to alcoholism (besides working in “the darkest pit of Hades”)?
So many shows right now have a murder mystery at the center of them but usually they are glamorous (White Lotus, Imperfect Women) or packed with suspension of disbelief (Only Murders in the Building). This show is the antithesis of every other murder mystery show. For one thing, we know who the killer is; secondly, no one is living the high life except the male victims (Alice is even told she smells at one point—but there’s a reason for that). Thirdly, there’s no suspension of disbelief on this show when prominent men are publicly getting away with participating in human trafficking activities every day in real life.
Please Remember Furious for Emmys 2027
Furious feels timely and fresh, and I hope people remember its relevancy when next year’s Emmy cycle comes around (presumably for limited series). Emmy Rossum and Lola Petticrew should be considered for Outstanding Lead Actress, Quincy Tyler Bernstine for Supporting Actress, and Scoot McNairy, one of the best boy-next-door actors going, should also be considered for Supporting Actor.
By then, who knows what Liz Meriwether will be putting out next as a series, but I know I’ll be watching.
Furious episodes drop on Tuesdays on Hulu.
