30 Rock (2006-2013)

Fans of Liz Lemon and Co. likely let out a brief gasp when 30 Rock disappeared from Netflix, where it had been a staple of the streaming platform for years. Fortunately, Hulu subscribers can still watch the zany antics of this late-night spoof — breeze through those seven seasons while you have the chance.

Adventure Time (2010-2018)

Adventure Time is a masterpiece in its surprisingly deep exposition of a seemingly straightforward premise. The heroic duo of Finn the human and Jake the shape-shifting dog traverse Ooo, a post-apocalyptic landscape full of monsters, dungeons, and races of kingdoms that covers everything from candy people to cats under boxes with drawn-on faces. The kids’ show that’s not really a kids’ show at all cultivated a multigenerational cult following as it explored the backstories of Ooo and its (sometimes interdimensional) inhabitants in its eight-year lifespan, which just wrapped up in a bittersweet finale.

Alone Together (2018-present)

Freeform series can be hit or miss (and mostly miss), but this comedy series following best friends and comic hopefuls — the enormously basic Esther and the unmotivated Benji who mooches off his wealthy older brother — in LA nails what it means for two obnoxious people to be meant for each other. Those eulogizing Difficult People will find relating to the two’s mishaps among SoCal’s luxury set a comfortable task.

Arrested Development (2003-2006)

There’s always money in the banana stand, and there are always laughs to be found in Arrested Development, Mitchell Hurwitz’s sly, self-aware family sitcom. Though you’ll have to jump to Netflix for the most recent season, the show’s original run still satisfies. Arrested Development established a freewheeling comic sensibility that many of your favorite sitcoms — Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Community, Archer, Kroll Show— were influenced by. Don’t hold the show’s obnoxious fans against it. After watching a few episodes, you’ll be quoting Tobias Fünke, too.

Atlanta (2016-present)

After stints writing for 30 Rock, starring in Community, and rapping as Childish Gambino, Donald Glover found time to create, star in, write, and direct several episodes of this half-hour series. Atlanta is a rare species: a deeply funny show offering pointed social commentary. Whether it’s casting a black actor as Justin Bieber, lambasting social media obsessives, or just making a freaking great rap song, Glover’s massive endeavor manages to feel effortless, capturing a specific mood and experience with wit and precision.

Baskets (2016-present)

Comedians Zach Galifianakis and Louis C.K. created Baskets, which casts the former as a clown struggling in the California suburbs. Galifianakis’ Chip Baskets is a dunce, and if it weren’t for the harsh reality and morose filmmaking style employed in the series, he’d have us in stitches. But the FX show refuses to be that digestible. Pratfalls roll-jump into — ta-da! — existential dread. Wordplay gags loop from comical to manic to funny again. As Chip’s mother, Louie Anderson parades around in a muumuu but plays the role entirely straight. Baskets is a breakthrough work of parody, heartbreaking, hilarious, and odd — everything a portrait of a sad clown should be.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

When Star Trek: The Next Generation writer Ronald D. Moore first took over this beloved sci-fi property, fans worried that his politically subversive approach would dampen the original’s hokey legacy. Now, even with a shaky finale and a nonessential spinoff, the remake stands as the perfect example of how to to do genre stuff right: smart writing, great action, and compelling characters. No space opera has soared this high since — and few likely will.

Bob’s Burgers (2011-present)

What a treat. The earliest episodes of Loren Bouchard’s pun-, song-, and fart-filled family sitcom toon are aging like a fine wine, and the new ones rarely disappoint. Though the title would have you believe this show is all about the ever-schlubby Bob (deadpanned by H. Jon Benjamin), it’s become way bigger than that. As the show’s writers have learned what makes their world tick, it’s become increasingly populated with quirkily relatable side characters, relationships, and problems. Watching this show, no matter the episode, is always a fun and immersive — if only for a bit — experience.

The Bold Type (2017-present)

The Bold Type is to media as Younger is to publishing: batshit plotlines that do not at all reflect the reality of the industry it’s portraying, and yet we can’t stop watching. Jane, an implausible up-and-coming writer, Kat, the glass-ceiling breaking biracial and bisexual head of social media, and Sutton, a girl with an innately on-brand fashion sense, are best friends working at the women’s magazine Scarlet, a facsimile of Cosmopolitan — unsurprising, since the show was produced closely with people from the magazine, including former editor-in-chief Joanna Coles. For all its crazy hyperbole, The Bold Type manages to talk about important women’s issues, from sexuality and fertility to gun rights, with unexpected finesse. The pitch-perfect karaoke scenes, however, are pure fantasy.

Broad City (2014-present)

While plenty of shows revolve around 20-something BFFs living in New York City, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer’s madcap buddy comedy is the freshest and funniest take on city life we’ve seen in eons. If the friendship between these two lovable, sex-positive, stoner Jewesses is the heart of the show, NYC is the third bedfellow in their platonic love triangle — with Bed Bath & Beyond standing in as their heaven and Penn Station as their purgatory.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

A sacred text of geek culture debuted on March 10, 1997, almost two years before The Sopranos kicked off the much-lionized “difficult men” period of Golden Age television. But if you were clued in to Joss Whedon’s wickedly subversive WB (and later, UPN) action-drama from the start, you knew the revolution of modern television was already under way long before Tony and his ducks. Anchored by Sarah Michelle Gellar’s star turn, the show got deeper and darker as it went, turning a comedic riff on horror-movie tropes into a soulful meditation on the nature of bravery. Plus, it’s got werewolves and stuff.

Castle Rock (2018-present)

Hulu’s new original Stephen King-inspired series tells the story of Henry Deaver (Andre Holland), a lawyer who returns to his childhood home after a mysterious prisoner, named “The Kid” (Bill Skarsgård), is found trapped in a cage underground. His return to the city sets off a chain of events, unleashing clues to the town’s sordid past, which also brings Deaver’s own personal demons to the surface. Castle Rock is stuffed with King references galore, bringing his canon of work to a singular creep show.

Casual (2015-2018)

Michaela Watkins, after getting booted from Saturday Night Live, finally got to show off in Casual, the Jason Reitman-produced series about an idiosyncratic family in the vein of Transparent and Parenthood. The series is funny, but also heavy, tackling subject matters like cancer and death. Watkins is excellent as a single mother raising her daughter after a family scandal, and Tommy Dewey, as the charming but romantically inept brother she moves in with, is a scene-stealer, too. Casual may not be flashy, but it tells very human stories with a unique tenderness. Its fourth and final season, which just dropped on Hulu, puts an understated, but perfectly satisfying end to the show’s run.

Cheers (1982-1993)

For the days when you want to hang out at the bar without changing out of pajamas. Starring Ted Danson as the ex-Red Soxxer and reformed alcoholic slinging drinks, Cheers had a long run — 273 episodes! — so you’ll invest a ton of time if you’re a completist, but luckily, you’ll feel like a regular in no time.

Daria (1997-2001)

America’s most apathetic teen brought sarcasm into fashion in the late ’90s. Daria’s acerbic commentary will strike a chord with anyone who’s had to endure high school. (That’s you.)

Deutschland 83 (2015-present)

In this stylized German-language series, set in its titular country and year, an East German officer poses as a West German in order to gather intel. It’s a thematic sibling to espionage dramas like The Americans or The Lives of Others — but with comedy, color, and romance to lighten the mood. Its sequel, Deutschland 86, will get an American debut on Sundance TV on October 25.

Difficult People (2015-2017)

In this Hulu original, Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner are mean-spirited and petty New Yorkers who live by the “no hugging, no learning” Seinfeld-ian code, which makes them our favorite kind of platonic power couple. But with every exploitative adventure anchored by their best friendship, the jokes they make at the expense of others (interns, New Jerseyans, Method Man) seem downright sympathetic.

Drunk History (2013-present)

Since its inception a decade ago, Jeremy Konner and Derek Waters’ Emmy-winning web series-turned-TV hit has paired blasted comedian narrators with top-tier actors to recreate our country’s most iconic moments, making for one of the smartest dumb shows in recent memory. If you’re unsure where to start, take a look at our favorite segments, all of which are available on YouTube and Hulu for your bingeing pleasure.

Empire (2015-present)

In this record-industry Dynasty, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the Lyon family’s batshit schemes. Thanks to constantly shifting power dynamics, Taraji P. Henson’s scene-stealing (and Golden Globe-winning!) performance as meddling matriarch Cookie, a catchy Timbaland-produced soundtrack, and countless music-world cameos, the seasons will fly by.

The Eric Andre Show (2012-present)

Comedian Eric Andre has nothing but contempt for late-night talk-show conventions. While Jimmy Fallon and James Corden have turned network TV’s late-night landscape into a glad-handing frat-party singalong, Andre has carved out his own punk nightmare gabfest on Adult Swim. Whether he’s making Lauren Conrad squirm, dressing up as a cop for absurd man-on-the-street bits, or trading one-liners with co-host and fellow comedian Hannibal Buress, Andre filters everything through his own surreal vision. You’ll never look at a talk-show desk the same way again.

The Exorcist (2016-present)

FOX’s spiritually fucked-up reboot takes the movie’s soul-saving concept and turns it into something like a more serious Ghostbusters TV show. In Season 1, two badass priests — one in better standing with the church than the other — try to prevent one family from descending into total hellish chaos. It’s a riveting and surprisingly touching roller-coaster ride. It’s also extremely, and lovably, gross. In Episode 2, one of the protagonists barfs what looks like two bottles of Green Machine and then yanks a near-never-ending centipede out of her mouth — almost like the Santa Clarita Diet pilot without comic relief. The rest of the show takes after its big-screen predecessor — with more contemporary makeup and effects — to show that head-spinning demonic possession can do the body a lot of bad.

Fargo (2014-present)

Noah Hawley’s bold adaptation of the perfect 1996 movie sometimes tries too hard to shoehorn in allusions to the source material and other Coen brothers films, but a crackerjack premise and an inspired performance by Billy Bob Thornton elevated Season 1 well above mere facsimile. The impressive casting holds the convoluted plot together so well that you’ll quickly forgive Hawley for choosing to hinge a major moment on the sudden arrival of an alien spacecraft.

Futurama (1999-2003; 2008-2013)

Understandably, Futurama looks and feels like a little sibling to Matt Groening’s Simpsons. The sci-fi toon imitates its big bro with a similar penchant for wordplay, pop-culture parody, political satire, and visual gags. But after a seven-season run, the story of Fry, a New York City pizza guy who becomes an interplanetary delivery worker after he’s transported from 1999 to 2999, has come to boast an immersive, outrageously fun universe all its own.

The Good Wife (2009-2016)

Look past the fact that this serialized drama is on CBS, home to NCIS, CSI, and other shows your parents adore. The Good Wife is potent, pressurized, and constantly zigzagging in new directions. The saga of Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) began with a wife reeling from her district attorney husband’s affair and subsequent scandal. And it ended as a full-blown opera, full of deception, moral quagmires, and vibrant friendships. Give The Good Wife a few episodes and you’ll fall in love with its characters.

The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-present)

After racking up several Emmys, including for Best Drama Series and Lead Actress, Drama (Elisabeth Moss), this adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel showed Hulu means business. Now’s your chance to see what had the Emmy voters all worked up over a dystopian world in which women are kept as childbearers for a wealthy, oppressive elite.

Harlots (2017-present)

Hulu’s original programming doesn’t get the same amount of attention as that of Netflix or Amazon, because not as many people subscribe to Hulu. But you shouldn’t overlook Harlots, which has perhaps the best production design and and premise of any Hulu original (yes, including The Handmaid’s Tale). Centered on 18th-century British brothels, Harlots is much more than a titillating show about sex, though that’s in there too; it delves deep into life on the outside of “acceptable” society, tackling questions of sex, gender, class, and taboos along the way. Don’t sleep on Harlots.

Inside Amy Schumer (2013-present)

Known for slyly subversive takes on gender, relationships, and the irritating rhythms of Aaron Sorkin’s writing, this series from the Trainwreck star is the rare sketch-comedy show that’s actually consistent. If you’ve only been watching the viral sketches on YouTube, you’ve missed out.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-present)

Few shows make us consistently laugh-cry like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a dark cringe-comedy about a group of depraved jerks (comedy heavyweights Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, and Danny DeVito) doing horrible things to each other and the people around them. There are 11 seasons available here, but don’t worry about binge-watching — It’s Always Sunny is the perfect show to drop in and out of. Even decade-old episodes keep the lovable dirtbags of Paddy’s Pub up to recognizable, juvenile antics. It’s a show about physical harm, drinking until puking, and wantonly setting things on fire.

Key and Peele (2012-2015)

Over the course of five seasons, Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele created some of the funniest, smartest, and most visually striking sketch comedy of the new millennium.

Lost (2004-2010)

Long before Damon Lindelof’s The Leftovers bludgeoned viewers with its bracing emotional intensity, or J.J. Abrams became the crown prince of Wookieepedia, there was a show called Lost. While it has become increasingly hip to condemn the show’s later seasons for any number of faults ranging from mawkish sentimentality to an over-dependence on wonky sci-fi tropes to gooey Touched by an Angel spirituality, the show itself retains all its brilliant power when viewed in a streaming hatch, free of recaps, fan theories, and backlash. If you’ve never seen it, there’s no better time to get wrapped up in its mysteries. And if you have — well, as Jack would say, we have to go back!

My So-Called Life (1994-1995)

If Daria doesn’t have enough teen feelings for you, try out this short-lived angsty ’90sdrama that made big names out of Claire Danes and Jared Leto. You’ll feel like you’re right there with Angela in the girls’ bathroom as you follow all the trials and trivialities of sophomore year’s fracturing friendships, family tension, and awkward romance.

Nathan For You (2013-present)

Is “the thinking man’s Punk’d” a reality show? A clever Shark Tank parody? A dark, existential narrative about an ambitious anti-hero who will do anything to get rich and find love? It’s all of the above and more, with the most recent season finale even revered by goddamn Errol Morris. Most episodes are about host Nathan Fielder meeting a small-business owner around Los Angeles who is struggling to get by. He makes them a pitch: Follow my proposed plan and I’ll improve your business. He’s here to make dreams come true. The only problem? The proposals are often overly elaborate and borderline insane. Cringe and learn, people.

The O.C. (2003-2007)

Thanks to Hulu, the only high school reunion you’d ever want to attend is streaming 24/7. Witness the early ’00s charm and chemistry that won over a nation of tweens, courtesy of leads Mischa Barton, Rachel Bilson, Adam Brody, and Ben McKenzie. The first season is a veritable work of soap opera art, from “Welcome to the O.C., bitch” to Seth and Summer’s first kiss; things fall apart as Marissa inches closer to death (spoiler alert), but we’re hopelessly sucked in nonetheless. Sandy Cohen’s eyebrowsare the icing on the cake.

The Office (U.K.) (2001-2002)

Fans of Dunder Mifflin have Ricky Gervais’s David Brent to thank for the genesis of Michael Scott. Tim (Martin Freeman) and Dawn (Lucy Davis) are the first Jim and Pam. This show’s the OG, in other words. Though it only ran for two seasons, Gervais’ British The Office paved the way for a new wave of awkward comedy, turned banal jobs into fertile ground for producing side-splitting workplace laughs, and inspired the US The Office‘s Greg Daniels and Michael Schur to be their best.

Party Down (2009-2010)

Before becoming Amy Poehler’s main squeeze on Parks and Recreation, Adam Scott was a down-on-his-luck actor stuck working as a caterer in this beloved cult comedy. Luckily, he was joined by a killer supporting cast — Ken Marino, Lizzy Caplan, Martin Starr, and more — that made this show way more fun than any actual food-service job.

Preacher (2016-present)

Season 3 of AMC’s irreverent soul-busting romp sends the titular preacher Jesse to Angelville, the Louisiana plantation where he was raised, to reckon with his past before finding God. But before you start the latest installment, you can catch up on the first two installments on Hulu. Get preachin’!

Prime Suspect (1991-2006)

This British series — primarily known for making Helen Mirren a star (again) — breaks a murder mystery into two feature-length movies. Like The Night Of, the show demonstrates how the police institution creates as many roadblocks as a crafty murderer. The seven seasons (comprised of 15 episodes and roughly 25 hours) are all solid, but start with the 1991 original, where Mirren’s Jane Tennison assumes the role of senior investigating officer of a serial killer, much to the chagrin of her male colleagues. Mirren imbues the been-there-done-that format with movie-star bravado, and as the show charts Tennison’s rise up the chain of command, her material only gets meatier.

Rick and Morty (2013-present)

Problematic fandom aside, this dark, dimension-spanning cartoon from Dan Harmon (Community) and Justin Roiland (Channel 101) follows an alcoholic mad scientist and his dimwitted grandson as they travel through space-time in order to save humanity. It adds up to an alternate reality that’s incredibly confusing and emotionally resonant all at once. No, the resemblance to Back to the Future‘s Doc and Marty is not a coincidence. Yes, it’s as insane as it sounds.

Runaways (2017-present)

Marvel Cinematic Universe alert! If you’re a Marvel fan, you are required by law to sign up for Hulu to prove your fandom is real. This Hulu original tracks six teens who try to take down the supervillain group known as Pride… which incidentally is composed of the teens’ parents. How’s that for awkward dinner conversations?

Saturday Night Live (1975-present)

There are 19 seasons — that’s 393 episodes — of Saturday night sketch comedy available on Hulu. Are all of SNL‘s eras good? Not really, but it’s fine to put on if you need something to half-watch while you’re cleaning your apartment!

Seinfeld (1989-1998)

The genre-defining “show about nothing,” now exclusive to Hulu, is worth the subscription fee alone. Whether you’re new to the sitcom that put writer Larry David on the map, or watching Kramer burst through that door for the thousandth time, we advise you watch all nine seasons and become master of situation comedy’s domain.

The Shield (2002-2008)

The Wire had more to say about the drug trade. The Sopranos‘ anti-hero was more psychologically rich. Breaking Bad won more Emmys. But there’s perhaps no show of TV’s prestige golden age with as much white-knuckle tension as The Shield, creator Shawn Ryan’s occasionally trashy masterpiece of moral compromise and macho arrogance. Vic Mackey, played with simmering rage and dark humor by Michael Chiklis, led an incredible cast of cops, including future Justified standout Walton Goggins, through a series of challenges that culminated in one of the most perfectly realized endings in TV history. Watch it now.

South Park (1997-present)

South Park still reigns as one of the longest-running and most consistently potent animated sitcoms — where The Simpsons has largely exited the contemporary water cooler conversation, South Park is as relevant as ever. The green streaming service has every episode, from Season 1 to 21 (yeah, even the new ones the morning after they air). Though the show has evolved and experimented with continuity over the last few years, it looks like the current season is getting back to its self-contained roots. Come for the social satire, stay for the Alexa pranks.

Taboo (2017-present)

Bona fide movie star Tom Hardy stops by FX to play James Delaney, a top hat-wearing shipwreck survivor who’s determined to thwart the many Londoners seeking to steal his inheritance circa 1814. The actor’s relentlessly intense performance elevates a show that intertwines maritime trade, the War of 1812, and incest into a cracking yarn. Binge it immediately — the top-hat industry demands it.

Top Chef (2006-present)

In a world where new cooking shows pop up faster than hip molecular gastronomy-based tapas bars, Top Chef is a rare achievement: tasteful, imaginative, and perfectly prepared. What’s the secret ingredient? Smart hosts and talented contestants. It’s really that simple.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

Every lauded sci-fi movie or television show owes Rod Serling residuals. Over 156 episodes, Serling speculated and dreamed, refracting his present day through the trippiest scenarios to ever beam through mild-mannered American homes. The Twilight Zone’s visual prose took us to jungles, to space, to 20,000ft, and to the sunny block from every person’s childhood, where the worst existential revelations tended to lurk. The Twilight Zone still speaks volumes. Buckle up and fly into a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind.

Twin Peaks (1990-1991; 2017)

David Lynch and Mark Frost’s detective series is often credited with instilling television with artful potential. Without Twin Peaks, there’d likely be no Mad Men or Breaking Bad (both shows nodded to the ABC series). And yet, the show’s dreamy, saturated look is really a cherry on top. Twin Peaks is a steady stream of oddball characters and fantastical twists, encountered by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) as he hunts for the murderer of a small-town teenager. Your weird friends love this show. You should, too. It’s finally time to understand those Log Lady Halloween costumes — and get you ready to binge the 25-years-in-the-making third season, available on Hulu with a Showtime subscription.

The X-Files (1993-2002)

Hulu is the best place to catch up on Mulder’s paranoia, Scully’s sleuthing, and the burning chemistry that launched a thousand GeoCities sites. The streaming site offers both the original 201-episode run of Fox’s paranormal investigation drama and the recent miniseries revival. If nine and a half seasons is too much to binge, cherry-pick the classics. We made it easy by ranking the entire series.

Younger (2015-present)

Love triangles, sassy sidekicks, and book publishing — much to enjoy on this not-really-guilty guilty pleasure, which you will find almost dangerously bingeable. Now is the time to get acquainted with the surprisingly cutthroat world of book publishing!

Story by Thrillist.