Hulu Top Picks

Courtesy of Medium.com

By Katherine Kaderabek 

Motherland: Fort Salem – This bewitching take on history makes for an enthralling and mysterious show. With only the first five episodes out, Motherland: Fort Salem still has so much to explain to its viewers. The series centers around a rewritten American history, one in which the witches once burned at the stake in the 1600s are now the protectors of the American people against the more sinister of their kind, terrorists called “The Spree.” The show follows three young witches, all very unique and quirky, in their fight to enter War College as a unit. While still involving the highschool drama of young adults, Fort Salem pairs this trope with brutal concepts of life, death, sex, and suicide. This show is one of intrigue. 

The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart – As a loyal Bachelor fan, it is obligatory to at least watch the first episode of this new series by The Bachelor franchise. Like Bachelor in Paradise, this spinoff features both men and women looking for love at the same time rather than one specific bachelor or bachelorette. However, they all have one thing in common: music. The commercials promise this season to be dramatic, exciting, and entertaining both in its ups and downs as well as in its musical performances. However, this new series’s success has yet to be determined, making this show a wildcard in this week’s top picks. Give the first episode a chance, if only to satisfy that quarantine craving for reality TV. 

Breaking Amish – This is a guilty pleasure type of show. Breaking Amish is a documentary as well as a reality TV series that follows the lives of several members of the Amish community as they travel to New York City and Los Angeles. This show is very interesting to watch. There are many things the average American takes for granted that the Amish opt to forgo. Things like tattoos, alcohol, and premartial sex are forbidden, and this group of Amish are determined to try all that life has to offer as they leave their sheltered world behind. Eccentric and at times extremely personal, this show is truly one of a kind.

Crazy, Stupid, Love – This is a classic romantic comedy that is great for a date-night watch. Packed with red carpet stars, the movie follows Cal Weaver (Steve Carrell), a recently divorced bachelor who is taken under Jacob’s (Ryan Gosling’s) wing to reclaim his manhood. Hilariously awkward at times, this movie encompasses all the rather uncomfortable parts of love and relationships. With a climax scene that no one sees coming, this is a great feel-good  film for those in the mood to laugh, cry, and smile. 

Margaret Atwood – Recently released on Hulu, this documentary of the famed novelist follows her through one of her biggest accomplishments: The Handmaid’s Tale. Now a Hulu hit, the story originally began as a book, published in 1985. The book was sold as a dystopian novel, though has eerily become a reality in the United States to which Atwood has spoken about on several occasions. This new documentary of the political activist and author follows her onto the set of the TV adaptation of her book, highlighting the unknown features about the awarded and talented author as she reflects on her success. 

Party of Five – This show is very relevant to the crisis happening in America currently. When their parents are deported back to Mexico, the Acosta children are left to struggle along in their new reality: managing a house, a restaurant, school, and a family without the two people who made everything possible. A modern remake of the 90s Fox drama, this show deals with the reality of immigration in the United States. As the family struggles to make ends meet, each member is pulled down a different path, one of which may result in the separation of their small group into the foster system. A fine example of Mexican culture and the prejudice against immigrants, Party of Five is a binge-worthy show characteristic of the Freeform Network. 

Marvel Runaways – While the show is a part of the Marvel universe, it feels almost like an off-brand TV series. However, this off-brand TV series features some of the most dynamic, inspiring, loveable, and powerfully underrated characters in the Marvel cinematic universe. The first season is the most interesting and unexpected of the show – one never knows where an episode will lead. This is the type of show where each episode feels like an entire movie, as the quick moving plot propels the story progression along rather nicely. Action-packed with great characters and dramatic cliff-hanger endings, it is hard to stop a Marvel Runaways binge. 

Rags – Speaking of “off brand,” Rags is a 2012 Nickolodeon film featuring a male Cinderella. This revamp on the classic fairytale takes viewers right into the heart of the city, where protagonist Max will surely steal their hearts with his wonderful voice, original songs, and admirable strength. Cute and funny, this movie is perfect to watch on a rainy-day when something new is needed. The songs are very catchy and are all available on Spotify, as viewers will surely be singing along to them even after the credits roll. 

Pink Panther 2 – The peak of comedy, and one of the most entertaining movies on the planet, Pink Panther 2 has arrived on Hulu. Played by actor Steve Martin, the second installment of the Pink Panther series follows detective Clouseau as he hunts for the stolen Pink Panther diamond alongside a nationally assembled team of investigators. If his accent isn’t enough to get audiences laughing, the thrilling gimmicks and funny jokes in almost every scene will be sure to have both adults and children entertained. The movie is for all ages and would act as great family-movie night entertainment during this quarantine season. 

Free Willy – Another classic and beloved film, Free Willy is truly iconic. The 1993 film about a killer whale who befriends a troubled kid was so popular, it resulted in another movie, a television series, and even a video game companion. Heartfelt and moving, Free Willy is a movie that everyone should see at least once, if not only for the iconic ending scene where friendship, love, and will prove to triumph over money and greed everytime. Another family-friendly movie, Willy is sure to steal the hearts of his viewers like he stole Jess’s heart the first time he fell into his tank. Free Willy is a bittersweet animal movie that most definitely requires a box of tissues to watch.