Hulu

Finally relenting and signing up for Hulu, no ads of course, on December 24, 2020. Hulu original content competes for Golden Globe winners.
Going through their initiation process of selecting our interests, I can see how from the offerings that this was includes an alternative to broadcast TV for cord cutters.
It also helped us in our decision to buy and run everything streaming that we can through ApplePlus. We don’t have stock in Spectrum but we do in Apple and generally Apple is a good experience for us.

A great deal of what is on Hulu might be what I put in my “for my girlfriends” category so instead of breaking out that section for this page I am just noting.

Hulu also offers catch up opportunities to series you missed elsewhere. FX is a major one.

Hulu Streaming Films We Recommend

Palm Springs (2020): Adam Samberg, JK Simmons, Peter Gallagher, Cristin Milioti. Rom-com, hat tip to Groundhog Day
Nomadland (2020): Frances McDormand, David Strathairn. Chloe Zhao directed and wrote screenplay. Only a couple of actors, everyone else plays themselves. Up for Golden Globe best picture and other awards. Female Director.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire / Portrait de la jeune fille en feu (2019): written and directed by Céline Sciamma, starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel. Set in France in the late 18th century, the film tells the story of an affair between an aristocrat and a painter commissioned to paint her portrait. This film got a 98 on Rotten Tomatoes. LGBTQ. Art. Female Director.

Hulu Series We Recommend

Mrs. America (2020) A disturbing docudrama on how Phyllis Schlafly (played by Cate Blanchett with husband played by John Slattery) stopped the ratification of the ERA and dragged the Republican party to the right. Elizabeth Banks as Jill Ruckelshaus, Tracy Ullman as Betty Friedan, Margo Martindale (The Americans) as Bella Abzug, Uzo Aduba as Shirley Chisholm, Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem, Melanie Lynskey (Rose in 2 1/2 Men) head of Illinois for Phyllis’s team, Sarah Paulson composite figure on Phyllis’s team. Yes that was Bobby Cannavale uncredited as Tom Snyder. Takes a darker turn in Episode 6 when Phyllis realizes she wants Lottie Beth Hobbs’ robust mailing list of Christian Evangelicals. Her own son is gay and she opposes gay rights. Originally on FX.
the Great (2020) Starring Elle Fanning. Female directed, empowering and engaging. A comedic stylized loosely biographical drama of Catherine the Great ruler of Russia. Hulu Original.

Little Fires Everywhere (2020): Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Lexi Underwood, Joshua Jackson. Great series for artists, young adults and me. (for my girlfriends – but this does get a 7.7 on IMDB)
Normal People (2020): The challenges of being very smart. Young Adult (for my girlfriends)
This Way Up (2019): Excellent British dramedy about a quick witted woman who has just been released from rehab after an attempted suicide. Aisling Bea, Aasif Mandvi
Brockmire (2017 -): Very explicit Comedy starring Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet with baseball and alcoholism themes. 4 seasons through 2020.
Fargo (2014 -) Starring Billy Bob Thornton, Ted Danson, Kirsten Dunst, Keith Carradine, Ewan McGregor (in 2 roles), Cristin Milioti (Palm Springs) and many more. Retains that Coen Brothers feel of the film. Dangerously binge-able. Originally on FX. Watch the first two seasons for sure. Season three is pretty good. Watch the beginning of season four to see Chris Rock and finish it if you like, it got the weakest reviews of the four seasons. While you expect the characters to cross over between seasons, only Keith Carradine does.

Hulu Documentaries We Recommend

Tiny Shoulders, Rethinking Barbie (2018): Interviews with Gloria Steinem, historic footage of Ruth Handler – the founder of Mattel, creator of Barbie and her great story. (for my girlfriends)