Furious

Hulu's new drama series Furious, which premiered in early 2026, attempts to carve out a distinctive place for itself in the crowded world of serial killer-themed productions. This eight-episode first season, which showcases the writing prowess of New Girl creator Elizabeth Meriwether, centers on the psychological battle between FBI agent Alice Black and a mysterious female serial killer. Featuring one of Emmy Rossum's most mature performances to date, Furious offers a layered narrative that questions the relativity of justice and gender dynamics, rather than being just another superficial crime-thriller series.

The show's greatest strength is undoubtedly the electrically charged dynamic between its two leads. Emmy Rossum, whom we know from her iconic role as Fiona Gallagher in Shameless, opens a new chapter in her career here. The character of FBI agent Alice Black is a layered portrait of a woman who deliberately departs from the classic detective archetype, wrestling with her traumas and trying to develop her own methods within the system. Rossum's facial expressions in quiet scenes convey far more about the character than dialogue ever could. Opposite her, young Irish actress Lola Petticrew's serial killer character emerges as a surprisingly sympathetic and understandable antagonist. Petticrew conveys her character's childhood abuse and the resulting sense of injustice so genuinely that viewers find themselves involuntarily rooting for her.

Furious's narrative structure follows a different path from traditional crime storytelling. Rather than solving a murder case each episode, the series focuses on Alice and the serial killer getting to know each other better and infiltrating each other's lives. Elizabeth Meriwether's dialogue writing, stemming from her comedy background, kicks in at unexpected moments to balance the show's heavy atmosphere while adding three-dimensionality to the characters. However, pacing issues become apparent in the middle episodes. Particularly in the third and fourth episodes, the story devotes too much time to supporting characters while the main conflict takes a backseat.

Visually, Furious embraces the minimalist aesthetic of contemporary television dramas. Scenes shot with a cold color palette reflect the emotional isolation the characters find themselves in. The visual parallels between Alice's office scenes and the spaces where the serial killer hides are particularly striking. Both women appear imprisoned in their own cages—one captive to bureaucracy, the other to her past. However, the series' cinematography sometimes fails to transcend the limitations of the television format. Camera work in some action scenes feels ordinary, and the potential of suspenseful moments isn't fully realized.

Scoot McNairy's performance as Alice's FBI agent partner is one of the show's most unexpectedly strong elements. McNairy paints a portrait of a man wrestling with his own moral contradictions without falling into the clichéd sidekick character trap. Quincy Tyler Bernstine's senior agent character brings the sense of experience and authority the series desperately needs.

The show's musical design bears the signature of composer Siddhartha Khosla. Having worked on emotionally driven series like This Is Us, Khosla has chosen a darker, more electronic sound palette for Furious. The minimal electronic rhythms used especially in chase scenes escalate the tension, while strings that come in during characters' moments of solitude add emotional depth.

Looking at behind-the-scenes information, we learn that Emmy Rossum was involved in this project not only as an actress but also as a producer. Rossum reached out to Elizabeth Meriwether as soon as she read the script and took an active role in developing the character. She conducted research and met with actual FBI agents to incorporate Alice's position within the FBI and the challenges she faces as a female agent into the script. The series was filmed in and around Portland. The rainy and foggy atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest became an important element strengthening the show's gothic mood.

An interesting detail is that Lola Petticrew was only 24 years old when she landed this role. The young actress worked with forensic psychology experts while preparing for the character and conducted in-depth research on antisocial personality disorder. Petticrew's quiet, monotone speaking style in portraying the character was inspired by actual serial killers' interrogation recordings.

Furious may be particularly interesting for Turkish audiences because interest in female-centered thriller series has been growing in our country in recent years as well. Following productions like Masum and Kulüp, demand is rising for complex stories with strong female characters in leading roles. The series' questioning of the justice system and its treatment of societal traumas are also universal themes.

In conclusion, while not perfect, Furious offers a bold and thought-provoking television experience. Elizabeth Meriwether's transition from the world of comedy to the drama genre, though not entirely successful, is intriguing. The show's strong cast and character-driven narrative compensate for pacing problems and some technical shortcomings. If a second season is greenlit, we believe the series could realize its potential even further. If you're not tired of serial killer-themed shows and value character depth, Furious deserves a spot on your watchlist.