Washington Black is a sweeping Hulu limited series adapted from Esi Edugyan's acclaimed 2018 novel, a coming-of-age adventure that carries its hero from bondage to the far corners of the globe. Ernest Kingsley Jr. stars as the adult George Washington “Wash” Black, a boy born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation whose prodigious scientific gifts are recognized by an eccentric abolitionist inventor. When a death forces him to flee, Wash embarks on an odyssey across oceans and continents that transforms him from fugitive to scientist, artist, and explorer.
Sterling K. Brown, who also executive produces, plays Medwin Harris, a charismatic community leader in Halifax whose role is expanded from the novel, while Eddie Karanja plays the younger Wash and Tom Ellis, Iola Evans, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster fill out the cast. Told across dual timelines and multiple continents, the series pairs the propulsive momentum of a nineteenth-century adventure yarn with a thoughtful meditation on freedom, identity, and who gets to author their own story.
Adapting a novel that won Canada's Giller Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker, the series reaches for the grandeur of classic adventure storytelling while centering a Black hero's journey toward self-invention. Lavishly mounted and spanning locations from the Caribbean to the Arctic, Washington Black streams on Hulu.
"Silicon Valley" is a television show that tells the story of a group of young tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, California. The show follows their journey as they try to launch their startup and make it big in the tech industry. The show has been praised for its humor and its realistic portrayal of the tech industry.
The show has been noted for its use of satire to comment on the excesses and absurdities of the tech industry. It has also been praised for its portrayal of the culture of Silicon Valley, with its focus on innovation, competition, and ambition. The show has been acclaimed for its writing and its performances, with many of its actors receiving recognition for their work.
The show has been a commercial and critical success, winning several awards and receiving high ratings from viewers. It has been praised for its ability to make complex technical concepts accessible to a general audience, while also being entertaining and engaging. Overall, "Silicon Valley" is a funny and insightful show that offers a unique perspective on the world of tech entrepreneurship.
"High Maintenance" is a television show that tells the story of a marijuana delivery man in New York City. Each episode focuses on a different customer and their unique story, with the delivery man acting as a sort of conduit between them. The show originally started as a web series before being picked up by HBO.
The show has been praised for its portrayal of complex characters and its depiction of life in New York City. It has also been noted for its use of music, with each episode featuring a different soundtrack. The show has been praised for its exploration of themes such as loneliness, relationships, and the search for meaning in life.
Despite its title, the show is not primarily focused on marijuana use, but rather on the lives of the people who use it. It has been praised for its humanizing portrayal of marijuana users and for breaking down stereotypes. Overall, "High Maintenance" is a thought-provoking show that offers a unique perspective on life in a big city.
"Ballers" is an American comedy-drama television series that aired on HBO from 2015 to 2019. The show follows the lives of current and former football players, as well as their families and friends, as they navigate the ups and downs of their personal and professional lives.
The series is led by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who plays Spencer Strasmore, a retired football player who becomes a financial advisor for current players in Miami. Throughout the series, Spencer and his team help their clients manage their wealth and deal with various personal and professional challenges.
The show received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its entertainment value and strong performances from the cast, while others criticized its portrayal of the NFL and its lack of depth in character development. Despite this, the show maintained a dedicated fan base throughout its five-season run, and is remembered as a fun and enjoyable look at the high-stakes world of football.
"Looking" is a TV series that aired on HBO from 2014 to 2016. The show follows a group of gay friends who live in San Francisco and navigate their personal and professional lives.
The main character, Patrick, is a video game designer who is looking for love and struggles to balance his desires with his fear of commitment. He is joined by his friends Agustín and Dom, who also face their own challenges in relationships and career goals.
The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of gay men and their lives, as well as its focus on character development and nuanced storytelling. Despite its critical acclaim, the show was cancelled after two seasons due to low viewership numbers. However, it did receive a wrap-up movie titled "Looking: The Movie" which aired in 2016, providing closure to the show's storylines.
"Crashing" is a TV series created by Pete Holmes that aired on HBO from 2017 to 2019. The show follows the life of a fictionalized version of Holmes, who is a struggling comedian trying to make a name for himself in the New York City stand-up comedy scene.
Throughout the series, the protagonist couch-surfs at various fellow comedians' apartments while trying to improve his comedy routine and navigate his personal life. Along the way, he encounters a variety of characters and experiences both successes and failures in his career and relationships.
The show received generally positive reviews from critics for its portrayal of the struggles of a comedian trying to make it in the industry, as well as for its humor and strong performances by its cast. Despite its critical success, the show was cancelled after three seasons.
Family Tree is a comedy television series that aired on HBO and BBC Two in 2013. The show was created by Christopher Guest and Jim Piddock and starred Chris O'Dowd as Tom Chadwick, a young man who sets out to trace his family's genealogy after inheriting a mysterious box of belongings from his great-aunt.
The show is shot in a mockumentary style and features a mix of scripted comedy and improvisation. It follows Tom as he travels around the world in search of his family's roots and uncovers a series of bizarre and hilarious stories about his ancestors. Along the way, he meets a colorful cast of characters, including his eccentric sister, his best friend, and a number of quirky relatives.
Family Tree received positive reviews from critics for its unique blend of humor and heart. The show's use of real-life genealogy websites and historical records to shape the storyline was also praised. Despite the critical acclaim, the show only ran for one season, consisting of eight episodes.
The Larry Sanders Show is an American television sitcom that aired on HBO from 1992 to 1998. The show was created by Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein and is a satirical take on late-night talk shows. It starred Garry Shandling as Larry Sanders, the host of a fictional late-night talk show.
The show is shot in a mockumentary style and features a mix of scripted comedy and improvisation. It explores the backstage drama and politics that go on behind the scenes of a late-night talk show, including Larry's relationships with his co-workers, his guests, and his personal life. The show is known for its dark humor and satirical take on the entertainment industry.
The Larry Sanders Show received critical acclaim during its run and is considered a groundbreaking series that paved the way for future shows like The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm. It was nominated for multiple Emmy awards and won three. The show's influence can still be seen in modern television and is considered a classic example of the mockumentary genre.
Miracle Workers is a television series that premiered in 2019 on TBS. The show is based on the novel "What in God's Name" by Simon Rich and stars Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi. It is a comedy series that takes a lighthearted look at heaven and the bureaucracy that runs it.
The series is set in a version of heaven where God, played by Buscemi, is more interested in his hobbies than in the welfare of the universe. Radcliffe plays Craig, a low-level angel tasked with handling all of humanity's prayers. When God decides to destroy Earth, Craig and his fellow angel Eliza, played by Geraldine Viswanathan, try to convince him to change his mind.
Miracle Workers received positive reviews for its unique premise, witty writing, and strong performances. The show was praised for its clever satire of religion and bureaucracy and its ability to tackle serious topics while remaining funny and lighthearted. The series has been renewed for multiple seasons and has continued to explore different aspects of the afterlife and the human experience.
Togetherness is a television series that premiered on HBO in 2015. It was created by brothers Mark and Jay Duplass, who also served as executive producers and writers for the show. The series follows the lives of two couples who live under the same roof in Los Angeles, as they navigate the challenges of relationships, parenthood, and personal fulfillment.
The main characters are Brett and Michelle, a married couple in their 30s who have two young children and are struggling to keep their marriage alive. They are joined by Michelle's sister Tina, a free spirit who moves in with them after a breakup, and Brett's best friend Alex, an aspiring actor who is searching for direction in his life. The series explores the dynamic between the four characters as they support each other through their personal struggles and try to find a sense of togetherness.
Togetherness received critical acclaim for its honest and nuanced portrayal of relationships and its realistic depiction of modern life. The show was praised for its strong performances, sharp writing, and relatable characters. Despite its critical success, the series was canceled after two seasons due to low ratings.
"Flight of the Conchords" is a television series that aired on HBO from 2007 to 2009. The show follows the lives of two New Zealand musicians, Jemaine and Bret, as they try to make it in the music industry in New York City. The show combines elements of comedy and music, as Jemaine and Bret frequently break into song during the episodes.
Throughout the series, Jemaine and Bret encounter various challenges as they try to navigate the music industry and find success. They also encounter a number of quirky characters, including their manager Murray, their obsessed fan Mel, and Dave, a friend who works at a pawn shop. The show is known for its clever humor and unique musical performances, which often involve humorous lyrics and bizarre music videos.
"Flight of the Conchords" was well-received by critics and has gained a cult following over the years. The show has been praised for its originality and its ability to combine music and comedy in a seamless way. While the series only lasted for two seasons, it has continued to be popular among fans and is considered to be a classic of the comedy genre.
