There's a lot of British TV on Hulu, but what's the best?
Colin Firth's performance in Pride and Prejudice is one of the best of his career. If you need them, they are always there. If you want to watch another take on the story of Henry VIII, you could check out The Tudors. There are so many amazing shows coming out of the UK, but what about something a little more fresh?
To find the best British TV shows to add to your list, we went through all of the British shows on Hulu. The shows produced in the UK are long-loved classics, provocative hidden gems, and newer showstoppers that everyone can't stop talking about.
1. I may destroy you.
Michaela Coel's show is one of the best, and will stay with you. Natalie Seery is a writer for the cable channel.
Michaela Coel's show I May destroy You was one of the best British TV shows of 2020 and earned her an award for Outstanding British Television. The series follows Coel as Arabella, who takes a break from writing her book to meet up with friends for a night out. She doesn't remember what happened the next day, but she knows she was raped by a stranger. The series is based on Coel's own experience of sexual assault, and asks important questions about sexual violence and onscreen representation.
The contents of I May destroy you have the power to challenge stereotypes about rape and sexual violence. "That act of service could not be more necessary," wrote Rachel Thompson in her review. "You won't be able to stop me from destroying you." Shannon Connellan, UK Editor, guarantees that it will stay with you after you close your laptop or turn off your television.
You can watch I May Destroy You on the internet.
2. Killing Eve.
Eve, villainelle could be anywhere. The credit is from the BBC.
Killing Eve is a truly addictive thriller that will make you want to run around town in a pink dress but not do crimes in it. The series is based on the life of MI5 agent Eve and Villanelle, a female assassin. We're on three seasons so far, each spinning a tangled web and keeping you on your toes with the actors' incredible performances and Waller-Bridge's signature sharp writing.
Killing Eve is available to watch on the internet.
3. Luther.
Do not do crimes near John Luther. The credit is from the BBC.
If you haven't joined John Luther for a murder investigation, you should. This psychological crime thriller series sees an overly dedicated detective chasing twisted criminals across London, and it's led by the man who plays it. Neil Cross created a dark crime series that featured Ruth Wilson and Varma Indira. The twists and turns of Luther are genuine pivots, so hold onto your butt.
Luther is available on the streaming service.
4. People who are normal.
These two people. Credit: Enda Bowe.
We're counting it in here because it was produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The adaptation of Normal People, based on Sally Rooney's novel, seemed to capture everybody's hearts when it aired in 2020. The show featured beautiful writing and cinematography, but also gut-wrenching performances byDaisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal.
"Before watching, know this: there will be feelings and plenty of them," wrote Rachel Thompson in her review. You might cry, I did. You may see your own experience in the drama. You may remember past loves and losses. For a brief moment, remember what life was like before COVID-19. "For that, you will be alive again, and no longer numb.
You can watch Normal People on Hulu.
5. This way up.
A good mood. Credit: Channel 4
This Way Up is a Channel 4 series that was created by and starred by Bea Aisling and is a song for the lonely. Sharon Horgan plays Aine, a London teacher who is going through it, while Bea plays her sister, Shona, who is also going through it. One of the few accurate portrayals of loneliness in a city full of people is in Season 1 and the other is in Season 2.
You can watch This Way Up on Hulu.
6. Love Island.
We are by it. Credit: ITV.
"I have a text!" Chances are you're missing out if these words mean nothing to you. The beginning of the Love Island season is when the words "can I pull you for a chat" promise a world of opportunity for bevs, NVQs, and getting pied. The 11 islanders of Love Island have to share a villa in Mallorca, Spain, with someone they fancy, and then have to share a bed with each other until the producers announce a recoupling. When islanders get to know one another, loyalties change, and curveballs are thrown in when "bombshells" show up at the villa to make contestants question who they really want to be with. Will someone get dumped from the island? You'll likely be unable to detach yourself from the messy drama of it all, even if you choose to.
Love Island is available on the streaming service.
7. Absolutely wonderful.
Pats and Eddy were together. Credit: Don Smith, Radio Times
If you haven't watched Absolutely Fabulous, grab a bottle of Bolly or Stoli and let's get going. In the high-flying London fashion world, the inseparable friends of the famous Edina and Patsy, and their friends Pat and Eddy, are creating chaos, spectacularly tumbling out of cabs, and generally recovering face down on the kitchen table. The pair's hilarious, booze-fuelled pandemonium is offsetting the long-suffering, haughty daughter Saffron, her mischievous mother June, and her well-meaning but fairly useless assistant Bubble.
Absolutely Fabulous is now available on the internet.
8. Both Years and Years.
Emma Thompson is a far-right politician. Guy Farrow is a producer for Red productions.
Black Mirror fans need to watch Years and Years, a six-episode series co-produced by the BBC and HBO. "If you're partial to shows that fill you with a deep-rooted sense of terror about the direction our society's headed, you'll almost certainly love it," Sam Haysom wrote in his review. The series focuses on the Lyons family over the course of 15 years, and is written by Russell T. Davies, creator of Queer as Folk. "It starts in the present day and immediately lulls us into a false sense of realism, as one of the main characters drives along listening to a BBC Radio 4 news bulletin about real-life 2019 issues," Haysom writes. Theresa May is the Prime Minister. There is a decision regarding the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union. The death of a woman. The show makes it clear that it's set in the same world we live in, and then it pulls the rug out from under us. It's a little too real for Emma Thompson, who plays a far-right politician.
You can watch Years and Years on Hulu.
9. There are skins.
Look at their happy faces. Nothing bad is going to happen. Credit: Channel 4
The Inbetweeners is a comedy, but Skins is also a drama and darkness. The structure of Skins is interesting, as every two seasons we get a new group of characters, following them on their two-year journey through college in the city of Bristol, and injecting the show with fresh faces. The same issues and themes crop up throughout, with the show refusing to shy away from topics like bereavement, mental illness and suicide. Does it get a bit far-fetched every now and then? Yes. It's an engaging and poignant study of complex characters navigating a difficult chapter in life, and it's in the first two seasons.
You can watch Skins on Hulu.
10. His materials were dark.
Pan is not in his best red panda form, but I will deal with it. The credit is from the BBC.
It's one that polarised people, but the sheer ambition, stunning visuals, and frankly terrifying performance from Ruth Wilson make His Dark Materials a gem. His Dark Materials is based on Philip Pullman's beloved novel trilogy of the same name, and tells the story of a young girl named Lyra who lives in a world where humans enjoy the company of their own souls in animal form. When a string of child kidnappings leads to the disappearance of a friend, she discovers a magical secret to do with her uncle Lord Asriel and her mysterious new guardian Mrs Coulter. We're off on an adventure that spans worlds and realities, where we'll meet allies like Lee Scoresby and more. It's the first season of the show we're really promoting here. His Dark Materials had all the building blocks it needed to make a quick second season. The potential of the show was massive, with a determined hero, a well-developed magical story world, and a cliff-hanger finale. The series needed to add some excitement and speed up its pace. Season 2 is somewhat entertaining, but it doesn't attempt to expand upon the greatest features of the first season.
His Dark Materials is available to watch on the internet.
11. There is a show called "peep show".
Mark, this is not a Christmas photo. Credit: Hulu.
The POV style of the show is reminiscent of a British cult classic at this point. The British stereotype of being hopelessly over-apologetic and nowhere near assertive is embodied perfectly by David Mitchell in the show. This one is also worth watching for a pre-Oscar performance by Matt King as the wildly unpredictable Super Hans. It's a bit cringe-fest, so just brace yourself before you go in.
You can watch the show on Hulu.
12. The line of duty.
DI Kate Fleming and Kelly Macdonald are keeping secrets and uncovering them. The credit is given to the World Production team.
DC Kate Fleming, DS Steve Arnott and Supt Ted Hastings are here to bring the might of Anti-Corruption Unit 12 (AC-12) down on you. Line of Duty is all anyone can talk about in the UK. The sixth season of the popular police corruption drama was broadcasted on the British Broadcasting Corporation in March of 2021.
Although the final episode of Line of Duty was not universally liked by fans, it was still one of the shows that had people watching. There are excellent performances from some of Britain's best actors, including ThandiweNewton as DCI Roseanne Huntley, Keeley Hawes as DI Lindsay Denton, and Lennie James as DCI Tony Gates.
Line of Duty is available to watch.
13. Staged.
Michael and David did what they could. The credit is from the BBC.
If there was a show that showed the feeling of being at home during the first few months of the disease, I would eat my hat.
The premise is simple, as two actors whose West End play has been paused due to COVID-19, they basically play themselves. The hilarious support cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Nina Sosanya, and Judi Dench make hilarious appearances, as well as the wildly intimidated, long-suffering director who has them continue rehearsing online, which leads to constant down-the-camera squabbles and some awkward moments. The show deliberately catches you in lighthearted moments with subtle reminders of the severity of the situation we all continue to live in, and in one line of dialogue, a silly row with a neighbour over invaded recycling bins becomes chillingly real.
Staged is available to watch on the internet.
The writeup is adapted from another article.
