Mysteries on Hulu: Binge It Or Skip It?

The Best (And Worst) Of What's Currently Streaming On Hulu

If you’re digging for quality entertainment and aren’t sure where to look, Disney’s mainstream platform Hulu has options for you. And fortunately for mystery lovers, Hulu goes all in with murder mysteries and crime dramas. After all, Hulu gave viewers Only Murders In The Building, the best new mystery series since Steven Moffat’s Sherlock (for another take on Holmes, see below). So with that in mind, let’s all just take a moment, bow our heads, and thank the Hulu execs who greenlit Only Murders In The Building no questions asked, can I get an amen?

So if you’re looking for a new crime-solving story this weekend, Hulu has lots of options. But how do you decide what’s worth your time? I’ve done the research for you. Here’s what you should binge and what you should skip.

All Images Courtesy of Hulu

Only Murders In The Building (Rated TV-MA, 3 seasons, 1 hour episodes) — The show that launched a thousand ships! (Or at the very least, this newsletter.) Hulu’s award-winning murder mystery series with Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez takes place inside the fictional Arconia in Manhattan. When Tim Kono is murdered, the trio decides to launch a podcast to document their investigation, and the antics snowball from there. Brilliant casting with terrific guest stars (Meryl Streep! Paul Rudd! Tina Fey!) make this a fantastic choice for mystery fans from tweens all the way to grands. If only every murder mystery show were this good! Binge It

A Murder At The End Of The World (Rated TV-MA, 1 season, between 45 minutes/75 minutes per episode) — This series is Hulu’s latest entry in the murder mystery genre — see my in-depth review in the11/27 OMITI edition. The executive producers of The OA present a whodunit in the middle of an isolated landscape in Iceland during a retreat. Darby, a writer, coder and hacker, has a big reason for wanting to solve this mystery. The dire situation at the retreat is juxtaposed with a moving backstory between Darby and her boyfriend, which ties into current day. Five of seven episodes have aired; the sixth episode goes up tomorrow. I’m confident enough in this show so far to recommend it. Fingers crossed for a strong finish. Binge It

Disappearance at Clifton Hill (NR, 1 hour, 41 minutes) — Abby returns to her hometown of Niagara Falls and it dredges up some painful memories, including one from a family fishing trip at age seven when she witnessed a child abduction. Obsessed with understanding what she saw as a kid, she goes on a hunt for answers. Schitt’s Creek fans will be annoyed by how underutilized Noah Reid is in this film. Poor acting by bit players and some choppy scenes from the climax to the resolution detract from what could’ve been a very satisfying mystery. Skip It

Murder On The Orient Express (Rated PG-13, 1 hour, 54 minutes ) — Netflix might have Rian Johnson and Benoit Blanc, but Hulu has Kenneth Branaugh and Hercule Poirot. Who do you think will win that head-to-head in the ring? In any case, all three of the newest adaptations of Agatha Christie’s works finding a home with Hulu gives Hulu an even stronger edge in dominating the market in the mystery genre. Binge It

Elementary (Rated TV14, 7 Seasons, 43 minute episodes) — You want to love a clever retake on classic Sherlock Holmes, especially anything involving the fabulous Lucy Liu (random fact: LL is a very talented accordion player who took lessons for many years from my friend’s step-grandfather). This was a hit for CBS from 2012 to 2019 and is a good watch; however, when you have Steven Moffat’s Sherlock for comparison, it doesn’t hold a candle. Skip It

Death on the Nile (Rated PG-13, 2 hours, 8 minutes ) — David Suchet’s Poirot with Emily Blunt as heiress Linnet Ridgeway had already perfected these roles in the BBC’s version of Death On The Nile. That being said, Kenneth Branagh’s version of Agatha Christie’s novel is worth a watch. Gal Gidot gives a convincing performance, but Emma Mackey really steals the show. There are a few more twists in this adaptation that Christie fans might not see coming. Throw in some delicious takeout with a bottle of wine and you’ve got a great date night. Binge It

Boston Strangler — (Rated R for violence, 1 hour, 52 minutes ) The perfect movie for fans of Zodiac. A suspenseful telling of how in 1962 two female reporters, Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, broke the story of the Boston Strangler murders. Kiera Knightley plays McLaughlin, frustrated by the ineptitude of the Boston PD. As she seeks justice for 13 murdered women, her partnership with Cole deteriorates as the investigation grows complicated. Knightley delivers one of the finest performances of her career. Binge It

A Haunting In Venice — (Rated PG-13, 1 hour, 43 minutes ) If you haven’t had a chance to read my full review yet, check out 9/25 OMITI. This atmospheric haunted tale is the best Kenneth Branagh adaptation of Hercule Poirot stories. It’s a movie perfect to watch with your friends, teenage kids or both. Binge It

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