While not strictly a ‘true crime’ show – the killer and investigators are fictional – Furious feels disturbingly realistic. It uses this realism to powerfully explore the dark side of wealth and influence.
Elizabeth Meriwether has found consistent success creating shows with strong female leads. After hitting it big with New Girl and following up with The Dropout and Dying for Sex, she’s now tackling a grittier genre with the crime thriller Furious. The series showcases Emmy Rossum in a challenging role, and she delivers – Rossum is captivating as FBI agent Alice Black, giving what many are calling her best performance to date. The high-quality writing perfectly complements Rossum’s powerful performance, raising the standard for crime dramas.
Furious Tackles a Difficult Subject In an Enthralling Story
The story follows an investigation into a series of connected murders, all pointing to a woman named Catherine Petticrew. While her reasons aren’t immediately obvious, the narrative – which often shifts to Catherine’s point of view and is driven by the intense emotions of the investigators – reveals that revenge plays a key role. The plot quickly asks viewers to question whether it’s ever justified to take the law into your own hands, especially when the justice system lets people down.
Alice and FBI agent Nora are determined to solve the case, pushing further than anyone before them. Alice’s past relationship with her ex and former coworker, Marshall, who was abusive, complicates things – but also gives her a unique perspective. Only one colleague, Danny, supports her, and both were ostracized by the department after challenging a favored agent. Adding to the complexity, Alice has developed a troubling tendency towards violent acts, which she explores through online dating.
The film cleverly avoids showing any scenes of the abuse directly, instead letting viewers decide for themselves what happened between Alice and Marshall. While Marshall, his friends, and mother all claim Alice is lying, she’s clearly deeply affected by memories of him forcibly pulling her from the shower—a moment that haunts her. This situation creates a striking parallel between Alice and Catherine, and the film delves into the weighty consequences of truth and how it’s perceived. It raises important questions: who gets to define what really happened, and what options are available when women aren’t believed?
The Cast of Furious Take the Show to a Whole New Level
The show is well-paced and engaging because it relies on characters telling the story directly, rather than using a lot of flashbacks. This approach builds suspense around what happened to Catherine, her friend, and Alice. The storytelling also gives the actors, particularly Rossum and Bernstine, a chance to deliver powerful performances. They are especially compelling as women who fight for others while struggling with their own personal issues.
McNairy delivers a fantastic performance as Danny – an actor with less skill might have played him simply as the friend who secretly loves someone else. However, within the context of this show full of questionable characters, Danny represents a glimmer of hope, though even his kindness has its limits.
I’ve always found Kyle Lacy to be a really interesting actor – he’s so good at playing these seemingly pleasant characters who slowly reveal something…off. He was great at that in his previous roles, and it’s what he brings to Marshall here too. It’s not that he isn’t good; honestly, he’s pretty unsettling! But I can’t shake the feeling that he’s being asked to play variations on the same character again and again. He just seems typecast, you know?
Furious Isn’t Afraid to Step Into the Darkness
Playing Catherine is a challenging role, but both Meriwether and Petticrew create a complex and nuanced portrayal. Despite her past actions, the character feels relatable, perhaps because of her vibrant, youthful style and energetic personality—traits that hint at the lost childhood she experienced due to abuse. However, Petticrew skillfully avoids fully revealing Catherine’s inner self, leaving an air of mystery that even the character seems to possess.
While Furious manages to incorporate humor appropriately, it often delves into very dark territory. The series powerfully portrays the horrific reality of young girls falling victim to human trafficking at the hands of older, predatory men. It doesn’t shy away from showing just enough to expose the truth, revealing the disturbing underbelly of America’s wealthiest and most influential figures. Though difficult to watch, Furious offers a glimpse into uncomfortable but real situations.
Though physically separated for much of the story on a ship called Furious, Alice and Catherine share a deep connection forged through past hardships. These shared traumas not only bind them together but also compel Alice to question the very foundations of the system she’s dedicated her life to upholding. The narrative explores whether true justice is attainable without forcing women into crime, and if their experiences will ever be fully acknowledged as truth. Ultimately, the author Meriwether realized this was the central inquiry driving the story.
Furious premieres July 27 on Hulu.
2026-07-22 19:15