There are quite a number of streaming services out there trying to convince us to shell out the money for a subscription, and I tend to cycle through those depending on what sci fi/fantasy shows they currently have available. In this column, I will focus on a different service each with each post and let you know what I am finding that might convince sci fi TV fans it is worth the money.
Hulu is one of the oldest streaming services out there and it has gone through many changes since it kicked off way back in 2010. It started as a joint venture between NBC Universal, Disney, and several other partners and originally offered past movies and series from those companies. It would eventually work out streaming deals with several of the broadcast networks and cable channels to stream new episodes of current shows the day after broadcast (and it would keep them available for up to five weeks). But with practically every network launching its own streaming service these days, there is much less of that and eventually Hulu will have mostly just Disney properties, as it is owned by the Mouse House, and acquisitions.
As far as sci fi TV originals, Hulu has less in that department than the most of the other big streamers, but it does have some big names among its scripted offerings. The Handmaid’s Tale is truly a ground-breaking dystopian drama which has put out four seasons so far with a fifth on the way. The fan-favorite series The Orville has shifted to Hulu after Disney bought Fox Entertainment and that one kicks off its third season this month. And Futurama will be headed to the streaming service with new episodes later this year or early 2023. Also, the AHS spin-off series American Horror Stories is streaming on the service. Prior shows of note include Alex Garland’s Devs mini-series (highly recommended), the horror-movie-a-month anthology Into the Dark, and the short-lived but excellent sci fi anthology Dimension 404.
As far as past series, Hulu has a pretty large selection but not nearly as vast as when it started. It once had many of the classics like Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Babylon 5, Stargate: SG-1, and more. But those have all gravitated to the streaming services linked to the studios that created the shows (or disappeared from streaming). Still, there are plenty sci fi and fantasy selections on Hulu these days like Lost, The X-Files, Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Lost in Space (the original), and more. If you can’t find any sci fi TV you like on the service, then you are pretty picky.
But is it worth the monthly subscription fee you ask? The plans start as low as $6.99 per month and that includes ads (which are not too intrusive). For that amount, and with shows like The Handmaid’s Tale, The Orville, and Futurama hitting throughout the year, it has been worth it to me to keep it on the permanent list. But with fewer past series available now, I might consider bumping it down to a few months a year at some point. You can also get a streaming bundle which adds on Disney+ and ESPN+ for about fifteen bucks a month (that’s the plan I currently have). And Hulu offers some live TV packages if you want to consider it as an option to cable.
For the most part, Hulu has some good originals and a decent selection of past shows (with some worthwhile movies in the mix as well). But of the Big 3 streamers (Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu), it has the least to offer at this point. You can browse through Hulu’s television show selection at JustWatch.com to determine if the streamer has enough to interest you. And you will definitely want to subscribe for a month or two to catch up on the current season of The Orville and upcoming seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale and more.
SciFiTVSite.com: Follow our Sci Fi TV Schedule for all the currently airing and upcoming sci fi and fantasy television shows, and keep up with what is airing/streaming each week with our Weekly Listings.
CancelledSciFi.com: Keep up with the status updates of all the currently airing sci fi and fantasy shows with our Cancellation Watch posts. And be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates.
