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Should You Watch Hulu’s ‘Runaways’ & ‘Future Man’?

Hulu

Hulu is launching two new, geek-friendly series this November: Marvel’s Runaways and Future Man. Both shows are hoping to ride the wave of superhero success that’s happening on the big screen, but are they worth your time? The streaming market is more competitive than ever before, and that means viewers have less time to check out shows than they used to. In an era when you have to be picky or devote your life to watching all of the shows, choosing which original series to stream is no easy task.

Before you dive into Hulu’s latest offerings, check out Reelgood’s mini-reviews to find out which show is right for you.

Future Man (Premieres Nov. 14)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJaUfpbEYIU

The Premise: Janitor Josh Futturman’s life is going nowhere until he beats Biotic Wars, a video game that’s meant to be unbeatable. Josh’s triumph leads to him joining a mission with a group of time travelers to save the world, making his life a whole lot more interesting.

What Works: The ’80s nostalgia gives this series a major boost. If you grew up loving movies like Tron and The Last Starfighter, then Future Man will make you smile. The show’s self-awareness is its greatest asset, and Josh Hutcherson is endlessly watchable.

What Doesn’t: Future Man is almost too lighthearted for its own good. There are no real stakes, and that means there’s no sense of urgency to watch the next episode. It also leans into co-creator Seth Rogen’s brand of bawdy humor too much. If you didn’t laugh at This Is the End or Pineapple Express, you probably won’t be laughing much at this.

Watch It If You Like… This Is the End, Sausage Party, Dimension 404, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, or The Orville.

The Bottom Line: Future Man isn’t going to be for everyone, but if you love a good stoner comedy or are a child of the ’80s, you’ll want to give this Hulu original a try.

Marvel’s Runaways (Premieres Nov. 21)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plyJQG-nRN0

The Premise: Six normal teens discover their parents are part of a nefarious supervillain operation known as The Pride. Despite their differences, they must embrace the things that make them special and band together in order to stop their parents.

What Works: The sprawling young ensemble’s chemistry is evident from the start, and while the show should delight fans of Brian K. Vaughan’s comic book series, it’s not afraid to forge its own path. From a visual standpoint, Runaways is a marvel, and it mixes teen angst with superhero storytelling in a way that’s instantly compelling.

What Doesn’t: Hulu has only made the first four episodes available for review, and because the cast is so large, there’s a whole lot of exposition in those early hours. The show would do well to trust its viewers to keep up going forward and spend less time rehashing the same plot points.

Watch It If You Like… Spider-Man: Homecoming, Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, The O.C., Gossip Girl, or Stranger Things.

The Bottom Line: Runaways is a teen show with an impeccable cast and a new take on the superhero genre. It stalls a little in the second episode, but that shouldn’t stop you from sticking by this promising series.

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