The summer has brought a breakout success to streaming platforms with the eight-episode thriller ‘Furious,’ which has already been renewed for a second season before its finale aired. The show, created by Elizabeth Meriwether, stars Emmy Rossum as Alice Black, an FBI agent investigating a serial killer with a deeply personal mission. ‘Furious’ premiered on July 27 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally, quickly becoming the most-watched series on both platforms, according to FlixPatrol.

Complex Storyline and Strong Female Leads

The show’s opening episode features a chilling Halloween night scene in which Catherine Grace (Lola Petticrew), a trafficked former sex worker, methodically kills a predatory man. Catherine is not a typical serial killer; she is targeting abusers and predators who have harmed her in the past — her story is one of revenge and justice, shaped by a life of trauma and exploitation, as reported by The Guardian.

According to The Guardian, Alice Black is drawn into Catherine’s world by her FBI supervisor, Nora Washington, who recognizes the potential in Alice but also understands the trauma she carries. Nora is depicted as a hardened figure with a dark sense of humor, managing the horrors of child sex crimes daily — the show’s psychological depth and moral ambiguity have drawn comparisons to ‘Mindhunter’ and ‘Dexter,’ as noted by MovieWeb.

Streaming Success and Season 2 Renewal

‘Furious’ has achieved 43 million viewing hours after its premiere, a performance so strong that Hulu and Disney+ decided to renew the series for a second season before the first one ended, according to Variety. The show’s success has also been reflected in its global rankings, with FlixPatrol reporting that it climbed to No. 1 in numerous international markets.

Meriwether, the showrunner, confirmed in an interview with The Wrap that the series was always intended for multiple seasons, not a limited run, but she emphasized the strength of long-form storytelling on television, allowing audiences to develop deeper relationships with characters over time. Meriwether also hinted that new cases involving Alice Black and her partner, Danny, could be explored in future episodes.

Confusion with Fast and Furious Franchise

Despite the name similarity, ‘Furious’ is unrelated to the ‘Fast and Furious’ film series, which has also expanded into television with four planned shows under development by NBCUniversal. Vin Diesel, who plays Dominic Toretto in the movies, is producing the TV series but has not confirmed if he will reprise his role, according to Spanish media reports. The first of the ‘Fast and Furious’ series is expected to launch on Peacock, with Mike Daniels and Wolfe Coleman serving as showrunners.

In South Korea, ‘Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw’ has also generated interest in the franchise, with fans ranking it among the best entries in the series. The Korean outlet Esquire Korea noted that the film’s success is attributed to its mix of high-octane action, strong character dynamics, and themes of family and loyalty.