Why 2018 Is a Useful Lens for Understanding Hulu Today
Hulu in 2018 sat at a specific point in streaming history, positioned between rapid original growth and an increasingly crowded marketplace. The service had already established itself as a dependable hub for current-season broadcast TV episodes, a strong back-catalog of legacy series, and a growing slate of originals. 2018 was the year Hulu began proving that originals could be both critically respected and culturally significant, even if the business model was still being refined. Looking back at what was best on Hulu in 2018 reveals not just a snapshot of entertainment in that year, but also the foundational launches and strategic bets that set the stage for its 202+ live TV and content-heavy ecosystem.
How We Define and Measure the Best on Hulu in 2018
Determining the best content on a subscription streaming catalog is rarely a simple matter of a single list. For a service like Hulu in 2018, evaluation had to account for several overlapping criteria:
- Depth of back catalog for day-after viewing of current series
- Quality and ambition of original series and films
- Availability of next-day streaming for recent broadcast episodes
- Performance of key originals in critical and audience reception
- Exclusivity and platform-specific value
Because Hulu’s value has always been tied to its dual nature—both a robust streaming library and a quasi-TV network for next-day viewing—measuring the best content requires looking at both catalog strength and original momentum. In 2018, several series stood out as emblematic of Hulu at its strongest.
Notable Series That Defined Hulu in 2018
Ongoing Catalog Strength
Certain long-running Hulu originals provided consistent value through 2018, building loyal followings and demonstrating the platform’s commitment to serialized storytelling. These series anchored the service’s identity as a place where viewers could catch up on seasons and binge established shows.
| Series | First Season | Status in 2018 | Contribution to Hulu’s Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casual | 2015 | Season 3 | Sharp, adult comedy-drama showcasing Hulu’s voice in character-driven originals |
| Difficult People | 2015 | Season 3 | Cult favorite satire with a devoted audience and critical praise for its wit |
| The Path | 2016 | Season 2 | Serialized drama exploring faith and community, signaling Hulu’s interest in ambitious genre entries |
| How I Met Your Mother | – | Catalog staple | Legacy sitcom that drew consistent audiences, underlining the importance of broad back catalogs |
Breakout Originals and Critical Momentum
2018 was notable for Hulu originals that broke beyond niche audiences and earned mainstream critical recognition. These series helped shift perceptions of Hulu from a secondary streaming option to a destination for prestige television.
- The Handmaid’s Tale: Though it premiered in 2017 on Hulu, the dystopian drama carried into 2018 with its Emmy wins and cultural resonance, proving a Hulu original could be a global prestige event.
- The Act: A true-crime anthology that debuted in 2019 but built awareness in late 2018, signaling Hulu’s investment in event-style storytelling outside of traditional prestige drama lanes.
- Shrill: An important milestone in representation and body-positive storytelling, this series became a touchstone for inclusive, character-led comedy that resonated strongly with critics and audiences.
- Castle Rock: A genre-bending psychological horror series that tapped into Stephen King IP in a way that felt distinct from straightforward adaptations, broadening Hulu’s genre ambitions.
Defining a Hulu Strategy in Transition
By 2018, Hulu was navigating a period of strategic uncertainty and opportunity. It had not yet fully integrated with Disney and the emerging conversation around a broader bundled streaming landscape was only beginning. Internally, Hulu was deciding how much emphasis to place on live TV, on premium originals, and on the lucrative next-day broadcast model that had long been its signature.
- Live TV launched in May 2017 and by 2018 was stabilizing as a core offering, anchoring the value proposition for cord-cutters who wanted traditional channels plus streaming.
- Hulu with Live TV in 2021 would evolve into a more expansive offering, but in 2018 the framework for that bundle was being established, making the year a pivot point.
- The tension between quick-turnaround broadcast episodes and investment in longer, prestige originals was already evident, foreshadowing the emphasis on originals that would define the platform in the 2020s.
How Hulu in 2018 Compares to Its Earlier and Later Eras
To say 2018 was an important year for Hulu is to recognize it as a hinge point. Earlier, the platform was defined by next-day access and an emphasis on broadcast TV with a narrower original slate. Later, post-2019, Hulu would become tightly integrated with Disney+, absorb FX and Searchlight content, and lean heavily into originals as its primary differentiator.
| Period | Content Emphasis | Strategic Focus | Notable Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-2016 | Next-day broadcast, growing catalog | Differentiation from cable and Netflix | Limited originals, strong immediacy |
| 2017–2018 | Originals rise, strong catalog, Live TV launch (2017) | Establishing Hulu as a full TV destination | Handmaid’s Tale breakout, Shrill and The Path signal diverse originals |
| Post-2019 | Heavy originals focus, FX integration, bundles | Competing in a crowded streaming market | More franchises, tighter bundle integration, sharper content identity |
Critical and Audience Reception in 2018
Reception metrics for Hulu originals in 2018 were mixed but trending upward. While not yet matching the dominant cultural force of Netflix’s biggest hits, Hulu was earning credibility with awards attention and fervent fanbases. The Handmaid’s Tale had already won major awards by the start of 2018, and series like Shrill began to accumulate both critic love and audience enthusiasm, contributing to a perception that Hulu was punching above its weight.
Industry discourse in 2018 increasingly treated Hulu as a serious platform for prestige TV, not just a convenient place to catch up on Modern Family reruns. That shift in perception was driven by a slate of originals that took creative risks and found dedicated audiences, even if scale was still more limited than top-tier competitors.
The Enduring Influence of Hulu’s 2018 Era
The content and strategy trajectory visible in 2018 continues to echo through Hulu’s current lineup. Series like Shrill expanded conversations around representation in streaming, while The Path and Difficulties demonstrated that Hulu could sustain serialized, adult-oriented storytelling. The integration of Live TV established a model for bundle-minded cord-cutters that remains central to Hulu’s value. Even as the service folds into the broader Disney/Universal streaming architecture, the foundations built during this period—strong originals, a respected catalog, and live integration—remain embedded in its identity.
Understanding what was best on Hulu in 2018 offers more than nostalgia; it clarifies how the platform evolved into a hybrid destination that balances immediacy, legacy content, and prestige storytelling. For viewers, researchers, and industry observers, 2018 stands as a year when Hulu clarified its ambitions and delivered on enough of them to establish itself as a durable, distinctive voice in streaming.