Hulu Original Dramas That Pack Larger-Than-Life Twists Into (Almost) Every Episode

Twists And Turns: This drama-thriller series features Sterling K. Brown as Special Agent Xavier Collins and James Marsden as President Cal Bradford, and its first episode was one of the most discussed premieres of the 2020s thanks to a truly unpredictable twist that sets up Paradise as a show where you even can't trust your own eyes.

The always incredible Brown stars as Collins, a dedicated agent and single father, tasked with guarding Bradford. Their complex relationship unfolds through flashbacks, revealing moments of trust and tension, including times when Collins saved the president's life. However, the plot thickens when Bradford is found dead, making Collins the prime suspect in a murder investigation.

The major twist at the end of episode one reveals that what seems like a regular town is actually an underground bunker designed to survive a global catastrophe. This discovery comes after a flashback in which General Curtleigh (Scott Lawrence) reveals to Collins that they are preparing for an apocalyptic disaster. The realization that Collins is already living in this hidden city sets the stage for an unpredictable narrative where viewers must question everything they see, as nothing is as it seems on the surface. Every episode could be the one that once again upends all of Paradise.

Just Imagine: You've spectacularly failed at your very important job in ways you don't even understand, and on top of that, your whole day-to-day is basically an exaggerated form of pretend.

Twists And Turns: Based on Liane Moriarty's novel, this limited series takes you to the lush and exclusive wellness retreat Tranquillum. That's where Nicole Kidman’s enigmatic guru Masha leads a diverse group of troubled guests on a journey of healing, or so she claims. The guests include the grief-stricken Marconi family - Napoleon (Michael Shannon), Heather (Asher Keddie), and their daughter Zoe (Grace Van Patten) - as well as fame-chasing influencer Jessica (Samara Weaving) and her husband Ben (Melvin Gregg). The retreat promises transformation, but as secrets unravel, tension bubbles to the surface and reveals the fractures in each character's facade.

The series thrives on twists that keep the audience guessing about Masha’s true intentions and the guests’ hidden pasts. For instance, viewers learn that Lars (Luke Evans) is not just another guest but is, in fact, an undercover journalist aiming to expose the retreat and Masha. These revelations add layers to the narrative, pushing the characters and the audience into uncharted emotional territory. One particularly shocking moment involves Carmel (Regina Hall), whose seemingly minor role escalates dramatically when her dark connection to Masha comes to light.

While viewers might expect straightforward resolutions, Nine Perfect Strangers rolls out twists and revelations that complicate the proceedings, unspooling entirely new questions from the exceedingly dramatic answers. This unpredictability is part of what makes the show captivating until its final moments, where reality and illusion blur in a way that challenges perceptions of truth and healing.

Just Imagine: You're “doing the work” of trying to better yourself and maybe even feel some sense of community, but it turns out your well-being isn't exactly on anyone else's radar. Oh, and absolutely everyone around you definitely has a hidden agenda.

Twists And Turns: The Handmaid's Tale is an adaptation of Margaret Atwood's 1985 novel set in the dystopian society of Gilead in the aftermath of a Second American Civil War. Here, a totalitarian regime imposes a strict religious doctrine. Fertile women, known as Handmaids, are forced into reproductive slavery to bear children for the ruling elite. The drama centers around June Osborne, also called Offred, played by Elisabeth Moss, as she navigates this brutal world, determined to reunite with her husband Luke and daughter Hannah. 

Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes) and his wife Serena Joy (Yvonne Strahovski), both architects of Gilead's oppressive system, signal the show's ironic twists early on; the second episode reveals that a banned book, A Woman's Place, was actually written by Serena in the “before times,” immediately complicating a straightforward good guy/bad guy binary.

The twists keep coming for the next four seasons, teeing up a Season 6 that promises to be pedal to the metal. After escaping Gilead, June continues to grapple with her rage and trauma, which are intensified by Waterford's murder. This act of vengeance, a pivotal moment and itself a dramatic twist, highlights June's transformation from victim to avenger, reflecting her refusal to forgive or forget the atrocities she endured. Her decision to send Fred's finger to Serena as a taunt underscores her transformation, showing just how far “Offred” has come.

Meanwhile, the show continues to explore June's role as both a leader and a survivor. Her interactions with other former handmaids reveal tensions about collective versus individual resistance. When characters like Danielle (Natasha Mumba) challenge June about what she owes those still suffering under Gilead’s regime, it forces June - and the audience - to confront questions about leadership and responsibility in movements for change.

Just Imagine: You're surrounded by lunatics, out of contact with the people you love, and have to be careful about every single little thing you do. And it turns out that any individual lunatic might have been your friend just a few short years before.

Twists And Turns: This hugely anticipated drama delves into the unsettling true story of Natalia Grace, a young girl with a rare form of dwarfism, spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. The series dramatizes the experiences of the Barnett family, who adopt Natalia (Imogen Faith Reid). As they integrate her into their family alongside their three biological children, questions about Natalia's age and background emerge. This sets off a chain of events that challenge the family's perception of truth and safety.

The narrative is driven by unexpected twists that complicate the family dynamics and viewer expectations. The Barnetts (Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass) begin to suspect that Natalia may not be the child she appears to be, sending them (and their other children) down a twisted path. Doubts about her age lead to tense confrontations and unravel hidden fears within the family. This suspicion escalates into a legal and public spectacle as the Barnetts' claims about Natalia's true identity become more urgent.

As the series unfolds, it explores themes of trust and deception from multiple perspectives. Natalia's struggle to assert her truth while navigating a world that views her with suspicion adds depth to her character. The courtroom battles and media frenzy further test familial bonds, leaving viewers questioning where empathy should lie, twisting our own sympathies against us.

Just Imagine: You invite a seemingly harmless person into your home out of the goodness of your heart, only to discover that almost nothing about that person is what it seems, potentially endangering your family.