It’s a crime the Hulu Original Shrill (2019–2021) didn’t get more traction, because it’s a spirited, entertaining gem. Aidy Bryant stars as Annie Easton, an aspiring journalist for a Portland alternative newspaper called The Thorn. Annie is self-absorbed, but also bright, ambitious, and cheerful, and anxious to make a name for herself. She also happens to be fat, a characteristic that frequently drives society’s expectations for her, much to her consternation. Both despite this struggle and because of it, Annie makes a solid career for herself as an outspoken journalist, working—with the help of her bestie and roommate Fran (Lolly Adefope), among others—to find happiness and success.
Based on the nonfiction book Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West, Shrill serves up a delightful mix of quirky, edgy comedy and biting social commentary, with a prime focus on fat acceptance, feminism, and gender issues. The vibe of Portland, which it captures reasonably well, is the perfect backdrop for this kind of subject matter, a place where the show can convincingly advocate for the marginalized groups at its center, while also cheekily poking fun at the city’s crunchy left-wing excesses. Bryant is absolutely first-rate, bringing a mix of sunny optimism and subdued fire to her character. She has irresistable chemistry with the hilarious Adefope, and the rest of the pitch-perfect ensemble (which includes Luka Jones, John Cameron Mitchell, Ian Owens, Patti Harrison, E.R. Fightmaster, Jo Firestone, Julia Sweeney, and Daniel Stern) provides stellar support. Blazing past in twenty-two fast-paced episodes, it’s an entertaining, breezy series that doesn’t shy away from serious topics, and tackles them from a fierce, intelligent point of view.
