A new crime drama, 'Furious', is drawing significant attention for its unflinching portrayal of female rage and its sophisticated take on the serial killer genre. The eight-episode series, penned by Elizabeth Meriwether – the creative force behind 'Dying for Sex' and 'The Dropout' – has been lauded as a compelling watch for adult audiences, demanding their full attention.
Unlike Meriwether's previous fact-based successes, 'Furious' is an original story, though it reportedly draws inspiration from the 1987 film 'Black Widow'. However, it modernises the premise significantly, moving beyond the original's 'marry-and-murder-for-money' plot to explore contemporary themes of trauma and justice. Meriwether wrote the initial three episodes, with a team of four women and one man contributing to the rest of the series.
The drama is anchored by three central female characters, brought to life by Emmy Rossum, Lola Petticrew, and Quincy Tyler Bernstine. Petticrew plays Catherine, a seemingly childlike woman who is revealed early on to be a calculating killer. Rossum portrays Alice Black, a former NYPD officer who left the force after a violent assault by a fellow officer and now works the FBI tip line, hoping to join the sex crimes unit. Bernstine plays Nora Washington, the head of the sex crimes unit who becomes an unofficial mentor to Alice.
The plot unfolds as Alice is drawn into the investigation of Caleb Easton's staged overdose, quickly noticing similarities to an older, unsolved case. As more bodies emerge, detectives realise they are hunting a rare entity: a female serial killer. This investigation leads them to uncover a deep-seated sex trafficking ring involving powerful figures who have operated with impunity for years.
Beyond the conventional thriller elements, 'Furious' also develops into a psychological cat-and-mouse game between Alice and Catherine, reminiscent of 'Killing Eve'. Furthermore, it functions as a character drama, delving into how individuals react to and cope with profound trauma. While the series contains harrowing moments, it largely eschews graphic violence, instead focusing on the emotional and psychological toll on its characters, exploring the devastating impact of abuse and the complexities of seeking justice.