It’s been a while since a show hooked me like this—I binged the remaining 7 episodes in a single sitting. Furious has a premise that isn't exactly brand new; in fact, it's based on the 1987 film Black Widow, which is believed to be the inspiration behind this subgenre of female vigilantes hunting down criminals. Frankly, I don't recall watching this specific type of content before, but I'm a massive fan of the lone vigilante trope, and after finishing the series, I realized that's a huge part of why I loved it so much.
Here's a quick recap of the premise. We follow Alice Black, brilliantly played by Emmy Rossum—more on her in a bit—who is trying to track down Catherine Grace (Lola Petticrew), a serial killer targeting men who once abused her and her friend. Alice has to navigate her investigation while dealing with her own trauma, which sometimes works against her, while Catherine's kill streak feels almost justified—a raw act of vengeance against those who caused unspeakable harm.
Like I was saying, I'm a sucker for a good lone vigilante story, and seeing it led by a woman this time around was awesome. At first, I assumed the series was called Furious because of the killer, but it turns out it actually refers to the protagonist—the person who's supposed to be the "good guy." She's driven by intense rage over everything terrible she's lived through, yet she still has to stick to workplace protocols imposed by sexist men, stomach seeing her abuser walk away unpunished, and uncover terrifying secrets from her past that she had long blocked out.
Emmy Rossum gives an absolute masterclass performance in this role. The way she clenches her fist whenever she feels stifled, how she bottles up her rage only to unleash it by hiring a guy to hit her, how she shifts from empathy to utter disgust—it's simply brilliant. On top of that, her character is exceptionally well-written, with dialogue that perfectly captures her emotional depth. Mind you, Lola Petticrew is equally incredible as a woman deeply unhinged by trauma, and don't even get me started on Quincy Tyler as Agent Nora Washington. The women completely knocked it out of the park in this show.
I highly recommend giving it a watch. The plot is solid, but it's the standout lead performances that truly elevate it. Just a heads-up: this is definitely not a family-friendly series, so viewer discretion is advised since it tackles very sensitive topics.
Media from TMBD gallery
Rating: 85/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/tv.
