We love a good serial killer series as much as the next crime TV fiend, but if you like your murderous tales to be more "Dexter" and less "Devil in Disguise," this pitch-black Irish comedy might just be the show for you.
Available to stream on Hulu, "Obituary" was created by Ray Lawlor ("Le Ceangal) and centers on an underpaid obituarist who turns to murder to give her newspaper clips a morbid boost. Along with that chillingly funny premise, the show features all of the surprising twists and turns you want from a gripping mystery, the quaint small-town setting of a cozy murder drama (filming took place in Ballyshannon and Bundoran in scenic County Donegal) and a winning lead performance from star Siobhán Cullen.
What is 'Obituary' about?
Best known for the BritBox series "The Dry" and Netflix's "Bodkin," Dublin-born actress Siobhán Cullen plays Elvira Clancy, a death-obsessed 24-year-old woman who conveniently serves as the obituarist for the local newspaper, the Kilraven Chronicle. When the paper falls on hard times, however, and her boss cuts her salary to a per-obit rate, she resorts to desperate — and deadly — measures.
When Elvira "accidentally" kills a nasty piece of work in the town, she discovers she might have a previously untapped bloodlust," reads the official series synopsis. "She relishes using ever more crafty methods to kill off the town’s unpleasant residents while making them look like accidents. Stalk. Kill. Publish. Repeat."
Her bloody business hits a bit of a snag, though, when the paper's suspicious new crime correspondent (played by Ronan Raftery) starts investigating the string of murders — and Elvira starts falling for him.
Why you should stream 'Obituary' on Hulu
Also starring Michael Smiley (“Bad Sisters”), Danielle Galligan (“Shadow and Bone”), David Ganly (“Body of Lies”) and Noni Stapleton, among others, the crime comedy has thus far released two seasons with six episodes apiece following Elvira's absurdly (and entertainingly) homicidal antics.
Thus far, it's not yet known if a third installment of "Obituary" is in the works, but the show's widely positive reaction from both critics and awards bodies seems a good indicator of its future. "Obituary" was the 2024 Jury Award winner for Best Drama Series at the Celtic Media Festival, and scored seven nominations at the IFTA Awards, including Best Television Drama, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Script. The first season also has a perfect 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The performance of Cullen, who has a Wednesday Addams-ish macabre magnetism as Elvira, was particularly praised by critics. "'Obituary' is ghoulishly gripping and Cullen excels as a woman dealing with bone-deep trauma," Ed Power of The Irish Times writes of the second season, adding: "Amid so much home-produced stodge, it’s great having a killer drama in our midst."
Watch "Obituary" on Hulu now
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