10 Best Characters in 'Furious,' Ranked

Image via Hulu Published Sep 8, 2026, 6:52 AM EDT Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK. In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Sign in to your Collider account Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for Furious Season 1.One of the most explosive crime dramas of 2026 is Hulu's near-perfect Furious. Created by Liz Meriwether, the drama depicts the intense cat-and-mouse chase between FBI agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum) and the mysterious serial killer Catherine Grace (Lola Petticrew). The deeper the hunt gets, the more the lines blur as right and wrong melt into one another. Inspired by the 1987 film Black Widow, Furious tackles how women deal with trauma and the lack of justice from powerful systems when it comes to corrupt, wealthy men who seek to cover up their crimes. Through eight episodes, Furious remained a high-octane thriller that pushed the bounds of morality. A major reason why the series thrives is through the extraordinary characters brought to life by a top-tier ensemble. We are going to discuss Furious’ most prominent characters. While the list uses the term "best," it's important to note that we will center the discussion on performance, the arc, and their role in the story. That said, morally calling some of these individuals "good" or "bad" is not our mission. 10 Jay Easton Played by Peter McRobbie Image via Hulu Much of the reason for the season is the atrocious crimes committed by Jay Easton (Peter McRobbie) and his complicit inner circle. The patriarch of the Easton family, Jay was at the center of a major sex-crimes and abuse ring, having spent decades assaulting young girls. The inciting action that caused Catherine's crusade for justice revolved around the cover-up of her friend Isabel Luna's (Larissa Campos) death. A cold-hearted, arrogant, and dangerously untouchable man, Jay personified the evil that lurks in powerful and corrupt boys' clubs. With his story eerily reminiscent of the headlines surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, Jay's calm and collected demeanor made the decades of hidden abuse feel sickening the further he rationalized it. Played with precision by Peter McRobbie, Jay is a universally disgraced character in the story. Even those who are in his orbit are eager for his demise. He's simply never been taken down because of his monetary reach. Though he's not a major physical presence during the season, his physical threat loomed large. The friction between Catherine and Alice was indirectly caused by him. Jay represented the monster you championed their demise. Already being ill, it was inevitable that his downfall to death would happen, but would it come from the fickle finger of fate or the predator who sought him out? The shocking revelation that it was not his health or Catherine getting the desired kill, but Alice all along. It was a justifiable ending for a despicable character. At the end of the day, the thought of Jay Easton makes him an evil character, but seeing how McRobbie channeled it made him a juicy individual to kill off without batting an eye. Justice may not have been entirely served yet, but the head of the snake had been cut off. 9 Ed George Played by Danny McCarthy Image via Hulu Furious' casting team did an extraordinary job at finding actors who could represent the face of reprehensible corruption. On the side of justice, that individual was ASAC Ed George (Danny McCarthy). For a man like Jay Easton to get away with such vile crimes, there has to be an inside man keeping the crimes covered up. That was Ed. He served as the ultimate fixer, but his diabolical crusade of keeping the terrible crimes hidden came to a head when Alice got a little too close to the truth. Crime dramas have showcased how police and FBI agents have gone to great lengths to keep the truth from coming out, but Ed's actions made him simply monstrous. The more Alice or Nora Washington (Quincy Tyler Bernstine) got to cracking the case and bringing justice to the victims, the more Ed actively halted the progress. Ed served as the bridge that connects the systemic rot to the story's action. Danny McCarthy played Ed like any typical upper-level manager, with a hint of danger lurking beneath the surface. He made him slimy and excessively power-hungry, especially toward the women who worked under him. The more demeaning he was, the more you couldn't wait for Nora to take him down. Of course, that day likely won't come until Season 2. Ed is the face of why bad systems continue to prevent justice from being served. He is a detestable character who is driven by a chilling desire to get ahead, even if the faceless young women must suffer in the process. McCarthy's depiction of the corrupt bureaucrat was filled with immense intensity. When he reached his boiling point, the fire could be felt like a raging furnace. And yet, with enough tools in his pocket, the dastardly smile that would emerge when he covered his ass was simply unlikable. The Season 1 finale scene between Nora and Ed was perfectly delicious. Hopefully, Season 2 will see more of Nora sarcastically belittling Ed. He deserves it! 8 Emma Easton Played by Hope Davis Image via Hulu Just because someone doesn't actively partake in a crime doesn't mean they're not equally guilty. Complacency can be just as damaging. That's who Emma Easton (Hope Davis) was. The daughter of a billionaire, Emma served as the de facto spokesperson and protector of her wealthy, corrupt family. In a genuinely codependent relationship, Emma walks through the world with a single mission: to protect her family. Much of her season was spent jumping through hoops to manage his victims of abuse and actively cover up the crimes. Working in conjunction with Ed George, she was tipped off to destroy the files, including the ones her father hid from her because he just needed to have them. Though she realized it was the tipping point that he simply didn't care what happened to her, it didn't change her. Emma ends up shooting Catherine, whose memories are triggered, in a tense face-off solely to protect herself since no one else would. The brilliance of this character was the pitch-perfect casting of Hope Davis. She is a beloved actress who tends to exude morally sound characters. To see her flip that with Emma allowed her character to wear the mask she did. She is a profoundly tragic character. Yet, when she calls herself a victim, it doesn't come off as genuine because without Emma, Jay would never have gotten away with as much as he still did. The stoicism Davis instilled in Emma as she wheeled her father into his secret room was utterly terrifying. At that moment, she was simply numb to the crimes. A versatile actress, she eventually brought a raw intensity that was simply riveting. Emma is certainly not out of the woods yet, and she's fully aware her downfall could be imminent.​​​​​​​ 7 Marshall Connelly Played by Jake Lacy Image via Hulu While the macro case involved the sexual assault within a large sex trafficking ring, the micro story for Alice involved her abusive NYPD detective and her ex-boyfriend, Marshall Connelly (Jake Lacy). Before the action of the series, Marshall physically abused Alice while they were together on the police force. When Alice reported him, the "good ol' boys" network within the department protected him, and colleagues largely refused to believe or support her, forcing her to quit. As much as she hoped to avoid him, the nature of the case united them, triggering a new set of dominoes to fall. Marshall and his manipulative mother (Constance Shulman) hoped to improve his standing in the force by pressuring Alice to withdraw her claims so he could advance his career. Instead, the darkness within Alice emerged, leading to a volatile psychological game. When he went to confront her at the women's shelter as she was pursuing Catherine, he ultimately was shot by Catherine after he attacked Alice, leaving him to suffer severe injuries and potential paralysis. Jake Lacy is traditionally charming, which makes Marshall an alarming individual. He takes on the entitled cop with pure realism. He plays the sinister detective by capturing the casual arrogance of a man who expects the system to protect him. The warped family connection may be the most unfortunate part of Marshall's story. Mothers will do anything for their children, and Marshall's mom's aggressiveness toward Alice is proof that you learn from what you see. Like mother, like son. He is a volatile individual who ends the season being awarded for his "bravery," to the shock and dismay of Alice. Marshall is a loathsome individual who is certainly going to complicate Alice's narrative moving forward. The psychological stronghold he has on Alice may be what aids in driving her on a vengeance crusade. ​​​​​​​ Collider Exclusive · Horror Survival Quiz Which Horror Villain Do You Have the Best Chance of Surviving? Jason Voorhees · Michael Myers · Freddy Krueger · Pennywise · Chucky Five killers. Five completely different ways to die — if you're not smart enough, fast enough, or self-aware enough to avoid it. Only one of them is the villain your particular set of instincts gives you a fighting chance against. Eight questions will figure out which one. 🏕️Jason 🔪Michael 💤Freddy 🎈Pennywise 🪆Chucky TEST YOUR SURVIVAL → 01 Something feels wrong. You can't explain it — you just know. What do you do? First instincts are the difference between the survivor and the first act casualty. ALeave immediately. I don't need to understand a threat to respect it. BStay quiet and observe. If I can see it, I can understand it. If I can understand it, I can avoid it. CStay awake. Whatever this is, I am not going to sleep until I feel safe again. DConfront it directly. Fear grows in the dark — I'd rather know what I'm dealing with. ECheck everything, trust nothing. The threat might be closer than I think — and smaller. NEXT QUESTION → 02 Where are you most likely to find yourself when things go wrong? Setting is everything in horror. Where you are determines which rules apply. ASomewhere remote — a cabin, a campsite, off the grid and away from people. BA quiet suburban neighbourhood where nothing ever happens. Except tonight. CIn my own head — the most dangerous place of all, depending on what's already in there. DWherever children are — because something about this place attracts the worst things. ESomewhere ordinary — a house, a toy store, a place where the last thing you'd expect is a threat. NEXT QUESTION → 03 What is your most reliable survival asset? Every survivor has a quality the villain didn't account for. What's yours? APhysical fitness — I can run, I can swim, I can outlast something that relies on brute persistence. BSpatial awareness — I always know the exits, the hiding spots, the fastest route out. CPsychological resilience — I've faced my worst fears before. They don't have the same power over me. DEmotional steadiness — I don't panic. Panic is what gets you caught. EScepticism — I don't underestimate threats because of how they look. Size is irrelevant. NEXT QUESTION → 04 What kind of fear is hardest for you to fight through? Knowing your weakness is the first step to not dying because of it. AThe unstoppable — something that will not stop, cannot be reasoned with, and is always getting closer. BThe invisible — a threat I can feel but can't locate, watching from somewhere I can't see. CThe psychological — something that uses my own mind and memories against me. DThe unknowable — something ancient, shapeless, that feeds on the fear itself. EThe mundane — a threat so ordinary-looking that no one will believe me until it's too late. NEXT QUESTION → 05 You're with a group when things start going wrong. What's your role? Horror movies are brutally clear about who survives group situations and who doesn't. AThe one who says "we need to leave" first — and means it, even when no one listens. BThe one who stays quiet, watches the others, and figures out the pattern before anyone else does. CThe one who holds the group together when panic sets in — because someone has to. DThe one who asks the questions nobody wants to ask — because ignoring them gets people killed. EThe one who takes the threat seriously when everyone else is laughing it off. NEXT QUESTION → 06 What's the horror movie mistake you're most likely to make? Honest self-assessment is a survival skill. Denial is not. AGoing back for someone — I know I shouldn't, but I can't leave them behind. BAssuming I'm safe once I've found a hiding spot. That's when it finds me. CFalling asleep when I absolutely cannot afford to. Exhaustion is its own enemy. DLetting my curiosity override my instincts — I always need to understand what I'm dealing with. EDismissing the threat because of how it looks. That's exactly what it wants. NEXT QUESTION → 07 What's your best weapon against something that can't be stopped by conventional means? Every horror villain has a weakness. The survivors are always the ones who find it. AThe environment itself — I use the terrain, the water, the geography against it. BPatience — I wait, I watch, and I strike at the one moment it doesn't expect. CLucidity — if I can stay in control of my own mind, it loses its primary weapon. DCourage — facing it directly, refusing to run, taking away the fear it feeds on. EImprovisation — I use whatever's at hand, however unconventional. Creativity over brute force. NEXT QUESTION → 08 It's the final scene. You're the last one standing. How did you make it? The final survivor always has a reason. What's yours? AI kept moving. I never stopped, never hid for too long, never let it corner me. BI figured out the pattern before anyone else did — and I used it against the thing following it. CI stayed awake, stayed lucid, and refused to give it the one thing it needed most. DI stopped being afraid of it. And the moment I did, everything changed. EI took it seriously from the start — and I never once made the mistake of underestimating it. REVEAL MY VILLAIN → Your Survival Odds Have Been Calculated Your Best Chance Is Against…Your instincts, your strengths, and your particular way of thinking under pressure point to one villain you actually have a fighting chance against. Everyone else — good luck. Jason VoorheesJason is relentless, but he is also predictable — and that is the gap you would exploit. He moves in straight lines toward his target. He doesn't strategise, doesn't adapt, doesn't outsmart. He simply pursues. Your ability to keep moving, use the environment, and resist the panic that freezes most victims gives you a genuine edge. The Crystal Lake survivors were always the ones who stopped running in circles and started thinking about terrain, water, and distance. You think like that. Which means Jason, for all his indestructibility, would face someone who simply refused to be where he expected. Michael MyersMichael watches before he moves. He is patient, methodical, and almost impossible to detect — until it's too late for anyone who isn't paying close enough attention. But you are paying attention. You notice the shape in the window, the car parked slightly wrong, the silence where there should be sound. Michael's power lies in the invisibility of ordinary suburbia — the fact that nothing ever looks wrong until it already is. Your spatial awareness and instinct to map every room, every exit, and every shadow before you need them is precisely the quality Laurie Strode had. You are not a victim waiting to happen. You are someone who already suspects something is wrong — and acts on it. Freddy KruegerFreddy wins by getting inside your head — using your own fears, your own memories, your own subconscious as weapons against you. That strategy requires a target who can be destabilised. You are harder to destabilise than most. You've faced uncomfortable truths about yourself and you haven't looked away. The survivors on Elm Street were always the ones who understood what was happening and chose to face it rather than flee from it. Freddy's greatest weakness is that his power evaporates in the presence of someone who refuses to give him the fear he feeds on. Your psychological resilience — the ability to stay grounded when reality itself becomes unreliable — is exactly the quality that keeps you alive here. PennywisePennywise is ancient, shapeshifting, and feeds on terror — but it has one critical vulnerability: it cannot function against someone who genuinely stops being afraid of it. The Losers Club didn't survive because they were braver than everyone else. They survived because they faced their fears together, and faced them honestly. You ask the questions others avoid. You look directly at what frightens you rather than turning away. That directness — the refusal to let fear fester in the dark — is Pennywise's worst nightmare. It chose the wrong target when it chose you. You are exactly the kind of person whose fear tastes like nothing at all. ChuckyChucky's greatest advantage is that nobody takes him seriously until it's already too late. He exploits the gap between how something looks and what it actually is. You don't have that gap. You take threats seriously regardless of how they present — and you never make the mistake of underestimating something because of its size or appearance. Chucky relies on surprise, on the delay between recognition and response. You close that delay faster than almost anyone. Your instinct to treat every unfamiliar thing with appropriate scepticism — rather than dismissing it because it seems absurd — is the exact quality that keeps you breathing. Against Chucky, not laughing is already winning. You are very good at not laughing. ↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ 6 Frank Choi Played by Rob Yang Image via Hulu Now that the main antagonists are out of the way, we can finally move on to some more morally optimistic individuals. First up, it's the show's comic relief, FBI agent Frank Choi (Rob Yang). Sometimes, we see some officers of the law being portrayed as a bit dim and lacking self-awareness. That's Frank! On the surface, he is portrayed as a partner with Alice in their investigation of the murders of wealthy men. Though he does become the punchline for Alden Drumming (Steve Way) through his sarcastic, anti-authoritarian sparring, he ultimately gets the job done, without the credit, though. Frank is the rare individual in the room who defends Alice against corrupt law-enforcement leaders in the FBI. Frank is a relatable regular guy. Played by Rob Yang, he may be trying to find his footing within the case, but his ease and lack of tough-guy demeanor serve as a crucial member of the team. Yang's take on Rob is truly delightful. His bluntness and lack of self-awareness bring the necessary comedic moments. He is the means of grounding the story in reality, in the sense that levity can and does exist. Frank brings a genuine sense of ambition and duty. He may not be the very best at work, but he serves a necessary purpose. Though he may not have a concrete direction for where his story goes next, he might be a necessary ally for Nora and Alice during their next cases. 5 Alden Drummings Played by Steve Way Image via Hulu For the most part, Furious focused on the killer, her victims, and the FBI agent chasing her. But as the story went deeper, individuals in Catherine's orbit came into view. Alden Drummings (Steve Way) wasn't just a man on the periphery; he emerged as one of the most important characters for the new direction of the story. He receives in-home care from "Vanessa," an alias of Catherine. Though she uses him for a stakeout place and for access to drugs, there is a genuine connection between the two. So much so, he proposes to her with his mother’s ring. When she brings Hal Hartford (Campbell Scott) back to his place, he helps her access the computer. But when he finds files suggesting Vanessa is not exactly who she is, he uses a flash drive to snag them. It's that USB that gets passed off to Danny Kelly (Scoot McNairy) that sets the domino for the rest of the narrative. If there's any individual that is truly pure of heart, it's Alden. And he is brought to life with extraordinary skill by Steve Way. The unsung hero of the ensemble, Way strikes the right balance of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, allowing Alden to become an emotionally grounded individual. Way balanced the show's dark, violent, psychological-thriller elements with witty, unexpected humor. He brought an immense tenderness to his scenes with Petticrew and pushed Yang and McNairy to the limits. Whether or not Alden plays a significant part in Season 2, he was a brilliant addition to the story. ​​​​​​​ 4 Catherine Grace Played by Lola Petticrew Image via Hulu The brilliance of Furious is the complexity with which the main characters are built. There's quite a complicated individual inside Catherine Grace. As a young girl, she had her innocence ripped from her. She was forced to endure things no one should have to experience. So when her one saving grace, her best friend, was taken away from her, her trauma and PTSD triggered actions that led her down a dark path. Catherine is not a cut-and-dried serial killer. She is a truly troubled young woman on a path of vengeance. The deeper she gets, the more engrossing her journey becomes as she reveals a nuanced backstory. It's only when Alice cuts in and helps her dig into her trauma that we can understand why she embarked on a bloody mission. The reason why Catherine is such a richly brilliant character is Lola Petticrew's masterclass performance. Her evolution from a cold, calculating, vicious mastermind to a broken, traumatized, deeply pained young woman is a sensational story to track. Her ease in shifting between emotional states was remarkable. She found a way to disarm her targets that made you question if and when genuine Catherine was present. Her ability to mold herself into the individual she needs to be at the moment is part of the allure in Petticrew's performance. She was a phenomenal scene partner with everyone she graced the screen with. Petticrew's Catherine is nearly on par with Jodie Comer's Villainelle on Killing Eve. ​​​​​​​ 3 Danny Kelly Played by Scoot McNairy Image via Hulu Bringing exceptional honor and loyalty to a man experiencing excruciating heartbreak, Danny Kelly is one of the real ones. A weathered NYPD homicide detective, Danny is Alice's former partner and ultimately aids her in the pursuit of Catherine. He is a deeply devoted man, both to his son, who has a learning disability, and Alice, who he has immense feelings for. He may have a New York tough guy exterior, but he’s broken inside. He deflects with humor and indifference to cover up his immense personal stress. As the sole individual who defends Alice on the force, he finds himself isolated, eager to leave the toxic environment. But he will never back down when anyone disparages her. At his core, Danny is a good guy. Bringing him to life, Scoot McNairy provided the right amount of warmth, humility, and humanity. Despite his burdens pulling him down, McNairy made Danny a fighter when he needed to be. He is a green flag romantic partner. He is deeply in love with Alice, and as much as he wants to pursue a relationship, he allowed her to dictate the terms. When he saw her face on the file, it prevented him from engaging in anything, showcasing the importance of boundaries with someone who has experienced trauma. Even his dedication to being there for her when she showered was a profoundly touching moment. When the time was right for Alice and Danny, their romantic beach moment was beautifully earned. McNairy is the heart of Furious. Moving into Season 2, protect Danny at all costs!​​​​​​​ 2 Alice Black Played by Emmy Rossum The driving force in Season 1 was Alice Black. Before the series' events, Alice served as a capable police officer in New York City before leaving the department. Having departed the force after her abusive domestic relationship with Marshall, Alice joined the FBI hoping to join the sex crimes unit. It's her former partner, Danny, who requests her help on a murder case that connects to a string of killings by a mysterious woman. Through a brilliant mind and a keen eye for clues, Alice quickly deduced who this serial killer was. As the story evolved, it quickly became clear that Alice's experience was uniquely tied to the individual she was pursuing. A fervently passionate individual who will stop at nothing to achieve justice, Alice now keeps her professional and personal life separate, despite the latter being pulled into conversation by the men who doubt her. Furious is driven by a career-shaping performance by Emmy Rossum. Alice knows she's overqualified and doesn't earn the respect she should, but Rossum ensures Alice isn't a woe-is-me individual. She does her work and will fight against those who will impede her task. Rossum does a remarkable job playing a woman of abuse whose deep-seated scars aren't weakness but a challenge to overcome. Her vulnerability is accessible, but the fire that simmers inside is relatable. She has some dark elements to her that only reveal themselves when triggered. From putting Marshall in his place to secretly killing Jay, the protagonist's path is emerging. The dynamic between Rossum and Petticrew was sublime. They had some key scenes together— the playground and Easton home— but it's that brilliant prison face-to-face that remains a huge turning point that was brilliantly played. Rossum's rigorously realistic performance should catapult her back into the great modern TV-actress conversation. ​​​​​​​ 1 Nora Washington Played by Quincy Tyler Bernstine Image via Hulu There may be many readers who will vehemently disagree with Nora Washington earning the top spot, but Quincy Tyler Bernstine was literal perfection. The FBI agent is a genuinely complex woman. She loves her job as much as she hates it. She wants to do right, but the bureaucratic red tape holding her back makes her lethargic. But when the case at hand reveals that her loathed superior is tied to a dark web of trafficking, a fire ignites inside. She has the vices that hold her back from her full potential, but they come to fruition because of her mistreatment and a past of being undermined. She serves as a distinct foil for Alice. She calls her "soft" because she has a career that's hardened her. And by the end of the season, that experience became the mentor mentality Alice needed. Nora is sassy and brassy. Her dry wit keeps the pep in her step. Nora is a sensational character thanks to Bernstine's perfectly played performance. The theater star brings that stage presence into the jaded, cynical veteran of the sex-crimes unit. She's a profoundly brilliant woman, quoting the classics, philosophy, and mythology in order to make a point. Bernstine makes bold choices that elevate Nora to great heights. Whether belting out Meat Loaf at karaoke or offering a seething monologue, Nora is at the top of her game as a fully realized character. With Season 2, Nora is in the hot seat now that she can take down her nemesis. It might mean her backstory could come to light. There is a rich career we are eager to learn about before the season's action. Maybe she'll earn a prequel spin-off in the future! For now, Furious is at its peak when Bernstine is on-screen. Furious Release Date July 27, 2026 Network Hulu Cast Directors Brian Kirk Main Genre Crime Seasons 1 Producers Fran Giblin Creator(s) Elizabeth Meriwether Executive Producer(s) Brian Kirk, Elizabeth Meriwether, Emmy Rossum, Matt Olmstead, Ronald Bass, Sam Hoffman, Sara Moskowitz