The Act (2019)
Hosted on the same platform as Candy, Hulu's The Act features a disturbing tale of a mother's love gone wrong. Dee Dee Blanchard seeks to maintain the lies surrounding her daughter Gypsy and her complicated medical history. Unfortunately for her, Gypsy begins to discover the truth. Upon realizing that her entire life is a lie, she takes matters into her own hands.
Using their innocent appearances to mask their true intentions, this small yet twisted family of two unassuming women gives viewers the same kind of narrative that they enjoyed in Candy. That being one laced with lies, murder, and the gut-churning realization that all are not who they appear to be.
Deadly Women (2008 -)
In their attempt to find a matriarchal murderer who could rival Candy Montgomery, true-crime fans may consult the analogs of Deadly Women. Using police reports and forensic evidence, Investigation Discovery creates dramatic reenactments of women's crimes in order to assess their motivations. Focusing on four women per installment with a composite of 191 episodes, there is a grand total of 764 female murderers observed throughout the show's lifecycle.
Deadly Women blends the aspects of drama and reality in order to offer better insight into the mind of these seductive slayers. While Hulu's Candy and The Act may leave viewers with more questions than answers, this series leaves little left to the imagination.
The Girl From Plainville (2022)
Returning to the "Crime HUB" on Hulu, The Girl From Plainville covers the story of Michelle Carter's infamous "texting-suicide" case. Living with mental illness, Conrad Roy III seeks the advice of his high school sweetheart. After she provides him a different outlook on things, one that ultimately leads to his death, the real story of their relationship and Carter's legal troubles begin to unfold.
Continuing with Hulu's theme of unassuming women committing reprehensible acts, this series adds a twist of moral ambiguity to its narrative. While the disingenuous tones of Candy can be felt throughout the show, The Girl from Plainville delivers a much more unsettling premise as viewers are forced to pick a side in the overarching societal conversation which takes place around its real-life events.
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012 - 2015)
While crime-based dramas are inherently darker than most works, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries gives audience members some relief from the monotony of the genre's doom and gloom. Set in Australia during the 1920s, the show follows the incomparable Phryne Fisher in a series of cases involving murder, thievery, and romance. Acting as a breath of fresh air for the genre, this show is perfect for those who are aiming to remain upbeat while consuming their murderous media.
Based on Kerry Greenwood's renowned novels and experience as a legal aid barrister, the series depicts a powerful and independent woman who opts to solve crime rather than commit it. Essie Davis' performance as the title character gives viewers a more encompassing understanding of the feminine attraction to the world of crime. While the series may not be as disturbing as Hulu's Candy, it accomplishes the same task of proving that looks can be deceiving.
Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon A Crime (2021)
This Netflix series focuses on Elize Matsunaga's perspective of what happened on the day she murdered and dismembered her husband, Marcos Matsunaga. Featuring the first-ever sit-down interview with Elize since her conviction, this series gives a true glimpse into the mind of the murderer. While it manages to be as intriguing as it is heinous, it stands alone as one of the most controversial additions to the genre.
Related: 10 True Crime Shows That Cause Viewers To Nope Out
While some may have left Candy wondering what the thought process of the killer may have been, Once Upon a Crime leaves less to be desired in regards to those kinds of questions. Featuring acts equally as gruesome as those in the Montgomery case, Netflix's attempt to explain the rationale behind them allows fans of the Hulu series to comprehend why these murderers do what they do.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999 -)
Dick Wolf's Law & Order: SVU has been a mainstay on television for years. Led by Mariska Hargitay's character, Olivia Benson, the show is almost entirely based on real-life cases. Featuring crimes ranging from minor assaults to more grotesque violations, there's enough here for everyone. With a track record spanning all the way back to 1999, Special Victims Unit features arguably the most proven female crime stopper to date.
Wolf's writing presents a more personal rendition of what fans of the genre may be expecting. It beautifully combines both true crime and drama in order to give audiences a better yet grittier understanding of both the womanly approach to crime and the trauma that can often follow it.
True Crime With Aphrodite Jones (2010 - 2016)
Using her experience as a true-crime author, Aphrodite Jones dissects various crimes that have captivated the public throughout the years. Whether it's the bizarre proceedings of the O.J. Simpson trial or the murder of JonBenet Ramsey, Jones' apparent intellect and approach to the world of crime becomes even more captivating thanks to its headline-grabbing subject matter.
Providing true-crime enthusiasts with a more experienced perspective, Jones is able to help her audience better understand crime as a whole. Once again, this show can allow fans to answer the bigger questions that they are often left wondering at the conclusion of Candy. True-crime buffs can be assured that Jones won't lead them astray, unlike the female killers that they are used to following.
Snapped (2004 -)
Sitting with 30 seasons, 561 total episodes & two spin-off series, Snapped boasts one of the most impressive records of any true-crime show. Centered around women who attempted to or successfully murdered their partners, this series attempts to understand the motives and rationale behind said criminals.
Fittingly enough, their 30th season features an episode dedicated to the murder of one Betty Gore, which fans will immediately recognize as the case from Candy. Apart from getting to enjoy a more factual take on their beloved Hulu series, fans are given yet another series that features a litany of victims who were afflicted by the same womanly woes.
American Crime Story: Impeachment (2021)
Serving as the third entry in the American Crime Story catalog, Impeachment follows the misconduct that resulted in former United States President Bill Clinton's impeachment from the perspective of Monika Lewinsky's character. Detailing her journey from just another secretary to standing at the heart of a national scandal, this series boasts one of the genre's more controversial plot lines.
While the narrative may be lacking in regards to murder, it maintains its obligation to fans by telling a piece of American history by covering both the compelling and the criminal. Hulu's track record for providing shows that depict the feminine perspective of crime-based narratives is bolstered with this FX entry. Whether viewers tune in for the political or criminal aspects of this series, they can be assured that they will walk away with the same disturbing feeling that Candy left them with.
True Crime Story: It Couldn't Happen Here (2021 -)
Hilarie Burton Morgan, an advocate for small-town America, travels around the United States investigating the lasting impact of murder cases within tightly knit communities. An endearing yet heartbreaking series unfolds as Morgan interviews distraught family members and townsfolk.
While certain shows may focus on the perpetrator's perspective, this one solely focuses on the damage that is done and the heartbreak that follows. Led by the motherly and investigative nature of Morgan, true-crime fans are allowed to see what happens after reality sets in and the sensationalism of the crime has faltered.