Ugh, Hulu. We need to talk. Specifically, why can't I watch you on my phone without wanting to throw it across the room?
Seriously, it's 2024. We have self-driving cars (allegedly). I can order groceries from my toilet. But streaming Hulu flawlessly on a mobile device remains some kind of unattainable tech-wizard dream.
The App-ocalypse
First, the app. Oh, the Hulu app. It's like a temperamental toddler. One minute it's working fine. The next, it's throwing a digital tantrum and refusing to load anything.
Is it my Wi-Fi? Maybe. But every other streaming service works perfectly. So, maybe, just maybe, it's you, Hulu.
The Dreaded Black Screen
And then there's the dreaded black screen. The screen of despair. The abyss that mocks your desire to binge-watch The Golden Girls on your lunch break.
You stare at it, willing it to load. You close the app. You reopen the app. You restart your phone. You contemplate throwing your phone into a volcano. Still nothing.
It feels almost personal, doesn't it? Like Hulu is actively choosing to deny you entertainment. Like it's judging your life choices and finding them unworthy of streaming content.
The Download Dilemma
Okay, okay. Maybe streaming is too much to ask. I'll download something! Surely, that will work, right?
Wrong. The download gods are fickle. Sometimes they smile upon you. Other times, they laugh in your face as your download stalls at 99%.
And then, when you finally manage to download something, you only have 48 hours to watch it. Like I don't have a life, Hulu. Give me a break!
Unpopular Opinion Alert!
Here's where I get controversial. Maybe, just maybe, Hulu's entire business model is based on frustrating us. Think about it.
They make it *just* annoying enough to use on our phones that we begrudgingly upgrade to the ad-free plan. Genius! (Evil genius, perhaps, but genius nonetheless.)
Or maybe, and this is even more sinister, they want us to watch on our TVs. Trapped in our living rooms. Dependent on Hulu for all our entertainment needs! *dun dun dun*
The Data Drain
And if you dare to venture outside the loving embrace of your home Wi-Fi, prepare for a data bloodbath.
One episode of your favorite show and poof! Your data is gone. Vanished. Reduced to atoms. Thanks, Hulu!
You then get to enjoy the lovely experience of your phone company threatening to charge you an arm and a leg for going over your limit. Good times.
A Humble Plea
So, Hulu, I'm begging you. Please, for the love of all that is holy, fix your mobile app. I just want to watch TV on the go without experiencing existential dread.
Is that too much to ask? Probably. But a girl can dream, right?
Until then, I'll be here, battling buffering screens and contemplating the meaning of life (or lack thereof) while trying to watch Bob's Burgers on my phone.