Dope Girls: This BBC gem just dropped on Hulu, and it’s totally worth the hype

Dope Girls is one of Rotten Tomatoes' “Certified Fresh” picks. It’s sitting at a solid 88% critics’ score right now. This six-episode BBC gem, created by Polly Stenham and Alex Warren, premiered on BBC One in the U.K. on February 22, 2025, and dropped on Hulu in the U.S. on July 29.

It’s a lavish yet gritty plunge into post-World War I London, following bold women who build an underground nightclub and drug empire in the heart of Soho. And what does this Dope Girls remind us of? Peaky Blinders. But, of course, with corsets and cocaine.

At the center of it is Kate Galloway, played with elegance by Julianne Nicholson. She is a widowed mother who turns her tragedy into power. She’s supported by Umi Myers’ Billie Cassidy, Eliza Scanlen’s Violet Davies, and Geraldine James’ Isabella Salucci. They form a female ensemble that’s magnetic, dangerous, and frankly unforgettable.

With visually arresting cinematography, haunting music, and storytelling that doesn’t shy away from s*x, drugs, and gritty ambition, Dope Girls proves to be wildly cinematic.

Dope Girls: Why this show is a standout

The show shines because it refuses to soften its characters. Kate is a survivor willing to play by her own rules. Billie is the free spirit who’s just as capable of betrayal as she is of loyalty. Violet’s struggle as a rare female officer in a male-dominated police force gives the narrative real depth.

None of these women are designed to be likable. They’re designed to be fascinating. The atmosphere in the show carries the weight of the storytelling.

Dope Girls kicks off in the aftermath of World War I, with Kate Galloway (Julianne Nicholson) rebuilding her life in 1918 Soho after personal tragedy and debt drive her to the city. Teaming up with Billie (Umi Myers), Kate plunges into the underground world of illicit clubs, drugs, and nightlife. It's a risky empire built amid booming demand for hedonism in post-war London.

Meanwhile, Violet Davies (Eliza Scanlen), one of Britain’s first female police officers, goes undercover to infiltrate Kate's club and expose its criminal underbelly. As Soho turns into a messed-up party zone ruled by women, the lines between empowerment, danger, and survival blur in a world where female ambition threatens to upend the old patriarchal order.

Dope Girls is the kind of show that sees you coming and makes you think you know what it is, and then pulls the rug from under you just when you settle in.

So, hop on to Dope Girls now on Hulu, as all six episodes are live. Because if you’ve been waiting to try something dark, vibrant, and richly female‑driven, now's your chance.

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