Hulu’s ‘Sex Education’ Creator Produces New Sitcom About Mother’s Obsessive Protection of Her Daughter

How Nicola Walker’s ‘Alice and Steve’ Reimagines Family Drama Through Hulu’s Sleek Comedy Lens

As the summer box office cools, Hulu’s latest sitcom Alice and Steve emerges as a sharp, darkly comedic exploration of familial betrayal, anchored by Nicola Walker’s career-defining performance. The show, written by Sex Education alum Sophie Goodhart, pits a jilted mother against a 50-something best friend in a high-stakes battle over her daughter’s marriage, blending absurdity with emotional precision. With 40 million viewers tuning into Sex Education’s first season, the show’s success hints at Hulu’s growing appetite for audacious, character-driven storytelling.

The Cultural Calculus of a ‘Burned-Out’ Mother

Walker’s portrayal of a mother willing to dismantle her life to sabotage her daughter’s engagement to her ex-best friend (Jemaine Clement) taps into a timeless trope: the toxic matriarch. Yet Goodhart subverts expectations by framing the character’s obsession as a critique of societal pressures on women to prioritize familial harmony over personal fulfillment. “It’s not just about jealousy,” says Goodhart in a recent Variety interview. “It’s about the cost of living in a world that demands women be everything—caregiver, confidante, and, when necessary, destroyer.”

“This isn’t a slapstick farce. It’s a psychological minefield, and Walker’s performance is the spark that ignites every explosion.”

The show’s premise echoes the 2023 Times article on “The Rise of the Fractured Family Narrative,” which noted a 22% spike in streaming content exploring post-divorce dynamics. Hulu’s strategic investment in such material aligns with its 2024–2026 roadmap, which prioritizes “bold, unapologetic storytelling” to compete with Netflix’s established dominance.

Production Insights: Budget, Ratings, and the Power of a Star

While Hulu has not disclosed Alice and Steve’s production budget