By TeeJay Petit | Published
At this point, the classic workplace sitcom has taken audiences everywhere, from a news bureau in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to a police station in Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct, to a Boston bar where everything the world knows your name. It may therefore be surprising to learn that it was only in 2015 that NBC decided to greenlight a satirical series on the working conditions of big box stores like Walmart, since these stores are the largest employers of Americans in the modern economic landscape. The series in question, aptly titled Hypermarketoffers a hilarious and frightening look at the world of customer service at a big box store, and is currently streaming on Hulu.
Superstore takes on capitalism in a hilarious way
For those who have never seen Hypermarketthe series centers on employees working at a fictional chain called Cloud 9. The chain seems fairly innocuous from a consumer perspective, offering a wide range of groceries and everyday products as well as alcohol, guns, ammo and just about anything else you could find in a real Costco. Beneath the surface, however, the Cloud 9 enterprise proves to be quite draconian, in a skewering satire of modern capitalism that will leave you laughing as much as it is frustrated.
Cloud 9 Superstore does not offer any of its employees health insurance, paid maternity leave, or even overtime, regardless of the grueling hours required by the employee handbook. Employee bathroom breaks are also strictly monitored and recorded, leading to clear headlines regarding the treatment of Amazon workers who may have been forced to urinate and defecate in bottles and bags while working actively.
While Hypermarket features a number of hilarious and relatable workplace struggles, it also offers fascinating character adventures with its high-quality cast.
Although I am addicted to the series today, I had never seen an episode of Hypermarket until the series ends in 2021. I was first drawn to a hilarious compilation on YouTube that featured the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it interstitial moments, which often highlight random customers doing something something completely unbalanced when they believe that no one is watching. From there, I started binge-watching the first season, and the rest is history.
One of the best sitcoms of the last decade
Audiences and critics seem to agree that Hypermarket was one of the best shows on television when it aired, which makes it a real shame that some viewers like me didn’t get in on it sooner. Today, the series boasts a near-perfect 93% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a wave of excellent reviews.
Like many comedy series, Hypermarket It takes a little while to really hit its stride, although its first season is still very good compared to other classic sitcoms that got off to rocky starts, like The office Or Parks and Recreation.
Every episode on Hulu
Whether you are interested in checking out Hypermarket for the first time ever, or if you’re a longtime fan just looking for an excuse to start rewatching, all 113 episodes of the series are currently streaming on Hulu. Just be sure to do all your shopping before settling in for a long binge-watching session, because the show’s well-stocked shelves might just make your stomach growl.