Cast and Characters: Hulu’s Shrill

The following is a list of cast and characters from the Hulu program Shrill and their status at the end of the season(s).

Cast & Characters

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Season/ Episode	Synopsis	Episode Information	Topics & Focused Characters
Season 1, Episode 4 “Pool”	Annie finds herself taking on her insecurities, even Gabe, after going to an inclusive pool party.	Director(s) Shaka King Writer(s) Samantha Irby Air Date 3/15/2019	Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right: Lamar, Fran, Annie, Ryan Paradise: Annie Do You Hear Yourself Right Now?: Vera, Gabe, Annie
Season 1, Episode 5 “Article”	Annie hits another post out of the park, but the fallout from her article may unravel many relationships she has built.	Director(s) Gillian Robespierre Writer(s) Sudi Green Air Date 3/15/2019	Who Works For Who?: Gabe, Annie, Amadi Bullies & Trolls: Annie, Vera, Bill One Step Forward & Two Steps Back: Annie, Fran, Ryan
Season 1, Episode 6 “Troll” [Season Finale]	In the season finale, Annie meets her troll, Vera has a bit of a breakdown, Fran and Annie have a fight and so much more.	Director(s) Shaka King Writer(s) Craig DiGregorio Air Date 3/15/2019	You And Him Aren’t That Different: Annie, Fran, Ryan Burning Bridges With Minimal Ability To Swim: Gabe, Annie, Amadi, Vera Awesome: Annie
Season 1, Episode 3 “Pencil”	Ryan is given a chance to really step up, show he is boyfriend material, as Fran’s brother Lamar shows up and brings up something done in the past.	Director(s) Andy DeYoung Writer(s) Dave King Air Date 3/15/2019 Introduced This Episode Bill Daniel Stern Lamar Akemnji Ndifornyen Cindy Leslie Grossman Kayla Esther Povitsky Amadi Ian Owens	Things Were Going Good: Vera, Bill, Gabe, Annie, Fran, Lamar, Ryan You Aren’t The Only One: Kayla, Cindy, Amadi, Ryan, Annie The Best Way To Get Over Someone: Lamar, Annie
Season 1, Episode 2 “Date”	While Annie gets to celebrate her first published article, things get kind of weird with Ryan. Actually, very weird as he attempts to do a 180 on their relationship.	Director(s) Carrie Brownstein Writer(s) Aidy Bryant, Alexandra Rushfield, Lindy West Air Date 3/15/2019 Introduced This Episode Janelle Gretchen Corbett	The Bigger, The Better: Annie, Gabe New Attitude: Annie, Vera Second Chances: Annie, Fran, Gabe, Ryan, Janelle
Season 1, Episode 1 “Annie”	While diversity has come in the form of different skin tones, ethnicities and sexualities coming to the forefront, Shrill breaks ground.	Network Hulu Creator Aidy Bryant, Alexandra Rushfield, Lindy West Director(s) Jesse Peretz Writer(s) Aidy Bryant, Alexandra Rushfield, Lindy West Air Date 3/15/2019 Genre(s) Comedy, Drama Good If You Like Stories About Growth Perspectives Rarely Focused On Isn’t For You If You Fatphobic Introduced This Episode Annie Aidy Bryant Gabe John Cameron Mitchell Ryan Luka Jones Fran Lolly Adefope Vera Julia Sweeney

Aidy Bryant As Annie

Annie (Aidy Bryant): Hi, I’m Annie.

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 1 “Annie”

Annie is a super sweet young woman who has been fat for nearly her entire life. However, between the teen years or when she became an adult, she went from that being one of many adjectives to the adjective. So, to compensate, she took the route of becoming friendly, demure, and putting up with people like Ryan so she can say she has someone or something.

However, it seems that Annie will be replaced with someone more shrill.

Additional Information About Annie

• She has had weight issues since around the time she was in 4th grade and on top of her mom, Vera, trying to starve her, she mentioned being skinnier would mean more boys liking her.
• Allegedly, according to Fran, Annie believed in Santa Claus until she was 16.
• Formerly, she played the oboe.

John Cameron Mitchell As Gabe

Gabe (John Cameron Mitchell)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 1 “Annie”

Gabe is pretty much Annie’s idol, and she has been reading his work since she was 14. Thus making the fact he is a bit of a douche unfortunate, especially since he is her boss at The Weekly Thorn. However, as she begins to advocate for herself, it seems things might turn around in their relationship.

Additional Information About Gabe

Luka Jones As Ryan

Ryan (Luka Jones)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 1 “Annie”

Ryan is, or was, Annie’s f*** buddy for the last 6 months but also someone a bit ashamed of her. He’d make her go in and out through the back, over a fence, and made sure his roommates, including his brother, never met Annie. To put some diarrhea frosting on this piece of s***, he also didn’t mention to Annie he is the deadbeat dad of a 14-year-old.

Additional Information About Ryan

• He works at a hardware store.

Lolly Adefope As Fran

Fran (Lolly Adefope)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 1 “Annie”

Annie’s lesbian roommate, who is also a bit of a player, but also has a strong role in Annie changing her mindset to putting herself first. Not just by leading by example but being there for her in ways not even Annie’s parents try to be. Well, her mom anyway.

Additional Information About Fran

Julia Sweeney As Vera

Vera (Julia Sweeney)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 1 “Annie”

Vera is Annie’s mother and could be seen as the root of her insecurities. Maybe because she doesn’t like herself or because she fears for her daughter’s health? Either way, while not as wicked as a Disney step-mother, she does make the kind of comments which plant poisonous seeds.

Additional Information About Vera

• Vera seems to have become especially health conscious after her husband got sick.

Gretchen Corbett As Janelle

Janelle (Gretchen Corbett)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 2 “Date”

Janelle is Ryan’s mom who seemingly enables a lot of his bad behavior.

Additional Information About Janelle

Daniel Stern As Bill

Bill (Daniel Stern)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 3 “Pencil”

Bill is Annie’s dad, still married to Vera, and is the parent she is closest to. For while he does sometimes crack a joke at her, he isn’t as consistent and low-key vicious as Vera.

Additional Information About Bill

Akemnji Ndifornyen As Lamar

Lamar (Akemnji Ndifornyen)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 3 “Pencil”

A chef, and Fran’s younger brother, Lamar reveals he has a crush on Annie and they explore it together.

Additional Information About

Leslie Grossman As Cindy

Cindy (Leslie Grossman): I’m done, you’re down, he’s done.

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 3 “Pencil”

Amadi’s girlfriend, who married and divorced young, is Cindy. She has one brother and is portrayed as a comical, passionate person.

Additional Information About Cindy

Esther Povitsky As Kayla

Kayla (Esther Povitsky)

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 3 “Pencil”

Kayla is Ryan’s co-worker and the other person he is having sex with.

Additional Information About Kayla

Ian Owens As Amadi

Amadi (Ian Owens): That’s my friend, she’s on top of the world.

Character Introduction

First Noted In Season 1, Episode 3 “Pencil”

The flamboyant Amadi is Annie’s best friend at work.

Additional Information About Amadi

• He has children, possibly with Cindy or from a previous relationship.

General Information

• The show takes place in Portland.

Notable Locations

The Weekly Thorn

Where Annie works.

How Does Season 1 End For The Characters Of Hulu‘s Shrill

Annie

She is without a job, pissed off both of her closest friends, Amadi and Fran, but at least has Ryan.

Vera

With coming to realize she is becoming like her emotionally abusive mom, Vera decides to head to Vancouver – while still high. Thus leaving Bill to fend for himself.

Amadi and Fran

After Annie shows herself to either be selfish or insulting, they worry more about their significant others and leave Annie to her own downfall.

Cindy, Kayla, Lamar, Janelle

We don’t see these characters say or do anything noteworthy after their initial appearance. Cindy still is Amadi’s boo thang, Kayla works with Ryan at the store, and Lamar, after his confession, is back traveling the world. Oh, and Janelle we meet maybe once and that is seriously it.

Ryan

He remains a bit aimless, not on Annie’s level, but convenient. Hence him still being her man.