TV Show Reviews
'The Diplomat' Review
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‘The Diplomat’ Season 2 Brings More Political Intrigue and a Powerful Allison Janney Keri Russell stars as Ambassador Kate Wyler, who in the new season must navigate the shifting sands of an international crisis as her husband (Rufus Sewell) lies injured. Arriving on Netflix on October...
'Agatha All Along' Review
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The WandaVision Spin-Off Boasts an Enchanting Kathryn Hahn and a New Mystery. Hahn stars as Agatha Harkness, who looks to reclaim her power after Wanda Maximoff removed them –– but it won’t be as easy as she hopes. Launching on Disney+ on Wednesday, September 18th with its first two episodes, ‘Agatha...
'The Penguin' Review
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‘The Penguin’ has charismatic performances but also a lot of gangster cliches. The limited –– so far –– series is spun off from ‘The Batman’ and features Colin Farrell as the club owner/criminal fixer with eyes on running his own empire. Launching on HBO and Max with its first episode...
'Slow Horses' Review
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Launching on Apple TV+ on November 29th (with two episodes), ‘Slow Horses’ makes a triumphant return to screens with another winning blend of character work, memorable dialogue and compelling action.While Gary Oldman’s Jackson Lamb continues to be the standout, but there isn’t a weak link in...
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Spy series ‘Slow Horses’ returns for its fourth season in all its sweary glory. The series, which adapts Mick Herron’s bestselling novels about a group of intelligence agents exiled to a low-rent office, is full of typically spiky dialogue. Returning for its fourth season with one episode on September...
'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Review
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Premiering on Prime Video beginning September 1st is the highly anticipated new series ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.’The new show is based on the work of author J. R. R. Tolkien, and is set thousands of years before the events of 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings.' Specifically...
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‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Finds its Momentum in Season 2. The Tolkien-derived series, which takes place thousands of years before the events of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings’, returns on strong form. Returning for its second season with three episodes via Prime...
'Bel-Air' Review
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‘Bel-Air’s third season struggles to balance the stories of its big cast. The series, which began life as a trailer for a dramatic version of the classic 1990s sitcom, still has plenty to offer and a committed cast bringing it to life. Returning to Peacock for its third season on Thursday, August...
'Bad Monkey' Review
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‘Bad Monkey’ mixes crime with colorful characters. The new show from ‘Ted Lasso’ co-creator Bill Lawrence finds Vince Vaughn as a cop-turned-food inspector who becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding a severed arm. Launching on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes, ‘Bad Monkey’ represents...
'Cobra Kai' Review
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‘Cobra Kai’, which just returned to Netflix, has reached Season 5, an accomplishment even its creators might be surprised to see.The series, which continues the story from 'The Karate Kid' movies (the first three, at least), has become one of Netflix’s most entertaining titles, walking the line...
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‘Cobra Kai’ kicks off its final season with a fun first part. With an ambitious, three-part season planned, it’s (mostly) business as usual for the merged Eagle Fang and Miyagi-do dojos, while Kreese continues to scheme. Arriving on Netflix on July 18th, ‘Cobra Kai’, which has successfully...
'The Bear' Review
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‘The Bear’ Serves Up Problematic Pacing in Season 3. Success in this case appears to have bred a major belief in self-indulgence, as the story is largely pushed aside in favor of seriously arty pretension. Arriving on FX with its entire third season of 10 episodes on June 26th, ‘The Bear’ marks...
'House of the Dragon' Review
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‘House of the Dragon’, which just premiered on HBO and HBO Max, represents an attempt to draw back the ‘Game of Thrones’ faithful to the world of Westeros.How you respond to that attempt, will likely be impacted by your reaction to the final couple of seasons of the original show. There are those...
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‘House of the Dragon’ returns with more intrigue and death. The ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel series doubles down on its stories of the warring Targaryens, albeit more of a cold war through assassinations to start. Arriving on HBO/Max for a second season with its first episode on June 16th, ‘House...
'The Boys' Review
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Debuting with the first three episodes on Prime Video today, ‘The Boys’ returns for its third season having lost none of its capacity to shock and delight in equal measure.The show about dysfunctional superheroes – and the vigilantes who are dedicated to keeping them in check – is back in a more...
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‘The Boys’ Season 4 is back with new characters and shocking Reveals. The popular superhero series is back with a three-episode premiere, examining the topic of mortality and forcing the characters to face their past. ‘The Boys’ are back, and they’re not pulling any punches. The series returns...
'Presumed Innocent' Review
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‘Presumed Innocent’ is a slick but sometimes overstuffed crime drama. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this new series, adapted from the same novel that fueled the 1990 Harrison Ford-starring courtroom murder mystery movie. Launching on Apple TV+ on Wednesday June 12th with its first two episodes (before...
'The Acolyte' Review
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‘The Acolyte’ spins a powerful, nuanced story of sisterhood. The new offering is set 100 years before the Skywalker saga, and gives a fresh look at the ‘Star Wars’ universe with a variety of interesting characters. Landing on Disney+ on June 4th with its first two episodes, ‘The Acolyte’...
'Tales of the Empire' Review
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Star Wars: Tales of the Empire’ takes a walk on the dark side. This follow-up to 2022’s ‘Tales of the Jedi’ fills in backstory for former Jedi Barriss Offee and powerful witch Morgan Elsbeth in a new animated series. Landing on Disney+ on –– when else? –– May the 4th, new animated limited...
'Hacks' Review
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Debuting on HBO and Max with the first two episodes of its third season on May 2nd, ‘Hacks’ returns to our screens with more outrageousness from Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance and more conflicted, panicky support from Hannah Einbinder’s Ava.While Smart continues to be the focus, Einbinder still proves...
'Fallout' Review
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Launching on Prime Video with all eight episodes on Thursday April 11th, ‘Fallout’ manages the tough ask of bringing a complex and sprawling video game to life in a way that will feel familiar to fans of the game and its darkly humorous style while also spinning its own tale set in that universe.Continuing...
'The Regime' Review
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Premiering on HBO and Max on Sunday, March 3rd, ‘The Regime’ is an attempt to create a new satirical series to fill the gap left by ‘Succession’, and also to provide another welcome starring role for Kate Winslet, who shines in an oddball role.Yet the whole in this case is somewhat less than...
'3 Body Problem' Review
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Launching on Netflix with all eight episodes on Thursday March 21st, ‘3 Body Problem’ represents two gigantic challenges all at once: how do the creators of the ‘Game of Thrones’ TV adaptation follow their mammoth fantasy undertaking, and how do they do it using one of the most acclaimed science...
'X-Men '97' Review
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Premiering on Disney+ on March 20, ‘X-Men ‘97’ will pick up from where season 5 of the original series left off in 1997. The series consists of ten episodes with updated animation in the same style and features returning voice talents such as Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, Alison Sealy-Smith, and George...
'Sugar' Review
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Arriving on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes on Friday April 5th, ‘Sugar’ throws Colin Farrell into the search for a missing young woman, who hails from a wealthy, influential Hollywood dynasty.The new series, which comes from Mark Protosevich, the writer of movies including ‘The Cell’ and...
'The Afterparty' Review
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Premiering January 28th on Apple TV+ is the new murder mystery comedy ‘The Afterparty,’ from the creative minds of Christopher Miller and Phil Lord (‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’). The series features an impressive cast of comedic actors including Tiffany Haddish (‘Girls Trip’), Sam...
'Obi-Wan Kenobi' Review
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Premiering May 27th on Disney+ are the first two episodes of the new six-part ‘Star Wars’ series, ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi.’ Ewan McGregor reprises his role as the title character, and the series is set ten years after the events of ‘Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.’ In addition to...
'Ms. Marvel' Review
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Premiering June 8th on Disney+ is the new Marvel series ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which introduces the title character to the MCU, who will next be seen in ‘The Marvels.’The first and final episodes of the six-part series were directed by executive producers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (‘Bad Boys for...
'Resident Evil' Review
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Released July 14th on Netflix, ‘Resident Evil’ stars Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong and Lance Reddick, following the three in the past, amid a corrupt biotech company and the future, after a worldwide zombie apocalypse has decimated the planet.Developed for TV by Andrew Dabb (‘Supernatural’), the...
'The Sandman' Review
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Arriving on Netflix August 5th, ‘The Sandman’ is the culmination of years of efforts to bring Neil Gaiman’s classic graphic novel series to screens.Filmmakers including Joseph Gordon-Levitt (‘Inception’), Roger Avery (‘Pulp Fiction’) and Eric Heisserer (‘Arrival’) have all tried to...
'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' Review
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The new nine-part MCU series ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,’ will premiere on Disney+ beginning August 18th. The series revolves around lawyer Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany), who also happens to be Bruce Banner’s (Mark Ruffalo) cousin, and the hero known as She-Hulk.The show was created by writer...
'Wednesday' Review
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Now showing on Netflix, ‘Wednesday’ represents the latest attempt to bring ‘The Addams Family’ to screens, and one that succeeds partly because of its star.The Addams Family, which originated with Charles Addams’ single-panel cartoons and strips in the 1930s and 1940s, have long since been...
'The Last of Us' Review
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Launching with its first episode on Sunday, January 15th on HBO Max, ‘The Last of Us’ represents the latest successful translation of a video game title to another medium.Of course, the source material––game creator Neil Druckmann is deeply involved in the show as an executive producer––offers...
'Poker Face' Review
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Premiering with its first four episodes on Peacock on January 26th, ‘Poker Face’ marks Rian Johnson’s latest successful stab at the mystery genre.The filmmaker, who made his name with Sundance sensation ‘Brick’, has often tackled mysteries in his work, most notably with the two ‘Knives Out’...
'The Mandalorian' Review
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The premiere episode of hit Disney+ 'Star Wars' series ‘The Mandalorian’ reminded fans exactly why it is the most popular Star Wars show on the streamer. Now in its third season, we dive right back into the thick of it - with Din Jarin attempting to repent for his sin of removing his helmet and no...
'Silo' Review
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Premiering with its first two episodes on May 5th, ‘Silo’ represents Apple TV+ moving into the sort of dystopian territory covered extensively in movies and TV series, but also managing to say something new about human foibles and the lies that can build up within authority.What’s the story of...
'FUBAR' Review
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A core concept about a spy whose family is drawn into his work sounds a lot like James Cameron’s 1994 action-comedy thriller ‘True Lies’, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis.And indeed, such a show exists –– it’s even called ‘True Lies’ and has the same plotline albeit...
'Secret Invasion' Review
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Premiering on Disney+ beginning June 21st is the new six-episode Marvel series ‘Secret Invasion,’ which is based on the popular comic book storyline of the same name and is the first MCU series of Phase Five.What is the plot of ‘Secret Invasion’?In Marvel Studios’ new series ‘Secret Invasion,’...
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Review
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Returning to Paramount+ on June 15th, the second season of ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ continues the strong storytelling and adventure-of-the-week style that made the first season work.It’s a welcome return for Anson Mount’s Captain Christopher Pike and the rest of the crew, who find themselves...
'Foundation' Review
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Returning to Apple TV+ on July 14th , the second season of ‘Foundation’ builds on the first, stretching even further forward through time and visiting some new places while checking in on familiar faces.Those who enjoyed the first season will find more of the ambitious, weighty science fiction they...
'Only Murders in the Building' Review
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Launched with the first two episodes on Hulu, the third season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ proves that the creative team and cast have what it takes to (somewhat) move the show outside of the confines of the beautiful Arconia building for a story that makes even more use of Oliver Putnam’s...
'Loki' Review
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Launching on Disney+ on October 5th (with one episode), the second season of Marvel’s ‘Loki’ is a welcome return for one of the better shows to be produced by the company and maintains a lot of what worked the first time around.And new additions to the story, such as Ke Huy Quan (who knows a thing...
'The Fall of the House of Usher' Review
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Landing on Netflix on October 12th, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ has Mike Flanagan –– who knows a thing or two about scary stories –– remixing Edgar Allan Poe (ditto) for a truly fun new horror limited series.Combining a committed cast and some memorably nasty surprises, ‘Usher’ represents...
'Bosch: Legacy' Review
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Premiering on Freevee beginning October 20th is the second season of the hit series ‘Bosch: Legacy,’ which is a follow up series to Prime Video’s ‘Bosch’ and based on the popular novels by author Michael Connelly ('The Lincoln Lawyer').What is the plot of ‘Bosch: Legacy’ Season 2?Picking...
'A Murder at the End of the World' Review
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Launching on FX on Hulu on November 14th with two episodes, ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ sees the much-anticipated return to TV of writer/directors Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, who last brought us the twisty, complicated series ‘The OA’ on Netflix.Their new series doesn’t dig into...
'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' Review
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Launching on Apple TV+ on Friday November 17th with two episodes (and a new episode arriving weekly after that for eight weeks) ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ expands the “MonsterVerse” that kicked off with 2014’s ‘Godzilla’ and has continued through movies such as ‘Kong: Skull Island’...
'What If...?' Review
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Landing on Disney+ daily across the next nine days, the second season of Marvel’s Disney+ animated series ‘What If…?’ has plenty of treats to deliver, including a smart, clever festive episode that is the highlight of the early run.At a time when Marvel and Disney are feeling the pinch of superhero...
'True Detective: Night Country' Review
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Premiering on Max January 14th, ‘True Detective: Night Country’ offers a very different spin on the usual mystery story, one that draws upon the eternal clash between modern progress and native lands, between parents and children, and between the forces of right and wrong, even as the main characters...
'The Brothers Sun' Review
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Premiering on Netflix January 4th, ‘The Brothers Sun’ is a blend of martial arts action and comedy that follows a family whose Taiwan-set criminal empire spills over into Southern California.Looking to channel the style of Jackie Chan, this new series from Byron Wu and Brad Falchuk (the latter of...
'Echo' Review
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Launching on both Disney+ and Hulu on January 9th, ‘Echo’ sees Marvel looking to assuage claims that it can only ever produce stories that are intrinsically linked to the wider cinematic universe.So even though this is spun off from 2021’s ‘Hawkeye’ (where Alaqua Cox was introduced as deaf...
'Masters of the Air' Review
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Launching on Apple TV+ on January 26th with two episodes (and then one weekly for seven weeks), ‘Masters of the Air’ represents the latest series from executive producers Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who have seen success with their previous two efforts, ‘The Pacific’ and ‘Band of Brothers’.But...
'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' Review
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Premiering on Prime Video this week, ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ loosely –– very loosely –– adapts the 2005 Doug Liman movie that saw Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie playing married assassins unaware of each other’s secret job whose stale relationship is re-ignited when they’re assigned by their...
'Tokyo Vice' Review
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The popular crime series ‘Tokyo Vice’ returns for a second season on Max beginning February 8th.Based on the book of the same name by Jake Adelstein, the series stars Ansel Elgort (‘Baby Driver’) as Adelstein, an American Journalist living in Tokyo and working for a Japanese newspaper. Adelstein...
'The Gentlemen' Review
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Launching on Netflix will all eight episodes on Thursday March 7th, ‘The Gentlemen’ finds Guy Ritchie –– the man behind ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’, ‘Snatch’ and even more relevantly ‘The Gentlemen’ –– in a very familiar place, for a story that is his most effective...
'Star Wars: Andor' Review
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Landing on Disney+ on –– when else? –– May the 4th, new animated limited series ‘Tales of the Empire’ aims to do for two notable Dark Side personalities what ‘Tales of the Jedi’ did for the likes of Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku: fill in some of their backstory.Yet unlike that 2022 effort,...
Movie Reviews
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