https://screenrant.com All the latest movie news, movie trailers & reviews - and the same for TV, too. Thu, 07 Dec 2023 20:06:02 GMT en-US hourly 60 Culprits is engaging TV that knows how to please. Hulu’s latest entry has action, heart, and a compelling story. J Blakeson’s (I Care A Lot) mystery heist can be melodramatic at times and the dialogue leaves a lot to be desired, but none of that gets in the way of it being plain old fun. The cast is great all around, with old and new faces building out the world. Meanwhile, the cinematography, music, and costume design put the finishing touches on a vibrant criminal underworld.

]]> Thu, 07 Dec 2023 20:06:02 GMT https://screenrant.com/culprits-season-1-review/ Code Geass is a beloved mech series whose popularity endures to this day, and now fans of the franchise can own the ultimate collector's item with Code Geass: Collector's Edition. Though the price tag on the box might be steep, considering just how much is contained in the box set, it may very well be worth for it diehard fans of the series.

]]> Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:40:19 GMT https://screenrant.com/code-geass-collectors-edition-box-set-review/ Attack On Titan is finally over, and the ending cements it as one of the greatest anime series ever made. Offering something for almost every type of anime fan, Attack On Titan is an undisputed masterpiece, and Hajime Isayama's legacy will forever be remembered because of it.

]]> Sun, 26 Nov 2023 21:00:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/attack-titan-complete-series-review-greatest-anime/ The second part of the first season of the hit anime Ranking of Kings has been released by Crunchyroll on Blu-ray. The concluding half of the series comes in two variations: standard and limited edition. With the series being a heartwarming, yet high-stakes adventure, fans can't go wrong with either.

]]> Sat, 25 Nov 2023 21:00:16 GMT https://screenrant.com/ranking-of-kings-blu-ray-review-heratwarming/ Warning: Minor Spoilers For Scott Pilgrim Takes OffNetflix's anime Scott Pilgrim Takes Off sees the return of the titular Scott, Ramona Flowers, and the rest of Bryan Lee O'Malley's beloved characters in a new story that quickly defies all expectations of a fan base that's hopefully matured as much as its author. Viewers who expected an anime adaptation of the same Scott Pilgrim story seen in O'Malley's 2004 comic and Edgar Wright's outstanding feature film, 2010's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, may be disappointed that Takes Off is very different. However, fans hungry for a storyline that thoroughly explores and adds layers to the beloved cast are in for a treat.

]]> Wed, 22 Nov 2023 18:30:15 GMT https://screenrant.com/scott-pilgrim-ramona-anime-netflix-review/ Ever since Netflix's award-winning period drama The Crown announced it would be introducing Princess Diana — and perhaps since even before then — there has been plenty of speculation over how the series would depict the tragic circumstances of her death. From the moment she first appeared onscreen in season 4, then played by Emma Corrin, Diana's fate has loomed large over The Crown, and with season 6, it finally comes to pass. Coming off the weaker season 5, the show has a lot of expectations to live up to, and based purely on its first four episodes, it mostly meets them. With what will no doubt be its most scrutinized episodes yet, The Crown season 6 gets off to a devastating start with only minor stumbles.

]]> Sat, 18 Nov 2023 13:40:25 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-crown-season-6-part-1-review/ The MonsterVerse continues to expand with the latest TV installment from Legendary Television and Toho Co. The new series, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, heading to Apple TV+ follows members of the organization Monarch, the semi-secret government institution dedicated to understanding the kaiju crisis. These people have encountered the legendary Godzilla and other Titans and work diligently to study and combat these god-like creatures and ensure humanity's survival — or so they claim.

]]> Tue, 14 Nov 2023 17:06:31 GMT https://screenrant.com/monarch-legacy-of-monsters-review/ Crunchyroll has released the second season of Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World on Blu-ray. The isekai series follows Subaru Natsuki, a young man who suddenly finds himself in the Kingdom of Lugunica with a strange new ability: Return by Death. The Blu-ray of the series is offered in two editions, standard and limited edition.

]]> Mon, 13 Nov 2023 19:00:18 GMT https://screenrant.com/re-zero-season-2-blu-ray-review/ Apple TV+'s alternative history drama For All Mankind returns for season 4, bringing us closer to the present day as the show's timeline enters the 21st century. Created by Ben Nedivi, Matt Wolpert, and Ronald D. Moore, the science fiction series has spent three seasons exploring how human history would have changed drastically if the Russians had beat America to the Moon. Now, in For All Mankind season 4, they tackle the early 21st century, depicting the post-9/11 world of 2003. However, in this timeline, there has been no devastating attack on the World Trade Center, no war in Iraq, and many of the nations of Earth seem more united than ever. But that doesn't mean that For All Mankind season 4 is without the compelling political drama and thrilling action sequences of its predecessors.

]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2023 19:04:57 GMT https://screenrant.com/for-all-mankind-season-4-review/ The saga of Scott Calvin's tenure as Jolly Old St. Nick opens another endearingly hilarious and heartwarming chapter in season 2 of The Santa Clauses. Following the story established in the show's first season, The Santa Clauses season 2 fittingly brings more of the never-ending, microscopic fine print that comes with any job at the North Pole while also exploring new areas of the Santa Claus(e) mythos. With both done to such great effect, The Santa Clauses season 2 brings more of the franchise's holiday season charm with some new characters entering the spotlight.

]]> Wed, 08 Nov 2023 22:13:25 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-santa-clauses-season-2-review/ Emma Stone's TV roles have been sparse, but the career choices she is making reflect an eagerness to challenge herself and show us what she's capable of. Stone is back to on television with Showtime’s The Curse, created by and co-starring Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie. The Curse is bound to make a splash, as evidenced by an incredibly engaging pilot episode. Fielder and Safdie have been building careers on projects that blend genres and challenge the audience. The Curse is the brainchild of these two unique creatives, and what they have created is a test of willpower. The Curse is a loaded series that tackles a range of issues from white privilege, gentrification, unemployment, wealth, and an abundance of other problems that exist under the umbrella of inequality, all while being an uncomfortable, cringe-inducing satirical comedy.

]]> Tue, 07 Nov 2023 20:39:03 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-curse-review/ It's been a long time since we've seen Mark Grayson and Prime Video's hit animated series, but the arrival of Invincible season 2 - part 1 leaves no doubt that it was worth the wait. The first season arrived in March 2021 and brought the beloved comic by Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley to a whole new audience. This is how many first experienced the heartfelt stories, gruesome action, and incredible world-building filled with memorable characters. The overall quality on display in season 1 made expectations for season 2 sky-high, which is why the over two-year-long wait to see what happened after the finale became so excruciating. With an updated animation style, new threats, and a more personal story, Invincible season 2 re-establishes itself as the best superhero show in recent memory.

]]> Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:01:16 GMT https://screenrant.com/invincible-season-2-part-1-review/ Neon, the latest comedy series on Netflix, celebrates Latino culture and reggaeton with effervescence and style. Co-creators Shea Serrano and Max Searle, who also serves as showrunner, developed the story about one young Puerto Rican’s dream of making it big in reggaeton using his raw talent, infectious charm, and perseverance. The show contains eight 30-minute episodes, each filled with excitement, infectious performances, and music you can’t help but dance along to. With the talented cast including Tyler Dean Flores, Emma Ferreira, Jordan Mendoza, and Courtney Taylor, this is the kind of series you watch for great young talent, stay for the cool music, and binge for the juicy storylines.

]]> Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:34:15 GMT https://screenrant.com/neon-season-1-review/ While Rick and Morty season 7 doesn’t reinvent the show’s entire formula, the outing is fresh and inventive enough to win over even the most reluctant of returning viewers. A lot has happened since Rick and Morty season 6 ended in December 2022. The show’s former star and co-creator Justin Roiland was charged with domestic battery and let go by Adult Swim back in January 2023, prompting a months-long search for his replacement. While this left viewers wondering about the future of the series, Rick and Morty season 7 proves that the anarchic animated comedy still has plenty of originality and invention without its former lead voicing the show’s titular heroes.

]]> Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:28:00 GMT https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-season-7-review/ Upload has maintained a lighthearted tone despite diving further into the mysteries at its center. Season 3 is no different. Power, corporate greed, corruption, and violence abound, but Upload doesn’t lose its jovial nature, continuing to build out its world, advance its storyline and develop central relationships without losing momentum. While the series never fully deals with the themes it tackles, showrunner Greg Daniels and his writing team know how to keep season 3 enjoyable, with a great buildup that has stakes and intrigue, even as it leaves us on a cliffhanger that could change up the dynamics in season 4.

]]> Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:00:31 GMT https://screenrant.com/upload-season-3-review/ The Frasier reboot leans on nostalgia, highlighting just how great the original show was. Kelsey Grammer has officially returned as Frasier Crane in the Paramount+ revival of the most Emmy decorated comedy series. In the Frasier reboot, Frasier finds himself back in Boston, his old haunt in Cheers. Doing so solves a couple of narrative issues for the endeavor. It explains the absence of Niles Crane and Daphne Moon, as both are still based in Seattle; it gives the show a concrete storytelling goal for the character, which is to mend his fractured relationship with his grown-up son, Freddy; and despite Frasier's history with Boston, he no longer hangs out with the people at Cheers. This paves the way for the reboot to introduce a new ensemble led by legendary British comedy actor, Nicholas Lyndhurst as Frasier's old Oxford buddy.

]]> Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:43:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/frasier-reboot-season-1-review/ Mike Flanagan has long served as Netflix's horror maestro and, now that he has bid farewell to the streaming service, the writer-director gets one hell of a goodbye. The Fall of the House of Usher is Flanagan's best Netflix show yet, an operatic tragedy that uses the works of Edgar Allen Poe to weave a web of one family's horrifying depravity and, as the title suggests, their fall into the depths of hell. Flanagan's work with Netflix has dabbled in everything from melancholic ghost tales to haunted house horror shows and meditations on faith by way of vampirism. The Fall of the House of Usher is a tragedy, yes, but it's a stylistic, darkly humorous one, as riveting as it is contemplative. Not all the series' many moving parts work but as a whole, it's a brazen tale of horror and hubris told by one of the genre's best creators.

]]> Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:36:23 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-fall-of-the-house-of-usher-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the show being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:00:27 GMT https://screenrant.com/goosebumps-season-1-review/ Lupin finally returns to Netflix with Part 3 — and the wait was well worth it. The French series, created by George Kay, combines charisma, clever heists, and a personable lead to bring its story to life. And while Part 3’s plot isn’t as intense as Part 1’s, Lupin is still firing on all cylinders. The new season provides answers to unanswered questions from the previous two parts, which further fleshes out Assane Diop’s character and his personal relationships. With an effervescent performance from Omar Sy, Lupin Part 3 has enough twists, thrilling heists, and character development to maintain interest and excitement.

]]> Fri, 06 Oct 2023 20:04:42 GMT https://screenrant.com/lupin-part-3-review/ Throughout his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Loki has often found himself at a crossroads — hero or villain, brother or rival, son or successor. Now, Loki season 2 returns at a time when Marvel Studios and the industry it has dominated for the last decade or so is also at a crossroads. Writers have just scored a fair deal after a historic labor movement, actors will return to the table with the AMPTP soon, and Marvel VFX workers have just voted to unionize after reports of horrible working conditions. The future of the MCU itself is also in question and in some ways, it's a miracle that Loki season 2 even exists. Much of Phases 4 and 5 have been filled with promises that may go unfulfilled — will we see Charlize Theron's Clea or Harry Styles' Eros again in this decade, if ever?

]]> Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:00:27 GMT https://screenrant.com/loki-season-2-review/ The Boys' first live-action spin-off, Gen V, is a welcome addition to Garth Ennis and Seth Rogen's co-production. The cast is full of fresh faces, except for the incomparable Clancy Brown (Justice League). Developed by Eric Kripke, Craig Rosenberg, and Evan Goldberg, the usual gore, drugs, and dick jokes are still a staple of the franchise, and no punches are pulled just because the cast is younger. Though we might miss characters like Homelander and performers like Chace Crawford, there is a familiar but fresh essence to Gen V. Nelson Cragg (Them) directs two episodes and does a great job bridging the two shows, with showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters providing an engaging overall story. Leading the show in front of the camera are The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina alums Jaz Sinclair and Chance Perdomo, and they do a great job grounding the series.

]]> Wed, 27 Sep 2023 17:09:31 GMT https://screenrant.com/gen-v-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:06:27 GMT https://screenrant.com/sex-education-season-4-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Wed, 20 Sep 2023 15:00:29 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-continental-from-the-world-of-john-wick-review/ Ahsoka features two iconic droids with origins in Star Wars animation and while Ahsoka Tano's co-pilot and former Jedi trainer Huyang may have the most screen time so far in the current Disney+ series, it's Chopper from Star Wars Rebels who has the wildest personality.

]]> Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:49:18 GMT https://screenrant.com/star-wars-chatter-back-chopper-animatronic-review/ Editor’s note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:00:20 GMT https://screenrant.com/wheel-of-time-season-2-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 31 Aug 2023 07:05:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/one-piece-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Tue, 22 Aug 2023 16:00:20 GMT https://screenrant.com/ahsoka-season-1-review/ Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the show being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:00:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/only-murders-in-the-building-season-3-review/ Editor's Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the show being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 19:49:01 GMT https://screenrant.com/harley-quinn-season-4-review/ Editor's Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the show being covered here wouldn't exist.

]]> Wed, 26 Jul 2023 07:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/good-omens-season-2-review/ Warning: Contains spoilers for Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead episode #1.The Summer 2023 anime season has only just started, but Crunchyroll’s new horror anime, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, is already a must-watch. Zom 100 is centered around Akira Tendo, a recent college graduate who has lost all hope as he’s forced into the harsh realities of the Japanese working world. Just as Akira falls to his lowest point, a zombie apocalypse breaks out, but rather than fear for his life, Akira becomes euphoric over the revelation that he doesn’t have to go to work anymore, and he decides to capitalize on the situation by creating a bucket list of everything he wants to do before becoming a zombie.

]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:00:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/zom-100-crunchyroll-new-horror-anime-must-watch/ Warning: Contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen season 2, episode #1.Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 has finally premiered, and it’s already blowing season 1 right out of the water. Jujutsu Kaisen was one of the biggest anime around from 2020 to 2021 thanks to its striking visuals and directing, and the goodwill it garnered even led to its prequel film, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, becoming one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time. Season 2 was an absolute certainty, and as such, the question on the minds of fans and critics alike was whether season 2 would be able to keep to the high standards set by season 1.

]]> Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:00:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/jujutsu-kaisen-season-2-pemiere-review/ The new Crunchyroll anime series Undead Murder Farce may have a word salad title, but don't be fooled: this comedic fantasy murder mystery series has managed to capture the essence of the classical mystery story while remaining funny.

]]> Sat, 01 Jul 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/undead-murder-farce-review-crunchyroll-anime-undead-murder-farce/ And Just Like That… season 1 was painful to watch. It stripped away the interesting conversations and themes that made Sex and the City so good to begin with. In its place, the updated series gave us characters who no longer had the same depth, touched on personal issues and journeys in the most shallow way possible, and struggled to make any of it interesting. And Just Like That… season 2 is a step up from season 1, but the bar is very, very low. I wasn’t expecting it to be a whole lot better, nor was I kidding myself in thinking it would have the quality of the original HBO series. But while there are moments that offer genuine warmth and humor, season 2 is plagued by more of the same surface-level nonsense. At this point, it’s simply unforgivable.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:19:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/and-just-like-that-season-2-review/ In the past year, many of the series crowned the best of TV have concluded. As Succession, Atlanta, and Ted Lasso ended, we were left wondering, what’s next? The golden age of TV might be coming to a close, but the golden age of auteurism might be making its way from film to TV. I’m A Virgo is objectively one of the weirdest things you will find on TV and thrives in that space. Writer-director-creator Boots Riley has expanded his vision to seven episodes of extremely strange TV and the result is fascinating. The show does not live and die by the acting, the writing, or the “giant in a normal-sized world” trope. Riley has made sure that the ideas are front and center and everything else is working in concert to bring them to life.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 14:04:14 GMT https://screenrant.com/im-a-virgo-review/ Roughly eight months after its last Disney+ offering, Marvel Studios returns to the streaming service with another title intended to further expand the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe. The previous show, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, was a fourth-wall breaking comedy. Secret Invasion, which kicks off its six-episode run on June 21, couldn't be more different. This is perhaps the MCU's darkest Disney+ show yet, almost immediately plunging viewers into a twisty tale of conspiracy theories, shadowy partnerships, and deceptive characters. Two episodes in, it remains to be seen if Secret Invasion can pull off the ambitious story it's selling, but with Samuel L. Jackson in the lead, it seems certain it'll be a gripping journey.

]]> Wed, 14 Jun 2023 16:00:20 GMT https://screenrant.com/secret-invasion-review/ In Apple TV+’s psychological thriller/drama, The Crowded Room, Tom Holland leads his first limited series. He plays Danny Sullivan, a man who is arrested following his involvement in a shooting in New York City in 1979. Holland also serves as an executive producer in this captivating thriller, in which he stands opposite Amanda Seyfried, who plays the curious interrogator, Rya Goodwin, determined to uncover the truth. Through a series of interviews and flashbacks, Danny’s life story unfolds, revealing his mysterious past that shaped him and what led to the surprising incident that changed his life forever.

]]> Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:13:34 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-crowded-room-review/ One of the best things about Never Have I Ever is that it has unabashedly portrayed Devi as a flawed, messy teenager. She’s got a temper and lashes out, even when it’s unfair; sometimes, Devi’s outright mean, and other times she’s self-sabotaging, her mouth running away with her without realizing she’s hurt someone’s feelings. She can also be warm and loving, fierce and protective. And no matter what she does, there’s an unfailing sense of confidence and her bright spirit shines through in everything. Simply put, Devi is human, and it’s the show’s greatest strength, the writers unwilling to shy away from the mess and chaos that affects her life.

]]> Fri, 09 Jun 2023 13:26:08 GMT https://screenrant.com/never-have-i-ever-season-4-review/ It's difficult to tell what Sam Levinson wants. Is a show like Euphoria an earnest attempt at dissecting the life of the modern teen? Is Assassination Nation a worthwhile examination of cancel culture and social media? Is his most recent project, HBO's The Idol, co-produced with A24 and shepherded by pop superstar the Weeknd, a genuine look at the plight of the modern popstar? The answer is complicated. The Idol, which premiered its first two episodes at Cannes, received pans from critics amidst a firestorm of behind-the-scenes controversy that dominated the pre-release conversation. It's certainly not as bad as some have made it out to be, but it's by no means the masterpiece that the Weeknd and Levinson have touted in retaliation to the controversy surrounding it. The Idol, for all its flashy marketing and headline-grabbing controversy, is actually just boring — there's an intriguing story lying underneath its facade, but it's buried by vanity and superficiality.

]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 16:17:58 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-idol-review/ The jampacked Chicago Fire season 11 finale leaves several plot lines unresolved, setting up a very interesting season 7. One Chicago franchise's inaugural show has had a tumultuous year, both on and off-screen. Chief Boden's fearless firefighters have been subjected to a mix of personal and professional woes, and the outing stays true to that storytelling approach as it juggles multiple storylines for several Firehouse 51 members. Aside from wrapping up the year, the intense Chicago Fire season 11 finale, "Red Waterfall," is also a launching pad for what's to come for Engine 51, Rescue Squad 3, Truck 81, and Ambulance 61.

]]> Fri, 26 May 2023 20:48:32 GMT https://screenrant.com/chicago-fire-season-11-finale-review/ American Born Chinese, now streaming on Disney+, is an action comedy series that's packed with as much sweetness as it is sucker punches. Based on Gene Luen Yang's highly-acclaimed 2006 graphic novel of the same name, it takes the coming-of-age story of one introspective teenager and spins it into an epic tale of mythic proportions. Of course, doing so means spinning more plates than it can sometimes handle, but showrunner Kelvin Yu and director Destin Daniel Cretton (who helmed the premiere and finale) keep things on track by combining a very pleasing aesthetic with warmhearted performances by a star-studded cast.

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 13:32:35 GMT https://screenrant.com/american-born-chinese-season-1-review/ The Flash season 9 finale had the nearly impossible task of wrapping up the series while also doing justice to a long-awaited villain and honoring beloved characters. But Barry Allen is all about believing in the impossible, and the actors' sincerity ultimately helps the story succeed. The truncated final season stumbled after a strong start due to its reliance on interludes rather than a cohesive series arc, but Grant Gustin's last run as Barry Allen still manages to be a sweet homage to the things and people that made the CW show so iconic in the first place.

]]> Thu, 25 May 2023 01:06:16 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-flash-season-9-finale-review/ If there's any doubt, the Young Sheldon season 6 finale proves that The Big Bang Theory prequel isn't Sheldon's show anymore. Premiering in 2017, the spin-off of the nerd-centric sitcom was greenlit in an effort to further capitalize on The Big Bang Theory's popularity. As its title suggests, Young Sheldon delves into Sheldon's childhood in Texas. It mines inspiration from the genius' penchant for sharing all kinds of anecdotes from his time living with his family. Providing context and backstory to some of Sheldon's most bizarre preferences and behaviors, its ties to the extremely popular The Big Bang Theory helped it establish itself. Four years since its parent series ended, however, Young Sheldon has clearly outgrown its prequel roots, and the season 6 finale crystallizes that.

]]> Sat, 20 May 2023 13:00:19 GMT https://screenrant.com/young-sheldon-season-6-finale-review/ In this age of constant reboots and franchise extensions, it can be easy to feel cynical when another spinoff is announced. Sometimes, however, a project will come along that is so vibrant, fun, and creative, any prior misgivings will melt away entirely. Such is the case with Netflix's new series XO, Kitty, an offshoot of the successful To All the Boys I've Loved Before franchise. Created by To All the Boys author Jenny Han, the new show brings Lara Jean Covey's matchmaking sister into the spotlight for her own adventure. On the surface, XO, Kitty appears to be a straightforward tale of rom-com sweetness, but in reality, it's packed with enough twists to surpass any expectations.

]]> Thu, 18 May 2023 07:06:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/xo-kitty-season-1-review/ As one of Netflix’s most popular series, it was only a matter of time before Bridgerton got a spinoff. Created by Shonda Rhimes, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story changes gears, turning its attention toward the titular character and her love story with King George III. The series jumps between two time periods, balancing multiple storylines. The historical fantasy series sets up a lovely central romance, and gives focus to Lady Danbury’s story, among several others. The prequel series gets too caught up in establishing the monarchs’ love as the bridge between their society’s divide when it could have focused more on the romance itself, but Queen Charlotte has plenty of charisma, heart, and dramatic tension to make it worth recommending.

]]> Thu, 04 May 2023 14:33:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/queen-charlotte-bridgerton-story-review/ Prime Video’s new spy thriller, Citadel, will be the first of its kind as it’s the launch of a multi-series global storytelling event unlike anything audiences have ever witnessed. This large undertaking, created by David Weil, is the start of five spinoffs with connected storylines told from different cultures. With such a risky global effort, who better to take on the challenge than the Russo Brothers, who serve as executive producers, among others? With a tremendous cast, compelling story, and action-packed first three (of six, which were provided for review) episodes for season 1, Citadel could be the television event of the year.

]]> Thu, 27 Apr 2023 14:00:15 GMT https://screenrant.com/citadel-season-1-review/ Many works of film and TV seem to distill their thematic interests down into a single line of dialogue that, once heard, makes legible all the creative choices made throughout. In Love & Death, the new HBO miniseries from showrunner David E. Kelley, that key comes in the later episodes, when a newscaster describes the central court case as having gone from a whodunit to a "whydunit." Though it presents its real-life story with no small degree of dramatic flair (sometimes to its detriment), the storytelling is defined by clarity — we're shown what happens and given no reason to doubt what we see. What's really being explored, by pulling all attention to the actors' performances, is why these people behave as they do, and that's where Love & Death becomes much more slippery.

]]> Tue, 25 Apr 2023 14:42:40 GMT https://screenrant.com/love-and-death-season-1-review/ The current TV landscape is overrun with adaptations of recognizable and iconic films. There are almost too many to list, and even more to come. Dead Ringers falls into the camp of remakes/reboots that offer something different through fundamental casting changes. Trading in Jeremy Irons for Rachel Weisz, this version of David Cronenberg's original film is not the body/psychosexual horror about two men abusing their power over women and struggling with their symbiotic living. Prime Video's version of Dead Ringers retains much of the same narrative but is a radical yet nuanced story about two fiercely ambitious women in the healthcare field searching for the thing that completes them as individuals while existing as a duo. The series also tackles the callous and unfeeling nature of maternal healthcare — in a time when female bodies are objects and pregnancy and babies are currency — through the eyes of a primarily women-led cast and creative team. The six-episode series shares much of its DNA with the Cronenberg film, but it's an entirely new creature.

]]> Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:41:11 GMT https://screenrant.com/dead-ringers-season-1-review-2023-tv/ Based on the novel by Laura Dave, The Last Thing He Told Me, the latest series on Apple TV+, has all the pieces in place to keep audiences riveted as they anticipate what comes next. While it takes a bit to pick up the pace, the thriller can be exciting and alluring. Beyond the mystery and the cliffhangers, The Last Thing He Told Me is, at its core, a story about a stepmother and stepdaughter finding their footing as they develop their relationship. Anchored by strong performances by Jennifer Garner and Angourie Rice, the thriller makes the most of its twists and turns without forgetting the tension between its leads.

]]> Sun, 16 Apr 2023 13:38:01 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-last-thing-he-told-me-review-2023-tv/ HBO's Barry has always been about people's capacity to change. Early in the show's run, Barry (Bill Hader) reveals the incident that has been haunting him since his time in the Marines, and his acting teacher, Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), tells him, "I think you're deeply human. You did a terrible thing, but do I think that defines you? No." Of course, this was before Cousineau finds out that Barry killed his girlfriend, Janice, in season 1. Barry season 4 opens with Hader's title character in jail thanks to, in part, Cousineau's discovery and his partnership with Janice's father, Jim Moss (Robert Wisdom). It has yet to answer that question posed by Cousineau early on, though, and an answer isn't what it needs. In its stellar fourth and final season, Barry ruminates on the ripple effects the need for redemption has while walking a tightrope of comedy and brutality with finesse and flair.

]]> Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:42:11 GMT https://screenrant.com/barry-season-4-review-2023/ Based on the book — a collection of essays — by Cheryl Strayed, the Hulu adaptation of Tiny Beautiful Things bookends each episode with a voiceover from Kathryn Hahn’s Clare Pierce, who writes as Sugar, an anonymous advice columnist who provides honest, raw guidance and insight from her life experiences. That is the majority of what is pulled directly from Strayed’s novel, as the series crafts a narrative to fit around the letters she receives, drawing from parts of Strayed’s own past. The result can be as messy as its protagonist, as Tiny Beautiful Things attempts to delve into Clare’s past and present, but the series strikes a nerve in its intense, transparent look at grief and moving on, and it’s grounded by an incredibly moving performance from Hahn, who brings everything she’s got to the role.

]]> Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:49:29 GMT https://screenrant.com/tiny-beautiful-things-review-2023-tv/ Inspired by an actual event, where creator Lee Sung Jin was yelled at by a fellow road patron, Beef chronicles the ever-evolving danger that comes from repressed anger and holding a grudge. The series is more about the main characters' feelings for each other. Sure, there are shenanigans from both parties, multiple attempts to assert dominance over the other, and sabotage that has grave consequences, but the series is far more nuanced and analytical when exploring their individual struggles and the common ground they unexpectedly find with each other. The catharsis they experience when they egg each other on only complicates their situation, but Sung Jin, who served as creator, director and screenwriter on the series, manages to capture the essence of these raw, unfiltered emotions in such a captivating way that the audience cannot help but want to see more.

]]> Mon, 03 Apr 2023 14:49:08 GMT https://screenrant.com/beef-season-1-2023-tv-review/ Eager to build up its streaming service beyond the Taylor Sheridan and Star Trek universes, Paramount+ is turning to a classic for its latest original series. Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies imagines what Rydell High looked like before Sandy and Danny's romance swept through the school, and in the eyes of creator Annabel Oakes, it's the birthplace of radical ideas (for the 1950s) and rollicking dance numbers. In some ways, the prequel series captures the spirit of the original Grease, though its more progressive storylines and casting decisions make its positioning in the franchise's timeline a bit odd. Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies doesn't quite justify its existence, but those willing to give it a try will be rewarded with an entertaining ride.

]]> Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:05:14 GMT https://screenrant.com/grease-rise-of-the-pink-ladies-season-1-2023-tv-review/ Imagine a world where teenage girls suddenly and without notice became the apex predators of the human race. Imagine that their new power lay dormant in older women, and younger girls would develop the same ability when they got older. Imagine a world where the patriarchy was on its final legs and the dawn of a new world was at women’s fingertips. This is the world of The Power, Prime Video's latest series. Through several intersecting stories, The Power follows the sudden impact of teenage girls developing a new organ that allows them to release electricity from their fingers. With the power to take lives or heal, these girls will change the world. There is no “if” here, as the structures that prop up the patriarchy will crumble; it is just a matter of when.

]]> Wed, 29 Mar 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-power-season-1-2023-tv-review/ A musical romantic comedy might sound good on paper, but it requires a variety of elements to pull it off. Up Here, created by Steven Levenson and Frozen’s songwriting duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, is the perfect mixture of breezy rom-com and energetic Broadway musical. The series aims to for an uplifting message about getting out of one’s own way, and though it loses some of its momentum at the halfway point, Up Here comes back to life in its final episodes to deliver a sweet, momentous finale.

]]> Thu, 23 Mar 2023 21:39:08 GMT https://screenrant.com/up-here-season-1-2023-tv-review/ Succession season 4 begins like previous seasons of the show — the Roy family is split into factions as they once again reckon with the fallout of a brutal betrayal. This time, Shiv, Roman, and Kendall are on the West Coast while Logan is holed up in his wood-paneled New York City apartment. The message is as clear as ever: One side represents the future (bright, modern), while the other looks like the dying past (it doesn't help that the event in question, Logan Roy's birthday, feels more like a wake than a party). Despite its set-up echoing previous seasons, though, everything about this round of family feuding feels different. The shock announcement that this season would be Succession's last certainly contributes to this feeling and, once it hits its stride, Succession season 4 is kinetic and light on its feet, barreling towards a finale that feels as well-earned as each and every biting jab lobbed at various members of the Roy family.

]]> Wed, 22 Mar 2023 15:53:45 GMT https://screenrant.com/succession-season-4-2023-tv-review/ Following up an acclaimed debut season is a daunting task. But following up a critically lauded, word-of-mouth sensation that has inspired a level of audience fervor not seen since Lost popularized the puzzle box TV drama? Well, that feels damn near impossible. Somehow, though, Yellowjackets, which returns to Showtime for season 2 on March 26, manages this feat. The batch of new episodes may lack the indelible feeling of chaos that permeated the first season, but Yellowjackets season 2 is a welcome return for the drama. It's as mean, blackly humorous, and brutal as ever, and there's nothing else like it on television right now.

]]> Mon, 20 Mar 2023 15:22:49 GMT https://screenrant.com/yellowjackets-season-2-2023-tv-review/ It should have been obvious that Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, an acid trip of a biopic, would open up the floodgates to bring on an Elvissaince. Continuing the trend of reviving Elvis Presley and bringing the late singer into the current pop culture zeitgeist is Agent Elvis, a raunchy adult animated series that imagines Elvis as a foul-mouthed American spy.

]]> Mon, 20 Mar 2023 01:16:48 GMT https://screenrant.com/agent-elvis-2023-tv-review/ Warning: This post contains very minor spoilers for Shadow and Bone season 2Shadow and Bone season 1 combined the disparate areas of the Grishaverse — which encapsulates the Shadow and Bone trilogy of books by Leigh Bardugo and everything set in that world, including the Six of Crows duology — rather seamlessly, marrying the plethora of stories together in a way that made sense and elevated the source material. In eight episodes (which were provided for review), Shadow and Bone season 2 manages to do the same.

]]> Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:05:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/shadow-and-bone-season-2-2023-tv-review/ WARNING: Contains mild spoilers for Ted Lasso season 3.Ted Lasso season 3 begins with trepidation that is only natural given how much is at stake, but as the AFC Richmond players find their footing so does the show. Known for its unrelenting positivity in a television landscape full of the dark and gritty, season 3 of Ted Lasso mines the less enthusiastic moods that can overcome even the biggest optimist. It's undoubtedly fitting at a time when Ted himself is still grappling with the end of his marriage, raising his son from across the Atlantic, and the very real possibility that his team will be relegated again at the end of next year. Ted Lasso season 3 retains its hope and wacky one-liners, sometimes going even wackier than necessary, but it's also learned to play with nuance.

]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2023 08:05:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/ted-lasso-season-3-2023-tv-review/ WARNING: Spoilers for the entirety of You season 4 below.You has never been shy about the way it wants its audience to suspend disbelief. It's a prerequisite that the audience must be willing to accept that Joe Goldberg has been murdering his way across the United States since he was a little boy with little to no eyebrows raised. In some cases, it's this suspension of disbelief that has allowed the show to pull off some of its best moments (the season 3 episode where Joe and Love attempt to have a foursome comes to mind). You season 4 part 2 smashes through disbelief, though, and lands somewhere altogether outlandish, forgoing faith in its audience for cheap tricks and fakeout twists that feel like a slight towards those who have come along for the ride.

]]> Thu, 09 Mar 2023 08:05:14 GMT https://screenrant.com/you-season-4-part-2-2023-tv-review/ Season 3 of The Mandalorian has begun and to celebrate the latest in live-action Star Wars, we've been dressing up for the part with the STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN™ Helmet Accessory from Denuo Novo, a lightweight and comfortable replica of the helmet as seen in the series brought to life with 3D digital scan technology and hands-on research with stunning accuracy.

]]> Sat, 04 Mar 2023 19:45:32 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-mandalorian-helmet-review/ Not to be confused with the video game of the same name, The CW is debuting its latest in a long line of DCTV shows this month with Gotham Knights. Unlike the majority of past CW DC shows, though, this series is firmly rooted in Gotham and centered around The Dark Knight — sort of. Like Batwoman before it, Gotham Knights is only tangentially connected to Batman, with the character existing in this universe but not being included as a main character. Instead, Gotham Knights shifts its focus to Bruce Wayne's adopted teenage son and a group of other teenagers. Gotham Knights is a half-decent DC universe story that's unfortunately couched in teen melodrama and color grading more irritating than atmospheric.

]]> Thu, 02 Mar 2023 15:30:14 GMT https://screenrant.com/gotham-knights-series-premiere-2023-tv-review/ To a certain extent, every Star Wars project in the post-George Lucas era has had to ask itself what it means to be a Star Wars project. The answers have varied widely, and have thus divided viewers, each of whom has their own understanding of the franchise — what they're watching either resonates, or seems to them to "miss the point." Of all the interpretations so far, The Mandalorian's has perhaps been the most successful at finding the middle of the road. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have created a cocktail of the mythic imagery of Lucas' inspirations, namely Westerns, high fantasy, and Japanese samurai films, and alien creature encounters that range from high-stakes battles to goofy slapstick. So far, for many Star Wars fans, this has been the way.

]]> Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:01:51 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-mandalorian-season-3-2023-tv-review/ “How did we get here? How do we get out? We used to be something to see. Oh baby, look at us now….” After finishing Daisy Jones & The Six, these lyrics from “Look at Us Now (Honeycomb)” will stick with the audience, becoming more potent as the story goes on. Prime Video’s newest series, adapted from the 2019 book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, gets into the nitty-gritty life of its characters, and has the music to back up this fictional documentary-style about the rise and fall of its titular rock band. With fantastic performances from the cast, memorable music, and just enough angst to keep one riveted, Daisy Jones & The Six hits the spot.

]]> Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:00:18 GMT https://screenrant.com/daisy-jones-the-six-2023-tv-review/ Carnival Row season 2 picks up shortly after season 1 ends, but it’s been so long since that season was released (in August 2019) that a five-minute-long refresher was indeed needed at the start of the season. In its second and final outing, the Prime Video series still has a lot going for it — the costume design, the fantastical premise, the setting, power and political dynamics, and interesting characters — but it is somehow still missing a spark of intrigue that would keep viewers hooked. With so much going on, character development gets lost, and the story, often heavy-handed in its metaphors, is agonizingly slow at times and fascinating at others. All told, however, Carnival Row season 2 consists of the same muted arcs, but it manages to at least bring its multiple subplots together to wrap things up.

]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2023 18:01:32 GMT https://screenrant.com/carnival-row-season-2-2023-tv-reviews/ It's a minor miracle that Star Trek: Picard even exists. The idea that Sir Patrick Stewart would return to the role that made him a household name two decades after last portraying Star Trek: The Next Generation icon Captain Jean-Luc Picard seemed impossible until the day it was announced by the man himself in 2018 at a Las Vegas Star Trek convention. The initial excitement and buzz around the project somewhat dissipated when the show's polarizing first season debuted. Set 20 years after the final TNG film, Star Trek: Nemesis, there was no Enterprise, Picard's old crew were nowhere to be found, and Starfleet had seemingly lost its moral authority. Moreover, the empathetic, brilliant Jean-Luc Picard had become something of a sad old man. Season 2, hindered by pandemic restrictions, was met with an equally divisive reaction. This time, however, Trekkies can breathe a sigh of relief. Star Trek: Picard season 3 takes the series out in style as it tells the epic farewell story the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation always deserved.

]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2023 08:05:04 GMT https://screenrant.com/star-trek-picard-season-3-tv-reviews/ Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) has been around the block and, from the streets of Brooklyn to the suburbs of Northern California, he has left a trail of bodies in his wake. In You season 3, Joe may have been cleaning up his wife's messes, but they were still bloody messes. Now, in You season 4, Netflix's favorite stalker has hopped across the pond and entrenched himself in the high society of London. Fortunately, the snobbery still leaves room for absurdity, and You season 4 part 1 has plenty of it, crafting a murder mystery that is as comical as it is nail-biting while putting Joe in more danger than ever before.

]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:05:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/you-season-4-part-1-2023-tv-reviews/ Rian Johnson is a creative whose name always comes up in discussions about innovative directors. He is now two-for-two in directing exceptionally fun murder mysteries with his Knives Out franchise, and his debut feature Brick is among the highest regarded first features and neo-noirs of the 21st century. His first foray into blockbuster filmmaking with Star Wars: The Last Jedi is still causing conversations. Johnson's claim to fame rests on his ability to subvert expectations, and as much as some folks want to roll their eyes at the term, it is something Johnson is very adept at. His latest project, Poker Face, comes off the heels of Glass Onion, and so Johnson's first series is garnering interest and high expectations, which are met.

]]> Wed, 25 Jan 2023 16:00:17 GMT https://screenrant.com/poker-face-2023-tv-reviews/ Grief and therapy go hand-in-hand in Apple TV+’s latest series, Shrinking. Starring How I Met Your Mother’s Jason Segel, the series combines the two in a gentle, funny, and lighthearted manner that rewards audiences with genuine character growth and multidimensional explorations of its themes. The cast has a lot of chemistry and, above all else, Shrinking recognizes the importance of human connection and handles the varying degrees of loss with genuine warmth, charm, and wit.

]]> Mon, 23 Jan 2023 14:00:15 GMT https://screenrant.com/shrinking-2023-tv-reviews/ How I Met Your Father is back for season 2. Starring Hilary Duff as Sophie, the 30-year-old photographer with a complicated, and often absent, love life, How I Met Your Father season 2 (of which seven of the 20 episodes were made available for review) is an improvement on season 1. Unfortunately, there are far more lows than there are highs and the Hulu comedy struggles to tell an overall cohesive, interesting, and funny story. Season 2’s narrative is scattered — so much so that older Sophie’s (played by Sex and the City’s Kim Cattrall) teasing of what’s to come doesn’t fill one with excitement so much as indifference.

]]> Wed, 18 Jan 2023 17:00:15 GMT https://screenrant.com/how-i-met-your-father-season-2-2023-tv-reviews/ Hunters had a swift and immediate impact when it first arrived in 2020. With a cultural reckoning and white nationalism being alive and well in America (and abroad), Hunters premiered with guns blazing, and it was right on time. Unlike the feel-good satirical romp Jojo Rabbit, Hunters was a raw demonstration of fiction effectively critiquing, calling out, and acknowledging past and present issues regarding white nationalism in the U.S. The alternate historical show was designed to make noise, and its second season aims to do the same.

]]> Sat, 14 Jan 2023 14:56:00 GMT https://screenrant.com/hunters-season-2-2023-tv-reviews/ Video games may have become more cinematic as the medium has evolved, but adaptations rarely capture the same feeling that their source material does. When The Last of Us debuted on the Playstation 3 in 2013, the game received critical acclaim, and calls for a live-action version began immediately. Its story seemed more suited than most — at its core, The Last of Us is about grief, moving on in the face of it, and the bond between a grieving father and a young girl just as lost as he is. Its post-apocalyptic backdrop is just the setting against which this deeply affecting story is told. After a movie was (thankfully) canceled, HBO decided to adapt the first game into a nine-episode season, and it's all the better for it. The Last of Us is a sprawling, emotional epic that captures the game's spirit while expanding on the narrative in surprising and rewarding ways. It gets off to a slow start, but once the series commits to its vision (and allows itself to have a little fun), The Last of Us can be as beautiful and devastating as the game that preceded it.

]]> Tue, 10 Jan 2023 08:05:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-last-of-us-2023-tv-reviews/ Disney+'s new Willow series presents a fairly unique opportunity in the world of "legacyquels," which is to say the entertainment media landscape of today. Despite supposedly being more bankable, recapturing the magic of a previous property requires identifying the essence of its success, so that, in the attempt to strike the right balance of nostalgia and irreverence, the franchise's new stewards don't accidentally throw the baby out with the bathwater. This becomes a nightmare for something like Star Wars, which is loved for many different (and sometimes conflicting) reasons, but what about Willow? Far less precious an object, partially by design – as seriously as it takes the battle between good and evil, it also centers on a character whose path to heroism was to fake it 'til he made it. There is room to play here and be appreciated for it, and showrunner Jonathan Kasdan and his team take advantage. While its tone is a struggle to decipher at first, Willow settles into an ensemble show willing to let itself be fun, sending up the conventions of high fantasy without losing sight of why people love the genre in the first place.

]]> Wed, 30 Nov 2022 08:00:15 GMT https://screenrant.com/willow-2022-tv-reviews/ For the first time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's over ten-year history, Marvel Studios has assembled a Christmas holiday special in the form of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. From writer-director James Gunn, who's been the central creative figure on the first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies and is currently in post-production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the holiday special sees Marvel's galactic heroes in a different format than ever before. Trading in their typical two-hour movie for a 40-minute TV special, it's a briefer outing with the ragtag team. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is a heartwarming MCU entry with a sweet and funny story, but lacks what makes the GOTG movies work best.

]]> Wed, 23 Nov 2022 17:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-holiday-special-tv-2022-reviews/ Created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, Wednesday, Netflix’s long-awaited series centering the titular character from The Addams Family, is not putting its best foot forward. This is a project that is right up Tim Burton’s alley, and the acclaimed director helms four of the eight episodes, but there is a distinct lack of imagination and style when it comes to Wednesday’s story. Jenna Ortega is wonderful in the title role, but she is often better than the underwhelming material she is given to work with and the other characters are sidelined in service of the rather hollow mystery at its center.

]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2022 16:46:53 GMT https://screenrant.com/wednesday-2022-tv-reviews/ In late 2020, the fourth season of Netflix's hit prestige drama The Crown reached a new level of buzz as it introduced a pair of notable British figures and began to tackle the modern age. Now, The Crown enters a new, more controversial era with season 5, and to say that expectations are high is possibly an understatement. Much has already been said about the final two seasons of this series, with it sparking new debates over its fictionalized approach to the royal family. For all the hype that has come before, it seems that the new episodes aren't quite as scandalous as they were made out to be, though there are still moments that might raise some eyebrows. The Crown season 5 is ultimately a well-made and well-acted examination of recent history, albeit one that struggles with its focus and pacing.

]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:00:33 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-crown-season-5-2022-tv-reviews/ Michael Giacchino is known primarily for his exquisite musical scores, including those from The Batman and 2009’s Star Trek, but he’s branching out into the world of directing. Having previously directed two shorts, Giacchino helms Marvel’s Werewolf by Night (which he also scored), the 52-minute TV special streaming on Disney+ written by Heather Quinn and Peter Cameron. The TV movie feels far removed from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with its unique style, standout visuals, and homages to the monster movies from the 1930s. Grounded by a great performance by Gael García Bernal, Werewolf by Night, which lands just in time for Halloween, offers a piece of a much more expansive world and will instantly have viewers wanting more of it.

]]> Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:00:14 GMT https://screenrant.com/werewolf-by-night-2022-tv-reviews/ The Star Wars universe has expanded greatly on Disney+ and The Mandalorian proved that the galaxy far, far away could go to exciting places when exploring unfamiliar parts of the franchise. Andor, Disney+'s latest Star Wars offering, created by Tony Gilroy, finds itself in a unique position. Shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett cashed in on nostalgia for characters that audiences have known for decades, but others like Skeleton Crew and The Acolyte (both of which are set to premiere sometime in late 2023 or early 2024) will branch out from this pattern. The Rogue One prequel show (four episodes of which were provided for review) doesn't have the depth of nostalgia attached to it that Obi-Wan and Boba Fett do, but it is a spinoff of one of the most beloved Star Wars films of the Disney era, and it's quite possibly the best Disney+ series from the franchise yet. Andor is visually stunning, politically intriguing, and anchored by Diego Luna's steely performance as Cassian and a slew of fascinating characters.

]]> Tue, 20 Sep 2022 16:00:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/andor-2022-tv-reviews/ “I killed him, and I loved it.”

]]> Thu, 08 Sep 2022 23:31:12 GMT https://screenrant.com/handmaids-tale-season-5-2022-tv-reviews/ FX has been nailing the half-hour TV format, and The Patient, FX's latest undertaking offers something different for audiences to enjoy. A series that blurs the line between genres and is a bit off-kilter. The Patient doesn’t have the typical makings of a dramatic must-watch series. It is a psychological thriller with shades of dark comedy, primarily attributed to the actors rather than the writing.

]]> Sun, 04 Sep 2022 17:53:33 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-patient-2022-tv-reviews/ Fans of the fantasy genre have had a lot of viewing options recently, with HBO’s House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones, and now with Prime Video’s highly-anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The series, which is directed by J.A. Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, A Monster Calls), is grand in scope and scale. The effects and cinematography are high quality, which speaks to the show’s big budget. Though the story is a bit slow to get started, The Rings of Power’s first two episodes (which were provided for review) show a lot of promise once the story begins taking shape. The characters — and there are so very many — are also compelling enough by the second episode’s end, and the tension in the plot builds so that the cliffhanger will leave audiences wanting more of what’s to come.

]]> Wed, 31 Aug 2022 14:00:13 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-2022-tv-reviews/ How can a new TV series carry on the legacy of Game of Thrones without continuing its story or following its characters? This is a question House of the Dragon is clearly concerned with — its first episode opens with a title card clarifying how long before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen it takes place. Thankfully, its answer is not to dwell on these connections for too long, but stake its own claim as leaner than its predecessor. Where Game of Thrones was a tale of sprawling, even apocalyptic, conflict, House of the Dragon is the story of a familial struggle for succession, with fewer moving pieces that are more intensely intertwined. The show is aware that it must lay the foundation of these relationships that become wounds so deep they create bloodshed. Over the course of season 1's first six episodes (which were provided for review), showrunners Ryan J. Condal and Miguel Sapochnik make a compelling case that their return to George R. R. Martin's Westeros should once again be appointment viewing.

]]> Fri, 19 Aug 2022 07:05:11 GMT https://screenrant.com/house-of-the-dragon-2022-tv-reviews/ The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s expansion to television has been hit or miss. Ms. Marvel, one of the best shows the MCU’s Disney+ slate had to offer, balanced heart, humor, action, and depth without foregoing the heroics. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the latest MCU entry, has the occasional sense of humor, but it’s lacking almost everything else. She-Hulk’s goals are different, to be sure, as is its format. There is no doubt the show can be very enjoyable, and there are aspects of the series audiences will certainly find entertaining, including the notable guest stars. But She-Hulk herself is an underdeveloped character, which leaves the first four episodes (which were provided for review) feeling somewhat void and aimless despite the humor.

]]> Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:00:11 GMT https://screenrant.com/she-hulk-attorney-at-law-2022-tv-reviews/ Devi Vishwakumar, the beloved messy teen from Never Have I Ever, is back and better than ever. In seasons 1 and 2, the protagonist underwent numerous changes in how she engaged with her family, culture, friends, romantic relationships and grief. Season 3 picks up on that growth and explores the lingering issues that Devi may never overcome. However, the lesson isn’t about overcoming these issues, but learning how to embrace and live with them. Most importantly, Devi must know what it means to be finally happy.

]]> Thu, 11 Aug 2022 14:18:00 GMT https://screenrant.com/never-have-i-ever-season-3-tv-reviews/ In 1943, when young men were being shipped overseas to fight in World War II, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was formed. Fearing that America’s Pastime would be forgotten, Phillip K. Wrigley decided that women could pick up the slack that the dearth of professional male baseball players left behind. Of course, this didn’t come without some pushback – even though women were expected to take up the reins, they were still met with sexism. A League of Their Own, Prime Video’s new series based on the 1992 Penny Marshall film of the same name, begins with the formation of the Rockford Peaches. It continues the tradition started by the original movie, but expands on it eloquently, updating its source material for 2022 in a way that feels rare among the plethora of reboots, remakes, and revivals. A near-perfect update on the original movie, A League of Their Own is a joy to watch thanks to its stellar cast and modern perspective on the time period.

]]> Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:00:02 GMT https://screenrant.com/a-league-of-their-own-2022-tv-reviews/ Conversations around adaptations as big as Netflix's The Sandman series tend to be dominated by the idea of "faithfulness," which is usually one of the least interesting ways to talk about them. It condemns the new work to living in the shadow of the old one, which has the unbeatable advantage of being 100% faithful to itself, instead of allowing both to benefit from being so deeply in conversation with one another. But, in The Sandman's case, faithfulness offers a useful lens through which to view the successes and failures of this enterprise. While some structural and character changes were deemed necessary, there are lengthy stretches that seem to recreate scenes from Neil Gaiman's comics word-for-word, or bring certain panels to life with sometimes startling exactitude. Many of these moments feel as alive as they do on the page — news that is likely to delight many an anxious Sandman fan. Those that don't, however, might be better understood in relation to the source material than when considered solely on their own terms.

]]> Fri, 05 Aug 2022 07:01:25 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-sandman-2022-tv-reviews/ A little more than a month after the first seven episodes dropped on Netflix, Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 has released and concluded the Duffer Brothers' mega-sized season. Not one of season 4's nine episodes clocked in under an hour, with the final two episodes being some of the longest of the bunch, at 87 and 142 minutes, respectively. The Duffers have pushed the limit of what can be considered an episode of a TV show, with many entries in season 4 having runtimes rivaling theatrical movies. But that boundary pushing is not without its disadvantages, which become exacerbated in the final episodes, though they're saved by some outstanding performances. The episodes of Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 are equally as overstuffed as volume 1. It creates a few problems, while offering a mostly satisfying ending.

]]> Sat, 02 Jul 2022 22:00:31 GMT https://screenrant.com/stranger-things-season-4-volume-2-2022-tv-reviews/ WARNING: Mild spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi Episode 6

]]> Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:22:43 GMT https://screenrant.com/obi-wan-kenobi-episode-6-2022-tv-reviews/ As one of the biggest breakout shows of 2021, Hulu's Only Murders in the Building has some big shoes to fill going into season 2. From its hilarious approach to murder mysteries to its unique lead trio, the whodunnit was a standout for several reasons in its freshman run. Those reasons are still firmly in place for Only Murders in the Building season 2, though the new episodes (8 out of 10 of which were provided for review) are not without their growing pains. Still, those who enjoyed watching three unexpected friends investigating a murder around their spacious Upper West Side apartment building will likely still have a grand time watching what they get up to in season 2. Only Murders in the Building returns with much of what made season 1 so fun, yet also runs the risk of taking too much on for season 2.

]]> Mon, 20 Jun 2022 16:00:22 GMT https://screenrant.com/only-murders-in-the-building-season-2-2022-tv-reviews/ WARNING: Mild spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 5

]]> Wed, 15 Jun 2022 14:32:21 GMT https://screenrant.com/obi-wan-kenobi-episode-5-2022-tv-reviews/ One of the things that has defined The Umbrella Academy for the majority of its run is chaos. The Hargreeves, constantly forced to prevent the apocalypse in different timelines, are a dysfunctional bunch that bring a wild energy and sense of drama to everything they touch. The Umbrella Academy season 2 brought new layers to the siblings’ dynamic, allowing them to grow separately before reuniting. Season 3 sees them contend with everything that happened in the 1960s, while also working to stop a new threat and their replacement by the Sparrow Academy in the eyes of their father Reginald Hargreeves. Season 3 doesn’t fully come together, once again providing more questions than answers, but it remains an enjoyable — if muddled — adventure, one that tests their connection and strength throughout.

]]> Wed, 15 Jun 2022 07:01:34 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-umbrella-academy-season-3-2022-tv-reviews/ Peaky Blinders season 6 may not entirely satisfy the violent gangster warfare of past installments. It does, however, offer compelling closure of the personal demons that torment the Shelby family while setting up their climactic feud with the fascists for the upcoming film. Even before the season began, the Shelbys were rocked with an unprecedented loss: Polly Gray actress Helen McCrory passed away of breast cancer at age 52 in April 2021, just three months after Peaky Blinders season 6’s production resumed following several delays from the COVID-19 pandemic. As one of the greatest fictional gangsters to ever grace television, Peaky Blinders season 6 suffers from the absence of Polly. But the poignant handling of her fate enhances the Shelbys' riveting personal journeys while increasing the stakes of their internal hostilities.

]]> Thu, 09 Jun 2022 20:20:49 GMT https://screenrant.com/peaky-blinders-season-6-2022-tv-reviews/ WARNING: Light spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 4

]]> Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:24:03 GMT https://screenrant.com/obi-wan-kenobi-episode-4-2022-tv-reviews/ The Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown exponentially over the years and the post-Avengers: Endgame era is beginning to settle in. While the films primarily continue to focus on established characters, the MCU is beginning to turn its attention to telling superhero origin stories on Disney+. Ms. Marvel is one such story and it’s an engaging and fantastic addition to Marvel’s TV slate. It’s full of life, with series star Iman Vellani embodying the titular role with such vibrant energy that one can’t help being pulled into her orbit. While the series makes some noticeable changes from the comics, Ms. Marvel excels at world-building, fleshing out Kamala Khan and her relationships while infusing a bit of mystery and intrigue into the story.

]]> Tue, 07 Jun 2022 13:00:35 GMT https://screenrant.com/ms-marvel-2022-tv-reviews/ The Boys season 3 does what the show does best — including gross-out gore, foul-mouthed jokes, and heavy-handed social commentary — but this latest batch of episodes seems to prefer shock over substance. Returning with eight brand new episodes (all of which were released to critics), The Boys delivers an uneven season that pales in comparison to the tightly wound narrative of season 2. It still has much to offer in the way of commentary on the superhero genre and it’s that commentary that remains worthwhile, especially considering the near dominance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the superhero genre as a whole. Ultimately, though, The Boys season 3 falters when it comes to narrative propulsion and nuanced social commentary, but still delivers a fun set of episodes that take the show to interesting new places.

]]> Thu, 02 Jun 2022 16:00:05 GMT https://screenrant.com/the-boys-season-3-2022-tv-show-reviews/ WARNING: Light spoilers for Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 3

]]> Thu, 02 Jun 2022 14:34:41 GMT https://screenrant.com/obi-wan-kenobi-episode-3-2022-tv-show-reviews/ Note: This review contains a mild spoiler.

]]> Fri, 27 May 2022 22:37:05 GMT https://screenrant.com/obi-wan-kenobi-2022-tv-show-reviews/ Nearly six years after the first season dropped on Netflix, Stranger Things season 4 releases the first seven episodes in a batch called volume 1, with volume 2 — consisting of the final two episodes — set to hit the streamer in July. Although Stranger Things season 4's volume 1 is the shortest episode release of the series thus far, it's the longest in terms of runtime. The shortest episode of the batch clocks in at 62 minutes, while the longest is movie-length at 98 minutes. Creators the Duffer Brothers use these super-sized runtimes to expand the world of Stranger Things, but in some ways season 4 feels like a retread of past seasons. Stranger Things season 4 is a bigger, scarier and more twisty iteration of Netflix's sci-fi hit, but that doesn't necessarily make it better.

]]> Mon, 23 May 2022 16:35:39 GMT https://screenrant.com/stranger-things-season-4-volume-1-2022-tv-reviews/ Writer-director W. Kamau Bell has his work laid out for him with We Need To Talk About Cosby. The four-part Showtime documentary series examines the two sides of Bill Cosby: the groundbreaking icon who shattered multiple glass ceilings, redefining what it meant to be a Black man in Hollywood, and the alleged serial rapist who exploited his fatherly pop culture image to gaslight his many, many victims. It's an uncomfortable subject, especially given that the disgraced actor's sexual assault conviction was just overturned in October 2021. Still, Bell recognizes that this is something the public needs to grapple with, and he offers audiences We Need To Talk About Cosby, which examines Bill Cosby's alleged crimes as well as the legacy that gave him power.

]]> Sun, 30 Jan 2022 17:30:29 GMT https://screenrant.com/we-need-to-talk-about-cosby-2022-tv-reviews/