We’re sorry for the wait! The fate of Criticism Is Dead has been decided. We hope you will listen to this update. Thank you. <3 ... Where to find us: Pelin: Twitter / Letterboxd / InstagramJenny: Twitter / Instagram / Newsletter / LetterboxdIf you need to get in touch, still: criticismisdead@gmail.com Music: REEKAH Artwork and design: Sara Macias a…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. In episode 10 “With Open Eyes,” the board decides. ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and recs for what to watch can go t…

We discuss Barry and Yellowjackets, two series about human darkness. 05:17 Barry season 4, streaming on HBO Max, is reaching new, uncanny, glorious heights. 29:51 Yellowjackets season 2, streaming on Showtime, doesn’t quite live up to all its promises, instead faltering and stalling to an unfortunate degree. 45:02 Plus, mini grab bag time! A collec…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. In episode 9 “Church and State,” a funeral becomes a battleground. ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and recs for what t…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. In episode 8 “America Decides,” THIS IS WHAT AMERICA LOOKS LIKE etc. ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and recs for what…

We discuss The Diplomat and How to Blow Up a Pipeline, a series and a film about political maneuvering — whether from the backroom or from on the ground. 02:59 Netflix’s The Diplomat, a soapy and snappy political and marital thriller, is tailor-made for fans of The West Wing and Keri Russell. 22:54 How to Blow Up a Pipeline, available in theaters/V…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. In episode 7 "Tailgate Party," a long-stewing showdown finally brings the naked truth to light. ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, co…

Episode Notes This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season.In episode 6 “Living Plus,” the kids are in LA for Investor Day. ...Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and recs …

Show Notes This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. This week we're joined by Variety's TV critic, Alison Herman. In episode five, "Kill List", the Waystar-Royco squadron meet their GoJo counterparts in Norway to try and finish the deal, but negotiations get inevitably trickier than they a…

We discuss Beef and Showing Up, a series and a film about characters who orbit around each other as frenemies — or straight-up enemies. 02:14 Beef, streaming on Netflix, is a darkly funny, often surprising, genuinely invigorating thrill of a TV show. 28:55 Showing Up, playing in theaters, is a deceptively unassuming portrait of an artist that — muc…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. In episode 4 “Honeymoon States,” the Coronation Demolition Derby kicks off, garbed in black. ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, compl…

We discuss Perry Mason and The Big Door Prize, two shows about people reluctantly grappling with their life potential. 03:22 Perry Mason, streaming on HBO Max, returns for a second season that is vibe-ier and better crafted than the first. 18:56 The Big Door Prize, streaming on Apple TV+, is the right blend of lighthearted quirk, existential questi…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. In episode 3 “Connor’s Wedding,” the unthinkable — and the inevitable — happens. ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and r…

We discuss Return to Seoul and Rye Lane, two films with a strong sense of place. 02:22 At times discomfiting, at times revelatory, the film Return to Seoul — playing in select theaters — is a distinctive spin on the journey of an adoptee. 26:19 The pleasant rom-com Rye Lane, streaming on Hulu, does a better job highlighting the charm of a city than…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our special series following along Succession’s fourth and final season. In episode 2 “Rehearsal,” business and personal issues became entangled (again). ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and r…

We discuss Top Chef and Next in Fashion, two reality competition shows that demonstrate the importance of skill. 04:06 We have a soft spot for Top Chef because we love to witness CRAFT, and season 20 — streaming on Hulu, Peacock, etc. — is no exception. 23:26 Netflix revived its promising fashion design competition reality show Next in Fashion only…

This is SUCCESSION SENDOFF, our new weekly special following along Succession’s fourth and final season! Featuring a review of what happened in episode 1, our thoughts, and three new recurring segments: Daddy’s Best Boy, The Disgusting Boy, and Death Watch. ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we re…

We have a very special one for you this week. In honor of our 100th episode — yes, that’s right, this is the big 1-0-0! — we’re doing our own highly personal version of the AFI greatest films list. Presenting: our top seven films, respectively. (Obligatory disclaimers: We haven’t watched everything, these are not really in any particular order, the…

We discuss Top Gun: Maverick and The Reluctant Traveler, a film and a series about older men discovering that they have plenty left to live for. 02:41 Don’t overthink Top Gun: Maverick — the film, streaming on Paramount+ and MGM+, is the epitome of “turn your brain off and rock on.” 21:59 The Reluctant Traveler, streaming on Apple TV+, is a sometim…

We discuss The Last of Us and Hello Tomorrow!, two vastly different visions of the past, present, and future. 03:00 The Last of Us, streaming on HBO Max, is faithful yet fresh enough to appeal to both pre-existing fans and new viewers. 27:00 Hello Tomorrow!, streaming on Apple TV+, is a gorgeous but underbaked series about a grifter salesman in a r…

We discuss Shrinking and Sharper, a series and a film that work best if you’re willing to turn your brain off and enjoy the ride. 02:39 Shrinking, streaming on Apple TV+, is far from graceful at striking the balance between profound and lighthearted, but it boasts a likable cast with chemistry and laughs. 20:54 Sharper, streaming on Apple TV+, does…

We discuss Lockwood & Co and Somebody I Used to Know, a TV series and a film about owning your agency, whether you’re a teen ghost killer or a documentary filmmaker. 02:54 Lockwood & Co, streaming on Netflix, takes a good idea (teen detective supernatural thriller) and builds out an appealing world with it. 18:50 Somebody I Used to Know, streaming …

We discuss To Leslie and Paul T. Goldman, a film and a series about people trapped by their own demons. 03:37 To Leslie, available VOD, is a familiar narrative that’s elevated by an Oscar-worthy performance. 19:38 Paul T. Goldman, streaming on Peacock, is as painstakingly and skillfully crafted as it is completely wild. 38:35 Plus, culture notes ab…

We discuss Aftersun and Poker Face, a film and a series that use perspective to conceal and reveal pieces of the puzzle. 04:44 The father-daughter drama Aftersun, available VOD, is a feat of subtle, naturalistic acting. 20:38 Poker Face, streaming on Peacock, is an utterly fun “howcatchem” procedural. 33:31 Plus, culture notes about Andrea Riseboro…

We discuss Elvis and The Makanai, a film and a series about the people behind the performer. 03:37 Elvis, streaming on HBO Max, is a gaudy, flawed, stirring love letter to the King of Rock and Roll. 17:43 The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, streaming on Netflix, is a comforting series about friendship, life choices, and following one’s dreams…

This is a grab bag episode, a.k.a. one of our occasional watchlist dumps. We’ve been getting through plenty of TV and film, not all of which can make it into our main episodes, so this is where it’s going! 02:39 His Dark Materials s3 (HBO Max) 05:47 Emily in Paris s3 (Netflix) 07:59 The English (Amazon Prime Video) 11:26 Slow Horses s2 (Apple TV+) …

We discuss Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and Triangle of Sadness, two films that beat us over the head with cynicism about money and power. 02:01 Glass Onion, streaming on Netflix, is neither outstanding nor terrible, but basically akin to a fine or even fun Scooby-Doo mystery. 20:06 Triangle of Sadness, available VOD, is blunt, vulgar, and cha…

It's our year-end special! To close out 2022, we each present our top 5 picks for film and TV, respectively, from this year. 01:45 Movies! 15:26 TV! (For honorable mentions, check out criticismisdead.substack.com.) Thank you so much for tuning in this year. See you in 2023!! ... Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — includin…

We discuss Emily the Criminal and Decision to Leave, two films about crimes of passion. 02:05 Emily the Criminal, streaming on Netflix, is an impressive feature film debut that hits all the right notes, and then some. 18:27 Decision to Leave, streaming on Mubi, is stylish, unbridled, and utterly, unexpectedly romantic. 35:34 Plus, The White Lotus S…

We discuss Wednesday and The Big Brunch, two shows that highlight how nice it is to be a part of a community. 02:14 Wednesday, streaming on Netflix, is a surprisingly great mix of supernatural hijinks, murder mystery antics, and teen boarding school escapades. 16:24 The Big Brunch is HBO Max’s answer to The Great British Bake Off: a cooking competi…

We discuss The White Lotus season 2 and The Menu, two works highlighting the relationship between those who serve and those who take from the silver platter. 02:39 The White Lotus’s second season, streaming on HBO Max, is even better than the first, poking with a sharper, slyer stick at sex, power, and gender dynamics. 23:01 The Menu, currently in …

We discuss The Banshees of Inisherin and See How They Run, two films that raise the question of the importance of art over lives lived. 03:28 The Banshees of Inisherin, playing in theaters, finds equal parts comedy, tragedy, and emotional resonance in the dissolution of a friendship. 24:49 See How They Run, streaming on HBO Max, is a tight parcel o…

We discuss Andor and Paterson, a series and a film that hone in on the details of ordinary people’s lives. 06:20 Andor, streaming on Disney+, is not just great Star Wars television — it’s great television, period. 22:46 In Paterson, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, characters and viewers alike find art and beauty in everyday circumstances. 35:53 Pl…

We discuss Derry Girls and The Mole, two shows about groups of people trying to get what they want, episode after episode. 02:28 Derry Girls, streaming on Netflix in the U.S., strikes a sweet balance between teenage self-obsession and adulthood. 21:11 The Mole — Netflix’s revival of the early-aughts reality competition show — has some flaws, but is…

We discuss Tár and Los Espookys, a film and a series about what lies beneath the surface of a performance. 01:46 Tár, playing in theaters, is an ambitious, relentless, engrossing film about art — and the great and terrible artist. 26:48 Los Espookys, available on HBO, is a gem of a surreal, absurdist, magical realist comedy series. 39:31 Plus, cult…

We discuss House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power, two IP-franchise fantasy shows striving to become part of TV history for their respective networks. 03:55 HBO’s House of the Dragon may be smaller in scale, but its soapiness and focus on two women makes for an intriguing, at times delightful, watch. 26:07 Amazon Prime Video’s The Rings of Powe…

Grab bag episode! This is our first ~expanded~ version of our occasional watchlist dumps. We’ve been watching a lot of stuff, not all of which can make it into our main episodes, so why not put it all here? 03:19 Industry s2 on HBO Max 10:48 Selling the OC on Netflix 16:30 The Resort finale on Peacock 18:45 Black Bird on Apple TV+ 22:02 What We Do …

We discuss Rap Sh!t and Yi Yi, a series and a film about life’s choices and how they shape you as a person. 02:34 Rap Sh!t, streaming on HBO Max, is a solid sophomore series from Issa Rae that portrays the tireless hustle that go into pursuing one’s dream. 20:02 Yi Yi, available on Criterion, is a meditative, bittersweet, stunning work of cinema ab…

We discuss The Sandman and The Resort, two shows that straddle the line between reality and fantasy. 02:20 The Sandman, streaming on Netflix, is dark yet whimsical, fantastical yet human. 26:07 The Resort, streaming on Peacock, is a colorful mystery romp with a heart of magical realism strangeness. 42:14 Plus, culture notes about the Lena Wilson/Am…

On this extra-long episode, we discuss The Rehearsal and Love Island, two shows that put into question how reality is depicted onscreen. 04:15 The Rehearsal, streaming on HBO Max, is a docuseries of breathtaking scale and intricacy that toys with the genre’s inextricable question of manipulation. 32:57 The U.K.’s premier reality dating competition …

We discuss Nope and Belle, two films that are better suited for the big screen. 01:47 Nope, currently playing in theaters, ensnares you in a spectacle that is so grand, so fun, it’s hard to resist. 19:56 Belle, streaming on HBO Max (unfortunately dubbed), is a visually impressive, tech-inflected take on Beauty and the Beast. 40:02 Plus, a week of c…

This week's episode of Criticism Is Dead is a mid-year special: our respective top 5 picks for TV from 2022 so far. 02:59 TV! We're joined by a special guest: Alison Herman, a writer for The Ringer, friend of the pod, and one of our favorite critics. Follow her on Twitter (@aherman2006) and check out her work for The Ringer, including a recent inte…

We discuss Irma Vep and Persuasion, two adaptations whose necessity some have called into question. 02:23 Irma Vep, streaming on HBO Max, is a strange, fascinating creature, half intertextual wink and half showbiz dramedy. 19:01 Netflix’s adaptation of Persuasion may have kept Jane Austen’s plot intact, but little of the source material’s spirit re…

We discuss The Old Man and Loot, two shows about people who have to believe that what they’re doing is righteous. 01:54 The Old Man, streaming on FX on Hulu, is an expertly directed show for all the spy thriller fans out there. 22:27 Loot, streaming on Apple TV+, tries to have its cake and eat it too in its portrayal of a clueless-but-nice billiona…

We discuss The Bear and American Girl, a TV series and a film about making the best of the family that you’ve got, for better or worse. 02:52 The Bear, streaming on Hulu, is one of those rare shows that nails the behind-the-scenes intensity and urgency of a restaurant on the verge of catastrophe. 27:11 American Girl, streaming on Netflix, is a mela…

We discuss Cha Cha Real Smooth and I Love That for You, a film and a TV show about adults still trying to figure out adulthood. 04:24 Cha Cha Real Smooth, streaming on Apple TV+, is an imperfect but endearing snapshot of what it’s like to be young, selfish, and unsure of where to go next in life. 21:59 I Love That for You, streaming on Showtime, po…

We discuss Fire Island and The Essex Serpent, two seaside romps with old-fashioned sensibilities. 01:32 Hulu’s Fire Island may not reach new heights (or depths), but it’s perfectly sweet and funny in its take on Pride and Prejudice. 22:42 The Essex Serpent, streaming on Apple TV+, toes the line between gothic eeriness and conventional romance, to h…

We discuss Barry and The Northman, a TV series and a film about the perils of vengeance. 02:47 HBO’s Barry is a darkly funny exploration of the duality of comedy and violence. 21:43 The Northman, available in theaters and VOD, is primordial, strange, and fastidiously amoral in its bloody telling of a revenge story with a twist. 43:24 Plus, raise a …

We discuss Conversations With Friends and The Staircase, two adaptations about secrets and pretense. 01:35 Hulu’s Conversations With Friends initially suffers from the difficult task of adapting its source material, but ultimately reaches satisfying heights. 20:34 The Staircase, streaming on HBO Max, builds upon a true crime and its accompanying do…

We discuss Outer Range and Slow Horses, two shows about families (one blood, one not) working through their flop eras. 02:08 Outer Range, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, puts a wonderfully dissonant, bizarre-o twist on the stoic contemporary Western. 19:28 Slow Horses, streaming on Apple TV+, is a satisfyingly competent, classically British, genui…