Previous Next The Bitesize crew has put their brains together to compile Bitesize Breakdown's consensus Top Five Streaming Service Series. Each writer ranks his or her top 15 shows in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. THE MANDALORIAN Even casual Star Wars fans have to admit that the mixture of cool and cute from the duo that is Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu is something to behold. Add in an undeniably iconic Ludwig Göransson score and an all-star rotation of directors, and you get one of the most entertaining franchise series of the past decade. As they say, “This is the way.” - Amarú 4. STRANGER THINGS When people think of Netflix original series, Stranger Things is probably what comes to mind first. It’s filled with an terrific 80s nostalgia, a total mood that really comes through with the combination of The Goonies and Stephen King novels. All the necessary 80s sci-fi ingredients are here: great friendships, spooky woods, walkie-talkies, crackling phone lines, spirits communicating through electricity, and, of course, The Upside Down. It’s Netflix’s best show to date! - Paige 3. THE BOYS In what could have been nothing more than a raunchy superhero show, The Boys is somehow one of the most complex and smartest shows currently on streaming. It uses our current superhero-obsessed culture to tell an ultra-violent yet grounded satire featuring very complex characters and serious emotional depth. - Adriano 2. WANDAVISION WandaVision was a solid start to the MCU's evergrowing slate of shows. Its weekly format allowed for great theory-crafting amongst fans, whilst the sitcom-style episodes allowed TV fanatics to relive their favourite shows. However, it's the beautiful character work for Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) that really allows this show to shine, aptly displaying the effects that grief, loss, and trauma have had on her. - Joseph 1. TED LASSO If you didn't think that Ted Lasso was going to be #1, well then, you just didn't Believe. One of the most feel good series to come out in the past decade, it features an excellent cast, terrific writing, and humour for all ages. This series deserves its place atop every like-minded list. - Nick HONORABLE MENTIONS BOJACK HORSEMAN PEACEMAKER THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT MINDHUNTER WHEN THEY SEE US Photo Credits: Photo 1, 4 - Disney+; Photo 2 - Netflix; Photo 3 - Prime Video; Photo 5 - Apple TV+

I LOVE LA: SEASON ONE Starring: Rachel Sennott, Odessa A’zion, True Whitaker, Jordan Firstman, and Josh Hutcherson Creator: Rachel Sennott PAIGE I Love LA is this generation's Girls and Sex and the City with a sprinkle of Entourage . Creator Rachel Sennott confidently crafted an absurd, witty series anchored by an ensemble that beams with energy. It’s a fun hangout show that mirrors internet and influencer culture all too well. Is it a bit shallow? Sure, but when you dig into the weeds of the show, it works because that’s kind of how L.A. is depicted in this modern era. It’s a show for the haters and the dreamers alike who enjoy utter chaos. KATIE I Love LA is like the cynical 2020s answer to Girls and Sex and the City before that. I love Rachel Sennott; she’s a rare and unique blend of a genuinely funny, smart, internet-savvy comedian with a talented performer. Like the protagonists of those shows, Maia (Sennott) is both endearing and absolutely insufferable. Whilst it’s far from relatable since it focuses on a very specific L.A. lifestyle that’s detached from the real world, I empathised with Maia’s very first-world struggles whilst also hating her decisions. Overall, the script is witty and darkly funny, and the ensemble cast is hilarious.

BREEDERS: THE FINAL SEASON Starring: Martin Freeman, Daisy Haggard, Oscar Kennedy, Zoë Athena, Alun Armstrong, and Joanna Bacon Creators: Martin Freeman, Chris Addison, and Simon Blackwell QUENTIN In its fourth and final season (sadly, another great show ending this year), Breeders continues to be the best exploration of a multi-generational family on television, succeeding at being everything Modern Family wished it was. This year, we get another time jump, which means Paul (Martin Freeman) and Ally’s (Daisy Haggard) kids, who were grade-schoolers in Season One, are now on the verge of adulthood. This was the perfect approach for the final season, as it brings many of the series’ themes full circle, really driving home the point that “breeders” are how the whole darned human comedy keeps perpetuating itself. I’ll miss The Worsleys.

MAYFAIR WITCHES: SEASON ONE Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Tongayi Chirisa, Jack Huston, and Harry Hamlin Creators: Michelle Ashford and Esta Spalding QUENTIN After a successful start to Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe with Interview with the Vampire , I had relatively optimistic hopes for AMC’s interconnected gothic horror franchise. Sadly, despite an always alluring Alexandra Daddario, Mayfair Witches just isn’t very…well…bewitching (I’m so sorry). It moves along at a snail’s pace, never fully developing the villain, the lore, the mythology, or characters outside of Rowan (Daddario). I suppose this could be by design, in effect having the viewer make discoveries alongside Rowan as she learns about her heritage, but it just fails to cast a spell (again, sorry). Even the washed-out color palette robs it of any magic.

TALES FROM THE WOODS: SEASON ONE Starring: Zolee Griggs, Miles Robbins, Dylan Gelula, Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, Sonedala Sihavong, Phonesavanh "Tata" Phimpha, Gabriel Soutphilabaideng, and Sivilay Ouanephongchareune Creator: John Hegeman QUENTIN If the three episodes provided for review are any indication, Tales from the Woods is an interesting idea undone by lackluster execution. Each episode is based on a classic fairy tale (“Sleeping Beauty,” “Cinderella”), and while I appreciate that the individual filmmakers (including frequent Marvel Television collaborators Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead with “Jacques the Giant Slayer”) take big horror swings to expand the oft-told stories, the barely 20-minute runtimes simply don’t give them enough time to fully develop their outside-the-box takes. It’s possible future episodes will get better, but this anthology is off to a rough start. KATIE Based on classic fairytales “Sleeping Beauty,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and “Cinderella,” Tales from the Woods ’ first three episodes has some solid foundations to build on. This is why I was so disappointed by two of the takes on these stories, which are primed for interesting and unsettling interpretations. “The Sleeping Beauty" is okay, but feels like a TV movie and lacks the runtime to develop the plot. I enjoyed “Jacques the Giant Slayer” because it's weird, compelling, and full of grotesque visuals. Unfortunately, “Cinderella” is unbearable, a girl-boss take on the fairytale that made me cringe rather than cower.

THE PERIPHERAL: SEASON ONE Starring: Chloë Grace Moretz, Jack Reynor, Gary Carr, Eli Goree, Louis Herthum, JJ Feild, T’Nia Miller, Charlotte Riley, Katie Leung, and Melinda Page Hamilton Creator: Scott B. Smith QUENTIN Despite a captivating pilot, The Peripheral fails to capitalize on its instantly intriguing setup, instead falling down poorly explained rabbit holes concerning alternate realities, conspiracies, heady sci-fi ideals, and terrible southern accents. With that in mind, it shouldn’t be surprising that it comes from the people behind Westworld (namely, executive producers Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan). Much like Westworld , there probably is a good show in here somewhere, but the writers are too busy trying to be clever and cerebral to let it breathe. I suppose the book on which it’s based could be to blame, but either way, it’s not worth the effort.

THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES: SEASON TWO Starring: Danny McBride, John Goodman, Adam Devine, Edi Patterson, Tony Cavalero, Cassidy Freeman, Skyler Gisondo, Walton Goggins, Gregory Alan Williams, Tim Baltz, Jennifer Nettles, Eric André, and Eric Roberts Creator: Danny McBride QUENTIN Mixing the dysfunctional family dynamics of Succession with the vulgar comedy of Eastbound & Down , The Righteous Gemstones is a hilarious takedown of those who preach the gospel while being absolutely terrible people. This season’s plot doesn’t always come together as perfectly as the first season’s, but this is a series built more on cast chemistry and raunchy banter than the actual story. And while it’s very much a Danny McBride vehicle, the entire ensemble complement each other flawlessly to create characters that are absurdly over the top yet still relatable. It remains one of the funniest shows on television.

THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT Starring: Temuera Morrison, Ming-Na Wen, and Pedro Pascal Creator: Jon Favreau NICK The Book of Boba Fett may be seven episodes long, but it’s really made up of three different chapters. Those chapters (the flashbacks of how we got here, Fett's (Temuera Morrison) modern day crime lord, and the continuation of the Mandalorian/Grogu story) work well individually, but as a whole, they make for an unbalanced series. Although I found episodes five and six to be the best of the season, they’re a complete departure from the other entries. An argument can be made to watch episodes one to four and skip directly to seven if you want optimal viewing of Boba Fett's story. AMARÚ If you wish there was more Boba in The Book of Boba Fett , I don’t blame you. But when I realized that executive producers Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are now in the Star-Wars -is-a-wholly-connected-universe business, I was fully sold. We get long-awaited answers about post-Episode V Boba (played soulfully by Temuera Morrison), at least two episodes of the best Star Wars content I’ve consumed this past decade, and a finale that left me salivating over whatever the next season of Disney+’s Favreau World is. Or is it the Filoniverse?? Either way…I’m here for it. JAMES Temuera Morrison comes to mind first when I think of Star Wars because, of all the actors in this universe, he was the most active in media beyond the films. It's incredibly thrilling to see one of my favourite actors front and center in the franchise that brought him to my attention. While I do wish Morrison had a chance to show a bit more of his range, I feel this season is a strong jumping off point for an exciting, character-driven series. Part samurai epic, part western, and part crime drama, this show blends genres beautifully. QUENTIN The Book of Boba Fett is three shows in one: 1. a thematically rich (if familiar) flashback story about Fett’s (Temuera Morrison) time following his escape from the Sarlacc pit; 2. A half-baked, fan-service-filled story about Fett becoming an underworld boss; and 3. The Mandalorian , Season 2.5. These three shows do not mesh well enough narratively to justify the series’ existence, and Morrison’s flat performance certainly doesn’t help. That said, the action is on par for the franchise and the show is mostly entertaining, but it does little to expand and push the Star Wars universe forward in interesting ways.

Previous Next As we approach 2025 and the end of the 21st century’s first quarter, we wanted to look back to see which actors, actresses, directors, and movies have stood the test of time. With that in mind, for the rest of the year, the Bitesize Top Five will be giving a consensus view on what we think are the Bests of everything since 2000. We are only looking at work released since January 1, 2000, so don’t get mad because your favourites of the 90s didn’t make it. As always, each writer ranks his or her top 15 in the category. Those lists are then weighted on a reverse point system. After all the points are tallied up, the entries with the most total points make up the Bitesize Top Five. 5. MONSTERS, INC. In my opinion, Monsters, Inc. is still one of the best animated films to date. It's a delightful film that is full of heart, humor, and imagination. The animation in the film is outstanding and inventive, and the characters are all completely unique, possessing remarkable personalities and development. With its well-developed main characters, Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan, aka "Sulley" (John Goodman), its creative and fascinating world-building, and endearing plot, Monsters, Inc. raises the bar when it comes to creativity. It also leaves viewers with a powerful message: do not be scared to face your fears. - Paige 4. SHREK It really is surprising that Shrek made it out of the development stage. You have an animated film centered around an ugly ogre who burps and farts his way through life alongside a codependent donkey, and they're voiced by comedians known for Austin Powers and Raw respectively. That said, they caught lightning in a bottle because this movie works on all fronts. There are jokes for all ages, nostalgia from the inclusion of fairytale characters, and surprisingly great world building. Although the sequels aren't quite as flawless, people are still clamoring for more. Shrek (Mike Myers) and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) have become two of the most iconic animated characters ever, and they did it without the banner of Disney or Pixar. Pretty impressive. - Nick 3. TOY STORY 3 If you wanna talk about a film that set the standard for what an animated movie can be, look no further than Toy Story 3 . The third animated film in history to receive a Best Picture nomination, Toy Story 3 is the best of the historic franchise, and a movie that only seems to be more respected as time goes on. As fun as the adventure is, Toy Story 3 is exceptional because of its mature approach to moving on and allowing your loved ones to go on without you, and it does it in ways that never fail to get tears out of my eyes. I can keep going, but at this rate, there's not much new I can say about this movie. It's just perfect. - Adriano 2. THE INCREDIBLES Although we may be getting the true live-action version in the next couple of years, the perfect Fantastic Four movie has already been released. The Incredibles is not only one of the best animated movies of the century, but also one of the best superhero movies ever made. From its docu-style opening to its intelligently self-aware script to the absolutely top-notch voice acting (did you know that director Brad Bird voiced your favorite superhero costume designer Edna Mode?!?), every hilarious, heartfelt, and action-packed moment of this fantastic film gives each member of the Parr family…and every side character, to be honest…a chance to shine both together and individually. Vibrant animation, great characters, dynamic pacing, and superb action all come together to make me never get tired of asking “WHERE’S. MY. SUPER SUIT!?!” - Amarú 1. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Full disclosure, I’ve kinda grown out of liking animated movies. It’s not that there aren’t good ones out there, but more the fact that there are just a lot of lazy ones, which makes it hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. With that said, when one breaks through for me, it really breaks through, and no such animated movie has broken through in the way that the Spider-Verse movies have. They are near perfect on every level, delivering poignancy, heart, action, metaness, relatability, humor, terrific vocal performances, countless Easter Eggs, banging soundtracks, and groundbreaking animation for everyone from the youngest and most optimistic superhero fan to old surly cynics like myself. Not only has this franchise delivered two of the best animated movies this century, both Into the Spider-Verse and Across the Spider-Verse are two of the best overall movies of the last 25 years, full stop. - Quentin HONORABLE MENTIONS INSIDE OUT FINDING NEMO RATATOUILLE THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO

THIS IS US: THE FINAL SEASON Starring: Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, Susan Kelechi Watson, Chrissy Metz, Chris Sullivan, Justin Hartley, Jon Huertas, Milo Ventimiglia, Eris Baker, Faithe Herman, Caitlin Thompson, Lyric Ross, Asante Blackk, Griffin Dunne, Chris Geere, Jennifer Morrison, Hannah Zeile, Niles Fitch, Logan Shroyer, Parker Bates, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, and Lonnie Chavis Creator: Dan Fogelman NICK The best series are the ones with a clear endpoint, as many multi-season shows go well past their expiry date. This Is Us has embraced that mindset since the beginning with its timeline-jumping teases to its finale, which has allowed the viewer to attempt piecing things together. It’s been a wonderful puzzle to try to solve and watch come together, and its final season solidifies it as one of the best family dramas television has seen. This final outing should garner Mandy Moore her first Emmy nomination, and although This Is Us goes out on a high, I’m going to miss spending time with these characters.

Previous December 31, 2024 Next A BITESIZE CHAT WITH TODD MCFARLANE Todd McFarlane created Venom, so who better to talk to about the character's evolution to the big screen? He also gives an update on his much awaited Spawn project. BB: First off, I just want to say I really love the work that you've done. Venom is one of my favorite villains…well, anti-heroes now…and Spawn is pretty awesome as well. You have a really cool art style. TM: Well, I appreciate it. I appreciate you being around for all those years. It’s been a long time. BB: What’s it been like just seeing Venom kind of evolve from a villain to an anti-hero, with it seeming like he's going to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? TM: I think any character worth, sort of their salt, has to evolve over time because, otherwise, you’re just getting into repetition. I don’t think that’s a recipe that works other than Sunday comic book strips.The Venom that David [Michelinie] and I created in, you know, 30 years ago or more, isn’t quite the same Venom today. That, actually to me, is a good sign that people have been adding and subtracting to the mythology of him. Good, bad, or indifferent, everybody can have their point of view of all those pieces. But if you stagnate in anything, that’s not going to work. The magic that Marvel and Sony have accomplished is having a character last 30+ years and make him relevant 30 years later, and even more so, make him relevant to people across an entire planet. That, like what I just said, is very simple…the ABC that I just gave you. But now you start trying to count the number of people that have accomplished that in the creation of humanity, it’s not an easy task. Venom is working on a global level, and however they got there, to me, it was the right recipe because they got there. I don’t look at Venom, and when I'm looking at him go “Hey, how much McFarlane did they keep in there?” That’s not relevant to me. If you’re asking me personally “did you like this, did you like that?”, I’ll give you my personal opinion, but in terms of just looking at Venom, seeing he’s now a global character…shoot, that’s the Holy Grail from a creator’s point of view, to get to that point with any character. BB: Makes total sense. He’s now just as recognizable as Spider-Man. TM: Yeah! BB: Now, I’ve seen several articles and a lot of movement on the internet where people are considering these Venom movies almost as romantic comedies. How does that sit with you? TM: I think that, what’s interesting about there being so many superhero movies, is that…it’s sort of like saying I play video games, right? Once you say it, it’s just a category now. Within the category of video games and movies, you now have this wide range of stories you can tell, literally from G movies to … heavy R-rated movies. So there’s no reason why the stories for superheroes can’t be the same, and I think we’ve seen that. Every superhero movie moving forward should not have to necessarily fall into PG-13. Some can be PG, some can be R, and some can be somewhere in between all that. And I think we’re going to see those. So I think Venom is a good example of that. He’s far from being a boy scout, right? TM: No one’s going to argue with that. He’s not Superman. Superman always does the right thing, all the time. He’s always sort of perfect, almost. Now you’ve got this super flawed character, and still we can root for him and, at times, maybe even root for him because he isn’t so perfect. So Venom’s here and he's different than Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man himself. I think it’s a good thing because it gives options to people who like superhero movies. “Oh, I like romantic, you know, humorous sort of movies. Maybe Venom, Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy are more to my liking.” If I want more serious stuff, then maybe I’ll go watch Joker, Batman , and [Logan ], right? So, there's now a range of stories that are there, and I don’t think that they all have to be the same. So, if you think that Venom should be more serious… okay, then it might not be your cup of tea. But there are other superhero movies that are way more serious, so go to those. BB: Totally fair. Now, I know you’ve been working on trying to bring Spawn to life again with another film adaptation. I was just wondering if you can give any update on the status of that. I know you wrote a script and hired someone to kind of punch it up. Are you still moving forward with that? TM: Yeah, we’re full steam ahead on that right now. Just had two calls last week on it. Everyone in the Spawn orb is all pushing on in the same direction. Something’s gonna break in the first half of next year for sure. One way or the other, something’s gonna happen. There’s just too much pressure coming from one side for us not to try and at least do our best. BB: Awesome! Will that still be your directorial debut? TM: That’s part of the conversation. We’re having some pretty big, meaningful conversations and that’s part of it, sadly. That’s still yet to be determined. BB: Thank you very much for giving me your time and I can’t wait to see what you come out with in the future. Hopefully, everything works out for the live-action Spawn adaption, and I can't wait to see what more we get to see of Venom. TM: Well, I appreciate it. I’ve still got four more decades in me, so I'm sure I’ll have a few more surprises! BB: I can’t wait to see them! Make sure to check out Venom: Let There Be Carnage on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD. Interview conducted on December 6th, 2021 by Joseph Ruiz. Photo Credits: Banner - McFarlane; Photo 1 - Sony Pictures; Photo 2 - Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

POKER FACE: SEASON ONE Starring: Natasha Lyonne Creator: Rian Johnson AMARÚ Rian Johnson must be one of the best directors to work with because he got every celebrity and their mama to bring audiences back to a Columbo -style procedural. Poker Face is nothing more than your weekly whodunit, but without the mystery. They unveil that part quickly, then recap it through the lie-detecting Charlie’s (Natasha Lyonne) eyes alongside your special guest(s) of the week. It’s a simple show with an underused overarching story, but damn, it was entertaining. I loved watching every week, eyes glued while hoping that just once Charlie would turn around and say, “just one more thing.” JACOB There’s no denying that Rian Johnson’s Poker Face is imperfect. For one, the color grading lacks a certain pop, and your patience for it really depends on how much you enjoy Natasha Lyonne, which will either carry you through the show’s narrative missteps or won’t. Personally, I can’t help but get sucked into the week-to-week mysteries as written by Johnson or shot by cinematographer Steve Yedlin, whose work is quickly becoming some of my favorite to watch as it evolves. The macro story of the season isn’t as well-woven as the micro stuff, but damn this show has undeniable charm. QUENTIN To me, Natasha Lyonne is the definition of “a little goes a long way,” and Poker Face is A LOT of Lyonne doing her schtick while solving mysteries. The “case of the week” is never all that interesting either since we see the crime happen to start each episode, so the real mystery is in how Charlie (Lyonne) discovers a truth that we already know. After a few episodes, it grows tiresome and repetitive, with the only real draw being the major guest stars. Lastly, the central hook of Charlie always knowing when someone is lying because…of reasons?… is silly, quite frankly. PAIGE Rian Johnson’s new series, Poker Face, positions Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) as the Benoit Blanc of this specific whodunit universe. It’s an episodic, case-of-the-week show that’s clever while also delivering classic detective work. By having the crimes played out in front of you first, then having Charlie piece together the puzzle to solve the mystery really sucks you in to see what next week’s crime has in store. That said, the series can’t maintain its tension, and it relies too heavily on its revolving guest stars to keep its recipe fresh instead of adding to Charlie’s overall story. ADRIANO Poker Face proves my long-held theory: director Rian Johnson is a maddening genius. Weekly, he’s able to take us on a ride with his Columbo -style, mystery-of-the-week thriller that’s funny while constantly pulling the rug out from underneath us. With a different cast of characters surrounding the infectious Natasha Lyonne every week, this easily could’ve gotten repetitive…and maybe binge-watching would have made it feel that way…but I couldn’t get enough of this show from the first episode to the shocking finale. I will be there on Day One for Season Two.