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SEVERANCE: SEASON TWO Starring: Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Zach Cherry, Tramell Tillman, Christopher Walken, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Sarah Bock, Alia Shawkat, Bob Balaban, and Merritt Weaver Creator: Dan Erickson KATIE I am pleased to report that the second season of Severance was worth the agonisingly long wait, and it lives up to the first season’s absurdly funny satirisation of corporate culture and strained office dynamics, surreal visuals, and stylish direction. Season Two is darker than the first, delving deeper into the ominous world of Lumon Industries and the increasingly blurred lines between the innie’s work and personal life. Whilst some questions are answered, many more arise, making for an utterly addictive watch. As the interwoven narratives become increasingly existential and complex, I eagerly await tantalizing revelations and, hopefully, some satisfying answers. PAIGE Though it lacks the humanity and bizarre humor of Season One, Severance's second season is nevertheless an engaging brain-teaser that expands the scope of its intriguing premise in numerous ways. It's a whirlwind that I consider a must-watch, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor; however, it would have been undoubtedly difficult to top the brilliance that Season One provided. This time around, the Lumon employees are more complex, the story is certainly more ominous, and the futuristic workplace visuals are once again of the highest caliber. Despite the fact that I have no idea where this show is going, I’m sticking along for the ride. QUENTIN Throughout the season, I’ve frequently flipped between “fuck this show” and “this show fucks!” For better or worse, that is the power of Severance . It’s equal parts captivating, thanks to tremendous performances, stellar direction, and an impeccable score; and frustrating, thanks to a puzzle-box mystery that never hints at a destination (or even a point). It’s weird. I want answers, but I don’t really know what the questions are since the story slowly meanders so densely. Hell, some episodes start in places that make me feel like I missed an episode. Severance is an excellently crafted series, but that doesn’t make it an excellent watch. ADRIANO I waited three years for Severance to return, and it exceeded my already high expectations. Continuing its commentary on corporate malpractice and the way they take advantage of their employees, including the ones who comply, this season doubles down on its mystery, answering many of our questions while giving us more to ponder, mixed in with devastating heartbreak and a twisted sense of humour. The entire ensemble is amazing (Tramell Tillman is this season's MVP) and the direction across the season is excellent. I just hope I don't have to wait another three years for the next season. Check out our reviews for Season One HERE .

A MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD Starring: Emma Corrin, Brit Marling, Clive Owen, Harris Dickinson, Alice Braga, Joan Chen, Raúl Esparza, Jermaine Fowler, Ryan J. Haddad, Pegah Ferydoni, Javed Khan, Louis Cancelmi, and Edoardo Ballerini Creators: Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij PAIGE To creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij’s credit, A Murder at the End of the World provides a software update to the crime thriller genre. Thanks to the sincere performances of Emma Corrin and Harris Dickinson, this stylish and atmospheric whodunnit manages to be both compelling and unsettling. Overall, I quite enjoyed this The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo- type of murder mystery despite its flaws, including lackluster pacing due to the time jumps and a final product that maybe wasn’t entirely gratifying. QUENTIN Buried somewhere in A Murder at the End of the World , a sort of Knives Out meets True Detective murder mystery, is a good show. In fact, there are two good shows. However, the two storylines (one told in present day, the other in flashbacks) are constantly fighting with each other for screen time. This results in two half-hearted mysteries that are poorly developed, a problem that is exacerbated by the fact that the series is oddly just seven episodes. Also, I’m not sure I’d call it predictable, per se, but I guessed the murderer pretty early on; do with that what you will.

THE SYMPATHIZER Starring: Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Toan Le, Fred Nguyen Khan, and Sandra Oh Creators: Don McKellar, Park Chan-wook ADRIANO I can't quite explain the joy of watching a show like The Sympathizer on a weekly basis. With Park Chan-wook at the helm, his style and unapologetic pacing make way for an entertaining show that's also gripping and stunning to experience. While its themes of colonialism and loss of identity hit home, the show never misses out on an opportunity to get into the weeds of its central character. Robert Downey Jr.'s headline-making performance (or performances, I suppose) is great, but Hoa Xuoande deserves just as much praise, if not more. There's simply nobody doing it like Park Chan-wook. AMARÚ There’s a very peculiar tone to Park Chan-wook’s The Sympathizer that is as eccentric as the many characters Robert Downey Jr. portrays. That energetic frequency enhances the dynamic nature of Chan-wook’s direction and Kim Ji-yong’s cinematography, but creates a massive tonal whiplash when compared to the show’s subject matter. This kept me constantly detached from the story no matter how engaging it appears to be, mostly because, even with a first-person narrative guiding you through it, I could never fully connect with its characters. The show is gorgeous to look at, but I couldn’t really tell you a memorable thing about it. CALEB The Sympathizer is a snappy, fine-tuned, political thriller bursting at the seams with intrigue and suspense. All the double-crossing and espionage are made even more exciting by Park Chan-wook’s unhinged directorial decisions. With all the wild transitions, wacky needle-drops, and intricately costumed Robert Downey Juniors (yes, plural), Chan-wook’s creativity seems almost endless. Underneath all of the visual insanity lies a genuinely moving story about identity that’s elevated by Hoa Xuande’s dynamic lead performance. The finale definitely becomes a little too convoluted for its own good, but The Sympathizer is still one of 2024’s best shows.

Previous Next July 25, 2025

HYSTERIA!: SEASON ONE Starring: Julie Bowen, Bruce Campbell, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis, Nikki Hahn, Anna Camp, Nolan North, Garret Dillahunt, Elijah Richardson, Milly Shapiro, Allison Scagliotti, and Jessica Treska Creator: Matthew Scott Kane QUENTIN Peacock’s Hysteria! genuinely has a great core storyline that explores the meaning of cult, juxtaposing overprotective evangelical Christian parents against high school outsiders forming a death metal cult for popularity reasons. However, in addition to that story, there are subplots surrounding a murder mystery, Satanic hallucinations, a weird rash, a love triangle, broken friendships, and more. It’s just too scattershot. There is also an underlying air of CW-level camp and YA-ness that makes the competing cult storyline feel too slight. On the plus side, the soundtrack is full of 80s hits, and it’s always a pleasure to see Bruce Campbell and Garret Dillahunt on screen.

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB Starring: Iman Benson, Igby Rigney, Ruth Codd, Annarah Cymone, William Chris Sumpter, Adia, Aya Furukawa, Sauriyan Sapkota, Matt Biedel, Samantha Sloyan, Zach Gilford, and Heather Langenkamp Creators: Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong PAIGE Mike Flanagan, “The King of Death and Loss,” has once again earned that title with The Midnight Club . That said, this show left me feeling less satisfied than I have with his previous works. I enjoyed the journey we take with these dying teens, who are dealing with the horrors that life presents them and the desires they want despite them…and, wow, the young cast gives such powerful performances…but the series is a little rough around the edges, especially when it comes to its storytelling. These storylines needed to be fleshed out more to leave a more content viewer at the end of it all. QUENTIN The first word that comes to mind about The Midnight Club is disjointed because both the tone and narrative are very inconsistent. At times, it plays like an R-rated Mike Flanagan series, but at others, it’s a cheesy YA show more befitting The CW. Meanwhile, the story vacillates between being a horror anthology and the core story of a possibly haunted hospice. These constant shifts make it difficult to lose oneself in the series. Flanagan can still orchestrate an effective scare, but this is easily his weakest Netflix offering thus far, not to mention the sappy and lazy cliffhanger ending that can fuck right off. Q ⅗

PAM & TOMMY Starring: Lily James, Sebastian Stan, Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, and Taylor Schilling Creator: Robert Siegel QUENTIN Pam & Tommy is so much more than I expected. While it obviously covers how the sex tape fiasco came to be, it also touches on the advent of internet porn and what it means to be a female sex symbol in a male dominated world. But most importantly, it paints a humanizing, sympathetic portrait of Pamela Anderson (Lily James) that, frankly, I’m ashamed to say I never really considered when this all went down 25 years ago. It was an eye-opening viewing experience made all the more impactful by James’ (and, to a slightly lesser extent, Sebastian Stan’s) award worthy performances. ADRIANO Pam & Tommy is both entertaining and tragic. While I wasn’t in love with the premiere, the second episode quickly picks up as it focuses primarily on the title couple. Sebastian Stan crushes it and Lily James’ transformation is unreal. She not only nails Pamela Anderson’s mannerisms and voice, but also the emotional burden that being a sex symbol would do to a woman. The show is so much more than just a show about a sex tape. It’s more of a deep look at what a public persona does to a person, in a way that’s also very funny. JOSEPH Pam & Tommy is the absurd retelling of the insane but true story of the theft and distribution of the titular couples' sex tape. Every episode is a riot, but still plays out like a crime drama, adding depth and tension to the story. Sebastian Stan gives a wonderfully manic performance, while Seth Rogen’s more restrained offering shows off his ability to play more nuanced characters. The true star is Lily James though, who plays Pamela Anderson with incredible earnestness and humility. Needless to say, these performances coupled with fantastic direction and continuous humor make Pam & Tommy a must watch. NICK When the first promotional photos were released for this series, I couldn’t help but feel that Lily James was going to kill the role of Pamela Anderson, and that’s exactly what she does. She manages to portray Anderson in a manner that never feels like parody, while Sebastian Stan matches her by leaning into the chaos that is Tommy Lee. The plot can be a little disjointed at times (it has everything from an elaborate heist to a talking penis) and it feels a little long in the tooth by the end, but the performances carry this series.

Previous Next August 20, 2025 WRITTEN BY: QUENTIN While it’s true we are about to enter film festival season, when most eventual award winners start trickling out, something else is also brewing. Football is back, baby! Despite me being a massive fan of both movies and football, I’m not entirely sure where the overlap is between the two fandoms. However, I’d venture to say that most football fans probably enjoy movies about football. I’d also bet that many of those individuals play fantasy football. That’s where I come in… With the NFL season starting in a few weeks, most fantasy players are doing fantasy draft prep, myself included. But I’m also preparing for multiple film festivals. I recently applied to both Zurich and Sundance Film Festivals (among others), which means I need to look ahead to what their slates might be so I know what movies to prioritize. Meanwhile, I’ve long been studying which NFL players might be a breakout, bust, or sleeper this season. In splitting my research time between movies and fantasy football, the two lines of thinking merged, prompting the following question: Who would be on my Fictional Fantasy Football Team? The rules are simple… 1. Only fictional football players, television or film. That means no players based on real people, so no one from the likes of Remember the Titans or Invincible . 2. To maintain some variety, no two players from the same movie. Otherwise, I might end up drafting everyone from Any Given Sunday . 3. I’m limiting myself to movies and series that I’ve seen, which means there might be some glaring omissions, in your opinion. For example, I never watched NBC’s Friday Night Lights , so no Tim Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) or Brian “Smash” Williams (Gaius Charles). 4. Obviously, comparing high school players to NFL players is a fool’s errand, so I’m working with the general caveat that “all things are created equal,” meaning all fictional players are playing in the same league. Frankly, there just aren’t enough football movies to make this work otherwise. A stud high school player in Varsity Blues is the same as a stud professional in The Replacements . Also, I’m assuming all players are in their prime. 5. I’m going with the standard lineup: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, K, DST. Also, this is a PPR league (point per reception). 6. Lastly, I’m obviously not drafting against anyone else, so this team, in my eyes, is the best team available based on the rules above. Now, to quote Hank Williams, Jr., “are you ready for some FOOTBALLLLLLLLL!?!?!” QUARTERBACK: PAUL “WRECKING” CREWE, THE LONGEST YARD Specifically, I’m talking about the 1974 version of the character played by Burt Reynolds, not the 2005 version played by Adam Sandler. Nothing against Sandler, but Reynolds was a scholarship football player at Florida State, so his Crewe clearly has a more athletic build and probably better skillset than Sandler’s Crewe. Plus, real talk, quarterbacks in the 70s were just tougher than they are today. That notwithstanding, in his one on-screen game, he (eventually) shows composure, grit, determination, and leadership as he wills his team back from a 35-13 deficit against a dirty team not playing by the rules. He demonstrates incredible accuracy, the ability to make plays with his legs, and a solid game IQ. He’s also a former NFL MVP, so the talent is there to be an elite fantasy QB. RUNNING BACK: JULIAN “J-MAN” WASHINGTON, ANY GIVEN SUNDAY Look, I get that Julian Washington (LL Cool J) is a diva and one of the most selfish football players in on-screen history. However, this is a fantasy squad. I just need him to rack up yards and touchdowns, not be a positive locker room presence. For one, he’s stout at 6’2”, 230lbs. For comparison, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, who had a league-leading 2,283 total yards and 14 total touchdowns in 2024, is 6’, 234lbs. On top of that, Washington is a proven league-leading RB, having rushed for 1,500 yards the year before joining the Miami Sharks. He also has a reputation for constantly trying to get paid. Sure, that means his own head coach called him a “mercenary,” but it also means he’s doing everything in his power to hit all his incentive clauses and set up his next contract in free agency. In fantasy, that sort of selfishness wins championships. RUNNING BACK: RAY JENNINGS, DRAFT DAY We don’t have a ton of game film on Ray Jennings (Arian Foster), but there are a few anecdotes that make him a worthy RB2. We know that in his final season at Florida State, he had more than 2,000 total yards and finished as a Heisman finalist, which was enough to get him drafted #7 overall. We also know that his dad, Earl Jennings (Terry Crews) was an NFL legend, so there are good genes at play. Lastly, we know the actor portraying Jennings, former NFL RB Foster, was a dual-threat fantasy stud before injuries derailed his career. With the idea that actors put themselves into their characters, it’s not a giant leap to think Jennings could produce much like Foster did in his heyday, notching three All-Pro teams and four Pro-Bowls while leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice. WIDE RECEIVER: ROD TIDWELL, JERRY MAGUIRE Podcaster Bill Simmons once estimated that Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) had about 1,550 yards on 110 catches over the course of the season in Jerry Maguire . That is elite production, especially in 1996. For comparison, in real life, the most receptions in 1996 belonged to Jerry Rice (108) and the most receiving yards belonged to Isaac Bruce (1,338). So, yeah, he would have been the league’s best wideout. Although he is a bit undersized, he makes up for it with his intensity, competitiveness, and “kwan,” showing elite speed, great hands, and complete reliability as both a deep threat and a player who isn’t afraid to go across the middle. I could go on, but honestly, the estimated numbers speak for themselves. Tidwell is a first-round talent. WIDE RECEIVER: DEACON MOSS, THE LONGEST YARD You might think this is a cheat, but I said, “no two players from the same movie.” The Longest Yard (1974) and The Longest Yard (2005) are scientifically proven to be two separate movies. In fact, Deacon Moss (Michael Irvin) isn’t even a character in the original. Therefore, we’re good. In any case, Moss is a big-bodied, physical wideout that dominates defensive backs to make tough catches in traffic, and his incredible hands make him an indispensable offensive weapon. There is much we could speculate about how Moss would translate prison-yard skills to the NFL, but much like Ray Jennings, we have a perfect real-life parallel. Irvin, known as “The Playmaker,” was a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro-Bowler who averaged almost 1,300 yards, 83 receptions, and seven touchdowns per season during his prime. The dude is an NFL Hall of Famer, and these numbers aren’t out of reach for Moss, whose inclusion is a no-brainer. When paired with Tidwell, that’s a 1-2 fantasy punch at WR that would be untouchable. TIGHT END: BRIAN MURPHY, THE REPLACEMENTS Much like real fantasy football, TE is slim pickings in fictional fantasy football too. After much research, Brian Murphy (David Denman) is the only fictional TE I could find with any usable profile. All evidence points to him having been a first-round talent if only he weren’t deaf, which is a good start. Former NFL fullback Derrick Coleman, also deaf, has shown that the hearing-impaired can have some NFL success. So, why not Murphy? He has the size and hands to be, if nothing else, a decent target in the red zone, as demonstrated by catching the game-winning, playoff-clinching touchdown against the Dallas Knights. At worst, he’s probably touchdown dependent, but that is all you can really hope for with most TEs, anyway. FLEX: BUDDY, AIR BUD: GOLDEN RECEIVER Wherever I happen to be as you’re reading this right now, just know that I can feel you rolling your eyes into another dimension. Just hear me out… First, yes, Buddy (Rush, Chase, Zak, and Chance) is a dog, but he’s also a multi-sport star. Name another athlete that has proven to be competitively successful in football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and volleyball. Second, name one person who could keep up with a golden retriever that runs the 40-yard dash in about 2.7 seconds. Given his speed and agility, Buddy is a matchup nightmare. Plus, it’s noted that he could run a marathon, so he has endurance too. As it pertains to football, specifically, he averages at least three touchdowns per game with zero drops. In the championship game alone, he has at least 140 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He averages 40 yards after the catch! You may think it’s silly to include him here, but those are Madden numbers, making for an unstoppable flex. It remains to be seen if he would be the highest scoring player in all of fantasy, but he’ll almost certainly be a very good boy, nevertheless. KICKER: LUCY DRAPER, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS Lucy Draper (Kathy Ireland), a soccer player, is essentially the only offensive threat on a terrible team, which means since drives will inevitably stall in enemy territory, she will be inundated with field goal chances. She has also shown the ability to split the uprights in the driving rain and from distance with the game on the line, demonstrating the type of clutch poise that would make Ray Finkle jealous. Let’s not forget that she also stood up to an opposing player in tremendous fashion after being taunted for being a woman in a “man’s game,” so she’s got the moxie typical of most successful football players. DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS: UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, FORREST GUMP I admit, this one may be a cheat. Yes, I said no real people, but even as I recognize the University of Alabama is a real team, I’m drafting it for a very specific and very fictional reason: Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks). If you don’t play fantasy football, you may not know that, in addition to scoring fantasy points based on how many real points your fantasy defense gave up in a real game, you usually get points for kickoff and punt return yards and touchdowns too. Gump was a machine on that front, even becoming an All-American for seemingly doing little else but returning kickoffs for touchdowns (in the movie, at least). Now, Gump attended Alabama from 1959 to 1963. I don’t know anything else about the rest of Alabama’s team in the world of Forrest Gump , but in real life, Alabama went 38-4-1 during that time, including winning the national title in 1961 when they only gave up 25 total points in 11 games. I also know that Gump had six kickoff returns for touchdowns in his first season (both the real-life NCAA and NFL record is four in a season), one of which was for 99 yards. Lastly, in 2024, the average touchdowns scored by a DST was 1.6 (the Denver Broncos had the most with five). That includes touchdowns stemming from interceptions, fumble recoveries, kickoff returns, and punt returns. If Gump can continue breaking return touchdown records while racking up return yards in support of an apparently stout defensive unit, that creates a significant advantage over every other team.

THE WILDS: SEASON TWO Starring: Rachel Griffiths, Sarah Pidgeon, Mia Healey, Sophia Ali, Erana James, Shannon Berry, Reign Edwards, Jenna Clause, Alex Fitzalan, Reed Shannon, Aidan Laprete, Nicholas Coombe, Charles Alexander, Zack Calderon, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Tanner Ray Rook, David Sullivan, and Troy Winbush. Creator: Sarah Streicher PAIGE The first season of The Wilds was one of the greatest surprises of 2020. I loved the coming-of-age story built on astonishing performances from the “Dawn of Eve” group; However, for Season Two, the show shifts the focus from the girls to the boys while doing absolutely nothing unique with them. Why!?! The addition of “Twilight of Adam” crammed too much underdeveloped story into this season, which left me wanting more. That said, with the way things are left in the finale, I can’t wait to see what the showrunners have in store for us. Give me Season Three now!

AMERICAN BORN CHINESE: SEASON ONE Starring: Ben Wang, Michelle Yeoh, Yann Yann Yeo, Chin Han, Daniel Wu, Ke Huy Quan, Jimmy Liu, and Sydney Taylor Creator: Kelvin Yu AMARÚ American Born Chinese probably would deliver on some great themes and nice ideas if it didn’t spread itself thin trying to be so many shows at once. It’s a coming-of-age drama whose uniquely charming characters can’t cover its crude writing and stiff delivery. It’s also a martial arts soap opera whose great fight choreography can’t cover its corny dramatics. Lastly, it’s a commentary on minority representation in Hollywood whose satire is way too heavy-handed. There’s merit to be found somewhere in this show, but it too often gets lost trying to aimlessly put it all together. QUENTIN While the first episode shows a lot of promise, mixing Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with a less cringy Ms. Marvel (which makes sense since Destin Daniel Cretton directed both it and Shang-Chi ), it increasingly becomes more of a tween series as it goes along. Each episode feels cheaper than the one before, especially with the extremely rough CGI, and its Disneyfied YA-ness becomes too much to bear. I have no doubt young teens, especially those of Chinese descent, will be enamored with this show…I probably would have been 30 years ago…but for an adult, it’s lacking despite the impressive, Oscar-winning cast.

WONDLA: SEASON ONE Starring: Jeanine Mason, Teri Hatcher, Brad Garrett, Gary Anthony Williams, Chiké Okonkwo, D.C. Douglas, and Alan Tudyk Creator: Bobs Gannaway AMARÚ It’s really cool that kids’ programming can be as intriguing and complex as WondLa . There’s plenty about it that is meant for children - the animation and tone of its voice-actors most heavily - but these surface-level aspects are vehicles to give younger audiences access to action and suspense that are often reserved for more mature sci-fi thrillers. There is a fast-paced balance of adolescent set-pieces, adult themes, and universal humor that makes WondLa a series that families can enjoy with their ever-curious children of every age. It also worked for this grown-ass child right here. QUENTIN Look, I’m a 43-year-old childless man. I know that WondLa isn’t made for me. Honestly, I only gave it a shot because Apple gave us a screener and it was there. That said, for what it is, it's…not terrible? It skews young – like verging on Paw Patrol -young at times – but there are occasional bursts of attractive animation, not to mention a Silo -style mystery, that kept me interested enough to watch the next episode until *poof* I had finished the season. I’m not exactly recommending it for childless adults, but if you have kids and want something to watch with them that isn’t mind-numbing, this fits the bill.

WHAT IF...?: SEASON THREE Starring: Jeffrey Wright AMARÚ What If…? : Season Three had me in the first half, not gonna lie. They chose silliness up front because they knew the heavy was coming in the latter half. It doesn’t reach “Supreme Strange” levels, but the last four episodes do make up for a downright boring and uneventful start. As a whole, I enjoyed six of the eight final episodes to varying degrees, with the final four being solid stories, both as one-offs and connective tissue. Overall, I leave the series with one prevailing thought: 2016's Agent Carter was given the biggest shaft and Hayley Atwell deserved better. QUENTIN Marvel’s What If…? has always felt like a series that lacked enthusiasm from its creators — something they were forced to do rather than something they were genuinely interested in doing. I mean, the premise is rich with amazing opportunity, yet the writers almost always pick the most uninteresting branch realities to explore. Season Three is the worst transgressor of this crime as it dives into randomness like Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) in Hollywood, and Howard the Duck (Seth Green) marrying Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). Honestly, it was a struggle to watch. After three seasons of diminishing returns, I’m not sad it’s ending.