10
Sep

The List: Top 10 ‘The X-Files’ Episodes

The X-Files premiered 30 years ago this week. While I was a latecomer to the series, it quickly became one of my favorites. No matter how ridiculous the case, there was something indescribably wonderful about the partnership between Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson). (This also explains why episodes and seasons when they’re not together tend to suck.)

As someone who ended up not carrying about the show’s overarching alien mythology – especially when it got too convoluted for its own good – you’ll notice most of my favorites don’t have much impact on future stories. But that’s why it’s my list.

10. “Redrum” (Season 8, Episode 6)
Easily the best episode of the post-Mulder years, this hour provides a showcase for the great Joe Morton. He plays Martin Wells, a Baltimore prosecutor who finds himself bloodied in a jail cell with no idea how he got there. En route to another prison, he’s shot and killed by his father-in-law. But then he wakes up again, alive and clean. As his days progress backwards, he slowly begins to piece together what happened to him and his murdered wife. Scully and Doggett (Robert Patrick) barely factor into this episode, as Wells does most of his own investigation and faces his own reckoning.

9. “Drive” (Season 6, Episode 2)
It would be easy to put this episode on the list because of the connection forged by its guest star (Bryan Cranston) and writer (Vince Gilligan). But it has so much more to offer than an intense dry run for Breaking Bad. Cranston excels as the bereaved, bigoted hostage taker. Like his late wife, he’s got a ticking time bomb in his brain, forcing Mulder to drive him west as fast as possible. While the episode as a whole is thrilling, it endures because it refuses to make its characters all good or all bad, and has a throughline of plausible government conspiracy running through it.

8. “Home” (Season 4, Episode 2)  
The show’s most disturbing episode already had a cult following before the show became widely available on DVD and streaming. Removed from syndication packages due to its graphic content, it took on an almost mythical status. Of course in 2023, its violence isn’t that shocking. But its story of a family of inbred shut-ins still is. It’s not only the scariest the show has ever been, but also the saddest.

7. “The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat” (Season 11, Episode 4)
It’s pretty much impossible to look at the two revival seasons as anything but a failure. The Season 10 finale (“My Struggle II”) belongs with the series’ worst episodes, alongside “Space” and “First Person Shooter.” And while its very last episode wrapped up some threads in a somewhat satisfactory way, the whole endeavor feels mostly like a very expensive shrug. Still, I’d happily watch more Mulder and Scully adventures any day. Especially if they’re like this one, one of two written by series MVP Darin Morgan (the other, “Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster,” barely missed this spot). Brian Huskey (who’s appeared in everything from The Bourne Identity to Veep to my beloved Best Week Ever) shines as an escaped mental patient who spends the entire episode trying to convince Mulder and Scully he was their partner for years before he got “too close to the truth.” The episode playfully toys with the “Mandela effect,” and satirizes the misinformation epidemic, marking the revival’s only successful attempt at drawing on current events.

6. “Leonard Betts” (Season 4, Episode 12)
The show’s most-watched episode – thanks to a coveted post-Super Bowl spot – shocked long-time fans and newcomers alike. This perfectly structured hour begins with title character (Paul McCrane) getting decapitated, then walking out of the morgue like it was just a bad headache. It ends with a stunning revelation about Scully that impacted her (and Mulder) for years to come.

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1
Sep

Streaming Picks: September 2023

FILMS
Top Picks
Bad Education (2020) – Prime Video 9/1
El Conde – Netflix 9/15
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar – Netflix 9/27
Released by HBO a month after everything shut down, Cory Finley’s Bad Education won the Emmy for Best TV Movie but has been otherwise forgotten. This black comedy about a real-life embezzlement scandal at a ritzy school district on Long Island is quite scathing in its indictment of snowballing greed, but still empathetic for the humans caught up in the chaos.

Netflix ramps up its awards season offerings this month. Up first is El Conde, the latest from Pablo Larraín. The Chilean filmmaker takes on his country’s most infamous leader (Pinochet), but with a typically surreal and darkly humorous eye. In his version, the dictator still roams the country as a vampire. The film will compete for the top prize at this year’s Venice International Film Festival. Also premiering there is the latest from Wes Anderson, who adapts the short story by Roald Dahl into a short film. This should be a match made in whimsical heaven.

Other Recommendations
3:10 to Yuma (2007) – Peacock 9/1
10 Cloverfield Lane – Paramount+ 9/1
10 Things I Hate About You – Prime Video 9/1
2001: A Space Odyssey – Prime Video 9/1
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein – Prime Video 9/1
A.I. Artificial Intelligence – Paramount+ 9/1
All About My Mother – Prime Video 9/1
American History X – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
Angel Heart – Paramount+ 9/1
Annihilation – Paramount+ 9/1
Army of Darkness – Prime Video 9/1
Arrival – Netflix and Paramount+ 9/1
Be Kind Rewind – Max 9/1
Bend It Like Beckham – Hulu 9/1
The Big Lebowski – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
The Birdcage – Prime Video 9/1
The Birds – Peacock 9/1
Blade – Max 9/1
Blade II – Max 9/1
The Blair Witch Project – Paramount+ 9/1
Blazing Saddles – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
Bourne series – Prime Video 9/1
Bowling for Columbine – Prime Video 9/1
Boyz N the Hood – Max 9/1
The Brady Bunch Movie – Paramount+ 9/1
Candyman (1992) – Peacock 9/1
Carrie (1976) – Max 9/1
Cat People (1942) – Max 9/1
Chicken Run – Peacock 9/1
Children of Men – Prime Video 9/1
Crazy Stupid Love – Max 9/1
The Deer Hunter – Netflix 9/1
Déjà Vu – Prime Video 9/1
Desperado – Peacock and Prime Video 9/1
Drag Me to Hell – Prime Video 9/1
Easy A – Peacock 9/1
An Education – Hulu 9/1
The Exorcist – Max 9/1
Face/Off – Prime Video 9/1
Fast Times at Ridgemont High – Netflix 9/1
Four Weddings and a Funeral – Prime Video 9/1
Frida – Paramount+ 9/1
Friday – Max 9/1
Friday Night Lights – Peacock 9/1
Get Out – Peacock 9/1
Hail, Caesar! – Hulu 9/1
Hamlet (2000) – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
Heartburn – Max 9/1
Hugo – Paramount+ and Prime Video 9/1
The Hunt for Red October – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
Jarhead – Prime Video 9/1
Jaws – Netflix 9/1
John Wick – Peacock 9/1
John Wick: Chapter 2 – Peacock 9/1
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Peacock 9/1
Juice – Max 9/1
A Knight’s Tale – Hulu 9/1
The LEGO Movie – Hulu 9/1
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Max 9/1
Long Shot – Paramount+ 9/1
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) – Prime Video 9/1
The Mask of Zorro – Peacock and Prime Video 9/1
Matilda – Netflix 9/1
The Matrix series – Peacock 9/1
Meet the Parents – Hulu 9/1
Melancholia – Hulu 9/1
Mother! – Paramount+ 9/1
The Mummy (1999) – Peacock 9/1
My Big Fat Greek Wedding – Peacock 9/1
Notting Hill – Peacock 9/1
Observe and Report – Prime Video 9/1
October Sky – Prime Video 9/1
Of Mice and Men (1992) – Prime Video 9/1
The Other Guys – Peacock 9/1
Philomena – Max 9/1
Primal Fear – Paramount+ 9/1
Psycho (1960) – Peacock 9/1
Public Enemies – Netflix 9/1
Raising Arizona – Hulu 9/1
Red River – Prime Video 9/1
Road to Perdition – Paramount+ 9/1
Rocky – Prime Video 9/1
Roxanne – Prime Video 9/1
The Rundown – Peacock 9/1
Sabrina (1954) – Max 9/1
Salt – Peacock 9/1
Saw – Peacock 9/1
Schindler’s List – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
Se7en – Hulu 9/1
Shadow of a Doubt – Peacock 9/1
Slither – Peacock 9/1
Source Code – Max 9/1
Spanglish – Prime Video 9/1
Spy – Max 9/1
Stand and Deliver – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
Stand by Me – Netflix 9/1
Sugar – Prime Video 9/1
Super 8 – Paramount+ 9/1
Superbad – Netflix 9/1
The Talented Mr. Ripley – Paramount+ 9/1
Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight – Peacock 9/1
Tales from the Hood – Peacock 9/1
Terminator 2: Judgment Day – Paramount+ 9/1
Thief – Paramount+ with Showtime 9/1
The Thing (1982) – Peacock 9/1
To Catch a Thief – Prime Video 9/1
True Lies – Hulu 9/1
United 93 – Peacock 9/1
Up in the Air – Netflix 9/1
Us – Peacock 9/1
Videodrome – Peacock 9/1
The Virgin Suicides – Paramount+ with Showtime
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit – Netflix 9/1
Wild Things – Prime Video 9/1
The Menu – Hulu 9/3
The Banshees of Inisherin – Hulu 9/4
Anchorman – Netflix 9/5
Mad Max: Fury Road – Hulu 9/9
The Wolf of Wall Street – Netflix 9/12
Fast & Furious 6 – Peacock 9/15
Fast X – Peacock 9/15
Love, Simon – Hulu 9/15
World’s Greatest Dad – Hulu 9/15
The LEGO Batman Movie – Peacock 9/15
The Accountant – Hulu 9/28
Girls Trip – Peacock 9/30

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1
Aug

Streaming Picks: August 2023

FILMS
Top Pick
How to Blow Up a Pipeline – Hulu 8/24
One of the year’s best films, Daniel Goldhaber adapts Andreas Malm’s climate activism treatise into an edge-of-your-seat thriller with piercing moral clarity. A must-see.

Other Recommendations
8 Mile – Peacock 8/1
21 Jump Street – Peacock 8/1
Adventureland – Paramount+ 8/1
Amadeus – Prime Video 8/1
American Gangster – Max 8/1
Animal House – Peacock 8/1
Annie Hall – Max 8/1
The Assistant – Max 8/1
Avatar – Max 8/17
Before Midnight – Max 8/1
Boogie Nights – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/1
Bowfinger – Peacock 8/1
The Bourne Ultimatum – Max 8/1
Casino – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/1
The Color of Money – Paramount+ 8/1
Coming to America – Netflix 8/1
Dazed and Confused – Peacock 8/1
Despicable Me – Netflix 8/1
Double Jeopardy – Paramount+ 8/1
Enemy of the State – Hulu 8/1
Fargo – Max 8/1
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift – Netflix 8/1
Fast Five – Netflix 8/1
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Netflix 8/1
The Fighter – Paramount+ 8/1
Galaxy Quest – Prime Video 8/1
Ghost Town – Paramount+ 8/1
Gone Baby Gone – Paramount+ 8/1
The Grifters – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/1
How to Train Your Dragon 2 – Peacock 8/1
I Am Not Your Negro – Max 8/1
Jacob’s Ladder (1990) – Paramount+ 8/1
The Jerk – Netflix 8/1
Jerry Maguire – Peacock 8/1
Jurassic Park – Hulu 8/1
Kingpin – Max 8/1
Lost in Translation – Netflix 8/1
Midnight in Paris – Hulu 8/1
Miss Congeniality – Max 8/1
The Naked Gun – Max 8/1
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear – Max 8/1
Neighbors (2014) – Peacock 8/1
Night Moves (1975) – Max 8/1
Notting Hill – Hulu 8/1
The Nutty Professor (1996) – Peacock 8/1
Ocean’s Thirteen – Max 8/1
Ocean’s Twelve – Max 8/1
Rescue Dawn – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/1
Ronin – Max 8/1
Rosemary’s Baby – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/1
Rubber – Max 8/1
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – Peacock 8/1
Searching for Sugar Man – Max 8/1
Sicario – Paramount+ 8/1
Sweeney Todd – Paramount+ 8/1
Take Shelter – Max 8/1
Thelma & Louise – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/1
There’s Something About Mary – Peacock 8/1
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) – Max 8/1
Traffic – Prime Video 8/1
The Truman Show – Paramount+ 8/1
Twister – Max 8/1
When Harry Met Sally – Prime Video 8/1
Zodiac – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/1
The Northman – Peacock 8/3
Game Night – Hulu 8/4
Skinamarink – Hulu 8/4
Paddington – Netflix 8/14
Catch Me If You Can – Paramount+ with Showtime 8/16
Thoroughbreds – Hulu 8/16
The Big Short – Netflix 8/23
Bringing Out the Dead – Paramount+ 8/23
Sausage Party – Netflix 8/23
Cinderella (1950) – Disney+ 8/25
Malignant – Hulu 8/27
Snowpiercer – Hulu and Prime Video 8/29
Women Talking – Prime Video 8/29

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11
Jul

2023 Emmy Picks: Limited/Anthology Series and Movies

LIMITED/ANTHOLOGY SERIES
Beef (Netflix)
Black Bird (AppleTV+)
Dahmer (Netflix)
Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video)
Love & Death (Max)

Potential surprises:
Documentary Now! (IFC)
Fleishman Is in Trouble (Hulu)
George & Tammy (Showtime)
A Small Light (National Geographic)

In my dreams: The English (Prime Video)

TV MOVIE
Boston Strangler (Hulu)
Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas (NBC)
Fire Island (Hulu)
Reality (HBO)
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Roku)

Potential surprises:
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (Netflix)
Prey (Hulu)

In my dreams: Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe (Paramount+)

ACTOR IN A LIMITED/ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Steve Carell, The Patient
Taron Egerton, Black Bird
Evan Peters, Dahmer
Daniel Radcliffe, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Michael Shannon, George & Tammy
Steven Yeun, Beef

Potential surprises:
Sam Clafin, Daisy Jones & the Six
Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night
Jesse Eisenberg, Fleishman Is in Trouble
Woody Harrelson, White House Plumbers
Ben Whishaw, This Is Going to Hurt

In my dreams: Chaske Spencer, The English

ACTRESS IN A LIMITED/ANTHOLOGY SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Jessica Chastain, George & Tammy
Riley Keough, Daisy Jones & the Six
Elizabeth Olsen, Love & Death
Bel Powley, A Small Light
Rachel Weisz, Dead Ringers
Ali Wong, Beef

Potential surprises:
Emily Blunt, The English
Lizzy Caplan, Fleishman Is in Trouble
Dominique Fishback, Swarm
Betty Gilpin, Mrs. Davis
Kathryn Hahn, Tiny Beautiful Things
Sydney Sweeney, Reality

In my dreams: Amber Midthunder, Prey

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11
Jul

2023 Emmy Picks: Comedy and Variety

COMEDY SERIES
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Barry (HBO)
The Bear (Hulu)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video)
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Shrinking (AppleTV+)
Ted Lasso (AppleTV+)
What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

Potential surprises:
Atlanta (FX) – 2 nominations
The Great (Hulu) – 1 nomination
Poker Face (Peacock) – new show
Wednesday (Netflix) – new show

Ineligible: Curb Your Enthusiasm, Hacks

In my dreams: Reservation Dogs (Hulu)

ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bill Hader, Barry
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear

Potential surprises:
Donald Glover, Atlanta – 3 nominations including 1 win
Nicholas Hoult, The Great – 1 nomination
Bob Odenkirk, Lucky Hank – new show
Adam Scott, Party Down – never nominated in this category
Jason Segel, Shrinking – new show

Ineligible: None

In my dreams: Nathan Fielder, The Rehearsal

ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Selena Gomez, Only Murders in the Building
Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face
Jenna Ortega, Wednesday

Potential surprises:
Christina Applegate, Dead to Me – 2 nominations
Linda Cardellini, Dead to Me – 2 nominations
Bridget Everett, Somebody Somewhere – never nominated
Elle Fanning, The Great – 1 nomination

Ineligible: Kaley Cuoco, Issa Rae, Jean Smart

In my dreams: Devery Jacobs, Reservation Dogs

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11
Jul

2023 Emmy Picks: Drama

DRAMA SERIES
Andor (Disney+)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
House of the Dragon (HBO)
The Last of Us (HBO)
Succession (HBO)
The White Lotus (HBO)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)

Potential surprises:
The Boys (Prime Video) – 1 nomination
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) – 4 nominations including 1 win
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Prime Video) – new show
The Mandalorian (Disney+) – 1 nomination
Queen Charlotte (Netflix) – new show
Yellowstone (Paramount Network) – never nominated

Ineligible: Euphoria, Ozark, Severance, Squid Game, Stranger Things

In my dreams: The Sandman (Netflix)

ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Brian Cox, Succession
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Dominic West, The Crown

Potential surprises:
Jeff Bridges, The Old Man – new show
Kevin Costner, Yellowstone – never nominated
Harrison Ford, 1923 – new show
Diego Luna, Andor – new show
Jeremy Renner, Mayor of Kingstown – never nominated
Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason – 1 nomination

Ineligible: Jason Bateman, Lee Jung-jae, Adam Scott

In my dreams: Patrick Stewart, Star Trek: Picard

ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Melanie Lynskey, Yellowjackets
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
Sarah Snook, Succession
Imelda Staunton, The Crown

Potential surprises:
Sharon Horgan, Bad Sisters – new show
Helen Mirren, 1923 – new show
Sophie Nélisse, Yellowjackets – never nominated

Ineligible: Jodie Comer, Laura Linney, Sandra Oh, Reese Witherspoon, Zendaya

In my dreams: Juliette Lewis, Yellowjackets

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1
Jul

Streaming Picks: July 2023

Programming Note: Paramount+ has merged with the Showtime app, but subscribers don’t automatically get access to all Showtime programming without paying an additional fee. So while the app will henceforth be known (clunkily) as Paramount+ with Showtime, I’m only using that name for titles only available on that higher tier.

FILMS
Top Pick
Knock at the Cabin – Prime Video 7/25
M. Night Shyamalan’s latest mind-bender opened a little softer and to more mixed reviews than 2021’s knockout Old. But this claustrophobic thriller about the (dangerous) power of faith is another win for the director who has continued to bet on himself after several high-profile failures.

Other Recommendations
3:10 to Yuma (2007) – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
20th Century Women – Max 7/1
The 40-Year-Old Virgin – Prime Video 7/1
Aftersun – Paramount+ with Showtime
Air Force One – Peacock 7/1
Alien – Hulu 7/1
Aliens – Hulu 7/1
Alien 3 – Hulu 7/1
American Gangster – Peacock 7/1
American Psycho – Peacock 7/1
Apollo 13 – Peacock 7/1
The Aviator – Paramount+ 7/1
Billy Elliot – Peacock 7/1
Bridesmaids – Netflix 7/1
Bullitt – Max 7/1
Caddyshack – Max 7/1
Charlotte’s Web (1973) – Paramount+ 7/1
Chinatown – Paramount+ 7/1
Closer – Hulu 7/1
Collateral – Paramount+ 7/1
Compliance – Max 7/1
The Descent – Max 7/1
Die Hard – Hulu 7/1
Die Hard with a Vengeance – Hulu 7/1
Do the Right Thing – Peacock 7/1
Dunkirk – Max 7/1
Election – Max 7/1
Eyes Wide Shut – Paramount+ 7/1
Father of the Bride (1991) – Hulu and Prime Video 7/1
The Firm – Paramount+ 7/1
A Fish Called Wanda – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
Ford v Ferrari – Hulu 7/1
Forgetting Sarah Marshall – Hulu and Peacock 7/1
Gaslight – Prime Video 7/1
The Godfather series – Paramount+ 7/1
Good Will Hunting – Max 7/1
Harold and Maude – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
How to Train Your Dragon – Prime Video 7/1
The Hunger Games series – Peacock 7/1
Inside Man (2006) – Peacock 7/1
The Iron Giant – Prime Video 7/1
Jackass Number Two – Paramount+ 7/1
Jaws – Peacock 7/1
Kick-Ass – Hulu, Netflix and Prime Video 7/1
King Kong (1933) – Max 7/1
King Kong (2005) – Hulu 7/1
Klute – Max 7/1
Legally Blonde – Prime Video 7/1
Lethal Weapon series – Max 7/1
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Hulu 7/1
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Hulu 7/1
Marathon Man – Paramount+ and Prime Video 7/1
Meet the Parents – Peacock 7/1
Men in Black – Prime Video 7/1
Mouse Hunt – Paramount+ and Prime Video 7/1
Mrs. Doubtfire – Hulu 7/1
No Country for Old Men – Paramount+ and Prime Video 7/1
One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
The Other Guys – Prime Video 7/1
Paths of Glory – Prime Video 7/1
Pride & Prejudice (2005) – Netflix 7/1
Pulp Fiction – Max 7/1
Rain Man – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
Reds – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
Risky Business – Paramount+ 7/1
The Road Warrior – Max 7/1
Role Models – Peacock 7/1
Saturday Night Fever – Paramount+ and Prime Video 7/1
Saving Private Ryan – Prime Video 7/1
Searching for Bobby Fischer – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
The Shawshank Redemption – Prime Video 7/1
The Shining – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
Shirley (2020) – Max 7/1
Shoplifters – Max 7/1
The Skeleton Twins – Max 7/1
The Squid and the Whale – Netflix 7/1
A Star Is Born (2018) – Prime Video 7/1
Star Trek (2009) – Netflix 7/1
Step Brothers – Hulu 7/1
Support the Girls – Hulu and Prime Video 7/1
Titanic – Netflix 7/1
Trainspotting – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
The Truman Show – Prime Video 7/1
Uncle Buck – Netflix 7/1
Under the Silver Lake – Max 7/1
V for Vendetta – Max 7/1
Vanilla Sky – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/1
Where the Wild Things Are – Max 7/1
Whiplash – Hulu 7/1
Wild Things – Hulu 7/1
The Outfit – Peacock 7/2
It Follows – Paramount+ with Showtime 7/12
Ambulance – Peacock 7/23

NEW SHOWS & SPECIALS
Top Pick
What We Do in the Shadows (Season 5) – Hulu 7/14
At this point, it doesn’t matter how long this saga of four vampires (and their increasingly impatient familiar) runs or what shenanigans they get up to. It’s firmly cemented itself as one of the funniest comedies of the decade.

Other Recommendations
Wham! – Netflix 7/5
Bluey (Season 3, Part 3) – Disney+ 7/12
Full Circle – Max 7/13
Futurama (Season 11) – Hulu 7/24
How To with John Wilson (Season 3) – Max 7/28

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1
Jun

Streaming Picks: June 2023

FILMS
Top Picks
Tár – Prime Video 6/6
Avatar: The Way of Water – Disney+ and Max 6/7
While I wouldn’t consider Lydia Tár a “Strong Female Lead,” Cate Blanchett gave one of last year’s best performances in one of the best movies of last year: a twisty drama open to multiple interpretations.

Also one of last year’s best movies? James Cameron’s follow-up to his world-conquering ecological opus. It won’t look quite as good on even the largest TVs, but it’s still magnificently constructed and stunning to look at.

Other Recommendations
2 Days in the Valley – Paramount+ and Prime Video 6/1
10 Things I Hate About You – Peacock 6/1
3:10 to Yuma (2007) – Hulu, Max and Prime Video 6/1
Adventureland – Paramount+ 6/1
The Apartment – Prime Video 6/1
Army of Darkness – Max 6/1
Arrival – Paramount+ and Prime Video 6/1
Bananas – Prime Video 6/1
Black Dynamite – Prime Video 6/1
Blazing Saddles – Prime Video 6/1
Borat – Hulu 6/1
The Bourne Legacy – Peacock 6/1
Bourne Trilogy – Peacock 6/1
Boyz N the Hood – Prime Video 6/1
Breach – Max 6/1
The Breakfast Club – Netflix 6/1
Brokeback Mountain – Prime Video 6/1
Bronson – Hulu 6/1
Bulworth – Max 6/1
Casino – Peacock 6/1
Courage Under Fire – Paramount+ 6/1
Demolition Man – Max 6/1
Devil in a Blue Dress – Prime Video 6/1
Dog Day Afternoon – Prime Video 6/1
Eastern Promises – Max 6/1
The Evil Dead (1981) – Max 6/1
Evil Dead II – Max 6/1
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift – Peacock 6/1
Fast Five – Peacock 6/1
Glory – Prime Video 6/1
The Good Shepherd – Hulu 6/1
Grease – Max 6/1
Grosse Pointe Blank – Paramount+ 6/1
Groundhog Day – Netflix 6/1
Hairspray (2007) – Max 6/1
Hot Fuzz – Prime Video 6/1
The Hurt Locker – Max 6/1
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka – Prime Video 6/1
Idiocracy – Hulu 6/1
If Beale Street Could Talk – Paramount+ 6/1
Jackie Brown – Max 6/1
Jarhead – Netflix 6/1
Jurassic Park – Peacock 6/1
The Kingdom – Netflix 6/1
Kingdom of Heaven – Prime Video 6/1
The Little Hours – Hulu 6/1
Little Shop of Horrors (1986) – Max 6/1
Man on Wire – Hulu 6/1
Mean Girls – Netflix 6/1
Moneyball – Max 6/1
Moonlight – Max 6/1
My Cousin Vinny – Paramount+ 6/1Silv
One Hour Photo – Hulu 6/1
Out of Sight – Peacock 6/1
Philadelphia – Prime Video 6/1
Rango – Paramount+ 6/1
RoboCop (1987) – Prime Video 6/1
Saved! – Prime Video 6/1
Say Anything – Paramount+ 6/1
Selena – Max 6/1
Selma – Paramount+ 6/1 and Prime Video 6/20
Shaun of the Dead – Prime Video 6/1
Silver Linings Playbook – Prime Video 6/1
Snatch – Paramount+ 6/1
The Social Network – Paramount+ 6/1
Spider-Man Trilogy – Netflix 6/1
A Star Is Born (1954) – Max 6/1
Superbad – Peacock 6/1
Terminator 2: Judgment Day – Netflix 6/1
They Came Together – Peacock 6/1
Three Identical Strangers – Hulu 6/1
True Lies – Prime Video 6/1
The War of the Worlds (1953) – Prime Video 6/1
Win Win – Hulu 6/1
The World’s End – Prime Video 6/1
World’s Greatest Dad – Prime Video 6/1
X-Men: Days of Future Past – Max 6/1
You’re Next – Max 6/1
Living – Netflix 6/1
Keanu – Hulu 6/3
Crazy Rich Asians – Prime Video 6/6
Sully – Prime Video 6/6
A Star Is Born (2018) – Max 6/8
Interstellar – Prime Video 6/11
Dunkirk – Netflix 6/12
Armageddon Time – Prime Video 6/20
Barbarian – Hulu 6/25
The Grand Budapest Hotel – Hulu 6/30
What If – Prime Video 6/30

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18
May

The List: Top 10 ‘The Office’ Episodes

The Office ended 10 years ago this week. I was an early champion of the show, but fell off in its third season when the show sent Jim to Stamford, then back to Scranton with his new girlfriend Karen (Rashida Jones) and ultra-annoying Andy (Ed Helms). But the show kept extending its life thanks to riding a wave of new-ish technology. After its short, low-rated first season, iTunes downloads convinced NBC to give it another shot. Then, DVD sales kept it a staple of the network’s attempts to resurrect Must See TV. And its long run on Netflix made it one of the most popular shows in the world. The latter two developments meant it was always on in someone’s dorm room or apartment in my college years and after.

So to celebrate the legacy of one of the most beloved shows of the 21st Century, here are my 10 favorite episodes. (But do take this list with a grain of salt; I like “Scott’s Tots.”)

10. “Traveling Salesmen” (Season 3, Episode 13)
In this underrated episode, the crew at Dunder Mifflin pairs up to make some sales calls, leading to great visual gags like Phyllis and Karen with matching blowouts and Ryan freezing in front of Stanley’s all-Black clientele. This is one of the rare episodes that shows some employees are actually quite good at their jobs! But the main reason I chose this over many other fine selections was Dwight’s principled stand in his relationship with Angela. Though they wouldn’t get married until the series finale, his willingness to protect her job and her reputation make for a romantic moment that’s not maudlin.

9. “Gay Witch Hunt” (Season 3, Episode 1)
Creator Greg Daniels won the show’s only writing Emmy for this cringe-inducing half-hour, which sees Michael out Oscar, then compound the awkwardness by kissing him on the lips. Every conference room scene is wildly uncomfortable but undeniably hilarious. It also serves as an introduction to the doomed Stamford branch, which isn’t nearly as laid-back as Scranton.

8. “Health Care” (Season 1, Episode 3)
Season 1 gets a bad rap, but while it’s a little rough around the edges, I’ve always liked Michael a little meaner and a lot sweatier. (So more like David Brent.) Rather than admit corporate is demanding cuts to the company health insurance plans, he passes the buck to Dwight, who lets the busywork go to his head. The fake diseases the other employees make kill me, but Michael trying and failing to come up with a “surprise” to make up for the overlords’ rotten penny-pinching hits close to home.

7. “Women’s Appreciation” (Season 3, Episode 22)
If you thought Michael and Oscar were awkward, the entire opening had me covering my eyes. After Phyllis is attacked by a flasher in the parking lot, Michael mocks her, then pretends his thumb is his penis. It’s insensitive but also incredibly funny. But the episode packs an emotional punch as Michael takes all his female employees out for lunch and shopping, and shares his relationship difficulties with them, getting brutally honest feedback in return.

6. “Christmas Party” (Season 2, Episode 10)
By Season 2, Michael had become less of a dick and more of a needy people-pleaser. This disastrous holiday gathering represents him at his worst/best. After spending more than 10 times the agreed-upon limit on his Secret Santa gift for Ryan, he’s annoyed his gift from Phyllis is homemade. This obnoxiousness is Michael in a nutshell: I did something I shouldn’t have (with good intentions) and people are mad, but I’m the boss and I need everyone to love me so I have to fix this. His solution? A white elephant exchange, which sees everyone fighting over the iPod and Jim unable to get every piece of his romantic multi-gift surprise for Pam. It’s no wonder everyone wants to get drunk after this ordeal.

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3
May

The List: Top 10 ‘Happy Endings’ Episodes

One of the finest sitcoms of the 2010s ended 10 years ago this week. Happy Endings took the same set-up and premise as Friends, but updated it for Millennials, tripling the number of jokes per minute. Yet it constantly seemed like it was fighting ABC for air. Its first season aired confusingly out of order. The second season had an episode punted to the middle of the third season for reasons that remain baffling. And halfway through its third season it was doomed to a Friday Night Death Slot. Had it gotten at least one final season, it would have hit its syndication numbers and gotten a proper send-off, and probably be better remembered today. But this cult favorite still endures, and here are 10 (well, 11) reasons why.

HONORABLE MENTION
“And the Pandemmy Goes To…”
The only lockdown content worth a damn, this Zoom session actually featured a script that had its characters react the way they would if the real pandemic invaded their Chicago. Dave’s way-too-intimate restaurant idea still makes me laugh.

10. “Cazsh Dummy Spillionaires” (Season 3, Episode 1)
The third season kicked off with Dave and Alex on again, but refusing to define their romantic reunion, preferring to keep it “cazsh.” That lack of commitment would doom their relationship as the season wore on, but it kept the show fresh. The real humor of the episode came from Max’s attempts to sabotage Penny’s recovery so he can spend more time with her physical therapist. Also, Brad brought out his ventriloquist dummy! Like Arrested Development‘s Franklin, Sinbrad is a give-no-fucks Black puppet that never fails to leave me in stitches.

9. “Dave of the Dead” (Season 1, Episode 7)
Season 1 tends to get skipped over because it was finding its footing, and until the streaming era began, was nearly impossible to watch in its intended order. But it actually figured itself out pretty quickly, and this episode has always been my favorite from those first thirteen. As the group becomes obsessed with the zombie apocalypse, Dave realizes his work at restaurant supply company is turning him into a zombie. Finally breaking his stupor, he quits his 9-to-5 and sets out on his own, working on the eatery that will eventually become his food truck Steak Me Home Tonight.

8. “The Kerkovich Way” (Season 2, Episode 17)
As you’ll see by the rest of this list, there was a month-long stretch in early 2012 where this was the best thing on TV. This wonderfully convoluted episode capped that run with Jane giving Alex a refresher in the titular method of deception. (Had it aired today, self-righteous recappers would have called it gaslighting.) Meanwhile, Max and Penny realize how little they have going for themselves and decide to put all their energy into winning a John Hughes-themed scavenger hunt.

7. “Cocktails and Dreams” (Season 2, Episode 16)
In an effort to draw new business to his food truck, Dave gets a liquor license and converts his spot to a speakeasy. (If you weren’t of drinking age in the early 2010s, just know this was extremely popular.) But his house cocktail causes everyone in the group to have a sex dream about their longtime pal, scored to Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street.” Bonus points for Colin Hanks being such a good sport playing a douche-y version of himself.

6. “No-Ho-Ho” (Season 3, Episode 7)
One of the few Christmas episodes that could compete with its contemporary Community, I try to rewatch this every year. After the group learns Jane’s birthday is actually on December 25th (she had successfully forged documents to show otherwise), they vow to throw her a party free of any signs of Christmas cheer. But their unwelcome desire for eggnog, animatronic Santas and their own gifts keep finding a way into the festivities. The slo-mo retelling of Max’s relapse is one of the show’s funniest moments.

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