Criticism Is Dead

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Mad Men and 30 Rock May 03, 2022

Show notes

This week’s episode is a one-off special, as we are still on our brief break. We discuss two of our (respective) favorite TV shows ever: Mad Men and 30 Rock, both workplace series with complicated protagonists.

02:03 Mad Men, streaming on AMC+ and IMDb TV, is perfect television, from its incredible character work to its brilliant exploration of weighty themes.

24:57 30 Rock, streaming on Peacock, Netflix, and Hulu, remains one of the most sharply written, joke-dense, affectionately acerbic sitcoms ever on TV.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Pachinko, Winning Time, and stacked casts Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Pachinko and Winning Time, two different approaches to retelling history.

02:32 Pachinko, streaming on Apple TV+, is an eminently watchable drama, but much of its spirit has been lost in the translation from book to screen.

26:00 HBO's Winning Time is a self-assured, stylish delight of a show, if you can make it through the scene-setting first few episodes.

43:05 Plus, culture notes about the Barbie and Oppenheimer casts, which are real who's whos of notable names.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Atlanta, Severance finale, and Bennifer engagement 2.0 Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Atlanta and the Severance season 1 finale, two displays of some of the best television playing right now.

04:03 Atlanta, streaming on FX on Hulu, is an extraordinary, self-assured chameleon of a show, and we’re so glad it’s back for its third season.

20:47 We’re doing something a little different this week and going deep on one single episode: the perfect Severance season 1 finale, streaming on Apple TV+.

40:09 Plus, culture notes about Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez getting engaged (again!).

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Life & Beth, Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel, and Bruce Willis Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Life & Beth _and Jerrod Carmichael’s _Rothaniel, a series and a comedy special that explore the effects of things kept hidden and left unsaid within families.

02:31 Life & Beth, streaming on Hulu, is uneven and frustrating at times, but there are real flashes of emotion and thoughtfulness at its core.

19:28 Jerrod Carmichael’s comedy special Rothaniel, streaming on HBO Max, is an intimate, vulnerable, personal piece of storytelling.

34:24 Plus, culture notes about some of the roles Bruce Willis has played in our lives.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Deep Water, Standing Up, and grab bag Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Deep Water _and _Standing Up, two works that both involve finding the humor in less-than-ideal circumstances (whether intentionally or not).

04:21 Deep Water, streaming on Hulu, is not an especially good film, but it is a good time.

23:55 Standing Up, streaming on Netflix, is a highly capable ensemble dramedy that makes fully realized characters out of what could have been basic tropes.

39:57 Plus, grab bag! We briefly touch on other things we’re watching: Fresh, Good Girls, This Way Up, Billions, Benedetta, and Bridgerton s2.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Turning Red, The Tourist, and TikTok cinema Mar 22, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Turning Red and The Tourist, a film and a show about whether you can change who others say you are.

03:02 The new Pixar film Turning Red, streaming on Disney+, is a vivid, moving story for both kids and adults coming to terms with their childhood.

25:44 HBO Max series The Tourist starts off strong, but eventually falls into the predictable pitfalls of the amnesia thriller.

37:56 Plus, culture notes about the Cannes Film Festival’s partnership with TikTok.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Severance, After Yang, and gay cowboys Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Severance and After Yang, two futuristic works about what it means to be a person.

02:36 The sci-fi workplace psychological thriller Severance, streaming on Apple TV+, is one of the best shows on television right now.

23:33 After Yang, available on Showtime, is a contemplative film that excels at the aesthetic, but its touch is so light that it's rendered more gestural than deeply felt.

37:45 Plus, culture notes about everyone on The Power of the Dog being forced to defend it against Sam Elliott.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Love Is Blind: Japan, Drive My Car, and Zoë/Rob Mar 08, 2022

Show notes

We discuss tk

04:15 Love Is Blind: Japan, streaming on Netflix, is a more thoughtful and illuminating window into dating norms and challenges than its U.S. counterpart.

23:51 Drive My Car, available on HBO Max, is a long reflection on grief, love, and art, but it ultimately falls a little flat for us.

40:40 Plus, culture notes about Zoë Kravitz and Robert Pattinson's smolder-heavy press tour.

This episode is brought to you by MUBI, a curated streaming service showing exceptional films from around the globe. Try MUBI for free for 30 days at MUBI.com/criticismisdead.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

The Worst Person in the World, The Afterparty, and grab bag Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

We discuss The Worst Person in the World and The Afterparty, a film and a series about looking back and moving forward.

01:35 The Worst Person in the World, currently playing in theaters, explores existential questions through the small dramas of everyday life.

23:41 The Afterparty, streaming on Apple TV+, is the latest star-packed entry in the "millennial whodunnit" genre.

37:28 Plus, culture grab bag! Very brief thoughts on Annihilation, Somebody, Somewhere, Inventing Anna, The Gilded Age, Single Drunk Female, and The Righteous Gemstones.

This episode is brought to you by MUBI, a curated streaming service showing exceptional films from around the globe. Try MUBI for free for 30 days at MUBI.com/criticismisdead.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Nightmare Alley, Flee, and Oscar noms Feb 15, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Nightmare Alley and Flee, two films about men grappling with haunting pasts.

03:02 Nightmare Alley, available on HBO Max and Hulu, is a visually sumptuous lesson in the genre of film noir.

21:29 The animated docudrama Flee, streaming on Hulu, is a tender, bittersweet account of witnessing the terrors of humanity at a young age.

39:41 Plus, culture notes about this year's Oscar nominations, including who we want to win and who got shut out in the cold.

This episode is brought to you by MUBI. Justin Chon's GOOK and Mati Diop's short film ATLANTICS are streaming on MUBI in Canada and many other countries. Get MUBI for free for 30 days: MUBI.com/criticismisdead.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

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