Criticism Is Dead

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Euphoria, As We See It, and Rosamund Pike Feb 08, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Euphoria and As We See It, two shows about the pains of growing up.

02:53 HBO teen drama Euphoria is inarguably a huge cultural force, especially among younger generations — but is it any good?

21:52 As We See It, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is one of the few genuinely terrific shows about people with autism and the loved ones in their orbit.

39:00 Plus, culture notes about Rosamund Pike's running streak of strange taste in projects. (We reference this article by Olivia Craighead.)

This episode is brought to you by MUBI, a curated streaming service showing exceptional films from around the globe. Catch some of our recommendations in this episode, and try MUBI for free for 30 days at MUBI.com/criticismisdead.

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Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. For extended show notes — including links that we reference, plus more — subscribe to our Substack. Inquiries, complaints, and recs for what to watch can go to criticismisdead@gmail.com.

Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Abbott Elementary, A Hero, and Sundance dispatch Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Abbott Elementary and A Hero, a sitcom and a film about people trying to do good in a complicated world.

03:42 Abbott Elementary, streaming on Hulu, is a solid new workplace sitcom to add to your weekly rotation.

18:00 A Hero, streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is a profound film about morality, honesty, and honor.

36:58 Plus, culture notes about Pelin’s virtual Sundance Film Festival experience.

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

And Just Like That, The Last Duel, and Netflix's price hike Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

We discuss And Just Like That... and The Last Duel, two works about the lives of women.

04:03 HBO Max's And Just Like That... interestingly picks up the thread of cynicism that ran through Sex and the City, but it loses some of the magic of the original.

30:22 The Last Duel, streaming on HBO Max, makes good use of the Rashomon effect to depict the horrendous truth of a woman's experience at the hands of men.

39:47 Plus, culture notes about Netflix's latest price increase and how it's trying to adapt in a world flush with streaming competitors.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

The Lost Daughter, Landscapers, and when Kanye met Julia Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

We discuss The Lost Daughter and Landscapers, two works that explore the complexities of codependency, whether in motherhood or in marriage.

02:53 The Lost Daughter, streaming on Netflix, is a brutal, intimate, unforgettable film about what it means to be a mother.

22:03 Landscapers, a limited series on HBO, is a love story — dressed as a true crime drama — underpinned by questions of fantasy, delusion, and reality.

37:28 Plus, culture notes about Julia Fox and Kanye West at Carbone: a celebrity date to remember (in the pages of Interview Magazine).

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Station Eleven, Don't Look Up, and grab bag Jan 04, 2022

Show notes

We discuss Station Eleven and Don't Look Up, two visions of the end of the world.

03:33 Station Eleven, streaming on HBO Max, is a compelling miniseries about what it means to not just survive, but to live and rebuild.

23:22 Netflix's star-studded Don't Look Up is a perfectly okay Movie With a Message that has attracted far more discourse than anyone needs.

43:17 Plus, instead of our normal culture notes, we do a little grab bag on things we've watched recently but haven't had a chance to mention: Pen15, Insecure, The Matrix Resurrections, Emily in Paris season 2, Selling Tampa, and Queer Eye season 6.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

The best movies and TV shows of 2021 (in our opinion) Dec 21, 2021

Show notes

It's our year-end special! To close out 2021, we each present our top 5 picks for film and TV, respectively, from this year.

03:10 Movies!

16:39 TV!

31:11 Bonus: Books!

(For film and TV honorable mentions, check out criticismisdead.substack.com.)

Thank you very much for tuning in this year. We will see you next year!!!!

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Yellowjackets, The Great, and that Jeremy Strong profile Dec 14, 2021

Show notes

We discuss Yellowjackets and The Great, two shows about female savagery as a matter of survival, whether that's in the Canadian wilderness or the 18th-century Russian court.

02:43 Yellowjackets, airing on Showtime, is compelling in its depiction of the violence and trauma that a high school girls' soccer team inflict on each other.

20:08 The Great, in its second season on Hulu, is an ahistorical romp that relishes in wicked absurdity as well as some genuinely tender moments.

31:38 Plus, culture notes about New Yorker writer Michael Schulman's profile of Jeremy Strong — and all the weird reactions it has sparked in both readers and celebrities.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Succession feat. Judy Berman Dec 07, 2021

Show notes

In this special episode, we discuss Succession, a show that needs no introduction.

(Note: Spoilers up through S3E7; at the time of recording, we had NOT watched the last two episodes of season 3.)

We're joined by a special guest: Judy Berman, one of our favorite critics, who writes about TV for Time.

04:24 HBO series Succession is among the all-time greats — and here's why.

Follow Judy on Twitter (@judyberman) and check out her writing for Time:

Also, read about us on _Time_'s list of the 10 best podcasts of 2021!!!!!

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

The French Dispatch, Selling Sunset, and GBBO finale Nov 30, 2021

Show notes

We discuss The French Dispatch and Selling Sunset, two artifices of reality.

04:38 The French Dispatch, playing in theaters, is very “Wes Anderson” (to borrow a phrase), and we like that.

22:30 Netflix reality show Selling Sunset needs to dial back on the tepid interpersonal drama and bring back more opulent, ostentatious houses to look at.

40:15 Plus, a short debrief on the Great British Bake Off finale and our favorites from this season.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

Scenes From a Marriage, The Harder They Fall, and Taylor's version Nov 16, 2021

Show notes

We discuss Scenes From a Marriage and The Harder They Fall, two recent works with mixed reception worth exploring (we love gray areas).

02:44 Scenes From a Marriage, streaming on HBO Max, is hard to watch, but emotionally rich and raw with superb performances.

28:09 Despite its fun flourishes and the seed of a great concept, Netflix’s The Harder They Fall is ultimately more style over substance.

41:46 Plus, culture notes about Taylor vs. Jake.

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Music: REEKAH

Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu

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