Warrior’s Bloody Aftermath
The violent martial arts series Warrior is supposedly a remake of Kung Fu, which conveys a strong and peaceful masculinity we sorely need in these times.
Television
Features, reviews, interviews, and lists about television, covering the latest as well historical topics.
Louie Anderson Was Crying Out Loud Funny
For Crying Out Loud: How Louie Anderson’s televised therapy sessions created the saddest, funniest cartoon of the 1990s.
The Pornification of Everything
In this attention economy, where shock pays dividends and subtlety is a liability, the stripper is a cultural archetype, the influencer a high priest of exposure.
‘Corner Gas’ vs. ‘Trailer Park Boys’: Politeness as Mask, Profanity as Mirror
Sitcoms Corner Gas and Trailer Park Boys form a double helix of Canadian self-image: the mask and the mirror.
The Righteous Gemstones’ Unholy Satire
While there is a lot to laugh about in The Righteous Gemstones, its serious critique of televangelism is hard to ignore.
‘Rotten Legacy’ and Morality in Child-Rearing
Netflix drama Rotten Legacy explores the often contradictory and haunting lessons in morality our children inherit.
‘Your Friends and Neighbors’ Doses Morphine
A parade of high-thread-count nihilism, the Jon Hamm-led Your Friends and Neighbors isn’t a sorely needed critique of the American elite; it’s a product of them.
Posh ‘Sirens’ Digs Up Dirt on the American Family
Posh miniseries Sirens may appear to be just wealth-porn, but it digs into the dirt of individualism and familial ties.
Sitcoms Written by Women Are a Funny Thing
The working lives of these women TV writers in the 1950s were very different from the sitcom wives they scripted.
John Mulaney’s Comedy by Design
As streaming platforms flood the landscape with stand-up specials, John Mulaney’s specials demonstrate that comedy at its best only appears to be spontaneous.
The Safety Trap: Society’s Destructive Fear of Risk-Taking
In episodes from SpongeBob SquarePants and South Park, risk-taking is rejected, leading to psychosis and isolation, or it becomes an an ideology, leading to destruction and absurdity. A degree of risk-taking, however, is essential for a healthy society.
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and the Antagonistic Vigilante
Vigilantism is central to Daredevil: Born Again, but what does our fascination with the antagonistic vigilante reveal about us?