Dr. Juli Fraga
Never Have I Ever
A fresh coming-of-age dramedy, Never Have I Ever depicts how the death of a loved one can impact teens’ mental health, as well as a parent’s wellbeing. Families enduring similar struggles will find relatability and reassurance to know they’re not alone.
Stepmom
A classic that addresses tough topics like blending families and how to cope with grief, Stepmom can also serve as a kind of road map for how to broach tough topics like a terminal illness.
Dead to Me (S3)
A form of cinematherapy, Dead to Me’s final season brings a big plot twist, one that can be emotionally provoking as well as a cathartic and entertaining conversation starter.
In Treatment (2021)
A timely reboot that depicts the vital relationship between a therapist and patient, and the meaningful role it plays in fostering growth and change.
Maiden
A lesson in surviving childhood trauma, channeling energy into a worthy cause, and fighting to win — even when the majority says victory is impossible.
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
At first glance a true crime story, the film is actually a look at how poverty, loneliness and imposter syndrome can seduce someone into creating a false reality.
Inside Out
With so many of us facing unfamiliar, anxiety-ridden situations today, Inside Out can serve as a useful prompt for the entire family to acknowledge our emotional experiences — sparking insight and helping us cope with change.
Workin’ Moms
When you can’t make it out of the house to attend a support group for new moms, this can be a great substitute. By showing the human side of motherhood, the series helps normalize maternal ambivalence, “mommy guilt,” and the pressure many women feel to be “perfect” moms.
Serendipity
A lesson in authenticity, the power of friendship, and acting on your gut feeling, even when the odds are against you.
Summer Escape Binges: The Best Series to Transport You
The best escapist shows and movies with travel and exotic settings.
Teen Romance for the Sweltering Summer
There’s a particular teenage feeling of promise to summer for me. School is out, the sun is beating, and the space between June and September seems big enough to live a lifetime in. Even for someone staunchly past teenhood, the tickle of summertime is exciting, Teen Romance For Sweltering Summer and self-transformation– and these are
Round the World: Summer Camp Movies for Grownups
Ah, summer camp. Images of wood cabins, elaborate pranks, cringe-y talent show performances, and teens with raging hormones have filled our brains, thanks to what’s become a subgenre of American & Summer Camp Movies.. But summer camp stories take on different depths depending upon the decade and the country where they’re set, and they can
What to Watch with your Roommates
It’s difficult to share your home with someone you don’t share anything else with. But one of the easiest inroads to friendship is television, and one of the joys of living with others is introducing them to the shows you love, and vice versa. Watching Carrie meet Big for the first time with my new-to-the-show
A Watercooler Watch: Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything
Before social media and podcasts, there was one undeniable truth about news-making interviews: if a story mattered, Barbara Walters would be the one to tell it. Landing a one-on-one with her didn’t just mean publicity, it meant you had become part of a national conversation. But while the interview signified that you had made it,
Universal Language
An absurdist dramedy about the clash of two worlds, Universal Language entertains as much as it motivates. Beyond the madness lies an urgent plea for unity, an appeal that resonates with people hoping for a better, more harmonious future.
Industry S1
Industry is a series fueled by greed, drugs, sex, and money, and provides all of these ingredients in Federal Reserve-sized quantities. There’s never a dull moment.
Minx
The streaming series about the intersection between feminism and smut could endear even the most skeptical. And what it might lack in delicacy, it certainly makes up for in swagger.
The Sympathizer
Told through the perspective of a conflicted hero with contradicting loyalties, The Sympathizer is an ambitious examination of a spy who can’t help but sympathize — hence, the title of the series — with the enemy. It might make you rethink everything you were taught about the Vietnam War too.
The Freshman
An endearing time capsule of a film that your great (great) grandparents likely watched, The Freshman captures the innocence and physical antics of silent era comedy with a clever story that even overstimulated kids would get a kick out of.
Telemarketers
Telemarketers mixes stranger-than-fiction characters, high-level mystery, and drug-fueled thrills, with the intrigue of a pulpy true crime flick. It’s as journalistically interesting as it is entertaining. Anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a telemarketing call (which is virtually everyone) is in for a shocking treat, as the scene you might imagine is on
The Hunt for Veerappan
A nuanced and riveting portrait of one of the most polarizing criminals in India, The Hunt for Veerappan is not afraid to delve into controversial points of view and share contrarian voices. More than anything, it encourages reflection and critical thinking — the ultimate goal of filmmaking.
How to With John Wilson
A surprisingly profound, unique, and often mesmerizing docuseries about the human experience that doubles as a love letter to New York City.
Stephen Curry: Underrated
An uplifting underdog story that has been trending as far away as the Phillippines, Stephen Curry: Underrated is a documentary about resilience, second chances, rising above adversities, and building a strong support system — something many of us could use right now.
An Interview with Talk to Me‘s Philippou Brothers
After crafting comedic horror sketches that went viral on YouTube (like the infamous “Ronald McDonald Playground Slaughter”), Talk to Me‘s Philippou Brothers Danny and Michael Philippou made the surprising leap into twin directors chairs to create A24’s spine-chilling new psychological horror hit, Talk to Me. The Australian-set feature debuted at Sundance to high praise, and
North Country
North Country is a movie designed to make you feel something. It’s a harsh, sometimes disgusting film that ultimately illuminates and uplifts as it sheds light on the courage of the human spirit.
Everything I Hated About They Cloned Tyrone
Obviously there will be spoilers that why Hated About They Cloned Tyrone, but I refuse to tell you who Tyrone is. They Cloned Tyrone is brilliant in both its concept and execution. Here’s the story: A drug dealer, a pimp, and a ho (their words, not mine) uncover a national government-sponsored cloning project. Imagine it:
Oppenheimer
A biopic of epic proportions, Oppenheimer is chock full of explosive blasts and guilty conscience. Flawless acting performances and artistic finesse make it a visual treat, while its relentless nature and powerful sense of injustice burn an image in your soul that doesn’t quite fade after leaving the theater.