Laurie Ulster
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
If you love the idea of an old-fashioned Star Trek that lives up to today’s standards of inclusion and diversity (so, minus the ‘60s sexism), this is going to be right up your alley.
Watching Star Trek: Picard? Binge These Q and Guinan Episodes First
Q (John de Lancie) and Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) are back in S2 of Star Trek: Picard, so let’s revisit the memorable TNG episodes featuring these two fan-favorite characters.
Abbott Elementary
Abbott Elementary will catch you off guard and surprise you. It captures the balance between comedy and heart, much like its mockumentary predecessors—but with a new spin, because the work these characters are doing truly matters.
The Center Seat
A combination of a deep dive and a crash course into Star Trek from its inception up through the early 2000s, covering the shows, movies, and the phenomenon itself.
Star Trek: Prodigy
The values of Star Trek, and then some: unity, diversity, individuality, optimism, idealism and hope. What more could you ask for? How about the return of Captain Janeway? Yeah, it’s got that too.
Star Trek: Lower Decks
An action-packed sci-fi comedy set in a Star Trek universe that it both reveres and lovingly mocks.
Why Star Trek: Picard Works Better as a Binge
To understand the power of the Star Trek franchise, binge watch Picard. The time is right.
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, a Musical About Grief, Is Perfect for Our Time
At its heart, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is a musical about navigating grief. Because of that, it makes a beeline through the clutter of my thoughts and reaches straight into my heart.
Laurie Ulster
Transport Me: Holiday Movies from Around the World
If you and your family are getting tired of the same old Christmas stories year after year, why not dig a little deeper and try these picks from around the world?
From SNL to the Director’s Chair: Kyle Mooney Talks Nostalgia, Freestyle Raps & Y2K
He stood out for hilariously awkward and offbeat SNL characters like the eccentric Bruce Chandling and the painfully relatable Chris Fitzpatrick. Whether parodying cringeworthy YouTube personalities or channeling the overly sincere energy of ’80s public access TV, Kyle Mooney’s knack for finding humor in the bizarre and uncomfortable has always set him apart. Beyond SNL,
Romance Me: Meet Your Holiday Streaming Date
Single this holiday season? Luck-y you. You’re free to binge – and fall for – all the charming, seductive, irresistible protagonists across the streamers. Check out these holiday-themed stories for starters.
The Holdovers
A cross-generation comedy drama that’s earned five Academy Award nominations, The Holdovers will tug at your heartstrings as it wrestles with themes of grief and loneliness, and it will ultimately nurture hope.
Dune: Part Two
A mesmerizing immersive experience, Dune: Part Two is a film you won’t quickly forget. From the collective talents of its high wattage ensemble cast to the stunning cinematography, costumes and sound design, its a blockbuster that will stimulate all the senses along with your emotions.
What to Watch (and Avoid) with Friends and Family over Thanksgiving
What to watch – and what to skip – if you’re spending Thanksgiving with kids, teenagers, older generations, or all of them under one roof? Your 2022 Watercooler Guide to holiday movies.
Tokyo Vice
On one level, Tokyo Vice is the story of one man’s kamikaze mission to bring down the Yakuza. But it’s also a mesmerizing noir drama that unfolds into a tense thriller — and ultimately serves as an important reminder that freedom of the press is worth fighting for.
Awards Season Catchup: A Watercooler Guide to Shōgun
An immersive must-watch embraced by critics, the new Shōgun brings a new perspective on the epic historical drama about the battle between East and West in 17th century Japan.
What the Netflix Hit The Diplomat Can Teach Us All
In the midst of all the hype about a dating show (Love is Blind) and a dark, LA-set comedy (Beef), a complex political drama that requires undivided attention rose to the top of the Netflix chart in 2023. At its core, The Diplomat is a series about bureaucratic machinations, yet the show ups the ante
The End of Kim’s Convenience is a Loss for TV Culture at Large
As one of the few shows to center around an Asian family, Kim’s Convenience broke barriers and was a big step forward in representation and diversity on North American television. Is there hope after its cancellation?
A Black Lady Sketch Show
A Black Lady Sketch Show is a fun, funny, and smart way to spend 30 minutes. Don’t be mad if you find yourself binging the entire series in one sitting.
Origin Story: How Friends Became the Ultimate Watercooler Hit
After a year-long delay due to the pandemic, the much-anticipated Friends Reunion Special finally has a “stream date”: Thursday, May 27th, a tribute to its original “Must-See TV” night. The big event has already driven legions of fans sign up for HBOMax, turning the service into “Must Stream TV.” David Janollari was a young development
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness
The subtitle isn’t just referring to David Berkowitz’s murderous rampage, but one investigator’s never-ending quest for the truth.
Stream and Scream: The Best Horror Movie Sequels
In honor of yet another Saw sequel, we present some of the best horror movie sequels to stream. When there’s money to be made, horror villains, no matter how shriveled, dead, or decapitated, always manage to return.
Vincenzo
Looking for an action-adventure, mafia epic, kooky comedy, or romantic thriller? This unconventional K-drama checks all the boxes.
The Mosquito Coast
Watching The Mosquito Coast, you get the sense that Apple TV+ was trying to make its version of Netflix’s immensely popular thriller series Ozark. And it succeeded.
The Best of What’s New on Netflix: May 2021
From Zach Snyder and Ryan Murphy’s latest to an all-star Hitchcockian thriller, May 2021 has some particularly promising new Netflix Originals.
Infinity Train
A thoughtful PG series full of imaginative designs and compelling, layered characters, Infinity Train finds the sweet spot between deeper philosophical themes and lighter, more whimsical fare.