
Liam Mathews

Sexy Beasts
You know how Belle fell for that Beast, who was really just a Furry hiding a hot stud of a prince? That’s essentially the premise of this dating show, which may or may not be a parody of The Bachelor. Shop for your next date or your next pet and have a jolly good howl.

Halloween Kills
Halloween Kills is a worthy entry in the Halloween franchise. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s an above-average slasher movie that will get you in the spooky season mood.

What You Need to Know About Impeachment: American Crime Story
Each season of FX’s American Crime Story franchise, executive producer Ryan Murphy and his team of collaborators dramatize a true crime that dominated headlines in the ‘90s. It’s renowned for finding fresh, compelling angles that re-evaluate well-known stories while providing juicy parts for ambitious actors. The first season, The People v. O.J. Simpson, came out

The Voyeurs
A fun, sexy revival of a lost genre with a modern twist. If you like movies that make you feel a little bit dirty for enjoying them, The Voyeurs will float your boat.

After the Dystopian Drama See, Get Inspired by the Blind Magician Documentary Dealt
Welcome to What to Watch After, where you’ll find recommendations inspired by your favorite dark shows and movies that the algorithm couldn’t come up with, and only a thinking human brain would suggest. Instead of more disturbing dystopian serial killer horror, the Watercooler’s after-watch picks work as “palate cleansers” to help clear your head so

If You Loved The White Lotus, Here Are Six Shows to Watch Next
A biting satire series from creator Mike White (Enlightened, School of Rock), White Lotus covers one eventful week at an exclusive Hawaiian luxury resort, where conflict brews between the spoiled rich guests — who are all going through personal crises that money might not be able to fix — and the stressed-out workers who have

The North Water
A dark and intense historical saga, The North Water is not for everyone, but it’s a must-watch for fans of nautical period pieces and truly cinematic television.

Reservation Dogs
Reservation Dogs is a fresh comedy series from a community that’s never made a show like this before. It’s one of the best new comedies of the year so far.

She’s Gotta Have It
Free-spirited artist Nola Darling (DeWanda Wise) juggles three lovers while trying to stay true to herself in this sexy comedy-drama series that brings a timely update to Spike Lee’s 1986 film. A hidden gem that ran from 2017-2019, it’s waiting to be rediscovered on Netflix.

Liam Mathews

Homeland
The compelling qualities that first drew me to write in the genre are the same attractions that are abundant in Homeland: plot, tension, moral ambiguity, and paradigm-shattering twists.

What the Constitution Means to Me
Well-written, heartfelt, and necessary, What the Constitution Means to Me isn’t your typical streaming special, but thanks to Heidi Schreck’s captivating performance and distinctive point of view, it’s a must-see on any platform.

Secreto Bien Guardado (Argentina)
This Argentinian watercooler drama has sparked debate all around the world. Our Buenos Aires-based correspondent explains why.

The Queen’s Gambit
Between the terrific performances, the fantastic period details, and the way it approaches chess as a thrilling, tension-filled competitive sport, this series makes braininess cool.

The Haunting of Bly Manor
Though it’s only had two installments so far, the “Haunting” series is shaping up to be a superb showcase for long-form supernatural storytelling. If you like your horror more gothic than gory, Bly Manor absolutely fits the bill.

What Lovecraft Country Can Tell Us About Our History
My husband and I first bonded over science-fiction and fantasy. He learned on our first date that I was a Star Wars fan and gave me a Millennium Falcon replica on our second. He had me at “I know.” We still watch sci-fi and fantasy movies and binge TV shows together. From the MCU to

The Forty-Year-Old Version
Blank’s storytelling style embraces the part of everyone that deals with the issues of feeling old, over, but not done yet. It’s a hopeful look at how to persevere in a culture that ignores you.

Agents of Chaos
This documentary leaves no room for reasonable doubt that our democracy fell under attack in 2016, and that it could happen again.

The Good Lord Bird
What can seem like a wild-ride Coen brothers adventure-comedy on one level is actually a stirring exploration of history: a peeling away of the layers of religion, identity, and race that have intertwined to drive some of the biggest events that collectively shaped us.

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.

Best of the Watercooler: Movies & Series to Watch Now
The start of December ushers in a flurry of new releases, a mix of crowd-pleasing holiday movies and awards season fare that can make the scrolling and app jumping feel especially overwhelming. So we’ve sifted out six of the most exciting, engrossing, and transporting new films, shows, and even a podcast — each of which

Under the Radar Holiday Movies for Every Mood
It’s already happened, friends. I was driving around, six weeks from Christmas, the radio on, when I heard it. That one song. The one that tells us to brace ourselves, the holidays are coming: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” And I am not ashamed to admit that I bellowed out every

Napoleon
A stunning, riveting, and surprisingly funny biopic, Ridley Scott’s Napoleon is a cinematic tour de force: a visual masterclass in humanity and all its ills.

Scott Pilgrim vs The World
A fun, comical, unexpected breath of fresh air, Scott Pilgrim vs the World blends cleverly crafted action with a story about how to deal with the pain of young love, accept ourselves and move on – shifting our focus from the past to the present.

The Holdovers
A cross-generation watch that delivers a breath of fresh air to the holiday movie season, The Holdovers will tug at your heartstrings as it wrestles with deeper themes — ultimately nurturing hope.

What to Watch (and Avoid) with Friends and Family over the Holidays
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.

How to Jump Into The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
It has been 11 years since Katniss and Peeta were introduced in The Hunger Games, the film that broke box office records and kicked off a dystopian blockbuster trilogy. The duo were dragged back into the arena in the sequels Catching Fire and Mockingjay: Part One before they finally found some semblance of peace in

A Need to Know Guide to Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
The first streaming series in the Godzilla monsterverse is an epic story that straddles two timelines and three generations — explaining the origin story of the people who have studied the colossal creatures over the past 70 years.