Better crimes and punishments

Jenna Coleman and Tahar Rahim in The Serpent. PHOTO: Courtesy of Netflix

The superb BBC miniseries The Serpent, which recently made its way to Netflix, reminded me that I’m pretty particular when it comes to TV shows about lawbreakers and the law enf... Read More

Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany in Wandavision.Photo: Marvel studios

Television

Portals to adventure in time and space

By Michael Snyder

In times of strife, people thirst for escapism. That’s as good a reason as any to explain the current proliferation of science fiction and fantasy movies and television. One nee... Read More

Television

A good time for television tranquilizers

By Michael Snyder

Now more than ever, a little escapism goes a long way to ease the stress that’s become a default setting for many of us. And if you can find a TV series or movie that generates ... Read More

Television

The empress and the stranger

By Michael Snyder

Despite current production suspensions and slowdowns that have caused some of our go-to network and cable TV programs to shorten their seasons or postpone their upcoming returns, ... Read More

Television

Must-stream video

From showbiz comedy to crime drama

By Michael Snyder

It’s no longer a surprise to learn that a friend who you think might have ghosted you, fallen off the grid, or — oh no! — been kidnapped has instead become entranced by some ... Read More

Television

All hail the princess and the commander in chief

By Michael Snyder

Call me eclectic when it comes to storytelling. No matter the genre, if it’s done well, I’m interested. That leads me to high-quality entertainment in some unexpected places. F... Read More

Television

Dark passage, dark night

By Michael Snyder

It’s fair to assume that most wired-in people have at least one or two favorite primetime television shows that demand a weekly watch. I’ve heard the phrase “appointment TV�... Read More

Television

Binge-worthy television for wintertime

By Michael Snyder

Even sunny California suffers inclement winter weather, inspiring us to spend more evenings in cozy surroundings — like in front of our video screens, rather than venturing out t... Read More

Television

Sifting through the fall television season

By Michael Snyder

Are viewers suffering from narrative fatigue due to the unprecedented year-round increase in television programming since we entered the era of streaming video content? Maybe, but ... Read More

Television

Welcome to the age of video overload: Here’s what’s worth watching

By Michael Snyder

As mass media became increasingly massive during the past five decades, some pundit or scholar developed the concept of “information overload.” One might imagine a poor unfortu... Read More

Television

Handicapping the fall TV schedule

By Michael Snyder

The anticipation of the fall network television season has been diminished in part by the year-round premieres of shows on cable and, in a relatively recent wrinkle, streaming serv... Read More

Television

Tuning in to new tube treats

By Michael Snyder

The now-prevalent year-round barrage of television premieres assures viewers will receive another selection of new and returning programs throughout the summer, whether riches or r... Read More

Television

Found in translation

By Michael Snyder

Globalization can be seen as a curse or a blessing, but in the television business, it’s been a welcome business model. The thought came to me as I was catching up to the Fra... Read More

Television

From best to worst on fall TV

By Michael Snyder

Although new television programming comes our way all year long in the modern, multiplatform digital world, there’s still something comforting and even a little exciting about th... Read More

Television

As the seasons change, so does television (for the better)

By Michael Snyder

When I was a kid, there were only two TV seasons: one in the fall and one in the summer. After our favorite shows ran for 20-plus new episodes from September to May, we had nothing... Read More

Television