In the “content” era, TV comedy increasingly feels like a way for networks to populate their YouTube channels and…
Ali Barthwell
abarthwell
Contributor, The A.V. Club. Ali Barthwell is a wearer of fine lipstick and fine hosiery.
Luke Cage has drawn on Blaxploitation films for its visual style and its themes. The character in the comic books…
I fully understand that there are some among you in the comments that disagree with my hot takes on Luke Cage this…
I know it must get a little repetitive to read these reviews where I keep saying that I want something more from Luke…
After the emotional thrill ride of the last episode and the threat of Bushmaster on the loose, “The Main Ingredient”…
Luke Cage wants to position itself as a series about oppressed people and resistance. The first season utilized the…
Even a mediocre episode of Luke Cage feels like a really good episode of any police procedural. It makes sense that…
The issue with Luke Cage being the least interesting character on the series could be mitigated if the series used…
We’re almost at the midpoint of the season and by the midpoint of any work of fiction, we should be turning some…
Luke Cage is a lot of things: a crime drama, a comic book show, a modern take on blaxploitation. But this episode…
Because Netflix series are intended for binge-watching, it’s difficult for a single episode to stand out. Episode…
There’s a lot written on “Netflix’s Strategy” to get viewers hooked. Pacing the season out to have the most impact…
When it comes to comic book villains, there are two tactics to take when it comes to their backstory. One: to…
After the mystical and enigmatic happenings in The Defenders, it’s a real treat to return to the down-to-earth…
It’s telling that this episode of Rise spent an entire almost act of the episode on a tense, artfully shot football…
In my experience, the third episode of a television show can be a make-or-break situation. In the best-case…
Over and over throughout this episode, characters tell Lou he can’t fix his problems with another passionate speech…
Watching creative people build something together makes for great television. Whether it’s an ad, a musical, or a…
From the moment this series dropped, commentary and criticism about this episode has been all over Twitter. It’s the…
There have been more than a few remarks and concerns in the comments that I’m not a big enough fan of Spike Lee.…