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7.4

On Swift Horses is a bumpy but beautiful ride

By: Tim Stevens

A sumptuous if uneven 50s period film kept on the trail by its striking visuals and strong performances.

5.2

Cry Havoc and let slip a hail of meaningless bullets

By: Tim Stevens

Gareth Edwards’ latest is plenty loud, very red, & little else. despite starring Tom Hardy, Timothy Olyphant, and Forest Whitaker.

7.3

Étoile hasn’t mastered the steps

By: Tim Stevens

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino’s return to the world of dance has its moments but can’t put together a full routine.

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time

The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

8.0

Drop in on Drop for some fun thrills

By: Tim Stevens

Christopher Landon’s latest returns him to well-plotted, effective thriller territory after a brief journey into family-friendly territory.

8.7

Loss and tech overreach haunt Cronenberg’s The Shrouds

David Cronenberg’s latest is a messy glimpse into his mourning.

9.4

The Rehearsal Season 2 delivers more mind-boggling Nathan Fielder excellence

Nathan Fielder is in classic form in season 2, blurring the line between truth and artifice while wringing laughs out of discomfort.

8.4

Black Mirror Season 7 mostly worth another trip through the looking glass

By: Tim Stevens

The dystopian oriented anthology series plays a predominantly melancholic note in its newest Netflix season.

8.3

Your Friends & Neighbors are a bit much at times

By: Tim Stevens

Jon Hamm is perfect as the disgraced lead stealing to maintain his socioeconomic caste in uneven AppleTV+ offering.

6.1

Tracking down The Bondsman isn’t worth the skiptrace

By: Tim Stevens

Prime Video’s bounty hunter for Hell series wastes a great premise on checklist storytelling.

The 25 Best Films of 2023

The best films of the year include gritty crime dramas, auteurs returning with bold new works, and quirky comedies.

The 25 Best TV Shows of 2023

From aliens to vampires, this year's TV offered bittersweet goodbyes to acclaimed shows and bold debuts from new voices.

The 25 Best TV Shows of 2022

The ongoing refrain of every TV critic, especially come end-of-year time: There’s too much TV. This year is no exception, with networks and streaming services alike competing for our attention with one big-budget, well-crafted set of eight-to-ten-hour stories after another. It’s the kind of model that doesn’t seem built to last, and 2022 might see ... The 25 Best TV Shows of 2022

The 25 Best Films of 2022

From After Yang to Top Gun, we break down our favorite movies of the year.

How to Watch Grosse Pointe Garden Society on NBC Without Cable

You would think that a gardening club would be relaxing, but for the Grosse Pointe Garden Society, it’s the best way to dig up some drama, secrets, and maybe, even a body. Created by Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs, the new NBC dramedy has a lot in store for viewers with its star-studded cast in ... How to Watch Grosse Pointe Garden Society on NBC Without Cable

How To Watch ESPN2 Without Cable in 2025

For some, potentially losing sports coverage is the only thing stopping them from cutting the cord. But the fact is, almost all live TV streaming services carry sports channels—ESPN2, in particular, is not that difficult to come by. As ESPN’s secondary channel, it airs major league events from the NBA, NHL, and MLB alongside college ... How To Watch ESPN2 Without Cable in 2025

How to Watch Suits: L.A. Without Cable

After getting a nostalgic viral moment in 2023, Suits finally got the chance to expand the franchise, and this time, they’re expanding to the West Coast. While the office holds completely new associates, Suits L.A. promises to give the same witty, rapid-fire dialogue that made the lawyers so entertaining to watch. And of course, with ... How to Watch Suits: L.A. Without Cable

How to Watch Bravo Live Without Cable in 2025

Home to Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck, Project Runway, Top Chef, and The Real Housewives of every city conceivable, Bravo is the go-to channel for guilty-pleasure, no-holds-barred, drama-filled reality TV. You want something educational? Go put on a different channel. You want something purely entertaining? Then it doesn’t get any better than middle-aged glamazons hurling carefully ... How to Watch Bravo Live Without Cable in 2025

How to Stream the 2025 Oscars on ABC Without Cable

The 2025 Oscar nominations have been controversial, to say the least, but that could mean one thing: one hell of a show. And for the first time in years, the Oscars will welcome back a host as Conan O’Brien gets on stage. Can the seasoned comedian salvage whatever chaos inevitably comes this awards show’s way, ... How to Stream the 2025 Oscars on ABC Without Cable

How to Watch Next Level Chef Season 4 Without Cable

Continuing his reign on the culinary side of FOX, Gordon Ramsey returns with another season of Next Level Chef. This show challenges chef contestants to compete from different levels of cooking in different levels of kitchens in order to determine who creates the best dishes across all levels. Where to watch Next Level Chef Season ... How to Watch Next Level Chef Season 4 Without Cable

The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial

The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial

The Cheapest Live TV Streaming Services (< $40)

Cord-cutting once carried the promise of reducing live TV costs, but with most services nearing a $100 per month, that statement checks less every day. That said, there is a handful of cord-cutting services with reasonable monthly prices. Below we list them.

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