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“The United States vs. Billie Holiday” can’t build a strong case for itself

United States vs. Billie Holiday
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Andra Day shines in Lee Daniels’ otherwise-messy biopic about the Black cultural icon, squandering some fine potential.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on February 21, 2021February 21, 2021

“The Sister” is fine, but not much more

The Sister
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Hulu’s latest prestige series looks good and features a powerful performance by its leading man, but isn’t anything we haven’t seen before.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on January 19, 2021January 19, 2021

“The Ultimate Playlist of Noise” is treacly YA that can’t find its voice

Ultimate Playlist of Noise (Hulu)
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Bennett Lasseter’s teen romance plays like Sound of Metal for the YA set, but sags under a heaping helping of misconceptions about deafness.

Charlotte Little Posted on January 15, 2021January 15, 2021

The Top 25 TV Shows of 2020

The Best TV Shows of 2020
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From BoJack to What We Do in the Shadows, we break down the TV that got us through a hellish year.

The Spool Staff Posted on December 16, 2020January 3, 2021

“No Man’s Land” is a thoughtful, gripping modern war drama

No Man's Land
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The Hulu original series about the Syrian Civil War offers strong performances and unexpected dark humor.

Oluwatayo Adewole Posted on November 19, 2020November 19, 2020

“Happiest Season” queers the Christmas movie

Happiest Season
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The Hulu exclusive from writer/director Clea Duvall is a cute romantic comedy to put you in the holiday spirit.

Theo Estes Posted on November 19, 2020November 19, 2020

“Animaniacs” returns to Hulu with a shiny new coat and the same old jokes

Animaniacs
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Yakko, Wakko, and Dot burst back onto the small screen with the exact same sensibility it left with in the ’90s, for better and worse.

B.L. Panther Posted on November 18, 2020November 18, 2020

“Run” doesn’t really go anywhere

Run
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Aneesh Chaganty’s suspense thriller features excellent performances but suffers from too many plot holes.

Sarah Gorr Posted on November 17, 2020November 23, 2020

“Eater’s Guide to the World” feeds our need to see how the world dines out

Eater's Guide to the World
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Maya Rudolph narrates a dizzying, nostalgic trip around the world to the cuisines we all miss right now.

Ashley Lara Posted on November 10, 2020November 10, 2020

Nightstream: “Run” is a fast-paced thriller about a mother with a dark secret

Run
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Sarah Paulson is outstanding as usual in Aneesh Chaganty’s well-crafted suspense thriller that pits an overprotective parent against her suspicious teen.

Gena Radcliffe Posted on October 9, 2020October 8, 2020

“Books of Blood” is more slog than scares

Books of Blood
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Brannon Braga taps into Clive Barker’s horror anthology, but the end result fails to live up to its reputation.

Theo Estes Posted on October 7, 2020October 7, 2020

“Monsterland” is a dreary look at the dark side of the soul

Monsterland
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Mary Laws adapts Daniel Ballingrud’s supernatural short fiction about the evil that humans do.

Dot Green Posted on September 30, 2020September 29, 2020

“Woke” is a comedy that balances serious with silly

Woke
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Keith Knight & Marshall Todd’s new Hulu series is a sly mix of comedy and real-life issues that makes for a satisfying social comment.

Dot Green Posted on September 8, 2020September 8, 2020

“Palm Springs” is a time loop movie that actually has something to say

Palm Springs
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Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti buoy Max Barbakow’s first scripted feature, mixing laughs and light philosophy in the process.

Matt Cipolla Posted on July 7, 2020September 29, 2020

TV spinoff “Love, Victor” complicates its squeaky-clean queerness

Love, Victor
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Hulu’s spinoff of Love, Simon has a shaky start, but ultimately offers value to queer youth searching for guidance.

B.L. Panther Posted on June 19, 2020June 19, 2020

“What We Do in the Shadows” suddenly became the best sitcom on TV

What We Do in the Shadows Season 2
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The good-natured, cheeky comedy about vampire roommates concludes a hilarious, surprisingly touching at times second season.

Gena Radcliffe Posted on June 12, 2020June 18, 2020

“Crossing Swords” is a historically unfunny parody of medieval times

Crossing Swords
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John Harvatine IV & Tom Root’s attempt at recapturing the goofy joy of “Robot Chicken” is a disappointing mess.

Sean Price Posted on June 11, 2020June 18, 2020

Necessity is the mother of invention: Tamar-kali on “Shirley”

Tamar-kali Shirley
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The Afropunk musician-turned-composer talks to us about diving into the complicated musical psyche of Shirley Jackson.

Clint Worthington Posted on June 5, 2020July 2, 2020

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