Gwen Ihnat

Minx is a fun examination of not only evolving sexual politics but the myriad emotions behind them.

It’s The Thing About Pam’s performances from actors breaking from their established molds that make it stand out in an overpacked genre.

The series replicates HIMYM’s narrative inventiveness, but it’s the chemistry between its leads the new series tries hardest to recreate. ... Part of the problem is, without the core chemistry (which may take a few episodes to work out), the new show so far also lacks the clever plot overlays we came to expect from Carter Bays and Craig Thomas’ original series.

Locke & Key’s second season proves the show can reach greater, spookier heights as long it keeps the focus where it belongs: on the kids.

Compelling performers and their interpersonal storylines make The Morning Show watchable, even as the series’ lecturing threatens to push the audience out of reach.

As each episode of Fantasy Island unfurls, it’s clear that the possibilities at this particular retreat are truly limitless, which makes the series a tantalizing watch just to see what the island will come up with next.

Physical spends so much time on Danny’s boring campaign that we’re often not rooting for anyone we see on screen. ... The only reason we root for Sheila at all is Byrne, who stokes her character’s desperation while gradually finding the building blocks of her strength, in aerobics class and out of it.

It would be difficult to draft a contender who could rival Welch’s skill in steering the audience through the various travails of Panic. For an enjoyable summer vacation binge-watch, the teens should eat this up.

There is something sweet about seeing all six in the same room together for the first time in years, as their affection for each other is obvious. ... The problem is, for such a well-loved (and well-examined) series, there is very little new info here.

The Irregulars serves as a conduit, especially for fans of Sherlock Holmes in all his many forms, into some goosebump-inducing, jump-scare-filled mysteries—intriguing to be sure, but not for the faint of heart.

There’s a decent YA show in here somewhere, but along with its abundance of plot, Ginny & Georgia needs to step away from the plethora of Gilmore Girls references to get there.

The three talented leads struggle valiantly to rise above such rapidly descending material, as murky and sticky as the swamps Emma and Jess travel through in St. James. ... Maybe in a different era, Tell Me Your Secrets would have fared better—but as it stands, 10 hours of depressing psychological warfare (scored by ominous string instruments that sound like they’re being strangled) is probably not something many are jonesing to dive into right now.

Bridgerton has a soapy, compelling way about it.

For the most part, the leads seem to have a good handle on who they are and are not interested in, and effectively weed out the inevitably drama-fueled toxic interlopers; when confused, the three of them meet up to get some valuable outside perspective and moral support. The fluidity of the dating pools also allows for some interesting crossover.

It could use some more twists and turns, and maybe a few additional wisecracks; nevertheless, in this new series, The Hardy Boys’ magnetic appeal is intact.

Dash & Lily’s two leads are more than engaging enough to sell this unconventionally detached relationship.

As travelogue and fashion inspiration, Emily In Paris makes for an enjoyable watch—but the familiar plights of its rom-com heroine are easily outshone by the gorgeous, glittering surroundings.

Filthy Rich wants to be more clever than it is, but its overly dramatic plot twists (Eugene’s body isn’t discovered in the plane crash) can be spotted a mile away by anyone who’s seen even a single episode of Dallas.

Belying the simplicity of its title, Teenage Bounty Hunters gets extremely complicated as it delves into concepts like teenage purity, first-time queer experiences, and an intriguing mystery involving the girls’ mom, whose polished facade apparently hides a multitude of past sins. Fortunately, the main cast is backed by equally talented performers like Mackenzie Astin as the girls’ dad, underrated Fairly Legal alum Virginia Williams as their duplicitous mom, and Devon Hales as a venomous classmate.

Rhys deftly unfurls the enigmatic character layer by layer, crafting this degenerate into a more recognizable version of the legal icon revered for decades. The mystery of how he’s able to pull that off is far more compelling than the unsavory plot that strings Perry Mason along.

The tragic consequences of Betty and Dan’s story hangs over Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story from the beginning, elevating the series from a possible Lifetime knockoff to a realistic and unforgettable portrayal of mental breakdown, casting Amanda Peet in a new dramatic light.

Even after five episodes, the new JSA still seems far removed from being able to take on these experienced supervillains. The potential for fun in the series’ future episodes likely lies in viewing their determined efforts to try. ... Most of all, though, we have to hope that Pat (Luke Wilson) takes a bigger role in mentoring these young heroes: He’s way too effective and enjoyable a character to be stuck on the sidelines for long.

The setup is so entertaining that it belies the tremendous amount of work that must have gone into it. ... The result is seamless, as plots veer off in different directions without ever feeling jarring.

While The Mindy Project was content with stretching out a rom-com over several seasons, Never Have I Ever has greater emotional depth.

By shifting part of the focus to fashion as a marketable business, Making The Cut appears to have cut out all the gimmicks, and unnecessary drama, focusing instead on the personalities, talent, skill level, and the design itself. This format plays to both towering strengths of mentor Tim Gunn, letting him do what he does best.

The Letter For The King winds up with a few loose ends, ostensibly opening the door for a season two. If it does get a second season, hopefully the series will expand on its positive aspects—young appealing leads, gorgeous scenery, valuable life lessons—while paring down on the pointless plots and tired meandering. A series with a title this simple shouldn’t be so convoluted.

Little Fires Everywhere offers an at-times fascinating exploration of parenting, privilege, motherhood, even womanhood, but its overall message is clear: Eventually, parents just have to let go.

Thanks to the skill and charisma of these players, Dispatches’ human moments resonate even in the midst of a murky swamp of absurdity.