Whitney Friedlander

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Paste Magazine
For 21 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 100% higher than the average critic
  • 0% same as the average critic
  • 0% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 15.4 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Whitney Friedlander's Scores

Average review score: 84
Highest review score: 97 Better Things: Season 5
Lowest review score: 75 Lisey's Story: Season 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
21 tv reviews
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    • 81 Metascore
    • 88 Whitney Friedlander
    Party Down: Season 3
    The show proves that not much has changed about the industry or the people who serve it besides the power of the internet. ... The show could be required viewing for anyone hoping to move to Los Angeles and wanting to know what to expect.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Whitney Friedlander
    Fleishman Is in Trouble: Season 1
    The acting is substantial. The chemistry from all four of the leads is inspiring. The way Danes and Eisenberg are able to overlap dialogue until their fights are at a crescendo would make Noah Baumbach pause and take notice.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 83 Whitney Friedlander
    Alaska Daily: Season 1
    The most interesting characters by far are Ami Park’s Yuna Park, Meredith Holzman’s Claire Muncy, and Grace Dove’s Roz Friendly. Yuna is an eager young journalist who learns all-too-quickly that reporting the truth means consequences for the people she covers, whether or not they deserve it. ... [Claire] writes a manifesto in the second episode about the state of the world today that is not at all preachy but is very, very sad and pragmatic.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 90 Whitney Friedlander
    A Friend of the Family: Season 1
    What’s fascinating about A Friend of the Family, and also what makes it different than a lot of other scripted takes on true crime, is that the series doesn’t so much try to answer the why of how this happened (psychologists have devoted their entire careers to exploring why someone would prey on a child). Instead, it looks at the how of it. ... Much of the success of this limited series can be attributed to its willingness to cast against type.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 87 Whitney Friedlander
    Reboot (2022): Season 1
    Semantics aside, Reboot is still a very funny show that hits hard at what’s wrong with everything from Peak TV culture (Krista Marie Yu plays Elaine, a Hulu executive who does her job by metrics and spreadsheets) to legendary sitcom writer hackery (“he lost his job because he falls asleep whenever he hears a bell!” offers up a TV writer played by former Hill Street Blues actor George Wyner), and proper workplace conduct in a post-MeToo era.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 90 Whitney Friedlander
    A League of Their Own (2022): Season 1
    Jacobson and Graham have used a known IP to spend worthwhile time digging deeper into that time period’s veneer of ragged hair and men in crisp uniforms who make women swoon. Now it’s just a matter of whether audiences will batter up and hear their call.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 78 Whitney Friedlander
    Ridley Road: Season 1
    While the idea of a young woman risking her life to topple the Nazi patriarchy is exciting, Solemani may have had a stronger story had she stuck with what the plot really wants to be. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with being a romance drama that doesn’t involve a character tight-rope walking across a rooftop in heels while holding a suitcase.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 86 Whitney Friedlander
    The Baby: Season 1
    Creators Robins-Grace and Gaymer are making more than just a feminist statement about the burdons put upon parents (moms). They have also found a smart way to look at the discussions of generational trauma that we’ve also seen on shows like Netflix’s Russian Doll and Prime Video’s Transparent.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Whitney Friedlander
    Shining Vale: Season 1
    The plot and dialogue are enjoyable, even in the former’s predictability. ... Shining Vale also comes with solid writing and directing.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 97 Whitney Friedlander
    Better Things: Season 5
    Gets deep into memories in its fifth and final season. Scenes can come out of order and without context or explanation, like you’ve always just had access to someone’s own naturally non-linear thought processes.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 92 Whitney Friedlander
    As We See It: Season 1
    It isn’t just the plot of As We See It that makes this show an important part of the conversation: it’s the look and feel of it.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 89 Whitney Friedlander
    And Just Like That...: Season 1
    It captures a lot of the heart and charm that the original did, alongside some hard emotional truths. And despite a lot of doubt on the part of viewers when this project was announced (especially sans Samantha), as of the first two episodes the show has genuinely made a case for its return.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 75 Whitney Friedlander
    Dexter: New Blood: Season 1
    New Blood wants to be all the things. Focusing on Harrison and other teens allows it to broach not only the MMIW movement but other forms of activism and societaly talking points like climate change, bullying, and the opioid epidemic.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 80 Whitney Friedlander
    Impeachment: American Crime Story
    What we do get is something not that different from what actually happened during the impeachment scandal of 1998: a sometimes deliciously sordid tale of abuse and manipulation.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 79 Whitney Friedlander
    Gossip Girl (2021): Season 1
    Although there’s nudity, cursing, and suggestive marketing material, the show’s plot lines like walking red carpets, dueling parties, cruising bathhouses, and finding out parents’ secret romantic trysts seem, well, safe.
    • 49 Metascore
    • 75 Whitney Friedlander
    Lisey's Story: Season 1
    Even though it’s hard to understand Owen sometimes (I know that he’s a stand-in for a version of King himself, but just let the guy use his God-given beautiful British accent), there’s an earnestness that conveys his love for Lisey and her family.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 93 Whitney Friedlander
    Girls5eva: Season 1
    Ann easy sell for the devout fan base of programming in the Fey-Carlock universe. ... All the women understand the role they’re playing and know how to hit a punch line, but it’s Pell’s character that really stands out. She seems to get the best dialogue, as evidenced for this review. But Gloria also represents the inherent sexism that we still see today.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 81 Whitney Friedlander
    The Handmaid's Tale: Season 4
    As the fourth season moves along, so do plot similarities to past seasons and repetitions. Captures happen. Tortures happen. People die; sometimes because of June and sometimes not. ... Moss, with her stiff upper lip and watery blue eyes, is still one of the finest actresses this side of Meryl Streep. ... There’s an excellent subplot regarding Rita (Amanda Brugel). ... It also works when Handmaid’s Tale pokes fun at itself.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 76 Whitney Friedlander
    Your Honor: Season 1
    The acting in Your Honor is fine, although it’s an interesting choice that neither Cranston nor almost anyone else attempts the Nawlins drawl.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 80 Whitney Friedlander
    Roadkill: Season 1
    Laurie does what he can with playing up the charade of a political conman whose almost always good for a selfie opp and a sound bite. ... Another bright spot is Harry Escott’s haunting score for the series, and the Saul Bass-inspired main credit sequence, which are both addicting.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 85 Whitney Friedlander
    Home Before Dark: Season 1
    I appreciate that there is an effort, both by Prince and the writers, to make sure that Hilde is more than just some one-dimensional cute or precocious brat, and that there seems to be some serious fire in her veins when police officers initially dismiss her with a pat on the head. And do I indeed want to see—and do I want mine and other kids to see—an intrepid female reporter on the case? Yep. Do I wish that there were more adult versions of her on screen? Of course. But do I also wish the particulars of the job were handled more responsibly, especially in the era of fake news, and certainly if kids were going to watch? Uh huh.

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