Aarcflick

 Renovated almost to perfection, the Hazbin Hotel reopens its doors in the second season. More than a year has passed since the original hotel was devastated; the fierce battle against Adam and the exorcists nearly wiped out Charlie (Erika Henningsen) and her group of misfits. However, they survived, albeit barely. Creator: Vivienne Medrano Stars: Erika Henningsen, Stephanie Beatriz, Blake Roman But redemption in hell remains a big question mark, especially now that the overlords have scattered and with Vox (Christian Borle) attempting to monopolize the chaos that Charlie has unleashed. Everything hangs in the balance, and not just in relation to the characters' predicament. The first season of Hazbin Hotel received mixed reviews, and while its fans are die-hard, the second season has a lot to prove. Unafraid of criticism, Vivienne Medrano's creation returns with a bang, delivering a musical spectacle that doubles down on unapologetic chaos. Most of the time, the show's ana...

 Leanne Morgan addresses her audience like an emissary from another world. Her comedy unfolds as a charming account of her life, told with the assurance that these details will be unfamiliar, exciting, and exotic. In her 2023 Netflix special, I'm Every Woman, Morgan portrayed a world of honest pragmatism and down-to-earth, everyday sensibilities. There, too, she acts as a tour guide, but she describes a life they already know well: Jell-O salad, Sunday mornings at church, practical department store underwear. But in the catalog of Netflix's hour-long specials, Morgan seems like a traveler from a completely different place. That territory abounds with middle-aged men who nap on ottomans and occasionally realize that death comes for us all. Being a grandparent is as common an experience as being afraid of trans people (in fact, hopefully much more so), but only one of those perspectives is well-represented in the world of stand-up comedy. Morgan's rise to fame in recent years...

 “Crutch,” a spin-off of the hit CBS series “The Neighborhood,” is a hilarious Paramount sitcom about family, community, and the ups and downs of life. Created by Owen Smith, the series follows Francois “Crutch” Crutchfield (Tracy Morgan), the Harlem cousin of Calvin (Cedric the Entertainer), the main character of “The Neighborhood.” Crutch is a widower and business owner who is just starting to enjoy his empty nest when his adult children and grandchildren move back in with him. Filled with hilarious moments, a strong and talented cast, and some iconic guest stars, the series is funny, refreshing, and incredibly well-written. “Crutch” opens in Harlem with a celebration. Crutch’s son, Jake (Jermaine Fowler), has just graduated from Columbia Law School, and his father couldn’t be prouder. To celebrate, Jake’s older sister, Jamilah (Adrianna Mitchell), and her children, Lisa (Braxton Paul) and Mase (Finn Maloney), travel to New York for the festivities. Calvin and Tina (Tichina Arnol...

If Robert Altman had made a Christmas movie, it might be something like Christmas Eve at Miller's Point, only it would almost certainly be much better. This film left me completely bewildered. It has energy and seems enthusiastically made. That said, it lacks the elements we typically expect from a movie. Perhaps that was the point? I still don't get it, even if it was. A large family gathers at their ancestral home for Christmas Eve. Most don't know that the house is being sold because the elderly matriarch can no longer live there alone. Obviously, that's not a plot; it's a situation. Approximately two dozen characters participate in that situation. We don't learn much about their relationships. We don't even know most of their names. You might recognize some of the actors. Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade) is in the cast, as is Francesca, Martin Scorsese's daughter. Michael Cera has a small supporting role as a police officer. Director: Tyler Taormina Write...

The first season of Squid Game is often described as an overnight success, but if you read a little about Hwang Dong-hyuk's story, you'll realize it actually took about two decades to come to fruition. The love and appreciation that first season received were entirely deserved. Everything, from the premise to the performances, was perfect. But instead of learning about the harmful effects of hypercapitalism that Dong-hyuk was trying to convey, Netflix went overboard and commissioned two more seasons of the show (which was basically one season split into two) and also a reality show.  Influencers and YouTubers went crazy and started orchestrating their own versions of the Squid Game tournament. There was merchandise everywhere, and the result of all this wasn't good. All the "creators" who profited from the franchise's popularity were heavily criticized. Those two subsequent seasons of the series were a huge disappointment. The reality show was also widely crit...

The Gone series returns with its second season, presenting a new and compelling mystery set against the evocative landscapes of rural New Zealand and a remote coastal island, where a new enigma unfolds with the land, legend, and community as its backdrop.  The second season of The Gone begins with Irish detective Theo Richter (Richard Flood) preparing to leave Aotearoa, but he is forced to return when journalist Aileen Ryan (Carolyn Bracken) disappears under mysterious circumstances. Her disappearance echoes a previous case of missing Irish tourists and leads Theo and Māori investigators DS Diana Huia (Acushla-Tara Kupe) and DS Gwenda (Miriama Smith) into a chilling investigation connected to local legends and long-buried crimes. Creators: Anna McPartlin, Michael Bennett, Yvonne Donohoe Stars: Richard Flood, Acushla-Tara Kupe, Carolyn Bracken The narrative takes a dramatic turn when the detectives are led to a remote, unnamed island off the coast, accessible only by boat and surrou...