Nina Metz

Is “Severance” a hangout show? Why aren't we seeing more friendships depicted on screen, and is that just reflecting the atrophy of our social lives in the real world?

Instead of handwringing about the so-called loneliness epidemic among men, there’s a more interesting conversation to be had about what close bonds and friendship for *anyone* even look like right now. Especially through the prism of TV

Interesting that characters who take heroic action on behalf of the underdog are described as antihero here lol

That’s … not really how the term is usually applied!

P.S. “Diverse ethnicity” is just a euphemism for “anyone who isn’t white.” And “all human beings who aren’t white” isn’t a theme. If your takeaway from COCO and SOUL is just “Latinos” and “Black people,” then you should take a narrative literacy course and maybe not work as a Disney exec.

Agreed

I don't think Curtis has the right energy ... I'm sure she could carry a different kind of murder mystery solving story, but one with the "Murder, She Wrote" title that conjures certain expectations? No!

I love it!

And I love that someone in the next generation (Gen Alpha?) will be well-versed in the pleasures of J-Fletch & co!

It's just such a *well-made* show (and why more recent "light" mystery shows, usually working with the cops as a quirky consultant, bum me out cuz they're not well made)

Agreed

I also think wrt TV specifically, sometimes it feels like conversations about it are shaped by the last 10-15 years of streaming ("Everything gets cancelled!" being one ahistorical complaint; shit was ALWAYS getting cancelled. Like, a lot. They just didn't make a "full" season necessarily)

Also: You can only review what's being made, and some of it is Not Good!

I highly doubt she's unaware lol

Could she have mentioned it? I guess. She doesn't argue against all remakes!

OK, as BlueSky's resident "Murder, She Wrote" expert (I've watched this show so much it's embarrassing!) ... yes! He recurred as a private eye named Harry McGraw who played fast and loose with the law and then got his own verrry short-lived show "The Law & Harry McGraw"

>>My issue is with bad movies -- regardless of their origin<<

A final thought lol: Trying to think thru some of the larger factors that influence what does or doesn't get greenlit is a worthy thing for a critic to write about! And it's totally fair for a reader to disagree with that analysis too!

Here’s another frustration you hear right now: Hollywood has never been more obsessed with IP, aka intellectual property. I agree that this endless lineup of prequels and reboots and adaptations is tiresome. No one wants to take a risk on original ideas. But let’s not fall into the trap of revisionist history, either. Going back decades, spinoffs have always been part of the TV landscape, which is really just another way of saying … IP IMDb has a page listing “Short Lived TV Shows 1970’s/80’s” and it’s a fascinating time capsule. Never heard of most of these shows. But what’s really surprising is just how many were based on movies (cough, IP once again). Scroll down the list and … there was a TV series based on “Casablanca”?? (Lasted all of five episodes; maybe Sam got tired of playing that piano every week.) There was another based on “The King and I.” Also: “Breaking Away,” “Animal House,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Four Seasons,” “Logan’s Run” and more — all hoping to be the next “M*A*S*H,” I’m guessing.

This came up when I was writing about TV cancellations because I don't think you're wrong about the way recently bias has taken over among audiences. Most TV shows get cancelled early on! People seem to forget that cuz we only remember the survivors!

Gift 🔗
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/08/29/c...

Here’s another frustration you hear right now: Hollywood has never been more obsessed with IP, aka intellectual property. I agree that this endless lineup of prequels and reboots and adaptations is tiresome. No one wants to take a risk on original ideas. But let’s not fall into the trap of revisionist history, either. Going back decades, spinoffs have always been part of the TV landscape, which is really just another way of saying … IP IMDb has a page listing “Short Lived TV Shows 1970’s/80’s” and it’s a fascinating time capsule. Never heard of most of these shows. But what’s really surprising is just how many were based on movies (cough, IP once again). Scroll down the list and … there was a TV series based on “Casablanca”?? (Lasted all of five episodes; maybe Sam got tired of playing that piano every week.) There was another based on “The King and I.” Also: “Breaking Away,” “Animal House,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “The Four Seasons,” “Logan’s Run” and more — all hoping to be the next “M*A*S*H,” I’m guessing.

This came up when I was writing about TV cancellations because I don't think you're wrong about the way recently bias has taken over among audiences. Most TV shows get cancelled early on! People seem to forget that cuz we only remember the survivors!

Gift 🔗
www.chicagotribune.com/2024/08/29/c...

And she says as much!

“reimagining old material is one way Hollywood has historically revitalized itself. Think of how many times A Star Is Born was remade … Who doesn’t want to try to reclaim familiar pleasures?”

But to say this moment in time isn’t *uniquely focused* on recycling IP isn’t true

And yet—why can't we have new stuff? The nostalgia glut is bad for movies, and it's bad for us. Neary everybody on the planet right now seems to be living with the idea that things were better 4-or 10, or 20, or 40—years ago. We were doing better financially; movies, books, and music were more original and fun; we were just having a much better time overall. Where did all that go? It's natural for us to want to regress to that state of bliss, even if things weren't really as great as we remember them. No wonder Hollywood thinks the best strategy is to help us turn back the clock.

She isn’t making an argument against blockbuster movies tho?

“the number of remakes and sequels remains steady if not increases year over year, why does our current era feel staler than ever?”

“Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a silly movie, especially in summer”

I agree that clearly labeling it would be a good thing!

(Not that it would matter to the average reader, I’m guessing, who don’t even bother to read bylines or often call op-eds “reporting” 😭)

Life is too short to waste your time/money on the Malört nonsense!

You can disagree with her argument! Or think she doesn’t make a strong one

But this idea that writing about TV and film can only be one thing isn’t accurate! Sometimes there’s little to engage with and exploring THAT is worth critical analysis (and that’s what I think she’s doing here)

I disagree! First of its not labeled as a review (it’s not labeled as a column either and Time probably should make the distinction either way)

As I read it, she doesn’t dislike movies (football), she dislikes *this one* and makes an argument that it reflects a larger problem or trend

Anyway, I keep thinking about this part

“It’s almost as if the show is (intentionally or not) validating the complaints of anyone who dislikes working from home because the office is where they get their hangout fix”

At least they were employed

Fewer people have FT jobs as critics than ever! And even the freelance opportunities have shrunk dramatically

This is a Canadian show so I guess it’s possible they call book royalties “residuals” in Canada big I’m guessing no, they’re called royalties there too

Now, actors and screenwriters DO get paid residuals (not royalties) each time their work is rebroadcast, I wish they’d look d up the correct term!

And still stunning! 💪

Honestly, I feel for these kids. They were sold goods by folks who should have known better.

Society pushes college as a job machine, but it should be a place where you learn how to think & interact with people different from yourself.

And I say this as an arts/humanities major who works in tech.

A great and insightful review, Stephanie!

(I also suspect that because studios are OK with slapdash work, the actual skills are atrophying; nobody seems to know how to compose a shot or edit for pacing or tell a story with economy right now and it’s weird! This used to exist in middlebrow stuff!)

It’s clear that none of the trades reporting on this “story” actually read my essay. time.com/7308212/frea...

A page of the Chicago Tribune with a headline saying “100 years of glory and decay”

Sunday’s Chicago Tribune includes my article “Uptown Theatre: 100 years of glory and decay” (adapted from the new book I wrote with James A. Pierce). Here’s a gift link to the online version, which has a cool gallery of 27 pictures. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/10/1...

Every time there’ve been journalism layoffs in the last 10-15 years (and there have been A LOT of layoffs in that time unfortunately) there’s always a few people snarking in the comments saying “learn to code”

Guessing we won’t be hearing any “my bads” from these same people

"The [Israeli cabinet meeting] minutes also revealed that a senior Israeli security official told the ministers that 'it is possible to secure the release of more captives, but that requires engaging in talks about phase two — ending the war.' The [Israeli] government ... rejected the proposal."

The Obama center rising from Promontory Point, blue skies, with the lake and beachfront in the foreground

Seeing the Obama Center rising from the Point is startling. Not so much that it’s ugly, but it really does begin to resemble some type of magnificent tomb; a crushing weight that says very little…but somehow so loudly.

Is “Severance” a hangout show? Why aren't we seeing more friendships depicted on screen, and is that just reflecting the atrophy of our social lives in the real world?

Is “Severance” a hangout show? Is a reality series like “Love Island” a hangout show?

In this week’s newsletter, I look at the dearth of “traditional” hangout shows and wonder if Hollywood is just reflecting the lack of hanging out we’re doing IRL

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