Leila Latif

While this animated spin-off makes little sense as part of the established Stranger Things canon, as a stand-alone story with twists aplenty, it’s a witty, vibrant hoot.

Imperfect Women may not reinvent the murder-mystery format, but it does elevate it through sharply drawn characters and a willingness to let its them be complicated, contradictory, occasionally infuriating, and ultimately compelling.

As our time in Hawkins reaches its climax, Stranger Things gets grander and gorier. Both our heroes and their deadliest foes still have thrilling new tricks up their sleeves.

ompared with the scrappier first season, this is bolder, funnier, stranger, and more moving. Staples turns grief into a running gag and bureaucracy into an action sequence, finding radical beauty in the violence of staying alive—and making a case that this is one of Netflix’s brightest comedies in the process.

Even if the first episode’s challenges seem a little too easy, the show’s vibes are simply too good not to be engulfed in.

This epic dystopian tale’s final chapter retains the qualities that made it a global behemoth. Its poptastic visuals, perfectly pitched performances and cruel twists are a wild ride worth staying seated for.

Yellowjackets Season 3 takes longer to get going than the show's previous two outings, but is still a transfixing watch with an achingly cool soundtrack and plenty of stomach-churning tricks up its sleeve. 

Although Norman Lear passed away at the end of 2023 at the grand old age of 101, before Desiree and Harry’s antics were filmed, watching these eight episodes you can’t help feel that he would be proud of the Slate clan and his continuing legacy.

Spending time with three generations of the Defoe clan remains a sharp, witty joy in its fourth outing.

But with a season finale which asks more questions than it solves, this very much feels like the middle act of Squid Game. Those who want answers will have to wait for its final season, due in late 2025. For now, there are still these seven episodes to enjoy: a dystopian treat for people who still all live in a country called capitalism.