Contributor: Emily Tsiao

Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.

Bombshell

Bombshell’s core message is one of empowerment. But the story it tells is a messy one.

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Uncut Gems

This critically acclaimed Adam Sandler tragicomedy likely features the most vulgarity per minute of any film Plugged In has ever reviewed.

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Extra Ordinary

This horror/comedy/fantasy mash-up tries to make light of Satan worship and spiritual hauntings.

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Always a Witch

This Spanish-language Netflix original is a problematic brew from the get-go.

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Playmobil: The Movie

For some families, Playmobil: The Movie will teeter right on the edge of what’s appropriate for their kids.

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars

UPDATED REVIEW: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (1977, to be precise), George Lucas introduced us to the universe of Star Wars. Decades later, the animated Clone Wars series is still unraveling its mysteries.

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Everything Right and Everything Wrong With Gaming Culture

This past week, I reviewed Apple TV+’s newest show Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet for Plugged In. The show piqued my interest for a couple of reasons. Namely, because as someone who spends some free time playing video games, I want to see a broader repr …

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MacGyver

CBS rescued an old show from a trash bin, gave it a younger protagonist, infused it with content issues and wrapped the whole works in duct tape.

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Helpsters

It’s a bit silly, but the purpose is serious: to help its young viewers develop critical thinking skills.

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Last Christmas

Last Christmas tells the sweet story of how a woman struggling with depression (and self-loathing) learns how to heal her heart.

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Why Lizzo and Other Celebs Left Social Media for Good

Lizzo has been all over the entertainment media for several months. She won three Grammys last weekend and even nabbed a spot on Plugged In’s annual “Movers and Shakers” list. But Time Magazine’s Entertainer of the Year also made headlines earlier this …

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The Stranger

This Netflix drama is a puzzle of a mystery and a mess of a miniseries.

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Culture Clips: Billie the Kid Takes Home Five Grammys

The 62nd Grammy Awards were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Jan. 26. The evening was marked with a somber moment (news of Kobe Bryant’s sudden passing had broken earlier that day) as host Alicia Keys said, “Earlier today, Los Angeles, America …

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Legacies

CW’s new teen-centric Vampire Diaries spinoff is part X-Men, part Underworld and mostly wrong.

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Ghostwriter

A reboot of a classic kids show from the 1990s, this new Apple TV Plus version is more sweet than spooky.

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