Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

Loki season 2

Loki

This show can be fun and surprisingly thoughtful. But like Loki himself, its story and themes shouldn’t go unchallenged.

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The Killer 2023

The Killer

The Killer seems to be a Netflix big for awards-season glory. But the content and chilly title character leaves us feeling cold.

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 207: ‘Journey to Bethlehem.’ Plus, a Holiday Video Game Guide

It’s Plugged In’s very own holiday gaming guide. Plus, everything you need to know about Journey to Bethlehem.

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Movie Monday: ‘Five Nights’ Takes Another Weekend

In a Dune-free weekend, Five Nights at Freddy’s claims a second box office win.

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SEAL team

SEAL Team

CBS’s military drama encourages us to applaud these elite heroes. But the sex and violence we see isn’t as praiseworthy.

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Nyad 2023

Nyad

Nyad isn’t just about its centerpiece character’s remarkable swim: It’s also about a friendship that weathers its own stormy seas.

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Killers of the Flower Moon 2023

Killers of the Flower Moon

Some important messages bloom in Killers of the Flower Moon—even as they’re watered in blood.

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All the Light We Cannot See season 1

All the Light We Cannot See

Netflix takes a lyrical novel and turns it into a clunky, sometimes crass miniseries. Once again, the book is better.

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A Haunting in Venice

A Haunting in Venice, Kenneth Branagh’s third turn as Hercule Poirot, is the best of the lot. But it still has some bumps in the night.

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What Halloween Tells Us About … Us

Think entertainment isn’t influential? Think pop culture isn’t important? Take a look outside your door tonight. The kids, adults and pets you see will tell you otherwise.

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Movie Monday: ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Scares Up Win

Five Nights at Freddy’s made swift work of a certain concert film, cruising to a resounding win during this weekend’s box office tourney.

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 205: The Worldview Hurricane. Plus, ‘Loki’

LISTEN TO THE PLUGGED IN SHOW, EPISODE 205 Remember when entertainment was clean? Remember when it was innocent and wholesome? Remember when we could just watch a movie and not have to deal with so many problems on our screens? Yeah, about that. Sure, …

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The Exorcist Believer 2023

The Exorcist: Believer

Despite its name, The Exorcist: Believer wavers in its beliefs. And that leaves it more muddled, and less scary, than it could be.

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Upload season 3

Upload

What happens when you upload your soul to a virtual “heaven” before you die? The answers here aren’t always divine.

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Movie Monday: Taylor Swift Eclipses ‘Flower Moon’ for Second Win

Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, collected another $31 million this weekend, bringing its total to $129.8 million domestically.

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