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Emily St. James

Emily St. James

Former Critic at Large

    Latest articles by Emily St. James

    Culture
    How NBC’s This Is Us became the breakout hit of the fallHow NBC’s This Is Us became the breakout hit of the fall
    Culture

    Family dramas rarely hit the Nielsen ratings top 10 — but this one has.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    On Westworld, memories are the cornerstone of revolutionOn Westworld, memories are the cornerstone of revolution
    Culture

    This show gets easier to love — and to hate — with every new episode.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Isabelle Huppert is one of our finest actors. Even she’s a bit mystified by her latest role.Isabelle Huppert is one of our finest actors. Even she’s a bit mystified by her latest role.
    Culture

    She tells us about her new movie Elle and how it fits into the current conversations about rape.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Netflix’s Gilmore Girls revival takes place in a beautiful, perfect bubble. Let it never burst.Netflix’s Gilmore Girls revival takes place in a beautiful, perfect bubble. Let it never burst.
    Culture

    This new miniseries is bloated and pointless. I loved it.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Don’t avoid politics this holiday season. Use these 5 tips for productive conversations.Don’t avoid politics this holiday season. Use these 5 tips for productive conversations.
    Culture

    You can have sane, compassionate, persuasive political conversations. I know because it happened to me.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    NBC’s The Good Place knows nothing’s as simple as good vs. evil. It’s perfect for 2016.NBC’s The Good Place knows nothing’s as simple as good vs. evil. It’s perfect for 2016.
    Culture

    The sitcom, which stars Kristen Bell, is a cheeky broadside against fundamentalism in all its forms. It’s terrific.

    By Emily St. James
    Tired of all the commercials on TV? So is the guy who runs TNT.
    Culture

    But is there any way he can reduce them across the industry? Probably not.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Actress Denée Benton on why it’s important for a black woman to play a Russian countessActress Denée Benton on why it’s important for a black woman to play a Russian countess
    Culture

    Benton tells us about her big year and her physically demanding new musical Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    The Walking Dead tackles how to live under an unjust, actively bad leaderThe Walking Dead tackles how to live under an unjust, actively bad leader
    Culture

    Not that this question has any bearing on modern life whatsoever.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    The Edge of Seventeen’s star and director on how they made the best teen movie in agesThe Edge of Seventeen’s star and director on how they made the best teen movie in ages
    Culture

    “People are so much more than the little bit of them you see.”

    By Emily St. James