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Emily St. James

Emily St. James

Former Critic at Large

    Latest articles by Emily St. James

    Culture
    It wasn’t about Rodney King: filmmaker John Ridley on the LA riots’ forgotten historyIt wasn’t about Rodney King: filmmaker John Ridley on the LA riots’ forgotten history
    Podcast
    Culture

    “This was not just folks losing their mind on one day; this was a series of events.”

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Netflix has fired Danny Masterson. He’ll still appear on new episodes of The Ranch.Netflix has fired Danny Masterson. He’ll still appear on new episodes of The Ranch.
    Culture

    The sitcom’s star has been accused of rape by multiple women.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    House of Cards promotes Robin Wright to sole lead for its 6th and final seasonHouse of Cards promotes Robin Wright to sole lead for its 6th and final season
    Culture

    The show will return in 2018 — without Kevin Spacey.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Point of view is so important to storytelling. Why does so much TV struggle with it?Point of view is so important to storytelling. Why does so much TV struggle with it?
    Culture

    The miniseries’ attempts to distill the Iraq War only somewhat succeed due to point-of-view problems.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    The best way to experience Netflix’s Dark might be as a graph. This is a compliment?The best way to experience Netflix’s Dark might be as a graph. This is a compliment?
    Culture

    The new German supernatural drama has a beautifully intricate plot. Shame about the characters, though.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    28 of December’s best streaming debuts28 of December’s best streaming debuts
    Culture

    Recent movies, new TV series, and classics: These are the streaming offerings most worth your precious viewing hours.

    By Genevieve Koski, Alex Abad-Santos and 5 more
    Culture
    There’s still no Oscar frontrunner. Here are 3 big reasons why.There’s still no Oscar frontrunner. Here are 3 big reasons why.
    Culture

    To some extent, predicting the Oscars in 2017 requires predicting Donald Trump.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    How can the church overcome its bad reputation? A “radical acceptance of other people.”How can the church overcome its bad reputation? A “radical acceptance of other people.”
    Podcast
    Culture

    BadChristian podcast co-host Matt Carter tells us why relationships beat dogma.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Why can’t This Is Us tell good stories about characters other than Randall?Why can’t This Is Us tell good stories about characters other than Randall?
    Culture

    A Kate-centric episode only underlines how much the show’s structure has shortchanged its characters.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It unleashes Spike Lee on TV — and the results are electricNetflix’s She’s Gotta Have It unleashes Spike Lee on TV — and the results are electric
    Culture

    Based on the director’s classic 1986 film, the new series is the best example yet of a filmmaker transitioning to TV.

    By Emily St. James