Tony Stark(Robert Downey Jr.) famously said that “part of the journey is the end”, but for mosttelevisionfans, thepointof the journey is the end. Over the years, series finales have assumed the outsized power of recontextualising the entire series that came before it.Several fan-favorite series have found themselves unableto outlive the spectre of their underwhelming finales. Conversely, a show “sticking the landing” can improve its reputation in perpetuity. From belovedsitcomsto game-changingtelevision shows, the difficulty of nailing a series finale is universally daunting....

The Western is one ofthe quintessential American movie genres. Its roots go back to the early days of cinema and it has revolved dramatically over time, from the straightforward narratives of the ’40s and ’50s to the more complex and revisionist interpretations starting in the ’60s. While its popularity might have waned compared to its heyday, recent acclaimed films likeThe Power of the Dogand evenKillers of the Flower Moondemonstrate that the Western remains relevant....

Folklore has served as the basisfor so many of the world’s most famous stories. Whether it is pure folklore or fairy tales, many include mystical or mythical creatures that help in world-building and lore, serve as important heroes (or even pesky villains), and add to the overall moral of the story. Many films and film genres have included these creatures of folklore, whether that is for better or for worse. Most of the time, the fantasy genre includes magical creatures for wonder and awe or a fierce foe for the character to fight....

While decades such as the ’70s, ’90s, and 2000s have all been defining chapters in the popularity and relevancy of romantic comedies, the 2010s are one of the most interesting decades for the genre. The genre primarily had a smaller scale and more indie approach in the first half of the decade before a total return and revitalization of the genre following the rise of streaming services. While there were many great and defining rom-coms from this decade, such asSilver Linings Playbook,Crazy Rich Asians, andTo All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, there were also many overlooked and underrated rom-coms....

One of the most prominent and successful trends that largely defined filmmaking throughout the 2010s was the massive rise of successful superhero films. While the genre certainly had its fair share of successes in previous decades, the 2010s saw a mass explosion of the genre, with new superhero films constantly being released with the rise of the MCU and the creation of DC’s own cinematic universe. While many of the superhero films released during this era are still widely beloved and considered some of the best of their respective genres, such high quality is not shared by every superhero film released in the 2010s....

Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe brought its primary heroes together in 2012’sMarvel’s The Avengers, audiences all over the globe have fallen in love with the team of superheroes. A large reason behind their success, aside from the initial excitement of seeing that many cool superheroes together on the silver screen, is their commitment to larger-than-life action setpieces that defy expectations and continuously push the boundaries. It takes a lot to manage a team of protagonists in both the writer’s room and the director’s chair, so the fact that these films' action sequences are as well executed as they are is a marvel in and of itself....

Showtime has released the first trailer for its new drama seriesAmerican Rust, which stars Emmy winnerJeff Danielsand two-time Emmy nomineeMaura Tierney, neither of whom are strangers to the network, having respectively starred inThe Comey RuleandThe Affair. Based onPhilipp Meyer’s celebrated debut novel,American Rustis a family drama about something I know I can relate to at times – wanting a brighter future while being held prisoner by the past. It’s described as a story of survival and transcendence as told through the eyes of a complicated and compromised police chief in a small Pennsylvania town full of good people making bad choices....

Animal Crossingis normally a series where players make their own stories of islands or village living as they cozy up to all their animal villager pals, do a little fishing or bug catching, and build the town of their dreams. For those who can’t get enough of Tom Nook and his furry friends though, VIZ Media is bringing the adventures of four human villagers to life in the English translation of “Animal Crossing New Horizons - Deserted Island Diary....

Archeris going to some fun places this season. First of all, it’s headed to FXX, which is like FX’s younger but equally attractive sibling. Second,Archer: Dreamlandwill bring the series' sleuths to late 1940s Los Angeles–explained by the cliffhanger reveal at the end of Season 7–and are fully embracing the noir aesthetic of the time. Finally, Archer and The Figgis Agency are opening the doors to you, the viewer, so that you can finally live out your lifelong dream of being a Private Dick....

If you just can’t get enough ofBlack Panther, I have some very good news for you. A brand new season of Disney XD’s hit action-oriented animated seriesMarvel’s Avengers Assembleis about to kick off in a big way this weekend. It not only launches Season 5 with a two-part special premiere, it also sets up the main thrust of this season’s storytelling focus, “Black Panther’s Quest.” Over the previous four seasons, the gathered Avengers–which have included Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow, Falcon, Hawkeye, Thor, Captain Marvel, Ms....

It’s hard to improve upon near-perfection, so I understand that directorBill Condonhad a monumental task ahead of him when it came to turning the 1991 animated filmBeauty and the Beastinto a live-action picture. That being said, we’ve seen that it can be done with the recent successes ofKenneth Branagh’sCinderellaandJon Favreau’sThe Jungle Book. Unfortunately,Beauty and the Beastis the weakest of the studio’s recent live-action adaptations (I’m setting asideMaleficentandAlice in Wonderlandsince those are more re-imaginings than attempts to follow the plotlines of their original animated Disney movies)....

Academy Award-winning movie starBrad Pitthas taken a firm stance on the current dual strikes thatcontinue to rock Hollywood to its very core. Pitt is standing in solidarity with thestriking writers and actors. According toDeadline, he has personally requested a temporary halt in the production of his highly anticipated Formula One blockbuster film. As the producer of the project, Pitt made this decision in response to the concerns raised by the crew members involved in the production....

If you ever wanted to see a flame-decaled robot team up with a hard-drinking space trucker for off-world adventures, then you’ll probably want to check outDallas & Robowhen it debuts later this month. The upcoming YouTube Red animated comedy series starringKat DenningsandJohn Cena, and from the award-winning production company behindBoJack Horseman, will premiere on May 30th. Viewers can binge all eight episodes onthe WWE YouTube channelwhen it debuts. The brand-new buddy comedy follows sassy space trucker Dallas (Dennings) and cowboy-hat-wearing-AI robot Robo (Cena) as they try and make a few dollars in the seedy world of interplanetary big-rigging, while navigating their way through cannibal bikers, rival space truckers and vending machine burritos....