Still Watching: The Regime

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down The Regime?s final episode, and reveal which of them correctly guessed who would be leading Genovia by the end of the series. Later, VF correspondent Miriam Elder drops by to reveal what The Regime got right about despots, and what it didn?t.

Terrible Christmas tidings hit Kate Winslet's autocracy in the penultimate episode of The Regime. Richard, Chris, and Hillary sift through the ashes, while Andrea Riseborough stops by to break down Agnes's tragic arc.

The show finally introduces Grant's Ed Keplinger, a liberal ex-chancellor whose democratic leanings may be less progressive than they seem. Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down his introduction to The Regime and chat with Grant about reuniting with Kate Winslet and what Keplinger really believes.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dissect Elena?s latest heal-turn, and what it means for Zuback's future. Plus, Guillaume Gallienne joins to discuss playing first husband Nicky: "He's a bit of a masochist. He likes to be her rug."

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into how Zuback's quick ascent has affected Genovia. Plus, Matthias Schoenaerts stops by to chat about playing the Butcher of Site 5 and rubbing mustard on Kate Winslet.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dive into The Regime, a satirical dramedy from the mind of Succession alum Will Tracey. Plus, star Kate Winslet joins to break down the similarities between her and autocratic chancellor Elena.

Kate Winslet returns to HBO but this time tries her hand at comedy with The Regime. Chris, Hillary and Richard discuss what they?re looking forward to in this six part limited series.

Night Country?s showrunner breaks down season four's most surprising Easter eggs, the backstories we didn't get to see, and what it's like to tangle online with passionate True Detective fans.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss how Night Country reveals both what happened to the scientists and who really killed Annie K. Plus, Jodie Foster joins to dig into how the ending reinforces all of the show's themes, filming her big underwater scene, and why time, truly, is a flat circle.

As episode five premieres early on Max to avoid the Super Bowl, Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down Night Country's biggest twist yet, while John Hawkes stops by to talk about writing Hank's unbelievably bleak song and staging a very tense standoff.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss Ennis's incredibly depressing holiday, complete with death, breakdowns, and a heart-wrenching romantic diss. Plus, Kali Reis joins to talk all things Evangeline Navarro, and how this episode's major tragedy will drive her going forward

Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into the reason behind Danvers and Navarro's rift, Hank's hillibillies, and a theory that climate change could be responsible for the Tsalal deaths. Plus, Isabella LaBlanc joins to talk about bringing Leah Danvers to life.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary talk cliffhangers, Raymond Clark and Annie K's mysterious relationship, and season four's surprising connection to True Detective season one. Plus, Christopher Eccleston joins to chat about letting everything hang out in his sex scene with Jodie Foster.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary head north to break down our introduction to Jodie Foster's Liz Danvers, the dual mysteries driving this season, and that mind-boggling final image. Plus, Finn Bennett joins to discuss playing naive young cop Peter Prior and how True Detective gave him Covid (twice!).

Can a new showrunner and Jodie Foster reinvigorate one of prestige TV's most beloved franchises? Richard, Chris, and Hillary are about to find out with an all-new season of Still Watching dedicated to True Detective season four.

In the highest-grossing movie of 2023, Barbie, a literal doll, leaves the comforts of Barbieland and ventures into real-world Los Angeles, where she discovers the myriad difficulties of modern womanhood. This arc from cosseted naïveté to feminist awakening is a narrative throughline that connects some of the biggest cultural products of the year. In this episode of Critics at Large, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss how 2023 became ?the year of the doll,? tracing the trope from ?Barbie? to Yorgos Lanthimos?s film ?Poor Things,? whose protagonist finds self-determination through sexual agency, and beyond. In Sofia Coppola?s ?Priscilla,? a teen-age Priscilla Beaulieu lives under the thumb of Elvis at Graceland before finally breaking free, while in Emma Cline?s novel ?The Guest,? the doll figure must fend for herself after the trappings of luxury fall away, revealing the precarity of her circumstances. The hosts explore how ideas about whiteness, beauty, and women?s bodily autonomy inform these works, and how the shock of political backsliding might explain why these stories struck a chord with audiences. ?Most of us believed that the work of Roe v. Wade was done,? Cunningham says. ?If that is a message that we could all grasp?that a step forward is not a permanent thing?I think that would be a positive thing.?Read, watch, and listen with the critics:?Barbie? (2023) ?M3GAN? (2023) ?Poor Things? (2023) ?Priscilla? (2023) ?The Guest,? by Emma Cline ?The House of Mirth,? by Edith WhartonNew episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts. 

Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down the series finale of The Crown, while producer Suzanne Mackie goes deep on the scene that united Imelda Staunton, Olivia Colman, and Claire Foy for the first time.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary go deep on episode 9 of The Crown season 6, "Hope Street," while VF staffer and royals expert Julie Miller stops by to explain whether Carole Middleton was as devious in real life as she is on the show.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss The Crown's farewell to Princess Margaret in season 6, episode 8, "The Ritz"?and later, the celebrated actor details how she prepared for her showcase episode, as well as her long friendship with fellow Crown star Imelda Staunton. 

Still Watching goes back to college for season 6, episode 7 of The Crown, which introduces a young Kate Middleton?and details how her mother's machinations may have put her directly in the path of Prince William. Plus, Chris chats with Ed McVay, who plays William, about nabbing the role of a lifetime.

In season 6, episode 6 of The Crown, Queen Elizabeth faces an existential crisis, and the modern energy of a beloved new prime minister named Tony Blair. Richard, Chris, and Hillary break it all down, and welcome VF royals expert Erin Vanderhoof to explain Blair and Elizabeth II's complicated relationship.

Prince William takes center stage in episode five of The Crown season six, as Richard, Chris, and Hillary dissect the future king's days as a teenage heartthrob. Plus, Jonathan Pryce stops by to talk about playing Prince Philip and the royal's special relationship with his grandson.

In a special bonus episode of Still Watching, Richard, Chris, Hillary, and VF fashion expert Kia Goosby take a break from The Crown to talk Diana?s enduring appeal, her style, and two very different recent projects about the People?s Princess: Spencer and Diana: the Musical.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary analyze the aftermath of that fatal car crash; plus, episode director Christian Schwochow explains how the show depicted it respectfully, and his approach to Diana?s spectral presence.

Richard, Chris, Hillary, and guest Julie Miller talk ?Dis-Moi Oui? and who might have been Diana?s actual true love.

VF staff writer and royals expert Erin Vanderhoof drops by the Still Watching podcast to chat about dueling photographs of Charles and Di?and why the show?s story about paparazzo Mario Brenna may stoke controversy.

VF royal correspondent Katie Nicholls stops by Still Watching to discuss episode one of The Crown season six part one, Diana's fractured relationship with the royal family, and watching William and Harry grow up.

Next up on Still Watching, we'll be tackling the final season of The Crown, Netflix's sumptuous series about the British royal family. But what have we thought of the series so far, and what are we hoping to see from its last run of episodes? Here, Richard, Chris, and Hillary break it all down, and explain how Still Watching?s Crown episodes will be rolling out.

Contributor Anna Peele spent months speaking to ?Real Housewives? cast members, crew, and people on set to understand the dynamics on and off screen. Here, she takes Chris and Hillary through her explosive story and the history of the Bravoverse.

Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss their favorite TV drama episodes of the past 25 years?from a left-field Sopranos choice to a soapy network favorite to what might be the quarter-century's undisputed best episode ever. 

In this week's episode, Hillary, Chris, and Richard discuss what qualities make a sitcom episode "perfect," and then present their choices for the best half-hours of the last 25 years.

On a special bonus episode of Still Watching, executive producer Michael Ellenberg and consulting producer Brian Stelter dish on the headlines that inspired season three and why ?morning shows might be the last man standing? in broadcast TV.

On a bonus episode of Still Watching, executive producer Jamie Campbell chats with VF about the demolition of Moordale, introducing Dan Levy, and saying goodbye to Sex Education. 

On a special episode of Still Watching, Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey, co-executive producers on Hulu's new horror-comedy series The Other Black Girl chat with VF's Chris Murphy about the challenges of adapting a complicated novel into a television series. 

We have a special episode for you today. We're sharing an episode of the new podcast from APM Studios and Chalk & Blade called Tiny Huge Decisions. This is a story about two best friends, Mohsin and Dalia, as they make a life-changing decision: will she be the gestational surrogate for Mohsin and his husband? It?s emotional, intimate, and more than a little complicated. Here is episode 1!  

Subscribe to Tiny Huge Decisions now to catch each new episode.

It looks like it won't be Carrie Bradshaw's last supper after all. On the heels of the news that And Just Like That was renewed by MAX for a third season, Still Watching wraps up its season with a bonus episode featuring an interview with writer, executive producer, and director Michael Patrick King. A fan of the podcast, King has a lively chat with host Chris Murphy about directing the season finale, the return of Samantha Jones, the fan response to Che Diaz, and what might be in store for season three. 

On the final episode of And Just Like That? season two, Miranda gets closure with both her exes, Samantha Jones returns for an all too brief phone call, and Aidan finally steps into Carrie's old apartment and out of her life?at least for now.

On the penultimate episode of And Just Like That... season two, Charlotte asserts her independence, Che makes jokes at Miranda's expense, and Carrie prepares for a Michelin-star dinner party to say goodbye to her old apartment. 

On the ninth episode of And Just Like That? season two, Miranda and Charlotte attempt to figure out if their teens are more than old friends, Seema and Nyah entertain new lovers, and Carrie commits to Aiden by letting go of her old apartment. Plus, a conversation with VF editor in chief Radhika Jones.

On the eighth episode of And Just Like That season two, Miranda and Charlotte rejoin the workforce with varying degrees of success, as Carrie and Aiden continue to rekindle their romance, leading Carrie to ask herself a big question about her relationship with Big.

On the seventh episode of And Just Like That, Miranda dives back into the dating scene with mixed results, Charlotte has a profound pot-brownie induced revelation, and Carrie finally comes face-to-face with her old flame, Aidan Shaw. Still Watching covers all that and more, plus real New Yorkers weigh in on their feelings about season two thus far. 

On the 6th episode of And Just Like That, a rare winter storm shakes up the Sex and the City universe, sending Charlotte on a snowy quest to buy condoms for her daughter, Carrie emailing her ex-fiancé Aidan, and Miranda reckoning with the end of not one, but two romantic relationships. Still Watching covers all that and more, plus Cynthia Nixon stops by to discuss 25 years of playing Miranda Hobbes. 

On the fifth episode of And Just Like That season two, Carrie finally reenters the dating pool, Charlotte enters her stage parent era, Miranda can?t sleep, and we finally learn whether Che?s pilot is supposed to be any good Still Watching recaps all that and more, plus costume designers Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago stop by to talk Met Gala looks and Carrie's sweatshirt collection.

On the fourth episode of And Just Like That, Carrie wonders if she's ready to write for a senior audience, Miranda considers a threesome, and Charlotte and Harry contend with a post-bang whimper. Still Watching recaps all that and more, plus Nicole Ari Parker stops by to talk about Lisa Todd Wexley's dud of an anniversary party.

On the third episode of And Just Like That, Carrie fakes COVID while Miranda and Che get into a potentially relationship ending fight. Who? Weekly co-hosts Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber drop by Still Watching and share their unadulterated thoughts and feelings on the Sex and the City revival.

Still Watching hosts Richard Lawson, Chris Murphy, and Hillary Busis head back to Carrie Bradshaw's New York to break down the first two episodes of And Just Like That's sophomore season, with special guest Radhika Jones?Vanity Fair's editor-in-chief, who chats about how Sex and the City changed Manhattan and whether the show's take on the Met Gala rings true.

In the second episode of our two-part special, Vanity Fair dissects the most memorable moments from two iconic Sex and the City episodes: "Splat!" and "The Post-It Always Sticks Twice." Hollywood editor Hilary Busis and executive editor Claire Howorth (resident SATC analysts) join Still Watching host Chris Murphy to discuss, with a top-five ranking reveal at the end!

Who do you like least: Big, Berger, or Aidan? Was Bradley Cooper or Lucy Liu the better cameo? And why is Miranda always suffering? Vanity Fair dissects the most memorable moments from three iconic Sex and the City episodes; "The Shoot Single People, Don't They?" along with "Hot Child In The City" and "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda." Still Watching host Chris Murphy joins Hollywood editor Hilary Busis and executive editor Claire Howorth (resident SATC analysts). Next week we'll return to recap two more episodes and definitively rank our top five.

On a special bonus episode of Still Watching, Mylod reveals how he shaped the Roy family's demise: ?It's about the cruelty of hope.?  

On Still Watching, hosts Richard Lawson and Chris Murphy and TV correspondent Joy Press unpack the tragic ending for the Roy family. Plus, an in-depth conversation with Jeremy Strong about filming the finale.