"Mark my words: "Wilderness reform schools" will become the next big thing in horror, and Mae Martin's Netflix series just confirmed that with a twisting tale of small-town cults, the "wayward teen" industry, and how it feels to know you're being othered even in a very accepting community. Add a spine-tingling performance by Toni Collette on top of that, and you've got a great weekend watch. - Dais Johnston"
"Coming-of-age stories are mostly about growing pains, and that goes double for something like Ironheart. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's latest series dismantles Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) and Frankensteins her into an unorthodox successor to Iron Man, weaving dark magic and heavy critiques on legacy into her journey. The result is something more than the sum of its disjointed parts: an unpredictable and refreshing jolt of life for the MCU. - Lyvie Scott"
Television dominated pop-culture conversation in 2025, with watercooler shows such as The Pitt and Adolescence drawing communal viewing. Genre programming led the year, with sci-fi offerings like Alien: Earth serving as escapist outlets amid dystopian realities. Great TV stretched boundaries through provocative messaging, social parallels, and visceral spectacle. Horror is shifting toward "wilderness reform schools" and small-town cult narratives that interrogate belonging and othering. Standout performances, including Toni Collette, elevated those stories. Series like Twisted Metal Season 2 balanced brutal action and family tenderness, while Ironheart reframed a coming-of-age arc with dark magic and legacy critiques.
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