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Angelica Jade Bastién

Critic
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Angelica Jade Bastién is a critic for New York and Vulture focusing on pop culture. She was once described by a close friend as “deliciously vulgar”.

  1. Odds Against Tomorrow Is a Hidden Noir Gem That Considers Anti-Black RacismThe Harry Belafonte–produced and starring film subverts and complicates what came before it.
  2. The Good Place Has the Best Acting Ensemble on TVLed by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, The Good Place’s cast blends heart and irreverence with aplomb.
  3. chat room
    Star Trek’s Shazad Latif on Lieutenant Ash Tyler’s Vulnerability and That TwistAsh Tyler is an intriguing entry in the representation of male victims of sexual assault in pop culture.
  4. The 5 Best Performances of Gloria Grahame, Film Noir IconThe films that seared Grahame into the imagination of Americans during the mid-20th century.
  5. The Keanu Reeves Super Bowl Ad Is a Thing of Weird BeautyWho knew a Squarespace ad could be so bonkers and wonderful at the same time?
  6. Why Has Mudbound Been Left Out of the Awards Conversation?Mudbound is a turning point in Netflix’s history with the Oscars, but being acquired by the network is a double-edged sword for the film itself.
  7. Deep Space Nine Is TV’s Most Revolutionary Depiction of Black FatherhoodSisko and Jake forever.
  8. close reads
    The Hilarity and Horror of Ted Danson on The Good PlaceIn the decades since Cheers, Danson has subverted, skewered, leaned into, and ultimately outgrown the rakish machismo of Sam Malone.
  9. endings
    Let’s Talk About the Ending of Black Mirror’s ‘USS Callister’It has two endings, and one is pretty grim.
  10. golden globes 2018
    The Best Moments in Black Excellence at the 2018 Golden GlobesOne word: Oprah.
  11. In Praise of Margot Robbie’s Performance in I, TonyaJust a few minutes into the movie, I found myself captivated by Robbie, who is nominated for a Golden Globe Sunday night.
  12. anniversaries
    The Best Episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, RankedCelebrating the best series in the franchise on its 25th anniversary.
  13. 39 TV Shows We Can’t Wait to See in 2018American Crime Story, Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Atlanta, Blue Planet II, and much, much more.
  14. A Definitive Ranking of Bob’s Burgers Holiday EpisodesNo show currently on TV understands the wonder and anxiety that comes with the holidays like Bob’s Burgers.
  15. The Top 10 Underrated TV Performances of 2017There were so many big performances this year, it made it all too easy for some beautiful, layered ones to get lost in the shuffle.
  16. theories
    Why Riverdale’s Black Hood Reveal Has to Be a Fake-OutIt’s a bit of a letdown otherwise.
  17. What Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Depiction of Mental Illness Means to MeSeason three has been a revelation for its honest depiction of mental illness.
  18. close reads
    The Shallow Radicalism of the She’s Gotta Have It FinaleThis Thanksgiving dinner from hell proves that Nola has no idea who she really is, and neither do the writers.
  19. Eve’s Bayou Remains a Beautiful Portrait of Black Identity 20 Years LaterRevisiting the film’s legacy on its 20th anniversary.
  20. close reads
    Mindhunter Is a Surprisingly Good Commentary on Toxic MasculinityThe series finds horror not by detailing the broken bodies of victims, but by looking at the banality of misogyny.
  21. overnights
    Queen Sugar Recap: FatherhoodThe Bordelon family learns the truth about Blue.
  22. Now, Voyager Is One of the Most Poignant Depictions of Mental Illness EverAn appreciation of the film on its 75th anniversary.
  23. overnights
    Queen Sugar Recap: Blood Is BloodWill love be enough for Ralph Angel to forgive Darla?
  24. Why Can’t Black Witches Get Some Respect in Popular Culture?While their practices are appropriated to add a flash of exoticism, they are pushed to the margins of their respective stories.
  25. The Profound, Enduring Legacy of The CraftAll four girls are calling out for something women learn early and often is hard to attain: the power to control your own life.
  26. overnights
    Queen Sugar Recap: RevelationsThe best and most profound episode of the season so far.
  27. How the Thurgood Marshall Film Misunderstands ColorismThe well-intentioned but drab Marshall doesn’t live up to its titular character.
  28. overnights
    Queen Sugar Recap: Father NeglectNova and Robert finally confront their essential differences.
  29. overnights
    Queen Sugar Recap: Revelations“Fruit of the Flower” lays out the truth about Lorna.
  30. The Vulnerability of Ryan Gosling in Blade Runner 2049 The sequel has many aesthetic pleasures, but Gosling’s performance gives it weight.
  31. chat room
    The Flash’s Keiynan Lonsdale on What We Can Expect for Wally West This SeasonAnd how he learned to love himself.
  32. Dawn-Lyen Gardner on How Playing a Biracial Woman Informs Her Acting Choices“Every decision I’ve made, every character choice has taken that into consideration in a big way.”
  33. overnights
    Queen Sugar Recap: Old WoundsWill Darla and Ralph Angel really get married?
  34. close reads
    Where Do Michael and Her Mutiny Fit Into Star Trek History?It can’t be properly understood without looking at the ways these topics have threaded through Star Trek in the 1990s.
  35. overnights
    Queen Sugar Mid-Season Premiere Recap: Family Is Family“Yet Do I Marvel” brings to life one of the most complex mother-daughter relationships on TV.
  36. A Beginner’s Guide to the Star Trek UniverseStar Trek can seem labyrinthine and too dense for new fans to find their way in. But it’s very well worth the time.
  37. Every Star Trek TV Show, RankedFrom The Original Series to The Next Generation to Deep Space 9.
  38. The 30 Best Female-Led Horror Films of All TimeFrom Alien to Halloween.
  39. Michelle Pfeiffer Is the MVP of Mother!Anytime she’s onscreen, the film becomes electric.
  40. The Highs and Lows of the 2017 Emmy AwardsBleep-bloop.
  41. Are You Team Reese or Team Nicole for the Emmys?Pull on a chunky knit and get your throwing wine, because we’re picking sides.
  42. Why Thandie Newton Should Win an EmmyHer performance is the most audacious and fun.
  43. overnights
    Insecure Season Finale Recap: Same Ol’ MistakesIssa learns that love isn’t always enough.
  44. overnights
    Insecure Recap: Breakdowns and BreakthroughsWelcome to the dinner party from hell.
  45. casting couch
    Finally, Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder Are Starring in a Rom-Com TogetherA match made in heaven.
  46. close reads
    Why Insecure’s Blow-Job Scene Felt Out of Step With the Typically Radical ShowFor the first time, Insecure doesn’t capture black millennial life.
  47. overnights
    Insecure Recap: SexplosionIssa and Molly hit new lows.
  48. chat room
    Insecure’s Yvonne Orji on How They Make the Sex Scenes Look So Real“It’s like, ‘Man, TV magic is real!’”
  49. overnights
    Insecure Recap: Handle With CareGetting “dickmatized” is dangerous.
  50. The Grand Feminist Legacy of Orphan BlackIt was an imperfect, astounding series.
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