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Ben Travers

@bentravers.bsky.social
29K followers 127 following 486 posts

IndieWire Critic & Deputy Editor, TV • TCA Member • Formerly of a Few Podcasts • He/Him • Ann Dowd calls me “honey” (and don't tell me if she calls everyone that).

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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
My boys 🥹
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Featuring Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector reciting "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" — in character. www.indiewire.com/news/breakin...
indiewire.com
‘The Gilded Age’ Musical Is Finally Happening — as a Christmas Album
Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector join Audra McDonald, Christine Baranski, and more actors from 'The Gilded Age' for a Christmas album out this year.
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Judy Berman @judyberman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This is going to change lives. People forget that democratizing access to the arts does that, but it really really does.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
“Brothers” is mainly vexing because it’s a bad star vehicle, which is ~insane~ since it only exists because the two stars decided to make a show about themselves. But just because actors play good characters doesn’t mean actors *are* good characters. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Brothers’ Review: Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson Can’t Detect Any Truth in Apple’s Limp Meta Comedy
'Brothers,' the new Apple series based on 'a true rumor,' asks if Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are actually brothers.
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Alison Herman @aherman2006.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
netflix turned charlie and the chocolate factory into a squid game-style reality competition show hosted by an AI gene wilder voice and featuring tall oompa loompas. the results are as nightmarish as you would expect: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
variety.com
Netflix Competition ‘Wonka’s The Golden Ticket’ Is a Ghoulish Misuse of AI Gene Wilder: TV Review
A Netflix competition show based on Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' uses an AI-generated Gene Wilder in a disastrous gimmick.
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Emily St. James @emilystjams.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
In case you needed another reason to dislike Gavin Newsom, a truly loathsome man, and/or back anybody else in the 2028 Dem primaries.........
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Soraya Nadia McDonald @soraya.press · 20/09/2026
Holy smokes I fuckin' did it. As promised, I hard launched before Yom Kippur, with hours to spare! I am going to take a nap.
soraya.press
Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself
Look at me. I’m the publisher now.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The more I think about it, the more I like Sharon Horgan's "Youth" — which means this review that I wrote four days ago is probably underselling it. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Youth’ Review: Sharon Horgan’s Sharp HBO Comedy Asks What We Really Have to Sacrifice with Age
Sharon Horgan returns to HBO (post-'Divorce') with 'Youth,' a mid-life crisis comedy that's as familiar as it is refreshing, insightful, and funny.
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Joe Adalian @tvmojoe.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Read this from Rick: It's the best, most accurate analysis I've read of what this week's 60 MINUTES ratings really mean. And yes, while you're there, sign up -- free or paid. It's a reliably good digest of Nielsen goodness.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Yessssssssss
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
*MY* Criterion edition would include Julia Louis-Dreyfus giving feature-length commentary as Elaine, but she’s just muttering under her breath for two-and-a-half hours, until right before the credits when she screams “I HATE IT!” But I guess this is fine. www.criterion.com/films/33811-...
Criterion cover of “The English Patient”
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Emmys bad, winners good. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
The Emmys Gave TV Fans Winners Worth Cherishing — and a Ceremony for Somebody Else
Rhea Seehorn and Matthew Rhys are Emmy winners tailor-made to thrill TV fans, but the Emmys ceremony meant to honor them had other priorities.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
And stuck with it to the end! Credit for committing, I guess.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
(It's good, actually, that Jon Hamm and Amanda Peet made a joke about no one watching "Your Friends and Neighbors" — the show that got one (1) Emmy nomination ***for Best Drama Series***.)
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Kathryn VanArendonk @kvanaren.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
one person in dentists office: rhys rhys rhys everyone in dentists office: RHYS RHYS RHYS
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Daniel Fienberg @thefienprint.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
HA. Jean Smart held the #Emmys record with eight acting wins solo for... 10 minutes.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
*the* perfect reaction the Buffy "reunion"
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Emmy producers in "let's get this over with" mode from the jump, I see.
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Kate Erbland @katerbland.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
OMG OMG OMG SUNSET COCKTAILS FOR ALLLLLLLLLL
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@NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) @newsjennifer.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Credit to PBS News. This is by far one of the most accurate descriptions of what trump did. None of the sanewashing we saw with so much of the news coverage.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The final season of “Colin From Accounts” is really well made, starting from the very informative, very funny, very first sequence. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Colin from Accounts’ Final Season Is for the F*ck-Ups
The Australian rom com series returns with a third & final season that sees its central couple summoning the courage to decide what's right for them.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Great, moving writing by David here. Eager to see this one. www.indiewire.com/criticism/mo...
indiewire.com
‘Everytime’ Review: Sandra Wollner’s Infinitely Beguiling Portrait of Grief in the Digital Age Is One of the Most Haunting Films of the Decade
Sandra Wollner's unforgettable third feature explores the modern world's changing relationship to death.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
"Jazz. That can’t be good." lol good “Lanterns” tonight www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Lanterns’ Review: Episode 4 Is All About ‘The Weenie'(s) — Spoilers
Each weenie tells a story, and each story tells us a lot about "Lanterns."
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Kate Erbland @katerbland.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
The Telluride secret screening is even more wild than we imagined: www.indiewire.com/news/festiva...
indiewire.com
A24 Reveals Telluride Secret Screening: It’s Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s Documentary About Elizabeth Holmes
The filmmaker visited the convicted fraudster in prison.
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Ellie Mae O'Hagan @elliemaeohagan.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I love the dedication in My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinhem
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Melanie McFarland @mctelevision.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
What struck me is how accurately "OutKast" portrays the "twice as good for half as much" reality that Black parents drill into high-achievers like John Stewart. Props to Vanessa Baden Kelly's 🎯writing for that.
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Rick Porter @rickporter.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
New at The Data Stream: Does IP mining really work better than just making original shows? (Not really!) Subscribe for more stuff like this, plus weekly ratings and premiere date guides and whatnot.
thedatastream.tv
What working the IP mines gets you
Shows based on existing intellectual property don't have a much greater success rate than original ideas.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I love watching “Dark Matter” for its beautiful and bonkers shots of Chicago, but the rest of Season 2 is such a mess it made me question Apple’s entire approach to sci-fi TV. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Dark Matter’ Season 2 Tests the Limits of Apple TV’s Sci-Fi Obsession
After two years away, 'Dark Matter' Season 2 is a convoluted follow-up that illustrates the risks of Apple's high-concept blockbuster TV strategy.
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Denny Carter @dennycarter.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
amazing stuff
"This government hates us and wants us dead," Kathleen Hanna remarked during Bikini
Kill's set. "They don't give a shit about anybody's healthcare. They don't care if we're dying in parking lots of curable illnesses.
They don't give a shit. They don't care if our rights are taken away. They're ripping people off the streets. I'm not gonna tell you all the bad things! But I am gonna say it makes it hard for me in my body sometimes to have a good time. 'Cause it's hard to turn it off. And I was thinking that on the way here. I was like,
'What a gift.' What a gift we have to be able to play for you. What a gift Olivia has given all of us to do this festival.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
It’s clear how much the people behind “Adults” care about making a great sitcom — and I respect that, because I love sitcoms. Season 2 is a big improvement, but it’s not there yet. Strong changes. Still has room to grow. I got in the weeds with this one: www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Adults’ Season 2 Review: FX’s Gen-Z Sitcom Hits a Much-Needed Growth Spurt
After a rough debut, co-creators Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw lean on classic sitcom tropes and elevate their strongest characters.
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Daniel Fienberg @thefienprint.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The new season should up Quincy Tyler Bernstine to full co-lead status and some effort should be made to bring Steve Way back, however narratively complicated that might be.
hollywoodreporter.com
‘Furious’ Renewed for Second Season at Hulu
The thriller from creator Elizabeth Meriwether and star Emmy Rossum wraps its first run on Aug. 31.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
On the last day of Emmy voting, I wrote a "will win / should win" with @marcusjones.bsky.social about the Best Series races. It's short, but we did not skimp on the hot takes! www.indiewire.com/awards/predi...
indiewire.com
We Pick Which Series Will Win and/or Should Win at the 2026 Primetime Emmys
IndieWire Awards Editor Marcus Jones and TV Critic Ben Travers debate which series will win and which series should win at the 2026 Primetime Emmys.
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Lisa Hanawalt @lisahanawalt.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
New signed, limited edition prints in my shop : ) lisahanawalt.bigcartel.com/category/pri...
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Eric Vilas-Boas @ericvb.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
just in from the happiest workplace on earth (h/t @puck.news)
Disney won’t cover your significant other: Now that Disney C.E.O. Josh D’Amaro is done putting on a magical show at D23, here’s the reality at the company: More than 200,000 employees were just notified that starting in 2027, they can no longer enroll their spouse on the company insurance plan if that spouse has a job that offers any kind of healthcare (even if it’s much crappier). The move effectively kicks thousands of people off the Disney plans, many to inferior coverage, a shift that will likely impact lower-paid workers and hourly employees most. It’s just one of several changes coming to the happiest studio on Earth via its so-called “Total Rewards,” which sounds like a casino loyalty program but refers to Disney’s internal perks and compensation system. Why? “Like many companies, we’re navigating a number of factors, including rising healthcare costs, evolving employee needs, and shifts across our industry,” an internal communication reads. Translation: Stop whining, Eeyores. You’re lucky you have a job.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Spoke to Nick Offerman about a little show called “Death by Lightning.” www.indiewire.com/awards/consi...
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
lol yesssss
screenshot: “I’m as proud of it as anything I’ve ever written, and I hope readers at least appreciate how much good kissing it has,” St. James says.
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Liz Shannon Miller @lizshannonmiller.com · 18/08/2026
As teased last night: I am publishing my first novel, HOW TO BUILD A ROBOT (BOYFRIEND) on Sept. 1st! Link to read more: www.robot-boyfriend.com Link to pre-order: www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFKPGFJ5
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Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 17/08/2026
Every time someone says "but how will we afford it?" I want to ask them how we are affording it now, and in many cases, the answer is that we aren't.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
I am also on the weekly “Lanterns” beat. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Lanterns’ Review: Episode 1 Lights Up Small-Town America with Big Mysteries and a Massive Twist — Spoilers
HBO's gritty "Green Lantern" series premiere is a rollicking introduction despite overloading on information and ending on a big ol' downer. [RECAP]
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Liz Shannon Miller @lizshannonmiller.com · 15/08/2026
So I think I undersold my interview with Chris Carter about his #XFiles: I Want to Believe director's cut. Please enjoy the section that multiple readers have quoted back to me with exclamation points. consequence.net/2026/08/x-fi...
I Want to Believe features the now-retired FBI agents getting dragged back into one more case, involving a mad scientist with an interest in transplanting heads in the quest for immortality. In terms of justifying the decision to cut scenes and even lines focused on the relationship between his two lead characters, Carter said that Seasons 10 and 11 of the show, revived in the 2010s, gave X-Files fans “their fill of Mulder and Scully and their relationship. Scully reveals she’s pregnant at the end of Season 11, so you know they’re sleeping together, so that doesn’t need to be any great shocker in the movie.”

In Seasons 10 and 11, Mulder and Scully are depicted as living independently from each other, with exactly one confirmed sexual encounter over the course of 16 episodes (included seemingly to set up that pregnancy reveal). But that appears to be the level of romance that Carter feels is true to the core of the series.

“I always felt that the studio didn’t really know The X-Files very well when they greenlit this movie originally,” he says. “They forced us to put that romantic element in there, when it took away from the good X-Files story. In this cut, I simply wanted to take the weight off of the one thing and put it on the darker story.”
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Marvel never understood (or cared to learn) how to make good TV.
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Kathryn VanArendonk @kvanaren.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I am really, really, really, REALLY excited to be able to share the cover of my book, as well a link so you can preorder it for when it comes out in April. Look at the ears!!!! wwnorton.com/books/978132...
cover for my new book, The Bluey Years - blue backdrop with clouds, the words the bluey years written in scribbly writing like a kid who wrote on the wall in crayon, framed with triangular blue ears
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
No surprise "Sugar" got better once it stopped treating its premise like a twist, but Season 2 made a number of other savvy changes — including Colin Farrell, whose evolution is really, really impressive. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
The Secret Is Out: ‘Sugar’ Season 2 Got Good
'Sugar' got off on the wrong foot in a first season that hid too much for too long. But Season 2 makes key changes — beyond keeping the right secrets.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
One point I probably didn’t make loudly enough: The slasher scenes are deeply, embarrassingly not scary — and they really need to be for “The Shards” two stories to cohere. Woof. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘The Shards’ Review: Ryan Murphy’s Unboring Bret Easton Ellis Adaptation Never Comes Together
'The Shards' follows a quartet of rich teens whose idyllic adolescence is upended by the arrival of a mysterious "boy" — and a serial killer.
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
“Ted Lasso” is back! Just not the Ted Lasso you love. On a confounding Season 4: www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
indiewire.com
‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Review: Jason Sudeikis’ Cheery Coach Is Still Off His Game
'Ted Lasso' Season 4 shows how Coach Lasso's belief system fares with a women's soccer club — and if the series can recover from its fall from grace.
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Soraya Nadia McDonald @soraya.press · 31/07/2026
H. Jon Benjamin. As Archer. As Odyseus.
Jon Hamm as drunk Don Draper unfortunately unraveling into Dick Whitman during a pitch in that meme scene from Mad Men.
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
this is what they took from you
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Melanie McFarland @mctelevision.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Media people! @hanhonymous.bsky.social is truly one of the best editors I have ever worked with -- she's smart, creative, respects her reports and has a deep expertise in all things Culture. She would be a terrific addition to your team. Hire her!
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Matt Zoller Seitz @mattzollerseitz.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
"Positioning a trans actor as the moral voice of reason, an unwavering advocate for Zeus’s law, and a man whose ultimate betrayal symbolizes the destruction of civilized Greek society for the sake of the 'victory' at Troy, is especially pertinent to where we are currently."
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Ben Travers @bentravers.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
[walking out of the cineplex after “Hadestown”] Me: “Wow, that was incredible!” Jenna: “Really incredible.” M: “And André De Shields — I mean, talk about stage presence!” J: “Mmhmm.” [beat] M: “It really puts ‘The Sack Lunch Bunch’ in a whole new-“ J: “I knew you were going to say that.”
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