Alan Sepinwall
@sepinwall.bsky.social
He/him. TV Critic, author. Now searchable on Tubi. I am not Alan Sepinwall III.
https://whatsalanwatching.com
https://whatsalanwatching.com
Pinned
Alan Sepinwall
@sepinwall.bsky.social
· Oct 13
What's Alan Watching?
Television reviews, recaps, and more from Rolling Stone chief TV critic Alan Sepinwall
alansepinwall.ghost.io
Did you know that I'm doing all of my reviewing and recapping in one place? Subscribe now for all the fun and excitement at What's Alan Watching?
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
In today's free What's Alan Watching? newsletter, previewing my 2026 TV coverage, plus Isiah Whitlock Jr., and memorable New Year's episodes. Read! Subscribe! Share! Do a dance routine with your sibling!
Welcome to 2026!
Here's some of what to look forward to as the calendar turns, plus a tribute to Isiah Whitlock Jr., and a look at memorable episodes set around New Year's
www.whatsalanwatching.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:08 PM
In today's free What's Alan Watching? newsletter, previewing my 2026 TV coverage, plus Isiah Whitlock Jr., and memorable New Year's episodes. Read! Subscribe! Share! Do a dance routine with your sibling!
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
Thoughts on a Stranger Thing series finale that had some excellent moments that were utterly buried by all the padding:
Bigger isn't better with 'Stranger Things' finale
The conclusion's better moments get buried under too much padding
www.whatsalanwatching.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Thoughts on a Stranger Thing series finale that had some excellent moments that were utterly buried by all the padding:
Top 10 lists: threat or menace?
First piece of 2026!
For @poynterinstitute.bsky.social, I talked to a bunch of terrific critics—including @anniezaleski.bsky.social, @sepinwall.bsky.social, and @jasondashbailey.com—about the pains and pleasures of creating top 10 and EOY lists.
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
For @poynterinstitute.bsky.social, I talked to a bunch of terrific critics—including @anniezaleski.bsky.social, @sepinwall.bsky.social, and @jasondashbailey.com—about the pains and pleasures of creating top 10 and EOY lists.
www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...
Why critics have a love-hate relationship with top 10 lists - Poynter
Reducing a year of culture to a handful of honorees leads to agita — and, one hopes, appreciation
www.poynter.org
January 3, 2026 at 2:26 AM
Top 10 lists: threat or menace?
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
Gratitude! ICYMI Here’s my House of Ashur review and within this, many links to pieces about Spartacus ⚔️👊🏻 www.whatsalanwatching.com/review-spart...
January 3, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Gratitude! ICYMI Here’s my House of Ashur review and within this, many links to pieces about Spartacus ⚔️👊🏻 www.whatsalanwatching.com/review-spart...
In today's free What's Alan Watching? newsletter, previewing my 2026 TV coverage, plus Isiah Whitlock Jr., and memorable New Year's episodes. Read! Subscribe! Share! Do a dance routine with your sibling!
Welcome to 2026!
Here's some of what to look forward to as the calendar turns, plus a tribute to Isiah Whitlock Jr., and a look at memorable episodes set around New Year's
www.whatsalanwatching.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:08 PM
In today's free What's Alan Watching? newsletter, previewing my 2026 TV coverage, plus Isiah Whitlock Jr., and memorable New Year's episodes. Read! Subscribe! Share! Do a dance routine with your sibling!
Thoughts on a Stranger Thing series finale that had some excellent moments that were utterly buried by all the padding:
Bigger isn't better with 'Stranger Things' finale
The conclusion's better moments get buried under too much padding
www.whatsalanwatching.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Thoughts on a Stranger Thing series finale that had some excellent moments that were utterly buried by all the padding:
Gonna have to call Pete Campbell in off the bench to write about most of the finale.
January 1, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Gonna have to call Pete Campbell in off the bench to write about most of the finale.
Watching Stranger Things finale on a delay, and it's hard to resist jumping ahead, because this is SO slow and repetitive so far.
January 1, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Watching Stranger Things finale on a delay, and it's hard to resist jumping ahead, because this is SO slow and repetitive so far.
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
For the New York Times, I wrote about the creative implications of the potential Netflix/WBD deal, and why I hope Netflix learns more from HBO than HBO learns from Netflix (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | One Factor Will Decide How Much You Enjoy TV Next Year
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:41 PM
For the New York Times, I wrote about the creative implications of the potential Netflix/WBD deal, and why I hope Netflix learns more from HBO than HBO learns from Netflix (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
MTV is officially ending all of its music channels.
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
December 31, 2025 at 2:30 PM
MTV is officially ending all of its music channels.
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
In honor of that, what's your favorite music video?
For the New York Times, I wrote about the creative implications of the potential Netflix/WBD deal, and why I hope Netflix learns more from HBO than HBO learns from Netflix (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | One Factor Will Decide How Much You Enjoy TV Next Year
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:41 PM
For the New York Times, I wrote about the creative implications of the potential Netflix/WBD deal, and why I hope Netflix learns more from HBO than HBO learns from Netflix (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
RIP, Isiah Whitlock Jr
a man in a suit is making a funny face while standing in front of a red wall .
Alt: a man in a suit is making a funny face while standing in front of a red wall .
media.tenor.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:24 PM
RIP, Isiah Whitlock Jr
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
At What's Alan Watching?, I wrap up superlatives season with a look at some more of this year's best TV episodes:
Best TV episodes of the year, part 2
Inspiring speeches, red hot chili peppers, brutal hallway fights, and a lot more
www.whatsalanwatching.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
At What's Alan Watching?, I wrap up superlatives season with a look at some more of this year's best TV episodes:
At What's Alan Watching?, I wrap up superlatives season with a look at some more of this year's best TV episodes:
Best TV episodes of the year, part 2
Inspiring speeches, red hot chili peppers, brutal hallway fights, and a lot more
www.whatsalanwatching.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
At What's Alan Watching?, I wrap up superlatives season with a look at some more of this year's best TV episodes:
🎶 We gotta pod a little deeper… 🎶
It’s a holiday miracle! We end 2025 on a new Mousterpiece Melodies, as special guest @sepinwall.bsky.social joins @scottrenshaw.bsky.social and I to discuss the songs of The Princess and the Frog. mousterpiecemelodies.podbean.com/e/mousterpie...
Mousterpiece Melodies -- Episode 17: The Princess and the Frog | Mousterpiece Melodies
Hello, friends! We're going out on a high note in 2025 with a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Melodies. Scott and Josh dive into the world of the Big Easy in this installment, as they discuss the so...
mousterpiecemelodies.podbean.com
December 29, 2025 at 4:11 PM
🎶 We gotta pod a little deeper… 🎶
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
My review of the Pluribus season finale, which ended on an all-time mic drop:
Pluribus finale recap, Episode 9: 'La Chica o El Mundo'
Carol and Manousos finally meet, and the season ends with a spectacular mic drop
www.whatsalanwatching.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
My review of the Pluribus season finale, which ended on an all-time mic drop:
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
I wrote about how the steamy hockey romance Heated Rivalry became a phenomenon, along with some thoughts about the season finale (with a spoiler warning before we get to that part):
How 'Heated Rivalry' conquered winter TV
The queer hockey romance's first season wraps up with a seemingly idyllic getaway
www.whatsalanwatching.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I wrote about how the steamy hockey romance Heated Rivalry became a phenomenon, along with some thoughts about the season finale (with a spoiler warning before we get to that part):
What's German for "I'm only referring to the first three seasons"?
German Netflix advertises Arrested Development with @sepinwall.bsky.social‘s review of it
December 28, 2025 at 10:18 PM
What's German for "I'm only referring to the first three seasons"?
Wire rewatch just got up to s2's Johnny Cash montage, where the show had put in so much effort to make the audience understand how the detail worked that it could hit fast-forward on the case like this, trusting we'd be able to follow: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjLt...
The Wire - I Walk The Line, Johnny Cash
YouTube video by adreon
www.youtube.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Wire rewatch just got up to s2's Johnny Cash montage, where the show had put in so much effort to make the audience understand how the detail worked that it could hit fast-forward on the case like this, trusting we'd be able to follow: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjLt...
God, I love that movie.
December 28, 2025 at 3:00 AM
God, I love that movie.
Reposted by Alan Sepinwall
The latest batch of Stranger Things s5 episodes has some incredible highs, but also a LOT of the padding that's unfortunately come to define these later seasons. My take on the series' penultimate chapters:
Five thoughts on a very 'Stranger Things' Christmas
Padding starts to set in, but there are some great moments along the way
www.whatsalanwatching.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The latest batch of Stranger Things s5 episodes has some incredible highs, but also a LOT of the padding that's unfortunately come to define these later seasons. My take on the series' penultimate chapters:
Make a Bond film casual
The Spy Who Swiped Right On Me
The Spy Who Swiped Right On Me
Make a Bond film casual
Dr. Nah
Dr. Nah
Make a Bond film casual
Yardraker
Yardraker
December 26, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Make a Bond film casual
The Spy Who Swiped Right On Me
The Spy Who Swiped Right On Me
In today's free What's Alan Watching? newsletter, catching up mid-holiday season, a salute to the late James Ransone, and more. Read! Subscribe! Share! Sabotage your former employer!
Very good. Happy Christmas!
Checking in on a holiday weekend
www.whatsalanwatching.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In today's free What's Alan Watching? newsletter, catching up mid-holiday season, a salute to the late James Ransone, and more. Read! Subscribe! Share! Sabotage your former employer!
The latest batch of Stranger Things s5 episodes has some incredible highs, but also a LOT of the padding that's unfortunately come to define these later seasons. My take on the series' penultimate chapters:
Five thoughts on a very 'Stranger Things' Christmas
Padding starts to set in, but there are some great moments along the way
www.whatsalanwatching.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The latest batch of Stranger Things s5 episodes has some incredible highs, but also a LOT of the padding that's unfortunately come to define these later seasons. My take on the series' penultimate chapters: