In Depth:  TV & film

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What do TV's Gladiators teach us about beauty?
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What do TV's Gladiators teach us about beauty?

Rosie Woodbridge
Rosie Woodbridge

As an avid watcher of the original series of Gladiators in the 90s, I am thrilled that the show has returned to our screens!

Each week I look forward to the next episode, to see how the contenders fare against the Gladiators. Who can hold their ground against Giant on Duel? Who can sprint fast enough to escape Fire when she is Unleashed? Who can dodge a tackle from Fury? Who is talented enough to put Legend in his place? How will they fare on the eliminator - will they make it up the travelator first time?

TV: Adolescence - a message for us ALL

TV: Adolescence - a message for us ALL

Paul Yeulett
Paul Yeulett

The gripping Netflix mini-series Adolescence screened last week. Some are suggesting it might be as influential as Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which aired at the beginning of last year.

It’s all about teenage boys, emerging sexuality, social media, Andrew Tate, online bullying, misogyny and knife crime.

Old Testament epic comes to small screen

Old Testament epic comes to small screen

Luke Randall
Luke Randall

A new TV series, House of David, charting the early life of King David has been released on Amazon Prime. The eight-episode series, produced by The Wonder project, charts David’s story from his anointing as God’s chosen king by Samuel through to his defeat of Goliath.

Forbes magazine reports that the series has “with zero social media chatter...quickly become a big hit” and was even at number two in the Amazon Prime streaming chart in the US on 10 March.

The draw of darkness: why horror fascinates us

The draw of darkness: why horror fascinates us

Niv Lobo
Niv Lobo

One should never watch anything that wounds one’s conscience; Romans 14:23 tells us there are terrible consequences of acting against our conscience.

I don’t often, therefore, speak about my fascination with the horror genre in cinema. And yet, the popularity of horror films is worth pondering. Rather than engage at any length with the film which prompted these reflections — Robert Eggers’s 2024 remake, Nosferatu — what might its success teach us?

Faithfulness and treachery:  Why ‘The Traitors’ grabs us
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Faithfulness and treachery: Why ‘The Traitors’ grabs us

Gwilym Tudur
Gwilym Tudur

The first day of 2025 saw the launch of a new season of the hit BBC television show The Traitors. In this psychological game show hosted by Claudia Winkelman, 22 contestants are sent to a Scottish castle to compete against each other for a prize of £120,000.

It is, however, a game show with a twist: some contestants are ‘Faithfuls’ while others are ‘Traitors’. Each night, the Traitors figuratively ‘murder’ a contestant, while the Faithfuls seek to ‘banish’ a Traitor. With its unexpected twists and colourful characters, the third season of The Traitors promises to be gripping.

Why is everyone crying after watching Wicked?

Why is everyone crying after watching Wicked?

Milla Ling-Davies
Milla Ling-Davies

What do you do when a friendship goes wrong? Do you call them up and explain how you were hurt - or do you stop replying to messages and remove them from your life entirely?

If you are a part of Gen Z, you might do the latter. Sociologist Jenny van Hooff recently published a paper exploring how our culture views ‘toxic friendships’[1] and found ‘dispiriting’ results. Toxic behaviour was described as anything ‘unsympathetic or simply negative’ and ending a friendship like this was seen as a ‘desirable… even courageous’[2].

Learning from Hollywood's remakes
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Learning from Hollywood's remakes

Milla Ling-Davies
Milla Ling-Davies

Have you noticed that cinema and TV today is dominated by remakes, sequels and spin-offs?

In the months before Christmas, we’ll see Moana 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Gladiator 2 and Mufasa: the Lion King. Then 2025 will bring us the eighth Mission Impossible movie, another Avatar film, a new version of the Fantastic Four – I could go on. In 2026, a remake of The Goonies is even set to be created, 40 years on from its release!

The mystery of our fascination with ‘cosy crime’

The mystery of our fascination with ‘cosy crime’

Cassie Martin
Cassie Martin

As October arrives and the nights draw in, there’s nothing we Brits like better than turning to a bit of ‘cosy crime’.

Whether you are looking forward to Season in the 4 of Only Murders Building, avidly keeping abreast of Richard Osman’s filming updates for The Thursday Murder Club, or taking refuge in your Poirot box set, it seems we can’t get enough of murder mysteries.

Blessed are the legend-makers? The Rings of Power, season 2, reviewed

Blessed are the legend-makers? The Rings of Power, season 2, reviewed

Caleb Woodbridge

In the opening episodes of the second season of Amazon’s lavishly-budgeted Tolkien prequel The Rings of Power, Galadriel and Elrond debate using the three magic elven rings. Can the rings be used for good, or are they too dangerous to use, since they were created under the suggestion of villain Sauron?

I couldn’t help but see an echo of the question that I’ve been wrestling with in relation to The Rings of Power, having watched the first six episodes of series two. This is a show created to sate the desire of the great empire of Amazon for a franchise success, for its own Game of Thrones or Harry Potter in terms of cultural and above all financial impact. It might seem from the beginning a cynical exercise, the zombification of Tolkien’s literary legacy into a vehicle for ‘brand extension’ and corporate exploitation of ‘intellectual property’.

Three ways God might be using horror films

Three ways God might be using horror films

Emma Scrivener
Emma Scrivener

I’ve always had a sneaking fondness for horror films. Growing up, my favourites were the old-school ones with dodgy prosthetics, creaking doors, flickering candles, and Indian burial grounds.

There was something cathartic about watching scary things happening to other people, knowing you were safe in your room… or were you? (Hollow laughter echoes). Plus you felt secure knowing that you were smarter than the idiots investigating the creepy noises, in the cellar, by themselves, in their underwear.

Where are all the villains?
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Where are all the villains?

Milla Ling-Davies
Milla Ling-Davies

When you were younger, who was the fictional villain that had you hiding behind the sofa? The Daleks from Doctor Who? The child-catcher from Chitty-Chitty-Bang- Bang? Or, if you’re like my husband, the giant called Flesh-lump-eater from the BFG?

I recall being terrified as my mum and dad read to me from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets of the serpent sneaking through the pipes, whispering ‘blood’ and ‘death’.