Caryn James

New York

Film Critic at BBC

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Film and TV critic, novelist. Film Critic @BBC_Culture. Contributor to the Wall Street Journal and the Hollywood Reporter, among others.

Articles

The Four Seasons to And Just Like That…: 10 of the best TV shows to watch this May

1 week ago | bbc.co.uk | Caryn James

From Tina Fey's new relationship comedy to an action drama from the creator of Lost, and the return of Sarah Jessica Parker and co in the third season of the Sex and the City sequel. 1. The Four SeasonsTine Fey stars in and co-created this comedy about three couples, long-time friends with enough disposable income to vacation together four times a year through different seasons. As in the 1981 film it is based on, everyone is rattled when one pair heads for divorce.
Warfare to Sinners: 10 of the best films of 2025 so far

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Nicholas Barber |Caryn James

Warfare to Sinners: 10 of the best films of 2025 so farNicholas Barber and Caryn JamesYun Sun Park/ BBC(Credit: Yun Sun Park/ BBC)BBC film critics Caryn James and Nicholas Barber pick their cinema highlights of the year so far, from a brutal war epic to an ambitious period vampire drama.
Severance to Adolescence: 10 of the best TV shows of 2025 so far

3 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Caryn James |Hugh Montgomery

Now"God forbid a girl have hobbies." Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco appear to be thriving. At least, that's what we're getting from Selena's recent Instagram photo of herself lounging on the couch with a bottle of KY Jelly in the background. ^ Go ahead and swipe, but if that's too much of an effort, here …
Severance to Adolescence: 10 of the best TV shows of 2025 so far

3 weeks ago | bbc.com | Caryn James |Hugh Montgomery

Severance to Adolescence: 10 of the best TV shows of 2025 so farCaryn James and Hugh MontgomeryYun Sun Park/ BBC(Credit: Yun Sun Park/ BBC)From the new season of the dystopian workplace drama to the UK miniseries that got the world talking and an HBO medical show, we pick the year's greatest programmes to stream right now. Apple TV+Hollywood is an easy target, but this satire is so sharp, astute and sometimes absurd that it may be the funniest show of the year.
'The Last of Us 2': 'Reviravolta na trama mata a alma da série', diz crítico da BBC

1 month ago | terra.com.br | Caryn James

Apesar de todas as criaturas com o cérebro infectado por um fungo que ficam vagando na série, The Last of Us nunca foi realmente sobre zumbis. A primeira temporada funcionou tão bem por causa do vínculo cada vez mais forte entre os protagonistas Joel e Ellie, a adolescente órfã que ele foi contratado para levar até o outro lado do país, e que acabou se tornando sua filha postiça.
Warfare review: A combat epic that 'does what film does best'

1 month ago | bbc.com | Caryn James

Warfare review: A combat epic that 'does what film does best'A24Alex Garland explored the slide into fractious factionalism in Civil War. Now he turns his gaze towards the ferocity of combat in new film Warfare, which stars Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis and Charles Melton. Joseph Quinn's excruciating howls of pain go on and on, and on and on in Warfare, continuing long after most films would have moved forward.
Trouble in Paradise? Why The White Lotus season three divided fans and critics

1 month ago | bbc.com | Caryn James

Trouble in Paradise? Why The White Lotus season three divided fans and criticsFabio Lovino/ HBORight from the start, season three of Mike White's Thailand-set one percenter drama was beset by criticism and debate – where will the series go from here? Within seconds of the highly anticipated final episode of The White Lotus’s season three ending on Sunday evening, the reactions and reviews for the 83-min closer were in. The viewers might as well have been talking about two different shows.
The Last of Us season two review: 'The plot twist tears the heart out of the series'

1 month ago | bbc.com | Caryn James

The Last of Us season two review: 'The plot twist tears the heart out of the series'HBOThe video game adaptation won many plaudits for its grim-but-humane first season. Amidst a semblance of civilisation, the second series is an uneven odyssey. Despite all the mush-brained infected creatures roaming around, The Last of Us was never really about the zombies.
Your Friends and Neighbors review: 'Radically different from any other show'

1 month ago | bbc.co.uk | Caryn James

Jon Hamm excels in Apple TV+'s "emotionally real but absurdist" drama about a desperate corporate man who resorts to stealing from his neighbours. Jon Hamm has his best role since Mad Men and brings all his sharp comic timing and dramatic nuance to it as Andrew Cooper, known as Coop, a hedge-fund manager who loses his job and manoeuvres to maintain his elaborate lifestyle and sense of himself.
The Last of Us to Dying for Sex: 11 of the best TV shows to watch this April

1 month ago | bbc.com | Caryn James

The Last of Us to Dying for Sex: 11 of the best TV shows to watch this AprilHBOFrom the return of HBO's zombie apocalypse thriller to Michelle Williams in a provocative new role. Amazon PrimeIn this droll new series, Kevin Bacon adds demon-chasing bounty-hunter to his long list of horror characters.