Mediacritiques https://mediacritiques.net/ Sharp takes on screens, streams, and the culture they make. en Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:55:55 GMT Prestige TV's Cold Open Is a Sugar High, Not a Story Engine https://mediacritiques.net/prestige-tv-cold-open-sugar-high/ https://mediacritiques.net/prestige-tv-cold-open-sugar-high/ Streaming dramas in 2026 keep opening with expensive, attention-grabbing cold opens—then sagging once the hook wears off. The real review question isn't whether the first five minutes pop. It's whether the show has the structural stamina to survive its own trailer-bait. Mediacritiques Television Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:55:55 GMT The Spoiler Economy Doesn't Want You Unspoiled—It Wants You Clicking https://mediacritiques.net/spoiler-economy-wants-you-clicking/ https://mediacritiques.net/spoiler-economy-wants-you-clicking/ In 2026, 'no spoilers' is less an etiquette rule than a release strategy. Studios, TikTok, and Letterboxd have turned spoiler avoidance into a game everyone profits from—except the viewer. Film criticism needs a new vocabulary for the choreography. Mediacritiques Film Thu, 12 Nov 2026 14:55:55 GMT