Former quality assurance testers who worked on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf are preparing to picket outside Bioware’s Edmonton offices after being laid off earlier this year. Electronic Arts tried to block the protest but the developers prevailed in a ruling by the Alberta Labour Relations Board in Canada.
‘Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name’ is a fun ‘Yakuza’ throwback that takes a bit too long to hit its stride.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name may have new branding, but this is a game about embracing old comforts, more than anything else.
Formerly known as Yakuza in the West (Sega rebranded it to Like a Dragon, a more literal translation of its Japanese name, in the last year), the latest game is a lot like its predecessors. Like, a lot. It takes place in the same neighborhood as three of the previous games. A lot of the same side activities are here. Most importantly, it’s the grand return of longtime series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu.
This is, essentially, a side story — one that’s a lot shorter than most other games in the series (it took me 10 hours to complete the main storyline, whereas other games typically take between 20-50 hours). Like a Dragon Gaiden is about as fun as a game can be while still feeling inessential. Its story takes too long to reach its (excellent) emotional payoff, and the return to brawler-style combat feels a bit like a step backward.
But if you’ve ever liked Yakuza in the past, this bite-sized organized crime saga is still worth the time. The fact that it’s a day one Xbox Game Pass game means you might not even need to pay full price for it, too.
Warning: This section will feature story spoilers for Yakuza 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Any series approaching 10 mainline entries is inevitably going to get up to some convoluted timeline shenanigans, and this one is no different. Let me clear things up right away: Like a Dragon Gaiden takes place concurrently with 2020’s Yakuza: Like a Dragon, to date, the most recent game in the series. The whole idea is to explain just what the heck Kiryu got up to after faking his death at the end of Yakuza 6 in order to protect his loved ones.
Surprise! It turns out he spent most of that time beating people up on behalf of the shadowy organization that helped him fake his death and gave him a new name. It doesn’t take long before he gets roped into another semi-complicated yakuza scheme involving crime families, both new and old, ultimately culminating in the climactic dissolution of the Tojo Clan and Omi Alliance, as seen in Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
The plot takes Kiryu to Sotenbori, a neighborhood prominently featured in Yakuza 0, 2, and 5. Recycling an old mini-open-world might be a disappointment in any other series, but it’s just how Yakuza rolls. Playing through these games in order means eventually developing a real relationship with each neighborhood, and as a series vet, it’s always nice to return to Sotenbori, with its gorgeous riverfront, bustling commerce district, and seedy back alleys full of goons to beat the holy hell out of.
As much as we love the current series protagonist and ultimate himbo Kasuga Ichiban, I have to admit there’s some comfort in spending 10 to 20 hours with Kiryu again. He is, simply put, one of the best gaming heroes of all time. Kiryu is a stoic warrior-monk who is equally capable of doing the coolest action guy stuff you’ve ever seen and spitting out some fire philosophical wisdom right afterward.
Like a Dragon Gaiden‘s plot machinations are largely sort of uninteresting until an explosively delightful and wonderfully stupid final act. It’s worth the wait for what is a genuinely heart-wrenching emotional payoff, something fans have been waiting for from Kiryu for years. He finally gets some real, self-serving introspection after decades of fighting on behalf of others.
If you love Kiryu, this game is worth playing for that alone.
The other vector by which Like a Dragon Gaiden is a throwback is a little bit less endearing to me.
Specifically, developer Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio (RGGS) brought back the franchise’s old real-time brawler combat that fueled fights for the first seven games. To be clear, it’s still fun, and they’ve done a couple of things to freshen it up. Timed parry counters are here for certain unblockable attacks, and Kiryu has a goofy-ass new “Agent” fighting style full of hilarious gadgets to use for big group encounters.
For instance, there’s a “spider wire” that comes out of a watch, which you can eventually upgrade to ensnare around five enemies at once — whipping them around the arena or stealing weapons out of their hands. Drones can be deployed for self-defense, exploding cigarettes can be thrown like grenades, and rocket shoes can be used to violently propel Kiryu into groups of helpless dudes.
It’s still the same arcadey beat-’em-up nonsense the series used to be known for before it switched to more strategic turn-based battles with Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and that would be fine in a vacuum. Unfortunately, the turn-based combat in the newer games is just a lot more dynamic and interesting to me. Boss fights require more tactical planning (in Gaiden, you just punch and dodge until it’s over), and there’s a huge variety of options at your disposal.
By comparison, Like a Dragon Gaiden feels simplistic to its detriment. There is depth to be found in the upgrade system, but unless you feel like pouring hours into side quests to earn the money required for top-tier upgrades, you may never see the best stuff.
I get the rationale for this. RGGS wanted to make a game for the folks who prefer the old style of combat because not everyone vibes with turn-based fights. It’s a smart business decision, and it’s executed well enough here. I just feel that it’s a little hard to go back after the bold and delightful shift a few years ago.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Yakuza game without a copious amount of side activities to play with. You can golf, play darts, participate in pocket car races, and do karaoke just like in previous games. This may be a comparatively small game, but it’s not lacking in any of the bells and whistles.
There are plenty of juicy side quests to do as well (some featuring characters from previous games or spin-offs), and these are as fun and funny as always. As I said, this is a lot like previous Yakuza games, and that’s not a bad thing! Similar to the last few entries, it also looks great and runs flawlessly on PlayStation 5.
In general, it’s warm and soothing to pal around with Kiryu and co. for another game, especially after his role as the protagonist was snatched away by someone else. I wish its storyline felt more essential, and I do bemoan the return of brawler combat, but there are enough high points to be found in both that I can’t hate either aspect of Like a Dragon Gaiden.
And it accomplished its ultimate goal, which is to get me super excited for the upcoming Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth in January 2024.
At the start of the 1980s, video games were mostly relegated to coin-gobbling arcade machines, but their surging popularity prompted a Time Magazine cover story in January 1982 with a cringeworthy warning: “GRONK! FLASH! ZAP! Video Games are Blitzing the World!”
From Harry Potter to Fast & Furious and “Bridesmaids,” Peacock has the hits you need to see (again).
Some days, it feels like there are too many streaming services and too many options. How can you possibly choose what movie to watch next?
For those of you who have Peacock (and why wouldn’t you? Their TV offerings are stacked!), we’re here to help. We’ve combed through the streaming service’s catalog to bring you the funniest comedies, the most moving dramas, the most suspenseful thrillers, and the all-around best movies for your viewing pleasure. All you need to bring is the popcorn!
The most “Wes Anderson” of Anderson’s prolific and twee oeuvre, Asteroid City is not for everyone. If you’ve never found meaning in the stylistic artifice of an Anderson film, then you might feel similarly baffled here. But if Anderson’s whimsy has spoken to you in the past, then take comfort knowing this most recent offering might be his most intricate and affecting film to date.
Existential and gentle, Asteroid City is a movie about a show about a play, a nesting doll artistic endeavor keenly interested in the nature of storytelling. Is it about an alien encounter in a fictional desert town or the playwright and actors who brought the fictional desert town to life? Or is it about Anderson himself, an explainer on his hyper-specific body of work? The answer is all of this and more. Asteroid City is a fanciful, emotional triumph, popping off the screen with vibrant technicolor and a stacked cast of familiar faces and vibrant newcomers. A must-see film for Anderson-fans. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributing Writer
How to watch: Asteroid City is now streaming on Peacock.
If you haven’t seen Bridesmaids, written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, we’re so sorry that you’ve obviously been trapped in a siren’s cave for the last 11 years — because there is simply no other excuse. Bridesmaids was an era-defining film. In 2011, there were still prominent male comedians claiming women couldn’t be funny! Bridesmaids put an end to the debate.
Wiig stars as Annie, a wayward thirtysomething who feels out of step with her best friend Lillian (a perfect Maya Rudolph) when she meets the other women in Lillian’s bridal party. What follows is both romantic comedy and buddy flick, stuffed to the brim with punchlines, physical gags, and a repulsive and unforgettable gross-out scene. The entire cast here is flawless: Rose Byrne is delightfully haughty. Jon Hamm is perfect as a hot idiot. Chris O’Dowd is a swoon-worthy love interest, and Melissa McCarthy was nominated for a dang Oscar for her scene-stealing performance as another misfit bridesmaid. Please escape the siren’s cave and see this legendary comedy — for your own good! — K.G.
How to watch: Bridesmaids is streaming on Peacock.
Currently, all John Wick properties, including the so-so prequel series, The Continental, are streaming on Peacock. This highly stylized and violent neo-noir thriller franchise tells the story of John Wick (Keanu Reeves), the best assassin there ever was, who gets drawn back into the underworld after a personal tragedy leaves him set on revenge. Wick’s body count is prodigious and creative, but his cause is just. You can’t help but root for the quiet, brooding antihero. He wanted out of the game — but the game won’t let him say goodbye that easily. John Wick is a nonstop action spectacular with stunning cinematogaphy and positively mesmerizing fight choreography. — K.G.
How to watch: John Wick is now streaming on Peacock.
This cleverly twisted crime film was written and directed by Graham Moore, who won an Oscar for his adapted screenplay of The Imitation Game in 2015. The incomparable Mark Rylance stars as a soft-spoken British tailor who makes beautiful, bespoke men’s suits in 1950s Chicago. Unfortunately, most of his clientele are ruthless mobsters. The majority of the movie takes place in the span of one shocking and breathless night when his gangster clients seek shelter in the shop after an unexpected shootout from a rival organization.
The Outfit is a sophisticated and constantly surprising thriller. As Rylance’s assistant, Zoey Deutch is as charming as always, and Johnny Flynn thrives while playing against type as a no-good ’50s gangster. It’s an absolute gem of a film that will keep you guessing the whole way through. — K.G.
How to watch: The Outfit is streaming on Peacock.
Devin Blackmon stars as Dayveon, a young kid in Arkansas struggling in the aftermath of his brother’s death. Unmoored and spending his days listlessly wandering the little town he lives in, he is increasingly drawn to the sense of belonging he finds in a local gang. Directed by Amman Abbasi, with a script by Abbasi and Steven Reneau, Dayveon is a sophisticated and deeply intimate film made even more incredible by the fact that its cast is primarily composed of non-actors. It’s a moving and beautifully shot story that feels wholly, heartbreakingly real. — K.G.
How to watch: Dayveon is streaming on Peacock.
2017’s raunchy comedy about a group of friends traveling to New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival made Tiffany Haddish a household name. And once you watch the scene of her zip-lining above a partying crowd on Bourbon Street, you’ll know why. Written by Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver, Girls Trip is boisterous, outrageous, and ridiculously lovable. The jubilant cast, starring Haddish, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Queen Latifah, is clearly having so much fun celebrating female debauchery, it’s hard not to be on board with Girls Trip. — K.G.
How to watch: Girls Trip is now streaming on Peacock.
The mid-2010s brought us ombre hair, planking, and #YOLO, but its most enduring cultural addition was a wave of movies about imperfect women. More female-led films at the box office meant there was finally enough space for leading ladies who didn’t have to meet every standard to which we hold the modern women. Movie theaters were flooded with bad moms, antiheroines, and the sloppiest drunks you’ve ever seen in your life. Enter Trainwreck, a hilarious and irreverent rom-com directed by Judd Apatow and starring Amy Schumer in a role that’s basically her hot mess stand-up persona come to life.
In this hysterical comedy, Schumer and Bill Hader are surprisingly charming together as opposites attract. Plus, John Cena and LeBron James both add an unexpected sparkle to a fun and cheeky romance. — K.G.
How to watch: Trainwreck is streaming on Peacock.
Ip Man is an exciting Hong Kong martial arts biopic about the extraordinary life of the Wing Chun grandmaster who was Bruce Lee’s martial arts teacher. The film tracks Ip Man’s journey from the Southern Chinese village where he was well known as a skilled martial artist to his family’s displacement during the Japanese occupation of the Second Sino-Japanese War, his eventual rise as a fighter, and his establishment of a school in Hong Kong.
Starring the skillful Donnie Yen, Ip Man doesn’t skimp on character development; it’s an electrifying rumination on philosophy, power, and honor in addition to its stunning action. Ip Man is a deeply influential film in the martial arts genre and, to everyone’s delight, has inspired three equally stirring sequels, all of which are available on Peacock. — K.G.
How to watch: Ip Man is streaming on Peacock.
And now the franchise that needs no introduction: Harry Potter. The original eight-movie series starts as a charming coming-of-age tale about a boy wizard learning about magic and ends as a serious and emotional allegory about fighting fascism and the lengths we will go to protect the people we love. J.K. Rowling notwithstanding, Harry Potter is our hero, Ron Weasley our goofy best friend, and Hermione our actual hero, because duh.
The quality of the movies vary based on the different directors at the helm and the age of the young leads, but the strength of the source material — paired with the prodigious gifts of the many, many storied British actors who fill out the sparkling supporting cast — assure a satisfying watch. Most agree that the final two movies, each covering half of the last book in the series, are the most enthralling in the group — but you’ll have to watch them all to get what’s going on. So, you might as well start with number one, The Sorcerer’s Stone, and go from there. Poor you! You’re about to have a really great time! — K.G.
How to watch: Harry Potter is streaming on Peacock.
You haven’t seen E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, yet? So you’ve been politely laughing along every time someone has said “E.T. phone home” for the last 50 years?! It’s time to get on it already. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a beloved family movie classic for a reason — it’s simply fantastic.
Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece tells the story of Elliott Turner, a 10-year-old who finds an alien in his backyard. With his siblings, he must help his new friend get back home or risk his being turned over to the government. It’s an exciting, heartwarming adventure that makes you feel like a kid again and inspired a half-century of copycats and homages (Stranger Things, anyone?). Despite being filmed five decades ago, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has not lost an ounce of its charm and emotional punch, a testament to its enduring quality. If you haven’t seen it, put E.T. at the top of your queue, immediately. — K.G.
How to watch: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is now streaming on Peacock.
This absolutely stunning, hand-drawn film hasn’t garnered as much attention as, say, Pixar’s latest, but that’s no reason to skip this immensely affecting French-Danish tale. Sasha (Christa Théret) is a 15-year-old aristocrat living in 19th-century St. Petersburg, Russia. Determined to find her missing grandfather, a famed explorer, and clear her family’s name, she locates a vessel and sets off with a motley crew into the unforgiving Arctic landscape.
Directed by Rémi Chayé, Long Way North is both an epic adventure and a human drama, exploring themes of empowerment and empathy. What truly makes this 80-minute movie special, though, is its unique artistic style. The snow-covered landscape might be stark, but Long Way North makes the icy world feel both beautiful and alive. — K.G.
How to Watch: Long Way North is streaming on Peacock.
Part of Lars von Trier’s “Depression Trilogy,” (which includes Antichrist and Nymphomaniac), 2011’s Melancholia is an artsy, atmospheric sci-fi thriller about the end of the world. A rogue planet is due to collide with Earth, and everyone must come face-to-face with the inevitable nothingness ahead of them. The cast is magnetic (Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, and more) and the cinematography is unforgettable. A memorable, piercing rumination on grief that stands alone in its category. — K.G.
How to watch: Melancholia is now streaming on Peacock.
There’s no way you haven’t heard of 1985’s Back to the Future, the comedy science fiction romp — and honest-to-god American classic — that made the world fall in love with Michael J. Fox. Fox is Marty McFly, a bored teenager who befriends an eccentric scientist (Christopher Lloyd) and finds himself transported to the 1950s, where his presence threatens to wreak havoc on the future. Marty has to make sure his parents still fall in love, or he’ll be wiped from history forever. It’s a fantastic premise that somehow never feels absurd thanks to the Fox’s aching humanity and Lloyd’s charisma. From the very first utterance of “Great Scott!” we’re along for the ride on a journey where we won’t need roads. — K.G.
How to watch: Back to the Future is now streaming on Peacock.
Jason Segel is Peter, a television soundtrack composer whose life revolves around his TV star girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (a deliciously bratty Kristen Bell). That is, until she abruptly breaks up with him. While he’s naked. Cue the full-frontal sobbing!
To get his mind off of her, Peter takes a trip to Hawaii, but turns out, Sarah is vacationing at the same resort with her new rock star boyfriend, Aldous Snow (unfortunately played by Russell Brand). Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a sweet and raunchy breakup rom-com full of characters that are flawed, idiosyncratic, and incredibly human, including Mila Kunis as Peter’s cool new love interest and Paul Rudd as a hippie-dippie surf instructor. And let’s not forget the singing vampire puppets! — K.G.
How to Watch: Forgetting Sarah Marshall is streaming on Peacock.
A sumptuous and charming adaptation of the Jane Austen novel, 2020’s Emma is unique among Emma iterations because it leans into a secret truth: the heroine, Emma Woodhouse, is kind of a brat. She floats above everyone else, pulling strings to set up matches that serve her purposes instead of what her friends actually desire. Clueless always understood this — and now, thanks to director Autumn de Wilde, we can watch the naive and loveably self-centered character face her comeuppance while sporting the dazzling Regency-era costumes she was made for. Anya Taylor-Joy hits all the right notes as Ms. Woodhouse herself, and Johnny Flynn is magnetic as Mr. Knightley, her prickly neighbor who sees through her act. But it’s Josh O’Connor as a delightfully offputting Mr. Elton, a nightmare suitor, who steals every scene he’s in. — K.G.
How to watch: Emma is now streaming on Peacock.
Most of pop culture’s most enduring monsters — Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and the Wolf Man/Werewolf — got their first screen time in Universal Studios films made between the 1930s and 1950s. These incredibly influential classic horrors are the reason we all picture a square-headed Frankenstein and a Dracula with an indulgently high collar. The first impression is the one that sticks.
Peacock is still home to most of the Universal Classic Monsters, including The Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man Returns, Werewolf of London, Phantom of the Opera, and more. None are as iconic, however, as 1931’s Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff as Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. The story, adapted from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, is one so well-known it does not need repeating, but if you were wondering where the almost-full century of film and TV jokes about little girls befriending villains came from, look no further. This is the movie that turned a monster into a legend. — K.G.
How to watch: Frankenstein is now streaming on Peacock.
In 1974, Philippe Petit walked a high wire between the two towers of the World Trade Center in NYC. Petit was later arrested for the stunt. In 2008, documentarian James Marsh made Man On Wire, a moving, awe-inspiring chronicle of Petit’s audacious feat, based on Petit’s own book about the event. Suspenseful, mischievous, and paced like a heist movie, Man On Wire is a riveting watch sure to keep even the most ardent documentary-avoider on the edge of their seats. — K.G.
How to watch: Man on Wire is now streaming on Peacock.
Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) doesn’t quite fit into his dragon-fighting viking village of Berk. The seasoned warriors, including his father, the chief (Gerard Butler), think he’s too much of a weenie to fight their fearsome dragon enemies. But Hiccup has a secret: He’s found a wounded dragon who has quickly become his best friend. Will his village change its mind about dragons, or will Hiccup and his dragon be forced to hide for the rest of their lives? It’s a fun family romp that makes the incredibly smart choice of giving dragons the eager, earnest personalities of everyone’s favorite family dog. It doesn’t matter how old you are, Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon is a total treat! — K.G.
How to watch: How to Train Your Dragon is now streaming on Peacock.
The movie that won Steven Soderbergh the Academy Award for Best Director, Traffic is a complex, captivating exploration of drug trafficking in the USA and Mexico. Following multiple intersecting storylines, audiences watch the effects of illegal drugs ripple in all directions, from manufacturers and distributors to the politicians trying to combat them and the users who are hooked. Shot like a documentary and including multiple cameos from actual U.S. congresspeople, Traffic is a riveting, powerful piece that feels utterly real.
What’s more, the cast is stellar, with Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Luis Guzmán all at the top of their game, and Benicio Del Toro in particular winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a Mexican police officer. — K.G.
How to watch: Traffic is now streaming on Peacock.
Written and directed by Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse), The Northman is a dark, suspenseful retelling of a Scandinavian myth that also happens to have been the direct inspiration for Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Alexander Skarsgård is Amleth, a young prince who swears revenge after his uncle murders his father and marries his mother. Years later, now a berserker Viking, Amleth has an encounter with a seer that convinces him the time to collect on that childhood promise is nigh.
The Northman is a tense, atmospheric, and brutal historical thriller, told as if it were a story recounted around a medieval Scandinavian fire, grounded in an ancient point of view. This visually-stunning but bloody revenge saga also stars Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Anya Taylor-Joy, Gustav Lindh, Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Björk, obviously.* — K.G.
How to watch: The Northman is now streaming on Peacock.
Point Break is an iconic and insane ’90s movie in which Keanu Reeves plays rookie FBI agent Johnny Utah, who has to — and we’re not kidding here — infiltrate an L.A. “surf gang” suspected of robbing banks. Very little in this movie makes any sense (the large reason Utah is assigned the undercover role is because he used to play football in college?), which is exactly why it’s so dang wonderful. You’ve got Patrick Swayze as the enigmatic leader of a surfing cult, Gary Busey as Reeves’ gruff veteran partner, and again, Keanu Reeves plays a former college football star named Johnny Utah who has to learn to surf as a matter of life and death. Point Break is ludicrous, magnificent, and fantastically, perfectly ’90s. Vaya con dios, baby. — K.G.
How to watch: Point Break is now streaming on Peacock.
If loving Fast & Furious is wrong, we don’t want to be right. Across 11 bonkers movies that scoffed at physics and grunted about the importance of family, this franchise hasn’t slowed down. Not only has it raised the bar on out-of-this-world action, but also, it’s grown the Fast family by leaps, bounds, and long-lost siblings. So what could Fast X possibly do to keep this momentum going strong? It went hard in every way fans demand.
In the tradition of its predecessors, Fast X retcons to bring a new ferocious foe into the fray. Jason Momoa stars as the flamboyant, fashion-forward, and gleefully anarchistic Dante, who’s seeking revenge against Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and all of his extensive family. Momoa is wild fun as a villain who is Dom’s polar opposite in attitude and outfit choices. That alone is enough to enjoy this ride. But Fast X also includes gonzo fight scenes with the likes of Brie Larson, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Sung Kang, and many, many more. There are also jaw-dropping cameos and a climax that had fans shocked and cheering. The only thing not to like about this one is how it left us hanging, waiting for whatever Fast and Furious 11 might bring.* — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor
How to watch: Fast X is now streaming on Peacock.
(*) denotes writeup came from a previous Mashable list.
UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2023, 2:18 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to reflect Peacock’s current streaming selection.
It doesn’t feel like it’s been three months since Larian Studios freed Baldur’s Gate 3 from its Early Access shackles and unleashed its huge Dungeons & Dragons epic on the world. In that time, it’s quickly become the highest-reviewed game on Metacritic this year, making it a likely shoo-in for Game of the Year…
Super Mario RPG, the remake of Square Enix’s 1996 2D pixel art classic, will be out on Nintendo Switch on November 17. The charming-looking turn-based game sees Mario and Peach join forces with the dastardly Bowser to stop a mechanical creature named Smithy from destroying the Mushroom Kingdom. Going off some early…
Awkwafina co-stars in sisters-at-odds comedy, now on Hulu. Review.
Prepare to see Sandra Oh as you’ve never seen her before. In nearly every scene in Quiz Lady, the Killing Eve star is dressed like she’s about to head to a girls night out to see the Barbie movie. Her long dark hair is streaked with violet highlights. She drapes herself with violent pinks and sparkly jewelry that looks less classy and more Claire’s Accessories. It’s the kind of fashion some might deride as “childish” in its girliness, while others might cheer it as dopamine dressing. Either way, this wardrobe is an invitation to for Oh to cut loose, and she grabs it with gusto.
Often sophisticated or sexy, the star of shows like Killing Eve, Grey’s Anatomy, and The Chair is frequently cast as witty but frazzled. Here, that role goes to Awkafina, while Oh gets to relish in playing the wild card of a family comedy peppered with silly hijinks, sensitive gangsters, sisterly squabbles, and Will Ferrell as a warm-hearted interpretation of Alex Trebek.
Star-studded and solidly fun, Quiz Lady is exactly the kind of comedy you might expect to find on Hulu — where it’s set to debut on Nov. 3.
Directed by Jessica Yu, Quiz Lady centers on the tumultuous relationship between Asian-American sisters Anne (Awkwafina) and Jenny (Oh). Raised in a broken home rocked by divorce, gambling debts, and their mom’s various personal dramas, younger sister Anne focused her attention on her favorite trivia show (Can’t Stop the Quiz) and caring for her pet pug, Mr. Linguini. Meanwhile, Jenny chased down dreams, got into screaming matches with their mom, and cared for her kid sister in fitful spurts.
Years later, the sisters are grown up and essentially estranged when the loss of their mother pulls them back together. Oh, she’s not dead. She’s run off after incurring a massive gambling debt to a menacing bookie (an amusing and crush-worthy Jon Park), who dognaps Mr. Linguini, holding the pug for ransom until the sisters pay up. With Jenny on a kick that she could be a life coach (after acting, fashion design, and several other dreams didn’t pan out), the pair is determined to get Anne on the quiz show to win big and save their dog. That is, if she can beat the cocky contestant (Jason Schwartzman) currently on a major hot streak.
From the moment she storms onscreen, Oh is game to go outrageous. Her outfits signal from the start that Jenny is an attention-seeker who refuses to act her age (whatever that means). And there’s a delicious freedom in watching Jenny chase down her dreams and mad impulses for better or worse. Sure, occasionally she may get hit by a car or accidentally dope her sister into a cartoon-painted hallucination. But she also offers us juicy experiences to live through vicariously, like telling off a smug B&B proprietor whose Benjamin Franklin schtick is all over the place. (To his credit, Tony Hale is absolutely hilarious as the hassled hotel clerk, sporting Franklin cosplay along with adult braces, and the ire that comes from combining the two.)
Often mesmerizing for her electrifying screen presence, Oh isn’t intense here, but channels that energy into a flighty enthusiasm that’s downright adorable. Jenny might be written off as a hot mess by her sister, but she’s exactly the kind of heroine a kooky comedy needs. She’s a lightning strike in a world riddled with bland fools who won’t take a risk. Chaotic as she may be, she’s pitch-perfect as a wild child sage determined to save her sister — not only from the wrath of a blustering bookie, but from her own low-stakes dreams.
Desperate for peace, Anne is plagued by a people prone to drama. Her next-door neighbor (Holland Taylor) is not only a cantankerous old grouch committed to conspiracy theories and celebrity confusion, but also a potentially bleak window into what Anne’s reclusive life could lead to. The aforementioned Hale brings expected whimsy and laughs as a beaming but borderline hostile hospitality worker. Ferrell, who also produced, pops up to play the quiz show host, who is basically Trebek meets Buddy the Elf. And Schwartzman, who has played an array of quirky jerks in Wes Anderson movies, goes broader here, embodying a quiz show champion with a big smile but a dark ambition.
Unfortunately, Awkafina doesn’t stand out among this ensemble, even though her Anne is the film’s central protagonist. The actress who has shined as a daffy sidekick in movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last Dragon, The Little Mermaid, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, loses her footing in the role of a straight man amid so many stooges.
We saw a similar struggle in this year’s Renfield, in which she played the straight-laced cop/love interest to Nicolas Hoult’s romance-seeking ghoul. While Awkwafina strives to bring cackle-worthy physical comedy to the role of the chronically repressed Anne, her stiffness never feels funny. Her best bit is when an under-the-influence Anne spins out in a series of ridiculous hallucinations. With a big goofy smile, loose limbs, and a volatile emotional state, Awkwafina is able to let loose and have fun with us. But for much of the film, she seems uncertain of how to find the midway between goofy and grounded, the latter of which she showed in the critically heralded drama The Farewell.
The screenplay by Jen D’Angelo is competently plotted, pulling the sisters out of Anne’s comfort zone and into a series of wild scenarios that result in public humiliation, personal revelations, and some physical gags that might well make you gag. The shut-down Anne seems more like a pitfall than a protagonist, sucking the fun out of the story through her scowls and self-loathing. However, Oh and the others are so buoyant that they keep Quiz Lady from sinking.
While the film wobbles along the way, when they get to the third act, it’s game on for good times. The sisters’ rivalry gets worked out in a smartly structured and gleefully entertaining payoff, and everyone gets what they deserve, for better or worse. A bit heavy-handed in its happy ending maybe, but Quiz Lady also gives us the gift of a surprise cameo that is inspired and powerfully playful. In the end, this comedy is a winner.
How to watch: Quiz Lady is now on Hulu.
UPDATE: Oct. 31, 2023, 1:32 p.m. EDT Quiz Lady was reviewed out of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
We’ve rounded up the best deals on games, consoles, accessories, and more ahead of Black Friday specifically for PlayStation fans. Take a look, and game on.
UPDATE: Nov. 2, 2023, 3:00 p.m. EDT This article has been has been updated with the latest early Black Friday deals for PlayStation games, consoles, accessories, and more.
It’s that time again, gamers. It’s the crucial period just before Black Friday when the holiday deals start trickling in — also known as our favorite time of year.
Whether you mainly play on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, or some other method, you’re bound to score some sick savings out there. But, let’s focus on our PlayStation friends this time. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best PlayStation-centric Black Friday deals so far, including discounts on games, console bundles, and much more. Take a look, and be sure to come back every once in a while to see the new deals we’ve added.
What’s that? You haven’t played the best Star Wars game of all time? Well, let’s change that — Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the sequel to 2019’s excellent Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is $27 off the original price ahead of Black Friday, and to add to an already great deal, this offer applies to the Deluxe Edition, which gets you a bunch of fun in-game bonuses. Snag your copy in the PlayStation Store and embark on a galactic journey like you’ve never seen before.
A Plague Tale: Requiem — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)
Assassin’s Creed Origins Gold Edition — $19.99 $99.99 (save $80)
Assassin’s Creed Unity — $8.99 $29.99 (save $21)
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla — $14.99 $59.99 (save $45)
Atomic Heart — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III + Limited Collector’s Box — $129 $149 (save $20)
Call of Duty: Vanguard — $15 $59.99 (save $44.99)
Control — $7.49 $29.99 (save $22.50)
Dead Island 2 — $48.99 $69.99 (save $21)
Deathloop — $10 $39.99 (save $29.99)
Demon’s Souls — $29.39 $69.99 (save $40.60)
Dying Light 2 Stay Human — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)
Far Cry 6 — $14.99 $59.99 (save $45)
Forspoken — $17.50 $59.99 (save $42.49)
Ghostwire: Tokyo — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)
Gotham Knights Deluxe Edition — $22.49 $89.99 (save $67.50)
Horizon Forbidden West — $49.99 $69.99 (save $20)
Like a Dragon: Ishin! — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)
Marvel’s Midnight Suns — $31.99 $79.99 (save $48)
Need For Speed Unbound — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)
NHL 23 — $24.99 $69.99 (save $45)
Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition — $23.99 $39.99 (save $6)
The Quarry — $9.99 $69.99 (save $60)
Resident Evil Village — $15.99 $39.99 (save $25)
Sifu Deluxe Edition — $19.99 $49.99 (save $30)
Solar Ash — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20)
Sonic Frontiers — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)
Stray — $22.49 $29.99 (save $7.50)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon — $14.99 $59.99 (save $45)
Yakuza Remastered Collection — $11.99 $39.99 (save $28)
Consoles
PlayStation 5 + Modern Warfare III Bundle — $539.99 $569.99 (save $30)
PlayStation 5 + Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Bundle — $559.99 $569.99 (save $10)
PlayStation 5 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle — $599.99
Controllers
PlayStation 5 DualSense controller — $44.99 $49.99 (save $5)
PlayStation 5 DualSense controller (Midnight Black) — $65.99 $69.99 (save $4)
PlayStation 5 DualSense controller (Gray Camouflage) — $65.99 $74.99 (save $9)
PlayStation 5 DualSense controller (Galactic Purple) — $65.99 $74.99 (save $9)
Headsets
HyperX CloudX Stinger Core gaming headset — $24.99 $39.99 (save $15)
Turtle Beach Recon 70 gaming headset — $35.33 $39.95 (save $4.62)
Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2 gaming headset — $44.95 $59.95 (save $15)
Razer Kraken gaming headset — $44.95 $79.99 (save $35.04)
HyperX Cloud II gaming headset — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gaming Headset — $99.99 $119.99 (save $20)
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro gaming headset — $125.99 $179.99 (save $54)
Logitech G Astro A30 Lightspeed gaming headset — $179.99 $229.99 (save $50)
Subscriptions
We haven’t found any deals on PlayStation Plus memberships yet, but check back later.
Misc.
OIVO PS5 Controller Charger Station — $18.49 $24.99 (save $4.50)
TotalMount Wall Mount for PS5 — $34.99 $49.99 (save $15)
“The Last of Us” Season 2 is tentatively set to begin shooting in early 2024, but only if the striking SAG-AFTRA reaches a fair deal.
Desperate to reunite with Joel (Pedro Pascal), Ellie (Bella Ramsey), and an army of creepy Clickers in The Last of Us Season 2? Then we’ve got some good news for you.
The new season is set to begin production in early 2024, HBO and Max CEO Casey Bloys told press at a Nov. 2 event. That timeline is tentative for now, as production can only begin once the striking Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) reaches a fair deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Outside of shooting, The Last of Us Season 2 has made progress in other ways. Showrunner Craig Mazin told Entertainment Weekly that before the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike, the writers had mapped out Season 2 and Mazin had written the first episode.
Given a 2024 production start date, it’s likely The Last of Us Season 2 will be airing in 2025. According to Bloys, The White Lotus Season 3 has also been pushed back to 2025.
However, there is still a lot of HBO programming to look forward to coming into 2024. House of the Dragon will be airing in the early summer. Returning shows include True Detective: Night Country, Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12, The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3, Hacks Season 3, and Industry Season 3.
