A.A. Dowd
A.A. Dowd is a writer and editor who lives in Chicago. For many years, he was the Film Editor and chief film critic of The A.V. Club. He has since written for such publications as The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, GQ, and Vulture. He is a member of the National Society of Film Critics, and a hopeless dog simp.
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POSTED April 18, 2024
Animal Control Is Too Declawed to Score Big Laughs
Fox's sleeper hit is a likable workplace sitcom in desperate need of a little dramatic friction.
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POSTED March 15, 2024
Every Episode of Community, Ranked From Worst to Best (Part 2)
Our countdown to the best episode continues.
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POSTED March 14, 2024
Every Episode of Community, Ranked From Worst to Best (Part 1)
On the anniversary of the final season premiere — R.I.P. Yahoo! Screen — we're doing a full series ranking.
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POSTED February 24, 2024
30 Years Ago, 'Deep Space Homer' Blasted The Simpsons Into a New Comic Stratosphere
One of the best episodes of the series also feels like the moment that Fox's deathless sitcom untethered itself from reality.
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POSTED February 20, 2024
Constellation Is a Spooky Trip to Where Sci-Fi Mysteries Have Gone Before
You may get ahead of the twist, but that won't blunt the power of Jonathan Banks' terrifically layered performance.
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POSTED November 14, 2023
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Needs More Godzilla, Less Puny Human Melodrama
The monsters are almost an afterthought in this ambitious but sometimes plodding Apple TV+ spin-off.
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POSTED November 9, 2023
Fargo Returns to Minnesota, But Not to Form, in Season 5
Is the charm of Noah Hawley's anthologized take on a Coens classic wearing off? You betcha.
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POSTED October 26, 2023
The Best Episode of Masters of Horror Is the One Showtime Wouldn't Air
Takashi Miike's wildly disturbing "Imprint" pushed far beyond the limits of premium cable.
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POSTED October 23, 2023
Rick and Morty Still Hasn't Topped Its Best, Darkest Year
Moving into a new season without Justin Roiland, the Adult Swim smash settles for "classic Rick and Morty adventures" over something more daring.
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POSTED October 16, 2023
The Ending of The Last of Us Didn't Hit as Hard on HBO
Moving this post-apocalyptic story out of an interactive context dulled the damning power of its final act.
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POSTED October 5, 2023
With 'Entrée,' Hannibal Offered a Taste of Its True Design
The first great episode of Bryan Fuller's series pointed to the thrilling Thomas Harris remix it would become.
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POSTED September 12, 2023
Body Image Was No Laughing Matter in the Saddest Episode of The Drew Carey Show
In "The Bachelor Party," Carey dared to cut the laughter off and find some real pain behind it.
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POSTED September 7, 2023
Every Season of The X-Files, Ranked From Worst to Best
Disagree with the order? Just remember: There are a lot of different truths out there. This is just ours.
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POSTED August 28, 2023
Netflix's Arrested Development Revival Was a Dream Come True — Until Fans Hit Play
And this is why you don't bring back a cult show that already achieved something close to perfection.
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POSTED August 7, 2023
The Best Series Finales Deny the Characters — and Audience — What They Want
They recognize that the most satisfying way for a story to end is not always by guaranteeing simple satisfaction.