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📂 **Category**: Culture,Television,Film,Books,Music
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television
If you only watch one, do it…
industry
BBC iPlayer from Monday
Summarize in a sentence The banking drama returns with its best series ever, one that’s noticeably darker and more debauched.
What our reviewer said “Truly first-class television and certainly destined for year-end lists, which is a serious achievement when we’re only a week into January.” Hannah J. Davis
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Girl taken
Paramount+
Summarize in a sentence A psychologically complex thriller about a kidnapped teenager, starring Alfie Allen as a brutal predator.
What our reviewer said “It’s a thriller that’s more engaging and psychologically complex than we normally expect from such a setting, and — when we question what it’s really like to survive an act of profound violence — horrifying in a more valuable way.” Lucy Mangan
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Maybe she was gone…
Transgressions
Channel 4
Summarize in a sentence A clever and beguiling adaptation of Louise Kennedy’s brilliant novel, set in 1970s Belfast, and featuring a Catholic schoolteacher drawn into a dangerous affair with a Protestant lawyer.
What our reviewer said “The tragedy of loved ones caught in conflict, their love overcome by the hatred of others, is an ancient and powerful story. Transgressions, written by Ailby Keoghan, strikes this chord.” Jack Seale
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Further reading Encroachment: Gillian Anderson steals every scene in this miracle TV series
film
If you only watch one, do it…
Hamnet
In cinemas now
Summarize in a sentence Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley star in a masterful Shakespearean tragedy adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s novel that reimagines the traumatic loss of a child as the source of Hamlet’s grand theatrical drama.
What our reviewer said “There is such wonderful audacity in Chloé Zhao and Maggie O’Farrell’s expansion: a thrilling work of creative audacity, dating back through the centuries to embrace Shakespeare and Agnes as human beings.” Peter Bradshaw
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Further reading Awards battle after awards battle: A-list stars face off at this year’s Golden Globe Awards
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Become Victoria Wood
In cinemas now
Summarize in a sentence A self-portrait of the groundbreaking comedy featuring Wood herself as well as her famous friends like Julie Waters, Celia Emery, and other women.
What our reviewer said “In 1985, when the first season of Wood’s comedy As Seen was broadcast on television on BBC Two, there were doubts that a woman could present a comedy programme, let alone a Northern woman. How wrong they were. Clips from the show were a hoot: the actors were all on the verge of collapsing in laughter, in a state of high energy. Cath Clarke
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Further reading Lake District Theater renamed after Victoria Wood and new music for her songs unveiled
Blue velvet
In cinemas now
Summarize in a sentence David Lynch’s intense, harrowing 1980s drama maintains a sense of dread lurking within sight of America’s picket fence.
What our reviewer said “The film unleashes a toxic anesthesia of fear. The dead man in the yellow suit—kept upright through some kind of mortal cruelty or final act of will—is an invention of pure horror.” Peter Bradshaw
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Further reading The strangest David Lynch facts – ranked!
A maze
In cinemas now
Summarize in a sentence Jennifer Connelly plays a teen who goes on whimsical “Alice in Wonderland”-type adventures in Jim Henson’s classic, eccentric ’80s film.
What our reviewer said “This is a very analog-era film with analogue-type storytelling and dialogue: it’s not driven by the same hyper-focused energy as modern Pixar/Disney films. The action often slows down and drags, and the dialogue, written by Terry Jones, has a sense of humor that’s casually constructed but often very funny.” Peter Bradshaw
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Further reading Ten years after his death, is David Bowie’s musical legacy in danger of fading from sight?
books
If you only read one, do it.
The Ten Year Affair by Erin Somers
Reviewed by Dina Neri
Summarize in a sentence A raucous black comedy about middle-aged adultery for an anxious generation.
What our reviewer said “I loved this sharp, funny, keenly observed novel, written with such great precision.”
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Made in America: The Dark History That Led to Donald Trump by Edward Stourton
Reviewed by Charlie English
Summarize in a sentence Why is Trump less of an anomaly than you might think?
What our reviewer said “There are precedents here for almost all of Trump’s actions in US history, from summary arrests and deportations to attacks on ‘fake news’ media.
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This is My Second Life by Patrick Charnley
Reviewed by Christobel Kent
Summarize in a sentence An acclaimed debut about a near-death experience, inspired by the author’s life.
What our reviewer said “The prose is simple and beautiful, the narrative simple but sound – it is written as finely as poetry, illuminated by Jago’s sheer delight in the world, and electrified by the fear that he might be kidnapped at any moment.”
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The Result: How to Stop Playing Someone Else’s Game by Si Thi Nguyen
Reviewed by Tim Clare
Summarize in a sentence How to combat gamification in everyday life.
What our reviewer said “He argues that mixing dots with dots is a common mistake that leads us to build our lives and societies around things we do not want.”
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Maybe she was gone…
Plaintiff by Joe Harkin
Reviewed by Imogen Hermes Goar
Summarize in a sentence In 15th-century Oxfordshire, a farmer’s son discovers he has a claim to the throne of England.
What our reviewer said “Over the course of this remarkable novel, the boy with many names will travel from Oxford to Burgundy to Ireland, and ultimately to the heart of the court of the megalomaniac and deceitful Henry VII.”
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Albums
If you only listen to one, do it…
Family: Sell Vibe
Out now
Summarize in a sentence The Jarman Brothers’ ninth studio album adds a touch of ’80s pop to the distorted guitars and confident indie songwriting.
What our reviewer said Time and time again, they strike a perfect balance: nothing here sounds smooth or strained, but the melodies soar, the choruses hit, and everything clicks flawlessly. Alexis Petridis
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Tony Jeitani: Glare
Out now
Summarize in a sentence The Beirut-born producer’s stunning second album exudes dark tension and cinematic influence, finding beauty in devastating sound.
What our reviewer said “Gittani maintains a deft hand in his world-building, ensuring that threads of unease keep listeners guessing.” Amar Kalia
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Jenny on Vacation: Heart of Quicksand
Out now
Summarize in a sentence In the Let’s Eat Grandma member’s first solo project, her unique songwriting abilities shine in exuberant vocals and transcendent pop melodies.
What our reviewer said “The moment Hollingsworth lands on an irresistible melody — see: Every Ounce of Me, whose bittersweet bounce bridges the gap between Olivia Rodrigo and the Water Boys — the effect is transcendent.” Rachel Aroesti
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Eric Lo: Schubert is an improviser
Out now
Summarize in a sentence In this recording of some of Schubert’s most profound music, the pianist cements his status as a serious talent.
What our reviewer said “Lou is very attuned to the way Schubert creates sweeping structures, evoking an enchanting sense of stasis with music that pulses with detail beneath the surface.” Erica Jill
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Bray/Van/Grainger/Scofield: In search of Yoke
Out now
Summarize in a sentence The effortless fluency of mezzo-soprano Katie Bray and pianist William Vann guides us through Kurt Weill’s familiar and lesser-known songs.
What our reviewer said “From the deliciously tart Barbarasong to the melancholy controlled emotion of Je ne t’aime pas, Bray’s singing is proof of how a high, ‘trained’ voice can sound wonderfully sustained and natural in this music.” Erica Jill
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