Join Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson, Chris Murphy, and Hillary Busis as they recap and analyze the most exciting series on TV and streaming, and get the inside story on how they came together through interviews with television stars and creators.
Get in touch, email us at stillwatching@vanityfair.com.
On this week's episode, Chris, Hillary, and Richard discuss the first three episodes of the new HBO mini-series The Sympathizer, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Later in the episode, series star Hoa Xuande stops by to talk about what makes the show so special and how it feels to be in his first lead role. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary didn't get a chance to analyze the sumptuous latest edition of FX's Feud episode by episode—so we're covering the whole series now, complete with an in-depth interview with showrunner and writer Jon Robin Baitz. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary unwrap the final four episodes of Ripley, while Andrew Scott joins to explain how at his core, Tom Ripley is just "somebody who hasn't been given access to the beautiful things in life." Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Andrew Scott makes for a captivating killer in the first four episodes of Netflix's Ripley , streaming now. Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into the sumptuously shot series, while Dakota Fanning stops by to talk about her new spin on Marge Sherwood and the simply ghastly experience of filming for months in gorgeous Italy. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down The Regime’s final episode, and reveal which of them correctly guessed who would be leading Genovia by the end of the series. Later, VF correspondent Miriam Elder drops by to reveal what The Regime got right about despots, and what it didn’t. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Terrible Christmas tidings hit Kate Winslet's autocracy in the penultimate episode of The Regime. Richard, Chris, and Hillary sift through the ashes, while Andrea Riseborough stops by to break down Agnes's tragic arc. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
The show finally introduces Grant's Ed Keplinger, a liberal ex-chancellor whose democratic leanings may be less progressive than they seem. Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down his introduction to The Regime and chat with Grant about reuniting with Kate Winslet and what Keplinger really believes. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary dissect Elena’s latest heal-turn, and what it means for Zuback's future. Plus, Guillaume Gallienne joins to discuss playing first husband Nicky: "He's a bit of a masochist. He likes to be her rug." Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into how Zuback's quick ascent has affected Genovia. Plus, Matthias Schoenaerts stops by to chat about playing the Butcher of Site 5 and rubbing mustard on Kate Winslet. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary dive into The Regime, a satirical dramedy from the mind of Succession alum Will Tracey. Plus, star Kate Winslet joins to break down the similarities between her and autocratic chancellor Elena. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Kate Winslet returns to HBO but this time tries her hand at comedy with The Regime. Chris, Hillary and Richard discuss what they’re looking forward to in this six part limited series. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Night Country’s showrunner breaks down season four's most surprising Easter eggs, the backstories we didn't get to see, and what it's like to tangle online with passionate True Detective fans. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss how Night Country reveals both what happened to the scientists and who really killed Annie K. Plus, Jodie Foster joins to dig into how the ending reinforces all of the show's themes, filming her big underwater scene, and why time, truly, is a flat circle. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
As episode five premieres early on Max to avoid the Super Bowl, Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down Night Country's biggest twist yet, while John Hawkes stops by to talk about writing Hank's unbelievably bleak song and staging a very tense standoff. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss Ennis's incredibly depressing holiday, complete with death, breakdowns, and a heart-wrenching romantic diss. Plus, Kali Reis joins to talk all things Evangeline Navarro, and how this episode's major tragedy will drive her going forward Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary dig into the reason behind Danvers and Navarro's rift, Hank's hillibillies, and a theory that climate change could be responsible for the Tsalal deaths. Plus, Isabella LaBlanc joins to talk about bringing Leah Danvers to life. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary talk cliffhangers, Raymond Clark and Annie K's mysterious relationship, and season four's surprising connection to True Detective season one. Plus, Christopher Eccleston joins to chat about letting everything hang out in his sex scene with Jodie Foster. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary head north to break down our introduction to Jodie Foster's Liz Danvers, the dual mysteries driving this season, and that mind-boggling final image. Plus, Finn Bennett joins to discuss playing naive young cop Peter Prior and how True Detective gave him Covid (twice!). Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Can a new showrunner and Jodie Foster reinvigorate one of prestige TV's most beloved franchises? Richard, Chris, and Hillary are about to find out with an all-new season of Still Watching dedicated to True Detective season four. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
In the highest-grossing movie of 2023, Barbie, a literal doll, leaves the comforts of Barbieland and ventures into real-world Los Angeles, where she discovers the myriad difficulties of modern womanhood. This arc from cosseted naïveté to feminist awakening is a narrative throughline that connects some of the biggest cultural products of the year. In this episode of Critics at Large, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss how 2023 became “the year of the do...
Richard, Chris, and Hillary break down the series finale of The Crown, while producer Suzanne Mackie goes deep on the scene that united Imelda Staunton, Olivia Colman, and Claire Foy for the first time. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary go deep on episode 9 of The Crown season 6, "Hope Street," while VF staffer and royals expert Julie Miller stops by to explain whether Carole Middleton was as devious in real life as she is on the show. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary discuss The Crown's farewell to Princess Margaret in season 6, episode 8, "The Ritz"—and later, the celebrated actor details how she prepared for her showcase episode, as well as her long friendship with fellow Crown star Imelda Staunton. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Still Watching goes back to college for season 6, episode 7 of The Crown, which introduces a young Kate Middleton—and details how her mother's machinations may have put her directly in the path of Prince William. Plus, Chris chats with Ed McVay, who plays William, about nabbing the role of a lifetime. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
In season 6, episode 6 of The Crown, Queen Elizabeth faces an existential crisis, and the modern energy of a beloved new prime minister named Tony Blair. Richard, Chris, and Hillary break it all down, and welcome VF royals expert Erin Vanderhoof to explain Blair and Elizabeth II's complicated relationship. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Prince William takes center stage in episode five of The Crown season six, as Richard, Chris, and Hillary dissect the future king's days as a teenage heartthrob. Plus, Jonathan Pryce stops by to talk about playing Prince Philip and the royal's special relationship with his grandson. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
In a special bonus episode of Still Watching, Richard, Chris, Hillary, and VF fashion expert Kia Goosby take a break from The Crown to talk Diana’s enduring appeal, her style, and two very different recent projects about the People’s Princess: Spencer and Diana: the Musical. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, and Hillary analyze the aftermath of that fatal car crash; plus, episode director Christian Schwochow explains how the show depicted it respectfully, and his approach to Diana’s spectral presence. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Richard, Chris, Hillary, and guest Julie Miller talk “Dis-Moi Oui” and who might have been Diana’s actual true love. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
VF staff writer and royals expert Erin Vanderhoof drops by the Still Watching podcast to chat about dueling photographs of Charles and Di—and why the show’s story about paparazzo Mario Brenna may stoke controversy. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
