Nicole Stawiarski

Eldest daughters like me have always been suckers for the female mentor comedy. With no older sisters of our own, we looked to the likes of Tyra Banks in Life-Size, Brittany Murphy in Uptown Girls, and Anna Faris in House Bunny to fill that need for an older, wiser, woman with more sex appeal than…

Netflix’s first English language medical drama packs a punch with a constant barrage of hard-hitting conflict and suspense that often veers into outlandish territory, but it’s most subtle and realistic storyline flies so low under the radar you might miss it completely. As a queer person, it had me second-guessing my own ‘gaydar’ right up…

Korean dramas have nailed the formula for romance. They can pack a punch of infatuation, humor, intrigue, and suspense in a sixteen-episode arc that’s meaty enough to develop a full cast of supporting characters, but short enough to maintain an exciting pace. Whether you’re an expert, or interested in trying out this genre for the…

I found Yael van der Wouden’s novel, The Safekeep, advantageously positioned on display table in my local bookstore, while I was shopping the same way I sometimes do for a new bottle of wine—scanning for an image that captures my attention, and taking a risk without doing any additional research. Something about the two pears…

The Royals (May) Bollywood notables Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar star in Netflix’s latest rom-com series has the trapping of a Hallmark film with an international spin. Prince Aviraaj “Fizzy” Singh must step into his father’s shoes as Maharaja following his demise, while CEO Sophia seeks to collaborate with the family for her luxury hospitality…

Girl nerds of the world rejoice, Netflix is bringing us not one but two Sofia Carson rom-coms in the same year. Did The Life List feel like an Emily In Paris rework set in New York with a more emotionally evocative backstory? Yes (dead mom always trumps shitty boyfriend from Chicago). Did we still love…

As the federal trial against entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs begins this week, without allowing any cameras in the courtroom, curiosity about the details of the case will reach an all-time high, and send viewers looking to television to satisfy their interest. Check out these documentaries, news specials, and daily case recaps currently available to…

I’ve dabbled in anime, seen enough to identify landmarks in the genre, but not enough to become fluent in Japanese or start a cosplaying career. That being said, I think Erased is one example of a standalone masterpiece that transcends the category in a way any TV buff would lose their minds over. Rich in…

Netflix’s Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is an ambitious creation set in an alternate version of Edo-period Japan against the backdrop of a mysterious pandemic that is decimating the male population. The series delivers all the political intrigue you would expect from the feudal system, with one huge plot-twist. Who run this world? Girls.

The queer community has claimed Maeve Wiley as our own since she first graced our screens in the British teen comedy Sex Education. It didn’t matter that she was the love interest of male protagonist, Otis Milburn, because we knew there was nothing “completely straight” about her obsession with classic literature. So the news that,…

Eldest daughters like me have always been suckers for the female mentor comedy. With no older sisters of our own, we looked to the likes of Tyra Banks in Life-Size, Brittany Murphy in Uptown Girls, and Anna Faris in House Bunny to fill that need for an older, wiser, woman with more sex appeal in…

It was high time those of us from the other Mediterranean country with a big personality got our own version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and Netflix’s hilariously nostalgic Nonnas finally delivered. Check out the best quotes that are bound to become as iconic as its cast overnight! 1. “You can’t say goodbye to…

Trying to put this plot into words will make me sound crazy, at best, but trust me when I say Reborn Rich is one of the best pieces of television I have ever seen. The adventure centers around Yoon Hyun-woo, a trusted employee of the Soonyang Group, a prestigious family owned conglomerate.

I have always made light of my own ethnic background. With a super Polish last name and the two other common hyphenations that render me a Chicago-style sausage who didn’t stand a chance at escaping a Catholic upbringing (Irish and Italian-American), I’ve always had an ambiguous relationship with the word “culture”. Formally, it was something…

When I was making my way through The Second City’s improv and conservatory programs in Chicago, my instructors and directors kept telling us one thing to help improve our scenes—make a confession. When we went to a real, honest and emotional place with our scene partners, one that grounded our characters and got our audiences…

Focus Features just dropped the new trailer for their upcoming film starring Aubrey Plaza and Margaret Qualley, Honey Don’t, and boy are we obsessed with the new avatars they are stepping into. The film will be the second installment in Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s “lesbian B-movie trilogy” following 2024’s Drive Away Dolls (also starring…

It’s obvious that when you get Tina Fey, Will Forte, Steve Carell, and Colman Domingo to share a screen you are going to have a hit on your hands, and somehow we were lucky enough to get an entire mini-series for this remake of 1981 film The Four Seasons, originally written and directed by legendary…

A24’s Materialists, marks Celine Song’s latest rom-com starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. No, you’re not dreaming, but this is a no-judgement-zone if you want to pinch yourself just in case. The universe knew we wanted Pedro Pascal as a romantic-lead wearing a tux in a $12 million mansion, and the universe delivered.…