Monday, December 29, 2025 |
Where editors share their weekly musings on pop culture—and recommend what to watch, read, and listen to right now. This week, we discuss Stranger Things and Marty Supreme. |
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| Erica Gonzales, deputy editor, digital content: I actually remember where I was when I first watched Stranger Things. It was at my first Brooklyn apartment, and I nearly binged the whole thing in bed. I remember my dad getting hooked and my best friend later dressing up as Eleven with a bloody nose and a box of Eggos for Halloween. That was nearly 10 years ago! Now, it's finally coming to an end. Lauren, what was your first encounter with the Upside Down? |
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| Lauren Puckett-Pope, senior culture editor: I watched the entire first season with my parents and my little brother on the couch in the basement of my childhood home. It felt like such a fresh, exciting series at the time—a true cross-generational hit. |
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Erica: What I, and so many others, loved about the show was its homages to the sci-fi adventures of the '80s and '90s (especially those by Steven Spielberg) that had supernatural elements balanced with plenty of heart—and adorable kid actors. I think over the years, as Stranger Things snowballed into a massive phenomenon and franchise, it lost some of that nostalgic charm and grounded feel. But it's certainly still a feat as one of Netflix's earliest, biggest, and longest-running original series. (House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black ran for more seasons but only lasted for five or six years).
Lauren: I agree that the show has failed to sustain the elements that made it such a standout in its early seasons. I miss the intimacy and mystery of those older episodes. But I'll admit: I'm so curious to see how the story ends. It's been almost a decade! There's only one episode left, and it lands on Wednesday. I'm just praying the Duffer Brothers give us a worthy grand finale.
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You've seen the marketing campaign, the jackets, and the blimps. Now it's time to finally watch the film and believe the hype. Timothée Chalamet's starring turn as table-tennis whiz Marty Mauser really is the best performance of his career. And because Josh Safdie is behind the camera, the story unfolds like a nonstop roller-coaster ride, leaving you gripping your armrests as Marty ping-pongs from one bad decision to another, in hopes of making it to Tokyo for an unmissable tournament. Though many might assume this is The Timmy Show, don't overlook the rest of the ensemble: Gwyneth Paltrow as a veteran actress who catches Marty's eye; Shark Tank's Mr. Wonderful as her husband; Odessa A'zion as Marty's childhood friend; and Abel Ferrara as a hotel guest whose dog turns Marty's world sideways. You should probably bring a towel to the theater because this one will have you sweating.—EG |
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The end is nigh. After almost 10 years, the tentpole Netflix supernatural series has nearly reached its conclusion—though you can be sure the franchise itself will continue with a spin-off or 20. Expect everyone and their uncle to be toasting the finale this New Year's Eve as we, at last, learn the fate of Eleven and her crew. Don't forget to stock up on Eggos in her honor.—LPP |
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Author Sarah Adams snuck in one last romance before the end of 2025: Her latest, In Your Dreams, drops December 30, and it's a real charmer. The book marks the fourth and final installment in her Rome, Kentucky, series and follows the hit Beg, Borrow, and Steal, which dropped in January of this year. In Your Dreams finally brings into focus the love story between Madison Walker and James Huxley: When the former moves back to Rome, Kentucky, after a disappointing stint in New York, she starts a job as head chef at the latter's new farm-to-table restaurant. James has harbored a quiet crush on Maddie for years, and he yearns to win her heart—but his charismatic little brother, Tommy, might just beat him to the punch. Add in the pressure of opening a restaurant among a gaggle of nosy neighbors, and this romance is ripe for some drama. Once again, Adams does the small-town rom-com right.—LPP |
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WHAT YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO: |
There's no better way to close out the year than by revisiting all of the best songs 2025 gave us. Whether they're inescapable hits like "Abracadabra" by Lady Gaga or "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean or hidden gems from Audrey Hobert, Destin Conrad, and Sudan Archives, these picks deserve a spot on your New Year's Eve playlist.—EG |
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The sixth episode of The End of an Era includes footage of Swift's final huddle with her dancers, musicians, and crew before their last show on The Eras Tour. In a motivating speech, she highlights the team's hard work, noting that none of their record-breaking success would be possible without it. She quotes comedian Jimmy Carr (his version ends with, "...No one is jealous of how you got it."), and the team nods thoughtfully in response. A good reminder heading into 2026.—EG |
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