Ben Travers
@bentravers.bsky.social
IndieWire Critic & Deputy Editor, TV • TCA Member • Formerly of a Few Podcasts • He/Him • Ann Dowd calls me “honey” (and don't tell me if she calls everyone that).
Loved this! www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
‘How to Get to Heaven from Belfast’ Review: ‘Derry Girls’ Creator Returns with a Rollicking Mystery
Lisa McGee's Netflix series, 'How to Get to Heaven from Belfast,' tracks three lifelong friends investigating the suspicious death of an ex-classmate.
www.indiewire.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Loved this! www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
Reposted by Ben Travers
Adult Swim's Primal has a novel approach to bringing a character back to life.
Primal and the art of bringing a character back from the dead
Primal and the art of bringing a character back from the dead
www.avclub.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Adult Swim's Primal has a novel approach to bringing a character back to life.
Reposted by Ben Travers
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) dir: Werner Herzog
Spider-Noir (2026) dir: Harry Bradbeer
#InformedImages
Spider-Noir (2026) dir: Harry Bradbeer
#InformedImages
February 12, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) dir: Werner Herzog
Spider-Noir (2026) dir: Harry Bradbeer
#InformedImages
Spider-Noir (2026) dir: Harry Bradbeer
#InformedImages
Reposted by Ben Travers
You know the old saying: Catch *one* ICE employee in an underage sex trafficking sting, shame on you. Catch TWO ICE employees in an underage sex trafficking sting, shame on you again you fucking psycho collection of lunatic underage sex traffickers.
This is the second time an ICE employee has been arrested in in a Bloomington, MN underage sex trafficking sting www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/ne...
Police in Bloomington, MN just announced that one of the guys they arrested in an underage sex trafficking sting was a **background checker for ICE agents.**
He had a high security clearance in the Trump administration... and he was caught trying to abuse children. Sickening.
He had a high security clearance in the Trump administration... and he was caught trying to abuse children. Sickening.
February 11, 2026 at 12:36 AM
You know the old saying: Catch *one* ICE employee in an underage sex trafficking sting, shame on you. Catch TWO ICE employees in an underage sex trafficking sting, shame on you again you fucking psycho collection of lunatic underage sex traffickers.
Reposted by Ben Travers
Extremely exciting news: We're hiring a full-time film critic to come work with me at The A.V. Club!
You probably have an idea if you're qualified for this, but if there's something that's not in the job listing, I'm sure I can answer Qs www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
You probably have an idea if you're qualified for this, but if there's something that's not in the job listing, I'm sure I can answer Qs www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
The A.V. Club hiring Film Critic in Greater Chicago Area | LinkedIn
Posted 8:42:22 PM. The A.V. Club is seeking an experienced Film Critic to join our team of trenchant writers and…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
www.linkedin.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Extremely exciting news: We're hiring a full-time film critic to come work with me at The A.V. Club!
You probably have an idea if you're qualified for this, but if there's something that's not in the job listing, I'm sure I can answer Qs www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
You probably have an idea if you're qualified for this, but if there's something that's not in the job listing, I'm sure I can answer Qs www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
Reposted by Ben Travers
Fuck these fucking thieves
Anthropic Knew the Public Would Be Disgusted by How It Was Destroying Physical Books, Secret Documents Reveal
Newly unsealed documents suggest that Anthropic was well aware that destroying books to train its AI would look bad.
futurism.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Fuck these fucking thieves
Reposted by Ben Travers
I wrote about this! Not the jackets (though, there is a hot tip in there about the vibrant Canadian reception, straight from a pal who is in the stadium), but the ceremony itself. More big heads, please. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
At the 2026 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Weirdness Was in Short Supply — but Not Attempts at ‘Harmony’
As the Milan-Cortina festivities unspooled across multiple locations, the theme of "harmony" felt more necessary — and harder to capture — than ever.
www.indiewire.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I wrote about this! Not the jackets (though, there is a hot tip in there about the vibrant Canadian reception, straight from a pal who is in the stadium), but the ceremony itself. More big heads, please. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
Reposted by Ben Travers
Went on a lil rant about how increasingly annoyed I am by the early release of Super Bowl ads. Give me something to look forward to on Sunday! consequence.net/2026/02/supe...
Releasing Super Bowl Ads Early Is Bad for Super Bowl Ads
The Big Game's value as a pop culture event is shrinking with every "teaser."
consequence.net
February 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Went on a lil rant about how increasingly annoyed I am by the early release of Super Bowl ads. Give me something to look forward to on Sunday! consequence.net/2026/02/supe...
Reposted by Ben Travers
One time when they knock and open the door at breakfast on The Traitors they should let in the pig in the Richard Nixon mask from I Think You Should Leave
February 6, 2026 at 2:15 AM
One time when they knock and open the door at breakfast on The Traitors they should let in the pig in the Richard Nixon mask from I Think You Should Leave
Got a little finicky about how the "Fallout" finale's editing undercut a solid ending, which then got me thinking about the many (wrong) ways TV tries to hold our attention. 🤷♂️
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
‘Fallout’ Season 2 Finale Ghoulishly Chases Our Attention, When It Could Be Winning Our Hearts
After a season focused on plot extensions and world-building, Episode 8, “The Strip,” succumbs to a troubling Hollywood trend.
www.indiewire.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Got a little finicky about how the "Fallout" finale's editing undercut a solid ending, which then got me thinking about the many (wrong) ways TV tries to hold our attention. 🤷♂️
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
Reposted by Ben Travers
Seven years ago yesterday, this ad ran during the Super Bowl.
'Democracy Dies in Darkness': Super Bowl commercial (2019)
YouTube video by Washington Post
www.youtube.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Seven years ago yesterday, this ad ran during the Super Bowl.
Some good news: "A Man on the Inside" has been picked up for Season 3! Here's my last review, which gets into why this pseudo-anthology format actually works. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
February 3, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Some good news: "A Man on the Inside" has been picked up for Season 3! Here's my last review, which gets into why this pseudo-anthology format actually works. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
"Wonder Man" is quite good, which is shocking on its own. But seven years since his "Watchmen" Emmy win, it's also a fantastic reminder of Yahya Abdul-Mateen's star power. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
‘Wonder Man’ Review: Marvel’s Actor-Buddies Sitcom Is a Testament to Yahya Abdul-Mateen’s Star Power
Refreshingly separate from the rest of the MCU, 'Wonder Man' is a charming sitcom powered by two bonafide stars: Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Ben Kingsley.
www.indiewire.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:01 PM
"Wonder Man" is quite good, which is shocking on its own. But seven years since his "Watchmen" Emmy win, it's also a fantastic reminder of Yahya Abdul-Mateen's star power. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
Reposted by Ben Travers
One hateful lawbreaking little worm down, plenty more to go.
BREAKING Greg Bovino has been removed as Border Patrol "commander at large" and will return to El Centro Calif, where he is expected to retire soon. A stunning turnaround after Pretti killing. Bovino's traveling blue city crackdown is over www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Gregory Bovino Gets Demoted
The Border Patrol chief was the public face of a traveling immigration crackdown on cities governed by Democrats.
www.theatlantic.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:02 AM
One hateful lawbreaking little worm down, plenty more to go.
Reposted by Ben Travers
“Everyone should be allowed to carry a gun for their safety but the government can murder you in the street if you have a gun” is an incredible endpoint for the conservative moment
January 24, 2026 at 5:48 PM
“Everyone should be allowed to carry a gun for their safety but the government can murder you in the street if you have a gun” is an incredible endpoint for the conservative moment
For "The Pitt" sickos out there — an updating list! www.indiewire.com/lists/the-pi...
‘The Pitt’ Season 2’s Gnarliest Surgeries, Ranked
'The Pitt' Season 2 is a modern TV marvel, deftly addressing pressing social issues with urgency and grace. It's also really, really gross! Cool!
www.indiewire.com
January 23, 2026 at 8:01 PM
For "The Pitt" sickos out there — an updating list! www.indiewire.com/lists/the-pi...
Reposted by Ben Travers
The History of Concrete: basically just an 100-minute episode of How to With John Wilson in which he ponders the impermanence of TV shows, rocks, and all living things. loved every minute of it. an obvious early #Sundance2026 standout.
my review: www.indiewire.com/criticism/mo...
my review: www.indiewire.com/criticism/mo...
January 23, 2026 at 6:42 AM
The History of Concrete: basically just an 100-minute episode of How to With John Wilson in which he ponders the impermanence of TV shows, rocks, and all living things. loved every minute of it. an obvious early #Sundance2026 standout.
my review: www.indiewire.com/criticism/mo...
my review: www.indiewire.com/criticism/mo...
“The Beauty” is just so incredibly *lazy* I couldn’t even enjoy it as maximalist nonsense. Bad vibe, bad time. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
‘The Beauty’ Review: Ryan Murphy’s Feeble Spin on ‘The Substance’ Is a Misshapen Mess
Ryan Murphy's 'The Beauty' is a misshapen mess, diluting 'The Substance' across 11 plodding episodes that can't even hatch good body horror.
www.indiewire.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:50 AM
“The Beauty” is just so incredibly *lazy* I couldn’t even enjoy it as maximalist nonsense. Bad vibe, bad time. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
Reposted by Ben Travers
in the past week more than 400 people have cumulatively donated more than $23,500 to my fundraiser for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund!
it would be *amazing* to hit $26,000 by the time the video drops tomorrow 👀
www.gofundme.com/f/david-ehrl...
it would be *amazing* to hit $26,000 by the time the video drops tomorrow 👀
www.gofundme.com/f/david-ehrl...
January 19, 2026 at 5:20 PM
in the past week more than 400 people have cumulatively donated more than $23,500 to my fundraiser for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund!
it would be *amazing* to hit $26,000 by the time the video drops tomorrow 👀
www.gofundme.com/f/david-ehrl...
it would be *amazing* to hit $26,000 by the time the video drops tomorrow 👀
www.gofundme.com/f/david-ehrl...
Reposted by Ben Travers
Reposted by Ben Travers
It is a giant illegal plagiarism machine monetizing all of our intellectual property, & like every tech/finance grift before it, the business model is built on breaking the law & malfeasance. And the rush of university leaders & administrators to embed it in every aspect of our work is shameful.
Seems like the companies pushing this tech are not being strictly v honest with anyone about how it works.
futurism.com/artificial-i...
futurism.com/artificial-i...
Researchers Just Found Something That Could Shake the AI Industry to Its Core
Researchers found compelling evidence that AI models are actually copying copyrighted data, not "learning" from it.
futurism.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:15 PM
It is a giant illegal plagiarism machine monetizing all of our intellectual property, & like every tech/finance grift before it, the business model is built on breaking the law & malfeasance. And the rush of university leaders & administrators to embed it in every aspect of our work is shameful.
Kudos to whatever NYT editor made sure these were in the same issue.
January 17, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Kudos to whatever NYT editor made sure these were in the same issue.
Reposted by Ben Travers
this one weird trick will let you make a talk show but not have to pay union rates
'The Pete Davidson Show,' a weekly video podcast, premieres later this month on Netflix—get details.
The Pete Davidson Show Weekly ‘Podcast’ Sets Netflix Premiere
'The Pete Davidson Show,' a weekly video podcast, premieres later this month on Netflix—get details.
dlvr.it
January 14, 2026 at 5:53 PM
this one weird trick will let you make a talk show but not have to pay union rates
Reposted by Ben Travers
Hard to find a bigger treat to freedom of the press than the President openly reminding a powerful journalist, on TV, that the journalist only has his job because of the President, and everyone being so lazily used to this sort of thing they don't even bother to edit it out for propriety's sake.
DOKOUPIL: When I travel the country, they tell me they don't feel it because grocery prices are up--
TRUMP: They're going to now. I've only been here for 11 months. I inherited a mess. If she got in, you wouldn't have this job right now.
TRUMP: They're going to now. I've only been here for 11 months. I inherited a mess. If she got in, you wouldn't have this job right now.
January 14, 2026 at 2:39 PM
Hard to find a bigger treat to freedom of the press than the President openly reminding a powerful journalist, on TV, that the journalist only has his job because of the President, and everyone being so lazily used to this sort of thing they don't even bother to edit it out for propriety's sake.
I guess so!
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Review: Can ‘Game of Thrones’ Be Good?
'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,' HBO's new 'Game of Thrones' series, follows a knight and his squire living honorable lives in a treacherous world.
www.indiewire.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:50 PM
I guess so!
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...
www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...