Beta test: ‘Silicon Valley’ is spot-on satire
HBO’s Silicon Valley is another series that examines competing views of maleness as it skewers the male-dominated culture and unchecked hubris of the tech industry.
Comic situations: Louis CK dares you to laugh
Louie CK’s fictional self is a good guy with good intentions struggling to navigate the minefield of modern society. But rather than merely serve himself up as the butt of the joke, he dives in and unpacks the root causes of his anxieties.
Franchise players: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ is a fun next chapter in Marvel’s ongoing epic
From the opening scene, “Avengers:Age of Ultron hits the ground running, and doesn’t let up. The sequel to 2012’s triumphant Avengers tentpole, and the latest chapter in Marvel’s epic (seemingly endless) superhero franchise, is a fun albeit bloated spectacle that still finds time for levity and sadness.
Lady parts: ‘Inside Amy Schumer’ brings bold satire in season 3
Where previous seasons saw Schumer playing with feminist themes, she was only scratching the surface. In season three, she has raised the level of discourse, and the show is stronger for it.
Power players: ‘Game of Thrones’ turns a corner in season five
Over the course of its run, Game of Thrones has explored the relationships and conflicts between those who have power, those who want it, and those who will never have it. But after several seasons of these characters being ground under the wheel of the old hegemony, season five marks a change.
The Plaid Crew 