Episodes

  • Golden Globes Reactions & Awards Season Surprises + Netflix’s His & Hers Review
    Jan 22 2026

    Golden Globes night brought surprises, wins & loses, plus a few moments that reshaped the awards season conversation. From unexpected acting wins and international film breakthroughs to debates about category placement and what should be televised, Danielle and Christy break down what mattered—and what it might signal heading toward the Oscars.

    Then, the conversation shifts to Netflix’s His & Hers, a psychological thriller that plays with perception, identity, and buried secrets. With strong performances from Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal and a finale twist that changes everything, the series proves to be more than just another whodunit.

    In this episode, we discuss:

    • Golden Globes highlights, surprises, and snubs
    • Teyana Taylor’s standout win and Oscar momentum
    • International films gaining major awards traction
    • The ongoing debate around award categories and televised priorities
    • Why Original Score being off-air sparked backlash
    • The introduction of Best Podcast at the Golden Globes
    • Winners across film, television, and limited series
    • What’s next with BAFTA, SAG, and Oscar voting timelines
    • His & Hers on Netflix: performances, twists, and final verdict

    If you love awards season breakdowns, film and TV conversations, and honest reactions to what’s worth watching, this episode covers it all.

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    18 mins
  • Greenland: Migration Review & Award Season Momentum
    Jan 15 2026

    Greenland: Migration gets a full breakdown, comparing the sequel’s post-apocalyptic survival story to the grounded tension that made the original Greenland work. Then the conversation shifts to award season momentum and what it could reveal about the Oscar race.

    Does Greenland: Migration justify returning to a disaster story that already felt complete? Christy and Danielle's discussion looks at how the sequel trades urgency for endurance, what works in its performances and visuals, and why disaster films often struggle to sustain tension beyond their first installment.

    Then, the conversation dives into the Critics Choice Awards & the 2026 award season. From surprise Critics Choice wins and Golden Globes teasers to early Oscar buzz, genre bias, and campaign influence, Christy and Danielle break down how these awards shape perception, highlight talent, and signal industry trends, even when recognition doesn’t always align with artistic merit.

    Whether you’re looking for a Greenland: Migration review, thoughtful disaster movie analysis, or early award season insight, this episode breaks down how films earn both audience attention and industry recognition.

    Today's Sponsor: JLGraceMedia.com

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    18 mins
  • Stranger Things Season 5: Volume 2 and Series Finale Breakdown & Ending Explained
    Jan 8 2026

    In this episode of The Screening Lounge, we dive deep into Stranger Things and the series finale. This is part 2 of the final season, unpacking the emotional payoff, character arcs, and biggest moments fans can’t stop talking about.

    Major spoilers ahead — this episode assumes you’ve watched the full series.

    We discuss:

    • Why the finale focused on emotional resolution over spectacle
    • Will’s coming out scene and how it disarms Vecna’s power
    • Jamie Campbell Bower’s chilling performance as Henry / Vecna
    • Max’s growth, fear, and the meaning behind Vecna’s weaknesses
    • Joyce, Karen, and the moms as the season’s true heroes
    • Dustin, Steve, Eddie’s legacy, and that unforgettable graduation speech
    • Eleven’s final choice, the ending scene, and what it really means
    • The significance of Prince, David Bowie, and the finale soundtrack
    • Open questions: Is Vecna truly gone? Is Eleven?

    Whether you loved the finale or felt conflicted, this conversation breaks down what worked, what mattered, and why Stranger Things ended exactly the way it needed to.. or did it end all at?

    Missed part 1? You can find that episode here.

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    37 mins
  • Best Movies & TV Shows of 2025 — What Stood Out This Year?
    Dec 31 2025

    2025 gave us some of the strongest movies and TV of the decade. Christy & Danielle break down the standouts, the films that surprised us, the performances we can’t stop talking about, and the TV shows everyone streamed this year.

    Top Movie Picks of 2025
    Sinners — Folklore horror, culture, mob ties, and a killer musical moment.
    One Battle After Another — DiCaprio, Sean Penn, extremist groups, and a gripping father–daughter mystery.
    Bugonia — Sharp writing, conspiracies, and a perspective-bending story.
    Wicked for Good — Darker tone, emotional stakes, Characters at their peak.
    Weapons — Missing teens, shifting POVs, and an unforgettable supporting cast.
    Hamnet — Shakespeare, grief, love, nature, and stunning visuals.

    Best TV Shows of 2025
    The Pit — A real-time ER nightmare you cannot look away from.
    Pluribus (Apple TV+) — A shared-mind utopia with 12 immune outliers.
    The Bear — Still one of TV’s sharpest, most emotional dramas.

    From horror to prestige drama to award contenders, this episode covers the must-watch films and series that defined the year.

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    22 mins
  • Ella McCay Review + Avatar: Fire and Ash Breakdown — Which One Delivered?
    Dec 24 2025

    This week, Christy and Danielle dive into Ella McCay and Avatar: Fire and Ash, two films that could not be more different in tone, scope, or execution.

    First up: Ella McCay, James L. Brooks’ long-awaited return.
    A stacked cast, a messy political backdrop, and a whole lot of subplots. Christy breaks down why the film never quite comes together, what worked, what dragged, and why even Jamie Lee Curtis couldn't save the story.

    Then it's off to Pandora for Avatar: Fire and Ash. A visual powerhouse with James Cameron’s signature world-building, massive action, and breathtaking detail.
    Christy and Danielle unpack the familiar story beats, the new Ash People, the layered villains, the themes of grief, connection, and colonization, and whether this chapter reinvents the franchise or deepens it.

    Whether you’re into political dramedies, big-budget sci-fi, or just want to know what’s worth your time, this episode has you covered.

    From the The Screening Lounge team: Merry Christmas!

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    14 mins
  • Ultimate Christmas Movie Guide and Wake Up Dead: Knives Out Mystery
    Dec 18 2025

    Danielle and Christy are getting into the Christmas spirit and sharing their ultimate holiday movie picks. From timeless classics like Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life, to modern hits like Jingle Jangle and Spirited, this episode has something for every holiday mood.

    They discuss heartfelt stories that warm the soul, laugh-out-loud comedies like Elf, cozy rom-coms like The Holiday, and even unconventional choices like Die Hard and Violent Night. Plus, they explore movies that aren’t strictly Christmas-themed but perfectly capture the holiday vibe, including Harry Potter, Pride & Prejudice, Lord of the Rings, and You’ve Got Mail.

    Finally, they review Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, diving into belief, influence, and ensemble performances, giving you insight into what works (and what doesn’t) in this latest mystery release.

    Grab your favorite drink, get cozy, and let The Screening Lounge guide you through the ultimate holiday watchlist.

    What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

    • Heartwarming Christmas classics that are perfect for reflection and cozy nights.
    • Comedic favorites like Elf and modern musicals like Spirited.
    • Romantic holiday rom-coms like The Holiday and You’ve Got Mail.
    • Debate-worthy picks: Die Hard and Violent Night.
    • Movies that feel like the holidays, even if they aren’t Christmas movies: Harry Potter, Pride & Prejudice, Lord of the Rings.
    • Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review — what worked, what didn’t, and standout performances.

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    21 mins
  • Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1: The Beginning of the End
    Dec 11 2025

    Stranger Things is finally back and Danielle and Christy dive straight into the opening episodes of Season 5, Volume 1. They get into the new mystery threads, the emotional character arcs, the 80’s nostalgia, and the deeper lore shaping the final season.

    Then they unpack the biggest theories and what the Duffer brothers wants us to believe.

    Key Themes:

    • Trauma, memory, and the maze inside Henry Creel
    • Found family and redemption arcs
    • The parents’ past and hidden sins
    • Fate, prophecy, and the mystery of the clock
    • What the Upside Down actually wants

    Why We Loved This Episode

    Season 5 Volume 1 is rich with theories, callbacks, emotional beats, and eerie parallels. Danielle and Christy break down every clue from Holly’s golden cape to Oklahoma, and unpack the storytelling magic that makes Stranger Things the cultural phenomenon it is.

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    36 mins
  • Wicked for Good: Breaking Down the Darker Second Act + Similar Shows to add to your Watchlist
    Dec 4 2025

    We’re heading back to Oz! Wicked for Good finally closes out this epic musical saga. Christy & Danielle break down everything that worked, what didn’t, the new songs, the emotional gut-punch moments, and how the movie compares to the Broadway musical.

    What We Cover:

    • Part Two drops you right back into Oz — pacing, tone, and world-building
    • Elphaba’s descent & Glinda’s complicity — character motivations, rewritten dynamics
    • New songs + the scene that emotionally wrecked us (spoiler alert!)
    • Oz lore expanded — what the movie deepened and what Broadway still does better
    • Standout performances — who soared, who surprised, and who deserved more
    • Final thoughts on the saga’s legacy — does the film honor the musical?

    If You Loved Wicked…

    We share a TV watchlist with similar vibes, more enchanted worlds, magic, and morally complicated characters. Complete with alternate worlds, emotional storytelling, and big fantasy energy.

    Love movie podcasts, reviews, and insider film news? Follow: The Screening Lounge on your favorite podcast app.

    Join the conversation on Instagram @thescreeninglounge for weekly updates, recommendations, and more behind-the-scenes buzz.

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    23 mins