Smita M
Smita M has a Masters in Cultural Studies. She has worked in print and digital newsrooms in India and Nepal, writing on culture, politics, social trends, health, and lifestyle.
Latest From Smita M
'Enslaved' Episode 1 Preview: Sunken slave ships explored and Samuel L Jackson’s emotional homecoming
In the episode titled 'Cultures Left Behind', Jackson calls himself a "lost son that returned" and says the visit "put a link back in my chain that was broken"
'Enslaved': Samuel L Jackson speaks of 'survivor's remorse' while connecting with ancestral tribe in Gabon
"Had that [slave trade] not happened I wouldn't have reached the place I have reached here", said Jackson speaking to Trevor Noah about the complex emotions that accompanied connecting with his ancestors' West African tribe, Benga, in Gabon
'The Duchess': Katherine Ryan flips gender stereotype for dentist boyfriend, Evan’s desperation a true anomaly
Why is it that we find a man like Evan taking emotional abuse so unbelievable when the same scenario of a financially-independent woman taking that sort of emotional abuse is so commonplace it is an established trope in sitcoms and dramas?
'The Duchess' Review: Katherine Ryan's single mom comedy leaves you cold with toxic levels of immaturity
More than anything, this show needed a mature co-writer and maybe a better actress who could give the character and story some emotional heft and depth rather than the shallows of Katherine Ryan
'The Duchess': Meet Katherine Ryan, Rory Keenan, Steen Raskopoulos and the cast of the Netflix comedy
The lead role is played by Katherine Ryan who had approached Netflix with the idea of a sitcom treatment of her own life as a "fabulous single mom living in London"
Diana Rigg was a 'lone voice in the wilderness' when she demanded equal pay back in the '60s as Emma Peel
While she became a female role-model on-screen and earned two Emmy nominations for her performance, things weren't so great off-screen. She was shocked to learn that despite her growing fame, she was being paid less than even the cameraman
Dame Diana Rigg dies at age 82, ‘Game Of Thrones’ co-stars, celebrities honor ‘The Avengers’ star and Mrs Bond
Tributes poured in from her co-stars and associates in her long and storied career that began in 1957 on stage and included iconic roles in the Bond franchise, 'The Avengers' TV series and most recently in the worldwide TV phenomenon 'Game of Thrones'
'Woke' points out that not all Black people have a handle on the politics underpinning Black Lives Matter
We get some sharp truth-telling that not only holds up a lens to White America but also elite Black America, who have been cushioned somewhat by their education and class privileges
'Woke' Review: Navigating Blackness inside out, miniseries' humor-laced honesty makes it a must-watch
Keef struggles with his Blackness -- he is confused about what he should stand for and what he should do. The miniseries also doesn't assume that all White people are automatically wrong
'Woke': Meet Lamorne Morris, T Murph, Blake Anderson and rest of the cast of Hulu comedy-drama
Lamorne Morris plays Keef based on artist Keith Knight on his journey to "wokeness" after a traumatic run-in with the police
'Lovecraft Country' Episode 4: Montrose symbolizes racial and generational trauma within the Black community
The episode itself is called 'A History of Violence' and in Montrose, we see how that generational violence, both racial and familial, has resulted in self-loathing, self-harming, violent behaviors
'P-Valley' writers call out '#misogynoir' after fans fail to empathize with abuse victim Keyshawn in finale
"All of these threats of violence against a victim of domestic abuse... It’s peak #misogynoir," said a tweet from the show's writers who were appalled at the hate directed at Keyshawn for pulling a gun on Diamond
'P-Valley' Episode 8 Ending Explained: Will Montavius's off-screen death and Hailey's boss move affect Season 2?
Katori Hall is interested in taking on, in subsequent storylines of Season 2, actual sex work, which wasn't portrayed at all in Season 1
!['P-Valley' Episode 8 Review: [SPOILER] is dead and Mayor Tydell has to eat his words at the funeral](https://d2a0gza273xfgz.cloudfront.net/478358/uploads/27b648f0-eef4-11ea-9470-cbceddd0e74e_1200_630.jpeg)
'P-Valley' Episode 8 Review: [SPOILER] is dead and Mayor Tydell has to eat his words at the funeral
Mercedes coming through for Hailey will make you hug yourself because girl solidarity is a thing now between these two characters
P-Valley's newest hottie is Blue Kimble and here's all you need to know about his character Rome
According to interviews about his character, Blue Kimble said Rome is a slick-talking, a Southern hustler and former drug dealer turned music executive who is in town looking to make some dreams come true
'P-Valley' Episode 8: Season finale has a violent 'Murda night', heartbreak and a funeral
We see Montavius choking Autumn in one scene, while in another Mercedes breaks a bottle and swings it in full-on attack mode
Noughts + Crosses Ending Explained: Season 1 ends on a hopeful note as Sephy and Callum make a getaway
We see Callum and Sephy together in the woods, away from cities and the police when Callum calls his momma Meggie to say they are safe
'Noughts + Crosses' Review: Miniseries scores on Afrocentric world-building but character arcs are a letdown
Sephy's naivete makes her decidedly unlikeable at times -- which is the point since the show portrays how privilege blinds. But the script doesn't support her the way it supports Callum and his radicalization -- which is equally naive
'Noughts & Crosses': Meet Masali Baduza, Jack Rowan, Stormzy and cast of YA show on Malorie Blackman’s books
Masali Baduza, a South African newcomer, used her newbie status to approach the material with a fresh perspective while Jack Rowan decided to leave 'Peaky Blinders' for the chance to play Callum
'The Boys in the Band': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about Netflix adaptation of hit Broadway play
The Netflix adaptation will expand on the contained world of Mart Crowley’s original play to include scenes on the streets of Manhattan and in Julius, one of the oldest gay bars still operating in NYC