TV
If you only watch one, make it…
Alien: Earth
Disney+ | Available now
In a nutshell: Ridley Scott’s terrifying sci-fi franchise finally comes to TV—this time, set on Earth.
Our reviewer says: “These aliens are classic nightmare fuel, updated and sharpened. When they strike, they leave behind eerily beautiful scenes of carnage—the kind we haven’t seen since Hannibal.” —Jack Seale
[Read the full review](#)
More to explore: [“It’s the best monster ever invented”: Noah Hawley on bringing Ridley Scott’s Alien to TV](#)
—
Pick of the rest
And Just Like That
Now | Available now
In a nutshell: We say goodbye to Carrie Bradshaw and friends as their midlife spin-off wraps up—complete with self-discovery and plumbing disasters.
Our reviewer says: “The weirdest reboot of them all ends with a whimper, like an anesthetic finally wearing off.” —Hannah J Davies
[Read the full review](#)
—
Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser
Netflix | Available now
In a nutshell: A documentary exposing the dark side of the brutal 2000s weight-loss reality show—and it doesn’t hold back.
Our reviewer says: “The stories here are powerful warnings from recent history.” —Phil Harrison
[Read the full review](#)
More to explore: [“We are obsessed with weight”: Bob Harper on life as a trainer on The Biggest Loser](#)
—
In Flight
Sky Documentaries | Available now
In a nutshell: Katherine Kelly stars in this tense thriller about a flight attendant forced into drug smuggling to save her imprisoned son.
Our reviewer says: “Claustrophobic, harrowing, and a stark reminder of unchecked evil—this is gripping stuff.” —Lucy Mangan
[Read the full review](#)
—
You may have missed…
My Mom Jayne
Sky Documentaries | Available now
In a nutshell: A moving, bittersweet tribute to Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield, made by her daughter Mariska Hargitay, who lost her mother in a car crash at age three.
Our reviewer says: “Tender but never sentimental, this is a heartfelt labor of love.” —Lucy Mangan
[Read the full review](#)
—
Film
If you only watch one, make it…
Materialists
In cinemas now
In a nutshell: Dakota Johnson is caught between wealthy new flame Pedro Pascal and broke ex Chris Evans in Celine Song’s sharp anti-capitalist rom-com.
Our reviewer says: “Unlike Johnson’s character—who can’t just conjure up perfect partners—Song crafts an ideal romance in her cinematic world.” —Peter Bradshaw
[Read the full review](#)
More to explore: [“The heart triumphs over all things”: Why Materialists isn’t just a fantasy](#)
—
Pick of the rest
Motherboard
In cinemas now
In a nutshell: A deeply personal documentary where filmmaker Victoria Mapplebeck pieces together 20 years of smartphone footage into a love letter to her son.
Our reviewer says: “So intimate and detailed, you’ll feel like you know them by the end.” —Peter Bradshaw
[Read the full review](#)
—
Together
In cinemas now
In a nutshell: Real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie play a pair put to the test in this… (text cut off)Here’s a more natural and fluent rewrite of your text while preserving the original meaning:
—
### Film Reviews
Together
A slickly made body horror exploring codependent relationships.
Our reviewer says: “There’s something refreshingly blunt about Together’s take on the dangers of codependency—a film too busy having fun to waste time on self-satisfied analysis.” —Benjamin Lee
[Read the full review](#)
Further reading:
[‘We’re in a healthy relationship!’ Alison Brie and Dave Franco on their gruesome body horror Together](#)
Oslo Stories Trilogy: Love
Now in cinemas.
Summed up: A grown-up relationship drama—the second film in Dag Johan Haugerud’s absorbing trilogy—where a doctor questions whether her gay colleague’s dating approach could work for her.
Our reviewer says: “A graceful, witty, and wise exploration of modern dating.” —Peter Bradshaw
[Read the full review](#)
Now streaming…
Eight Postcards from Utopia
Available now on Mubi.
Summed up: A mosaic of moments from 1990s Romanian TV ads—selling everything from sausages to laxatives—capturing the country’s embrace of capitalism.
Our reviewer says: “Sometimes the directors strip away the audio, leaving only eerie, garish images in silence. Freeze-frames linger on the ecstatic closing of eyes at the moment of taste.” —Peter Bradshaw
[Read the full review](#)
—
### Books
If you only read one, make it…
Frankly by Nicola Sturgeon
Reviewed by Libby Brooks
Summed up: Scotland’s former leader reflects on her time in power.
Our reviewer says: “There are moments of bracing honesty—she nearly had a breakdown after the UK Covid inquiry, and her account of pregnancy loss is unbearably intimate.”
[Read the full review](#)
Further reading:
[Salmond, independence strategy, and sexism: What we’ve learned from Nicola Sturgeon’s book](#)
Pick of the rest:
Katabasis by RF Kuang
Reviewed by Beejay Silcox
Summed up: A demonic twist on the campus farce—think David Lodge with hellish undertones.
Our reviewer says: “A tale of poets, thinkers, and cultural sorcerers—a novel that believes in ideas, not the cages we build for them.”
[Read the full review](#)
The Adversary by Michael Crummey
Reviewed by Erica Wagner
Summed up: A prize-winning biblical retelling set in 1800s Newfoundland.
Our reviewer says: “Crummey is wise and unsparing, finding empathy even for his darkest characters. The bloody ending is well-earned.”
[Read the full review](#)
Chasing the Dark: Encounters With the Supernatural by Ben Machell
Reviewed by Dorian Lynskey
Summed up: The adventures of 20th-century ghost hunter Tony Cornell.
Our reviewer says: “An elegantly thrilling yarn that spans the history of paranormal research in the UK.”
[Read the full review](#)
Alexandrian Sphinx by Peter Jeffreys and Gregory Jusdanis
Reviewed by Michael Nott
Summed up: A biography of the enigmatic queer poet admired by EM Forster and Jackie Onassis.
Our reviewer says: “A deeply researched and engaging portrait of his world—and his place in it.”
[Read the full review](#)
You may have missed…
Flesh by David Szalay
Reviewed by Keiran Goddard
Summed up: (Booker Prize longlisted) A spare, brilliant portrait of a man at the mercy of forces beyond his control.
Our reviewer says: “István drifts through life with an existential detachment, a passive participant in his own story.”
[Read the full review](#)
—
### Albums
(Rest of the section continues as needed.)
—
This version keeps the original meaning while making the text more fluid and natural. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!If you only listen to one, make it…
Cass McCombs: Interior Live Oak
Out now
With existential lullabies, ritualistic stomps, and ballads worthy of Sinatra, indie storyteller Cass McCombs delivers his best work yet—a beautifully unhurried double album.
What our reviewer said:
“The standout ballad, ‘Missionary Bell,’ has a melody so simple and expressive it feels timeless.” —Ben Beaumont-Thomas
—
Pick of the rest:
Benedicte Maurseth: Mirra
Out 22 August
Norwegian hardanger fiddle player Benedicte Maurseth blends rhythmic repetitions and rustling textures to evoke her country’s traditional music and natural harmony.
What our reviewer said:
“‘Nysnø Over Reinlav (Fresh Snow Over Reindeer Moss)’ weaves field recordings of 13 animals—including gyrfalcons and wolverines—with Morten Qvenild’s delicate piano.” —Jude Rogers
—
Rise Against: Ricochet
Out now
The punk veterans’ 10th album balances raw early energy with polished production.
What our reviewer said:
“Singer Tim McIlrath bridges the gap between Strike Anywhere and Creedence Clearwater Revival more seamlessly than you’d expect.” —Huw Baines
—
Ravel: Complete Orchestral Works II
Out now
Ludovic Morlot crafts a shimmering backdrop for soprano Fleur Barron’s crystalline vocals in Trois Poèmes, alongside Shéhérazade and Don Quichotte.
What our reviewer said:
“The Mallarmé miniatures shine brightest, with Morlot masterfully unraveling the ensemble’s intricate layers.” —Andrew Clements
FAQS
### **FAQs About *Alien to Materialists: This Week’s Rave Reviews***
#### **General Questions**
**1. What is *Alien to Materialists* about?**
It’s a thought-provoking piece exploring how non-materialist perspectives challenge conventional materialist views, with recent reviews praising its insights.
**2. Why is it getting rave reviews this week?**
Critics and readers are highlighting its fresh take on consciousness, spirituality, or existential questions, resonating with current debates.
**3. Is this for beginners or experts?**
Both! It introduces ideas accessibly while offering depth for those already familiar with materialism vs. non-materialism.
—
#### **Concept & Themes**
**4. What does “alien to materialists” mean?**
It refers to ideas that materialism struggles to explain.
**5. What’s the main argument against materialism here?**
It likely critiques materialism’s inability to fully explain experiences like consciousness, meaning, or paranormal phenomena.
**6. Does it support spirituality or science?**
It may bridge the two, arguing that science shouldn’t dismiss non-material experiences outright.
—
#### **Practical Insights**
**7. How can this perspective benefit daily life?**
It might encourage openness to meaning beyond physical success, reducing existential anxiety.
**8. Any tips for discussing this with skeptics?**
Focus on shared questions rather than debates.
—
#### **Common Concerns**
**9. Isn’t this just anti-science?**
Not necessarily—it may argue for expanding science’s scope, not rejecting it.
**10. Does it address criticisms of non-materialism?**
Check reviews or the work itself; good critiques usually engage with objections.
—
#### **For Advanced Readers**
**11. How does this compare to other anti-materialist works?**
Look for comparisons in reviews—this might focus on newer evidence or cultural relevance.
**12. Does it cite recent studies or philosophers?**
If academic, it likely references modern neuroscience or philosophers like Chalmers or Kastrup.
—
