This week, the critics discuss the new Netflix series Mindhunter, starring Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford, an FBI agent during the early days of serial killer investigations, and parse how it differs from standard crime procedurals. Then, Chris Molanphy joins the conversation to talk about the new hit "Rockstar" by Post Malone and explore nihilism in today's hip-hop songs. Finally, the gabbers discuss Martin Scorsese's guest column in the Hollywood Reporter about Rotten Tomatoes and question the validity of his claims.

This week, the critics discuss the new film Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve. It's been 35 years since the original Blade Runner. How does the sequel stack up against the revered sci-fi classic? Then the gabbers turn their attention to the latest season of Amazon's Transparent, which follows the Pfefferman family to Israel. They explore how the series has evolved over the past four years and talk about the political discourse that Transparent has embraced.

On this week's Slate Culture Gabfest, the critics discuss the mysterious new podcast S-Town, from the creators of Serial and This American Life, centered around a brilliant clock repairer stranded in an Alabama town. The podcast improves upon the Serial format--but is it satisfying? Next, Aisha Harris joins the show to talk about Ghost in the Shell, an adaptation of the 1995 anime movie of the same name. The film has drawn criticism for casting Scarlett Johansson as an originally Japanese character, but are the movie's problems the result of whitewashing, or is it just plain bad? Finally, the gabbers cover the controversy of Mike Pence's refusal to eat alone with any woman who is not his wife.

On this week's Slate Culture Gabfest, the critics are joined by Brow Beat editor Sam Adams to discuss Jackie, the new film starring Natalie Portman and directed by Pablo Larraín. Is it a successful portrayal of iconic first lady Jackie Kennedy, or is Portman's acting overblown? Next, the critics discuss the new Netflix series 3%, a Brazilian-made Netflix original series set in a post-apocalyptic world, and dissect how the show succeeds in telling a dystopian narrative without a massive Hollywood budget. Last, the critics talk about Laura Miller's piece in Slate, "How Video Games Change Us," an exploration of Battlefield 1, its World War I setting, and whether violence in video games actually makes us crueler people.

On this week's Slate Culture Gabfest, the critics discuss the new Disney film Moana, about a Pacific Island princess on a standard Disney journey, and whether the movie is new and exciting or if its feminist stance makes it predictable. Then, the critics are joined by Gilmore Girls completist Seth Stevenson to talk about the series' return to Netflix, which premiered over Thanksgiving weekend after nine years. How has the show changed, and was the revival a success? Last, the critics discuss Nathan Heller's New Yorker piece, "If Animals Have Rights, Should Robots?" They dig into the intricacies of his argument and debate whether robots can ever achieve the consciousness of animals.

On this week's Slate Culture Gabfest, the gabbers discuss Everybody Wants Some!!, Richard Linklater's spiritual sequel to Dazed and Confused. Is it an anthropological study of the male pecking order, a fun time with some charming jocks, or both? Next up, the gabbers and Slate's senior technology writer Will Oremus interview "Alexa," the voice of Amazon Echo, and weigh in on the utility of anthropomorphized domestic artificial intelligence. Finally, Slate Culture Editor Dan Kois joins to reopen the debate over the Mount Rushmore of American culture. Will your favorite artists make the cut?