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Ben Travers Writer Indiewire

Ben Travers

TV Critic

Ben Travers is the New York-based TV Critic and Deputy Editor at IndieWire, where he’s been writing reviews, analyzing industry trends, and interviewing key figures since 2014. He is the 2021 winner for Best Entertainment Commentary at the Southern California Journalism Awards, and a 2020 finalist for Best TV Critic at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. Ben helped launch IndieWire’s Consider This series, which advocates for each year’s most deserving awards contenders, and he was on set for “Veep’s” final day of filming. (Seeing Julia Louis-Dreyfus eviscerate another human being live, in person, changed him forever.) A lifelong student of Sylvester Stallone and more-recent scholar of “The Leftovers,” “Better Things,” and “BoJack Horseman,” he is also an experienced moderator, having led conversations for the Television Academy, Screen Actors Guild, PaleyFest, SXSW, ATX TV Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con (at Hall H, in front of 6,000 screaming fans). Prior to joining IndieWire, Ben served as an editor and critic at PopMatters, as well as a production assistant on major motion pictures. He holds degrees in journalism and cinema from the University of Iowa. He loves puns, baseball, black coffee, and soft sweatshirts. Follow him on Twitter @BenTTravers and Instagram @BenTravers5

Latest by Ben Travers
'Squid Game' Season 3 Episode 6 finale stars Lee Byung-hun as Frontman, who sees a surprising Hollywood star in the final scene
She's Just 'Amazing at Playing Ddakji,' OK?
Of all the ways for creator Hwang Dong-hyak's brutal capitalist critique to wrap up, bringing in a Hollywood A-lister was the most surprising — and fitting.
Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in 'Smoke,' shown here with Taron looking over her shoulder at the computer, and Jurnee looking accusingly at him
A Mirror You Can't Look Into
In another dual portrait about bad men who can only see themselves in others, Dennis Lehane's "Black Bird" follow-up tracks an arson investigator and a local detective on the hunt for two fire-starters.
Squid Game Season 3 stars Lee Jung-jae as Seong Gi-hun, shown here with blood dripping down his face, wearing a tuxedo with 456 and a red X on it
"We Are Not Horses"
Hwang Dong-hyuk wraps up his blunt evisceration of capitalism with a fittingly grim final season, but it's the fleeting bursts of light that burn the longest.
'The Bear' Season 4 stars Jeremy Allen White as Carmy Berzatto, shown here wearing a white t-shirt staring blankly ahead with a bright white backdrop behind him
Bye, Chef?
After a moving but oft-stagnant third season (that ended on "To be continued..."), the second half of FX's award-winning restaurant drama serves up more of the same — including an insufficient ending.
Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, the new Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
What If... Tony Stark Wasn't Rich?
Written by Chinaka Hodge and executive produced by Ryan Coogler, the new Disney+ series follows a talented young inventor who, desperate to "revolutionize safety" via her "Iron" suit, falls in with a suspicious team of semi-benevolent thieves.
Wilmon Paak (Muhanned Bhaier) and Saw Gererra (Forest Whitaker) in 'ANDOR; Season 2
Consider This
After writing a fair amount of his scripts in war-torn Ukraine, Willimon explains how reality and history informed Season 2 — with a special play-by-play of building Forest Whitaker's Episode 5 aria.
The Waterfront stars Holt McCallany as Harlan Buckley in the Netflix series. Here he's shown sitting in the captain's chair of a boat, wearing a brown button-down, looking over his right shoulder
Holt McCallany's Bad-Dad Reign Continues
Like a surface-level blend of "Ozark" and "Yellowstone," Kevin Williamson's first Netflix series follows a North Carolina family who keeps their seaside fishing empire afloat by ferrying drugs.
'The Gilded Age' Season 3 stars Merritt Wever, Morgan Spector, Carrie Coon, and Harry Richardson, shown here standing at the front of a crowd in church, looking concerned
At Long Last, The Clock Is Ticking
After two seasons spent struggling to balance a blissful parade of beautiful gowns with stories substantial enough to support them, Julian Fellowes' HBO drama adds actual, you know, drama.
A Man on the Inside. Ted Danson as Charles, shown here holding a small stuffed dog made of crochet
USG University
Creator Mike Schur is joined by cast members Ted Danson and Stephanie Beatriz, and production designer Ian Phillips and DP David J. Miller, to break down the design of a perfect ending.
Side-by-side stills from 'Forever,' 'Andor,' and 'The Last of Us'
There was no end to the shocking, joyous, and hilarious heights achieved by these shows.
Rebel Ridge stars Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond, shown here sitting in thought, wearing a bookbag over the front of his chest
It's a Hit
Reflecting on his movie's long journey, the writer and director said he "certainly didn't intend" for the Netflix film to end up in the Emmy race, but "there's also some benefits."
Glenn Fleshler and George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' on Broadway, shown in black and white, with a CBS TV camera pointed at them, preparing to go on the air
To Go Big, Go Home
In taking "Good Night, and Good Luck" from Broadway to our living rooms, Clooney returns, once again, to the medium that made him a star — and that he still believes can make an impact.
Top of The Line Weekly
A weekly digest that captures the best of our Top of the Line coverage.

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