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Alan Sepinwall


Alan Sepinwall is an American television critic, author, and podcaster known for pioneering the detailed recap and review style that influenced TV discourse during the medium's dramatic expansion in the late and .
Sepinwall began his career as an reviewer of while a student at the in 1993, later joining as a staff critic where he contributed for over a decade. He subsequently worked at digital outlets including HitFix and Uproxx before serving as chief television critic at from 2018 until layoffs in September 2025 prompted his transition to independent reviewing via the newsletter What's Alan Watching?.
Among his notable achievements, Sepinwall has authored books analyzing transformative TV series, such as The Revolution Was Televised (2013), which chronicles the impact of shows like , , and on serialized drama, and TV (The Book) (2016, co-authored with ), a guide to two hundred essential episodes. His emphasis on episode-by-episode breakdowns and engagement with fan perspectives helped elevate TV criticism from print columns to interactive formats, fostering deeper audience analysis amid the shift to prestige cable programming.

Early life and education

Family background and upbringing

Sepinwall was raised in Pine Brook, , a suburb in Morris County. His family resided there for at least three decades, reflecting a stable suburban environment conducive to his early interest in television and writing. His father, Jerry Sepinwall (1940–1998), was a psychopharmacologist born in Montreal, Canada, who immigrated and worked at Hoffmann-La Roche in Nutley, New Jersey. Jerry's Canadian origins led to family vacations north of the border to visit relatives, exposing Sepinwall to cross-border cultural ties during his childhood. His mother, Harriet Lipman Sepinwall, served as a professor of social studies education at the College of St. Elizabeth in nearby Morristown, New Jersey. The Sepinwalls were Jewish, and Sepinwall attended Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in , participating in community religious life. This upbringing in a professional, intellectually oriented household in northern New Jersey's suburban landscape shaped his early exposure to media, though specific anecdotes about family dynamics or influences on his career path remain limited in public records.

University years

Sepinwall attended the from 1992 to 1996. He graduated in 1996. In his sophomore year, beginning in 1993, Sepinwall started writing television reviews for 34th Street Magazine, the weekly arts supplement of the university's student newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian. These pieces focused on the newly premiered series , marking his initial foray into professional-grade criticism while still a student. The quality and enthusiasm of this student work drew attention from editors at , paving the way for his first full-time journalism position after graduation.

Career

Early writing and The Star-Ledger (1993–2012)

Sepinwall's initial forays into television writing occurred in 1993, during his sophomore year at the , where his early reviews were self-described as subpar. These efforts began as informal online critiques, particularly centered on programs like , marking his entry into serialized drama analysis before professional employment. In 1996, Sepinwall joined in , as its television columnist, a role he held full-time for 14 years. His columns covered a broad spectrum of network and cable programming, with particular emphasis on shows filmed or set in , including detailed episode-by-episode reviews of starting from its 1999 premiere. This local focus allowed for on-the-ground reporting, such as interviews with creators and proximity to production sites, contributing to in-depth coverage that blended journalistic access with critical evaluation. Complementing his print work, Sepinwall launched the blog What's Alan Watching? during his Star-Ledger tenure, initially as a personal outlet that evolved into a platform for extended recaps and commentary. The blog's format—featuring spoiler-filled breakdowns, reader Q&As, and enthusiastic advocacy for quality television—helped pioneer online TV discourse, fostering a dedicated audience amid the rise of cable dramas like The Wire and Deadwood, which he championed in both columns and posts. By the late 2000s, as newspaper TV sections contracted, the blog amplified his influence, with Sepinwall noting in 2009 that it supplemented shrinking print resources at the paper. Sepinwall departed full-time employment at on April 25, 2010, transitioning to HitFix while relocating the blog there, though some archival contributions lingered into subsequent years. This period solidified his reputation for accessible yet rigorous criticism, emphasizing narrative craft and character development over abstract theory, as evidenced by his consistent coverage of over 20 seasons of prestige programming.

HitFix and Uproxx (2012–2016)

During this period, Sepinwall maintained his signature style of in-depth episodic recaps and reviews at HitFix under the "What's Alan Watching?" column, focusing on prestige dramas such as , , and . His work emphasized narrative analysis and character development, often blending enthusiast appreciation with critical scrutiny of plotting and thematic consistency. In 2013, he published The Revolution Was Televised: The Cops, Crooks, Slingers, and Slayers Who Changed TV Forever, a book chronicling the evolution of serialized television through case studies of landmark series including , , and Lost, attributing their success to innovations in storytelling and cable network strategies. Sepinwall also spearheaded HitFix's annual Television Critics Poll, aggregating opinions from dozens of reviewers to rank top shows, new programs, and episodes. The inaugural poll in 2012 highlighted and among leading dramas, while the 2013 edition crowned as the year's best series and as top new show, reflecting the poll's emphasis on quality amid expanding scripted output. These efforts solidified his role in shaping industry discourse during what he later termed "peak TV," a proliferation of high-caliber content straining viewer attention but elevating critical standards. In April 2016, HitFix was acquired by Woven Digital, the parent company of Uproxx, a youth-oriented firm, for an undisclosed sum, prompting operational . Sepinwall's content, including archives of reviews and interviews spanning over six years, transferred to Uproxx later that year, with his column relaunching there on November 15, 2016, to continue under the site's broader entertainment umbrella. This shift marked the end of HitFix as a standalone entity while preserving Sepinwall's output amid consolidating landscapes.

Rolling Stone tenure (2016–2025)

In 2018, Sepinwall joined as chief television critic, where he focused on reviewing, recapping, and analyzing series amid the expansion of prestige television. His contributions included in-depth coverage of ongoing shows such as , emphasizing narrative consistency and character development across its long run. Sepinwall's pieces often highlighted television's evolution, drawing on his prior experience to contextualize new releases within broader trends like serialized storytelling and arcs. Sepinwall launched the Rolling Stone-produced podcast Too Long; Didn't Watch on January 12, 2021, co-hosted with OBB Sound, which featured guest discussions on reboots and finales, including episodes on and with actors like and . He authored reflective essays, such as an August 9, 2020, piece examining his past affinity for police procedurals like in light of post-2020 policing debates, acknowledging the genre's flaws in glorifying flawed authority figures without endorsing reformist narratives uncritically. Annually, Sepinwall compiled lists of top programs, such as the 10 Best TV Shows of 2023 (featuring The Bear and Succession finales) and 2024, prioritizing shows with strong ensemble performances and plot innovation over streaming volume. His reviews extended to mid-season assessments, like a June 2025 evaluation praising Poker Face's procedural twists while critiquing formulaic elements in other series. Throughout, Sepinwall maintained a focus on empirical strengths—dialogue precision, acting range, and structural coherence—rather than subjective identity-driven interpretations, distinguishing his output in an era of fragmented criticism.

Interviews, collaborations, and side projects

Sepinwall has conducted extensive interviews with television creators throughout his career, often focusing on the creative processes behind landmark series. These include in-depth discussions with The Sopranos creator David Chase following the show's 2007 finale, exploring thematic elements and production decisions. Similarly, he interviewed Breaking Bad showrunner Vince Gilligan multiple times, such as a 2010 post-mortem of season three that delved into character arcs and narrative choices. Other notable interviews encompass Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence in 2009 on the series' evolution post-finale, Awake showrunner Kyle Killen in 2012 about the program's experimental structure, and Atlanta director Hiro Murai in 2022 regarding episode innovations like "Teddy Perkins." These conversations, frequently published on platforms like HitFix and Uproxx during his earlier tenures, emphasize Sepinwall's approach to probing artistic intent over superficial promotion. In collaborative works, Sepinwall co-authored The Sopranos Sessions (2019) with critic , compiling essays and interviews analyzing the HBO series' cultural impact and drawing on direct input from cast and crew. He also partnered with The O.C. creators and for Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History (2023), which incorporates interviews with the cast, crew, and producers to chronicle the show's development and legacy. His book The Revolution Was Televised (2013) further reflects collaborative interviewing, featuring discussions with showrunners including Chase, The Wire's , Deadwood's , 24's and , Lost's and , and Gilligan. These projects highlight Sepinwall's role in facilitating creator-driven narratives, often prioritizing unfiltered perspectives from primary sources. Side projects include hosting the podcast Too Long; Didn't Watch, launched in January 2021 in partnership with and OBB Sound, where celebrity guests—such as actors who avoided acclaimed series—watch and react to the premiere and finale episodes of shows like or . The format, which ran for multiple seasons, underscores Sepinwall's enthusiasm for televisual analysis through fresh viewpoints. Additionally, he maintains a newsletter, What's Alan Watching?, initiated around 2022–2023, offering recaps, interviews, and commentary on current programming independent of his primary outlets. Guest appearances, such as on the Blank Check in 2021 discussing films like Memoirs of an , extend his critiques beyond television.

Layoff from Rolling Stone and independent work (2025–present)

On September 15, 2025, Sepinwall was laid off from his position as chief television critic at amid a broader round of staff reductions at , the publication's parent company. The cuts, which affected several high-profile employees including executive digital director Lisa Tozzi and copy chief Steven Pearl, were described as signaling a shift in editorial direction under PMC's ongoing cost-saving measures. In response, Sepinwall announced on September 16, 2025, via Bluesky that he would pursue independent work, focusing his television reviewing, recapping, and analysis on his long-running newsletter, What's Alan Watching?. The newsletter, originally launched during his earlier freelance periods, has since become his primary platform, hosting weekly columns on new episodes, mid-year rankings, and end-of-season assessments. For instance, in June 2025, he published a mid-year list of the best television shows, highlighting titles like Adolescence, Andor, and Severance. Sepinwall's independent output has continued unabated into late 2025, with posts covering a range of series such as the season finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on September 12, a review of Netflix's The Boots on October 3, and analyses of Welcome to Derry, Nobody Wants This, and Slow Horses as of October 24. These efforts are disseminated through his personal website, alansepinwall.com, and Substack, maintaining his focus on detailed episode breakdowns and broader industry commentary without affiliation to a major outlet.

Critical style and influence

Evolution of review format

Sepinwall's early television reviews in the mid-1990s consisted of informal recaps posted on groups, beginning with episodes of , modeled after fan-driven summaries of shows like . These were concise plot breakdowns aimed at fellow enthusiasts, reflecting his initial foray into online discourse as a student contributor to The Daily Pennsylvanian. By the early 2000s, while at , Sepinwall expanded to post-episode breakdowns for serialized dramas such as , incorporating detailed plot recaps, , examination, and episode predictions to engage readers in ongoing narratives. This format crystallized in 2005 with the launch of his "What's Alan Watching?" blog on Blogspot, where reviews blended recap elements with deeper critical evaluation of character development, symbolism, and emotional resonance, often exceeding 1,000 words for prestige cable series like and Friday Night Lights. The structure emphasized quality over exhaustive coverage, prioritizing dense, writer-driven shows while avoiding rote joke catalogs for comedies, and fostered interactivity through reader comments that mirrored fan forum dynamics. Transitioning to HitFix in 2010 (later Uproxx), Sepinwall maintained this episodic, analysis-heavy approach but scaled coverage to 10-15 shows weekly amid rising content volume. However, by 2015, confronting "Peak TV" overload and the shift to bingeable streaming screeners, he curtailed full recaps, evolving toward selective, traditional reviews that focused on overarching assessments rather than week-to-week dissection. At Rolling Stone from 2016 onward, this manifested in curated critiques emphasizing broader cultural impact and production insights, with recaps reserved for marquee events, allowing curation of a sustainable workload amid hundreds of annual releases. This progression marked a broader in from immersive, fan-adjacent to distilled professional evaluation, influencing peers to prioritize discernment over ubiquity.

Fan enthusiasm versus analytical rigor

Sepinwall's critical approach frequently merges palpable excitement for acclaimed series with structured breakdowns of narrative structure, character development, and thematic undertones, a style rooted in his early days as an online fan discussing shows like NYPD Blue and The Sopranos. This enthusiasm manifests in vivid, accessible prose that prioritizes episode-specific insights over detached academic dissection, as seen in his weekly recaps for Friday Night Lights, where he dissects emotional arcs alongside plot recaps while expressing frustration akin to invested viewers: "Dammit. I wouldn’t be mad if I didn’t care." Such writing has been credited with democratizing TV discourse, transforming recaps into a hybrid of fan service and critique that influenced how audiences engage with serialized storytelling. Critics, however, have debated whether this fan-derived passion occasionally undermines analytical detachment, potentially introducing bias toward shows aligning with his preferences. A 2011 Slate analysis highlighted Sepinwall's transition from newsgroup "fanboy" to professional reviewer, questioning if rabid advocacy—exemplified by his 2009 open letter campaigning to renew —compromises objectivity, as personal investment might prioritize preservation over unflinching evaluation. For instance, his weekly focus on ongoing series like Lost has been critiqued for emphasizing immediate reactions over broader contextual failures, such as unresolved plotlines, contrasting with retrospective pieces by critics like that probe deeper cultural implications. Despite these concerns, Sepinwall demonstrates rigor through meticulous plot dissections and historical contextualization, often delving into subtext and production details in ways that exceed surface-level fandom; his reviews of season two, for example, unpack intricate political machinations with granular episode analysis. This balance is affirmed in assessments of his oeuvre as an "admixture of the enthusiasm of a fan and the thoughtful and unprejudiced eye of a ," evident in book-length examinations like The Revolution Was Televised (2013), where he rigorously traces the evolution of prestige TV via case studies of series such as . Ultimately, while his style invites scrutiny for blurring fan zeal and critique, it has arguably elevated TV's critical stature by making rigorous analysis engaging without sacrificing substantive engagement with craft.

Impact on television criticism

Sepinwall significantly shaped television criticism through his pioneering use of episode-by-episode recaps, which integrated detailed plot summaries with analytical depth on character arcs, thematic , and progression, particularly for serialized prestige dramas. This format, which he began applying to shows like and expanded to starting in 2002 during his tenure at , diverged from conventional end-of-season overviews or standalone episode assessments by treating each installment as a building block in an ongoing story. His approach emphasized spoiler-inclusive breakdowns to facilitate deeper viewer engagement, influencing outlets such as , , and to adopt similar weekly dissections of complex series like and Lost. The launch of his What's Alan Watching? in 2005 amplified this model's reach, transitioning TV criticism from static print reviews to dynamic, platforms that encouraged audience interaction and . By prioritizing quality serialized content over formulaic procedurals—dismissing shows like for lacking sufficient "meat" for sustained analysis—Sepinwall helped redirect critical focus toward the structural innovations of cable-era dramas, such as those from and . This shift aligned with the medium's evolution during "peak TV," where his rigorous yet enthusiastic style demonstrated that fan-like passion could underpin objective evaluation, inspiring peers like A.V. Club critic Steve Heisler to praise his "incisive commentary and wit." Sepinwall's influence extended beyond format to practical advocacy, as evidenced by his 2009 open letter to executives that mobilized fans and contributed to the renewal of , underscoring critics' capacity to affect programming decisions. Publications like have credited him with fundamentally altering the field's nature, dubbing him the "acknowledged king of the form" for professionalizing recaps as a tool for both consumption enhancement and . His model persists in contemporary criticism, where episodic reviews remain standard for navigating the volume and serialization of modern television output.

Reception and legacy

Praises and achievements

Sepinwall's innovative approach to television reviewing, particularly his detailed post-episode recaps and blending of fan passion with , has been credited with transforming the field of TV . A 2011 Slate profile described him as having "changed the nature of television " by democratizing access to thoughtful commentary, allowing everyday viewers to engage deeply with shows like and through his blog and columns. This style influenced a generation of critics to prioritize timely, audience-oriented analysis over traditional print deadlines, as noted in reflections on his early online work at . His authorship of The Revolution Was Televised (2012), an examination of cable dramas from 1999 to 2012 that reshaped prestige television, earned widespread acclaim for chronicling the era's narrative innovations. Reviews in highlighted its origins in Sepinwall's fan-driven evolution into professional criticism, while Time and other outlets praised its documentation of TV's "revolution" in serialized storytelling. The book, updated in 2015 to include , solidified his reputation as a key chronicler of the medium's , with independent reviewers calling it a "wonderful" resource for TV enthusiasts. In collaboration with , Sepinwall co-authored TV (The Book) (2016), which ranked the 100 greatest American scripted series and sparked debates on canon formation through paired essays on shows like and . Outlets such as lauded it as a "chat-starter" for its rigorous, opinionated assessments drawn from decades of coverage. His consistent recognition as 's chief TV critic from 2016 to 2025 further underscores his stature, with peers attributing to him a foundational role in covering TV's expansion alongside figures like Tony Soprano's debut.

Criticisms and debates

Sepinwall's enthusiastic, fan-oriented approach to television reviewing has drawn scrutiny for potentially undermining objectivity and depth. In a 2011 analysis, his style was praised for revolutionizing criticism through detailed episode recaps but critiqued for blurring the line between reviewer and devotee, exemplified by his involvement in the "Save " fan campaign to prevent the series' cancellation and his cameo appearance on , which positioned him as "something other than an objective viewer." This has fueled debates over whether such affinity leads to overly positive assessments that prioritize minutiae for fellow enthusiasts over broader analytical detachment. The piece argued that weekly coverage, while mirroring viewer habits, can abet a show's shortcomings by fixating on episodic highs, as occurred with Lost's finale in , where unresolved arcs left many critics, including those in Sepinwall's vein, appearing to have overlooked systemic flaws in the narrative structure. Critics of his books have echoed concerns about genre bias and tonal excess, noting that works like The Revolution Was Televised (2013) adopt a "fanboy" perspective heavily skewed toward dramatic cable series such as The Sopranos and The Wire, sidelining comedies and limiting comprehensive evaluation of television's evolution. Such selections reflect Sepinwall's personal tastes but have prompted questions about representativeness in canon-forming projects. More recently, isolated reviews, such as his negative assessment of The Last of Us season 2 finale in June 2025, have elicited pushback from fans accustomed to his generally supportive stance on prestige adaptations, reigniting discussions on whether his contrarian takes signal evolving rigor or alienate audiences expecting alignment with popular sentiment. No major ethical controversies have marred his career, with debates centering instead on stylistic philosophy amid shifting media landscapes favoring algorithmic engagement over detached critique.

Published works

Major books

Sepinwall's breakthrough book, The Revolution Was Televised: How , , , Lost, and Other Groundbreaking Dramas Changed TV Forever, was published on May 21, 2013, by Gallery Books. It chronicles the shift in television drama during the early 2000s, analyzing 12 series—including , , , and —for their innovations in serialized storytelling, character depth, and production values that elevated cable programming to artistic prestige. An updated edition followed in 2015 to incorporate the conclusions of shows like . In collaboration with critic , Sepinwall co-authored TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time, released on September 6, 2016, by . The volume ranks 100 scripted U.S. series from 1945 onward using a weighted formula assessing concept, characters, dialogue, plot, and genre impact, topping the list with while debating inclusions like and . It includes essays on methodology and cultural context, drawing from the authors' decades of reviewing experience. Breaking Bad 101: The Complete Critical Companion, published October 23, 2018, by Abrams Press, compiles Sepinwall's episode recaps of the series alongside new essays, interviews with creator , and analyses of thematic elements like moral descent and visual motifs. The book dissects the show's six seasons, emphasizing its influence on anti-hero narratives in peak television. Co-authored again with Zoller Seitz, The Sopranos Sessions: A Conversation with David Chase appeared on January 8, 2019, from Abrams Press. Structured around episode-by-episode discussions with series creator David Chase—conducted post-finale—it explores production decisions, symbolism, and the show's dissection of American masculinity and therapy culture, supplemented by archival reviews and crew insights. More recently, Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History—Behind the Scenes of a Television Revolution, published November 28, 2023, by Mariner Books, details the Fox teen drama's creation through interviews with creator Josh Schwartz, cast members like Ben McKenzie and Mischa Barton, and contributors, highlighting its role in shaping 2000s youth culture via soundtrack integration and soapy intrigue. Sepinwall's latest, Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to Better Call Saul, issued February 4, 2025, by Abrams, extends his Breaking Bad analysis to its prequel with per-episode breakdowns, interviews including co-creator Peter Gould, and examinations of ethical ambiguity in the legal thriller.

Other publications and contributions

Sepinwall has contributed episode recaps, reviews, and essays to his personal blog "What's Alan Watching?", which he launched in the late 1990s with coverage of and continued hosting on Blogspot for many years. These writings established an early model for detailed, post-air recaps that analyzed plot developments, character arcs, and thematic elements, influencing subsequent online TV criticism. From 2010 to 2016, he wrote TV reviews and features for HitFix, including examinations of documentaries like HBO's on . He continued similar contributions at Uproxx from 2016 to 2018, covering series such as with weekly episode analyses. In 2018, Sepinwall joined as chief TV critic, authoring hundreds of reviews for shows including Apple TV+'s in 2021 and annual year-end rankings of top programs through 2024. Following his layoff from in September 2025, Sepinwall shifted to independent work, publishing the newsletter What's Alan Watching? via platforms including and , with posts on current series like Shrinking, retrospectives, and industry notes as of March 2025. In October 2024, Sepinwall wrote the foreword for The Sopranos: The Complete Visual History by Ray Richmond, a photographic companion to the series emphasizing its cultural impact and production details.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Sepinwall has been married for more than 20 years, as he noted in 2020 when allowing his to cut his for the first time during that period. He has two children, whom he referenced in a 2015 interview as demanding his time amid his professional commitments. Sepinwall maintains privacy regarding his family's details, stating in 2023 that he prefers to keep his private life out of the public eye. He resides in , with his family.

Residence and hobbies

Sepinwall resides in , a suburb approximately 20 miles southwest of , where he has lived for more than a decade, including the period coinciding with the original airing of from 1999 to 2007. Local events and profiles have repeatedly identified him as a Scotch Plains resident, with appearances at community venues such as the Fanwood Memorial Library and the JCC of Central New Jersey in the area. Public information on Sepinwall's hobbies remains limited, consistent with his stated preference to keep personal matters private. He has described watching as a source of personal enjoyment separate from his professional reviewing duties. Sepinwall also maintains an active interest in cinema, logging reviews and curating lists of favorites—including Midnight Run (1988), (1987), and The Martian (2015)—on platforms like .

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