Writes scathing critique, skewering regressively dismal show (5)

I believe the answer is:

slams

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'writes' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'scathing critique skewering regressively dismal show' is the wordplay.
'SLAMS' is hidden backwards within the letters.
However, I'm uncertain how the hidden word is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for slams that I've seen is " Shuts loudly, violently".)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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