Storytelling
The Mystery Box Is Broken, and Here’s How to Fix It
From Lost to Game of Thrones to The Rise of Skywalker, the “mystery box” style of storytelling is coming up short. Here’s why — and how to fix it.
Storytelling
Is Booksmart One of the All-Time Best High School Comedies?
Booksmart, Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, is a glorious mess, just like its characters… and it works.
Storytelling
Game of Thrones’s Biggest Surprise of All Was… a Satisfying Ending?
The final episode of Game of Thrones leaves no one entirely happy… and that’s exactly the way it should be.
Storytelling
How “The Bells” Ruins Several Major Character Arcs in Game of Thrones
In the penultimate Game of Thrones episode “The Bells,” the show explores the ugly side of war, power, and consequences — but is it good storytelling?
Storytelling
Why Game of Thrones’ Battle of Winterfell Is Such Disappointing Storytelling
In “The Long Night,” Game of Thrones — a story built on unpredictability, mystery, and sacrifice — has now completely diverged from what made it great.
Storytelling
How Avengers: Endgame Fulfills the Emotional Arcs of Marvel’s Characters
Avengers: Endgame owes its success to one word: character.
Storytelling
This Lazy Dialogue Habit Is Making Game of Thrones Funny By Accident
Overusing this soap opera writing trope will turn your story’s drama into comedy.
Storytelling
The Unfortunate Lesson Storytellers Should Learn from Missing Link
Laika’s biggest animated fim is missing a crucial element that causes the movie to fall short of satisfying.
Storytelling
The 3 Biggest Storytelling Problems in Shazam!
A hero is only as good as his villain, and that’s where Shazam’s plot problems start.
Storytelling
Captain Marvel: A Genius Lesson in Story Structure
Captain Marvel offers a smart answer to a hard storytelling question: how do you make a compelling movie about the world’s strongest hero?