villains Archives - Justin Kownacki

Black Sails: How to Write Compelling Character Arcs

The ensemble cast of Black Sails proves that writing complex characters in pursuit of opposing goals creates highly compelling storytelling.

Cobra Kai’s pilot episode shows why every villain thinks he’s the hero of his own story… and why he’s also his own worst enemy.

A hero is only as good as his villain, and that’s where Shazam’s plot problems start.

Captain Marvel offers a smart answer to a hard storytelling question: how do you make a compelling movie about the world’s strongest hero?

How did Steve Harrington become one of the most popular characters on Stranger Things?

From Superman to Iron Man, the difference between a hero and an antihero was always clear.. until now. Here’s what changed, and why it matters.

The Incredibles movies explore complicated themes and complex characters — but are they also full of contradictions?

10 years after Marvel Studios released Iron Man, here’s how that movie’s success has been duplicated in every MCU film since.

Here’s why Captain Flint on Black Sails is one of the best-written characters in this current era of Peak TV.

Thor: Ragnarok is basically a blueprint for how to make a Marvel movie… and that’s a problem. Here’s why every Marvel movie tells the same story.