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.
Armchair Sociology
Steve Harrington, Jaime Lannister, and the Real Secret to Writing a Redemptive Character Arc
How did Steve Harrington become one of the most popular characters on Stranger Things?
Storytelling
53 Reactions from a Drunken Viewing of Mortal Engines
Mortal Engines may be one of 2018’s biggest box-office bombs, but it didn’t have to be. Here’s the key ingredient the movie forgot to include.
Storytelling
What Went Wrong with Bad Times at the El Royale?
This caper flick wants you to believe it’s full of twists and turns… but it’s frustatingly empty.
Storytelling
What Makes the Best Pilot Episodes in TV History Tick?
From The Sopranos to Westworld, how the 10 of the best TV shows displayed their game-changing brilliance from their very first episodes.
Storytelling
What Makes Game of Thrones So Addictive?
Every “must-see” TV show uses some of these addictive story tricks, but only Game of Thrones combined them all to create a runaway hit.
Armchair Sociology
Why We Replaced Heroes with Antiheroes
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.
Storytelling
Why Ant-Man and the Wasp Is a Movie About Nothing
Ant-Man and the Wasp has a plot built entirely out of MacGuffins and a villain who finally breaks Marvel’s mold.
Storytelling
The Biggest Story Problems in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Remembering the story and plot lessons that Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park got right but sequels like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom keep forgetting.
Armchair Sociology
How the Villains Define the Themes of Pixar’s Incredibles Movies
Brad Bird’s Incredibles 2 asks a question that serves as the movie’s theme. But does the Pixar sequel provide a clear answer, or does it contradict itself?