Justin Kownacki

  • Hello!
  • About Justin
  • My Headline Course
  • My Top Posts
  • Contact

writing

Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Battany star as Wanda Maximoff and Vision in Marvel's WandaVision on Disney+
Storytelling

WandaVision’s Biggest Question Gets Deep: Who Are We, Really?

From a philosophy perspective, the most important part of WandaVision is what the series makes us question about ourselves.

By Justin, 4 weeks4 weeks ago
Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) play chess for the U.S. Open Championship in Las Vegas in episode 3 of The Queen's Gambit
Storytelling

Why The Queen’s Gambit Is Such Smart Visual Storytelling

How specific writing, filming, and editing choices turned this story about chess and addiction into a masterclass in visual storytelling.

By Justin, 5 months4 weeks ago
The season one cast of the Starz series Black Sails
Storytelling

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.

By Justin, 6 months4 weeks ago
Neil Gaiman MasterClass Review: Is It Worth It?
Storytelling

Neil Gaiman MasterClass Review: Is It Worth It?

A look at Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass: The Art of Storytelling — what does the course include, what are the highlights, and what’s missing?

By Justin, 7 months7 months ago
Daisy Ridley stars as Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Storytelling

The Storytelling Flaw That Ruined the New Star Wars Trilogy

There’s something missing from the new Star Wars trilogy, and without it, none of the characters can find satisfying closure.

By Justin, 7 months7 months ago
William Zabka stars as Johnny Lawrence in the hit Netflix series Cobra Kai, a TV sequel to The Karate Kid movie franchise
Storytelling

Cobra Kai: How to Build Character Through Internal Conflict

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.

By Justin, 7 months4 weeks ago
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker movie poster
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.

By Justin, 1 year4 weeks ago
Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) drive to graduation in Booksmart
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.

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago
Daenerys emerges victorious with her dragon behind her
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.

By Justin, 2 years1 year ago
Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), Grey Worm of the Unsullied (Jacob Anderson), Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) and their army enter the destroyed King's Landing in HBO's Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode "The Bells"
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?

By Justin, 2 years2 years ago

Posts navigation

1 2 … 5 Next
What Do You Want to Learn?
  • Armchair Sociology
  • Business Advice
  • Freelance Tips
  • Social Media
  • Storytelling
Subscribe by Email
Get my weekly-ish email update and you'll never miss a new post!
Subscribe via RSS
Add my blog's RSS feed to Feedly, Flipboard, Reeder, and more!
Featured Post
“WandaVisionWandaVision's Biggest Question Gets Deep: Who Are We, Really?
Popular Posts
GoT power couple Dany and JonWhy Is Game of Thrones So Addictive?
“ThorDoes Every Marvel Movie Tell the Same Story?
“KaluuyaHow Jordan Peele Changed Get Out from Script to Screen
“Coco’sThe Surprising Theme in Pixar’s Coco
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
Hestia | Developed by ThemeIsle