Justin Kownacki

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writing

Joe Keery as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things 2
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?

By Justin, 6 days5 days ago
Mortal Engines stars Hera Hilmar as Hester Shaw
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.

By Justin, 2 months2 months ago
Chris Hemsworth as Billy Lee in Drew Goddard's movie Bad Times at the El Royale
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.

By Justin, 4 months4 months ago
Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), Teddy Flood (James Marsden), and Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) star in the pilot episodes of HBO's TV series The Sopranos and Westworld
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.

By Justin, 6 months6 months ago
Danaerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) in HBO's addictive, must-see TV series, Game of Thrones
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.

By Justin, 7 months7 months ago
Heath Ledger as the Joker and Christian Bale as Batman in Christopher Nolan's film The Dark Knight
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.

By Justin, 7 months6 days ago
Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly headline the cast poster for Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp
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.

By Justin, 8 months7 months ago
Franklin, Owen, and Claire are trapped in a dinosaur stampede in the poster for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
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.

By Justin, 8 months8 months ago
Detail of the movie poster for Pixar's Incredibles 2
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?

By Justin, 8 months8 months ago
Social Media

Author and YouTube Star Jenna Moreci’s Writing and Vlogging Tips

Author and vlogger Jenna Moreci shares tips for writing fiction and building a YouTube channel.

By Justin, 8 months8 months ago

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William and Angela in WestworldHow to Solve Westworld's "God Problem"
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