Justin Kownacki

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Game of Thrones

Storytelling

7 Tips TV Writers Can Learn from “House of the Dragon” Episode 1

The pilot episode of House of the Dragon is a great example of how to make a complex story with many characters easy to understand.

By Justin, 7 months 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, 3 yearsApril 5, 2020 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, 4 yearsMay 20, 2019 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, 4 yearsMay 13, 2019 ago
Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) watch the armies prepare for the Battle of Winterfell in "The Long Night" on HBO's Game of Thrones
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.

By Justin, 4 yearsApril 29, 2019 ago
Lady Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), Lord Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), and Queen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) have some tense character moments in season 8 of HBO's Game of Thrones
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.

By Justin, 4 yearsApril 24, 2019 ago
Joe Keery as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things 2
Armchair Sociology

Steve Harrington, Jaime Lannister, and the Secret to Writing a Redemption Arc

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

By Justin, 4 yearsFebruary 14, 2019 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, 5 yearsAugust 21, 2018 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, 5 yearsJuly 26, 2018 ago
Perfect Ten
Storytelling

My Top 10 Most-Read Posts of 2017

From story problems in Blade Runner to the great irony of The Walking Dead, here are my top 10 blog posts that attracted the most readers in 2017.

By Justin, 5 yearsDecember 31, 2017 ago

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Popular Posts

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