Justin Kownacki

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Promotional image of the superhero team from The Snyder Cut of the Justice League movie
Storytelling

The Story Problem at the Heart of The Snyder Cut

Why The Snyder Cut and The Whedon Cut of Justice League actually tell two different stories

By Justin, 4 yearsApril 14, 2021 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, 6 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, 6 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, 6 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, 6 yearsApril 24, 2019 ago
Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, and Zoe Saldana are the voice actors of Sir Lionel Frost, Susan the Sasquatch, and Adelina Fortnight in Laika's animated movie Missing Link
Storytelling

The Unfortunate Lesson Storytellers Should Learn from Missing Link

Laika’s biggest animated fim is missing a crucial element that causes the movie to fall short of satisfying.

By Justin, 6 yearsApril 24, 2019 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, 6 yearsDecember 23, 2018 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, 7 yearsNovember 5, 2018 ago
Storytelling

Why Damien Chazelle’s First Man Feels So Empty

Why, despite some stellar filmmaking, does First Man fail to satisfy?

By Justin, 7 yearsOctober 27, 2018 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, 7 yearsAugust 21, 2018 ago

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Popular Posts

  • • What Makes Game of Thrones So Addictive?
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Latest Posts

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  • • The Story Problem at the Heart of the Snyder Cut
  • • WandaVision's Biggest Question Gets Deep
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Frequent Topics

  • • DC
  • • Game of Thrones
  • • Marvel
  • • Star Wars

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  • • Story Structure
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