Fiction

Mistakes in Stranger Things - Season 5
Stranger Things 5: A Train Wreck of Lazy Writing and Brand Blunders When Stranger Things first dropped in 2016, it was a masterpiece of atmosphere and tight storytelling. It felt like a love letter to the 80s. Fast forward to Season 5, and that love letter has been shredded. What we got instead was a bloated, nonsensical mess that felt like the creators were just checking boxes to get it over with. It wasn't just a disappointment; it was a total collapse of the logic and stakes that made us care about Hawkins in the first place.
By Teodor Monescu28 days ago in Critique
Words of Radiance
Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson And so we come to the yearly ovation for Mr. Sanderson. The man is a genius, his lecture series is one of the most important resources ever developed for writers, and I’m yet to pick up a Sando that’s scored below a 70. I have critiques that we’ll come to, but suffice to say I am a big supporter of Sanderson.
By Matthew J. Fromm28 days ago in Critique
Casino Royale
Casino Royale by Ian Fleming Hmm. Hmmmmm. In the 73 years since first publication, James Bond has wormed his way into the zeitgeist as a sex symbol, womanizer, undeniable Secret Agent with a license to kill.
By Matthew J. Fromm29 days ago in Critique
The Blade Itself
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie Every once in a while, I pick up a book that reminds me fundamentally why I enjoy reading—a book that turns my brain off and sweeps me away to some far flung world that I can sit at any quiet moment and. . . disappear into.
By Matthew J. Frommabout a month ago in Critique
The Butcher of the Forest
The Butcher of the Forest by Premee Mohamed I loved Becky Chambers’s A Psalm for the Wild-Built. It was a nice warm hug of a book that explored finding meaning in life, our relationship with nature, and how to come to terms with not knowing where a path may lead. I gave it an 89/100.
By Matthew J. Frommabout a month ago in Critique
The Fall of Arthur
The Fall of Arthur by J.R.R. Tolkien/Chris Tolkien Naturally I’d start this series with my hardest evaluation of the year. I snagged this copy from Shakespeare & Co in Paris to appropriately cap off a trip that included seeing the Bayeux Tapestry (a lecture series for a different time, but it’s so important to the fantasy genre).
By Matthew J. Frommabout a month ago in Critique
My Biggest Issue with the Finale of Stranger Things
I finished watching Vol. 2 of Stranger Things on Christmas, and I have to say, I did enjoy the buildup to the final episode. The writing was powerful, and it felt satisfying to see our characters finally be honest with one another in heartfelt ways, knowing that the end is near.
By Emy Quinnabout a month ago in Critique
H/Jack
Introduction I will be honest, when I saw this advertised on Apple TV the only things that grabbed me were the fact Idris Elba was in it and the title "H/Jack". I have watched a lot of excellent stuff on the channel, most recently "Slow Horses" and "Down Cemetery Road", both absolute must-watch, and "Murderbot" was brilliant.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred about a month ago in Critique
The Empathy Deficit: When Activism Becomes a Performance Art. AI-Generated.
We live in an era of unprecedented awareness. Global injustices, local tragedies, and systemic failures are broadcast to us in real-time, packaged in high-definition video and poignant threads. Our response has become equally streamlined: a heart react, a retweet, a share to our Story with a sleek, pre-designed graphic and the perfect, pithy caption. We perform our morality in public, building a personal brand of consciousness. But in this grand theater of digital activism, a quiet, corrosive trade is happening. We are swapping the weight of genuine empathy—the kind that demands discomfort, sacrifice, and sustained attention—for the lightweight currency of performative allyship. The result is an empathy deficit, where we are more connected to causes than to people, and where caring has become a curated aesthetic rather than a compassionate action.
By HAADI2 months ago in Critique
Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 4— Review & Analysis
Episode 4 is one of the most psychological episodes of the season. Every character is fighting not only monsters, but also their own fears, memories, and inner worlds. Through Will and Max especially, the show explores a powerful theme:
By Ceyda Uztosun2 months ago in Critique
Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 3— Review & Analysis
Episode 3 builds the emotional core of the season. The show focuses on vulnerable children, parents carrying old guilt, and the thin line between what is seen and what is hidden. This episode develops both the characters and the growing danger in a very balanced way.
By Ceyda Uztosun2 months ago in Critique
Man On The Inside
Introduction I was watching Netflix, and series 2 of this came up as a recommendation. I was unaware of this, but it had Ted Danson in it, so I thought I would check it out.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred - EBA2 months ago in Critique