Vince Gilligan has gained rare trust. As soon as his name is displayed on a pilot, people sit forward rather than asking about the subject of the show. They believe that there is intent in each decision. The new sci-fi pilot on Apple TV+, Pluribus , comes with that trust and immediately questions it. Pluribus  seems like an old friend at first sight. An unexplained interstellar communication. A sudden outbreak. Society shifting overnight. This arrangement has been repeated th

Although Looper  can be discussed as a high-concept science fiction movie about time travel, determinism, and identity, its true strength is the way it creates antagonism. The 2012 movie by Rian Johnson does not like to present evil in a simple, one-dimensional way. Rather, Looper  constructs a stratification of antagonists that include people, mechanisms, and inevitability itself. Similar to the finest genre movies, it does not only rely on its villains to pose a threat to t

Boardwalk Empire had all the hype in 2010. With the weight of Martin Scorsese directing and Terence Winter writing, expectations were enormous. HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, which debuted in 2010, was one of the most ambitious series launches in TV history, blending cinematic scope with serialized storytelling. So, what can we learn as writers? Let’s discuss! Still from 'Broadwalk Empire'. Photo credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Opening Sequence The opening sequence plunges us in

Whether you’re a Marvel fan or not, there is something to analyze regarding the success of superhero movies in the last 10-20 years. While I have my issues with the superhero craze, 2018’s Black Panther is definitely one of the better options from this era. While the film is remembered for its groundbreaking cultural significance and box office impact, it also features a fascinating, layered portrayal of antagonism within the narrative. Unlike many superhero films, where the

The Leftovers , created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta (based on Perrotta’s novel of the same name), is one of the best pilot’s to...

Nothing has terrified me more at a young age than the iconic Xenomorph in Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror film Alien . This franchise, and...

Regarding writing for television, few recent projects have demonstrated narrative innovation and emotional impact as powerfully as The...

Regarding antagonists, few are as well-written and put together as Captain Bligh in 1935’s Mutiny on the Bounty . The film draws from...

Writing for television demands a lot from writers, no matter their background, and what better show to analyze than ' Parks and...

There’s plenty to analyze when discussing a great like Steven Spielberg, with few films ever being as captivating or mesmerizing as...

I still remember the first time I viewed ' Freaks and Geeks ' as a kid and how much it captivated me. Written by Paul Feig and directed...

Analyzing Stephen King is an entirely separate conversation, but the antagonists of ' Misery ' serve as a worthwhile central focus for...