Ahsoka Review – A Star Wars Moment Has Arrived
There’s a tremor in the Force and the streaming series ‘Ahsoka’ on Disney+ is at the heart if it. Numerous opinions swirl around on social media, and it’s hard to make any sense of the conflicting accounts. Is ‘Ahsoka’ good or bad? I’ve been a vocal critic of the Ahsoka series, particularly the first two episodes. However, the show has steadily improved, and episode 5 turned my long-standing frustrations into real optimism. I’ll explore this episode, called ‘Shadow Warrior,’ and hopefully, I can break through the fog and explain what went right here…
I Guess I’ll Say It: Black Widow Isn’t Very Good
Hollywood is mired in a new trend: heavy-handed feminism at the expense of the lead heroine. It’s bizarre. Black Widow joins an ever-growing list of top-tier heroines who get demoted from poor writing and scene-stealing tagalong characters. From Sarah Connor (Terminator: Dark Fate) to Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman 1984) to Rey (The Last Jedi & The Rise of Skywalker) to Mulan (Mulan 2020) to the numerous heroines in Game of Thrones, writers and filmmakers are flat out ruining heroines.
Claiming the Sacred Fire: Conflict in Heroine-Led Fiction
The heroine’s sacred fire symbolizes her vast untapped, untested, and unrealized human potential. She has aspirations that exceed her current reality. The colorful and exotic native culture is just outside her window and the heroine intends to merge with that world. She’s aware of her potential and relies upon her imagination to compensate for her lack of experience. This vital pulse of the human spirit is relatable to all of us. We are stirred to the core when the heroine claims her sacred fire in fiction.
Cobra Kai vs. Star Wars: 6 Lessons
The calendar has flipped to 2021 and Cobra Kai, not Star Wars, is leading the way to the future of streaming entertainment. As of this writing, Cobra Kai is trending #1 on Netflix, gaining both critical acclaim and nearly universal praise. Like Star Wars, Cobra Kai shares its roots in 1980’s Generation X, and like Star Wars, Cobra Kai has mass appeal and an ethical framework wrapped into the brand. So, how is the Karate Kid outdoing Luke Skywalker?
Wonder Woman 1984: Likeable but Very Sloppy
In 2017, Wonder Woman broke out to the adoring approval of women and men around the world, giving us all a top tier superheroine. This time around, Diana Prince had higher expectations but fell a bit short of the mark. The film isn’t terrible, but I just found myself irritated by the sloppy writing and incoherent plotlines, only to slip back into a stretch of satisfying viewing. Bizarrely, Wonder Woman is half Bruce Almighty and half Superman 4: The Quest for Peace.
The Mandalorian: What to Watch Next
Whether you’re a casual Star Wars fan or a die-hard member of the Fandom Menace, you may want to chase that Mando high with more Star Wars. I did my homework over the last week and crafted a healthy list of the Star Wars shows that tie directly into Season 2 of The Mandalorian.
Writing Strategy: Liminal Space
As a storyteller, you must recognize the significance of liminal space and design the settings to connect to your readers and add extra punch to your world and story.
Mulan Review: 5 Mixed Messages
The premise of Mulan was ripe to make a bold statement about heroic women and cultural norms. Instead, Disney just made a movie and missed a major opportunity to deliver a powerful heroine. I care deeply about the portrayal of heroic women in fiction and the art of storytelling. And through that lens, Mulan 2020 falls short because the film’s attitude toward heroic women stays clouded.
Dynamism in Heroine-Led Fiction: Beast as Ally
This article expands on the “heroine’s labyrinth” storytelling model as a serious alternative to the more male-oriented hero’s journey.
Hagia Sophia: Why History Matters
The Hagia Sophia is making the news these days because the Turkish president is changing the status of the great building from a world museum and UNESCO World Heritage site…to a mosque. But what is the Hagia Sophia? It’s perhaps a shame that so few understand the incredible role the Hagia Sophia basilica played in world history.