For the last several weeks, I’ve been posting a lot of content on the nature of storytelling, so it’s high time we took a break for something a little lighter. We’ve yet to actually dig in to any individual plots, which is as key to realizing the power of stories as analyzing storytelling. After all, stories are the best advocates of their own influence.
Stories I break down on this blog will be separated into two categories: Required and Anathema. I’ll evaluate a lot of Required stories, but very few Anathema, mostly because I’m largely a nice guy who rarely thinks it proper to firebomb other storytellers’ hard work. That being said, it will happen on occasion that I detest a story enough to actively work against its creator. You can assume one of two things about the evaluations I post. If I post about a film, web series, TV show, video game, book, etc. on this blog, I either 1) love it and think everyone should partake, or 2) believe it should be mercilessly ripped apart line by line. I will indicate which at the beginning of the post. Cons that are listed on the former should be taken with a grain of salt, since I am obviously recommending the story while airing any grievances that (I believe) detract from the possible maximum impact of the tale. The upcoming evaluation I’ll have out on RWBY soon is an excellent example of a Required tale.
As for Anathema, I’ll generally tell you exactly how I feel, with little mollycoddling to blunt the blows. An example of something that would go in my Anathema folder would be anything I ever post on the Twilight series.
Dakota Kemp 