Television
9 Fictional Deaths That Absolutely Wrecked Us
Some fictional deaths fade with time. Others never do. They wait patiently, resurfacing when a theme song plays, a quote circulates online, or a rewatch catches you off guard. These aren’t moments designed to shock or pad a body count. They’re the losses that feel uncomfortably personal. Quiet, inevitable, and rooted in love rather than spectacle, they linger long after the screen goes dark. This ranking isn’t about who mattered most to the plot. It’s about who broke something in us and never quite gave it back.
“Happily Ever After”: Why We Still Can’t Quit These Classic Love Stories
From glass slippers to stolen glances, classic love stories promise a world where devotion is rewarded and endings are forever sweet. Even as modern romance grows more complicated, these tales still shimmer with possibility, reminding us that hope, longing, and the belief in “happily ever after” never truly go out of style.
Fallout’s TV Show Fixes Game Storytelling Problems the Series Always Had
Fallout hits harder on TV because there’s no save file. Choices matter. Trauma lingers. It’s where Fallout’s TV show fixes game storytelling by refusing to reset the wasteland.
Movies That Aged Badly: 8 Popular Films That Don’t Hold Up Today
Not every popular movie ages the way audiences expect. As cultural conversations evolve, some once-celebrated films reveal blind spots that are harder to ignore on rewatch, becoming clear examples of movies that aged badly over time. From box-office hits to awards-season favorites, these movies didn’t hold up as well as their reputations suggested.
Intertextuality: The Ancient Secrets of How Stories Talk to Each Other
This guide is designed as a comprehensive, long-form resource on intertextuality—a term that sounds academic, but is something we engage with every time we recognize a reference, a homage, or a twist on a familiar story.
Why “The Chosen One” Trope Still Works (When Done Right)
The “Chosen One” trope never really left. It just learned new tricks. When handled with care, it’s less about destiny handed down from the heavens and more about pressure, doubt, and the cost of being singled out. The stories that still resonate aren’t asking who was born special, but what it means to carry that label and survive it intact.
The Physics of Impossible Things: Why Impossible Stories Make Sense in Fictional Worlds
Every impossible story runs on rules. They don’t need to be realistic, but they do need to be consistent. Break the logic, and the magic leaks out. Belief isn’t suspended in fiction. It’s engineered.
10 Terrifying Fictional Worlds You Would Never Want to Live In
Explore 10 terrifying fictional worlds—from the Upside Down to Panem and the Warp—where survival is impossible, monsters lurk everywhere, and reality suddenly looks pretty great.
The Philosophy of the Force: A Cosmic Tapestry of Balance and Harmony
Let’s study the philosophy of the force. It emerges as a mystical energy but also a profound philosophy weaving through existence.
The Evolution of Fictional Heroes: From Sherlock Holmes to Modern Icons
Fictional heroes have been an integral part of literature since time immemorial, captivating readers with their extraordinary abilities, moral dilemmas, and relentless pursuit of justice.
Ncuti Gatwa: Energizing the Legacy of a Sci-Fi Icon
For nearly 61 years, Doctor Who has captivated audiences with its innovative storytelling, eccentric characters, and the iconic figure of the Doctor.
Embark on Epic Journeys: 10 Binge-Worthy Fantasy TV Series for Your Watch List
Fantasy TV shows have an unparalleled ability to transport audiences to realms of magic, mythical creatures, and boundless imagination.
Buffy Reconsidered: Exploring the Feminist Gaps in the Vampire Slayer’s Tale
While Buffy the Vampire Slayer is often lauded as a feminist triumph in television a closer examination reveals noteworthy shortcomings in its representation of feminist ideals.
Epic Fantasy: Exploring the Complex World-Building
World-building in epic fantasy is an alchemical blend of geography, cultures, history, and magic.
Dystopian Fiction in a Changing World: Reflecting Society’s Fears and Hopes
Dystopian fiction has long been a compelling and thought-provoking genre in literature, offering a glimpse into possible dark futures.
14 More Doctor Who Adventures to Add to Your Watchlist
The classic era consists of multi-episode serials that are considered to be the best examples of Doctor Who’s creativity, humor, horror, and drama.
14 Doctor Who Adventures to Add to Your Watchlist
Since its inception in 1963, Doctor Who has become a beloved and iconic science fiction series, captivating audiences with its thrilling adventures, complex characters, and imaginative storytelling.
The Influence of Comics on Pop Culture: From Panels to Blockbusters
Comics, with their colorful heroes, vivid villains, and thought-provoking narratives, have emerged as a cultural superpower, leaving an indelible mark on society’s collective imagination.
The Psychology of Villains: What Makes a Memorable Antagonist?
What is it about villains that makes them so compelling? The answer lies in the complex psychology of villains.
2023 WGA Strike: A Guide to the Labor Dispute Freezing Hollywood
In May 2023, Hollywood once again found itself at the center of a storm as the Writers Guild of America embarked on a strike that reverberated throughout the entertainment industry.
The Simpsons’ Scorpio: The Supreme Ruler We Deserve
As someone who has danced around the poverty line all their life, I can tell you that, for people like us, it can be difficult to believe a better life is possible.
TV Adaptations: 10 Terrible Movies That Could Be Great Shows
Many failed movies could benefit with extra running time. Let’s take a look at 10 terrible movies better suited as prestige TV series.
Squid Game Season One: Netflix’s Import Plays Well With Big Themes
Squid Game: Season One was a surprise binge hit from South Korea about a high-stakes game of life and death for underprivileged desperate citizens, and for good reason.
The Walking Dead: Sacrifices Actors Endured for the Zombie Show
With a series like The Walking Dead, the actors are bound to see some hardships. Let’s take a look at some sacrifices actors had to make.
What is Speculative Fiction: A Complete Guide to the Encompassing Genre
You might be asking yourself what is speculative fiction? Speculative Fiction is a super-genre of fiction. But let’s dive even deeper.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Season One Review
We take a look back and review the newest completed Marvel TV outing for devoted viewers and potential binge watchers alike.
The Stand (2020) Review: Storytelling Experiments Disappoint
The newest miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand (2020), like its central plot, is a battle between good and bad. And the show’s good parts are only due to the source material.
Fiction Genres: Every Genre & Sub-Genre (2025)
Fiction genres are much debated and revised, but they’re crucial to providing logical order to the storytelling arts.
GLOW: TV Series Cancelled On Verge Of Battling Social Issues
Netflix cancelling its GLOW TV series left more than plot threads unresolved. The series had just begun to tackle problematic social issues.
The Stand (1994): Re-Watching the Original Miniseries (Review)
Before you check out the new nine-part series of The Stand (2020) coming to CBS in December, let’s journey back to the mid 90’s and revisit the four-part television miniseries of The Stand (1994).
Away VFX Artists Talk Details of the Netflix Series’ Zero G Visuals
The Netflix series Away takes place in outer space, and VFX can make or break that illusion. Enter the Away VFX artists from Framestore.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Fictionphile Podcast #11
In this episode of the Fictionphile Podcast, the crew analyzes why Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV) is a work of art.
Community: An American Retrospective
The TV show Community featured lots of laughs, but it did so with a truly touching and American-centric message of acceptance, togetherness, and strength through diversity.
7 Must-See Veronica Mars Episodes Streaming Now
We recently revisited the pint-sized blonde detective and rekindled our love. But not all Veronica Mars episodes are created equal.
Girl Power Shows: 5 Amazing Series to Binge Watch
Girl power was on the move in 2020, but like most things, it was derailed by the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe and driving many indoors, voluntarily or not.
HBO & WB Form Warner Max Label to Make Original Streaming Content
HBO Max’s May 2020 premiere was already anticipated, but with Warner Max it’s clear WarnerMedia will enter the streaming wars guns blazing.
20 Best Upcoming Sci Fi Movies, TV & Books (2020)
At Fictionphile, we’re pretty big science fiction nerds, so it’s only natural that we keep a close eye on upcoming sci fi across all of fiction’s mediums.
Too Old to Die Young is Too Slow, Too Weird, Too Hard to Stop Watching (Review)
Too Old to Die Young is one of those oddities that cause some of us to say to ourselves and viewing partners, “Just a… little more.”
Aeschylus: Ancient Greece’s Father of Dialogue and Drama
If you ever loved a movie, play, TV show, or book–anything with dialogue–take a moment and thank Aeschylus. Not convinced? Let’s talk.
Carrie limited series on FX gets greenlight
A Carrie limited series just got approved for FX based on the horror novel of the same name by Stephen King.
High Fidelity TV remake trailer drops (Hulu)
The trailer for Hulu’s TV series remake of High Fidelity dropped today. The series and the original movie, starring John Cusack, is based on the Nick Hornby novel.
Fictional Locations: 12 Made-Up Destinations We Wish We Could Visit
Thanks to various forms of fiction, popular culture is rife with different fictional locations from Hogwarts to the Mushroom Kingdom.
Body Swap Fiction: The 7 Best Examples of All Time (2022)
Just like bodies, no two examples of body swap fiction are exactly the same. They can range from the macabre to the quirky or cringe-worthy to brilliant.
A Constant Reader’s Guide to the Stephen King Multiverse
If you’re relatively new to Stephen King, you might not know the terms constant reader or the Stephen King Multiverse. That’s why we’re here to break down the fiction universe you simply must know.
Ranking Science Fiction Weapons by Amount of Destruction
The battles of science fiction usually need heavy artillery. However, sci-fi movies do not all follow the rules of a single universe.
Game of Thrones Theories: 10 Awesome Predictions for the Final Season
With April 14th fast approaching, Games of Thrones theories are getting more accurate and also a lot more weird.
31 References in Rick and Morty We Totally Missed (One Per Episode)
Pop culture references in Rick and Morty run deep. Even the concept of the time traveling duo started as a satire of Doc and Marty from Back to the Future.
Altered Carbon and Morality: Who Wants To Live Forever?
Watching Altered Carbon, one inevitably asks, would life lose its savor if we lived forever?
Breaking Bad vs Weeds: 5 Surprising Similarities You Didn’t Notice
Drugs and the talkies share a storied history. But two still-popular series show a scary resemblance. Let’s compare Breaking Bad vs Weeds.
5 Most Plausible Black Mirror Episodes
Many episodes of Black Mirror can have a tendency to feel both prescient and totally plausible. Turns out, some are totally possible.
5 Totally Plausible Brain-Machine Interfaces from Sci-Fi
Researchers shook the Internet by the brain this week when they partially restored a quadriplegic man’s control of his hand, and we saw a glimpse of a potentially game changing brain-machine interface.
5 New Discoveries in Science Ripe for Science Fiction
Hearing about new discoveries in science sometimes feels exactly like reading or watching science fiction.
4 Chat Bots Easily Mistaken for Skynet Harbingers
The singularity, otherwise known as Dawn of the Planet of Computers, has been predicted for years. All we’ve received thus far are chat bots.
