Drake and His Fans vs the World
The chart-topping Iceman has broken records—and done little to quell ongoing criticisms of the artist. Where does that leave his fandom?
Latest
The Vampire Lestat: Sex, Drugs, and Unstable Narrators
In episode 1, “Detroit,” Sam Reid reintroduces Lestat as a messy, self-destructive rock star—and proves he was born to play this role.
The Limits of Fan Service in Thailand’s Vibrant GL Genre
Thai “Girls Love” thrives on real-life star pairings—for better and for worse.
Too Big To Fail (On Television)
TV’s structure was perfect for tech’s failure narratives—but as Silicon Valley embraces a post-failure mindset, will audiences still tune in?
Good Omens’ Final Love Letter to Fanfiction
The author is dead. Long live the authors.
Special Episode 36: The Devil Wears Prada 2
A Mirandy shipper’s ebullient journey through a sequel that is otherwise…perhaps not so great.
The Elation and Anxiety of Reading Fic in Your Native Tongue
For fans in Kenya, Nigeria, and Burundi, “uncringing” non-English fanfiction is an endeavor in decolonialism.
Three Bags Full’s Faithful Flock
How a German novel about Irish sheep (detectives) inspired a legion of devotees around the world.
The Pitt Fandom Phenomenon
The hit medical drama showcases three things you need to build a juggernaut fanfic community: popularity, modularity, and intimacy.
(Re)Introducing Fansplaining
Reporting, analysis, criticism, and more—all by, for, and about fandom.
The Success of Heated Rivalry Should Not Be a Surprise
Romancelandia understands why the show is a hit. Why is it so hard for Hollywood to get the message?
Fansplaining’s Next Chapter
We’re relaunching as a weekly publication featuring reporting, analysis, criticism, personal essays, and more—all by, for, and about fandom.
Special Episodes
Special Episode 35: Wake Up Dead Man
When you want to discuss a film about a priest, you know who you have to call…
Features
Can Fandom Make Us Better Tourists?
In an era of overtourism, South Korea’s Jeju Island and international BTS fans are building bridges of mutual respect.
Archive
Alternate Universes
Through text-based roleplaying, I’ve lived so many other lives—and experienced so many other bodies.
Features
Reclaiming the Mary Sue
My new comic interrogates the continued bias against Mary Sues—and brings one life.
Criticism
K-Pop’s Demons, Real and Fictional
KPop Demon Hunters has seen massive mainstream success in the U.S. What does that mean for real K-pop artists and their fans?
Features
The Fan, the Pro, and the Spaces In Between
Writing for Star Wars challenges me to interrogate fandom power dynamics—and figure out where I fall in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Panels
The Fandom Advantage: How Fan Creativity Fuels Pro Entertainment Careers
Fansplaining’s panel from San Diego Comic-Con 2025, featuring fannish creators who work on television, comics, novels, and more.
Features
How Friendships Onscreen and Off Fueled Half a Century of Fandom
For the admins of the Starsky & Hutch Fiction Archive, preserving fanworks and fannish community go hand in hand.
Features
I Came to Ruin You: The Collecting Practices of K-Pop Fandoms
From photo cards to video art installations, a tour through a recent exhibition showcasing K-pop fans’ communal creativity and cross-cultural exchanges.
Features
The RPF Question
Amid blurry boundaries between fic, celebrity fandom, and conspiracy theories, how real person fiction evolved from forbidden to mainstream and back again.
Features
Bridgerton and Period Drama Fandom’s Enduring Racism Problem
Complaints about historical accuracy and acting quality are often dog-whistles: some fans only want to see white actors—and white history—on screen.
Criticism
Sam Wilson Deserved Better Than Brave New World
Marvel wants fans to care about lore without thinking too deeply about themes and emotions—the things that brought them to this fandom in the first place.