Criticism

Reviews, analysis, and more

Production still from Heated Rivalry featuring Ilya and Shane laying together naked in bed.

Criticism

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?

Image from Kpop Demon Hunters featuring three fans (mostly dressed in purple) directly facing the three members of the trio.

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?

Still from the film of Sam Wilson in his Cap uniform, cast in a reddish light.

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.

Illustration of a very dense galaxy of stars—appearing as mostly gold and silver—with a large black hole in the shape of a perfect black circle sitting in the middle.

Criticism

The Endless Appetite for Fanfiction

In 2024, everyone wanted a piece of fic, from AI grifters to traditional publishers to ravenous audiences. Where did that leave the people who write it?

Still from The Acolyte featuring Qimir and Osha sillouetted in the sunset gazing out at the ocean.

Criticism

The Acolyte’s Squandered Potential

The show brought a whole new set of fans to a stagnating franchise. Its cancellation suggests Star Wars is only interested in looking backwards.

Photograph of Kayti standing in front of a camera holding a mic at the Birds of Prey premiere.

Criticism

The Fan-Journalist Tightrope

Low pay, minimal worker protections, and pushback from both publicists and fellow fans. Is covering the thing you love even worth it?

Image of five lightbulbs hanging upside-down with copyright symbols illuminated in them.

Criticism

How U.S. Copyright Law Fails Fan Creators

Fans know that creativity isn’t a finite resource that needs to be kept behind lock and key.

People with smart phones at a concert

Criticism

The Empowered Stan

Fandom can be both identity and liberation—but how do we keep our joys from being co-opted by corporate interests?

A photograph of white holiday lights, a bokeh effect transforming them into abstract twinkles.

Criticism

The Year of Loving Things Again

On giving yourself permission.

Photograph of Zayn in a leatherjacket standing in the center of a crowd of fans, holding a pen and poised to sign autographs. Fans are holding up phones, papers, and orange hats.

Criticism

(Don’t) Meet Your Idols

Fantasy and reality collide in boyband YA literature.

A woman from behind as if through a prism, showing multiple versions: a warrior with a bow, a knight with a dragon flying, a Hogwarts student looking at the castle, a Jedi with a lightsaber.

Criticism

Mary Sue

From self-inserts to imagines, how young women write themselves into the narrative.

A cartoon playing on the classic cartoon of Captain America punching a Nazi, with Trump in the Nazi role and Kamala Khan in the Cap role.

Criticism

Trumped is the New Jossed

In this year’s political fanfiction, it’s hard to keep up with reality.

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