The Villains of Each Buffy Season, From Worst to Best
Buffy runs the gamut on villains, from the highest highs to the lowest lows.
Latest in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Episode 142: Vampires
It is time to discuss… THE VAMPYRE.
Episode 73: Limits on Magic
While it might be fun to imagine a world where magic has no limits, it won’t work for your story.
Episode 72: Escalation
It’s a basic rule of storytelling: the stakes get higher as the story goes forward.
Six Unrealistic Worlds From Popular Stories
These fictional landscapes captured our imaginations, but on second glance they start to break down.
Episode 68: Deep Worldbuilding Part 2
Mike brings Chris and Oren back for a deeper dive into the depths of deep worldbuilding.
Seven Bizarre Moral Implications From Popular Stories
Don't try to live by what these tales tell you.
Three Technologies Dropped for Breaking the Show
These devices got out of hand too fast for their writers to manage.
Five Ways to Handle Characters With Different Power Levels
How to handle unbalanced powers without capsizing your story.
Episode 48: Politics in Urban Fantasy
Mike, Chris, and Oren discuss politics in modern genre settings.
Ditch These Five Character Archetypes
Choose a different model for crafting your protagonist.
Six Characters Who Should Have Died
The Reaper should've been more aggressive in pursuing these characters.
Episode 42: Using Non-Humans in Stories
Chris, Mike, and Oren discuss the upsides and downsides of including non-humans in stories.
Six Emotional Motives for Your Characters
How to give your protagonist a purpose they care about.
Six Plot Excuses No One Wants to Hear
Everyone's tired of these nonsensical storytelling justifications.
The Three Traits of Annoying Characters
Why some characters get on our nerves—and what you can do to avoid it.
Five Tricks to Invigorate Your Ending
How your story's climax can pack the biggest dramatic punch possible.
Episode 33: Growing a Beard and Jumping the Shark
Oren, Chris, and Mike discuss TV shows that get noticeably better or worse during their run.
Five Villains Who Follow the Heroine’s Journey
These baddies transformed themselves throughout their stories—and made it believable.
Oren Ashkenazi