How Are Posts Written?

Overview

A one to two-sentence summary either hinting at what happens or general feelings.

Production Information

Information such as the director(s), writer(s), genre, release date, advisory rating, duration, and actors are included for all new postings.

Summary or Recap

Within this section, either within 5 paragraphs or three headings, which usually have a combined total of 9 paragraphs, we break down notable storylines and what’s going on with various characters.

Things To Note | Question(s) Left Unanswered

If something was notable but just didn’t fit into the recap/ review, be it the age of a character, further information about something said, it will be placed here. Also, for some productions, there are topics left for future installments or for fans to debate amongst themselves. In this section, you’ll find questions worth keeping in mind for future entries into the series, or for discussion in the comment section.

What Could Happen Next (TV Series Template)

Lastly, we make predictions of what could happen next.

Collected Quote(s) & .Gifs

If there is a line or moment that has just have to be captured, it is placed within this section and also placed in a monthly post that holds the collected quotes and .gifs from the month.

Highlights

As the name implies, here there is a summary of the highlights. Be it certain storylines, an actor’s performance, how excited the author is about the show’s future, and etc.

Low Points or Criticism

Here we write about some aspects of the production which can be considered frustrating or disappointing.

On The Fence

We believe there should be a gray area when talking about productions and products. Things that may depend on your taste, could have been done better, or weren’t consistently good, they are noted within this section.

Overall, Summary or Trajectory

The “Overall” section is used to summarize the information above and justify the category given. There is more on our rating system below.

Character Guides

The purpose of our character guides is for reference, and they generally include the character’s name (with the actor’s name in parenthesis), alongside when they were first noted or introduced, a summary, and information revealed throughout the series or franchise.

Writing Style

Our writing style is conversational, as part of the goal of bridging the gap between the average fan and critic. Making it where you feel like you’re talking to a friend or at least someone who recognizes most people watch, read, or attend things for enjoyment.

With that noted, our style isn’t for everyone, as it can contain a level of bias and strong opinions. But it has evolved over time so, what you see in the archives might be a bit uncouth compared to what has been posted closer to the present.

Also, we don’t judge media by a universal standard. An HBO show isn’t going to be looked at the same way as something on FreeForm, as they are focused on different demographics and release different types of programming. So you may find some movies and shows praised for what others get criticized for since there were different expectations.

But know this, we’re not in the business of hate-watching anything. Generally speaking, we watch things we’ve paid for, hence us embracing the idea we’re more so an average fan, or consumer, than a critic. So when it comes to things listed within “On The Fence” or is noted as a criticism, it’s of disappointment based on expectations due to marketing or because of how a production began.

How Are Spoilers Handled?

Spoilers are used for the sake of providing context to commentary rather than to compete with Wikipedia or divulge every last detail. The idea is, to present just enough to get a point across.

What’s Your Rating System?

While we do use a percentage system, for SEO purposes, staying true to our original concept that numbers aren’t the best method to rate a production, we continue to use the labels: Positive, Mixed, and Negative.

For each media type, there is a different explanation provided per the production being a movie, TV series, or any of the other creative platforms we cover. The general gist for them all are:

  • Positive-rated media are productions that either met or surpassed expectations based on what was advertised and viewed.
      • Positive Rating Range: 80 and above (B to A+)
      • Recommended Rating Range: A rating of 85 or above qualifies to be recommended. However, it is up to our writers to choose whether to label something that good.
  • Mixed-labeled media has some flaws which could affect your opinion of the production, but can still be enjoyable.
    • Mixed Rating Range: 70 through 79.9 (C to C+)
  • Negative, a sparingly used label, is for productions that do have one or two bright spots. However, it is difficult to say if the few shining moments compensate for the total experience.
    • Negative Rating Range: 60 through 69.9 (D to D+)
    • Note: The chance of anything being rated 60 would require there to be a single criticism and nothing else. That isn’t likely to happen as nearly all productions have at least one positive or mixed heading and “60” isn’t a number we use too often – if at all.

Rating Factors

The main things we focus on are the following:

  • Characters: Are characters developed as individuals? Are their aspirations detailed, and personalities interesting? Do they have a hook? What about the chemistry between characters? Is there compatibility, chemistry, or does it seem it was more about casting attractive people or actors with name recognition?
  • World-Building: Does the production present a sense of culture? Is there a world beyond the lead(s) or ensemble?
  • Story Overall: Do the characters, and the world they live in, present to you a cohesive unit? Do the obstacles in their world make their progress towards a goal, resolution, or getting through a chapter of life remain interesting throughout the production?
  • Pacing: Does the production overstay its welcome? Are certain characters, topics, or storylines underdeveloped? Does it take too long to hook you and the production relies too heavily on something, or someone, advertised to get you to stay?
  • Diverse Hooks: If one element doesn’t work or have massive appeal, does it compensate by providing viewers options?
  • (Re)Watch Value: Is it worth recommending to others who haven’t seen it? Would you even watch it again with that person, or even on your own?