I overheard folks conversing about how they use AI for just about everything these days. Need to write a proposal? A blog post? Need a software mockup? Chuck it to AI and pretend you’re the genius who created it. You could tell they were profit-minded, business types. And they made fun of people who believeContinue reading “I Somehow Forgot That Writing Is Fun”
Author Archives: Nick Enlowe
The Opinions You’re Not Allowed to Have
I recently saw a blog where every time the author posted an article, he’d get the few same usual yes-men agreeing with everything he had to say. Clearly, he was preaching to the choir. One day he was fed up, driven to the point of saying something like, “A jest, a barb! Any kind ofContinue reading “The Opinions You’re Not Allowed to Have”
Sandman: The Tale of Hob Gadling
Ah, the dawn of the nineties. Beginning of a brand new decade. Life was exciting back then, wasn’t it? No one quite knew what to expect. We seemed to get three mini-eras during that time: Sandman got its start in 1989 right alongside Tim Burton’s Batman, and both had that darker, edgier feel that would later becomeContinue reading “Sandman: The Tale of Hob Gadling”
A Bit About Neil Gaiman
After my Brandon Sanderson article went unexpectedly viral (parabolic compared to my usual traffic here), a few friends asked if I’d be making a similar post about Neil Gaiman. The answer was no. And that’s partly because I don’t typically write about the hot topics currently buzzing on social media, no matter how much trafficContinue reading “A Bit About Neil Gaiman”
Frieren Took Me By Surprise 8: Villain
Let’s take another look at the quote that opened the entire show: “At the northernmost end of this continent, I arrived at the place that the people of this world call Heaven; Aurele, the land where souls rest. “Many souls gather there, and I spoke with friends who once fought alongside me.” -Flamme, the LegendaryContinue reading “Frieren Took Me By Surprise 8: Villain”
Frieren Took Me By Surprise 7: Demons
Frieren Understands the Nature of Good and Evil Many have written about this particular subject, and for good reason. Frieren‘s handling of demons is perhaps the single most interesting and groundbreaking aspect of this show. Let’s revisit that Tolkien quote one more time: “It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep theContinue reading “Frieren Took Me By Surprise 7: Demons”
Frieren Took Me By Surprise 6: Rings, Spells, and Headpats
Frieren Understands That Second Chances Are a Blessing The journey Frieren takes across the continent throughout Season 1 largely mirrors the 10-year journey she had taken with Himmel, Heiter, and Eisen to slay the Demon King. Everything she experiences this time around not only further informs us about her original journey, but helps Frieren recontextualizeContinue reading “Frieren Took Me By Surprise 6: Rings, Spells, and Headpats”
Frieren Took Me By Surprise 5: Preservation
[Spoilers for the rest of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End season 1 from here on out] Why Heiter’s Fear of Death Was His Greatest Trait As I alluded to previously, Heiter wasn’t being upfront with Frieren. None-the-wiser to Heiter’s grand plan, Frieren deciphers the grimoire while tutoring Fern as promised. Over the next four years, theContinue reading “Frieren Took Me By Surprise 5: Preservation”
Frieren Took Me By Surprise 4: The Un-Isekai
Sirens. The scene of a terrible accident. The main character recalls that he’d just gotten hit by a truck. They rush him to the hospital, but he dies. That’s right, you just entered an isekai. And in this case, it’s the immensely popular Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. (Never seen it? No worries.) We neared theContinue reading “Frieren Took Me By Surprise 4: The Un-Isekai”
Frieren Took Me By Surprise 3: An Emotional Journey
Just like with Goblin Slayer, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End begins with a complete emotional journey on a scale rarely seen in the runtime of a single episode. FRIEREN IS A JOURNEY The opening theme is serviceable. But, if you ask me, Frieren deserved … more. Intros and outros aside, the Celtic-inspired score that accompanies this show is about as goodContinue reading “Frieren Took Me By Surprise 3: An Emotional Journey”
Nick Enlowe 