Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Critique.
Sparking Cognitive Ignition
In the United States of America, and probably elsewhere in the world, the first and foremost lessons we received in our youth indoctrination centers were to sit down! … be quiet! … follow instructions! … and most important, do not question!
By We the PPUL2 months ago in Critique
Dust. Content Warning.
I wipe cobweb-palmed ghosts of handprints off of Oscar's window. Nothing here looks familiar in the eye of unflinching daylight. A spider hangs from the skeleton of a dead chandelier. The only thing I recognize from last night is the smell of dust. Even after taking my morning shower and changing into a clean, pressed uniform, all I can smell is dust. It clings to my hair, to my teeth, to my tongue, my skin. Last night clings to everything.
By sleepy drafts2 months ago in Critique
Christmas Cookies
Hard to believe that's it that time already. Where has the year gone? Anyhow, who doesn't love a batch or two of Christmas cookies other than old Ebenezer Scrooge. In all my years of growing up I have always helped in this Christmas tradition even if it was only unwrapping bags of candy for various kinds of cookies and doing the cookie count to make sure everyone got a share when giving to friends. Honestly, my favorite Christmas cookies are Raisin and Mincemeat filled cookies along with M&M cookies mainly. What are your favorite Christmas cookies to bake and eat?
By Mark Graham2 months ago in Critique
Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 2 — Review & Analysis
1. Opening Scene & Immediate Tension Episode 2 starts with a pretty wild moment: the Demogorgon finally shows itself to Mrs. Wheeler, and she realizes that Holly wasn’t just imagining things. The scene is loud, chaotic, and honestly more emotional than I expected.
By Ceyda Uztosun2 months ago in Critique
Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 1 — Review & Analysis
1. Opening & Atmosphere The season opens with a nostalgic scene: Will, the Demogorgon, and the iconic “Should I Stay or Should I Go”… It’s a direct callback to Season 1. Right after that, the breakfast scene brings back Hawkins’ familiar warmth. But the calm doesn’t last long; the town is completely sealed off and under military control.
By Ceyda Uztosun2 months ago in Critique
Scrooge has entered the building!. Top Story - November 2025.
From the swirling depths of inner turmoil, I grace you with a moment of much-needed sarcasm... I was gifted/tempted with the task of sharing unbiased opinions for a torrent of uplifting pieces of written art that have found their way to my unapproving eyes.
By Lamar Wiggins2 months ago in Critique
The Quiet Freeze: How Hollywood Slowly Closed Its Doors on a Royal Dream
Hollywood has always been known as the city of lights, noise, and endless opportunity. But the greatest secret this city hides is that nothing here is permanent. Hollywood welcomes newcomers with open arms, but when it grows tired, the doors don’t slam — they simply stop opening. Just silence. A silence most celebrities don’t recognize until it is too late.
By Behind the Curtain2 months ago in Critique
What does a Smile really mean?
What does a smile really mean? Smiles make us feel good about ourselves and even with others around us. When you smile as the saying goes "the world smiles with you". When you go out into the community and smile at whomever you see just give them a smile and they may just smile back at you and in return your smile will become bigger and last longer with more smiles to share. Even when you are feeling low when you smile there is something that just happens and with that smile one begins to feel better just in general.
By Mark Graham3 months ago in Critique
