The Take
This is the Take. It's where you come to understand more about your favorite movies, shows and culture. Our video essays make the story worlds you enter richer and deeper. Think: Endings Explained, Character Studies, Hidden Messages and Symbols Revealed, Actor and Director Profiles, and more.
We want to share our love of visual culture with the world. So here's our Take.
326
How "Toxic" Discourse Can Do More Harm Than Good
Is it time to retire the word “toxic”? It’s beginning to feel like the word is losing its meaning. If everything is toxic, then nothing is...
10 min
327
The Dirtbag is the New Sex Symbol - And We’re H...
For leading men on screen, it looks like the alpha male is out and the dirtbag is in. Click to watch our video on the rise of the dirtbag, and why it’s the perfect moment for men to embrace their rough edges, and show us a more chaotic side of themselves.
13 min
328
Death of the Movie Star - What It Means for Hol...
Hollywood is still full of A-listers, but the true movie star is dying out. But is this because the business has changed, or because actors have changed?
14 min
329
The Fab 4: Why 4-Person Shows Work So Well
The four-person ensemble creates a particular screen magic audiences love, especially on TV. So what is it that's so special about the Fab 4 set up?
13 min
330
You’ve Got Mail - In Defense of Joe's "Toxic" T...
Tom Hanks’ Joe Fox makes some questionable choices in You’ve Got Mail, but Joe’s duplicity gets at the ultimate message of the film – which is that a lot of us are actually living double lives, often without realizing it. Is Joe not actually as toxic as we thought?
14 min
331
How Prince Charming Became a One-Note Joke | TR...
It’s safe to say that the fairy tale princess archetype has been reclaimed, now a far cry from the stereotypical damsel in distress, waiting for her prince. But what about Prince Charming himself? Has he been updated?
16 min
332
The Ugly Pretty Girl: It’s the Stories That Nee...
In 2022, ideas of beauty and self-acceptance feel far more fluid than ever. So does the old-school “ugly-pretty girl” story even work in today’s context?
15 min
333
Gen Z Brought Twee Back and It’s Here to Stay
The "adorkable" trend is back, but Gen Z's new version of twee is a lot less smug and more unfiltered – striving to embrace the DIY creativity in a realer way.
14 min
334
How Kristen Stewart Became an Icon of Authenticity
How did Kristen Stewart go from child actress to Twilight superstar to indie darling? Above all, by owning her authentic self, no matter what anyone thinks. Click to watch our new video on how Kristen became an icon through her non-conformity & authenticity.
13 min
335
Disappearing Content: Media is still getting wi...
When content gets removed from the internet and streaming services…where does it go? And should we be worried about the future of shows that have only ever existed online?
12 min
336
The Millennial Mom - A New Brand of Anxious Par...
Both on screen & in real life, the millennial mom is a master of juggling, up on all the trends, and totally exhausted – expected to be a superwoman as the bare minimum.
15 min
337
House of the Dragon: Rhaenyra, Her Own Worst Enemy
How did Rhaenyra Targaryen go from the sweet, timid girl we met in episode one to a woman willing to burn down the entirety of Westeros to settle a grudge against her former best friend?
12 min
338
Gen Z Dating: Not the Puriteens They're Made Ou...
Gen Z’s dating priorities may be different, but are they really the "puriteens" they’re made out to be?
11 min
339
The Crown S5 Explained, The Institution vs It’s...
The Crown S5 has faced a lot of criticism for being too soft on the Royals. The Crown invites us to blame the system in order to sympathize with the rich elites caught in its crossfire, and asks if we need a Monarchy at all if it does more harm than good, even for those who are meant to benefit most from it?
11 min
340
Drew Barrymore - Troubled Child Star to Memeabl...
In our new video, we're taking a look at how Drew Barrymore beat the curse of the child star, and why it’s so satisfying for us to watch her succeed.
11 min
341
The Childfree Woman Trope Needs a SERIOUS Update
On screen, motherhood is still depicted as the idealized end goal for all women, to the point where depictions of childfree women often feel reductive or even vilified. Watch our take on the childfree woman, why she desperately needs an upgrade to reflect society’s changing attitude towards the decision to not be a parent.
17 min
342
Female Friendship Stories Are FINALLY Taking Over
The new generation of female BFFs onscreen are finally dispensing with so many bad cliches and showcasing how having a true friend makes everything in life better.
15 min
343
Why “Female Entertainment” Still Gets Written Off
Why is there still so much shame and belittlement directed towards popular female media?
15 min
344
Why Today’s Content is Suffering a Quality Crisis
How did Kristen Stewart go from child actress to Twilight superstar to indie darling? Above all, by owning her authentic self, no matter what anyone thinks. Click to watch our new video on how Kristen became an icon through her non-conformity & authenticity.
13 min
345
What’s Really Behind Elon Musk’s Twitter Chaos
Elon Musk’s purchase and redesign of Twitter – a place that was once a public forum for underdogs to question those in power – could be its ultimate downfall.
11 min
346
How the Boomer Myth Shaped the World, and Then ...
Here’s our take on the way boomers mythologized themselves, the stories they left out along the way, and how they’re more similar to their Gen X and millennial children than anyone might expect.
11 min
347
What Makes the Trophy Wife Such a Prize
Who is the trophy wife, really? How do the qualities that make her a prize shift over time, and what does her evolution says about “ideal” womanhood?
14 min
348
The “End” of Cancel Culture - Why We Need a Bet...
In our new video, we're looking at who gets canceled, who doesn’t, and why there needs to be a better system for holding people accountable for their actions, while still allowing for second chances in our culture.
13 min
349
Will These Controversies Finally Bring The Roya...
The British Monarchy has always had a dark side – but in recent years a lot of the public has been willing to ignore that out of a deeply-rooted respect for Queen Elizabeth II. So, with their matriarch gone, how long can the rest of the family go without a scandal they can’t come back from?
13 min
350
Derry Girls’ Michelle - Rise of a Brash & Rowdy...
On Derry Girls, while Erin, Orla, and Clare are all some shade of meek, nervous, or unusual, the leader of their pack Michelle acts like she’s got it all figured out, and can’t wait for adulthood to start – but how real is that act?
10 min