For me it was “The Most Controversial Children’s Book in History” by Solar Sands, in which he analyzes The Giving Tree. It led me to think about my relationship with my parents, and about what kind of relationship I might have with my kids if I ever become a parent.
Most of the ones by “Horses”
I watched a video essay that ranked the Big Ten Lacrosse teams. I was impressed with how much effort the two gents put into the review and how thorough it was.
Evan Eddinger’s video on quitting kratom. “This gas station drug nearly ruined my life.” I had no idea what kratom was even though I had met many users. Less recently, Lindsay Ellis made an amazing video discussing the Palestinian genocide and the problems of refusing to talk about it. “The Unforgivable Sin of Ms Rachel” I think it’s fair to say it was the best video essay I saw in 2025.
I also watched Evan’s video on Kratom and while I kinda knew what it was, I was unaware of all the details (and also how fucking rampant it had becoming in stores.) I had worked at a vape shop for a hot minute and we sold some Kratom pills and powders, but it was all clearly labeled as Kratom and put behind a locked case.
I’m so glad I never decided to try it while I was working there. The only thing I knew about it was some people used it to get themselves off opioids, and I just got a weird feeling about that lol
Lindsey’s video is so good and so depressing.
Basically any one of the various NotJustBikes videos highlighting shitty half-assed infrastructure designs in north American cities throughout the US and Canada.
People rarely complain about infrastructure to thier local governments so nothing rarely improves
I recently rewatched “Pathologic is Genius and here’s why” by Hbomberguy.
It reminds me how much video games are/were an art medium in addition to entertainment.
I’ve never played this game, but it’s made me appreciate the art form of a game more I think.
I downloaded that video and every now and then I listen to it again while doing the dishes. I love all of Hbomb’s essays honestly, I’m not sure how to describe it, but his style makes them very entertaining to watch/listen.
OOF.mp3 might actually be my favorite of his videos because of the sheer insanity of Tallerico.
He wasn’t even on Cribs!
Benn Jordan’s videos on flock cameras is really eye opening non how bad the surveillance state has gotten here in the US. Not just how ubiquitous they are but also how insecure and vulnerable to abuse the whole system is.
It’s shocking how we put in laws to prevent the surveillance state, but the laws didn’t restrict corporations. So now corporations have become the new surveillance state.
This one actually just dropped today so obviously it’s on the forefront of my mind, The Thousand Faces of Cassian Andor by AtTorr. Goes in depth on how Tony Gilroy basically dared Disney to blink and they somehow didn’t. AtTorr goes through the entire first season linking our historical revolutions that inspired Gilroy to the shows fictional one.
Even if you aren’t a Star Wars fan and have no interest in watching the show, it is a powerful piece of media and this essay highlights exactly why it’s message is timeless. It does not however answer the question on everyone’s mind, “How did Disney allow this to get made?!”
The one that I will probably never forget is Metropolis (2001): How Capitalism Produces Fascism by Chumpy.
It demonstrates and explains why authoritarians like Trump try to enrage the populace. That and it shows how capitalism inevitably creates fascism.
I probably won’t forget this till I bite the dust.
oh you’ll keep Erich Fromm - Escape From Freedom on your bedside table forever then
about how authoritarian characters are similar across governing systems and why. also exploring why capitalism brings such characters up as a default
This is not something that has ever happened to me.
Aesthetics of Fascism
cis-men’s bodies have always been fetischized, alienated from, under fascism. metallized men.
