PODCAST
Main Johnny Marks channel
I make video essays that are as dumb as they are sincere. My videos populated out of order so if you notice a drop in editing quality I promise it’s because I got better — not worse over time.
Episodes
-
Why “Lord of the Rings” feels real and “Narnia” doesn’t
Despite the friendship between J.R.R. Tolkien & C.S. Lewis, their worlds of “Middle-Earth” and “Narnia” feel quite different. This video essay examines the role allegory plays in making Aslan’s country feel less ‘real’ — now, here’s the part of th...
-
when a major change makes the adaptation more faithful
Dune: Part 2 received criticism from some fans for being an ‘unfaithful’ adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel. This video essay, however, examines how the changes Denis Villeneuve made to his film’s ending actually made it more faithful to Herbert’...
-
Loving Blade Runner is inevitable.
Blade Runner is known as a film that can give a horrible first impression. But what’s less known, is that this initial hatred for Blade Runner was shared by its own creators. This video essay / documentary explores Blade Runner’s crazy producti...
-
Why "Special Features" Suck Now
Modern special-features don’t feel very “special.” This video essay gets to the bottom of why DVD extras became a lost art form, as well a new medium that picked up its slack. Socials - I rarely use them but what if one day I do? How can you...
-
when a movie feels like a tabletop game
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves received tons of praise for ‘capturing the spirit’ of its tabletop game. This video essay explores whether or not that’s actually a good thing. Socials - I rarely use them but what if one day I do? How can ...
-
perfect vs. horrible ‘solo episodes’
Stand-alone episodes of TV are tough to crack. This video essay explores two reasons The Bear rose to the challenge where Ted Lasso didn’t. Credit: -Be Thankful for What You Got instrumental cover (FERGUNIZED) -Reality (Sedivi) -All Eyes On Me c...
-
Why “The Bear” feels real and “Chef” doesn’t
In this video essay, we’re getting to the bottom of why “The Bear” and “Chef” feel completely different despite having identical premises.
-
Dear Hollywood, We Don’t Care About IP.
Hollywood spends millions of dollars buying Intellectual Property, but does it actually matter? This video essay explores something that’s more important than IP. It’s the secret thing responsible for the success of “Succession”, “The Bear”, and/o...
-
The Difference Between 20 and 30-Year-Old Bo Burnham
There aren’t many artists who have transformed themselves as complexly as Bo Burnham. This video essay explores how Bo reinvented himself between his first YouTube song in 2006 and his 2021 release of “Inside”, while still scratching the same itch...
-
Mini-Maps are Great, Stop Being Dorks
People complain that minimaps “break immersion”, but to me they always build immersion. This video essay explains why while also exploring the difference between subtle and overt mini-maps. (e.g., Breath of the Wild vs Witcher 3.) Also I don’t ac...
-
Why "Sad Music" Makes You Feel Good
My favorite bands fall under the “sad music” banner but I’ve never felt they were. This video essay explains why through solidarity, scientific studies, and an “earned optimism” that quote-unquote “happy” music can never achieve. I promise this is...
-
Tolkien Writes the Best Mysteries
Rings of Power has already been criticized, so I’m more interested in celebrating Tolkien than ripping Amazon. Buuut what I love most about the Lord of the Rings is often inverted by Amazon’s middle earth — making it hard for this video essay t...
-
Dumb Corporations Make TV Shows Better
Artists produce their best work when left alone, right? I always thought so, but this video essay explores how not-very-talented corporations bring the best out of showrunners like Dan Harmon, James Gunn, and Mitch Hurwitz. “Streaming services?” M...
-
Earthbound Feels More Real Than Any Other Game
Video essay exploring how EarthBound feels “real” by tapping into the essence of what being a kid (and an adult) feels like. Many of these elements in Mother 2 are shared within Mother 1 (“Earthbound Beginnings”) + Mother 3, so prepare for a Shige...
-
Jesus stole my Pokémon
“VANITY (n), meaning to cast oneself as Jesus in their Youtube thumbnail.” I wasn’t allowed to play pokemon as a kid because adults in my life were concerned it would make me become a wizard. I explain why & also try to convince you that bad gra...
-
Why Scott Pilgrim is an “anti-musical” musical
Video essay exploring how "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" subverts and executes the musical theater genre. As strange as it sounds, the grunge-punk of Edgar Wright & Bryan Lee O’Malley’s world turned me into a fan of musicals. Socials - I rarely us...
-
Why "Breath of the Wild" Feels Like Being Homeschooled
Video essay exploring the connection between homeschooling and "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." The emphasis BOTW places on problem-solving & turning lonely isolation into enjoyable solitude remind me of nothing more than what it was lik...
-
Why Mario Sunshine is terrifying
Don't tell anyone about my embarrassing childhood fear. Actually forget that — please tell literally anyone about my embarrassing childhood fear.
-
Why Mike Birbiglia's Standup Feels Cinematic
Exploring why Mike Birbiglia’s stand up comedy feels cinematic. This video essay explains how Birbigs crafts timeless comedy by making each special feel more like a movie than conventional stand-up. Music list: Part of My Life (Bumpy Knuckles) Ca...
-
Why WandaVision needed Bo Burnham
The MCU could learn from Bo Burnham’s satire. This video essay explains how Bo Burnham could have improved Marvel’s “WandaVision”. I dealt with health stuff the past 4 months that delayed this video far beyond what I’d hoped…but this is the one I...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
I make video essays that are as dumb as they are sincere. My videos populated out of order so if you notice a drop in editing quality I promise it’s because I got better — not worse over time.
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Main Johnny Marks channel have?
Main Johnny Marks channel currently has 20 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Main Johnny Marks channel about?
I make video essays that are as dumb as they are sincere. My videos populated out of order so if you notice a drop in editing quality I promise it’s because I got better — not worse over time.
How often does Main Johnny Marks channel release new episodes?
Main Johnny Marks channel has 20 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Main Johnny Marks channel?
You can listen to Main Johnny Marks channel on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
URL copied to clipboard!