Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now
Aja Romano

Aja Romano

Former Senior Culture Writer

    Latest articles by Aja Romano

    Culture
    Donnie Darko’s director: Maggie Gyllenhaal had to be convinced to play Jake’s sisterDonnie Darko’s director: Maggie Gyllenhaal had to be convinced to play Jake’s sister
    Podcast
    Culture

    Richard Kelly explains how crucial Maggie G. was to the famous Darko family dinner scene.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return genuinely loves its 14 bad films. You may not.Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return genuinely loves its 14 bad films. You may not.
    Culture

    MST3K: The Return brings us riffs, giant monsters, and at least one excruciating movie.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    Doctor Who spinoff Class tries — and fails — to add cheeky teen drama to classic sci-fiDoctor Who spinoff Class tries — and fails — to add cheeky teen drama to classic sci-fi
    Culture

    It attempts to mix fun teen drama with planetary genocide, but it’s not very interested in teens.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    Don Rickles, the personification of insult comedy, dies at 90Don Rickles, the personification of insult comedy, dies at 90
    Culture

    Over the course of a wide-ranging career, Rickles became a master at teaching the audience to mock itself.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    The Walking Dead season 7 finale: “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” reveals just how stuck in place the show isThe Walking Dead season 7 finale: “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” reveals just how stuck in place the show is
    Culture

    Not even a CGI tiger can enliven an anticlimactic season finale.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    Stephen King’s It is horror at its most unconventional. The new film’s trailer is the exact opposite.Stephen King’s It is horror at its most unconventional. The new film’s trailer is the exact opposite.
    Culture

    Is the film leaning into modern horror clichés, or is the trailer just badly edited?

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    S-Town is a stunning podcast. It probably shouldn’t have been made.S-Town is a stunning podcast. It probably shouldn’t have been made.
    Culture

    The latest project from the Serial team is a brilliant, complex, and incredibly invasive deep dive into one man’s life.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    The new S-Town podcast, from the Serial team, is a real-life Southern gothicThe new S-Town podcast, from the Serial team, is a real-life Southern gothic
    Culture

    All seven episodes of the highly anticipated podcast are out today — but don’t expect a true crime narrative.

    By Aja Romano
    Culture
    The Walking Dead’s latest episode displays the show’s biggest flawsThe Walking Dead’s latest episode displays the show’s biggest flaws
    Culture

    When did the series forget “show, don’t tell” is a cardinal rule of screenwriting?

    By Emily St. James and Aja Romano
    Culture
    #MissingDCGirls: how a seldom-discussed social issue became a social media flashpoint#MissingDCGirls: how a seldom-discussed social issue became a social media flashpoint
    Culture

    Children of color go missing more often than white children, but their cases receive less news coverage.

    By Aja Romano