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
Emily St. James

Emily St. James

Former Critic at Large

    Latest articles by Emily St. James

    Culture
    Shonda Rhimes has signed a huge production deal with NetflixShonda Rhimes has signed a huge production deal with Netflix
    Culture

    Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal will stay on ABC, but future Shondaland series will debut on the streaming network.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    The people of Twin Peaks try — and fail — to make order out of chaosThe people of Twin Peaks try — and fail — to make order out of chaos
    Culture

    Whether they tell stories or conduct investigations, they hope to make sense of a senseless world.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    6 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ “Eastwatch”6 winners and 6 losers from Game of Thrones’ “Eastwatch”
    Culture

    Everybody’s a winner in this episode — but everybody’s a loser, too.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Manhunt: Unabomber makes a compelling mystery out of a story whose ending you already knowManhunt: Unabomber makes a compelling mystery out of a story whose ending you already know
    Culture

    It’s the perfect true-crime story for fans of word games.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Game of Thrones is TV’s biggest, bloodiest soap operaGame of Thrones is TV’s biggest, bloodiest soap opera
    Culture

    That’s not a bad thing.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    The best antihero dramas aren’t vicarious thrill rides. They’re morality plays in reverse.The best antihero dramas aren’t vicarious thrill rides. They’re morality plays in reverse.
    Culture

    The recent glut of bad antihero dramas makes it worth remembering what makes for a good antihero drama.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    11 winners and zero losers from the best Game of Thrones of the season so far11 winners and zero losers from the best Game of Thrones of the season so far
    Culture

    This week’s biggest winner: the American viewing public.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    CBS has huge diversity problems. But the issues run much deeper than one network.CBS has huge diversity problems. But the issues run much deeper than one network.
    Culture

    “Every single drama on our air has at least one diverse character.”

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Amazon’s Black America may be the inverse of HBO’s controversial alt-history show ConfederateAmazon’s Black America may be the inverse of HBO’s controversial alt-history show Confederate
    Culture

    The newly announced series, from Boondocks creator Aaron McGruder and Girls Trip producer Will Packer, envisions a world where freed slaves formed their own nation.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Why time on Game of Thrones suddenly seems to pass so damn fastWhy time on Game of Thrones suddenly seems to pass so damn fast
    Culture

    If you’ve been wondering if the characters somehow constructed a Hyperloop this season — you’re not alone.

    By Emily St. James