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Emily St. James

Emily St. James

Former Critic at Large

    Latest articles by Emily St. James

    The Lost Year: A dad, his son, and the bittersweet realization of life’s true priorities
    Features

    “In America, we say everything we do is for our child, but we spend a lot of time working and accumulating money and stuff that we don’t need.”

    By Emily St. James
    The Lost Year: Non-monogamy, Zoom sex, and the agonizing wait to kiss your partner
    Features

    “As soon as I started taking non-monogamy seriously, it was like any other coming out.”

    By Emily St. James
    The Lost Year: A woman, an injured baby pig, and a series of revelations
    Features

    “It’s easier to believe everything is holy lying under the stars with friends and a pig sleeping in the crook of your arm.”

    By Emily St. James
    The Lost Year
    Culture

    We’ve lost so much in 2020. But we’ve found some things too.

    By Emily St. James
    One Good Thing
    One Good Thing: An amazing game played entirely via text messageOne Good Thing: An amazing game played entirely via text message
    One Good Thing

    Alice Is Missing takes the tabletop RPG to new, incredibly moving places.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    11 great ways to pass the time this holiday weekend11 great ways to pass the time this holiday weekend
    Culture

    Got lots of time ahead of you? Here are some recommendations for great things to watch or play.

    By Emily St. James, Allegra Frank and 1 more
    Culture
    Dissecting the megapopularity of the Frozen movies with a 5.25-year-oldDissecting the megapopularity of the Frozen movies with a 5.25-year-old
    Culture

    The 5-and-a-quarter-year-old critic at small loves Frozen. The 39-year-old critic at large doesn’t want to turn 40.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Why does Hillbilly Elegy feel so inauthentic and performative?Why does Hillbilly Elegy feel so inauthentic and performative?
    Culture

    Three critics from rural places discuss Ron Howard’s Netflix adaptation of J.D. Vance’s bestseller.

    By Alissa Wilkinson, Emily St. James and 1 more
    Culture
    The good, bad, and weird of Kristen Stewart’s queer Christmas rom-comThe good, bad, and weird of Kristen Stewart’s queer Christmas rom-com
    Culture

    Two women get a Christmas love story in Hulu’s Happiest Season, a surprisingly formulaic film.

    By Emily St. James
    One Good Thing
    One Good Thing: Netflix’s Dash & Lily is a sweet TV rom-com with a Christmas twistOne Good Thing: Netflix’s Dash & Lily is a sweet TV rom-com with a Christmas twist
    One Good Thing

    The series turns New York City into a holiday scavenger hunt.

    By Emily St. James