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
    What character actor Bob Balaban says when people ask, “Hey, don’t I know you from ...?”What character actor Bob Balaban says when people ask, “Hey, don’t I know you from ...?”
    Podcast
    Culture

    “I’m an actor. I’m not famous. You’ve seen me in a hundred million things, and you have a vestigial memory of what I look like.”

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Marvel boss Kevin Feige hints at what a Black Panther Oscar campaign might look likeMarvel boss Kevin Feige hints at what a Black Panther Oscar campaign might look like
    Culture

    If nominated for Best Picture, it would be a historic first.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Why Incredibles director Brad Bird gets compared to Ayn Rand — and why he shouldn’t beWhy Incredibles director Brad Bird gets compared to Ayn Rand — and why he shouldn’t be
    Culture

    Lots of critics have tried to write Bird off as an objectivist, but the truth is much more complicated.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    The Handmaid’s Tale gives Elisabeth Moss a dynamite showcase in “Holly”The Handmaid’s Tale gives Elisabeth Moss a dynamite showcase in “Holly”
    Culture

    But is the show running out of story for its main character? Also: Was that [spoiler] on the radio?!

    By Emily St. James and Constance Grady
    Culture
    Westworld unleashes a big battle and a bigger twist in a flawed but fascinating finaleWestworld unleashes a big battle and a bigger twist in a flawed but fascinating finale
    Culture

    “The Passenger” doesn’t make us rethink the show entirely, but it offers a promising setup for season three. Maybe.

    By Emily St. James and Aja Romano
    Culture
    Am I watching Westworld wrong?Am I watching Westworld wrong?
    Culture

    Like a video game, Westworld only works when you “play” it.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Water rights, freeways, and Hollywood gossip: the secret history of LA, in 3 detective moviesWater rights, freeways, and Hollywood gossip: the secret history of LA, in 3 detective movies
    Culture

    Chinatown, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and L.A. Confidential explore the shady deals that built the sprawling megalopolis.

    By Emily St. James
    Donald Trump paints the border as a lawless hellhole. But so does American pop culture.
    Culture

    Watching Sicario 2 in a time of border crisis.

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Comedian Hari Kondabolu on the response to The Problem With ApuComedian Hari Kondabolu on the response to The Problem With Apu
    Podcast
    Culture

    “It’s not a good feeling to get hate mail every single day, but you know that it resonated with people.”

    By Emily St. James
    Culture
    Liberal celebrities’ attacks on Fox News are as much about timing as anything elseLiberal celebrities’ attacks on Fox News are as much about timing as anything else
    Culture

    The coming Fox-Disney merger makes it an advantageous time for Fox employees to attack Fox News.

    By Emily St. James