Analysis: Three and a Half Years of Shakesqueer

I consider myself incredibly lucky that anybody reads what I write. This began as some articles that my friends would see and that would keep them entertained for a couple of minutes every week. Even after a year and a half of doing this, it never felt like much more than me spouting my opinions into the void. At three and a half years, I think it may be time to realise that this has become more than just a hobby. It’s become a part of my life and I couldn’t be happier about that. It’s led to some amazing opportunities and has allowed me to meet some incredible people (who I’ll hopefully get to have an IRL conversation with some day.)

It’s been two years since I did an analysis piece, primarily because I kept forgetting to, but it’s wound up being the perfect amount of time between them. There are very few articles here that were in the last analysis, although one section remains noticeably unchanged. Some edits in creation have been made too. The lists and editorials have been merged, since I figure the former acts as a subsection of the latter, and the word counts now include every word except the titles.

The one thing that hasn’t changed though is my gratitude. Whether you’re new or you’ve been around a while, I can’t thank you enough for paying attention to my ramblings. So, without further ado, I give you…DATA!

Longest Reviews

Avengers: Endgame (2576 words)

The Matrix Trilogy (2400 words)

Pixar Theatrical Shorts (2228 words)

Independence Day Duology (2021 words)

Avengers Assemble (2004 words)

It makes sense that for the impact the MCU has had on my life that the first and last installments would make it onto this list, although for different reasons. The first half of the Assemble review is a discussion about the horrific personal actions of the director whilst there was just so much to unpack with Endgame that it’s a miracle it wasn’t longer. Noticeably, the other three pieces are compilations, but the PIXAR one is the one I’m proudest of here because, unlike the other two, it’s entirely new. Considering PIXAR and the place they have in animation history, it’s a surprise that this one isn’t longer either.

Shortest Reviews

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (257 words)

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (270 words)

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (285 words)

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (316 words)

Pride (378 words)

Totally unchanged from the last time and it probably always will be. The initial reviews for the Star Wars saga were written for Tumblr (don’t bother looking, you won’t find them) and the “Authors Notes” sections were added to beef them up a bit to be more “professional”. It seems almost fruitless now and I’ve considered writing new reviews from scratch to replace these pieces but I’ll never hide them. They are the earliest works that I have and, if nothing else, serve as a reminder of just how far I’ve come.

Longest Editorials

The Small Things 2021 (9749 words)

Superhero Rights: The Story So Far (6535 words)

The Small Things 2020 (4276 words)

Doctor Who is Dying and the BBC are to Blame (3996 words)

The TROS Defense (3064 words)

Three more compilations on this list, with the final two pieces being more editorial. Although, Superhero Rights was one that I’d initially planned to release at once before it became unwieldy and splitting it up made more sense. To this day, it technically remains unfinished because I was waiting for some major film rights updates to pen an epilogue of sorts but they’re in such a state of flux that it may be a couple of years before that comes to fruition. As for the TROS Defense…I stand by it. It may come across as slightly arrogant or like I was in a deep state of denial about how bad TROS was but I’m proud of how well researched and written it is.

Shortest Editorials

Ranking the Middle Earth Saga (338 words)

10 Films I’ll watch in 2020 (424 words)

Ranking the Star Wars Saga (439 words)

2022 Oscar Predictions (447 words)

Growing Up with the MCU (452 words)

More compilations, this time covering areas that don’t require so many words. Sometimes there is only so much that can be said or that needs to be said, to the extent that even I can’t ramble too long. That Star Wars list could probably do with an update considering it hasn’t been touched since TLJ came out. I’m always surprised at how short that MCU piece is, considering the importance of it. At the time, it was the most personal thing I’d ever written, but I’ve started pouring so much of my soul into some of my pieces that this likely isn’t the case any more. I still love it though and I still miss Stan Lee.

Word Counts

Reviews: 146,847

Editorials: 60,383

Total: 206,599

Number of Pieces

0-500: 13 reviews, 6 editorials

501-1000: 87 reviews,18 editorials

1001-1500: 59 reviews, 6 editorials

Over 1500: 9 reviews, 10 editorials

Total: 159 reviews, 40 editorials

Palindromic Pieces

10 Films I’ll Watch in 2020 (424 words)