This is my first time watching anything by her, but I was struck by the simple truth behind her constructive criticism. So logical, sensible and on point. Her conclusion at the end is not malicious at all, but totally damning how Disney failed at almost every element of this project, from concept to execution.
Spoiler
In summary: Disney tried to take all the fun things that used to be included with theme park admission and put it behind a paywall - i.e. locked away inside the “hotel”. Then they skimped on even offering even that level of theme park experience and inflated the cost into the stratosphere.
It failed because they assumed that Star Wars fans would pay what Disney decided they should and would keep on paying ad infinitum, ad nauseam. So sure of this were they that they left themselves no off ramps.
I know. But, seriously, give it a go. It’s broken down into short chapters so you can take breaks. I found myself enthralled, so I watched it in two stints.
ETA: I have YT Premium, so I don’t know how many ad breaks regular folk get hit with.
Someone pointed out that she puts so much time and thought into these reviews that it’s fairly common for the attraction she’s critiquing to have shuttered by the time she publishes.
I don’t know dick about Star Wars but I’m 2.5 hours in and completely enthralled. Her video on the “church play cinematic universe” is next on my list since it is, unfortunately, going to be very familiar to me.
Yeah. You don’t need to be steeped in lore (although you may wonder wtf she is wearing when she has a full Ewok mask on for one segment); it’s just a thoughtful exploration of how a corporation can set billions on fire through its own hubris, having dick-stomped every step of the way to get there.
McKinney used to write for Deadspin and I remember her talking about this on Defector’s podcast. I decided not to read it because I probably already know everything it talks about.
It’s a good read just as a novel. You’re probably incredibly familiar with the setting, or at least somewhere between her book (female perspective, Texas) and Jason Kirk’s book (male perspective, anywhere suburban America).
