Solving the Mystery of J.J. Abrams

Let's talk about JJ Abrams.

(Felicity is streaming on Hulu)

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FEATURING

Special thanks to Jake Torpey, Danny Spencer, & Mike Curran

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Music by Epidemic Sound
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SEND ME SOME MAIL:
Patrick Willems
P.O. Box 380333
Brooklyn, NY 11238

[DimaJeydar]

“Kylo Ren reconciles with his father but he can’t because his father’s dead and quits the First Order to study pre-med”

OH
MY
GOD

[RadicalKingJames]

These predictions came true in all the worst ways.

[Foomandoonian]

Huh, I hadn't really thought about it this way: JJ Abrams has the responsibility to end a 40 year story and he's never really made a satisfying ending.

[retroforager]

"the last jedi blew up his mystery boxes so what is jj gonna do now"
JJ, changing rey's parentage: i'm about to do what's called a progamer move

[timschneider]

Few things exemplify what Patrick says about Abrams having "no core idea to his work" than Finn's character. Abrams decided to make Finn a former storm trooper, which is a really cool, some would say revolutionary idea that could lead to some great storytelling, including themes about indoctrination, redemption, and the way that fascist governments pressgang everyone within them into supporting them even when they wouldn't normally. However, Abrams does nothing with this. Finn defects from the First Order and immediately turns around and starts gleefully murdering his former comrades like they aren't indoctrinated child soldiers just like him. You can't have one of the heroes be a former storm trooper and still treat the storm troopers like mindless cannon fodder, and yet Abrams does exactly that, because there is no core idea behind making Finn an ex-storm trooper. There's no story Abrams wanted to tell with that, no themes he wanted to get across, he probably just thought the idea sounded cool and didn't think any further than that.

[wheezybrownbear]

JJ is just one of his boxes. there really isn't a good answer, since the question never had one to begin with.

[amiraqistina]

Omg Patrick you were right!! Rey did when back to where she started! but not Jakku that is, but still a dead planet and desert

[youmgsandwiche]

>The real J.J. Abrams is the friends we made along the way
Classic.

[TheSchmuck]

Watching Felicity to understand JJ Abrams? You know this is something Abed Nadir would do.

[best_jeppe]

After seeing The Rise of Skywalker this is freakishly accurate...and sad. Sad because it shows how JJ Abrams wasn't able to subvert his own programming.

[telltellyn]

I personally couldn't be happier TLJ blew up JJ's mystery boxes. I learnt my lesson about his mystery boxes from Lost.

[AdrianArmbruster]

We have to build a time machine, go back to 2018 or so and show J J this video.
We have to go back, Kate.
WE HAVE TO GO BACK

[JohnPomaJr]

Most writers start with the end in mind (Where the character will end up). Or at least should according to Syd Field. I'm convinced J.J. never does this and that's his problem. In the few short scripts and manuscripts I've wrote, before I started typing, I knew my ending. I knew my character's arc. It's the end that directs and tells you your beginning. Anyone can create mysteries, but if you, the writer do not know the answers...who does?

[claire]

So basically, you got the ending of IX and no he hasn’t evolved one bit. You might even have predicted a sequel to IX with that time travel thing..,

[harrykirkham]

So Patrick basically ends where he started, thinking Abrams has nothing to say and there's nothing at the heart of his work. Very clever Patrick, very clever...

[YouFightLikeACow]

I like your new direction that you're taking your videos. Keep up the good work.

[NealFowler]

seeing this after rise of skywalker...this could not be more accurate.

[RealVincent]

It's sad how accurate this analysis is after TROS. He really repeated his old patterns which led to the fail of TROS.(in addition with Disney meddling)

[Noone-of-your-Business]

0:52 - "He left all his TV shows early in their runs". Of course he did. He sets up all sorts of batshit crazy stuff that he doesn't know the answer to himself, and then leaves it to others to figure out. He is quite open about his "mystery box" approach. And if I had just punched an interesting plot hole in the hull, I would sure as hell jump ship, too.

[eds]

Dude, you fucking called it. He even cast Felicity in the freaking movie!