Choose focus: film criticism, TV/series criticism, or both

Decide review angle: storytelling, directing, acting, cinematography, theme, cultural context, genre, craft

Set audience: general viewers vs. cinephiles vs. industry learners

Define success metrics: clarity, originality, accuracy, consistency, retention, shareability

Identify title, release year, country/region, runtime/episode count, platform

Confirm review scope: single film / season review / episode-by-episode / arc-based

Establish spoiler policy: no spoilers / light spoilers / full spoilers + spoiler sections

Basic facts: director, writer, main cast, source material, genre, awards/festivals

Production context: budget scale, studio/network constraints, censorship/rating, intended audience

Creative intent (optional): director statements, interviews (note: may bias interpretation)

Comparable references: similar works, genre conventions, historical lineage

Note-taking method: timestamp notes / scene cards / voice memos

Storage: Notion/Obsidian/Docs + folder structure per title

Asset plan: screenshots policy, quotes, stills, citation rules

Standard review checklist: story, character, pacing, theme, craft, standout scenes, flaws, audience fit

Prioritize immersion: understand plot, tone, emotional arc

Capture immediate reactions: “what I felt” + “when it changed”

Mark confusion points: unclear motivations, plot gaps, exposition overload

Record timestamps for: inciting incident, turning points, climax, resolution

Record timestamps for: character introductions, reveals, betrayals, deaths, turning decisions

Record timestamps for: visual motifs, music cues, recurring symbols

Record timestamps for: scene transitions (montage, ellipses, flashbacks, parallel editing)

Quick-tag system: PLOT / CHAR / THEME / VISUAL / SOUND / DIALOGUE / PACE / LOGIC / WORLD / SYMBOL

For each key scene, jot: scene goal (what changes)

For each key scene, jot: stakes (what can be lost)

For each key scene, jot: conflict (internal/external)

For each key scene, jot: outcome (who wins/loses)

For each key scene, jot: memorable craft (framing, lighting, blocking, score, editing rhythm)

Rate in-the-moment: engagement, clarity, emotional impact

Flag candidates for rewatch: “must rewatch” scenes for analysis

3–5 bullet impressions: strongest point, weakest point, biggest surprise

Emotional summary: what lingered and why

One-sentence logline: what the work is “really about” (your interpretation)

Write a concise beat outline

Identify structural form: three-act, five-act, hero’s journey, episodic procedural, anthology, mystery box

For series: season spine (main question), mid-season pivot, finale resolution/tease

For series: episode functions (setup, escalation, bottle episode, payoff)

List protagonists/antagonists: want vs. need

List protagonists/antagonists: internal wound/contradiction

List protagonists/antagonists: arc milestones (start → shift → end)

List key relationships and power dynamics

Draft 2–4 candidate themes

Match each theme to 2–3 supporting moments (scenes/lines/visual motifs)

Cinematography: composition, lens choices, camera movement, color palette

Editing: pacing, continuity, montage logic, parallel cutting

Sound: score strategy, leitmotifs, silence, diegetic vs non-diegetic sound

Production design: sets, props, costume, period accuracy, symbolism

Performances: physicality, subtext, chemistry, accent consistency

Rewatch only flagged scenes first; expand if needed

Verify claims: confirm details with timestamps and exact lines

Capture evidence: precise moment + what it demonstrates

Stakes ladder: how stakes escalate and whether escalation is earned

Cause-and-effect chain: identify conveniences, deus ex machina, plot armor

Information design: how mystery/clues are planted and paid off

Pacing diagnosis: slow (repetition/lack of escalation/unclear goal) vs fast (missing setup/compressed emotional beats)

Agency audit: who drives events vs. who is dragged by plot

Arc coherence: does change track with experiences?

Relationship dynamics: dependency, rivalry, mentorship, romance, betrayal

Dialogue function: exposition vs character revelation vs thematic argument

Theme articulation: “The work argues that ___, because ___, shown by ___.”

Counter-reading: alternative interpretation + supporting evidence

Symbol/motif tracking: recurrence + evolution + payoff

Ending interpretation: what is resolved vs left ambiguous, and why it matters

Genre promises: what the audience expects

Subversion vs fulfillment: innovate vs clichés

Comparative positioning: similar works and key differences (tone, message, craft)

Visual storytelling: blocking/power (space, low/high framing)

Visual storytelling: color scripting aligned with emotional states

Visual storytelling: shot analysis patterns (establishing → medium → close-up) and deliberate breaks

Editing language: match cuts, jump cuts, rhythm, ellipses, temporal clarity

Sound strategy: score placement logic; silence as tension; motif repetition

Performance reading: micro-expressions, gesture language, subtext vs spoken text

Internal logic: rules of world, consistency, consequences

Emotional logic: feels true even when heightened

Originality: novel ideas vs familiar packaging

Accessibility: clarity for newcomers vs reward for attentive viewers

Thesis formula: “This film/series succeeds/fails as ___ because ___, most evident in ___.”

Choose 1 primary thesis + 2–4 supporting pillars

Consumer guide: should you watch it? who is it for?

Craft analysis: how it achieves effects

Cultural critique: what it says about society/politics

Ending explained / theme deep-dive

Episode recap + commentary (series format)

Non-spoiler section: premise + overall verdict + craft snapshot

Spoiler section: structural analysis, ending, key reveals

Clear headings and spoiler warnings

For each pillar: Claim → Evidence (scene/line/shot) → Interpretation → Impact

Balance: avoid “vibes-only”; avoid over-quoting

Separate “I didn’t like” from “it’s poorly made”

Note preference conflicts (genre dislike, pacing tolerance, actor bias)

Acknowledge what it does well even if overall negative

Hook: sharp observation, question, or comparison

Quick context: title/year/creator + one-sentence premise

Thesis statement: main argument in 1–2 sentences

Body sections (2–5): storytelling/structure; characters/performances; themes/meaning; craft (visual/sound/editing); optional cultural context/genre position

Best moments: 2–3 standout scenes with why they work (avoid full recap)

Weak points: specific issues + why they matter (not nitpicks unless relevant)

Verdict: who should watch/skip + ideal viewing conditions

Be specific: replace “good cinematography” with what + how + effect

Avoid plot retelling: use plot only as evidence for argument

Keep claims falsifiable: anchor to moments viewers can verify

Maintain reader guidance: headings, signposting, short paragraphs for readability

Analytical/formal vs conversational/personal

Rating system: stars / 10-point / tier list / “Worth your time?” binary

Consistent vocabulary: define “pacing,” “stakes,” “tone,” “theme”

Structure pass: thesis early + consistent; each section proves something new

Clarity pass: remove vague adjectives; add evidence; simplify long sentences; define jargon

Logic pass: check contradictions; ensure cause-effect reasoning

Fairness pass: briefly steelman opposing view if relevant

Length pass: cut repetition; keep best examples only

Names/roles (director/writer), release dates, episode titles

Quote accuracy; avoid misattribution

Confirm technical terms (shot types, editing terms)

Ensure spoiler sections are clearly marked

Social post snippets remain spoiler-free if promised

Avoid personal attacks on creators/actors

Flag sensitive topics (violence, SA, self-harm) if necessary

Avoid moral certainty; distinguish depiction from endorsement

Written article: headings, pull quotes, “TL;DR”

Video essay: script + b-roll plan + voiceover beats

Short-form: 3-point verdict + one killer example

Podcast: segment plan + discussion questions

Title formula: “Why [Title] Works/Fails: [Core Idea]”

SEO basics: include title + year + creator names + genre keywords

Tags/categories: genre, themes, director, platform, season number

Thumbnail/key image concept aligned with thesis

Captions for stills; source rules and fair-use awareness

Prompt discussion: “What did you think the ending implies?”

Link related reviews and creator pages

Quantitative: views, read time, retention, comments, saves, shares

Qualitative: recurring questions, disagreements, confusion points

Correct factual errors publicly and quickly

Update with new context (director interview, later seasons) with date notes

FAQ responses: prepare standard replies for common questions

Moderation: spoiler control, harassment policy, community guidelines

What worked in your argument?

Which evidence landed best?

What to improve next time (pacing, examples, structure)

Film review template (non-spoiler/spoiler)

Season review template

Episode recap template

“Ending explained” template

“Theme deep-dive” template

Database fields: title, year, region, genre, creators, themes, motifs, rating, key scenes

Cross-linking: connect works by director, genre evolution, recurring themes

Maintain a benchmark list per genre

Track your own evolving taste and criteria over time

Calendar: watch date → draft date → edit date → publish date

Batch processes: watch multiple works, then write in batches

Collaboration options: co-writer notes, editor checklist, peer review swap

Periodic audit: re-read older reviews for consistency and growth

Anti-burnout rules: limit weekly output, standardize note depth, reuse templates