And that man was a creation of the programmers, who were world building based on the Vegas strip. If you’re honestly trying to tell me that Caesar’s Palace was not an influence on that faction, I think you maybe need to see a doctor about the bump on the head you took.

My fandom of Emerson as Ben Linus on Lost and Shahi from her time on The L Word helped get me past the “god-botherer” fact of Caviezel. Henson was good but I wasn’t familiar with her before then. I wasn’t aware of the race issue influencing her departure. That’s... stupid. Ugh, he’s the worst. I loved Acker from…

Is the idea that in NV one of the factions is “Roman slavers” because the actual strip happens to feature a casino named Caesar’s Palace? Because let me tell you, that’s sound logic to me! /s

Westworld was shit from the end of Season 1 onward.

The notoriously realistic Fallout 3.

I don’t think acknowledging the bias that comes from my position as an arts educator with a focus on screenwriting is flippant at all! It’s definitely influential. It is worth interrogating my parenthetical admission of this position but I don’t want to give potential shit-talkers too much ammo. I only mention it at…

Heads up: wall of text coming. Feel free to ignore if it’s a bit much. But you asked and I’m answering.

How on earth is AEW at all related to anything here?

That aspect didn’t even occur to me but you’re totally right.

Likewise.

Yes. Facts are facts. And the fact is that the literal word you literally wrote doesn’t literally mean what you literally said it does. And you subsequently posting three dictionary definitions, none of which match what you wrote, only supports my point. That’s a very thorough self-own, friend.

None of those three definitions is what you wrote initially. You can be an auteur and NOT conceive your own projects. You can be an auteur who is hired onto a project.

Literally that’s not what it means. I know the term “literally” has taken on its opposite meaning in recent years but I’m using the original definition and you’re wrong.

But in this specific case it means a writer-director. I understand that “auteur” as a theory goes beyond the more modern practical idea of a hyphenate. Hitchcock is often considered an auteur even though he didn’t write his own films. I can’t speak to anyone else’s conception of the term. For me, Waititi is a…

As opposed to your incredible amount of take in response?

The idea of wanting your self-expression to be “prestigious” is worthy of scorn. But I don’t think that’s his goal. Nor do I think it’s the goal of a lot of auteurs. Some? Yeah, sure. Getting into the entertainment industry does often carry with it some measure of seeking fame or respect. But with auteurs it’s about…

Yup. The unfortunately stupid calculus that studios all over the industry make is to just write down your name and the amount of money your last project made. If they like that number they are more likely to let you have a crack at making more money. I saw it all the goddam time when I worked at Sony.

I’m all for aiming for a career as a filmmaker and having that career made up mostly of auteur projects. But AIMING to be an auteur? Like making that your goal? UGH. Is there any argument in favor of that approach that ISN’T wrapped up in egomaniacal control freak neuroses?

You’re not the first person to make this joke or a variation thereof and while you’re totally in your rights to take that tone about the show it’s not any kind of counterargument. The FACT is that the show is a comedy show and he has been a regular on it. So to imply that Rife is only known because of TikTok is either…