Allyson Johnson

TV/Film Critic and Freelance Writer at Freelance

TV & Film Critic. Co-founder, Editor-in-Chief @InBetweenDrafts . Words at @CambridgeDay @Pajiba @ButWhyThoPC (she/her/hers) 🌈 [email protected]

Articles

Sense8 10 Years Later

2 days ago | inbetweendrafts.com | Allyson Johnson

There’s a pivotal, joyous sequence in the Netflix series Sense8 that remains a beacon for fans of this radical show about the integrity and power of love in all its manifestations. In it, a group of individuals from around the world sing along to “What’s Up,” offkey and exuberant, as they embrace these strangers who now share space in their brains. It’s one of those musical sequences that instantly latches on to the most sentimental of us.
A Crackling Delight From Science Saru

2 days ago | butwhytho.net | Allyson Johnson

Picking up immediately where Season 1 left off, DanDaDan Evil Eye wastes little time in reminding us of its intoxicating infectiousness. Based on the manga written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu and produced by the consistently great Science Saru, the film, which comprises the first three episodes of Season 2, launches straight into the mayhem.
Morning Forum audience learns life lessons from national park odyssey

4 days ago | losaltosonline.com | Allyson Johnson

Darius Nabors, national park artist in residence, talked about the lessons he learned in his project to visit all 59 national parks in 59 weeks to an absorbed Morning Forum of Los Altos audience May 20. President Abraham Lincoln laid the foundation for what would become the National Park Service when he set aside Yosemite Valley in 1864 “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,” Nabors said during the discussion.
The Wheel Of Time Deserved So Much Better

1 week ago | butwhytho.net | Allyson Johnson

In the grand swell of “content,” the constantly improving The Wheel of Time defied expectations. Based on the epic – and epically dense – fantasy series by author Robert Jordan, fans of the novels forever knew that an adaptation was unlikely. Due to the size and scope of the series, it would be too expensive and a behemoth of a project. All of which made the original news of the TV series, with Rosamund Pike attached no less, all the more shocking.
Millie Alcock Shines In Meandering Netflix Series

2 weeks ago | butwhytho.net | Allyson Johnson

Sirens (2025) doesn’t quite know what type of show it wants to be. Unleashing an overreliance on slapstick humor with a sobering throughline at the center, the latest streamer to grace the Netflix barrage of “content” has its charms but is ultimately vapid. If and when the series flirts with bouts of depth, it rears back into something hokier and sillier. It makes for an uneven and disorienting experience across the five-episode limited series.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7 Review

2 weeks ago | butwhytho.net | Allyson Johnson

My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 7 is perfectly pleasant and continues to technically strike the right beats, invigorated by strong, vitalized animation. And yet, the longer the debut season continues, the more glaring a major issue becomes. Despite the big names and familiar characters attached to the series, Vigilantes isn’t leaving a mark, regardless of the zippy and kinetic action sequences. The most condemnable aspect of My Hero Academia Vigilantes is that it’s forgettable.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 6 Review

3 weeks ago | butwhytho.net | Allyson Johnson

Here lies the problem with any spinoff series or story that delves into the background of a well-acquainted world. Sometimes, we don’t want to know how a character – often a villain – came to be. Oftentimes, the mystery is the fun, fueling the spark and intrigue as our heroes go toe-to-toe with an enigmatic force of evil. Such is the case in My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 6.
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 Review - InBetweenDrafts

3 weeks ago | inbetweendrafts.com | Allyson Johnson

With beautiful animation and graceful, introspective storytelling, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 Episode 18 becomes an immediate series highlight. As Maomao only briefly appears, Jinshi (Takeo Ōtsuka) drives the narrative as the tension accelerates. Tragedy of old haunts the screen as Jinshi grapples with a poisoned lineage while maintaining an assured, outwardly calm demeanor as he tries to figure out who stole Maomao away from the Rear Palace and why.
My Hero Academia Vigilantes Episode 5 Review

1 month ago | butwhytho.net | Allyson Johnson

One of the most significant hurdles that My Hero Academia: Vigilantes faces is the steep hill it scales to achieve the same charm and recognition as its predecessor. The most important difference is My Hero Academia’s expansive ensemble and how much we care about those characters. Koichi (Shuichiro Umeda), Knuckleduster (Yasuhiro Mamiya), and Pop Step (Ikumi Hasegawa) are all likable and interesting enough. Still, none have yet to reach the same level as the characters we’ve met in this world.
To Be Hero X Episode 5 Review

1 month ago | inbetweendrafts.com | Allyson Johnson

It would be a stretch to say that, by Episode 4, we begin to understand what To Be Hero X is about. But, at the very least, with Ling becoming a hero in his own right as The Commoner, we at least seemingly understood the story’s rhythm. Of course, that is torn to shreds after the death of Moon and is further thrown into disarray in To Be Hero X Episode 5 as the story pivots to a new character.