I have a confession: as a kid, I actively dreaded Jeopardy! If I found myself trapped in a room where it was on—maybe at a relative's house or waiting for something better to come on after it—I'd mentally check out. The rapid-fire questions, the strange format where you had to phrase everything as a question, … Continue reading The Evolution of Jeopardy!: From Art Fleming to Ken Jennings
Time Travel in Endgame: How the MCU Handled This Complex Sci-Fi Trope
When the Avengers lost to Thanos in Infinity War, half of all life in the universe turned to dust. The survivors were left to grapple with an unfathomable defeat, and audiences walked out of theaters in stunned silence. We all knew there had to be a way to undo the Snap—but how? The answer the … Continue reading Time Travel in Endgame: How the MCU Handled This Complex Sci-Fi Trope
Rewatching Smallville – Episode 83
Welcome back to Rewatching Smallville, my weekly dive into the iconic series that explores Clark Kent’s journey before becoming Superman. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the show, you’re invited to join in each Tuesday as I revisit episodes and share my thoughts and observations. Be sure to share your own memories and … Continue reading Rewatching Smallville – Episode 83
The Worst 36 – The Incredible Mr. Limpet
The Incredible Mr. Limpet 1964 Directed by Arthur Lubin Welcome back to Movie Monday, where we continue our masochistic descent through the depths of my personal cinematic hell. As always, my standard disclaimer applies: this list represents one person's highly subjective opinions, shaped by peculiar tastes and specific experiences that may have absolutely nothing to … Continue reading The Worst 36 – The Incredible Mr. Limpet
The Awakening at Lincoln
Matthew Robinson had eaten lunch on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial every Thursday for the past two years. It was a ritual born of necessity—his cramped studio apartment on Dupont Circle had no outdoor space, and his graphic design firm's break room felt like a fluorescent-lit prison. Here, surrounded by tourists and joggers and … Continue reading The Awakening at Lincoln
Question of the Week #472
Welcome back to another Question of the Week here at The Confusing Middle! After spending the last three weeks exploring various flavors of public humiliation (because apparently Gregory Stock really wanted us to confront our deepest fears), we're shifting gears to something a little different. Instead of asking what we'd endure, this week we're exploring … Continue reading Question of the Week #472
MGS3: Snake Eater – Cold War Politics and Espionage in Video Games
Let's talk about eating tree frogs in the name of democracy. When Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater released in 2004, it did something genuinely audacious for a video game franchise that had built its reputation on nanomachines, cyborg ninjas, and increasingly convoluted conspiracy theories about artificial intelligence. It went backwards. Not just chronologically, but … Continue reading MGS3: Snake Eater – Cold War Politics and Espionage in Video Games
Why I Hate Going to the Movies
Look, I need to get something off my chest. I hate going to the movies. There. I said it. This is a difficult admission for someone who spent the better part of his adult life obsessing over pop culture, writing blog posts about Superman and Star Wars and Back to the Future, and dedicating every … Continue reading Why I Hate Going to the Movies
Birthright: Mark Waid’s Modern Retelling of Superman’s Origin
Twenty years have passed since Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu gave us Superman: Birthright, a twelve-issue series that dared to reimagine the Man of Steel's origin for the 21st century. Looking back now, in 2026, it's fascinating to see how this retelling both honored Superman's legacy and pushed him forward into modernity. It's also … Continue reading Birthright: Mark Waid’s Modern Retelling of Superman’s Origin
Rewatching Smallville – Episode 82
Welcome back to Rewatching Smallville, my weekly dive into the iconic series that explores Clark Kent’s journey before becoming Superman. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the show, you’re invited to join in each Tuesday as I revisit episodes and share my thoughts and observations. Be sure to share your own memories and … Continue reading Rewatching Smallville – Episode 82
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