Wednesday Season 2 (Movie/Show Review #3)

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The first season of Wednesday was great in many ways — from the directing and set design to the acting and the story. It all worked. I especially hope whoever choreographed Wednesday’s dance scene got a massive raise, because that moment was pure perfection.

It seemed like everyone loved it, so it’s no surprise that Netflix ordered more. (I’ve heard at least three seasons are planned.)

I finally got around to watching the eight-episode second season last week, and I have to say — it’s still good. The production quality remains top-notch. The directing, sets, score, and characters are all on par with Hollywood-level filmmaking. You can clearly tell when Tim Burton was more involved in directing, though, as his episodes once again stand out as the highlights of the season.

However, the writing has taken a noticeable dip. There are simply too many characters, each with their own side plot. As a result, the main storyline feels diluted and reduced to a framework that merely ties all the other plots together.

Another major issue is the miscasting of Gomez and Morticia. This was already a weak point in the first season, though it wasn’t too distracting since both characters had limited screen time. Unfortunately, they get much more focus this season — and it hurts the show. Nothing against Luis Guzmán, but his portrayal of Gomez just isn’t my cup of tea. He turns the character into a comedic oddball, lacking the charm and sophistication of his predecessors. Catherine Zeta-Jones looks almost frozen in place — her expression so stiff that it conveys little to no emotion thanks to lots of botox sessions I’d assume. When the two share a scene, their lack of chemistry makes things even more awkward.

Overall, everything the first season did great, the second does worse. But as the first season was so well done, the second still turns out to be good. But is Season 2 a must-watch? Sadly, no.

How to Use Blogging to Become a More Interesting Man

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Would you say no to having a million readers? I wouldn’t.

Still, I primarily write this blog for myself — and a tiny audience. And I enjoy it. It helps me organize my thoughts, finish the projects I start, and stay motivated to learn new things.

Blogging, as it turns out, comes with a lot of benefits.

Don’t Write Just to Gain Traffic

Writing for money used to be one of my real-life jobs — I spent years in copywriting. But writing this blog has become something completely different.

Blogging to build an audience or making money isn’t wrong. Those are fine goals. But blogging can be so much more than just another income stream.

The more I get into the habit of sharing what I learn and think, the more I realize that my learning process itself becomes deeper. Writing about what I learn helps me actually understand it. That makes blogging not just a writer–reader experience, but an introspective one as well.

Write Case Studies About Your Life

I enjoy reading blogs that document progress — and that’s exactly why I like writing about my own progress.

You can read countless blogs about fitness or nutrition and gain knowledge, but the best ones are those where an overweight guy decides to change his lifestyle and documents the journey week by week. Maybe it’s the hero’s journey element that makes such content so relatable and inspiring.

Right now, I’m trying to become a better fiction writer — maybe even a real author someday. There’s a lot to learn, test, and try. So far, I haven’t been “successful,” but I’ve improved — not just as a writer, but as a salesman for my own work.

By writing about that process, I feel accountable to keep improving. The result? Better books, more readers, and maybe, someday, a real income as an author.

Write About Books, Movies, and Other Entertainment

Experiencing the world firsthand is always the most satisfying. But some experiences I’d rather not have — like going to prison. Still, I’m curious about what life inside is like. So I picked up a book about surviving in prison lately. It wasn’t great, so I won’t recommend it here — but the topic was fascinating.

Movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos give us similar secondhand experiences. You can write about a video that changed how you see the world, a movie that made you think, or a show that taught you something meaningful.

By writing about these secondhand experiences, we often get inspired to seek out more of our own.

I never want to end up in prison — but reading about it reminded me how much I value something as simple as walking out the door and feeling the sun on my face.

Write About What You Don’t Know

I’m currently in the process of starting another YouTube channel. It’s something I plan to grow gradually, content-wise. The truth is, I don’t know much about vlogging or creating cinematic video essays. But that’s the point — the channel will force me to learn. And by writing about the process here, in real time, I’ll learn even faster.

Build a Network

One of the best things about putting yourself out there is finding like-minded people. Sure, you’ll attract some trolls and negativity — but the interesting, positive people you’ll meet make it worth it.

A personal blog lays the foundation for a network of people who share your interests and values. Most friendships start with shared experiences, hobbies, and ideas — blogging is simply a modern way of doing that.

So blogging isn’t just a way to build a professional network; it’s also a way to build real friendships.

Write About Your Plans to Create Positive Pressure

This year, I wanted to improve my fiction-writing skills. Instead of keeping that goal to myself, I made it public — and instantly created accountability. Every time I think about skipping a day of writing, I remember that I’ve already made a public commitment. And I don’t want to be “that guy” who doesn’t follow through. So I sit down and write — even when I don’t feel like it.

If you want to lose weight, start a blog. It’ll give you the push you need to hit the gym. If you want to quit drinking or smoking — write about it. If you want to travel more, start a business, or make money online — make your goals public.

On the days when motivation fades, that public commitment will keep you going.

To Conclude

Blogging is about much more than making a quick buck. Honestly, for most people, it won’t even pay minimum wage. If your only goal is to get rich, you’d probably be better off working a few extra hours at your job.

But if you love writing, blogging can be one of the most fulfilling ways to enrich your life and become a more interesting person.

Getting Out of My Friend Group Made Me Stop Drinking Instantly

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I was never a heavy drinker. But there was a time when I got drunk almost every weekend. Altogether, that phase lasted about half a year during my late high school years — in Germany, that’s around the age of 18 or 19.

Once I finished high school and stopped seeing the group of friends I’d been hanging out with, I stopped drinking altogether. And I never got into it again.

In hindsight, calling them a friend group might be an exaggeration. Most of the guys I spent time with were people from school I used to play basketball, soccer, or video games with. As we got older and developed different interests, I realized how little we actually had in common.

Back in school, we always had something to talk about — classes, teachers, exams, and essays. We complained about teachers and joked about other classmates. But beyond school-related topics, the only thing that held us together was getting drunk on the weekends.

Once I recognized that, I realized I was only drinking because I was with them — as it was the only thing that connected us. Truth be told, I didn’t even like these people very much. And they probably didn’t like me that much either. We just kept hanging out out of habit, a routine that started back in seventh grade out of necessity.

When high school ended, I made a rule for myself: I would only spend time with people I could genuinely enjoy being around while sober.

Granted, my circle of friends has been quite small ever since — but, I like the few people in my life that I call friends and family. And, just like magic, I’ve never felt the urge to drink again.

If you want to cut back on your drinking, my advice would be: take a look at your friend group. Could you enjoy their company sober, or do you need alcohol to get along?

If it’s the latter, maybe it’s time to find a new circle or even life without a circle at all for a while. You’re only getting rid of people that you don’t really like anyway, and you probably get out of the habit of drinking. Two upsides, not a single downside.

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (Books to Read #1)

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One type of blog post I want to establish here is a book recommendation series. While I currently don’t have the time to read a book every week, there were years when I finished nearly 100 books in 365 days. I’ve never compiled the best ones into a single list — so why not start right here?

The first book I want to write about is my all-time favorite: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead is my favorite book of all time. Reading it sparked my philosophical journey and ignited a passion for learning and reading that continues to this day. My hope in writing this post is to inspire new readers to discover this classic work of philosophical fiction by Ayn Rand.

The Author

Ayn Rand remains a controversial figure. Her work has been dismissed through ad hominem attacks — and, as is often the case, such attacks suggest that her ideas are indeed worth examining.

Rand fled socialism in the Soviet Union, emigrated to the United States, and encountered capitalism — its complete opposite. After seeing how much wealth, prosperity, and freedom capitalism created, she developed a philosophy that challenges the moral foundation of socialism (altruism) by proposing its opposite: a philosophy based on rational self-interest.

Today, we live in a world that increasingly leans toward socialism everywhere. But our educational, political, and mainstream media institutions often blame capitalism for society’s problems which are actually caused by socialism, which pushes Western civilization even further down what Rand would call a “socialist death spiral.”

Here’s one of Rand’s earliest interviews (1959):

The Novel

The Fountainhead presents the ideal man according to Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism.

The protagonist, Howard Roark, embodies the traits every person should strive to develop on their journey toward a happy and fulfilling life.

Set in 1940s America, the story depicts a world being swallowed by socialism — its ideas slowly infiltrating private life, business, and art. Roark refuses to conform to the prevailing collectivist culture and faces fierce opposition for his independence. Yet he remains true to his principles, finding happiness through reason, logic, and self-confidence — both in his work and his love life.

The story serves as a striking analogy for our modern world, where socialism once again undermines individual freedom and achievement. It exploits the productive while rewarding dependency. The Fountainhead shows how one can not only survive in such a system — but thrive.

The Fountainhead trailer:

The book in a nutshell:

The Philosophy of The Fountainhead

The philosophy behind The Fountainhead is called Objectivism.

In the Russian literary tradition, Ayn Rand presented her philosophical ideas through storytelling. Howard Roark is the embodiment of Objectivism — the living example of her philosophy in action.

In short, Objectivism is about rational self-interest and the right of every individual to pursue their own happiness.

If you want to know more, here is a more detailed video:

The four main pillars of objectivism are:

  • Metaphysics: Objective Reality – “Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.”
  • Epistemology: Reason – “You can’t eat your cake and have it too.”
  • Ethics: Self-Interest – “Man is an end in himself.”
  • Politics: Capitalism – “Give me liberty or give me death.”

Howard Roark: The Ideal Man

According to Ayn Rand, the ideal man possesses three core virtues:

  1. Rationality
  2. Independence
  3. Self-Esteem

In simple terms:

  • Understand your emotions, but don’t act on them alone — act on reason.
  • Be independent — rely on your own judgment and abilities.
  • Develop self-confidence through competence — self-esteem is earned by mastery.

It’s said that Steve Jobs drew inspiration from Rand’s characters — particularly in Apple’s early days — at least according to the “Almighty Woz”:

Quotes from The Fountainhead

Some standout passages include:

The Importance of Work

“I have, let’s say, sixty years to live… I’ve chosen the work I want to do. If I find no joy in it, then I’m only condemning myself to sixty years of torture… The best is a matter of standards—and I set my own standards.” (p. 18)

Individualism in Work

“They were sketches of buildings such as had never stood on the face of the earth… They were only Howard Roark.” (p. 18–19)

Independence

“I owe you an apology. I don’t usually let things happen to me. I made a mistake this time… I should have left long ago.” (p. 22)

Defiance

“My dear fellow, who will let you?”
“That’s not the point. The point is, who will stop me?” (p. 23)

Rational Selfishness

“They have no self. They live within others. They live second-hand… He didn’t want to build, but to be admired as a builder.” (p. 605)

Happiness in Individualism

“If any man stopped and asked himself whether he’s ever held a truly personal desire, he’d see that all his dreams are motivated by other men…” (p. 607)

The Power of the Individual

“Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision… They fought, they suffered, and they paid. But they won.” (p. 736)

Capitalism vs. Socialism

“The creator’s concern is the conquest of nature. The parasite’s concern is the conquest of men.” (p. 738)

The Virtue of Independence

“Independence is the only gauge of human virtue and value… There is no substitute for personal dignity.” (p. 740)

Freedom

“I do not recognize anyone’s right to one minute of my life. Nor to any part of my energy. Nor to any achievement of mine.” (p. 743)

The Fountainhead: A Guide for Living

Objectivism has been called a philosophy for living on Earth.

For men especially, The Fountainhead offers a powerful role model — a guide to success and happiness grounded in reason and integrity.

Even if philosophy seems dry, stories like The Fountainhead bring ideas to life through narrative — much like Star Wars or Harry Potter, which also carry philosophical themes. Just as Luke Skywalker teaches us about courage and overcoming fear, Howard Roark teaches us how to live with purpose and self-respect.

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