The Daily Yonder presents "The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy"

Celebrating rural contributions to the cultural conversation and popular imagination. Dropping in your inbox every other Thursday.

Presenting The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy.

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The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy is a newsletter from the Daily Yonder focused on rural media, entertainment, and culture. In each edition, you’ll find features reviews, retrospectives, recommendations, and more. Let’s dig into the best, and worst, of rural representation on our screens, speakers, stages, and pages.

Get Up to Speed

Welcome to the Rural Horror Picture Show

Whether you’re looking for some scary movies to watch or you’re just curious why there have been so many rural tropes in the horror genre, there’s no better time to check out our latest podcast series.

by Adam B. Giorgi

In Netflix’s ‘Sex Education,’ an Unexpected Rural Utopia?

We bid a fond farewell to the teenagers of Moordale for the fourth and final season of this series that used its setting in the countryside to compelling effect.

by Olivia Weeks

Real-Life Rural Judge Serves Up Inspiration for Reba McEntire’s ‘The Hammer’

The landscapes and culture of rural Nevada star in this made-for-TV movie, alongside the country music icon.

by Claire Carlson

The Real Housewives of… Rural Illinois?

Wealthy urbanites descend on small-town Benton, Illinois in a new reality show spinoff. And, fortunately, the joke isn’t on the Illinoisans.

by Olivia Weeks

‘Hillbilly’ Redux: Reclaiming a Word, a Region, and a People

Hillbilly is a loaded term, enough to warrant a documentary film on the subject. Five years later, efforts to change perceptions continue.

by Keith Roysdon

‘Somebody Somewhere’ is a Worthy Watch for Anybody Anywhere

The HBO series offers a small-town story more interested in defining rural life on its own terms than serving as a reactionary alternative to anything else on TV.

by Adam B. Giorgi

Spotlighting Rural Crime Fiction

Small-town mysteries have always been popular. But a recent wave of rural crime novels has some celebrating a new Golden Age of the genre.

by Keith Roysdon

Looking Back on the Rich Rural Backdrop of TV’s ‘Justified’

As a new sequel takes the action to Detroit, we revisit the acclaimed original series, which brought complex characters and crime stories to the hills and hollers of eastern Kentucky.

by Keith Roysdon

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Brought to You By

Adam B. Giorgi is the main writer behind “The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy.” He hails from the Iron Range of northern Minnesota.

He wears a lot of different hats at the Daily Yonder, but this newsletter allows him to tap into one of his most natural talents: geeking out about a good many things.

Get More from Adam

Keith Roysdon is a regular contributor to “The Good, the Bad, and the Elegy.” He hails from Muncie, Indiana and currently lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

He’s a a retired newspaper reporter and editor who continues to write news and pop culture commentary as well as fiction. He’s co-authored four true crime books, including “The Westside Park Murders,” which was named Best Nonfiction Book of 2021 by the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists.

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