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

Small-Town Comedian Leanne Morgan Is Back, and This Time She’s on Netflix

Leanne Morgan’s new comedy special, “I’m Every Woman” draws on her rural roots to deliver tastefully irreverent and hilarious material.

by Caroline Carlson

‘The Big Door Prize’ Is a Poignant Look at Rural Life’s ‘True Potential’

A small town is turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious fortune-telling machine in this Apple TV series.

by Keith Roysdon

‘Yellowjackets’ Tells a Twisty-Turny Tale of Survival

‘Lost’ meets ‘Lord of the Flies’ in Showtime’s ‘Yellowjackets,’ which follows a girls’ soccer team’s struggle to survive after their plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness.

by Keith Roysdon

‘Rūrangi’ Sets the Curve for Rural Queer Storytelling

The award-winning drama from New Zealand, now streaming in the U.S., shows a deft touch in addressing issues that will be familiar in any number of rural places.

by Anya Slepyan

The Best (Rural) Picture Goes To…

From feature films and documentaries to animated and live-action short films, there were some hidden rural gems to discover during this year’s Hollywood award season.

by Adam B. Giorgi

A True Rural Story Is Mined for Movie Madness in ‘Cocaine Bear’

If a bear finds some illicit substances in the woods, and Hollywood hears about it, you may have a box office hit on your hands.

by Keith Roysdon

Retracing a Rural Crime Story in ‘Black Bird’

Backroad locales and riveting performances make an impression in Apple TV’s limited drama series, adapted from a nonfiction book and the true events that inspired it.

by Keith Roysdon

Catching up with ‘Yellowstone,’ TV’s Trending Rural Phenomenon

Part western, part soap opera, Yellowstone isn’t just one of the most-watched shows on TV. It’s also the centerpiece of a growing rural-centric entertainment empire.

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.

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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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