Jenny Nicholson’s Top 5 YouTube Video Essays

Long-form YouTuber Jenny Nicholson, who specialises in fandom culture, odd parts of the internet and theme parks, is going viral for her spectacular and scathing review of the now-defunct Star Wars Hotel, which is officially known by Disney as Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.  

Nicholson paid a whopping $6,000+ for the two-night stay at the hotel for herself and her sister, with the expectation of a luxurious setting and a meticulous live-action roleplaying experience for Star Wars nerds.

While she praised the quirky performances by actors and the endless buffet, the video details a laundry list of shortcomings: from tiny rooms with barely any space for luggage, to a pole that blocked audience members from viewing the musical dinner show. 

If you’ve not managed to watch the essay yet – or are still making your way through the four hour and five-minute video – then you can catch up below:

This project is just one of many from Nicholson, who frequently delves into the oddest corners of pop culture. I’ve watched many of her videos over the years, and if you’ve now joined her legions of fans, I’d like to share some of the best ones to check out.  

The Church Play Cinematic Universe 

Not only is this my favourite Jenny Nicholson essay, it’s also one of my top-rated videos full stop.  

It’s an analysis of thirteen of the Easter musical shows produced by Church of the Rock, an Evangelical place of worship in Canada. Instead of just putting on a traditional service, the pastor and members stage an unbelievably elaborate play, themed after a well-known film and/or franchise, mixed in with pop songs.

These plays incorporate religious references throughout and include elements of the traditional Easter story. For example, in 2009 they showcased ‘Pirates of the Galilean’, featuring ‘Captain Jack Saviour’ as the main character.  

This show uses an impressive replica of the Black Pearl ship on a turntable, complete with functioning cannons. During the story, Jack is crucified by Barbossa and tied to the mast of the boat. When he makes his triumphant rise from the dead, the cast sing ‘What Will We Do With a Risen Saviour?’

Watch out for the repeated cameos from the pastor, and terrible impressions of famous characters.  

THE Vampire Diaries Video 

Disclaimer: you don’t need to be a fan of 2010’s The CW hit The Vampire Diaries to enjoy this video. In fact, it’s probably even better if you’re not.  

Nicholson delves into the baffling lore of the show, from debating how vampire blood works on both humans and creatures, to lead Elena’s evil arc during which she shows up at a party making scathing remarks while Icona Pop’s hit ‘I Don’t Care’ blasts in the background.  

She also includes a standout section about the lazy writing for the character Bonnie, which includes a love interest that’s (sort of) her own brother. If you’ve ever watched any other CW hit like Supernatural or series in the Arrowverse, you’ll recognise the tacky editing style and bonkers plot details.

With twelve million hits and counting, this is Nicholson’s most popular video, and it’s easy to see why.  

A needlessly thorough roast of Dear Evan Hansen (2021) 

You may have heard of the musical Dear Evan Hansen in passing, but not many people know how unhinged the film’s plot is. Fortunately, Jenny is here to help.  

Nicholson tears apart the movie adaptation of the stage show, which was released in 2021. It starred Ben Platt, a 27-year-old man who is unsuccessfully trying to cosplay as a high school character.  

Evan should be the protagonist you root for, but as Jenny details, his lies are malicious and a poor excuse for his loneliness. I won’t spoil how bad they are, but trust me… they’re bad.  

Nicholson frequently dresses up for her analysis, and this is one my personal favourites, incorporating a messy wig, dark eye bags and ill-fitting striped polo – not forgetting the broken arm, of course. 

There’s something wrong with Hallmark’s youtube channel 

If you’re short on time and can’t commit to a multi-hour Jenny Nicholson video, then this twenty-minute Hallmark YouTube analysis fits the bill perfectly.  

I didn’t even know that Hallmark had social media channels like this, but Nicholson delves into the hilarious lore of everyone involved, including the rivalry between presenters Nicole and Lauren.  

These videos are meant to teach viewers simple home hacks, but they’re completely useless. For example, in a cocktail recommendations video, one of the examples involves a mysterious punch that was made ahead of time (with no recipe detailed in the video), with just a bit of dry ice added to it.  

Nicholson picks apart these cheap and unintentionally funny videos, and rightly so.  

Evermore: The Theme Park That Wasn’t 

If you were intrigued by the theme park aspect of the Star Wars Hotel… I mean… Galactic Starcruiser, then you should absolutely check out Nicholson’s experience with Evermore in Utah, which also went out of business.  

In theory, Evermore sounded like every fantasy fan’s dream. This theme park was supposed to take inspiration from renaissance fairs, The Lord of the Rings, steampunk and D&D, and feature a fully immersive experience with actors, animatronics and rides.  

If you thought Disney’s experience was a flop, you’ve seen nothing yet. This park opened half-finished, with barely any food options and no liquor licence. Storylines and quests were a complete mess, with performers seemingly as confused as the guests.

It permanently closed in April 2024, so this video is one of the few remaining reminders of its existence. As always, Jenny delves into the failings of the park and isn’t afraid to call out those who should be held accountable.