Bustle

Ivana Rihter

Bio
Ivana Rihter is Bustle’s LA-based entertainment writer, covering film, tv and pop culture. Her writing has appeared in Vogue, Allure, Nylon, Vice, i-D, Narratively and more. Before moving to Los Angeles, Ivana studied journalism and peace, justice and conflict in Chicago and went on to work at Vogue in New York.

What Gina Carano's 'Mandalorian' Character Taught Her About Self-Acceptance

The alliance starbird under her left eye can only mean one thing: rebel. The Mandalorian’s Cara Dune (Gina Carano) fought in the galactic war as a shock trooper, but now she's facing the difficult reality of finding purpose in life after battle. The…
By Ivana Rihter

'Mrs. Fletcher' Merges The Fantasy & Reality Of Porn In One Standout Episode

“Lick my nipples,” Eve Fletcher instructs her one-night stand Michael after throwing him onto the bed in a white wine-induced frenzy. Her cozy green sweater crumpled on the floor, she leans her head back in ecstasy, until — “Now you lick mine,”…
By Ivana Rihter

This New Netflix Show Turns Dolly Parton Songs Into Delightfully Cheesy Hallmark Movies

Spoilers ahead for the "Jolene" episode of Dolly Parton's Heartstrings. As a whole, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings leans into the melodrama of Parton's iconic work. The country legend has never been one to mince words, and in the new anthology series,…
By Ivana Rihter

Olaf Is Having An Existential Crisis In 'Frozen 2'

Olaf first appeared in the world of Frozen as a snowman Anna and Elsa built together in their childhood. Now, as seen in the 2013 film's sequel, the wintry goofball is in the midst of an existential crisis. “This will all make sense when I am…
By Ivana Rihter

Netflix's 'The Knight Before Christmas' Is Totally Bonkers, Which Is *Exactly* Why You Should Watch It

There is nothing like a midwestern Christmas. Snow blankets the trees, hot apple cider flows freely, and homes are adorned with warm twinkly lights. For Brooke (Vanessa Hudgens), it appears as though it is going to be a particularly quiet Christmas…
By Ivana Rihter

The IRL Inspiration For 'The Morning Show' Proves Fact Really Is Wilder Than Fiction

Bustle's I Keep It Real series pulls back the curtain at how your favorite movies & TV shows are able to feel as realistic as possible. From Broadcast News to The Newsroom to The Post and beyond, the world of journalism has fascinated audiences by…
By Ivana Rihter

The 'Looking For Alaska' & 'Gossip Girl' Creators On Why You Can't Resist A Good Teen Show

“You don’t sound like you are in high school,” a scraggly-haired liquor store cashier says to Alaska Young (Kristine Froseth) in the first episode of the new Hulu series Looking for Alaska. “That, Gus, is the whole point,” she retorts before…
By Ivana Rihter

The End Of Jesse Pinkman’s Journey Hit ‘El Camino’ Star Aaron Paul “Hard”

Spoilers ahead. "Grimly determined, fearing nothing, [Jesse] speeds through the darkness," reads the final episode of Breaking Bad, written and directed by series creator Vince Gilligan. "From here on, it’s up to us to say where he’s headed. I like…
By Ivana Rihter

If You've Ever Struggled To Orgasm, You Need To See This 'Big Mouth' Episode

“Maybe I’m just going to be one of those women who can’t have an orgasm,” an exasperated Jessi (Jessi Klein) declares after a few attempts to pleasure herself without an explosive finale to speak of. Big Mouth Season 3 is here, and it features even…
By Ivana Rihter

These Videos From 'Quarter Life Poetry' Will Make You Feel Less Alone In Your Anxiety

When Samantha Jayne started jotting down her deepest fears and everyday anxieties on a Google Doc, she could not conceive of that fact that one day they would inspire a show. What started as a collection of short poems paired with cartoons she…
By Ivana Rihter

How Anna and Elsa's Relationship Has Changed in 'Frozen 2'

Enchanted forests and magical beings await Anna (Kristen Bell) and Elsa (Idina Menzel) as they embark on their next adventure in Frozen 2, coming to theaters Nov. 22. Three years have passed since the events of the 2013 original, and Elsa is trying…
By Ivana Rihter

How Experts Say 'Unbelievable' Gets The Painful Reality Of Rape Kits Right

“Every rape has three crime scenes,” Detective Karen Duval (Merritt Wever) says in Netflix's new drama series Unbelievable. “The location of the assault, the body of the attacker, and the body of the victim.” A sexual assault forensic exam,…
By Ivana Rihter

How The Pole Dancing In ‘Hustlers’ Defines Each Character

When the audience first meets Ramona (Jennifer Lopez), she's sauntering on stage in a pair of sky-high stilettos. Her customers are entranced and bills fly in every direction as she spins around the silver pole, flipping her hair and making it all…
By Ivana Rihter

Richie’s Storyline In ‘It Chapter Two’ Offers Hope In A World Of Bigotry & Fear

Major spoilers ahead. From the nauseating hate crime that opens It Chapter Two to the devastating flashbacks Richie Tozier (Bill Hader) has of his childhood, it is clear that living in the town of Derry as a marginalized person is treacherous, as…
By Ivana Rihter

How The 'It Chapter Two' Ending Still Leaves The Door Open For Another Movie

Major spoilers ahead for It Chapter Two. The past has a way of repeating itself. The Losers Club of the It movies knows this firsthand. When they first meet Pennywise, they're a group of misfit kids running from their fears. And when he makes his…
By Ivana Rihter

What Experts Say Jessica's '13 Reasons Why' Journey Can Teach Us About Trauma Recovery

The effects of sexual trauma linger. They infiltrate everyday interactions, impact future relationships, and change one's relationship with one’s body. Navigating the healing process is difficult for anyone, but especially so for a young person who…
By Ivana Rihter

What The History Of Kissing In Film Can Tell Us About Ourselves, According To The Experts

Kissing is an art, and like all art forms, the dominant style changes across eras. In movies especially, there are the classics, the rebels and the anomalies that happened ahead of their time. Audiences have been mesmerized and scandalized by this…
By Ivana Rihter