The Kingsmen take on the hit film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). By watching extraordinary heroes and villains grapple with grief and the threat of destruction, we learn something about what it means to be human, to lament, to be merciful, to forgive, and to find peace. [00:00:07] Intro [00:00:38] Honoring Chadwick Boseman [00:03:12] Railin…

The Kingsmen enter into the morally gray world of Star Wars: Andor. Though it occurs in a galaxy far, far away, it is strikingly similar to our own world here. Join us as we draw out some Christian and religious insights on oppression, evil, hope, humanity, ritual, sacrifice, and love. [00:00:13] Introduction [00:00:28] Andor is a Stupid Show, Righ…

The Kingsmen dive into the magical miracle of Encanto (2021). Feel like you’re the only one with no gifts or talents? Feel like you can’t live up to everyone’s expectations? Ostracized for being yourself? Well, then, cry it out with us! In this episode, Simon and Joey share how this beautiful movie conveys the best parts of the Christian gospel to …

The Kingsmen welcome Dr. Kutter Callaway to unpack the mind-bending Marvel show, Loki (2021). What makes a person? Can a person change and become better? Is a human (or a god’s) life predetermined, or do they have free will? Is self-love always narcissistic? What makes a system authoritarian? What is your glorious purpose? [00:00:19] Introduction […

The Kingsmen premiers its third season by delving into the thought-provoking show, The Falcon & the Winter Soldier (2021). With their esteemed guest, Jordan Acosta, they explore topics like power and privilege, conflicting interpretations of symbols, the worthiness of a successor, imagining a just future, and striving to always do better. Contents …

The Kingsmen and special guest, Danny Fitelson, embark on an inward journey exploring emotions in Disney Pixar’s Inside Out (2015). What is the purpose and effect of emotions and human imagination? How do Joy AND Sadness partner together in the Christian life? Don’t be afraid to let your emotions out on this episode. You might get angry and disgust…

Baby Yoda is the best! The Kingsmen unpack the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian (Season 1). How does the Mandalorian culture and creed sync with Christianity? In what ways do Kuiil the Ugnaught and Baby Yoda reflect the figure of Jesus Christ? How can we revolutionize a world marked by betrayal? Joey and Simon go deep into these subjects. Don’t m…

The Kingsmen pay homage to the finale of the 49-year Star Wars saga, with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Joey and Simon reflect on how culture re-imagines mythology, how identity is formed, and the way to defeat evil without becoming evil yourself, and how God subtly works throughout the universe to rescue every creature. The Force is strong wi…

Superman has had a prevailing impact on popular culture, sparking the imagination of every new generation. The Kingsmen explore what makes Superman so fascinating and how the hero reflects truths about Jesus Christ. Timestamp of Contents [00:00:00] San Diego Comic Con: Affirm or Counter Culture? [00:04:45] Superman’s Dual Identities as Same and Oth…

In the consequential aftermath of Thanos' destructive snap and ultimate defeat, Spiderman: Far From Home grapples with themes like grief, self-worth, following in the footsteps of heroes, the passing of the mantle, and exercising discernment of character. As always, The Kingsmen analyze these themes through a Christian worldview. Contents 00:00:00 …

Among all the analogies that Christians use to describe God, none has been more central than the concept of God as Parent. In the second season opener, the Kingsmen reflect on both the paternal and maternal qualities of God. As usual, the Kingsmen suggest several movie references that showcase this concept of God as Parent.Episode Outline: 00:00:00…

The Kingsmen conclude their two-part discussion on Avengers: Endgame in their first season finale. Focusing on the meta-theme of Resurrection Simon argues that Ant-Man's return from Thanos’ decimation snap is, in a way, a kind of resurrection. And since the capstone of the Christian faith is the historical moment when Jesus bodily rose from death t…

The Kingsmen assemble! We discuss the cultural phenomenon that is Avengers: Endgame (2019). With talking points that range from Christlike sacrifice to the astronomical significance of just one rat, we reflect on ways that the film illuminates Christian truths. In many ways, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the current culture and society’s mytholo…

The Kingsmen explore the idea of villains. What makes a bad guy "bad"? By discussing some iconic villains like Darth Vader, the Joker, Thanos and Cersei, we sketch the outlines of what makes a person a villain versus a hero. Like always, we draw parallels between pop culture and the Christian perspective. In this episode, we discuss how villains sh…

The Kingsmen return to the DCEU with a discussion on 2018's Aquaman. How might Aquaman illustrate profound Christian concepts like the Incarnation, kingship, and the divine trajectory of peace and unity? How does peace overcome violence and tyranny? And, most importantly what attributes characterize a true hero? Apparently, Aquaman does more than j…

In the sixth episode of the Kingsmen, we invite Dr. Steven Felix-Jager, an expert in Christian/Pentecostal aesthetics, to describe why art is so important to human and Christian life, and what we can do to participate in the transformative power of art. As a case study, we examine how Marvel’s Daredevil, as a work of art, explores questions of just…

In the latest episode on the Kingsmen, Simon delves into the Netflix series "Stranger Things" and attempts to point out similarities that the show has with the concept of Church. How does the experience and relationships of the characters reflect the reality of what the Church should be?

In this episode, the Kingsmen explore Pixar's Coco reflecting on the film's parallels to Christian Eschatology. How does Miguel's journey through the land of the dead while solving his family's mystery reflect the purpose for Christ's return?Episode 004 will analyze Black Panther (2018). Leave a comment, and we'll try to incorporate your questions,…

What values does Wonder Woman (2017) parallel with the Christian faith, especially as it relates to how evil is confronted?

How To Do This Too...

The pilot episode of Joey and Simon's new podcast - an intersection on pop culture, theology and Jiu Jitsu. When comparing Thanos with Jesus, how are we supposed to respond to scarcity and need?