The Kingsmen

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] Railing Against Death 

[00:04:52] Processing Grief Through the Characters

[00:07:03] Helpless in the Face of Death

[00:07:53] Missing the Mark

[00:10:05] The Suffering of Being Silenced

[00:11:37] Biblical Lament

[00:13:41] Why is More Important than How

[00:17:40] The Domain of Science versus Metaphysics

[00:20:29] Modern Understanding of Religion

[00:23:19] Judging Moral Superiority 

[00:26:04] Is it Moral to Sacrifice Someone Else? 

[00:28:06] Queen Ramonda as a Type of Mary

[00:32:34] Breaking the Cycle of Violence through Mercy

[00:35:48] Hopeful Intercession of the Saints

[00:38:24] Shuri's Core Identity

[00:39:38] Mother Mary, Child of God

[00:41:26] Envisioning the Enemy as Our Brother

[00:44:14] Comparing the Conflicts Between the Two Movies

[00:45:36] The Stupidity and Futility of Evil

[00:47:17] The Gift of Wise Counsel

[00:48:08] The Life-Saving Restraints of Religion

[00:49:53] Resurrection Makes Forgiveness Possible

[00:52:36] Deification as Becoming Something More Than Human

[00:54:54] Communion: Participating in God's Humility

[00:59:18] Ignoring Our Loss and Grief Through Tech 

[01:03:20] Conclusion

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, Right?
[00:01:12] Who Cares about a Nobody?
[00:01:44] The Rebellion from the Ground
[00:02:42] Identifying with the Oppressed
[00:03:45] Everyday Evil
[00:08:50] Evil as a Manifestation of Empire
[00:10:51] Imperial Tolerance of Cultural Heritage
[00:14:31] Exterminating Germs, Not Human Beings
[00:16:40] Giving Up Freedoms for Security
[00:18:52] Comfort Stations
[00:21:19] Jesus' Temptation to Feed Himself
[00:22:17] Something Worth Living and Dying For
[00:25:23] Different Soils, Different Fruits
[00:27:09] Keeping Hope Alive
[00:28:50] True Vision is Love
[00:30:35] Conforming to the Empire's Image
[00:32:43] On Becoming Less or More Human
[00:34:05] Evil Breaks Down, Love Builds Up
[00:35:40] True Christianity is Not Abusive
[00:36:31] The Power of Rituals
[00:38:08] Andor as a Chiasm
[00:42:04] Rituals Inform Identity
[00:45:59] Models of Sacrifice
[00:47:50] Rituals of Selfishness and Selflessness
[00:51:35] Maarva's Foundation of Love
[00:52:59] Luthen's Foundation of Anger
[00:54:43] A Morally Gray Star Wars
[00:55:01] Sacrificing Out of Love vs Hate
[00:57:02] Maarva and Luthen Share Ends, But Not Means
[00:58:31] Can Evil Be Used to Defeat Evil?
[01:00:22] The Nonviolence of Jiu-Jitsu
[01:02:16] Whose Method is Superior, Maarva's or Luthen's?
[01:03:34] Conclusion

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 broken hearts today.

1. [00:00:02] Introduction
2. [00:06:17] Luke's Christmas Story as a Musical
3. [00:07:43] Jesus in Gethsemane Viewed as a Musical
4. [00:09:31] Mirabel and Miracle
5. [00:10:26] Movies are Parables
6. [00:10:55] Did Mirabel have Miracle?
7. [00:12:28] Charismatic Gifts
8. [00:15:03] Gifts and Worth
9. [00:17:02] Burnout from Earning Worth
10. [00:21:09] Longing to Belong
11. [00:28:21] Misunderstanding the Gift of Prophecy
12. [00:32:12] Prophecies are Meant to Change your Fate
13. [00:37:00] Denial of Brokenness
14. [00:40:09] Leading from Trauma
15. [00:44:18] The Miracle Candle and the Sacrifice of Abuelo
16. [00:49:21] Gentleness and Strength
17. [00:51:34] Mirabel and her Gift of Empathy
18. [00:56:38] Embracing the Enemy
19. [00:59:35] God's Household is Open to All
20. [01:00:33] Conclusion

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?

1. [00:00:19] Introduction
2. [00:02:47] Initial Thoughts on Loki
3. [00:05:03] Graciousness toward God
4. [00:09:08] Letting Go of Control
5. [00:09:56] Respect for Mystery
6. [00:13:58] The Shape of Authoritarianism
7. [00:21:34] Catalysts of Transformation
8. [00:26:20] Is Self-Love Always Narcissistic?
9. [00:32:40] To Be Human, One Requires an Other
10. [00:42:18] Fundamental Attribution Error
11. [00:44:44] The Punitive Time-Loop as Parable and Metaphor of Hell
12. [00:49:13] Family, Not Enemies
13. [00:53:07] Inspiring the Other to Be Better
14. [00:55:52] Seeing Eternity as Eternal Growth
15. [00:57:28] Free Will, Determinism, and Resurrection
16. [01:09:22] The Scandalous Incarnational Embodiment of God
17. [01:11:13] Glorious Purpose
18. [01:12:38] Closing Remarks

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

• [00:00:12] Introduction
• [00:05:19] Theme of Power and Privilege
• [00:19:36] Sam is a Peacemaker
• [00:25:22] The Symbolism of the Shield
• [00:31:49] The Shield and Its Bearer as Incarnation
• [00:38:18] Various Responses to the Ideal/Shield
• [00:45:44] John Walker, Resentment, Idolatry
• [00:52:18] The Difference Between Following Order and Doing What’s Right
• [01:00:21] Characters Represent Political POVs
• [01:03:22] The Armor and Shield from Wakanda
• [01:11:46] Art Creates Space to Imagine Potential
• [01:17:55] The Struggle of Democracy as a Social Practice
• [01:19:19] Sharon Carter: Good Person Wronged and then Gave Up on the Cause of Justice
• [01:21:47] Conclusion

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 disgusted with yourself if you miss out. Trust us, you’ll be joyful that you didn’t.

1. [00:00:32] Introduction
2. [00:02:35] What makes Inside Out such a good movie?
3. [00:06:50] What happens to memories? Are they truly forgotten?
4. [00:09:38] How does Bing Bong reflect Christ?
5. [00:11:13] What is imagination, why is it so important for life, and how does it complement with Joy?
6. [00:19:35] What is the significance of Joy as our first emotion?
7. [00:23:12] What makes Joy unique in respect to the other emotions?
8. [00:25:13] Why are the range of emotions equally important?
9. [00:30:25] What exactly is Joy? In the general sense and specifically in Christian terms?
10. [00:42:40] Why is it healthy to embrace personal and corporate sadness?
11. [00:50:00] Are we allowed to feel anger, fear, or sadness?
12. [00:51:42] Would relying only on emotions lead us astray?
13. [00:55:58] How might reason and emotions work together in decision-making??
14. [00:57:18] What is Sadness’s unique contribution that Joy could not provide?
15. [01:02:00] How can Joy sustain us during the COVID-19 pandemic?
16. [01:05:28] Do children have disparate feelings?
17. [01:08:25] How might self-talk be so deceptive?
18. [01:13:17] What is the value of going through the Pit?
19. [01:26:50] Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

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 miss it. We have spoken!

1. [00:00:21]  Introduction
2. [00:01:08]  War of Mandalore and Peace of Christianity
3. [00:13:50]  Kuiil: A Kenotic Christ Figure
4. [00:17:12]  IG-11: Resurrection and Transformation
5. [00:24:28]  Baby Yoda: Another Christ Figure
6. [00:27:12]  Understanding the Mudhorn Pit
7. [00:33:43]  The Powerful God Incarnated in Weak Flesh
8. [00:41:12]  Trust Overcomes Betrayal
9. [01:03:15]  Let Go of Prejudices and Learn to Trust
10. [01:07:18]  The Vacuum of Fallen Empire
11. [01:13:19]  Conclusion

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 with this one!

• [00:00:00]  Intro
• [00:00:42]  Kylo Ren’s Mask and the Art of Kintsugi
• [00:05:05]  Re-Telling & Re-Imagining of the Skywalker Myth
• [00:07:33]  Redeeming Skywalkers
• [00:16:28]  The Impact of Our Perspective on Others and Ourselves
• [00:25:56]  Resolving Identity Crisis and Overcoming Loneliness
• [00:44:35]  Overcoming Cosmic Evil
• [00:57:04]  The Pit and Coming Out from It
• [01:02:37]  The False Security of Invulnerability and Power
• [01:09:36]  Confronting Evil in Trinitarian Partnership
• [01:19:02]  Acceptance: Freedom from Old and Journey to the New
• [01:25:46]  The Universal Activity of the Holy Spirit
• [01:33:03]  Conclusion

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

1. 00:00:00 - Introduction
2. 00:00:40 - Iron-Man and Spider-Man's Relationship
3. 00:14:11 - Why is Spider-Man Worthy?
4. 00:35:51 - Mysterio: False Hero, False Prophet
5. 00:55:48 - The Peter Tingle and the Christian’s Spiritual Discernment
6. 01:08:42 - The Heart of the Kingsmen Podcast
7. 01:12:27 - Conclusion