The Kingsmen

S4E03 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The Kingsmen take on the hit film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9114286/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk]. 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

S4E02 Andor

The Kingsmen [http://thekingsmenpodcast.com] enter into the morally gray world of Star Wars: Andor [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9253284/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk]. 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

S4E01 Encanto

The Kingsmen [http://thekingsmenpodcast.com] dive into the magical miracle of Encanto (2021) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2953050/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk]. 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

S3E02 Loki

The Kingsmen welcome Dr. Kutter Callaway [https://www.kuttercallaway.com] to unpack the mind-bending Marvel show, Loki [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9140554/] (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

S3E01 The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

The Kingsmen [https://thekingsmenpodcast.com] premiers its third season by delving into the thought-provoking show, The Falcon & the Winter Soldier (2021) [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9208876/]. 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