Paul and Matthew dive into the Karate Kid ‘verse with the hit TV show Cobra Kai. What does it mean to be a bully or a hero, and how do we lock ourselves, and others, into those boxes? What happens when the victim gains enough power to become a bully themselves? Is physical violence an ethical response to verbal bullying?
Listen NowYou’ve killed the evil queen—but what happens to the kingdom? Does the evil gang/company/movement just go away when you kill their leader? And if your goal is to kill that leader, is it your responsibility to come up with a plan for what happens next?
Paul joins Matthew to dive into these questions and more. We use Avatar: Legend of Korra as a jumping-off point and look at how the questions are addressed in a number of ‘verses.
Listen NowWe don’t know when the movie is coming out, but we’re talking Black Widow! My cousin (to be) Ellie joins me to dive into questions like why this character is so important to the team and to us fans, her death and how it was handled, and our thoughts on the upcoming movie.
Listen NowWhen discussing superheroes and the decisions they make, a favorite topic among fans is the origins of these characters and how they have evolved through different writers and mediums. Today, we kick off a special series where Matthew is joined by superhero history expert Jess Plummer. Together, we will trace the history and development of these caped crusaders. Expect new episodes about once a month.
Listen NowSpecial guest Fox Kaye joins Matthew for a discussion of the ethical questions raised by The Old Guard, available on Netflix.
Listen NowWhat happens when the revolution ends, and it’s time to give up power? Is there value to fighting with honor? And what is a robot society like when they are the only form of life?
Paul and Matthew dive into these questions and more. Their conversation starts with Transformers: War for Cybertron, but no matter how much or little you know about Transformers, the discussion has plenty to explore.
Listen NowWho should Tony Stark answer to for Ultron? What about Scarlet Witch, for the events in Nigeria? Who should the Avengers be accountable to, and were the Sokovia Accords reasonable? Paul and I discuss issues of accountability across many of the Avengers movies and wrestle with the age-old question—Team Tony, or Team Cap.
Listen NowWith Matthew experiencing an internet outage, we’re taking this opportunity to introduce you to our new show, Pandavision! This episode dives into Amazon’s The Boys. Give it a listen and be sure to subscribe to Pandavision for more!
Listen NowFor our milestone 100th episode, we assembled a panel of FIVE distinguished guests for a riveting discussion on some of our favorite ethical quandaries. Who should heroes answer to? What defines a compelling villain? And in these trying times, would it be ethical for a person with mind-control powers to compel universal mask-wearing until the pandemic’s conclusion?
Listen NowThe Clone Wars TV series adds layers of nuance and moral complexity to the well-known stories of Anakin’s fall and the demise of the Jedi, while also exploring questions that resonate with our own world. What becomes of peacekeepers when they take on the role of generals? What is the moral value of clones, and how is their treatment justified? And what are the consequences when a war is fought without understanding its underlying reasons?
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