Retcon Artist
Sometimes it’s a plot hole. Sometimes it’s a holy plot.
The Unavoidable Allure of Alternate Universes: Right Place, Right Time
Alternate universe stories give us a chance to see what the characters in the narratives we love are really made of. Strip away the trappings of their circumstances, put them in different hardships and opportunities, and what do they become?…
The Unavoidable Allure of Alternate Universes: Women in the Room
There’s a real seduction to multiverse stories. Seeing how all the same pieces rearrange themselves into a recognizable but different whole; seeing who these characters really are by removing the trappings; watching how a tiny choice made in a tiny…
Editorial: My Part in The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill
I don’t think I’ve heard this much buzz around a podcast since Serial came out in late 2014. Remember that show? For a few tantalizing months that year, we were all wrapped up in the story of a young man…
How to Ruin a Movie in 45 Minutes
I talked in my last article about the bedrock principle behind what Reel World Theology does: figuring out the core of a story, and pointing out the resonance (or the dissonance) with God’s story. But what is the core of…
The MCU is Trying to Kill Reel World Theology
Marvel is trying to put Reel World Theology out of a job with phase four of their cinematic universe. In our little corner of the multiverse, it’s not exactly news that every story is about something; but over the past…
Learning from the Diaspora Community of In the Heights
The streets are music and the stars are made of fireworks; the coffee isn’t coffee but it’s love con leche, and sueñitos of the peoples in these ordinary places come alive in Washington Heights. You just have to see the…
10 Things That Make Perfect Sense About The Captain America Trilogy If You Actually Watch It
In three movies over nearly seven hours, Captain America is showcased at length, and if you actually watch the movies and think a little bit, every detail that matters makes total sense. Clickbait abounds, though, and a recent piece by…
"Crisis Point" – Star Trek: Lower Decks S1E09
After episode 8 overdosed on fan nostalgia for The Undiscovered Country, “Crisis Point” makes it clear that there’s a competition for the episode with the most fun fan callbacks; and the prize isn’t even close to being awarded yet. Thankfully,…