Finding the Balance Between Innovation and AuthenticityMatthew and Riki dive into the complex world of remakes, reboots, and adaptations. The discussion was inspired by Matthew's disappointment with the new Daredevil series and explores why some re-imaginings work while others fall flat.What Makes a Good Adaptation?According to the hosts, successfu…

Robin Hood & Heist Movies: Why Do We Love Stealing from the Rich?Matthew and Riki dive into the enduring appeal of Robin Hood stories and modern heist films. Sparked by Riki's rewatch of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the conversation explores why stories about stealing from the wealthy continue to resonate across centuries—and why the ul…

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – Propaganda, Complicity, and Haymitch's StoryIn this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki welcome special guest Danielle from WrittenInTheStarWars to dive deep into Suzanne Collins’ newest novel in The Hunger Games franchise, Sunrise on the Reaping. The trio explores how this prequel reveals …

In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki analyze HBO's The Penguin series starring Colin Farrell and Cristin Milioti. Set in Matt Reeves' Batman universe following the events of The Batman movie, the show explores the power vacuum left in Gotham's criminal underworld after the fall of crime boss Carmine Falcone.What makes Oz Cobb…

Exploring Trauma and Recovery in Star Trek: DS9's "It's Only a Paper Moon"In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki examine Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's acclaimed episode "It's Only a Paper Moon" (Season 7, Episode 10). The episode stands out for its realistic portrayal of physical and psychological trauma as Ferengi character Nog…

The Final Deep Dive into Cobra Kai: Breaking Down the Series ConclusionIn this episode of Superhero Ethics, Matthew and returning guest Paul analyze the final five episodes of Cobra Kai, examining how the show wrapped up its major character arcs and thematic elements. From Johnny Lawrence's redemption to Sensei Kreese's apology tour, they dissect t…

Daredevil: Born Again – Ethical Analysis and Critical ReviewIn this episode of Superhero Ethics, host Matthew Fox and comic book expert Jessica Plummer dive into their critical analysis of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+. As longtime fans of the original Netflix series, they explore how the new series departs dramatically from what made the origin…

Daredevil: Born Again – Essential Character PrimerIn this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew Fox and comic book expert Jessica Plummer break down everything you need to know about Daredevil before watching Daredevil: Born Again. Whether you're new to the character or just need a refresher on the Netflix series, this primer covers the essent…

In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki analyze the Netflix film Rebel Ridge, exploring its depiction of police corruption, less-lethal violence, civil asset forfeiture, and systemic racism through the lens of an action thriller. The discussion centers on protagonist Terry Richmond, a former Marine skilled in de-escalation techn…

How Does War Change a Nation? Exploring Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's Complex ThemesIn this episode of Superhero Ethics, Matthew and Riki dive deep into Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, examining how this influential anime tackles challenging questions about war, revenge, and national guilt. The hosts explore how the series portrays a nation …

Who Watches the Heroes?When superheroes cause civilian casualties while trying to save the world, who holds them responsible? This episode dives deep into the complex ethics of superhero accountability, using Marvel's Civil War (the comics) and the MCU’s Captain America: Civil War (the movie) as starting points to explore broader questions about po…

Matthew and Riki, along with returning guest Abby, dive deep into Section 31, Star Trek's controversial covert intelligence organization. The discussion explores the ethical implications of having a secretive, unaccountable agency within Starfleet and examines the recent Section 31 movie starring Michelle Yeoh.How does Section 31 challenge Star Tre…

Unpacking the Powerful Trans Allegory in I Saw the TV GlowMatthew and Riki dive deep into the indie horror film I Saw the TV Glow and explore how it serves as a poignant and powerful allegory for the trans experience. The hosts discuss the film's unique approach to horror, its nostalgic 90s setting, and the way it allows a trans person to potential…

Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of the most compelling ethical questions in superhero media: the role of vengeance as a motivator for heroes, villains, and anti-heroes. Joined by comic book expert Jessica Plummer, they explore how vengeance shapes character arcs and storytelling across various franchises.With this episode, we’re launching our m…

Matthew & Riki join returning guest Jessica Plummer to dive deep into the new Superman trailer and what it reveals about James Gunn's vision for the iconic superhero. The discussion explores how this interpretation appears to be returning to Superman's core essence as a beacon of hope and protection, rather than just another powerful being who solv…

The iconic Star Trek: Voyager episode "Tuvix" continues to spark ethical debates nearly 30 years after its original airing. In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of Star Trek's most morally complex stories, examining Captain Janeway's controversial decision to effectively end one life to restore two others.T…

The Superhero Ethics gang was with their families over the New Year, but enjoy this rebroadcast of a favorite episode!As an amputee, Echo holds a special place in my (Matthew’s) heart, so I’m excited to have comics expert Will Freeland join me to discuss this meaningful new MCU show. Seeing a superhero who shares some of my experiences is incredibl…

The Superhero Ethics crew is on break for the holidays, but we wanted to bring you one of our favorite holiday episodes, in which we discuss Christmas Movies!What is a Christmas movie? Does it have to have a specific message or aesthetic feel? What is the Christmas romance, and why has it become so popular? Andy and Abby join me to dive into these …

Red One: When Santa Goes Marvel (feat. Pete Wright)Is Amazon's $250 million Christmas blockbuster Red One a fresh take on holiday magic, or a cynical cash grab? Join Matthew and special guest Pete Wright as they unwrap this action-packed holiday film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Chris Evans. From buff Santas to beach-fighting snowmen, thi…

Matthew and Riki dive deep into Indigenous representation in media, using the 2022 film Prey as a launching point for a broader discussion about the evolution of Native American portrayals in Hollywood. The conversation explores how this Predator franchise entry breaks new ground while honoring both the source material and Indigenous culture.How do…

Paul and Matthew jump into the ethics of aging, mysteries, ‘cozy’ storytelling and the ways that elder care is treated in media as we discuss the new Netflix show A Man on the Inside.Bonus member content about some of our other favorite mystery shows and movies.Here is a link to the book Paul mentioned! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want t…

Join hosts Matthew and Riki as they analyze Netflix's Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance through the lens of ethics, narrative responsibility, the wider context of the Gundam story as a whole, and the implications of telling stories from the villains' perspective.This episode tackles a crucial question in modern media: When telling a story from an antag…

Join hosts Matthew Fox and special guest Paul Hoppe as they dive deep into Cobra Kai Season 6, Part 2, discussing how the hit series continues to raise the stakes - sometimes to absurd levels. From international tournaments to shocking character developments, this episode explores how the show both succeeds and stumbles in its attempt to go global.…

Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi explore the profound philosophical themes and controversial endings of the influential anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. From its groundbreaking original TV finale to the theatrical response film The End of Evangelion, we unpack how creator Hideaki Anno's personal struggles with depression shaped one of anime's most…

Drew Maxey, (drewxdeficit on Twitter and TikTok) joins Riki and Matthew to discuss the political messaging of Watchmen, what it means for us today, and why it is so often misunderstood. We talk about the valorization by many fans of Rorschach that misses so much of his character, how the movie changed things, and Ozymandias’ decision, among other t…