Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

The Plugged In Show, Episode 82: What’s the Draw With Dystopian Drama?

We can’t promise that we’ll engage in a battle royale over scarce resources, but we can guarantee a lively conversation.

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Dear CW: Don’t Mess With the Powerpuff Girls

I’ve been wondering whether you might eventually go too far. And it seems that, with your rumored retrofit of The Powerpuff Girls, you have.

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Picture of the main good guys from the anime movie Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train.

Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train

I was surprised by the redemptive messages I found—along with a bunch of severed demon heads.

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Two men in interrogation in Infinite

Infinite

Infinite feels like it’s found a fitting niche: To be seen by a few, unseen by most and quickly forgotten by all.

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Five Films for Father’s Day (For Every Taste)

Let’s look at some of cinema’s most powerful, provocative and prickly movies about dads (because we fathers don’t always know, or do, best).

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Lucifer

Lucifer

Lucifer’s not such a bad guy. Or at least that’s what Netflix would like you to believe.

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Lisey in Lisey's Story

Lisey’s Story

Stephen King’s favorite book hits Apple TV+, and it comes with all the problems you’d expect.

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 80: Our Formative Pop Culture Influences

This podcast episode is a little more personal than most. This time, we take a deep dive in what books, movies, television shows and songs helped shape us.

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Girl flying in Eden

Eden

Netflix’s latest anime entry features a world full of robots (and one human) digitally pondering existential questions.

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Emma Stone as Cruella DeVil

Cruella

Being bad has rarely looked so good. Therein lies this Disney reboot’s charm … and its problems.

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Women at fashion event in The Bold Type

The Bold Type

It’s a little like a lighter version of Sex in the City. But lighter doesn’t necessarily mean better.

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A lost family in Endangered Species

Endangered Species

Endangered Species is about a family running from both the animals and the people who want to kill them.

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The Plugged In Show, Episode 79: Cruella & Disney’s Darker Turn

Our team tackles Cruella and then expands the discussion to Disney villains in general, truly exploring the good, the bad and the ugly.

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Marvel MODOK

Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K.

This comedy, like its star, isn’t normal at all. Nor is it nice, clean fun for the whole family.

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A woman in a white dress stands in front of a tree with many pictures wedged into it.

The Unholy

The Unholy, released on Good Friday of 2021, might be one of the year’s most spiritual movies.

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