Killer Serials

Tony and Ryan -- but mainly Tony -- chat with Luke Barnett, creator, writer, and producer of the comedy film Faith Based, streaming on Hulu. Luke talks about making a movie that mocks Christian culture, but in a kind and loving way, and getting kicked in the nuts by George Cosantza. Follow Luke's hilarious tweets @LukeBarnett.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the finale of the HBOMax limited series, Beartown. They talk about who the series is about (Peter or Maya), narrative loose ends, toxic masculinity, the Scapegoat Theory, and more.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the fourth episode of the HBOMax limited series, Beartown. They talk about crossing the bridge into the upcoming final episode, the town turning on Peter, mob mentality, and bribery. They also recommend, for your viewing pleasure, the animated family comedy, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and the French comedy series, Call My Agent, both now streaming on Netflix.

In this episode of the podcast, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the third episode of the HBOMax limited series, Beartown. They talk about the aftermath of the sexual assault, the proximity of the violator to the victim's family, how Tony has discussed these themes with his teenaged kids, and how well equipped (or not) the church is to engage in these conversations.

In the latest episode of the podcast, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the second episode of the HBOMax limited series, Beartown. They talk about the portrayal of sexual assault, the many problems with Kevin, and the impact of hockey success on the rest of the town.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the first episode of the HBOMax limited series, Beartown. They talk about delaying the inciting incident, small town similarities between Sweden and Minnesota, crazy hockey parents, and all the side eye.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the final episode of the Netflix docuseries, Murder Among the Mormons. They talk about "the big reveal," false narratives and proto-Trumpism and proto-Qanon implications, and the death penalty.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the second episode of the Netflix docuseries, Murder Among the Mormons. They talk about what the serialization of this story says about how we consume content; how they wish it would've been a feature-length dramedy (in the vein of War Dogs); the detectives' search for the bomber; Shannon Flynn's poker face; and Mark Hofmann's liver.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker turn their attention to the new Netflix limited docuseries, Murder Among the Mormons, directed by Jared Hess and Tyler Measom. They welcome Jana Riess, Killer Serial's resident Mormon, to discuss all things LDS and to give some context to what we've seen (and will be seeing) in this series.

In the latest episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the season one finale of WANDAVISION, now streaming on Disney+. They talk about why it felt a little like a let down even though there were more beautiful moments between Wanda and Vision, how COVID impacted the storytelling, and where we go from here.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss episode 108 of WANDAVISION, now streaming on Disney+. They talk about Wanda's ghosts of tragedies past, American exports of sit-coms and bombs, and that line from Vision...you know the one.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss episode 107 of WANDAVISION, now streaming on Disney+. Side note: Tony's finally watching Ted Lasso and, spoiler, loves it. But for the series at hand, they talk about the lack of a clear protagonist within Westview, the "surprise" Agatha reveal, the weaponization of fear and anger, how to disarm fear, and how all of this is intersecting with our pandemic moment. The article on the Agnes/Agatha character in comics history: https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/19/22291025/wandavision-agnes-agatha-harkness-mephisto-theory.  

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss episode 106 of WANDAVISION, now streaming on Disney+. They talk about what the TV aesthetics of this episode might say about Wanda's control; Vision's vision of reality; Agnes' imprisonment; and the ways in which Westview mirror what often happens at megachurches when things get out of their leaders' control.

In this week's episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker break down episode 5 of WANDAVISION, streaming on Disney+. They talk about Wanda's agency and grief and the effect that this has on the residents of Westview...and herself. They also talk about simulation theory and whether or not we're just all brains in a vat.

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss episode 4 of WandaVision, now streaming on Disney +. They welcome Tommy Hall on the show to talk about what might be going on in the world of Westview, the series as it relates to Wanda and Vision's past appearances in comics and film, and how we are surrounded by a host of individuals fighting to preserve their own created worlds in the face of chaos and uncertainty.

Tony Jones and Ryan Parker dive into the new world of WANDAVISION, now streaming on Disney+. They talk about the boldness of putting these characters into such diverse settings with each new episode and why it's the perfect series for our anxious and uncertain times.

In the latest episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker turn their attention to a recent Netflix film, Dick Johnson is Dead (2020). What better way to celebrate the holidays than to gather with family and friends and watch an acclaimed documentarian stage her father's death over and over again? Kirsten Johnson's documentary is a beautiful, heart-felt, and heart-breaking reflection on family, love, memory, death, and grief. Tony and Ryan dive into these topics and more.

It's all come down to this. In the latest episode of the podcast, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the series finale of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about where the series fits in the pantheon of great television, Daniel's revelation, Janet and Judy's visit, new details of the case, and the Talbot family's possible expansion to include Billy and Melvin.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the penultimate episode of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about Daniel's therapy, Teddy's independence, Bobby Dean's apology, Sheriff Pickens' confession, and Tawney's revelation.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 4, episode 6 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix, and welcome Luke Kirby (who plays attorney Jon Stern) to talk about his role in the series and his larger career. 

In this episode, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss episode 5 of season 4 of Rectify with writer/director Scott Teems. They talk about, among other things, writing an episode of television when you know the end is in sight; directing that heartbreaking scene with Teddy and Tawney; and Ted and Janet's unravelling.

On this week's episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss episode four of season four of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about the miracle of Chloe, Amantha and Billly's hunting trip (Tony approved), Daniel being stuck, and where Teddy and Tawney go from here.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 4, episode 3 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. Before digging into the episode, we suggest some other killer serials, specifically Ted Lasso, streaming on Apple TV+. In terms of Rectify, they talk about all the decisions that the members of the Holden family face: what will Amantha do about Billy; how will Daniel respond to Avery's suggestion that he seek PTSD counseling and Chloe's offer of a platonic friendship; and will Janet take the deal?

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 4, episode 2 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about the tension at Janet's house, Talbot date night, Billy and Amantha, and why all this feels like a '90s sitcom.

In this episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the first episode of Rectify season four. They talk about Daniel's new job, his halfway house, and the community reaching out to him there. They also reflect on the ways in which he has come to (or is coming to) terms with what happened to him, spiritually speaking, on death row.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the third season finale of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They discuss Tawney's theological crisis, Daniel's goodbye to Amantha and Janet, Sheriff Carl's interrogation of Chris and Trey, and John's visit to Senator Foulks. They also welcome Sean Bridgers to talk about his work on the series as our favorite dipper, Trey.

In the latest episode of the Killer Serials podcast, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 3, episode 5 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about Teddy's clarity, Tawney's uncertainty, Amantha's progression, Sheriff Carl's determination, and Trey's predicament.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker welcome back writer/director Scott Teems to discuss season 3, episode 4 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They discuss shifting character sympathies, fraying relationships, Daniel's static nature, and the challenges and opportunities of writing and directing for television vs film.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 3, episode 3 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about changing attitudes towards Daniel, Amantha's healing, the growing rift between Janet and Ted, and what Trey may or may not be up to with Sheriff Carl.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 3, episode 2 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about Daniel living his way out of limbo, his family feeling stuck in his decision to accept a plea deal, and Teddy's unravelling. 

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the first episode of the third season of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk at length about Teddy Jr.'s depression (and the brilliance of Clayne Crawford), Tawney's wandering, Daniel's decision and its destructive impact on his family, and what Senator Foulk's health scare might mean for the future of Daniel's case.

Tony and Ryan are thrilled to be joined by writer Kate Powers to discuss the final episode of season two, "Unhinged." Kate discusses her previous work on a couple of shows you may have heard of — Mad Men and Breaking Bad — and then chats about the intensity of bringing the second season on Rectify to a conclusion.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 2, episode 9 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about Teddy's breakdown, Tawney's disappearance, banishment, and the arbitrariness of life and how religion helps people cope with it.   Here's a link to the Rectify playlist on Spotify that Tony reference's in the episode.  

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 2, episode 8 ("The Great Destroyer) of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about watching sports in the age of COVID and then take a deep dive into "The Great Destroyer" and discuss Tawney and Daniel's closure, Jared's moves, John Stern's exhaustion, and Ted's revelation.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season 2, episode 7 of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about Daniel and Trey's wild, weird road-trip that culminates in a drug-and-alcohol-fueled rager in Georgie's trailer and what this all might mean for our understanding of Daniel's past, his identity, and his future freedom.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss watching TV with teenagers during quarantine and the generational divides between content consumption. Then they take a deep dive into season two, episode six of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about Ted rising to the occasion, Teddy Jr. sinking to new lows, Amantha and John's moment of happiness interrupted, and Daniel's quest into the past.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss season two episode five of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They discuss the "New South Bourgeoise," the rift between Janet and Ted, Amantha's light, and the two bombshells that Tawney drops on Teddy Jr.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker welcome J. D. Evermore to discuss his role in Rectify as Sheriff Carl Daggett. They talk about Sheriff Daggett's character development from the first to second seasons; the difficulty of his situation in bringing justice to Daniel and Hannah; and how hard it was to keep a straight face in his conversation with Clayne Crawford (Teddy Jr.) at the end of the episode.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the third episode of the second season of Rectify, "Charlie Darwin," now streaming on Netflix. They talk about Daniel's big decision, its impact on those around him, and the implications for how we might view the world around us. They also consider how John and Hollis' conversation might influence John's ongoing work on Daniel's case.

In this week's episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the second episode of Rectify season two. They talk about Sheriff Dagget's pursuit of Bobby Dean, Tawney and Teddy Jr.'s fracturing relationship, and the role of memory (both individual and collective) in pursuing peace, justice, and reconciliation. They also welcome screenwriter Scott Teems to talk about his history with the series and the process of creating this episode.

In the latest episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the first episode of the second season of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They talk about theodicy and the afterlife and welcome actor Johnny Ray Gill for a conversation about his role in the series as Kerwin.

In this episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker unpack the season one finale of Rectify, streaming on Netflix. They discuss the height of Daniel's existential crisis, how it impacts those around him, Rene Girard's scapegoat theory, and how it functions in this southern tale. They also tease a special guest for next week's episode. 

In this episode of the Killer Serials Podcast, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker unpack season one, episode five of Rectify, now streaming on Netflix. They talk about the many biblical allusions in the episode (from the Prodigal Son to Jesus running a herd of swine off a cliff), the efficacy of Daniel's baptism, and Daniel's struggle with determining what is actually real.

In the latest episode of the Killer Serials Podcast, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker take a deep dive into the fourth episode of the first season of Rectify. This week, they are joined by special guests, Michael D. Fuller and Graham Gordy, who wrote the episode. They discuss being part of the writers room on the first season, creating complex religious characters and settings, and making character choices that tap into what it means to be human.

Tony Jones and Ryan Parker are back with a new episode of the Killer Serials Podcast, continuing their discussion of RECTIFY, season one, episode three, "Modern Times." This week they talk about cosmic narratives, human nature, and the role of myths and/or ghost stories in shaping cultural norms in the South.

Tony Jones and Ryan Parker are back with a new episode of Killer Serials. This week they dive into the second episode of RECTIFY season one. It's all about sex, baby. And stigma. And, of course, time.

The Killer Serials Podcast is back with a new episode, and this week, hosts Tony Jones and Ryan Parker begin their episode-by-episode breakdown of the Peabody Award winning series, Rectify, which premiered on the Sundance Channel in April 2013. All 30 episodes are now streaming on Netflix. Tony and Ryan talk about the ways in which, in its very first episode, Rectify lays spiritual and theological groundwork through the themes of time, truth, and incarceration. Follow along with us as we dig into a new episode of Rectify each week.  We're on Instagram as killerserials and on Twitter as @killerserials1.

After a long hiatus, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker are back with a new episode of the Killer Serials podcast. Who knew that it would take a pandemic to kick them into gear? In this episode, they discuss the new four-part mini-series, UNORTHODOX, streaming on Netflix. It's an absolutely brilliant series with a stellar lead performance by Shira Haas as Esty, a young woman fleeing her conservative Hasidic Jewish community in New York. Tony and Ryan talk about the ways in which the hyper-conservative nature of Hasidic Judaism parallels that of other traditions; the use of fear to keep members in communities like this; the role of sex and sexuality in this series; and the appeal of the "otherness" of fringe religious communities to content creators and consumers.

In the latest episode of the Killer Serials podcast, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker unpack the first season of Russian Doll, now streaming on Netflix. They talk about the "coastal" character of the series, the salvific power of serving others, and the series portrayal of mental illness.

Tony Jones and Ryan Parker are back with a new episode of the Killer Serials podcast. In this episode, they provide an obituary, of sorts, for the HBO comedy, CRASHING, which ended its three season run on Sunday, March 10. They discuss whether or not evangelical Christianity has anything of substance to contribute to pop culture, comedy as an avenue for theological reflection, and the religious/spiritual themes of each season.

In this episode of Killer Serials, Tony Jones and Ryan Parker discuss the new two-part HBO documentary series, Leaving Neverland, which chronicles Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck's accounts of their years-long experiences of sexual abuse by Michael Jackson. They talk about parental failure and if we can know whether or not we would have done better, celebrity as divinity, and the corruption of fame.