u/Waxing_Moon_13

On his most recent pod interview with Ross, Ross and Ezra had this to say about Christianity, Paganism, and a random Wiccan comment:

Ross: I think what’s more common is a desire among people who are connected to Christianity, who are Christian and so on, to say: Well, where can we find greater strength? Where can we find greater toughness? How can we be more effective political actors? How can we defeat our enemies instead of having them vanquish us?

You could call it a reaching for pagan energy that doesn’t go all the way to actually becoming pagan. And look, the truth is that if you go back and look ——
Ezra: But Stephen Miller is not a Wiccan. [Laughs.]

This isn’t the first time I’ve heard Ezra talk about paganism in the same breath and Christianity and I’m so confused. Paganism is an ancient pre-Christian spiritual path. And neo-paganism is a very large umbrella - not all of us are right wing Nazi-esque neo pagans trying to take over Norse mythology and make it white supremacist bullshit. Is this what he’s referring to?

Pagans are reconnecting with Spirit - the earth and the divine energy within us all. Pagans are nice people damnit lol. How is “vanquishing enemies” “pagan energy”? Ross even later points out that Christians have a long history of violence (Crusades).

Some pagans describe themselves as witches, and some as Wiccan. But why is a Wiccan comment connected to Stephen Miller and in the same breath as Christianity? Both Ross and Ezra laugh and I just don’t get it…

There seems to be a weird fascination with paganism - I’ve heard Ezra mention it several times in head scratching ways.

Can someone explain this to me?? Thank you!!!

For those who saw the movie... (so many spoilers ahead!!)

Really wish they opened with that line from the Emily Wilson translation which I read before seeing the movie and really enjoyed!

Loved:

- Odysseus isn't a "hero" in the sense that he's perfect. He's admired by many for his strength, resolve, and ability; but he's obviously deeply flawed. He's a liar (although he often has to be), he's a cheater, he's a trickster, and he's an oath-breaker. Still, he's Odysseus, and he's a survivor and loved by Athena.

- Penelope's (peri)menopausal rage when Telemachus suggests she marry one of the suitors. It was palpable.

- The ambiguity as to whether or not Penelope knows if the beggar is Odysseus. I believe she does, and Nolan played this well.

- The fact that there was (edit: limited) absolutely NO CGI. Everything felt so real and therefore nostalgic (for me, as an 80's / 90's kid). I especially liked the scene when Circe sculpts the faces of the men into the pigs. Really cool.

- All the acting was incredible, but I was really surprised by Tom Holland. He was great and a perfect Telemachus.

- They hit all the major adventures - the sirens, the cyclops, Circe, Hades, etc.

- Matt Damon

Gives me pause:

- They did leave out the metaphor of the bed and the olive tree. Wish they wove that in somehow.

- There's like, no sex. In The Odyssey Odysseus sleeps with Circe and Calypso, but this wasn't included. Maybe that would have been too complicated... even for a "complicated man".

- The scene at the beginning with Penelope and Odysseus before he leaves for the war was oddly cut. I didn't like Penelope's slap and it seemed over-acted (most by Hathaway, although she was great overall).

- The ending was different. Penelope does not leave with Odysseus. It's implied that he must leave again on his own, to do a proper burial and to pay sacrifice. The implication is that you can never truly return "home". I don't know how I feel about this change...