After a delayed start due to technical difficulties, Ed and I had a great chat about the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction, a favorite of both of us. The movie stars Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman, and has a lot to say about free will, sacrifice, and the power of story.

The Blue Room with MaryAnn McKibben Dana is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

A few resources:

* Here’s the hymn Ed mentioned: “Have you heard God’s voice? (Will you walk the path that will cost you much?)”

* On the Nature of Daylight—a beautiful piece that features in countless movies, including Stranger than Fiction and Arrival (the latter of which is a virtual lock for a future episode of PCPH).

* And here’s the picture of Professor Hilbert’s office. Those photos over his shoulder are of a sculpture called Descent of the Spirit which is located, of all places, on the isle of Iona in Scotland. 🤯

~

Programming reminders! Later in the summer we’ll be sharing our first Pop Culture Pastors Hour challenge! At Ed’s invitation I’ll be watching the 2003 Battlestar Galactic miniseries, and I invited him to watch the first three episodes of Station Eleven on HBO. (Max? HBOMax? Whatever they’re calling it)

Those episodes of PCPH will drop later in July/August. Join us for some good genre TV and conversations about faith and culture.

It’s summer and it’s HOT. We all need things to look forward to, eh? Today Edward Goode and I check in, share what we’re reading/watching, and preview what’s to come this summer.

First, we’ll be talking about the 2006 film Stranger Than Fiction next Wednesday July 2 at 1 p.m. EDT, giving you more than a week to watch this deep and delightful movie starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman. Here’s the link, so you can get it on your calendar!

Then later in the summer—our first Pop Culture Pastors Hour challenge! At Ed’s invitation I’ll be watching the 2003 Battlestar Galactic miniseries, and I invited him to watch the first three episodes of Station Eleven on HBO. (Max? HBOMax? Whatever they’re calling it) Those episodes of PCPH will drop later in July/August. Join us for some good genre TV and conversations about faith and culture.

And that’s a wrap! After doing a review of Rogue One in light of what we experienced with Andor, we celebrate the conclusion of a majestic TV series with some hall of fame categories. GOAT of the Rebellion? Most entertaining dinner party guests? Ed and MaryAnn get into all of that and more, including our ideas for best Andor tattoo.

Spoilers for all of Andor, Rogue One, and Star Wars: A New Hope.

A few links and resources:

* The House of R podcast, which has done some marathon-length breakdowns of the show.

* Roger Robinson’s poem shared by Ed, “A Portable Paradise.”

* Dr. Bettina Love, talking about allies, co-conspirators, and the Underground Railroad, which ran on trust.

Steady on, and may the Force be with you!