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Matt Belinkie, Pete Fenzel, Mark Lee, and Matt Wrather form a demonic boy band to dissect KPop Demon Hunters and its rabid global following. Things started out small: it seemed like this would be some sort of parody movie, a lazy cash grab, or both. But the movie turned out to be really good, and the summer camp counselors played the song on repeat for our kids, and the next thing you know, this movie has become the most watched movie ever on Netflix, and the only movie to ever have four songs in the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time.

The panel unpacks the reasons behind the movie’s massive popularity with its target Generation Alpha audience, the thematic resonance of Rumi’s struggle with her half-demon identity, and the Jungian / Marxist / Calvinist readings of the film, because if we’re not going to do that, then who will? They also evoke the musical superhero media of yesteryear, including Jem and the Holograms and the truly dreadful but nevertheless significant KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park. It’s really bad. Take our word for it. You’re much better off watching KPop Demon Hunters for the twentieth time with your kids than watching KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park.

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Episode 897: Come to Our Concert at the Mouth of the Hell Hole originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]