Cultures are nurtured by myths and legends that feed our imagination, inspire, and even touch us on a spiritual level. The same way the stories of Gilgamesh, Baeowulf, Quetzalcoatl shaped ancient cultures, Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, and Dracula have shaped modern society. But these modern myths and legends come with a price. Most of us are aware of the entities, authors and people that bring them to life. 

As a fan of these modern stories that have inspired me and have helped me find art, love and spirituality, I’ve struggled with one question: Who really owns the stories? What happens when an author, working on the IP, fundamentally changes my idea of my favorite character?

How much is my enjoyment of Harry Potter tainted by J.K. Rowling’s view of trans women, or of The Mandalorian by the dangerous conspiracy theories of Gina Carano?

In this episode, Jesús González discusses the Star Wars Special Edition. Then Blake Rozas talks about WATCHMEN and how it has changed after Alan Moore lost control over the IP. Steve Jacobson shares a clip from a documentary he worked on about album covers and his love for Yes. Finally Richard Cran ends with an amazing discussion about loving a franchise that sometimes goes against our own personal values.