This week on Streams, we’re looking at House of Guinness. It is a drama set in the 1860s and inspired by real events. The story follows the Guinness family after the death of their patriarch, as his four children; Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, face family tensions, business challenges, and the shifting social and political climate of the time.  Eamonn's guest is Wana Shibemba and they discuss which parts of the show are fictional and reflect on the deeper themes it raises: the weight of representing something greater than yourself, the fading of Christian influence across generations, and how the stability of marriage can help us live out our God-given calling.

This week we’re looking at the recently released film, A Real Pain. It tells the story of two mismatched cousins, David and Benji, who travel through Poland to honour their late grandmother. Along the way, old tensions rise to the surface as they uncover more of their family history. While the film takes its time to unfold, it offers a powerful look at men’s mental health. It highlights struggles with loneliness and jealousy, and reminds us of the importance of being part of a church community where we can build genuine connections and relationships. Available to watch on Disney+ and Prime Video.

 Time Changer is a lesser known film that tells the story of a Bible school professor from 1890 who is transported 100 years into the future by a colleague and is shocked to see what the world and the Church have become. The film offers a sharp critique of the modern Western church and culture. We’ll be asking whether nostalgia can actually be dangerous, and while the film presents a dark view of our times, we’ll also consider whether there’s room for a more hopeful and optimistic outlook. 

This time we're looking at what has become the most viewed film on Netflix which is K Pop Demon Hunters. This film follows K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey. They are selling out stadiums or topping the charts, but they're moonlighting as demon hunters to protect their fans from ever-present demonic danger. We try to understand why this film has become as popular as it has and we also explore whether we make light of demons.

This time we're looking at the little-known BBC show titled This City Is Ours. The series follows Michael, a longtime member of an organised crime family who falls in love with a woman named Diana. This relationship prompts him to reevaluate his life and consider a future beyond crime. What follows is a tense power battle as he tries to balance his criminal ties with the desire for a normal life. We discuss how money corrupts and explore whether people can truly change.

In this episode, we take a look at the children’s film Paddington in Peru — the third instalment in the beloved franchise. We discuss which of the three films is the best, explore how the film uses the classic trope of Christian characters as villains, and reflect on how Paddington’s place in his adopted family mirrors our adoption as sons and daughters of God. Plus, we’re joined by a very special guest who shares their own review of the film.

Jesus Revolution is a film that depicts the true events of the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s which saw reportedly 250,000 people become Christians. The film shows the movement through the eyes of Chuck Smith, Lonnie Frisbee, and Greg Laurie. We explore how we should welcome all to our meetings, whether or not we should stir up movements of the Spirit, how pride can creep into leaders' lives and explore the elements of Lonnie’s life which were omitted from the film.   

Article on accountability Tom mentions: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2020/11/evangelical-leader-pastor-scandal-prevent-accountability/

This time we take a look at Heretic, a horror/thriller film released in 2024, now streaming on Amazon Prime. The story follows two young missionaries who find themselves trapped in Mr Reed's home. To survive, they must rely on their faith in the face of darkness.

In our review, we explore three key themes. First, the idea of "iterations" – the suggestion that each faith is just a copy or evolution of another. Secondly, we look at the theme of control – the claim that all religion is about power and manipulation. Lastly, we explore how the film presents evil. This is a film of two halves – part psychological thriller, part spiritual commentary – and it leaves the viewer with more questions than answers. We take time to unpack the challenges it presents and dispel some of the myths it presents. 

This time we take a look at The Chosen, a series that portrays the life of Jesus as told in the Gospels. We focus on Season 1 which covers the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry and the calling of the first disciples. The show aims to stay close to the biblical accounts, though some details such as timelines, locations, and character backstories, have been adapted or expanded for storytelling purposes. We discuss what the show adds, where it stays faithful, where it may miss the mark, and some of the controversies that surround it.

In this episode, we take a look at Car Masters: Rust to Riches—a reality series where old, beat-up cars are transformed into high-end custom builds by the Gotham Garage crew. It’s all about restoration, creativity, and seeing potential where others see scrap. We dig into which restorations we liked and disliked and explore how this show demonstrates biblical themes of redemption, transformation, and what it means to be made into something greater than we were before.