First Blood, the first installment in the iconic Rambo franchise, was released 35 years ago this fall. In this episode, I take a look at how the franchise has both reflected and influenced American culture--and question both the ethical and epistemic implications of the films' success.

This is the second part of a double feature on action movies and American culture (and one piece of a half-season mini-arc concerning the ethics of adaptation).

It's also the third episode in a row to mention Ronald Reagan!