{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Another Pass at Shazam! Fury of the Gods","description":"This week on Another Pass, Sam and Case are joined by Zorikh Lequidre to revisit Shazam! Fury of the Gods. We break down the sequel\u2019s mythic swing, its tonal tightrope between family comedy and divine spectacle, and whether this lightning strike deserved a brighter fate at the box office. Another Pass Full Episode Originally aired: February 13, 2026  Music by Vin Macri and Matt Brogan Podcast Edited by Sophia Ricciardi Certain Point Of View is a podcast network brining you all sorts of nerdy goodness! From Star Wars role playing, to Disney day dreaming, to video game love, we've got the show for you! Learn more on our website: https:\/\/www.certainpov.com Support us on Patreon! patreon.com\/CertainPOVMedia Join us on Discord: https:\/\/discord.gg\/wcHHer4 PODCAST SHOWS: \u25b6 Another Pass - https:\/\/www.certainpov.com\/another-pass-podcast Outline Shazam Franchise and Character Legacy The discussion highlighted the complex evolution of the Shazam character and its multiple incarnations, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining clarity in the franchise (02:00). Complex Character History and Naming (02:43) The Shazam character has undergone multiple renamings, now sometimes called "The Captain" to differentiate from original versions. Comics have introduced variants like Mary Marvel and Junior (Freddie Freeman\u2019s hero name) to expand the lore. The character\u2019s fluctuating comic presence, with cancellations and restarts, impacts fan engagement and continuity. Zorak\u2019s project, Captain Marvel Culture, explores these variants in cultural and historical contexts, highlighting the character\u2019s societal relevance. Actor and Fan Perspectives on Shazam (07:30) Sam Alicea shared her positive cosplay experience as Mary Marvel, emphasizing the character\u2019s wholesome reception in fandom. Both Sam and Case Aiken noted that the first Shazam movie was colorful and fun, appealing to casual viewers with good pacing and humor. Case's personal connection to the character goes back to childhood superhero creations, reinforcing the deep fan roots. The first film balanced the youthful and superhero personas well, unlike the sequel where the older cast created dissonance. Challenges with Sequel Timing and Casting (14:00) The four-year gap between the first and second Shazam movies caused problematic aging of the cast, making the characters less believable as teenagers. The COVID-19 pandemic limited crowd scenes, affecting the movie\u2019s atmosphere and fight sequences, leading to a \u201cCOVID movie\u201d feel with socially distanced extras. The sequel\u2019s timing made character maturity inconsistent, with Zachary Levi\u2019s older age conflicting with immature superhero behavior, reducing audience sympathy. The lack of continuity in character growth and the absence of younger kid scenes weakened the family dynamic established in the first film. Plot, Powers, and Mythological Elements The movie\u2019s story and mythological adaptations were discussed, focusing on the Daughters of Atlas and their powers, plus how mythology was reinterpreted (28:58). Invented Mythology and Powers of Atlas\u2019 Daughters (29:00) The film introduced three daughters of Atlas, a creative deviation from classical mythology that was accepted as a fun concept. Helen Mirren\u2019s character uses force fields and telekinesis, Lucy Liu\u2019s character employs \u201cchaos\u201d powers resembling mind control, and Rachel Zegler\u2019s character has axis-based powers, visually impressive but not well explained. The powers were often scene-dependent rather than consistent, especially Helen Mirren\u2019s varying abilities. The dome barrier served as a plot device to isolate the final fight and prevent intervention from other heroes, a trope common in superhero films. Mythology vs. Comic Lore (31:33) The movie used traditional Shazam power origins (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury) rather than newer comic variations. Discussion considered linking the characters to the broader DC mythos, such as the New Gods, but the film stuck to simpler concepts. The film\u2019s magic and powers were occasionally connected to Dungeons & Dragons references, reflecting the script\u2019s mix of fantasy influences. The casting of iconic actors like Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu added gravitas despite the powers being plot-driven. Narrative and Visual Critiques of Powers and Effects (35:00) The dome and powers\u2019 visual effects felt forced or inconsistent, serving more as story contrivances than meaningful world-building. The chaotic power, mainly mind control, lacked thematic clarity despite being the most consistent. The movie struggled to integrate powers into the plot logically, often introducing new abilities at convenience moments. The limited impact of the dome on the city was noted, with little attention to realistic consequences of such an event. Family Dynamics and Character Development A major theme was how the sequel mishandled the Shazam family dynamic, focusing too much on superhero forms and not enough on the kids\u2019 human sides (40:00). Underused Supporting Characters and Forced Representation (40:00) Pedro\u2019s gay reveal felt forced due to minimal screen time and lack of character development. The less prominent kids, especially Eugene and Pedro, were overshadowed by their superhero forms, weakening emotional engagement. Darla remained the heart of the family, carrying much of the emotional weight and humor, consistent with the first film. The sequel relied heavily on superhero personas rather than showing genuine child characters, harming the family\u2019s relatability. Mismatch of Actor Ages and Character Portrayals (46:30) The aging cast, particularly Zachary Levi, struggled to convincingly portray teenage characters, making immature behavior less palatable. The lack of contrasting younger versions of Billy and other kids reduced the dynamic tension present in the original movie. The sequel missed chances to explore Billy\u2019s growth and his struggles with leadership and abandonment issues meaningfully. Sam noted the film\u2019s good attempt to show Billy\u2019s fear of aging out of foster care as a motivation, but this was not fully developed. Lost Opportunities for Emotional Payoff (53:00) The film failed to create a satisfying emotional journey for Billy, especially regarding his insecurities and leadership challenges. The family\u2019s support was underutilized in key moments, leaving Billy\u2019s character arc feeling incomplete. The sequel lacked the sense of belonging and acceptance that made the first film\u2019s family dynamic resonate. Case and Sam suggested that a powerful second-act scene showing Billy\u2019s vulnerability and the family\u2019s encouragement was needed to strengthen the story. Critique and Proposed Fixes for the Sequel The panel proposed several realistic improvements to the sequel\u2019s structure, pacing, and character focus to enhance its emotional and narrative impact (56:00). Strengthening the Second Act and Family Bonding (56:00) Add scenes where the kids remain in their human forms to highlight their vulnerabilities, creating richer character moments. Insert a confrontation scene where Billy expresses frustration at the family\u2019s lack of unity, followed by reassurance from siblings. Shorten or remove the cringy Wonder Woman date scene to maintain tone and pacing. Show more of the lesser-used kids at school, depicting their struggles balancing normal life and superhero identities. Improving the Final Battle with the Dragon (31:30, 56:00, 01:32:50) Make the fight more dynamic by having Billy repeatedly say \u201cShazam\u201d to power up the staff, requiring him to transform back to human form intermittently. Introduce stages in the fight where the hero tries different tactics, fails, then devises a winning plan. Include moments of vulnerability where Billy dodges attacks and avoids damage, adding tension and realism. Use the environment inside the dome better, possibly including some civilians or other stakes, if COVID protocols allow. Enhancing Character Scenes and Emotional Arcs (01:40:00) Show the kids\u2019 defeat when Helen Mirren\u2019s character escapes by turning back into their child forms, emphasizing their youth and fallibility. Add a scene where Billy admits to failure and receives encouragement from his siblings, reinforcing the family theme. Develop more natural, character-driven moments such as a school scene involving Skittles, tying in humor and personality. Streamline the plot to reduce the number of major events, allowing more screen time for character interactions and growth. Long-Term Franchise Vision: TV Series Format (01:14:30, 01:49:00) The panel agreed a TV series would better suit the story, allowing the actors to age naturally and explore the characters in depth. Proposed dividing the cast so Billy, Mary, and Freddie attend college while the younger kids remain in high school, creating parallel storylines. This approach resembles a \u201cHappy Days with superpowers\u201d format, supporting gradual character evolution and maintaining audience engagement. The TV format would also allow passing powers to new kids as the original characters grow up, ensuring franchise longevity. Production Context and External Influences The discussion recognized COVID-19\u2019s major impact on production, release timing, and overall movie quality, affecting creative decisions and execution (14:00, 01:52:00). COVID-19 Pandemic Effects (14:00) Production delays and social distancing protocols limited extras and crowd scenes, affecting the movie\u2019s atmosphere and fight choreography. The necessity of a smaller dome and fewer characters in scenes was a direct result of COVID restrictions. The four-year gap between movies was unplanned but forced by the pandemic, causing casting and story continuity issues. These factors contributed to the movie feeling disjointed and less cohesive compared to the first film. Script and Franchise Challenges (25:00) Multiple script rewrites were needed after Dwayne Johnson\u2019s Black Adam was spun off into his own movie, forcing major plot changes. The absence of Black Adam as a villain removed a key expected antagonist, weakening the sequel\u2019s threat level and fan expectations. The movie was released amid DC\u2019s shifting cinematic universe plans, reducing the likelihood of future sequels or franchise expansion. Despite plans to connect with the Justice Society and tease Mr. Mind, these elements remained unresolved, signaling franchise uncertainty. Casting and Political Context (01:06:00) Gal Gadot\u2019s performance as Wonder Woman was noted as uneven and disconnected from the main cast\u2019s energy. The panel acknowledged Gadot\u2019s political stances have affected her reception among some fans, adding complexity to her role\u2019s acceptance. The awkwardness of Billy\u2019s romantic scene with Wonder Woman was criticized for tone and appropriateness, detracting from character coherence. Zachary Levi\u2019s personal controversies and public persona complicated audience reception of his performance, especially given the film\u2019s tonal demands. ","author_name":"Another Pass Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/anotherpass.libsyn.com\/website","html":"