Christian Ashley and Alex Matthews dive into the whimsical world of "Lion King 1 1/2," delivering a fresh perspective on this often overlooked Disney gem. Right off the bat, they tackle the pressing question: what happens when you look beyond the surface of a beloved classic? With Christian reminiscing about his mixed feelings after a rewatch and Alex unabashedly declaring it one of their faves, the duo reminisces about the film’s charm, comedy, and its unique storytelling style that fills in the gaps between the original movies. As they explore the backstories of Timon and Pumbaa, they reflect on themes of friendship, belonging, and the quest for that coveted “hakuna matata” lifestyle. Buckle up for a relaxed yet insightful ride through the Drive-In, where nostalgia meets witty banter and deep dives into the meaning behind the laughter.

A dive into the wild world of Disney's "Lion King 1 1/2" reveals the backstory of everyone's favorite duo, Timon and Pumbaa, adding a fresh layer to the original narrative that many fans might not have considered. Christian Ashley, the host, and his co-podcaster Alex Matthews, kick things off with a casual chat about their drive-in experience, setting the stage for a nostalgic yet critical examination of this direct-to-DVD sequel. The duo reflects on their individual reactions to the film, with Alex recalling fond memories of laughter while Christian grapples with a more nuanced perspective, noting how the jokes didn't land quite the same way this time around. This contrast creates a playful banter between them, as they explore the themes of friendship, belonging, and the essence of humor within the film.

As the conversation progresses, they delve into the film's storytelling techniques, comparing it to the clever meta-narrative structure of "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead." The podcast highlights how the film inserts Timon and Pumbaa into iconic moments of the original Lion King narrative, offering a comedic lens while also fleshing out the complexities of their characters. There’s a delightful discussion about how the film provides insight into Timon’s struggles with fitting in and Pumbaa's acceptance of his unique traits, all while maintaining a light-hearted tone. The combination of humor and heartfelt moments makes this episode a rich exploration of a film that might often be overlooked in the Disney canon, reminding listeners that even in the quirkiest of sequels, there are valuable stories and lessons to uncover.

Takeaways:

• Christian and Alex dive deep into the backstory of Timon and Pumbaa, showcasing how their friendship developed in Lion King 1 1/2, which is a delightful addition to the Disney canon.
• They discuss the film's humor, with Christian admitting that while he found it funny as a kid, it didn't land the same way for him during this rewatch, suggesting that nostalgia can shift over time.
• The hosts explore the film's meta-narrative, likening it to the classic Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, where the side characters provide a fresh perspective on the main events of the original Lion King.
• Alex shares a humorous story about watching the movie on mute while studying, emphasizing how memorable the film is, even when lacking sound, highlighting its strong visual comedy.
• The conversation touches on the theme of belonging and finding one's place, as both Timon and Pumbaa struggle with fitting in, a relatable struggle for many viewers, making the film resonate deeply.
• Christian and Alex playfully debate their ratings for the film, with Alex giving it a 10 for its nostalgic charm while Christian rates it a six, showcasing their differing perspectives on childhood favorites.

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Systematic Geekology

Our show focuses around our favorite fandoms that we discuss from a Christian perspective. We do not try to put Jesus into all our favorite stories, but rather we try to ask the questions the IPs are asking, then addressing those questions from our perspective. We are not all ordained, but we are the Priests to the Geeks, in the sense that we try to serve as mediators between the cultures around our favorite fandoms and our faith communities.

What happens when you finally look beyond what you can see? We're going to be asking this question a lot more on today's episode of Systematic Ecology. We are the priests of the Geeks.

I'm your host, Christian Ashley, discussing the Lion King one and a half. And I said we because it's not just me. I'm also joined by the wonderful Alex Matthews. How's it going, Alex?

Hello. It's going good. How you doing?

I'm doing all right. It's a fun day. I rewatched this film last night and I'm feeling pretty good.

That's good.

So. So, Alex, we have just to drive in to see a direct to DVD sequel to a Disney film. Somehow.

What is your first reaction or the first thing you want to say after seeing this film?

What was my first reaction? It's been a long time since my first reaction, but I remember really liking it and I thought it was really funny.

I think it's up there as one of my favorite movies, honestly.

Okay. Okay. See, I rewatched it last night and I don't know, it just wasn't as funny this time around. I don't know if I'm just older and it's not.

Not meant for me anymore, but, like, it's still good, don't get me wrong. But I don't know, it just didn't have the I. Whatever nostalgia I had for it. And I'm still like, I'm ready to. I'm in it to win it for this one.

But it's like, oh, man, I remember the jokes landing way better last time. Just might be in a different phase of life maybe. So I'm getting shocked looks shocked. Looks of. Of hatred. Your hatred directed my way.

There is just shock and disbelief.

I know. I'm just shooting up. Make it. Make it seem like that. No, no. It's genuine looks of shock.

So, Alex, as you're dealing with this shock, can you introduce what the movie is, why you picked it out of the list of what we had earlier and. Yeah, just. Anything else you want to say?

Well, this movie is bit. Well, it's Lion King one and a half. So basically it's like the story in between the first and the second movie.

And from what I remember, I think it's kind of like how Pumbaa and Timba. Nope, Timon met.

There you go.

And like a little bit of their childhoods and some like, BTs of what they were doing behind the scenes with the main. With the first movie, I think. Yes, yes. That's Basically how it is. What was the rest of your question?

Yeah, so, like, why. Why did you pick this one, like, out of. Out of the list that we assembled, why this one?

Oh, because this one was my favorite of all of them there. Funny story. Funny story.

There was one time I was studying with my roommate for exam week, and she was like, I like to put on movies on mute when I study because it helps her focus or something. I don't know. So she put on this movie in mute. Right. But I've seen this movie, like, plenty of times beforehand.

So this is also when I first probably started discovering maybe I have adhd. Because when she put that movie on, I didn't study a thing.

Instead, I just watched the entire movie and mute because I knew exactly everything they were saying.

It's always good for roommates. Help each other out like that.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

That's wonderful. Yeah. This. This is a very fun movie. You know, if the Lion King is Hamlet, if we're going Shakespeare, then this is definitely.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. If you've ever done that play. It is. It's pretty much spot on. Timon and Pumbaa fill those roles really well. It is a fun movie. I have issues.

We'll get there.

But at the end of the day, I think this was a great pick because, I mean, it's one of the came in at time in the Disney era, as it were, of sending out direct to video sequels of everything.

But this is like both a prequel and an intercool, which makes it even more fascinating to study because, yeah, I know those scenes from Lion King, but also here we get some stories for how some of those things happen in the Lion King.

Yeah.

You know, in the midst of I just want to be king, like knocking what was one of the giraffes over or something like that. And that causes everyone to fall down like it does in the original film. Like, it's funny stuff like that that brings a certain charm to this film.

So, Alex, were you introduced to. Same way I was, you know, back in the day when these home releases were coming out to the movie.

Oh, yeah, yeah, I think so. Yeah. Because I think, yes, we're gonna say yes.

Yeah, because we got all the different sequels to Aladdin, like Return of Jafar, King of thieves, like Bambi 2, the Cinderella sequels, like, all that time. It's kind of.

It's one of those contested parts of, like, Disney history of like, is it worth making a sequel if you're not going to put it in theaters? Is it? Or is it just. Some people would call it slop because it's just straight to video.

I wouldn't agree necessarily, but I understand where they're kind of coming from. So this was a very experimental one that, like, kids, a lot of these jokes just aren't going to go. They're not going to understand them. And that's.

That's part of the fun, too, is that Disney has always done things where adults can get things kids can get, things that, like, there's some things that I definitely missed as a kid that I can see more now. Like, I hadn't read Rosen France and Gildan Stern were dead. Are dead when I was a kid. But now I can appreciate that more now.

So in regards to the film itself, Alex, like, what do you love? Is there anything about it you don't love?

Hmm. I don't think there's anything about it that I don't love.

Okay, well, so it's good. Accentuate the positive. What do you love about it?

Yeah, I like that we got a backstory for Timon and Pumbaa and how they became the besties that they are that we see. I appreciate the, like, the comedy they put in there throughout the movie.

I mean, the first movie was, like, still kind of funny, but it was also kind of serious. This movie is more comedic, in my opinion.

Yes.

And I liked the. Like I said before, like, the things in the background that they did that affected, like, the main story and how we saw that in this movie, too. So.

Yeah. Yeah, that's what I liked about it.

Yeah, I'm with you there with the backstory thing. Like, getting Timon's story is a lot of fun. Like, he doesn't fit in with the rest of the meerkats.

He's not really, like, a goofball, but more like he can't focus the same way they do. They're on the constant panic state of, oh, no, we can be eaten any second now. So we're going to dig these tunnels just so we can avoid being eaten.

So we can dig tunnels, as he kind of points out, and showing, like, you know, his mother, his uncle.

And this very interesting idea of, like, kind of making meerkats Jewish, really, in a sense, with how they talk to each other, the words that they use. A lot of mute issues thrown in there.

I thought that because of that for years that Nathan Lane was Jewish, but I just looked it up earlier, and apparently he's not. So I thought that was like, an actor. Shout out as it were. But, no, I think it was just more like a design decision.

It's like, yeah, we'll just make him Yiddish. Sure, that works. Then Pumbaa. I wish they had focused a little bit more on him. But, like, we knew from the first film, like, why.

You know, because he smells so much and that he didn't get along. So we didn't really get to see, like, you know, his family or anything like that. But maybe that would have taken too long.

Yeah.

I love how, you know, they insert themselves into certain things, you know, in the original film, to explain, oh, this is why they're bowing. I'm not big on how that's done, but I'm big on why they do it, like a film wise. Because my big thing, it's in the original film, too.

I don't do fart jokes. I don't do scatological humor. It just does nothing for me. So there was a lot of it in this film. And even as a kid, I was like, yeah, whatever.

So I think they did a little too much. But I will say one more thing I do really love is the confrontation scene with the hyenas at the very end where they're trying to stall for time.

And Timon is just like. Well, proposes to. What was it? Shinzi, the female hyena. Just to, like, buy a couple of seconds. It's like, well, obviously.

No, but it's one of those, well, I gotta figure out something. I gotta waste time so we can dig these tunnels underneath them. Like, yeah, like. Like I say, this is a fun film.

It's, in my opinion, a heavily flawed film. But if you get great enjoyment out of this, I would never tell you you're wrong.

So, you know, Alex, we've been doing this whole thing about the faces behind us this entire time, focusing on that a little in the drive in as well. Like, how do you think that this plays into our yearly theme?

Well, I think because it high. Because I feel like Timon and Tumba are, like, a favorite duo for many people in the Disney universe.

So the fact that this movie is, like, being basically their backstory, I think.

I think we get enough of their backstory in the original film where we don't need it there. And this is, like, a welcome addition. Like, yeah, you don't need to watch this movie when the original exists.

But, like, it does enhance a little bit of where they came from, why they make the decisions, why. Why is Timon seeking that hakuna matata that, you know, rafiki kind of being Like a stealth mentor in this film. And I love Rafiki in this film.

I should have added that earlier. Like, he's just like that perfect, wise sage who's gonna screw around with you and, you know, mess with you a little bit and sometimes get you to.

Get you to teach yourself without him saying anything, which is pretty funny. So we get some nice things there.

But, like, someone, like, not fitting in with this, you know, meerkat society, wanting peace and rest and not having to worry constantly about being eaten by hyenas or any other predator.

Like, so, of course, he seeks the perfect, lush place he finds with a lunch, bunch of bugs with his newfound friend that takes a little while to get, you know, friendly with. But, you know, they become pals. And, of course, Simba is involved with that.

So, like, kind of enhances how they're able to care for Simba, you know, as, you know, basically brothers, in a sense, in that mix. I think it does a well enough job of, like, establishing so.

Well, speaking of, like, their friendship, their brotherhood, like, how does this film build up that friendship between Timon and Pumbaa?

Well, because you see, like, throughout the movie they're basically at a movie theater watching their memories or something. Like, their backstory.

It's like a DVD commentary.

Yeah. Yeah. They're. Yes, because they're really talking about the first movie, but not sort of.

They are, but they're filling in, like, little plot holes that didn't really need to be filled in, weren't really noticeable in the first movie. But they're filling it in anyway.

It's a little meta.

Yeah. And wasn't there at one point they had, like, a disagreement. They had disagreement.

I think one of them left it. I can't remember what it was. And then they came back. Yeah. I think they know they paused the movie at one point. I remember that.

So that one can go, like, get refreshments or something like that. Yeah, I just watched this last night. I should remember.

But in the film itself, they do have an argument when, you know, Simba's going off, you know, to Pride Rock. And Timon's like, I'm not leaving this behind. Hakuna matata, man. And then eventually, he has that moment of, oh, I'm in the wrong here.

I need to go help my friends out. And he races. Actually gets past Pumbaa, who's been running. But, like, he reveals.

No, actually, I was just kind of running a little slower so you could catch up. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah. You know, I don't know I feel like they've always. There. They were always going to stick as friends out.

Because I don't think there was any, like, crazy conflict for them to not be. Except for that moment you just said.

Yeah, there wasn't, like, a big, huge conflict between. It was more like Timon not appreciating him at first. And being, like, wanting to be a solo guy, you know, just making his own way in the world.

And Pumbaa just happened to be around him. And it was. It was very condescending with how he talked to him.

But eventually it started changing in the film of being, like, growing more appreciative of him. So, yeah, it's not really, like, a massive fight between the two of them.

There's little things at the start that you can see the edges are there and that it's refined over time. To where they established their hakuna matata together and their little paradise.

Yeah. And through it all, like Pumbaa, he always stuck with Timon, regardless.

I think.

Regardless of how Simone, like, treated him at first, too.

Yes.

And then Timo eventually came around, right? Am I remembering this correctly?

Eventually, yeah. He kind of cooled down a little bit. Not as. No, Hot, hot fire. Tempered.

Like this one scene early on where, like, you know, Pumbaa makes nests for both of them. And there's obviously one bigger for him and a tiny one for Timon. And Timon takes the bigger one because he has more space.

So Pumbaa's, like, forced to, like, be in this little, tiny. And yet he's fine with it because he's a positive guy. Even though he should have said something.

Yeah. I think it just built, like, a better understanding between the two.

Yes.

With that friendship helps go.

It was. It had a rocky start, but they made it work.

Yeah.

Because you had one guy who didn't want anyone at all, and one guy, all he wants is to be around people. And he can't because of who and what he is.

Yeah. Yeah.

And, of course, later on, Simba, too, is, like, thinking that he killed his dad. And wanting to fit in again. Finding, you know, a new family, as it were, with two older brothers.

So I think one of the things from what I remember last night, one of the themes of the film is kind of like, how about people who have a hard time fitting in? How we can find ways to, like, fit into other places where we don't belong here, but maybe we belong here.

So, like, what do you remember about what it had to say about people who are having difficulty in, like, fitting in to where they are, where they want to be.

I may not be remembering this correctly, but pretty sure, like, at some point. Well, obviously, we see in the first movie that Pumbaa eventually accepted himself for who he was with, like, his gas and everything.

And was just proud about it. We see that in the first movie. So I think in this film, because it's been a long time since I last seen it.

But Timon basically helped him, like, overcome that. Right. Overcome him not fitting in.

Yeah, that's part of it. Because, like, they essentially become a found family.

Yeah.

In that sense, Pumbaa, like, not fitting in because of the way he smells of how that and how terrible it is. Like, no one wants to be around him. Like, and it's something he can't control because it's just part of his anatomy.

I'm sure there are people in multiple ways that that could factor into. Like, obviously, this is more fantastical. And, of course, you know, Timon himself does not fit into his meerkat society.

Because this is what we're all about. I mean, I love. I. I was just at Chicago Zoo not terribly long ago with my niece. And they had a little meerkat den up there.

And you could see, like, obviously they're way safer there than they would be out in the wild. But they're still on the alert. They're looking out and making sure that nothing bad can happen. Because they know what can happen if they don't.

You know, they can eaten. And tomorrow it's like, I don't want the stress of all that. Like, is this what life is?

Just, like, going around and, like, digging holes just so we can avoid being eaten? Like, I'm not about that. Let me find, you know, my place where I can get that hakuna matata. My. No worries.

So that means leaving behind a place he wanted everyone else was fitting into him.

Yeah.

And it's not really focused on too much, but, you know, similar to trying to find a new place after, like, he had a structure, like he was the next guy in charge. And now suddenly, that's all taken away from him. And obviously the original film does it way better because he's the main character.

But we get enough of it here to where we see a little bit of how that could make him into who he's going to be.

Yeah.

All right. All right. So a final question for our main discussion here, Alex. Where do you find your hakuna matata?

Where do you get to the no worries stage in your life?

Finding my hakuna Matata. No worry stage in life. I, you know, I think that. I think that's something that I'm constantly trying to find.

Like, I'll find it and then I walk away and I gotta come back and find it. I don't think it's like, it's something that you gotta act.

It's not constant.

Yeah, yeah. But when I do find hakuna matata, I'm kind of just like, I find myself crocheting a stuffed animal with YouTube on, like some funny YouTube video or.

Or a deep discussion thing with the hot button topic. And that's just my hakuna matata. Or another one would be, I'm traveling and I'm away from home and I'm doing exploring elsewhere. Hakuna matata. Yeah.

Yeah, I'm with you. It fluctuates. It's not like I can go here and immediately every pressure is relieved and the weight is off my shoulder and I can just relax.

Like, doesn't exist. Especially, you know, in this time of transition where I'm still trying to find a pastoral job somewhere that is.

That is no fun being in that in between.

But I do find it occasionally, you know, when I am reading, when I can shut everything else and have some music on because I need two things going on at once. Because my biochemistry sucks, to be perfectly honest. Like, other people, they can just have one thing and that's it. Me, I need like two or three.

Yeah.

So my rest is going to look way different than other people's rest. Like, I remember in college, all the way back, like, I had to have the TV on at night in order to sleep.

And I had two roommates at that time and they didn't like it and I felt really bad. But, like, we had to, like, work out. Okay. You can listen to this much and this and that.

Because I was disturbing their rest, you know, and finding the balance between all that, that roommate swing, that is a really difficult way, but you got to do it in order to get through. But I do. Like, right now, honestly, I'm not the Jesus juker or anyone or anything, but I've found rest working with youth at our church.

And our youth pastor has given me multiple opportunities to preach. And there's always that setup right before. Like, I'm not good enough. They're not going to listen to a thing I say.

Like that imposter syndrome kind of nonsense that gets in everyone's head. But then when I start, it's over. It's like I'm in the flow. I Feel good.

I. I know that I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to do, and I. I find immense rest even in the midst of something that. That is work.

Yeah, I think I'm the same way, too. Now that I'm thinking back. I was just at. I was just volunteering at a church camp last week, and I felt so much hakuna matata.

Like, when I tell people, because there's a camp full of middle schoolers, and I tell people that they're like, oh, my gosh, I must have been so stressed. And I was like, no, it was actually really fun. Like, I was in the zone. I don't know if me being an extrovert, too, but like, that.

Because I also found a balance of, like, moments like, quote unquote chaos, but also moments of, like, quiet, too, where I was able to sit outside under a tree with my Bible just reading. Or, like, when I was with the kids, we were, like, playing dodgeball. I was teaching them line dances, and I was just. That was.

That was also akuna matata. The whole week, there was not a single moment of, like, stress or anything. So. Yeah, I definitely relate with you on that.

I also just got back from a youth camp in the middle of the hot in Tennessee, and it was a blast. It was also extremely stressful.

Like, it's one of those paradoxical things of, like, this is causing me stress, but at the same time, I feel so good about what I'm doing.

Yeah.

And I feel comfort in that.

So, like, having students come up to me and, like, trust me enough to talk about what's going on in their lives and, like, knowing that I care about what they have to say and that I'm going to be a safe person they can be with, means the absolute world to me.

Oh, yeah, I definitely agree.

Like. Like, two nights ago, I was yelling at you because you were past curfew, or, you know, you didn't.

You weren't where you were supposed to be or something like that. And yet, right here and now, like, we're having a conversation that also matters in a different way. Like, love it.

Yeah. Yeah, it's great.

So anything else to say about the Lion King? One and a half.

Hakuna bata.

Hakuna matata. How are you scoring this out of 10?

Oh, I would give this a 10. It's one of my faves. Okay, I'm gonna get a 10.

Here's where the fellowship ends. I'm giving this a six. Like, this is solid. Like, I definitely enjoyed rewatching it last night.

But this top, I guess I'm just a different man than when I was a kid when this first came out.

Wow. You know, that's fair. That's fair. As we grow up, I think our sense of humor will change with that. That's fair.

So, Alex, question we've been asking at the end here, so what kind of flavored tea or lemonade would we bring to the drive in?

Oh, lemonade, peach, peach, lemonade, peach lemonade tea. Ginger or mint ginger tea. Okay.

Yeah. My answer remains unchanged. Much like my tea, all you do is you put a lot of sugar in there, you know, as God intended, and that's all you need.

No different flavors, no nothing. You give me a cold iced tea, ice sweet tea. That's. That's everything. Call me vanilla without putting vanilla in there. I don't care.

And that's okay.

You know what? Thank you. All right, guys, thank you for all you do for helping us out in this drive in series. Listen to every episode we have, please.

You get a chance to do a five star review and your podcasting platform of choice. Also, if the ratings here help us find more people, feel free to head over to our YouTube page and head to our videos there.

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You can also suggest future episode topics ideas by sending Suggestions to systematic ecologymail.com I'd like to shout out some supporters real quick. Thank you very much to Aaron Hardy, Daniel Sigman, Drip Fuller, and James Barrett. But remember, we're all the chosen people.

A geekdom of priests, Hakuna matata.