Therapist Reacts to THE LION KING 

I always admired how open Mufasa was about his fear that something would happen to Simba, and that he was terrified of losing him. In a society which preaches "Men Don't Cry", it's really realistic to depict a male character openly showing vulnerability, and how it's a sign of strength, not weakness.

I like that they acknowledge that Hakuna Matata on it’s own isn’t bad advice. It’s not bad to not let the past drag you down and move on from it, but it is bad to do so to the extent that Simba goes where he dodges his responsibilities

Raffiki tells him what he needs to know, not what he needs to hear. He lets simba come into himself and doesn’t push. He’s the best therapist ❤

Rafiki whacking Simba with the staff reminds me of a story of when my hubby went to therapy as a teen. He had a lot of internalized anger at his biological father for being abusive and it manifested in unhealthy ways. His therapist took him outside and told him to vent his pent up frustration by taking a bat to a tree for a few minutes. Hubby wound up for one solid swing, the bat hit the tree, rebounded, and nailed him right in the back of the head. As he lay on the ground looking up at the sky, the therapist leaned over and said, "Well this wasn't the lesson I wanted you to learn today, but if you take away anything from it, just remember that entertaining all this rage will ultimately result in you hurting yourself."

What you said about adults telling things to children and it getting internalized "in our identity DNA" really struck me. Mom told me that a teacher once told her, *to her face,* that she was stupid. She was in *grade school.* She believed it into *college* when she found out she has dyslexia. Even now, over 40 years later, she seems to have a hard time believing anyone who compliments her about *anything.*

Simba is a great character to relate to in terms of overcoming trauma and PTSD. When he reunites with Nala, she says (about being alive all of this time): “and your mother, what will she think?” Simba, in response, panics and deflects to “no one has to know.” I think that was a direct callback to when Scar said the same thing after Mufasa died “What will your mother think?” An excellent example of a PTSD flashback/response!

My absolute favourite moment is when Timon tells Simba something to the effect of "If it's important to you, it's important to us." I think it's a great example of expression of love between friends.

Here's a fun fact about Hans Zimmer: He wrote the music for the stampede scene (and the motifs that follow it) specifically as a requiem for his own father that he lost. The reason why the music around Mufasa is so powerful is likely due to Zimmer's own emotional connections with it.

My mom told me about my father's death while we were watching The Lion King. She said that even despite the death of his father, Simba had a bright life and a good ending. Of course, the death of a loved one left a scar on me, but I was relieved that the character from my favorite cartoon went through the same thing that I was going through I was 6 years old when my dad died. I'm 18 now and Lion King is still one of my favorite movies

I like to think that "Hakuna Matata" is great advice for situations/circumstances that exist or occur *outside of your control,* but the opposite is also true (ie. it's terrible advice for when things are *within* your control). Great video you two! 💕

When Mufasa says, "You are more than what you have become..." I always smile because while Simba is not a bad son or person/lion, Mufasa holds him to a higher standard without putting him down (good parenting).

I’m so glad you guys also talked about how Nala’s approach to getting Simba to return was hurtful to him. It’s easy to see Disney characters as “all good” or “all bad”, and we sometimes tend to generally see rl people this way. I tend to communicate like Nala- extremely earnest and blunt (no sarcasm tho!), so eager to “fix” the situation that I can lose sight of the word-package I’m using. This was a good reminder that the “right thing” can be said in unhelpful ways. Thanks!

The “Oh so you haven’t told them you’re little secret” scene: What came to my mind is that, had Simba told his version of that day on his own terms, it would have become instantly clear to his family that he was not to blame. But as soon as Scar sees that Simba didnt share anything, Scar 💯 took his chance to leave out context and replace it with insinuation so that Simba’s experience would automatically be seen through a frame that Scar could control. It hit me that people who want to hurt people use secrets and the best way to combat their manipulations is to always tell our stories/truths

"Awful people watch for moments to manipulate." Great way to phrase it, and a good thing to remember when judging someone's character, and if they really have your best interest at heart or are good/bad to be around.

when i was a kid, i never realized how fucked up and traumatizing it must’ve been for simba to hear his uncle blaming him for the death of his father. that’s just so scarring.

When Jonathan said "When people ask me 'I don't know who I am' I always ask them 'who do you want to be.' It hit me like a truck I almost teared up lol. I did not need this paired with my morning coffee sir

I find it so beautiful and so interesting that when Simba is face to face with his father (in the storm cloud), Mufasa doesn't say anything about blaming Simba for his death. He doesn't even mention his death at all. That part isn't an issue for him. What matters to him is his son being true to himself and living a fulfilled life. Mufasa, you magnificent stud, you!

The thing that I love most about Rafiki is that he never just shoves his opinion on Simba; he lets Simba come to him and make his own observations before offering his own (or smacking him on the head). Even after that amazing line about the past, Rafiki never says, "Now go fulfill your destiny!" He ASKS Simba what Simba will do next, giving Simba full power of agency.

It's a small detail, but I love that, before Scar confesses, and Simba has already said the death was his fault, when Simba slips off that cliff, Nala calls out to him and still cares about him. It just... it fills me with warm and fuzzy feelings.

On the subject of Healthy Masculinity, Mufasa is a very good example of that concept in Lion King. I personally would very much like to see an episode about him on your channel.

I always loved Simba and Mufasa's strong relationship, and how devastating his death was for both Simba and the audience. It was likely our first experience of death in the media, and James Earl Jones did a fantastic job of bringing this lovable, charismatic father character to life.

This is one of those movies that you watch as a kid and think “Hey, that’s cool.” Then you rewatch it when you’re older and say “Good lord, this is a work of art.”

Scar really is a perfect example of the monologuing villain causing his own demise. All he had to do was let him fall and die, but he just HAD to give him that burst of righteous fury to turn the tables

I’m 33, saw this at 4 years old the first time and made my parents take me 4 times to see the movie. I will never not cry during Mufasa’s death, and I’ll always sing all the songs. On an emotional note, when I lost my mom at 9, my grandmother was the one to tell me. She said she had no clue what to say but when she started talking she used Mufasa as her talking point. She told me that my mom was gone, like Simba’s daddy, but she would always be with me like Mufasa was with Simba. This truly helped me understand, and in some ways come to terms with my trauma. And for that I love this movie all the more. No other animated movie means as much to me.

I am shocked you guys haven't done The Princess Bride yet there are so many angles. Revenge, romance, how to treat kids and their ideas, problem solving, Billy Crystal, the list goes on. Would love to hear you guys talk about Andre and what went into making the movie

I am grateful to have been raised by a father who is not afraid to be emotionally vulnerable, to cry in front of his children. But it gives me hope to consider just how many people have found your channel and witnessed two wonderful men to look up to as role models for their own health. I can only imagine how much healing you have influenced just in being yourselves. God bless you two! 🤍

I think stories about kids being hurt hit is harder as adults because when we are kids ourselves, we don’t realize how vulnerable kids are. As adults, we know.

I think why the death of Mufasa affects Jon more now than before is like what Alan said, he's a parent. As a kid, losing your parents/caregiver is a scary thought, but the idea of actually losing them doesn't seem as possible unless it's already happened to you. But as a parent the idea of dying and leaving your child behind is terrifying and is a very real possibility. I hope that made sense

I never realized until Johnathan pointed out the similar messages to 'Hakuna Matata' and 'Let It Go' that Elsa and Simba have similar if not the same character arc. Both were raised to take over as rulers for their kingdom, but tragedy struck that pushed that pressure over the edge in different ways, but both came to the same idea; running away and never returning was in their, and everyone else's, best interests. Both of them being raised and taught to follow the rules and how to act to become good rulers, they had their moments of fun with friends (Elsa with Anna, Simba with Nala) but the two know when they're adults what's expected of them. Suddenly with the notion that no one would want to follow them as leaders (for Elsa, out of fear from her powers; for Simba, out of fear to the news he's the reason his father is dead) They both have songs that regard this new philosophy that having no responsibilities and a carefree lifestyle may not be so bad. They even love it for a time until they are confronted by someone important to them that they are the only one who can save their respective kingdoms. They even react the same way to receiving the message! At first being happy to see the messenger (Anna, Nala) then being apprehensive or even scared at the notion of going back. Trying to convince them that their new plan of never returning is what's best so they can avoid further hurting those they love, and finally snapping at the messenger causing them to leave. Once alone again, someone else comes along to bring them home, (though Hans forced Elsa back whereas Rafiki convinced Simba where Nala failed). At the end after saving their kingdom, I suppose you could say it's the distance that helped them since Elsa was able to learn more about her powers to help find herself and Simba lost himself for awhile but returning home to see how it's fallen apart emboldens him to fight back TLDR; Simba and Elsa are one and the same

It's interesting that Tymon and Pumba came into Simbas life when he's a child, which allowed him, as a traumatized child, to still have a childhood. When Nalla came in, he was ready, or at least was taught by raffekee.

The Lion King has always been deep even as a child But I think I understand it on a much deeper level as an adult now Kinda painful, extremely beautiful and a 100% worth it Can't wait to see your take on this you guys! Sending love to whoever is reading this ❤

Just a little addendum to the Rafiki scene, one thing I always loved about it is how directly and simply he challenges Simba's preconceptions. Gives him a solid whack, then when Simba asks for an explanation, Rafiki deflects the same way Simba would have.

If you guys aren't already planning on it, I'd love to see yall do a video for the sequel :) I was chatting with my sister about it as we watched this episode, and I think the sequel is a great example of how trauma can still linger after the initial source is gone, and the effects that trauma has on future relationships - especially with family. And something that made me think is the comment about Mufasa's advice being about Simba being the best person he can be instead of trying to be like Mufasa. In the second movie, when Kovu comes into the picture - even as a cub - Simba changes as a father and king because instead of seeing a lion being forced into his mother's revenge plans, he just sees Scar. And this point is really driven after the ambush that then leads to Kovu being exiled, the scratch on his face is all anyone in the kingdom (except Kiara) can focus on and they continue to treat him as a second Scar. And it isn't until Kiara puts herself between her father and Zira that he starts to see things more clearly as they are right now instead of reliving the past. On the one hand you sympathize with Simba because you know that he grew up without a father and is doing his best to raise his daughter. And while he has good intentions, his methods on top of his lingering trauma is having the opposite effect. It's a growing experience for both father and daughter :)

Reminds me of something a therapist told me ages ago when it comes to interpersonal conflict. "Do you want to win or do you want to be happy?"

When you two spoke about parents having said things in a moment of frustration that they wish they could take back, it made me think of Del Toro's Pinnochio. I would highly recommend covering it on this channel! There's Geppeto's grief, Pinnochio not wanting to be a burden, Candlewick wanting to make his father proud, and Death herself talking about mortality and immortality.

As an adult who lost a parent semi-recently (a couple yrs ago), the biggest part I cry now is Cloud Dad part. Mostly because I wish I could have that moment with my Mom (actually came up in therapy that I wanted a Cloud Mom for even 5 minutes). I definitely had to explain what that meant to her, but I cried while explaining it. That song yup makes me cry every time. I love that Lion King provides a way for me (and I'm sure many others) to conceptualize grief because I had loads of trouble explaining my feelings and grief. Also advice for people, DO NOT WATCH this while on lunch break. Co-workers were really concerned.

Not 40 seconds in & I hear Jonathan say "when people ask me, "I don't know who I am" my answer is always, "who do you want to be?"" and I'm already crying lmao I'm working with a trauma therapist right now, really delving into those childhood.... foundational issues & internal voices that have carried over into my adulthood, and trying to figure out who I am and who I want to be. SOOOOOOOO this one really hit hard today 😅❤

I'm so glad Alan mentioned the score!! I don't think people realize just how effective the score is (outside of the iconic songs). As an aspiring film score composer, our one goal is to reach the audience. To make the audience feel and emphasize those feelings and Hans did a phenomenal job fulfilling (over-achieving) that goal

Scar's line about truth being in the eye of the beholder is actually really clever. It is something he uses several times and it works each time. He lies and manipulates the truth constantly. Also, this is true of everything in a way. There are countless scenarios where truth is different from person to person.

Thank you for mentioning Hans Zimmer and his immense impact on the emotionality of this movie (and all of the other masterpieces he has been a part of). Movie scores make moments so much more powerful. I feel blessed to live in the same era as John Williams and Hans Zimmer.

As someone who grew up with a manipulative father, whenever I see depictions of adults manipulating their kids my first reaction is to be infuriated to the point of crying because you know the struggle that kid will have to go through in order to reconcile how they were raised. Even just seeing the beginning scene where you see in Simba’s eyes the “reality” Scar presents to him sinking in for the first time. This movie doesn’t go into depth the process it takes to really unravel manipulative-based trauma, but it shows him overcoming it very well.

I don't think I've ever clicked on a Cinema Therapy video so quickly. (Maybe in one of the Twilight ones)

We watched this when my wife was pregnant, and she started crying 15 minutes before Mufasa died, and then continued full-on ugly-crying for over 30 minutes. That will always be my clearest Lion King memory.

It's been so long since I've seen this movie and as a kid Rafiki's stick metaphor definitely would've flown over my head. Seeing it again now it has to be one of the best ways for a movie to deliver a message I've ever seen. They don't even comment on it, it doesn't even last 30 seconds, yet the impact it has on Simba is evident. It's incredible!

Just hearing the intro and I was already almost in tears. This movie was so important to me growing up 😭

Watching the "he lives inside you" part here out of the movie context i realize that this probably had a large impact on how i see death now as an adult. People that die never fully disappear, they live on in the memories and actions of those that they met and influenced everyone that that person then meets and influences. We are the result of all the people that came before us.

18:50 I have been questioning myself for almost half my life:"What kind of person am I?, Who am I?", like its something to figure out for me. Your gentle, Dad like answer: "Well, who do you want to be ?" knocked me out. The thought that I can steer the direction of my own development is incredibly liberating. (Lots of baggage behind this) Thank you! You rock!

It breaks my heart to see simba get manipulated into thinking it’s his fault

8:50 It made perfect sense for Elsa to be sick of rules and having to be responsible 24/7, she was expected to act like an adult since she was a child and carried so much guilt, self hate and disgust into her adulthood she HAD to snap eventually. It wasn't healthy and she wasn't happy despite being the queen. It wasn't a random person deciding they want to be a free spirit, it was someone who was miserable for their entire life finally letting themselves do something that made them happy

Last night I had one of the worst fights with my family I think I'll ever have, and someone finally admitted all the wrong doing that was pinned on me. I sadly lost a huge part of my family last night. And this episode could not have come at a more perfect time. Thank you both so much.

I was born in 94' so I've watched this movie literally my entire life. It is my fav animated movie because I can relate to Simba in a deeper way and I'm happy you both tall about grief and guilt and how he doesn't know who he is until the right moment comes. I cannot express how much I love this movie and how Mufasa is one character I'll never forget since he reminds me of my own dad. I love the friendship between Simba and Nala, Timon and Pumbaa. Rafiki gives the best advice but ultimately, they all have a powerful teaching in Simba's journey to become king. And Alan is right. Thanks to Hans Zimmer for creating one hell of a soundtrack. I cannot listen to it without weeping. Even now, 29 y/o, i still cry in the same way when I was a kid.

I agree 1000% with Jono that things involving kids hit me harder as an adult and especially as a parent of a young child. I think it's because I see firsthand, every single day, that children's love for their attachment figures is so big, pure, and sincere. And in the case of Simba, his uncle Scar is taking advantage of that love to be manipulative af. He even straight up wants Simba to die, which Simba never could've fathomed before he was adult because he loves Scar and sees him as the fun uncle

How have I never noticed that Simba turned to his uncle for comfort before running away! That moment when he went from grief and the hug to guilt was…😭!

I love the “everyone is learning” and “worth ties” message. As someone in my late 20s, I’ve been on my own for a while as an adult, but am still learning. But then I see friends and my fiancé knowing so much more than me about how “adulting” works (i.e. finances, insurance, buying a house, etc.), and I feel so behind, like I should know everything about it already. But with my ADHD, I don’t think to learn it until it’s right in front of me. That helps in the not worrying about it too much aspect, but then when it comes time to do some of these things, if there was supposed to be any sort of prep, I sometimes get a lecture of how I should have started the process months ago. Especially for long term stuff. It feels like I’m constantly playing catch up with other people my age and is frustrating…

My favourite childhood film! One of the things about being autistic is that in childhood you can get obsessed with certain things and I was obsessed with the lion king. I would watch it over and over again as an infant and as a child. I was always happy watching it… my dad on the other hand has never let me forget the torture I put him through on a daily basis with this film. 😂❤

i grew up watching lion king, and without realising i ended up with a very similar personality to timone - jaded, sarcastic, and seemingly carefree. the phrase “hakuna matata” stuck with me right up until adulthood. it was only in 2020 that i realised that having “no worries” is part of the problem. you have to learn to confront your issues in order to move past them and learn from them, which is exactly what rafiki says later on in the movie. it shows that you interpret movies differently as you get older, and now lion king is even more precious to me. also, great video guys! i love this movie and you gave it all the love and attention it deserves ❤️

I would say that Hakuna Matata isn't only bad for things you can do something about and good for when you can't. People in our society tend to give the Hakuna Matata advice (though with other words) so much that it makes you think you're *supposed* to be able to just let stuff go and move on; so when the scars are too deep to just do that, you end up suppressing the pain instead, which isn't healthy in the long run

For myself, Simba's walk up Pride Rock and the roar has never been the moment he turned king, but rather, for me, it symbolized the moment that the pride showed their loyalty to him

Right at the beginning of the video when Johnathan said about how those messages from your loved ones carry on through into adulthood, I choked up immediately. I grew up in an emotionally, mentally, and physically abusive household and the things that I was told growing up and also being a survivor of bullying and sexual assaults from others outside the house, still sticks with me today. I’m almost 40 and been in therapy for years because I STILL can’t shake those messages away from me. I still think they’re true 😞

in defense of nala's 'packaging', the point at which she's begging simba for help is a point at which she and nearly everyone she cares about are, as she explains, on the brink of starvation. i.e.: she's in survival mode. it's so hard to be magnanimous and patient when yours and your loved ones' lives are on the line. objectively, of course, these are all perfect points about how - ideally - the conversation could have gone. i'm just not sure most of us could've pulled that off, in nala's shoes (paws?).

It's always important to remember that our past is a lesson and not a destination to stay in. You can only hakuna matata for so long until you realize just how important your responsibilities are for others. There's definitely an epic scope that I absolutely love about this retelling of Hamlet in Disney fashion. Plus the score always gives me chills and Scar remains one of the greatest villains from Disney.

That scene with mufasa in the sky is an actual belief among the African culture during moment of grief

It would be interesting to see a therapist's reaction to Puss In Boots: The Last Wish. There's so much psychology in that masterpiece.

I will say, looking back at The Lion King as an adult the part that always gets me is when Rafiki tells Simba to look closer at the water and says "He lives in you...". I lost my father before my senior year of high school and I remember going to his wake, one of his friends got up to speak about how she had not seen him in years. She turned to me, looked kindly into my eyes, and said "I haven't seen that smile of his until I met his son today". I cried a lot that day but that phrase always stuck with me because it made me feel like in some small way he was still with me, that I carried a part of him. Just like Rafiki said. Always appreciate the videos, and I still strongly advocate for doing a Cinema Therapy video on the animated movie Belle! I think there are a lot of parallels in it with The Lion Kind, and the music is amazing.

Can we take a moment to acknowledge the masterpiece of this soundtrack? Every piece showcases such talent and emotion ... Bravo, Hans Zimmer, bravo.

The reason the scene of Mufasa in the clouds really gets to me, isn't Hanz Zimmer or Mufasa's words, but Rafiki's before it; "He lives in you". Mufasa's love for Simba never faltered, and wouldn't even if Simba caused his death. Timon and Pumba are great friends, but that kind of deep, intimate love has been lost for Simba for some time, and not only is he reminded of it in this scene, he's reminded of the responsibility Mufasa gave him, of the things he learned from his father, and the trust and faith put in him. "He lives in you" is the same sort of comfort as Luke's "no one's ever really gone", but also a reminder that Simba accepted and wanted the responsibility of becoming the future King, a role Mufasa entrusted him with. While I think there's something to say about the whole "you must inherit the family business" shindig, it works in The Lion King because deep down, Simba wants to be, and is worthy of, being King.

Rafiki is the most underrated character in TLK, imo. He's got the funniest moment and one of the best bits of wisdom for Simba. And let's be honest, he was going SO easy on those hyenas. I don't know what a baboon/mandrill hybrid is like in real life, but mandrills can be utterly terrifying, and baboons aren't exactly Labrador puppies themselves. You should consider doing a reaction to Avatar: The Last Airbender. You'd probably have to choose a selection of episodes, but the three I'd love to hear your thoughts on are Zuko Alone, Sokka's Master and all of Sozin's Comet. The Storm and the Southern Raiders are two more backstory and character arc focused episodes that people love to analyze the heck out of.

Something that I just realized- Simba didn’t just internalize grief and guilt. The last thing Scar told him when he was a kid was “Run away.” Simba did that literally, but also internalized it as ‘run away from my problems/responsibilities’. I know this might seem obvious but I never thought about it like that before till just now.

Alan: I want to break you. Also Alan starts crying

I always saw the message as you need to find the middle ground between Hakuna Matata and full on responsibility. As Jono said, you have to take accountability and responsibility where you can and chill when you’ve done everything you can. 😊

I'm not a parent and don't ever want to be. But I still have that genetically embedded "children are to be protected, always and no matter what" message encoded in me.

Rafiki's words truly impacted a whole generation of kids. In fact the whole lion king movie did. there is a lot we can learn from this movie all the while enjoying the amazing story being shown to us.

I keep noticing how people say that Simba asked for this when he sang "I just can't wait to be king", but... It is clear to me that he only wanted to get Zazu off his back and was too young and naive to understand the unfortunate implications of that song. And yeah, it is only as an adult that I truly get the horror of Simba watching his father fall to his death and not being able to wake him up and being told that it was his fault. 😳

Something I explained to my kids is that you can only work with the information you have at the time. When your understanding changes, what you said in the past wasn’t a lie, it just wasn’t correct. I think I heard that from the mended light channel actually 😊

Rafiki has and always will be my favourite from anything Disney. So much so that he's even be profile picture of Disney+. Dude's like the best friend who gives you actually meaningful advice, and hypes you up afterwards. I'm ecstatic you guys thought the best advice Simba gets in the movie is "you can either run from the past or learn from it." It's been my favourite Disney thing to quote for years now, lol.

Ok since we’re on Disney, PLEASE DO A VILAIN THERAPY OF CLAUDE FROLLO from hunchback of Notre-Dame

To be fair, 3 things. 1. Simba was a kid easily impressionable and tricked by scar twice. 2. Too young to fight Scar, hence hakuna matata. 3. Finally, as an adult yes Rafiki knocked sense in to him after he had doubts already about himself. Nala was just slowly nudging him to action. The end.

"You can't run from your past" is such a true statement. Mine run after me..

Thank you so much for this! Love the part about philosophies that only get you part of the way. I firmly believe Timon and Pumbaa would have been able to help Simba better and earlier had they been told what had happened. They’re going off of the assumption that Simba’s story is a lot like theirs, that he’s been outcasted for some unfair reason he can’t change. I like that Pumbaa offers to help with Simba’s problem from day one and that they both pull through as soon as they know what’s up.

"Every parent has said something they're not proud of, but it's the ones who let it hang there..." Oh my God, you just described my mom. Don't get me wrong, I love her and we have a great relationship, but never once in her life have we had a fight after which she'd apologize to me. It would always be me feeling extremely guilty and her going "wait what fight? Oh that, I already forgot about it", like she always gave me the feeling I was the one blowing things out of proportion or being too sensitive. And to this very day I don't know how to argue with people, I get almost physically ill at the thought of someone being mad at me, and I'll put other people's needs in front of my own because as long as I do that they have less reason to be mad at me and hate me. Fuck. I need to go lie down for a moment after this little revelation :')

People say toddlers and small children don't understand death. I was almost four when my parents took me to the movie theater for the first time and we watched this movie. I am told I cried so hard at Mufasa's death, we had to leave. I didn't like this movie all throughout my childhood because I found it hard to deal with what Simba went through. As an adult, I love this movie to bits. Its helped me through really rough times. Its taught me how to see things I couldnt get past in a different light. And its become one of my favorite Disney movies; one of three I will forever own a copy of in some form.

Your comment about Simba really taking on the mantle of king when he takes full and true responsibility for what has happened is so paradigm shifting and just great! This is why I come here!

When I was a kid my little sisters favourite film was the lion king and for years, every time she would do something bad and get told off for it, her response was always, “it doesn’t matter, it’s in the past!” … I think she might have missed to point 😂

I’m so happy that you guys watched The Lion King! It’s my favorite movie and exploring the scenes through a certified Therapist. It’s so good!❤

Hans Zimmer actrually lost his father at a young age just like simba and he said in a few interveiws that he didn't just compose it just for the movie but for himself and his father and it'll always be special to him.

The first time I watched The Lion King at age 26 at the student's union cinema, I received several missed calls from my sister who trying to reached me (I was abroad). I called her back and she told me our dad just passed away. The irony.....7 years later, still not getting over the grieving

Hans Zimmer is a composition god. I can always tell it's him, and I get chills every time.

I'm so happy that you guys did Lion King, it's one of my top three favourite movies ever! Could you do a video on Howl's Moving Castle? There's some interesting stuff there with Sophie's struggles with self-esteem and Howl's avoidance of things that scare him, but also how they learn to be vulnerable with each other.

15:16 Johnathan, a long time ago I was told an analogy that hits me hard until now, which kind of explains why heavy criticism during childhood seems to carve itself into the personality: children are like a blank book, in which parenting and life experiences gets written into it

Oh god, this will be a tough one. Thanks for doing these, guys!

This video breaking down Simba’s confession scene at the end is the first time I’ve noticed that the part right after with Scar keeping Simba spinning while he calls him a murderer *perfectly* captures what it’s like to be spun in a manipulator’s web of lies. It’s impossible to get a clear perspective or ground yourself in reality because abusers like him are masters of keeping you disoriented so that their lies don’t fall apart. As someone who was emotionally abused by a master manipulator for years as a teenager, that really hit me deep. I’m so thankful to have that visual to help me explain to people why it can be so hard to expose your abuser even when the things they say are demonstrably false.

This is quickly becoming one of my new favorite RU-vid channels! I love movies and anything surrounding mental health. This is a WIN WIN. 😭🙌🏽 Loved the breakdown of The Lion King. This movie has so many teachable moments. Thank you for providing even more take aways. 🙏🏽

Been asking for this one silently for a while. A great and formative movie. And navigating through manipulative adults is something I did have to deal with (and am still dealing with) in therapy. Thank you for Simba running through this for us.

19:32 how did I never notice that one frame where they forgot to color simba's eye yellow lol That whole scene his eyes go back and forth from white to yellow which ???? but there it happens in a single shot oops "I don't know who I am" "Well, who do you want to be?" I think that just turned a lightbulb on in my head; thank you Jonathan I really wish I could legitimately have you as a therapist; I've had enough bad experiences with therapy that I haven't been able to bring myself to try again, but watching your show gives me some hope that the right person is out there

This movie has my favorite film score ever. Hans Zimmer did not have to go this hard but he did and I'm grateful. So beautiful it makes me cry.

I've always been fond of the phrase, "Don't let your message get lost in the mess."

This was my all time favourite movie growing up. This episode hit me hard. My father told me similar things when I was a child and he was drunk. That I was stupid and useless. I’m 33 and I still have low self esteem and am unable to form friendships effectively. I always avoid it because I fear that people won’t like me or find me interesting,. I never thought it could possibly be related to my father because it was so long ago.

That "who do you want to be?" Philosophy was a huge part of my early therapy journey. I had a mentor who was unbelievably kind and compassionate. I took that into therapy and chose to adopt the qualities I wanted.

Hakuna Matata was the male comic relief characters. Let It Go was one of the female leads. Cue uproar about one more than the other. Also, love that you point out that neither song is the end point or moral of the stories. They're just emotional turning points for the characters at a midpoint in their journeys

This was perfect! Can you guys PLEASE do a follow up with Lion King 2, going over Simba clinging to Scar's betrayal and holding it over the heads of the Outlanders? That would be amazing, watching Simba's whole story.