God lives in TV series: "Religion in the classroom is full of inspiration."

"At the heart of Mad Men is desire, given that the series is set in the world of advertising in the 1960s. And the protagonist, Don Draper, is somewhat reminiscent of Saint Augustine: like him, he's constantly chasing the fulfillment of his desires, never quite succeeding, and each time he has to 'die' only to be reborn. Saint Augustine resolved everything by trusting in God, but that's another story..."

Andrea Franzoni, a theologian and religion teacher at the Keynes High School in Castel Maggiore, near Bologna, has written an essay titled 'Searching for God with the Remote Control – Biblical Imagery in TV Series' (Ancora Editions) that combs through the most famous TV series for religious and philosophical references.

Franzoni, how did you come up with the idea for this book?

I'd never been interested in TV series; I considered them a waste of time. Then, in 2014, a friend recommended 'True Detective' to me. I watched it and realized it was great literature, with a very high technical level and themes related to my studies in philosophy and theology. From there, I wondered if it was an isolated case. I discovered it wasn't, and since then I've analyzed many series, both live action and anime, gathering the reflections that now flow into this book.

Let's take a perhaps less obvious title: Black Mirror. Where, in the British dystopian series, is there a trace of faith?

"Black Mirror explores the relationship between humanity and technology, a terrifying series in many ways. In the third season, the episode "San Junipero"—one of the few, incidentally, with a "positive" ending—deals with the relationship between two terminally ill women who transfer their consciousness to a virtually eternal artificial paradise. The theme of faith emerges there as a gamble on love, capable of giving meaning to a potentially infinite time. It also touches on issues such as euthanasia, identity, and the relationship between body and soul; it's truly interesting."

Death and resurrection, what about 'The Walking Dead' and 'The Revenants'?

The apocalyptic theme explored through zombies is one of the most popular in TV series. The return of the dead is addressed in both the Christian and Jewish religions; the end of the world is marked by the arrival of the deceased. On the one hand, the drama of those denied an afterlife, destined to wander the earth, satisfying only their bodily needs; on the other, the difficult reconciliation between the living and the dead, which can also be found in Game of Thrones: the arrival of the creatures beyond the Wall leaves no room for humans.

But when she's at school, does she use TV series to teach?

"Yes, of course. I'll give you this example. A girl says to me, 'I've seen Lucifer, I know everything about the Bible.' Obviously, that's not the case; the series about the fallen angel simplifies things greatly, but it can offer interesting insights to discuss with students; it's stimulating."

Among the latest products you've seen, can you recommend any to our readers?

"As for Japanese anime, Watanabe's 'Lazarus': not on par with 'Cowboy Bebop,' but it tackles very interesting themes. Among the live-action series, I'd choose the sci-fi 'Foundation' on Apple TV: based on Asimov's saga: for purists of the writer, it's heresy, but for everyone else, I find it offers remarkable insights and extraordinary visual quality."