Mysteries and plot twists grab my attention. There’s something intriguing, fascinating and mind blowing about finding a whole new layer of meanings to what I thought I knew.
In today’s culture people look for Easter eggs in the movies they watch. These little hints give a whole new meaning to what’s going on. They add a layer of subtext that goes unnoticed and unappreciated.
We often take for granted what we already know about our world. We assume that the way things are, are how they’ve always been and will be in perpetuity. But what if there was more to the story? What if everything you thought you knew actually had a message very different that what you originally thought?
(I must warn you though. If you continue reading, your view of Underdog will change forever.)
I had one of those mind blown moments on considering the cartoon, Underdog. Underdog is always fighting his nemesis, Simon bar Sinister. Simon, like most villains is out to ‘rule the world’. But to Simon this doesn’t necessarily mean going out and conquering it by military means. It’s much more underhanded than that.
Underdog, as his name conveys is an unlikely hero.
It’s only when Underdog makes his transformation that he thwarts Simon.
What blew my mind was the discovery that Simon bar Sinister is a ‘love child’. Bar Sinister is an old term for a child born out of wedlock. Not only does his name give it a whole new meaning, he is also considered ‘the most evil man alive’.
The whole process of this discovery was just like uncovering a hidden Easter egg. It started with an innocent watch of Underdog. I enjoyed watching an episode, when it struck me that Simon bar Sinister sounded familiar. Now I discovered what his name actually meant.
Think about that for a moment.
The outcome of an affair is the evil, destructive force seeking to rule the world. The hidden morality of the cartoon has more moral punch than many Sunday morning sermons.
Simon strikes fear in the hearts of everyone he encounters along with always seeking the destruction of Sweet Polly Purebred. Polly represents the epitome of innocence. Consider why does he want to destroy her?
The answer I believe lies in his name. Sinister refers to someone who comes from a ‘dark’ place. They are sneaky or underhanded, wanting what they desire without working for it. He also bears the mark of illegitimacy, being born out of wedlock.
The whole message of her being ‘pure’ bred contrasts starkly to that of bar Sinister, who comes from questionable circumstances. She comes from the other side of the tracks.
The ramifications of the product of an affair (e.g. love child) striking fear into the populace and seeking the destruction of innocence is mind-blowing.
I’m not sure if this was intended by the creators of Underdog, but I find it almost hard to believe that they had no idea what message their work conveyed.
With this insight, Underdog is suddenly an unlikely hero fighting against the after effects of an affair. He works diligently in thwarting Simon and his threats.
How many times have you felt like an underdog in combating the effects of an affair?
As a child I thought it was about an unlikely dog character who triumphs over the bad guy. I had no idea of the affair associations hidden within it.
There are times when you feel like an Underdog facing the affair. The odds are against you and fear surrounds you. During those moments, are you going to run or make the needed transformation?
One way you can start the transformation is by rebuilding the trust in your marriage. Trust is the foundation of a healthy relationship. When you don’t have trust, there is ample room for fear to fill your life. Trust chases away the fears.
The video ‘How Can I Trust You Again?’ gives you the recipe for making the needed transformation. You can go from being a meek and timid spouse to being a champion for your marriage. You can defeat the specter of the affair. You can know HOW to have trust once again.
Transformation is possible. Either you or Simon bar Sinister are going to win the day and your marriage.
Best Regards,
Jeff
