Fall 2025 Streaming Lessons: What Binging Taught Us About Faith, Leadership, and Marriage
By Dr. Lazaro “Tony” Astro, PhD, GCDF, CMCS, CCSP – Veteran Educator & Counselor
When autumn rolls around in Virginia Beach, the house gets quieter, the air turns crisp, and Myla and I settle into our favorite season-long ritual: our streaming classroom.
We’re not just watching TV—we’re learning.
Every show becomes a case study, every film a sermon, every pause button a discussion point.
After 23 years in the Navy and decades counseling Sailors, families, and entrepreneurs, I’ve realized entertainment isn’t just escape—it’s reflection. The screen becomes a mirror of our faith, our leadership style, and even our marriage.
Below are some of our favorite watches this fall—and the twenty lessons they taught us.
1. Dexter: Original Sin (2024 – 8.2)
Lesson 1: Self-awareness isn’t weakness—it’s survival.
When Dexter confronts his mentor about “the code,” I saw the same tension many Sailors feel: following procedure versus following conscience. Myla paused and said, “Even monsters need moral mentors.” That hit home—because even counselors need counseling.
Lesson 2: We can’t fix darkness by hiding it.
Dexter’s struggle to contain his past reminded me that confession—whether spiritual or professional—isn’t about guilt, it’s about growth.
2. Mr. Mercedes (2017 – 7.8)
Lesson 3: Purpose after retirement defines your next chapter.
Watching the retired detective fight through depression to pursue justice reminded me of many veterans—myself included—who feel lost after the uniform comes off. You don’t need a badge to serve; you need a reason to get up.
Lesson 4: Empathy is intelligence.
Myla noted how the detective saw humanity in even the broken. That’s the heart of counseling—see the person, not the paperwork.
3. The Diplomat (2023 – 8.0)
Lesson 5: Leadership at home is as tough as diplomacy abroad.
The political sparring in The Diplomat mirrored our own “State Department of Marriage.” We laughed—but we also saw truth: communication without humility is just negotiation.
Lesson 6: The best leaders listen more than they lecture.
As an educator, I caught myself mid-class thinking of how often I “lecture” when I should facilitate.
4. The Undeclared War (2022 – 7.0)
Lesson 7: Preparation beats panic.
When the cyber team simulated attacks before the real one hit, I remembered Navy drills—train like you fight. Transitioning to civilian life is the same: you don’t wait for chaos to start planning.
5. From (2022 – 7.8)
Lesson 8: Faith holds when reason fails.
In this eerie mystery town, people survive by clinging to hope. Myla said, “That’s what we did through deployments.” She was right—faith isn’t logical; it’s lifeline.
Lesson 9: Community saves lives.
Even in horror, the characters built family. That’s what church, crew, and counseling circles are supposed to do—build safety through belonging.
6. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022 – 7.8)
Lesson 10: We can’t heal what we refuse to look at.
This one was hard to watch. Myla almost turned it off. But we talked about accountability—the cost of ignoring warning signs. In leadership, silence can be complicity.
7. Caramelo (2025 – 7.1)
Lesson 11: Love redeems the ordinary.
A simple film about a man and his dog became our therapy night. Myla said, “Even small acts are divine.” As veterans and educators, we often chase outcomes. Caramelo reminded us that presence is the prize.
8. The Girlfriend (2025 – 7.2)
Lesson 12: Boundaries build respect.
In this tangled web of relationships, we saw the danger of blurred lines—something every workplace and marriage needs to address. “Emotional boundaries,” Myla said, “are just as holy as moral ones.”
9. Alien: Earth (2025 – 7.2)
Lesson 13: Curiosity keeps humanity alive.
While the world panics at alien contact, one scientist says, “Understanding begins with awe.” I turned to Myla: “That’s what teaching is—inviting awe instead of fear.”
10. Brave New World (2020 – 7.0)
Lesson 14: Comfort kills courage.
When society chooses pleasure over principle, I thought of how easy it is—even in government jobs—to choose safety over significance. “We didn’t join the Navy to be comfortable,” Myla reminded me.
11. The Covenant (2023 – 7.5)
Lesson 15: Honor transcends nationality.
That scene of the soldier risking everything for his Afghan interpreter broke me. Loyalty, not language, defines brotherhood. Every veteran knows that truth.
12. WeCrashed (2022 – 7.3)
Lesson 16: Charisma without character collapses.
As an entrepreneur, I saw reflections of my own early mistakes—big dreams, thin discipline. Myla laughed, “You were the Navy version of a start-up!” Maybe. But purpose lasts longer than hype.
13. Boots (2025 – 7.9)
Lesson 17: Adversity grows humor.
A quirky coming-of-age story that reminded us of our immigrant roots—laughing through hardship. That’s been our marriage motto: if you can joke through it, you can get through it.
14. Pluribus (2025 – 9.0)
Lesson 18: Unity is built, not declared.
The show’s tagline—E pluribus unum—hit hard. We paused and prayed after the finale. Diversity is divine design, but unity requires daily humility.
Lesson 19: Forgiveness is leadership’s final test.
The main character chooses mercy over revenge. That’s Gospel leadership right there.
Lesson 20: Every generation must redefine courage.
When the young leaders stepped up despite fear, I thought of my TAP students—transitioning Sailors who don’t realize how brave they already are.
Closing Reflections
By the time the leaves began to fall, Myla and I had logged over a hundred hours of stories—and even more hours of conversation.
People ask why we don’t just “watch to relax.”
Because we don’t stream to escape life—we stream to understand it.
Every series becomes a mirror:
- Dexter taught self-control.
- The Diplomat reminded us to communicate with grace.
- The Covenant reignited our sense of honor.
- From rebuilt our faith in community.
- Pluribus gave us hope that unity is still possible in a divided world.
Our couch becomes a classroom.
Our living room, a chapel.
Our marriage, a ministry in motion.
After twenty-plus years of deployments, relocations, and reinventions, our greatest adventure now is simply learning together—one episode at a time.
Reflection Prompt for Readers:
What are you watching this season—and what is it teaching you?
Maybe the next binge isn’t just about what’s on screen, but what God’s trying to show you through it.
End note:
This post is part of my ongoing “Cinema & Calling” blog series on TonyAstro.com—where faith, film, and leadership meet real-life lessons for veterans, educators, and anyone navigating life’s next mission.
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