Shiny Happy People

In the explosive opener, Teen Mania emerges as millennial America's radical evangelical youth movement. Charismatic founder Ron Luce dazzles with "Acquire the Fire" - pyrotechnic stadium revivals where teens pledge their lives to spiritual revolution. Beneath the rock-concert worship and adrenaline-fueled Christian missions, Luce is assembling his army of true believers.

Teen Mania's Honor Academy subjects its eager young recruits to brutal bootcamp tactics and endless hours in a massive call center as teenage telemarketers for Jesus, facing crushing quotas while enduring strict purity rules. Terrifying "End Times" simulations complete with mock executions create trauma disguised as spiritual transformation, forging young martyrs ready to die for their faith.

Teen Mania goes to new extremes with BattleCry, a hyper-militant culture war campaign. An evangelical pied piper, Luce leads the children into politically volatile protests. Meanwhile, interns collapse under grueling conditions and alumni begin speaking out, leading to Teen Mani's explosive demise. But the army Ron trained fights on, with devastating consequences still unfolding today.