To many today, Bowe Bergdahl, former United States Army soldier and sergeant, is a deserter. A failure. A milksop. Even, albeit indirectly, a murderer.

Yes, it may be true that he is these incorrigible things, that’s it, end of story. Or, it may run much, much deeper — in other words, it may only serve as a window into the maelstrom of indecision the young American military member went with when he ditched his base in Afghanistan in 2009 and eventually forced his fellow warriors and country to participate in a massive manhunt (upon his capture by the Taliban) before the White House — after five long years and six soldiers dying in the search — did the unthinkable and negotiated with terrorists to guarantee his release.

At least, that’s what the popular podcast “Serial” was hoping for when they decided to make the polarizing Idaho native the subject of their second season, which is available now to listen to at this link.

Not to spoil the first installment, but the most famous U.S. soldier to go AWOL in recent memory offers some head-scratching quotes (he was interviewed by the screenwriter Mark Boal for the first time since his release), some of which highlight a dangerous delusion with roots in the ubiquitous, celebrity-fueled plague that is American popular culture.

This from the Washington Post:

“Doing what I did is me saying that I am like, I don’t know, Jason Bourne…. I had this fantastic idea that I was going to prove to the world that I was the real thing,” Bergdahl said. “You know, that I could be what it is that all those guys out there that go to the movies and watch those movies, they all want to be that, but I wanted to prove that I was that.”

The plan fell apart quickly, however. He got lost in some hills and was taken prisoner by enemy fighters on motorcycles who found him in open desert, he said. Military officials have said previously that he was captured June 30, 2009, just hours after disappearing.

“I don’t know what it was, but there I was in the open desert, and I’m not about to outrun a bunch of motorcycles, so I couldn’t do anything against, you know, six or seven guys with AK-47s,” Bergdahl said. “And they pulled up and just…. That was it.”

Lieutenant General Kenneth R. Dahl, who recently testified on behalf of Army’s investigation into the Bergdahl case, also called him delusional. He also found him to be telling the truth, which is why the disgraced soldier no longer faces the heavy charges of desertion or endangering troops.

Soon, at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, General Robert B. Abrams will decide precisely what offenses the 29-year-old will face.

For an entire review/recap of the first episode, click here.