Decoding TV

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 131 - Did ‘Lanterns’ Stick The Landing? Or Was It a Disaster? (Plus: ‘Dark Matter’ S2E06 Asks How You’d Approach Your Loved Ones) Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then watch the latest episode of Lanterns and Dark Matter.

Now that the Skydance merger is complete, what do we think will happen with the new mega company? Was the Lanterns finale a sublime end, or a storytelling disaster? And where do we think Dark Matter is really heading this season. Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

Homework for next week:

Carrie season premiere (Prime Video)
VisionQuest season premiere (Disney+)
Dark Matter season 2 episode 7 (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

00:30 - TV News
Skydance/Warner merger
David Ellison Names Skydance Corp.’s New Leadership Team for Movies, TV, Streaming and More
David Zaslav says goobye (motherfucker)
US Film and TV production is in a terrible decline
Both Paramount and HBO brands will still exist
Disney Licenses Slew of Titles to Netflix, Including All Five ‘Ice Age’ Movies, ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians,’ ‘Felicity,’ ‘Will Trent,’ ‘Elio’ and More
Eddie Murphy to Star in First Scripted Series ‘The Chairman’ at Peacock
31:00 - Lanterns
Episode 8 - Dirt and Stars
1:07:35 - Dark Matter Season 2
Episode 6 - What the Universe Is Made of

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
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Ep. 130 - What Does ‘Youth’ Have To Say About Life In Your 50s? (Plus: Reviews of ‘Lanterns’ Ep 7 and ‘Dark Matter’ S2E05) Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then watch the latest episode of Lanterns and Dark Matter.

What does Youth have to say about life in your 50s? What did we think about The New York Times’ list of the top 100 TV shows o the 21st century? And was Dark Matter season 2 episode 5 a masterpiece? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Lanterns episode 8 (HBO Max)
Dark Matter season 2 episode 6 (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

00:30 - Show of the Week
Youth
19:10 - TV News
The New York Times top 100 TV Shows of the 21st Century
Beast In Me Renewed for Season 2
48:30 - Lanterns
Episode 7 - The Jordan Boys’ Legacy
1:14:33 - Dark Matter Season 2
Episode 5 - Love and Be Loved

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 129 - Is The World Ready for a Netflix That’s Just Mid? (Plus: Reviews of ‘Lanterns’ Ep 6 and ‘Dark Matter’ S2E04) Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then watch the latest episode of Lanterns and Dark Matter.

Are Netflix’s viewership woes reversible? What are our thoughts on the latest news about the Paramount/Warner merger? And are we excited to finally see Apple’s The Savant when it premieres next year? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Show of the Week: Youth (HBO Max)
Lanterns episode 7 (HBO Max)
Dark Matter season 2 episode 5 (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

00:30 - TV News
Netflix is in bad shape
Paramount Settles Antitrust Case With State AGs
Major TV Networks Suspend White House Pool Coverage of Trump in Protest of His CNN Ban
Apple TV Finally Schedules Jessica Chastain-Led Thriller ‘The Savant’
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ to End With Season 3
Older News: Neil Druckmann and Frank Miller
1:01:53 - Lanterns
Episode 6 - Bad Optics
1:01:53 - Dark Matter Season 2
Episode 4 - Stars Hide Your Fires

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
Follow David on Tiktok

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 128 - Breaking Down the 2026 Emmy Awards with Myles McNutt (Plus: Reviews of ‘Lanterns’ Ep 5 and ‘Dark Matter’ S2E03) Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then watch the latest episode of Lanterns and Dark Matter.

First up, Myles McNutt joined us from Episodic Medium to discuss this year’s Emmy awards! What did we think of this year’s telecast? What about the awards? And what were some of the weird things that happened? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Lanterns episode 6 (HBO Max)
Dark Matter season 2 episode 4 (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

00:30 - TV News
Breaking down the Emmy Awards
34:40 - Lanterns
Episode 5 - Lights Out
1:16:18 - Dark Matter Season 2
Episode 3 - Everything Beautiful, Everything Terrible

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
Follow David on Tiktok

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 127 - Is ‘Lanterns’ S1E04 Its Best Ep Yet? Or Just Extremely Anticlimactic? (Plus: ‘Dark Matter’ S2E02 Feels Like It’s Trying to Do Too Much) Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then watch the latest episode of Lanterns and Dark Matter.

Why did the announcer for Wheel of Fortune get fired? Are we sad about the cancellation of Spider-Noir? And is Lanterns one of the biggest hits in HBO history? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Lanterns episode 5 (HBO Max)
Dark Matter season 2 episode 3 (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

00:30 - TV News
Follow-up: GTA VI tops 31 million views on Netflix
Furious Hits 43 Million Hours Viewed
Lanterns Ep 3 Hits 10 Million Viewers
Netflix renewed all their podcasts
‘Spider-Noir’ Canceled by Prime Video After One Season
‘Wheel of Fortune’ Announcer Jim Thornton Fired by Sony
Dave Bautista Shows Off Body Transformation
28:22 - Lanterns
Episode 4 - Weenie
1:01:53 - Dark Matter Season 2
Episode 2 - A Perfect World

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
Follow David on Tiktok

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 126 - ‘Lanterns’ S1E03 Takes a Big Swing. Does It Connect? (Plus: ‘Dark Matter’ Season 2 Feels Like a Different Show) Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then watch the latest episode of Lanterns and Dark Matter.

Is Apple TV worth $15/month? Was it worth it for Rockstar to paywall a trailer for GTA VI on Netflix? And are we excited about a Furious season 2? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Lanterns episode 4 (HBO Max)
Dark Matter season 2 episode 2 (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

00:30 - TV News
GTA VI leads to netflix viewership spike
Apple TV hikes price of service
Furious renewed for season 2
Robocop TV show casts Dan Stevens in lead role
31:05 - Lanterns
Episode 3 - OutKast
1:06:18 - Dark Matter Season 2
Episode 1 - A Quiet Life

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
Follow David on Tiktok

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 125 - ‘Lanterns’ S1E02 Asks a Lot of Its Viewers (Plus: Will the Paramount-Warner Merger Be Good for Movie Theaters?) Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then watch the latest episode of Lanterns.

What do we make of the news that Marvel might be making TV shows after all? Is Gorilla Grodd really the next best DC show to make? And what’s the latest with the Paramount-Warner merger? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Lanterns episode 3 (HBO Max)
Dark Matter season 2 premiere (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

01:30 - TV News
Lanterns pulls in 9 million viewers
Marvel probably still making TV shows after all?
Bautista will be Kratos
DC’s The People vs. Gorilla Grodd is going to happen, apparently
Paramount-Warner Merger will cost 4500 jobs
California Attorney General Cancels Paramount Settlement Talks Over $111 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery Deal, Says He’ll Meet When They ‘Stop Playing Games’
This tweet:
https://x.com/ercboxoffice/status/2091961746601005140?s=42
Theater owner weighs in
48:26 - Lanterns
Episode 2 - Trust Fall

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
Follow David on Tiktok

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus Ep: What Was ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 About, Anyway? Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David and Patrick discuss their thoughts on season 3 of House of the Dragon.

What were our favorite and least favorite storylines this season? What’s the one place we never want the show to return to? And what was this season about, anyway? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

And of course, be sure to check out A Cast of Kings for a more detailed and informed breakdown!

Links:

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 124 - ‘Lanterns’ Is Awesome (Plus: ‘Dark Matter’ S1E09 Opens Up Interesting Possibilities for Season 2) Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the HBO original series Lanterns and conclude their Dark Matter season 1 rewatch.

What do we make of the fact that Marvel won’t be making live action TV shows anymore? Are we excited about IT: Welcome to Derry Season 2? And will the DC Universe ever be appropriate for children? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Lanterns episode 2 (HBO Max)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

02:30 - Show of the Week
Lanterns
33:30 - TV News
Hayden Panettiere, Actress on ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ Dies at 36’
‘VisionQuest’ Could Officially Mark the End of an Era for Marvel
‘IT: Welcome to Derry’ Finally Renewed for Season 2, and It’s Going Back to 1935
1:00:09 - Dark Matter
Episode 9 - Entanglement

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
Follow David on Tiktok

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 123 - What Makes 'Furious' a Compelling Cat-and-Mouse Show? (Plus: 'Dark Matter' S1E08 Is Audacious and Shocking) Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Decoding TV podcast, David and Patrick discuss what’s going on in the world of TV, then dive into the Hulu original series Furious and continue their Dark Matter season 1 rewatch.

How much do we think Netflix paid Rockstar to broadcast a videogame commercial? Will Disney Verts ever be a thing? And will David Ellison actually move Paramount out of California? Listen to hear us discuss all of these topics and more.

Homework for next week:

Lanterns (HBO Max)
Dark Matter Rewatch:Season 1 Episode 9 (Apple TV)

Shownotes (All timestamps are approximate):

03:30 - Show of the Week
Furious (Hulu)
21:55 - TV News
GTA 6 to debut extended look on Netflix and YouTube August 27
Disney and tiktok strike content-sharing deal
Ellison threatens to move out of California
Regal and AMC back the Paramount merger
David Ellison promises movie theaters that he’ll release 30 movies per year
45:00 - Dark Matter
Episode 8 - Jupiter

Links:

Thanks to Michael J Johnson for our Show of the Week and Patrick Finishes the Damn Show audio bumpers
Listen to Patrick’s videogame podcast, Remap Radio
Subscribe to Patrick’s newsletter, Crossplay
Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube
Follow this podcast on Instagram
Follow this podcast on Tiktok
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything
Follow David on Instagram
Follow David on Tiktok

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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