Decoding TV

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 25 - Sometimes 'The Bear' Eats You Jul 04, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek discuss the first three episodes of The Bear season 3. Then, Dan Gvozden joins us from The Amazing Spider-Talk podcast to discuss the latest episode of The Acolyte.

Is The Bear a show that’s become too enamored of its own success and character dynamics to move forward? Does anything interesting happen on The Acolyte this week? Will Sol finally get to explain WTF happened on Brendok all those years ago? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Acolyte Ep 7 (Disney+)

Shownotes:

00:01:00 - The Bear
Episode 1 - Tomorrow
Episode 2 - Next
Episode 3 - Doors
00:47:20 - The Acolyte
Episode 6 - Teach/Corrupt

Links:

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

Ep. 24 - Why 'The Acolyte' Is Getting Review Bombed Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the fifth episode of The Acolyte and the fourth episode of The Boys’ fourth season.

Do we really care whether a show is branded as an HBO or Max original? (Unfortunately yes). Why is Presumed Innocent such an effective TV drama? And what’s going on with the audience reviews for The Acolyte? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Acolyte Ep 6 (Disney+)
The Bear season premiere (Hulu)

Shownotes:

00:01:30 - Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+
00:10:28 - The Acolyte Is Getting Review Bombed
00:22:45 - Max is rebranding some shows to HBO
00:33:45 - Harry Potter gets a showrunner
00:38:30 - The Acolyte
Episode 5 - Night
01:08:00 - The Boys
Episode 4 - We’ll Keep The Red Flag Flying Here

Links:

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

Ep. 23 - Is 'The Boys' Bad Now Because of Woke? Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the fourth episode of The Acolyte and the first three episodes of The Boys fourth season.

Are fewer people watching House of the Dragon this year? Why did Jon Stewart leave Apple TV+ anyway? Are we excited about a film adaptation of Three-Body Problem? And has The Boys gotten too woke recently? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Acolyte Ep 5 (Disney+)
The Boys Season 4 Ep 4 (Prime Video)

Shownotes:

00:02:30 - The Curse ending behind-the-scenes
00:05:15 - House of the Dragon ratings
00:15:50 - Jon Stewart’s exit from Apple TV+
00:24:17 - Zhang Yimou’s Three-Body Problem movie
00:30:00 - The Acolyte
Episode 4 - Day
01:00:05 - The Boys
Episode 1 - Department of Dirty Tricks
Episode 2 - Life Among the Septics
Episode 3 - We’ll Keep the Red Flag Flying Here

Links:

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

Ep. 22 - Why Netflix Keeps Getting Sued Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the third episode of The Acolyte.

Why does everyone keep suing Netflix? How has Jon Stewart’s return to late night gone so far? Are we excited about The Boys season 5 being its last? And is there going to be a Euphoria season 3 after all? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Acolyte Ep 4 (Disney+)
The Boys Season 4 premiere Eps 1-3 (Prime Video)

Shownotes:

00:07:00 - Man on Fire and Starfleet Academy casting news
00:16:00 - Jon Stewart will host live shows after debates
00:19:20 - Fi0na Harv3y is suing Netflix
00:31:40 - Casey Bloys teases upcoming WB slate
00:39:30 - The Boys season 5 will be its last
00:51:55 - The Acolyte
Episode 3 - Destiny
Dave’s Nitpick Corner

Links:

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

Ep. 21 - Training with 'The Acolyte' Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the season premiere of The Acolyte.

What do we make of the new price increases to Max? How has culture war stuff influenced writing about Star Wars? Why is Netflix still being so weird about the renewal of 3 Body Problem? And are we excited for a new series based on Like a Dragon: Yakuza? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Acolyte Ep 3 (Disney+)
Bonus: The Boys Season 3 finale

Shownotes:

00:19:54 - Max Prices Going Up
00:23:46 - Leslye Headland Hopes the Force Is With the Acolyte
00:31:33 - 3 Body Problem Will Return for Seasons 2 and 3
00:37:15 - Like a Dragon: Yakuza Live Action Series
00:45:44 - The Acolyte
Episode 1 - Lost/Found
Episode 2 - Revenge/Justice
Dave’s Nitpick Corner

Links:

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

Ep. 20 - Sympathy for 'The Sympathizer' May 30, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the season (series?) finale of The Sympathizer (Max).

What do we think about Jeffrey Wright being cast in the same role in the TV version of The Last of Us season 2? What’s the difference between Marvel Television and Marvel Spotlight? And are we psyched for a Damon Lindelof show about Green Lantern? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Acolyte Eps 1-2 (Disney+)

Shownotes:

00:03:05 - Jeffrey Wright cast as Isaac in Last of Us Season 2
00:13:38 - Marvel’s rebranding of its TV Shows
00:38:10 - Damon Lindelof is on board the Green Lantern TV show
00:49:30 - The Sympathizer
Episode 7 - Endings Are Hard, Aren’t They?

Links:

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

Ep. 19 - 'X-Men '97' Is The Best Thing Marvel Has Made Since 'Avengers: Endgame' May 23, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the sixth episode of The Sympathizer (Max) and the first season of X-Men ‘97 (Disney+).

Why should you definitely watch Scavengers Reign when it hits Netflix in late May? Like really? (Seriously). What do we make of Netflix’s weird announcement for more episodes of 3-Body Problem? And what is it that X-Men ‘97 gets so right about the Marvel universe and about the X-Men themselves? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Sympathizer Ep 7 (Max)

Shownotes:

00:01:30 - Comcast’s Streamsaver bundle is $15/month
00:06:50 - Scavengers Reign is cancelled at Max but not on Netflix
00:18:24 - Shogun seasons 2 and 3 are in development
00:26:30 - More episodes of 3-Body Problem are happening under mysterious circumstances
00:38:30 - The Sympathizer
Episode 6 - The Oriental Mode of Destruction
01:04:15 - X-Men ‘97 Season 1

Links:

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

Ep. 18 - Begun, The Streaming Bundle Wars Have May 16, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the fifth episode of The Sympathizer (Max) and the final three episodes of Baby Reindeer (Netflix).

How do we feel about Netflix’s latest efforts to get into live programming? Which streaming bundle are we looking forward to the most? Why can’t Paramount+ get any love? Is there still life left in The Office as a franchise? Are we excited about another season of Mr. and Mrs. Smith? And what about season 2 of Shogun for that matter? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

The Sympathizer Ep 6 (Max)
X-Men ‘97 Season 1 (Disney+)

Shownotes:

00:01:30 - Netflix’s big moves into live TV
NFL gets Christmas day football
00:17:00 - Begun, the streaming bundle wars have
Max bundling with Disney+/Hulu
Peacock bundling with Netflix/Apple TV+
00:26:00 - The Office Reboot
00:33:30 - Mr and Mrs Smith Season 2 and The Boys season 5
00:36:15 - Shogun Season 2 is in development
00:43:00 - The Sympathizer
Episode 5 - All For One
01:00:00 - Baby Reindeer
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7

Links:

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

Ep. 17 - Getting 'Baby Reindeer' Fever May 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the fourth episode of The Sympathizer (Max) and the first four episodes of Baby Reindeer (Netflix).

How are studios navigating tricky situations when beloved cast members pass on? Does Cobra Kai really need to be split into three separate parts? What’s the best way to advertise to kids these days anyways? Is there such thing as an anti-war film in the world of The Sympathizer? And why is Baby Reindeer so damn good at unraveling its story? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

Baby Reindeer Eps 5-7 (Netflix)
The Sympathizer Ep 5 (Max)
X-Men '97 Season 1 (Disney+)
Bonus Ep: Sugar Season 1 (Apple TV+)

Shownotes:

00:06:00 - Gen V will not recast Chance Perdomo
00:13:00 - Cobra Kai’s release schedule
00:28:30 - The Sympathizer
Episode 4 - Give Us Some Good Lines
00:56:00 - Baby Reindeer
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4

Links:

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

Ep. 16 - Reacting to the Fallout of 'Fallout' Season 1 May 02, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Patrick Klepek run down what’s going on in the world of TV and discuss the third episode of The Sympathizer (Max) and the rest of season 1 of Fallout (Prime Video).

Is 65 million viewers actually a lot when it comes to a streaming service? How embarrassed does the OG Emily Stone feel about taking Emma Stone’s SAG name? What other famous people just aren’t being clear about their real names and pronunciations? What do we think The Sympathizer is trying to say about being an American? And what did we think of the rest of season 1 of Fallout on Prime Video? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Homework for next week:

Baby Reindeer Eps 1-4 (Netflix)
The Sympathizer Ep 4 (Max)
Bonus Ep: Invincible Season 2 Part 2 (Prime Video)

Shownotes:

00:01:30 - Fallout gets 65 million viewers
00:08:33 - THR’s cover story about The Curse
00:26:45 - The Sympathizer
Episode 3 - Love It Or Leave It
51:15 - Fallout Season 1
Episode 4 - The Ghouls
Episode 5 - The Past
Episode 6 - The Trap
Episode 7 - The Radio
Episode 8 - The Beginning

Links:

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

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