Decoding TV

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 88 - 'Pluribus' S1E03 Opens Up Some Dangerous Possibilities Nov 15, 2025

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 third episode of Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus.

How do we feel about the imminent return of Alien: Earth, not to mention Shogun? Can Poker Face survive with a new Charlie Cale? And why are we so excited about a new show based off Jimmy Olsen? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

Homework for next week:

Pluribus Episode 4 (Apple TV)

Shownotes:

Links:

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Ep. 87 - The 'Pluribus' Season Premiere Will Go Down in History Nov 07, 2025

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 season premiere of Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus.

How do we feel about Apple TV’s vibrant new brand identity? How do we feel about the brewing war between YouTube TV and Disney? And why will people be remembering the Pluribus season premiere for a long time to come? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

Homework for next week:

Pluribus Episode 2 (Apple TV)

Shownotes:

05:02 - TV News
Apple TV temporarily melts down
Finneas made the new music for Apple TV
The new logo was done in-camera
YouTube TV pulls Disney channels
IT: Welcome to Derry ratings
Late Night News
Jon Stewart renewed for another year (through 2026)
Colbert weights in on his cancellation
43% of Gen Z prefer YouTube and Tiktok to traditional TV
48:08 - Pluribus
Episode 1 - We Is Us
Episode 2 - Pirate Lady

Links:

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

Bonus Ep: 'Slow Horses' Season 5 Was a Blast Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

Dave and @joyonapping are back for another season of Slow Horses! In season 5, the focus is on Roddy Ho as he becomes ensnared in a vast terrorist conspiracy.

What were the biggest differences between the books and the show? Is the format of the show inherently in tension with its plotlines? Who were our MVPs this season? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!

Links:

Follow Joy on Threads
Email us at Decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Follow us on Tiktok at tiktok.com/@decodingreality
Subscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything

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Bonus Ep: 'It: Welcome to Derry' Takes Some Big Swings. Is It Enough? Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David and Patrick discuss the season premiere of It: Welcome to Derry. What are the ways in which this show expands on the lore of the book? What did we make of the bold decisions at the end of the first episode? If this show starts at a 12, does it have anywhere to go? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

Homework:

Slow Horses season 5 (Apple TV+)

Links:

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

Bonus Ep: 'Gen V' Season 2 Was a Mixed Bag. Can This Show Thrive in a Post-'The Boys' Future? Oct 25, 2025

Show notes

In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David and Patrick are joined by Jessie Earl to discuss the second season of Gen V. Was this show able to overcome some of the clunkiness of the earlier episodes? What did we make of the show’s biggest twists this season? And can this show really survive and thrive in a future without The Boys? Listen to hear us discuss these questions and more.

Links:

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

Bonus Ep: 'Task' Season 1 Delivered the Goods (with Kit Lazer) Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David is joined by Kit Lazer to discuss the season finale of Task.

What made us love this show? Is it really too bleak for general audiences? What did the show do best? And what were some of its most memorable moments and characters? Listen to hear us discuss these questions and more.

Links:

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

Ep. 86 - 'The Chair Company' Reveals The Play-Acting We All Do (Plus: A 'Peacemaker' S2 Post-Mortem) Oct 17, 2025

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 season premiere of The Chair Company.

Does Tim Robinson find hidden comedy gold in the cushions of The Chair Company? Will video podcasts be a big thing on Netflix? Will the Apple TV rebrand make sense by the time you download this week’s podcast? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

Homework for next week:

Bonus Episode: Task (HBO)
Bonus Episode: Slow Horses (Apple TV)
Bonus Episode: Long Story Short (Netflix)

Shownotes:

03:02 - TV News
Bari Weiss is the main segment on Last Week Tonight
Apple TV+ is now Apple TV
’Stranger Things’ Season 5, Volume 1 Runtimes Revealed
Netflix refuses to put the finale into theaters
M. Night's 8-ball
Tivo exits the hardware business
Splinter Cell Deathwatch Renewed
Netflix to Stream Selection of Spotify Video Podcasts Starting in 2026
52:00 - The Chair Company
Episode 1 - “Life goes by too fucking fast, it really does.”
1:17:56 - Peacemaker Season 2 post-mortem (with spoilers)

Links:

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

Ep. 85 - Did 'Peacemaker' Season 2 Stick the Landing? Oct 10, 2025

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 season finale of Peacemaker.

Is CBS News doomed or extra-doomed? How on earth are we going to cover the final season of Stranger Things? And does the first trailer for Pluribus get us excited for Vince Gilligan’s newest show or not? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

Homework for next week:

The Chair Company (HBO)
Bonus Episode: Long Story Short (Netflix)

Shownotes:

02:32 - TV News
Bari Weiss Joins CBS News
The First ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Trailer Teases Our Next Return to Westeros
First Real Pluribus trailer
STRANGER THINGS Season 5 Will Feature 8 Feature-Length Episodes...And Boasts An Insanely High Budget
HRW cannot accept donations
36:00 - Peacemaker Season 2
Episode 8 - Full Nelson

Links:

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

Ep. 84 - 'The Lowdown' Is a Fun Neo-Noir That Goes Down Easy (Plus: What 'Peacemaker' Has to Say about Nature vs. Nurture) Oct 03, 2025

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 premiere of The Lowdown and the latest episode of Peacemaker.

Where was the balance of power in the Jimmy Kimmel situation? What do we think of how Fallon handled the whole thing? And why is there a conservative campaign to cancel Netflix? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more.

Homework for next week:

Peacemaker Season 2 Episode 8 (HBO)
Bonus Episode: Long Story Short (Netflix)

Shownotes:

03:05 - TV News
UPDATE: Sinclair and Nextstar return Kimmel to air
Jimmy Fallon Plans to ‘Keep My Head Down’ and Avoid Politics on ‘The Tonight Show’: ‘We Hit Both Sides Equally’
‘Dead End: Paranormal Park’ Creator Receiving ‘Homophobic and Antisemitic Emails’ After Elon Musk Says ‘Cancel Netflix’ Due to Show’s Trans Character
Dave Chappelle Jokes It’s Easier to Talk in Saudi Arabia Than It Is In America
43:30 - The Lowdown
Episode 1 - Pilot
Episode 2 - The Devil’s Mama
Episode 3 - Dinosaur Memories
1:04:15 - Peacemaker Season 2
Episode 7 - Back to the Suture
1:31:58 - Alien: Earth spoiler feedback

Links:

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

Bonus Ep: Is 'aka Charlie Sheen' a Good Documentary or Just Image Rehab? (with Christie Bosch) Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

In this bonus episode of Decoding TV, David chats with Christie Bosch (AKA @thatdocumentarygirl) about the new Netflix documentary aka Charlie Sheen.

What were our biggest takeaways from this documentary? Why was the documentarian seemingly averse to experiencing human emotion? And is the documentary actually insightful or is it just a way for Charlie Sheen to rehab his personal image? Listen to hear us discuss these questions and more.

Links:

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

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