Decoding TV

Support this podcast by becoming a paid member at decodingtv.com!In this episode of Decoding TV, Kim Renfro and David Chen recap and review the second episode of Succession season 4, “Rehearsal.”A business deal threatens another Roy family event. Will the Roy children be able to overcome their differences in time for the board meeting? What exactly is Logan try to build at the new ATN? Will Mattson get cold feet for the Gojo deal? Will Connor ever experience the fullness of emotion that human life has to offer? Will Kerry ever get to anchor her own show? Listen to us discuss all these questions and more!Links:Follow Kim on TwitterFind Kim’s work at InsiderFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This bonus episode is free but you can get all our bonus episodes by becoming a paid subscriber at DecodingTV.com!We’re trying something new with Decoding TV this season. In the past when we’ve done bonus episodes, they’ve typically analyzed the pre-existing materials for a TV show (e.g. House of the Dragon, The Last of Us). Since Succession is original IP, it demands a different approach.As such, I’ve invited David Cho to join me to do a few bonus episodes throughout the season. David Cho is a media veteran and has previously been the publisher of sites such as Grantland, FiveThirtyEight, and The Awl. His expertise is highly valued by media companies, celebrities, and global brands, and I’m pleased he’s sharing it with us here.[David and I also co-hosts an ongoing podcast on my personal Patreon page, Dave on Dave, in which he critiques and provides feedback on my online work.]In this bonus episode, we spoil and discuss Succession S4E01 - The Munsters, including how realistic the dealmaking was this episode, why it is that the Roys don’t really wear coats, and how rich people have feelings too.Links:Follow David Cho on TwitterFollow David Cho on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by Nissan - EVs that electrify.Succession has returned and the Roys are back to the old backstabbing, treacherous ways! In this episode of Decoding TV, Kim Renfro and David Chen recap and review the first episode of season 4, “The Munsters.”How much has the status quo changed since the last episode? Do we think The Hundred would actually be a successful media venture? Is “The Disgusting Brothers” a good nickname for Greg and Tom? Is Logan Roy’s conversation with Colin one of the saddest scenes that’s ever happened in the history of this show? We discuss this and so much more!Paid subscribers: You can get your premium feed in your podcast app by going to decodingtv.com/listen. Thanks for being a supporter!Links:Follow Kim on TwitterFind Kim’s work at InsiderFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan - EVs that electrify. Succession is back this Sunday for a fourth and final season! I’m so pleased to be able to bring you weekly coverage of the show featuring my A Cast of Kings co-host Kim Renfro.In this special season 4 preview episode, we discuss:Why is it we love Succession so much?Where we left off with each of the Roy characters at the end of season 3Jesse Armstrong’s comments on why he wanted to end the showWhere we think season 4 will wrap upWhere we want to see each of the Roys end upThe biggest jettisoned plotlines from earlier on in the showAnd much more!I’m grateful to Kim for being willing to join me as Succession comes to a thrilling close, and grateful all Decoding TV paid members for making this podcast possible. I hope you can join us!Links:The New Yorker: Jesse Armstrong explains why the show is endingFollow Kim on TwitterFind Kim’s work at InsiderFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to David’s free newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan - EVs that electrify. Thanks for a great season of TV recapping! We’ll be recapping Succession next so stay tuned for more episodes of the podcast.In this Decoding TV bonus episode about The Last Of Us, David and Christian discuss topics such as:Listener/viewer reactions to the seasonThe realism of the season finaleThe philosophical questions in the discourseWhat we think season 2 of the show might look like (spoilers are clearly marked)And much more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan - EVs that electrify. Thank you for listening this season! We’ve loved making this podcast for you. We’ll be doing one additional bonus episode next week responding to feedback and other thoughts on season 1 so please stay tuned. In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 9 of The Last Of Us, “Look for the Light.”Joel and Ellie wrap up their journey for the season. But how well does this ending work? Do we think Kiss Kiss Bang Bang could’ve prevented the tragedy that takes place in this episode? And at the end of the day, what do we think this show is trying to say about love and grief? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan - EVs that electrify. In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 8 of The Last Of Us, “When We Are In Need.”A new character illustrates a different element of the post-apocalypse. But how believable is the character of David? What do we make of Joel’s turn this episode? And how amazing is Bella Ramsay in this episode? (Spoiler: Extremely!). We discuss all this and more on this week’s episode.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan - EVs that electrify. In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 7 of The Last Of Us, “Left Behind.”A detour takes us away from the main timeline of the series. How well does it work in at this point in the story? How does it compare to the game? What does it teach us about Ellie’s life and her relationship to others? And what is this show trying to say about FEDRA anyways? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to our sponsors for this episode:Nissan - EVs that electrifyThe McDonald's app - Download the McDonald's app todayIn this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 6 of The Last Of Us, “Kin.”Joel and Ellie reunite with someone familiar in unexpected circumstances. What is the source of friction between the characters? How will Joel deal with the possibility of getting out of his commitment to Tess? And is Joel going to make it out of this situation alive? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to our sponsors for this episode:Nissan - EVs that electrifyThe McDonald's app - Download the McDonald's app todayIn this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 5 of HBO’s The Last Of Us, ‘Endure and Survive’This episode finishes off a two-episode arc as we continue to follow the stories of Kathleen, Henry, and Sam. How good was Henry’s escape plan, exactly? Is Kathleen a compelling character? What does this episode’s script do well (and not)? And what does this show have in common with World War Z? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to our sponsors for this episode:Nissan - EVs that electrifyThe McDonald's app - Download the McDonald's app todayIn this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 4 of HBO’s The Last Of Us, ‘Please Hold To My Hand.’This episode captures the bombed out countryside of the U.S. as Joel and Ellie continue their journey. How well does the episode bring this post-apocalyptic country to life? How effectively does it capture the set pieces from the game? Where is Joel and Ellie’s relationship at this point? And what’s up with these new characters that are introduced? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by our sponsors:Nissan - EVs, that electrifyThe McDonald's app. There's always a reason to order in the app. In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 3 of HBO’s The Last Of Us. Every single episode of this show has been better than the last. Has the show finally peaked? We don’t know but either way, this was a tremendous episode of television.How effectively did the show depict the relationship between Bill and Frank? Is this show’s vision of the American government a realistic one? And what was up with that weird scene between Ellie and that dude in the basement? Listen to hear us discuss all these questions and more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss season 1 episode 2 of HBO’s The Last Of Us.What do Christian and David thinks of these flashback cold opens (a TV show invention)? How does Tess and Joel’s relationship reveal itself through the course of the episode? What do we learn about this specific post-apocalyptic universe this time around? And how about that ending? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To get more bonus episodes like this one, consider becoming a paid member at DecodingTV.com!In this Decoding TV bonus episode about The Last Of Us, David and Christian discuss many of the changes between the videogame and the TV series, including:The framing of Outbreak DayThe relationship between Joel and TessWhat’s going on with Joel and Sarah’s neighborsMarlene and Ellie’s relationshipAnd much more!NOTE: We’ve tried really hard to keep this as non-spoilery as possible but show-watchers-only should be warned that you may consider some of this material to be spoilers.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan. Nissan - EVs that electrify.In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Christian Spicer discuss the series premiere of HBO’s The Last Of Us. Join us each week for episode recaps and bonus episodes discussing the show!How successfully does this beloved story make the jump to TV? How well does the casting work? Does this show have anything new to add to our cluttered post-apocalyptic TV landscape? Listen to hear our thoughts on these questions, and much more!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeSubscribe to Christian Spicer’s newsletter, Let’s Chat GamesCheck out Christian Spicer’s videogame podcast, DLCSubscribe to David’s newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy holidays, all! In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David Chen is joined by Ashley Esqueda and Siddhant Adlakha to discuss The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. What is it like to see Marvel superheroes participating in everyday Earth rituals? Does the special rely too much on your real-life knowledge of [REDACTED]? And how important is it to watch this Special before the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie? Listen to hear our thoughts!Links:Learn more about Ashley’s workFollow Ashley on TwitterLearn more about Siddhant workFollow Siddhant on TwitterFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by Nissan. Nissan - EVs that electrify. In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen, Joy, and Kim Renfro discuss the hit Netflix series 1899 (from the creators of Dark). What did we think of the production design of this unique TV show? How did the characters evolve and change? Where do they end up? And most importantly: WTF is going on with the ending of this show?This podcast episode begins with overall thoughts before heading into full spoilers.Links:Read Kim’s article about the ending of 1899Follow this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on Tiktok  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support this podcast by becoming a paid member of DecodingTV.com.For Decoding TV’s coverage of The Last of Us, I couldn’t be more thrilled to have a co-host who’s a veritable Last of Us expert. Christian Spicer co-hosts the DLC videogame podcast and is the host of The Official Last of Us podcast(!). In this introductory podcast episode, we discuss five burning questions we have about the upcoming series.The Last of Us series will debut on HBO on January 15th. You can expect the our next podcast episode to be a recap that covers the season premiere. I hope you’ll consider joining us for the journey.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comListen to Christian Spicer’s work on The Official Last of Us PodcastListen to DLC, Christian Spicer’s videogame podcastSubscribe Christian Spicer’s newsletterFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan. Nissan - EVs that electrify!In this episode of Decoding TV, Roxana Hadadi and David Chen discuss the shocking season 2 finale of The White Lotus. We finally learn who the dead bodies are in the season premiere but is the result narratively satisfying? Did Harper and Ethans’ relationship play out in a believable way? Should Meghann Fahy win an Emmy for her work this season? (spoiler: yes) Did the Di Grasso family learn anything from this whole misadventure? Did Valentina’s storyline end up resonating? Listen to us discuss all this and more! Roxana and I will be back with one additional bonus episode for paid DecodingTV.com members sometime in the next week or so.Decoding TV will be covering The Last Of Us, premiering on HBO on January 15th! Be sure to stay subscribed to get all our episodes, with a special announcement sometime in the next week. Thanks to everyone who has listened this season, thanks to Decoding TV paid members for making this podcast possible, and a big thanks to Roxana Hadadi for joining us on this journey!Links:Read Roxana’s piece about the finaleEmail us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey folks,David Chen here. Roxana Hadadi and I had originally planned to record our White Lotus season 2 finale recap this evening but due to scheduling issues, we’re going to be delivering that full episode tomorrow instead.In the meantime, here are our quick reactions to the finale, which we just finished watching this evening. Stay tuned tomorrow for the full episode!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on InstagramFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Roxana Hadadi recap and discuss season 2 episode 6 of The White Lotus, “Abductions.”Tanya discovers multiple shocking secrets about Quentin, but what exactly is his endgame? Portia realizes the disadvantages of seeing a guy like Jack, but can she extricate herself before she gets in too deep? Ethan starts wondering where exactly he and Harper stand with each other, but can their relationship be saved? We discuss all this and more in the podcast! Plus: we make predictions for the finale episode! Send in yours to decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com!Decoding TV paid members: You can add the private private Decoding TV feed to your preferred app/device by going to decodingtv.com/listen.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is sponsored by Nissan. Nissan - EVs that electrify.Programming note: Thanks for joining us for our coverage of The Crown this season! If the new Harry and Meghan Netflix documentary is worth discussing, we’ll be covering it here on Decoding TV in the weeks to come.David Chen and @joyonapping are covering The Crown season 5 in three installments:Episodes 1-3Episodes 4-6Episodes 7-10 (this episode)Today, we discuss The Crown Season 5 episodes 7-10, “No Woman’s Land,” “Gunpowder,” “Couple 31,” and “Decommissioned.”How did The Crown handle the saga of the Martin Bashir interview? Why is the show seemingly intent on rehabilitating the image of Charles and Camilla? Did we really have to end season five by exploring the plotline of the Royal Yacht again? What is the effect of juxtaposing normal everyday divorces with the cataclysmic one depicted in the show? We discuss all this and more!Links:Follow @joyonapping on TwitterSubscribe to David Chen’s new newsletter, Decoding EverythingFollow Decoding TVOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokOn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to you by Nissan. Nissan - EVs that electrify.In this Decoding TV bonus episode, David and Patrick discuss all the stuff they wish they’d mentioned on the Andor season 1 finale wrap-up, including:What are the details we know about season 2 at this point? How did the Decoding TV indirectly end up annoying Tony Gilroy? Is Luthen actually a Jedi? What is the significance of the funeral procession song that plays in episode 12? Why aren’t there more aliens in the show? What are the advantages of having a big hood, Luthen-style? Listen to hear us discuss these questions and much more!Did you enjoy Decoding TV this season? Consider supporting the podcast at decodingtv.com.NOTE: This episode contains details that could conceivably be considered MILD SPOILERS for season 2, so tread carefully if you’re trying to avoid. See y’all in 2024!Links:Patrick’s Keero fancamLA Times interview with Tony GilroyRoxana Hadadi’s interview with Tony GilroyFollow Decoding TVOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Roxana Hadadi recap and discuss season 2 episode 5 of The White Lotus, “That’s Amore.”In this episode, Quentin further ingratiates himself with Tanya. But what’s his real endgame? Cam, Daphne, Ethan, and Harper keep trying to make this vacation work, come hell or high water. Things with Albie and Portia come to a predictable conclusion(?), plus Bert and Dom finally attempt to hash out some of their longstanding differences. We discuss all this and more in this week’s episode!Decoding TV paid members: You can add the private private Decoding TV feed to your preferred app/device by going to decodingtv.com/listen.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.David Chen and @joyonapping are covering The Crown season 5 in three installments:Episodes 1-3Episodes 4-6 (this episode)Episodes 7-10Today, we discuss The Crown Season 5 episodes 4-6, “Annus Horribilis,” “The Way Ahead,” and “Ipatiev House.” How does show manage the evolution of Elizabeth/Phillip’s marriage? How well does it tie in historical events with what’s happening during the show? Why is there a startling lack of Diana and Charles this season? And why on earth is this show doing Charles image rehab after the events of season 4? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more!DecodingTV.com subscribers: To add the premium feed of Decoding TV to your podcast app, go to DecodingTV.com/listen and follow the instructions.Links:Follow @joyonapping on TwitterSubscribe to David Chen’s new newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.In this Decoding TV episode, Patrick Willems and David Chen discuss the season 1 finale of Andor, “Rix Road.” Thanks to all DecodingTV.com members for making this season of the podcast possible!Note that Patrick and David plan to do one more bonus episode, so be sure to email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com with your questions, comments, theories, and so on. We’ll discuss them in the next week or two.The season finale brings all the plotlines together on Ferrix. Do Luthen and Cassian patch things up? Are Vel and Cinta happy to see each other? What is the fate of Bix? Is Maarva actually dead or was she planning something huge all along? And for the love of god, where do we leave #keero at the end of this episode? Listen to hear us discuss all this and more!You can always email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com.Links:Follow Decoding TVOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Siddhant Adlakha discuss Welcome to Chippendales, a new Hulu original series starring Kumail Nanjiani about the creation of the Chippendales male revue show.Programming note: In this podcast episode we will cover (and spoil) the first two episodes of Welcome to Chippendales, “An Elegant, Exclusive Atmosphere,” and “Four Geniuses”. We will record one other podcast episode later to discuss the finale and entire season.How well does Welcome to Chippendales get the persona of Somen "Steve" Banerjee, the man responsible for creating Chippendales? Does the show make good use of Murray Bartlett and Dan Stevens? And does it capture what it’s like to be an Indian immigrant in America during this time period? We discuss all this and more!Links:Follow Siddhant on TwitterRead Siddhant’s work on IGNFollow David on InstagramFollow David on TiktokFollow Decoding TVOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Roxana Hadadi recap and discuss season 2 episode 4 of The White Lotus, “In The Sandbox.”Harper quietly begins to reckon with some of the shocking events of last episode, while Cam, Daphne, and Ethan are none the wiser. Albie and Portia continue to have massive issues trying to make this vacation fling work. Valentina is straight up just bad at her job at this point. And Tanya makes a new connection that may lead her down an interesting path. We discuss all this and more in this week’s episode!Decoding TV paid members: You can add the private private Decoding TV feed to your preferred app/device by going to decodingtv.com/listen.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of the podcast is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald's. I'm lovin' it. After a long wait, all episodes of The Crown Season 5 are finally here! David Chen and @joyonapping are planning to cover The Crown in three installments:Episodes 1-3 (this episode)Episodes 4-6Episodes 7-10This is our first time covering a binge-release show on Netflix so if you have any thoughts on this approach, feel free to email us at [email protected]. It won’t change our plans for this season but could for future seasons.Today, we discuss The Crown Season 5 episodes 1-3, “Queen Victoria Syndrome,” “The System,” and “Mou Mou.” How does this season continue the Diana/Charles storyline? How does the new cast work for us so far? Did the writing of Andrew Morton’s book really go down like it does in the show? How exciting is carriage racing as a sport? Are the metaphors more clunky this season or is it just our imagination? All this and more on this week’s episode of Decoding TV!DecodingTV.com subscribers: To add the premium feed of Decoding TV to your podcast app, go to DecodingTV.com/listen and follow the instructions.Links:Follow @joyonapping on TwitterSubscribe to David Chen’s new newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.In this Decoding TV episode, Patrick Willems and David Chen dive into season 1 episode 11 of Andor, “Daughter of Ferrix,” now streaming on Disney+.The penultimate episode of the first season puts in place many pieces for what promises to be an explosive finale. But it also raises a lot of questions like: Is Luthen secretly a Jedi? How different are Mon Mothma’s views on marriage from her daughter’s? Where will next episode leave #Keero? How will Andor and Melshi reunite? Also, David and Patrick discuss what they would like done with their remains. All this and more on this episode of Decoding TV!You can always email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com.Links:Follow Decoding TVOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Roxana Hadadi recap and discuss season 2 episode 3 of The White Lotus, “Bull Elephants.”A series of surprising decisions reveal cracks beneath many of our core relationships. What is the nature of Cam and Daphne’s relationship? What does Ethan think of everything that’s going on? Is Albie actually a good guy or not? And why does he have to go after The Godfather anyways? Listen to hear us debate and discuss.Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.It’s the first live recording of Decoding TV! David Chen and Patrick Willems are at the Hawai’i International Film Festival to share their expertise with students, but they couldn’t turn down the opportunity to record an Andor recap in person. In this Decoding TV episode, they dive into season 1 episode 10 of Andor, “One Way Out,” now streaming on Disney+.This episode puts the fate of ISB Senior Officer Lonni Jung front-and-center. How will Lonni fare in Luthen’s world? What is the show trying to say about revolutions and the people behind them? What is the ultimate fate of Kino Loy? Do Andor and Melshi end up surviving this week’s events? (Probably). Also: Where’s the #Karntent this week? All this and more on this episode of Decoding TV!You can always email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com.Links:Watch Patrick's #Keero fancam videoFollow Decoding TV:On YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.In this episode of Decoding TV, David Chen and Roxana Hadadi recap and discuss season 2 episode 2 of The White Lotus, “Italian Dream.”This episode continues to set up the dynamics between these characters, with some tantalizing clues as to what lies ahead. How are Harper and Ethan really doing? Is Cam’s anger really under control? Will Dominic ever overcome his demons? Listen to hear us discuss and speculate!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Decoding TV is kicking off our coverage of The Crown today! In this episode, David Chen and his wife @joyonapping offer their overall thoughts on the show, why it continues to be compelling after all these years, and what the next seasons might have in store.Programming Note: While Decoding TV will cover Season 5 of The Crown, we’re still working out the details of our coverage. At the very least, we can promise there will be one more Decoding TV podcast episode discussing season 5 but we may or may not have weekly coverage given that the show will be released binge-style on Netflix beginning November 9th. Stay tuned to Decoding TV for more details.The Crown is returning to Netflix on November 9th for its fifth and penultimate season. Its last season drew attention for its depiction of Princess Diana and her marriage to Charles - an event that even many millennials such as myself remember in their lifetimes. Season five promises to begin following that story to its horrifying conclusion (the show currently plans to end with season six).The production of The Crown is estimated to cost over $100 million per season, making it one of the most expensive TV shows ever made. It’s also one of the most critically acclaimed: The Crown has been nominated for hundreds of awards since its premiere in 2017, including Outstanding Drama Series at the Emmys and Best Television Drama at the Golden Globes. In 2021, it won all seven drama categories at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, becoming the first show to ever do so. Listen to this episode to hear David and Joy discuss where we left off with every plotline from season four and what topics we think season five will probably tackle.Links:Follow @joyonapping on TwitterSubscribe to David Chen’s new newsletter, Decoding Everything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welp, it’s official: Westworld has been cancelled. Once one of HBO’s biggest tentpole shows, Westworld has seen its popularity and viewership erode over time.In this bonus episode, David Chen and Siddhant Adlakha discuss their feelings about this news and the legacy that Westworld leaves behind.Links:HBO Cancels WestworldWhy HBO Cancelled WestworldEveryone from Westworld is getting paid anywayFollow Siddhant on TwitterRead Siddhant’s work on IGNFollow David on InstagramFollow David on Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.David Chen and Patrick Willems dive into season 1 episode 9 of Andor, “Nobody’s Listening!,” now streaming on Disney+.How does a show like Andor tackle depictions of torture? How well does the show deal with Kino Loy’s personal journey? Is Mon Mothma ever going to get on board with this whole Rebellion thing? Also: The Keero ship finally gets its day. All this and more on this episode of ~Decoding TV!You can always email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com.Links:Follow Decoding TV:On YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Decoding TV is brought to you by McDonald's, proudly serving communities since 1965. McDonald’s. I’m lovin’ it.A new season begins at The White Lotus in Sicily! And here on Decoding TV, David Chen and Roxana Hadadi try to figure out where exactly this show might be headed.In the season 2 premiere, “Ciao,” we meet, Harper (Aubrey Plaza) and Ethan (Will Sharpe), along with Daphne (Meghann Fahy) and Cameron (Theo James) who are away on a vacation together. Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) and her assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) try to navigate a fraught situation with Greg (Jon Gries). Dominic (Michael Imperioli), his father Bert (F. Murray Abraham), and his son Albie (Adam DiMarco) try their best to get along. And hotel manager Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) tries to keep locals Mia (Beatrice Grannò) and Lucia (Simona Tabasco) at bay. Listen to hear our thoughts on the episode!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s work on VultureFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow David Chen on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support this podcast by becoming a paid member at DecodingTv.comDavid Chen and Patrick Willems dive into season 1 episode 8 of Andor, “Narkina 5,” now streaming on Disney+.Unexpected developments put Andor in an untenable situation. Will Cassian get back to Maarva while he still can? Will Meero figure out who Axis truly is? Can Bix survive the most recent incursion? Also: we get a weekly #Karntent check in. All this and more on this week’s episode of Decoding TV covering Andor!You can always email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com.Links:Follow Decoding TV:On YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second season of The White Lotus will debut on October 30 on HBO and run for 7 episodes, and I’m thrilled to share that Decoding TV will be recapping and reviewing each episode. Furthermore, I’m excited to announce that my co-host will be Roxana Hadadi, a TV critic at Vulture.com and one of my favorite writers on the internet today. In this episode of Decoding TV, we discuss season 1 of The White Lotus, with a particular focus on its finale. Where did we leave off with each of these characters? What was this show trying to say about wealth and privilege, and how effectively did it say it? And what about that whole murder mystery plot? Listen to hear our thoughts on all of the above!Links:Email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)comRead Roxana’s review of The White Lotus Season 1Read Roxana’s work on VultureFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow this podcast on TiktokSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow Roxana on TwitterFollow David Chen on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Chen and Patrick Willems dive into season 1 episode 7 of Andor, “Announcement,” now streaming on Disney+.This week is a transitional episode as all of our characters react to the major developments from last week. Where do we see Andor’s arc going in this show? How will Karn, Cinta, and Vel play into it? What does the Imperial Security Bureau have to do with Google Messaging apps? And most importantly: What should we call the Karn/Meero ship? Keero? Marn? Listen to hear our theories and wild speculations!You can always email us at decodingtv(AT)gmail(DOT)com.Links:Follow Decoding TV:On YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Chen and Don Marshall discuss the eighth episode of the first season of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: ‘Alloyed.’In the season 1 finale, several major twists are revealed with one major headfake thrown in for good measure. But how well did the show earn them? Where do things stand at the end of season 1 for our major characters? What plot threads are we looking forward to for season 2? For answers and speculations that address these questions (and many more), listen to the episode!Also: starting at 1:38:00, we dive into full book spoilers for a bit! Enjoy.Links:Subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on TiktokFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow Don Marshall:On TiktokOn TwitchOn InstagramOn PatreonFollow David Chen:On TwitterOn TiktokOn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Decoding TV, Dan Gvozden from The Amazing Spider-Talk joins David and Siddhant Adlakha to dive into the season 1 finale of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law.The finale upends where we think this show is going, while providing some amusing meta-commentary about how Marvel shows are put together in general. But taken as a whole, does this season all add up to anything meaningful? Listen to hear our thoughts!Links:Subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow Dan Gvozden on TwitterListen to Dan Gvozden’s podcast “The Amazing Spider-Talk”Follow David on TwitterFollow Siddhant on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Chen and Patrick Willems dive into season 1 episode 6 of Andor, “The Eye,” now streaming on Disney+.The heist is afoot and it is spectacular! Andor and crew invade the garrison at Aldhani. But who will live? Who will die? And will anything be done to subvert our expectations for what heists can be? Listen to hear our theories and wild speculations!Links:Follow Decoding TV:On YouTubeOn TwitterOn TiktokFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a Decoding TV Halloween bonus episode! Ashley Esqueda joins David Chen to discuss Michael Giacchino’s Werewolf by Night, now streaming on Disney Plus. In the movie, Gael Garcia Bernal plays Jack, a man who attends a gathering of monster hunters in pursuit of a powerful artifact called the Bloodstone, only to find that the night has surprises for them all.In what ways does Werewolf by Night connect to the MCU? How does Giacchino fare as a first-time feature director? Do we want to see more of these “Marvel Special Presentations” in the future? Listen and find out!Links:Slashfilm: An Ode to Marvel’s Man-ThingSubscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on TiktokFollow Decoding TV on TwitterFollow Ashley Esqueda on TwitterFollow David Chen on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support this podcast by becoming a paid member at DecodingTV.comDavid Chen and Don Marshall discuss the seventh episode of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: ‘The Eye.’Who survived the events of last episode? Are we eventually going to learn who The Stranger is? Also, did Galadriel just have a husband this whole time?? For answers and speculations that address these questions (and many more), listen to the episode!Links:Subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on TiktokFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow Don Marshall:On TiktokOn TwitchOn InstagramOn PatreonFollow David Chen:On TwitterOn TiktokOn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Decoding TV, Dan Gvozden from The Amazing Spider-Talk subs in for David Chen and joins Siddhant Adlakha in diving into Charles Soule and Javier Pullido’s run of She-Hulk - one of the inspirations behind She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and a glimpse into where the show could head in a future season.Then, starting at 18:30, the two discuss the eighth episode of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, “Ribbit and Rip It.” Jen trades blows and kisses with Matt Murdoch, aka Daredevil, grounds Leap Frog, and sees her world come crashing down around her at the hands of the Hulk King.Next week: David Chen returns for the finale and a discussion of the season as a whole.Links:Subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow Dan Gvozden on TwitterListen to Dan Gvozden’s podcast “The Amazing Spider-Talk”Follow David on TwitterFollow Siddhant on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Chen and Patrick Willems dive into season 1 episode 5 of Andor, “The Axe Forgets,” now streaming on Disney+.Another heist setup episode lets us get to know the characters from Vel’s crew and understand their motivations. But who will survive next episode? What will (inevitably) go wrong? Will we ever see a Mon Mothma dinner party? And how is Karn going to fit into any of this? Listen to hear our theories and wild speculations!Links:Watch/subscribe to the YouTube version of this podcastFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support this podcast by becoming a paid member at DecodingTV.com!David Chen and Don Marshall discuss the sixth episode of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: ‘Udun.’ A visually spectacular and intense episode that begins tying up many of the plotlines introduced earlier this season.Is this The Rings of Power’s first “hard R” episode? What are the homages to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings? Who lives and who dies at the end of this thing? For answers and speculations that address these questions (and many more), listen to the episode!Links:Subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow this podcast on TiktokFollow this podcast on TwitterFollow Don Marshall:On TiktokOn TwitchOn InstagramOn PatreonFollow David Chen:On TwitterOn TiktokOn Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Decoding TV, Dan Gvozden from The Amazing Spider-Talk subs in for David Chen and joins Siddhant Adlakha in diving into Dan Slott’s run of She-Hulk - arguably the biggest inspiration for She-Hulk: Attorney At Law.Then, starting at around 23:14, the two discuss the seventh episode of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, “The Retreat.” Jen visits Emil Blonsky’s retreat, but how effectively does it help her find herself?Next week: Our opening topic will be Charles Soule and Javier Puilido’s run of She-Hulk.Links:Subscribe to this podcast on YouTubeFollow Dan Gvozden on TwitterListen to Dan Gvozden’s podcast “The Amazing Spider-Talk”Follow David on TwitterFollow Siddhant on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support this podcast by becoming a member of DecodingTv.com!David Chen and Patrick Willems dive into season 1 episode 4 of Andor, “Aldhani,” now streaming on Disney+.When does Andor take place in the Star Wars timeline? Is Cassian the Waingro of Vel’s crew? What is the ultimate fate of Blevins? And how do you pronounce Coruscant anyway? Listen to find out!Links:Learn more about the Star Wars timelineWatch/subscribe to the YouTube version of this podcastFollow Patrick H. WillemsOn YouTubeOn TwitterOn PatreonFollow David ChenOn TwitterOn InstagramOn Tiktok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.