Needs Some Introduction - Paradise / The Pitt

Mailto:[email protected] A glimmer of hope for Toby, Rachel and Libby. A new start for Seth. The series ends beautifully. Let's hope the audience starts to show up.

mailto:[email protected] After some brief movie reviews; Avatar: The Way of Water, Glass Onion (Netflix) and The Banshees of Inisherin; Sona, Celia and discuss the year in our recaps and wrap up the episode with our recap of the seventh episode of Fleishman Is in Trouble. We finally find out where Rachel has been. Merry Christmas

Sona and I have some additional thoughts on the finale and overall season of The White Lotus. Then we catch up on the two most recent episodes of Fleishman Is in Trouble.

mailto:[email protected] Our instant reaction to this often thrilling and occasionally funny (but possibly disappointing) final episode to the season.

Amazon Prime can be a bit of a content hole but there are many good shows to be found there. Here are just some that fans of The Peripheral may want to sample.

We approach the end of the season with a mostly grim episode. At least Valentina has a happy birthday after an initial setback. I briefly review the return of the British spy series Slow Horses on AppleTV+ and also have sampled the slight and mildly entertaining Three Pines on Amazon Plus. Plus we break down another excellent episode of Fleishman Is in Trouble on Hulu

A disappointing wrap up to the show but it does leave all those tantalizing questions open for exploration, next season, and there does seem to be a very good chance at a second season... although there has not yet been any announcement. Then Nick, Ray and I geek out on the excellent season of Andor and also talk all things MCU (She Hulk, Black Panter 2, Guardians Christmas special).

mailto:[email protected] For whom does the bell toll? Seems like a lot of possibilities, this week. All the plots escalate. This is a moody episode as we nearly completely abandon comedy for what seems more and more likely to be a tragedy. Then we discuss the brilliant third episode of the FX/Hulu production, Fleischman is in Trouble.

The latest episode of the show does not give me high hope for the finale. But first I mention some incredible streaming deals for Black Friday. Andor wraps up with a strong season finale and Celia and I review lots of recent releases and briefly discuss the end of an era as Atlanta wraps up, for good.

A lot of middle, here, but we are still very curious as we begin our turn toward the endgame. Then, we discuss our very positive reaction to the first 2 episodes of Fleishman Is in Trouble on Hulu.

This may be the worst episode yet although it does tease a potentially interesting subsequent episode. So much relies on the next two episodes. Then I review and spoil the new sci-fi series, 1899, on netflix and find surprising parallels to Don't Worry Darling.

Ominous tides appear in the third episode of the season but for whom remains unclear. Everyone wants to be bad, this week, but only Cam really succeeds. Then we discuss Olivia Wild's fascinating misfire, Don't Worry Darling, now available on HBO.

mailto:[email protected] Maybe the best episode of the season, so far. Nonetheless, we keep adding new concepts without resolving existing questions. I'm hoping that doors begin to close, next week. Then we discuss the Andor season up until this point, in preparation for the finale in two weeks.

mailto:[email protected] Another very entertaining episode, this week. Is Greg cheating or are we misreading all of this? Does Albie really have this little game?

Flynne's got the cramps real bad and can't quit Halloween. Conner gets to run again. Lev watched Highlander one too many times and everyone goes to the weirdest cemetery/museum ever.

Sona has a much more positive initial reaction to the second season of the series than the first. I find myself actually interested in all of these characters. Then I briefly review the excellent new thriller on Netflix, The Stranger. And Sona took my recommendation to watch Barbarian, on HBO, and she didn't love it.

Mailto:[email protected] Is that my attention starting to drift or is it just my haptics. Plus, my suggested episode list for Netflix's Cabinet of Curiosities anthology. Barbarian Spoiler Episode: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ijhfj-12c6a3b

Mailto:[email protected] It's been a bumpy ride but we made it to the end. We have some complicated feelings now that we have gotten this far.

Mailto:[email protected] Let the dance of the dragons begin... Plus we recap and review the first two episodes of Amazon Prime's new Sci Fi show, The Peripheral

mailto:[email protected] Another mixed reaction to the show which just seemed to have found its rhythm. A lot happens but this show needs to do a lot of work to tie itself together in its final episode. Then, given my family roots in Westfield NJ, I am very disappointed with the Ryan Murphy Netflix adaptation of the true story of The Watcher. I'm sorry if I got you to watch this... or at least I hope you enjoyed it more than I did. You can read the original story on which this was purportedly based in the link below. I have also included some information on the OTHER Westfield mass murder that the show references. https://www.thecut.com/article/the-haunting-of-657-boulevard-in-westfield-new-jersey.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_List_(murderer)

Mailto:[email protected] Beware the beast beneath the boards.

Halloween Ends? I hope that's a promise. What a disappointing conclusion and that is given the mostly terrible list of films that preceded it. I do have my own corrections that may have helped to salvage this latest trilogy. Before that, we discuss the totally mediocre Hellraiser re-imagining. And I do have a pretty enthusiastic recommendation to the old-school horror romp of Marvel's Werewolf By Night on Disney+.

mailto:needssomeintroduction.com We have the absolute high point of the series, to date, with an excellent episode that makes some of the shakiest moments in the series worth while. Let's hope the quality only goes up from here. Then we discuss the new Peacock series A Friend of the Family, a high quality affair that, perhaps, should not exist (??). I also briefly review and recommend The Midnight Club on Netlfix. Links: Heavyweight Podcast: https://gimletmedia.com/shows/heavyweight/n8h7ajo/46-dan Jerusalem Post article: https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-719100

Another time jump may finally get us to our final cast configuration (maybe?). Although often unintentionally funny, the episode is thoroughly eventful. Beware maesters baring the milk of the poppy.

The best episode we have seen of the show. Can it find its way with just 3 episodes to go?

One of the most gorgeous episodes of the show (and so full of ugly human interactions). We have a truly impressive dragon sequence. Let's hope the next time jump is not too jarring.

After getting my hopes up, last week, The Patient is back in a rut. I still have no idea what I am supposed to be paying attention to, at this point. Then two very long conversations about the merits and limitations of Ryan Murphy's Jeffrey Dahmer docudrama on Netflix. It may have its heart in the right place but can't help but be exploitative.

Wait a second? Did we miss a season of TV? This is another excellently crafted episode of TV but I think they dropped a couple of the scripts somewhere. Arguably, the most interesting events may have been left off screen. Let's hope all this time-hopping is worth it. Then I recommend Three Thousand Years of Longing and Celia recommends Modern Love (Amazon Prime).

A much better episode of The Patient, this week. I have some hope that the show has some surprises to come. Plus, Sona and I discuss the vacating of Adnan Syed's conviction. (24:00) Finally, we discuss Do Revenge, a fun (but slight) teen revenge comedy on Netflix. (41:00)

Another solid episode. We don't get a red wedding... but it doesn't go great.

Sona and I have seen a slightly better episode of The Patient, this week. But it may be too little too late for Sona. Then Celia and I break down the very entertaining new horror film, Barbarian.

The show tops itself again with an episode about the power of sex; as a tool, as a commodity and as a weapon.

Sona and I discuss the third episode of The Patient on Hulu. We still cannot get our bearings on this show and we are not enjoying it, so far. The short run time which seemed like a positive, at first, seems to be a limitations, now, with these episodes unable to achieve any momentum before they are over. On a more positive note we discuss Thoroughbreds which has returned to HBO Max. This first film by writer/director features two young actresses that have already begun to emerge as key talents of their generation and introduced a director (and writer) with a lot of talent and promise.

Best episode yet.

Sona and I recap the rocky start to the new Hulu thriller, The Patient.

Another strong episode (in my opinion). The show is finding its footing. Celia has a little less patience for it. I do agree that there is a few too many council meetings.

If you just want to hear the Bodies Bodies Bodies review, jump to 23:00 emailto:[email protected] We make it to the end of the season. I find this season less entertaining, overall, than the first. They needed to tighten up the mystery. Plus, where are the laughs? Everyone feels a little tired. Then I recommend Bodies Bodies Bodies the new A24 mystery, horror, comedy.

We are happy to report that so far, the House of the Dragon gives us all the fan service we would hope for and some meaty new characters. Hopefully, the quality stays high. Plus, I finally get all my ideas of how easily the final season of Game of Thrones could have been fixed. For the rare few that are trying to avoid Game of Thrones spoilers, here are the timestamps for the spoiler-free segment of the podcast episode: 20:00 - 42:00

First, Nick and I discuss the finale of Better Call Saul. I still have conflicted feelings and I can articulate them a bit after few days of reflection. Then we add another song to our musical daisy chain before reviewing the first episode of She Hulk and previewing the massive slate of upcoming MCU content that has recently been announced (and we bash Star Wars again - not my doing, this time).

It comes down to this. Peter Gould writes and directs the series finale. We get a fitting end to Saul/Jimmy's saga.

Black Bird delivers a solid season but with perhaps the weakest episode. It's still worth a watch. Then we add another link to our musical daisy chain before giving a brief positive review of Prey on Hulu and wrap up with a longer discussion of Bo Burnham's Inside project which includes a new set of outtakes which constitute almost an entire new special.

Vince Gilligan gets to write and direct one last episode. It's a good one although more in line with this shows normal low-key rhythms rather than the spectacle of Breaking Bad.

Another excellent episode of the show as we approach the end. After a subdued episode, last week, that seemed to offer Saul a graceful bow out of his trickster background, it seems that he may now be on a bender that seems destined for tragedy.

Timestamps: The Gray Man (12:00) Nope (28:00) Black Bird (38:00) First, I have to announce the the imminent return of Bluey for a third season (a big event at my house). Then I discuss the Russo Brothers $200 million production, The Gray Man from Netflix with Celia. We also get into some more Nope spoilers. Lastly, I break down the latest episode of Black Bird on AppleTV+. Next week Celia and I will be back to discuss the finale as well as the truth and fiction of this "based on a true story" story.

Gene Takovik episodes are not as exciting as Saul Goodman episodes (or Jimmy McGill episodes, for that matter) but maybe that is the point. Plus, many digressions on the value (or lack thereof) of the delicious smelling Cinnabon.

A brief spoiler free Nope review followed by a full critique of the disastrous first season of The Old Man. Then we discuss the far more successful AppleTV+ series, Black Bird which hits its stride this week with a particularly strong episode. Then, I have a spoiler filled analysis if Peele's film and it many themes (maybe too many??). Timestamps: Nope (spoilers? NOPE!) - 5:00 The Old Man - 19:00 Black Bird - 44:00 Nope (spoilers? YEP!) - 55:00

Another very strong episode in this final stretch. We probably now know Kim's fate and we get to see Gustavo at his most unguarded. We also briefly discuss the very entertaining recent episodes of Only Murders in the Building and the musical daisy chain continues.

Time Stamps: Better Call Saul: 6:00 The Boys: 19:00 Stranger Things: 23:00 Ms Marvel: 26:00 Thor Love and Thunder: 30:30 Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: 39:30 The Old Man: 55:00 It's a free ranging conversation this week. We end up spoiling the new Thor movie as well as the first season of Ms Marvel. Plus we wander into the finale of Stranger Things and even spoil Dr Strange 2 and the latest Spiderman movie. Then Celia and I discuss the fourth and fifth episodes of the Old Man, a show that has squandered all the initial good will that we felt for it. Lastly, we discuss the Anthony Bourdain documentary, Roadrunner. https://www.vulture.com/2021/07/the-15-best-episodes-of-anthony-bourdains-parts-unknown.html

Sona and I discuss this very eventful episode of TV. We say goodbye to one of the greatest characters on this show (and maybe EVER).

mailto:[email protected] I don't get what I was hoping for in this season finale but there are some tantalizing threads left dangling as season 4 options. It does often feel like the show continuously reverts to status quo. Plus I have seen the latest Thor and I have opinions. I did enjoy the film in the moment but there was too much comedy and MCU bridge building and too little time developing the actual characters within the movie. This may be the consistent weakness of these phase 4 films.