
Taking It Down
Watch TV from a different angle
Blaine Duncan · Blaine Duncan, TV Analyst
Show overview
Taking It Down has been publishing since 2019, and across the 7 years since has built a catalogue of 292 episodes. That works out to roughly 250 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 42 min and 59 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. The publisher flags most episodes as explicit, so expect adult themes or strong language throughout. It is catalogued as a EN-language TV & Film show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 25 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Blaine Duncan, TV Analyst.
From the publisher
You work hard. TV is overcrowded. Other podcasts wish for show outcomes rather than discuss what happens. Not Taking It Down, The Alabama Take's TV podcast. Every episode begins spoiler free so that you can decide: is this show worth my time? Then the podcast goes deeper. Taking It Down analyzes what's on screen and what it means to the working class, both text and subtext. This is for people who love TV, think critically, work hard, and can't chase takes. Every episode brings thoughtful interpretation, honesty, and perfect recommendations, all without taking itself too seriously or talking down. Join hosts Blaine, Adam, and Donovan each Tuesday morning. It's worth your time.
Latest Episodes
View all 292 episodesWho Won 'House of the Dragon' and Is 'Ted Lasso' Copying Itself?
The Silent Explosions in the Penultimate 'House of the Dragon'; Plus, The First of 'Ted Lasso' Again
'House of the Dragon' and the Rule of Women; Plus, 'Cape Fear'
Are The Little Things Done Right? 'House of the Dragon' and 'Warfare' on HBO
Dragons, Drama, and Dilemmas on 'House of the Dragon' and Its Second Episode
Back to 'House of the Dragon' and Why 'Cape Fear' Isn't What We Thought
Where Does 'Widow's Bay' Go From Here?
How 'Widow's Bay' Sets Up What's Left and 'Cape Fear' Seeds a Good Series; Plus, 'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed'
Time in 'Widow's Bay'; Plus, a Preview of 'Cape Fear'
Mysteries of 'Widow's Bay'; Plus, 'The Boroughs,' 'Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed,' and More!
What 'Euphoria' Says About Culture; Plus, the Joy of 'Margo's Got Money Troubles' and a Classic 'Widow's Bay'
Comfort Shows and TV That Says Something: 'Rooster,' 'Lord of the Flies,' and 'Widow's Bay'
Sabotage and Horror: 'Beef' and 'Widow's Bay'
The Best TV of 2026 Thus Far
TV's Dark Corners: 'Euphoria,' 'Beef,' 'Half Man,' and More
'Euphoria' Disappoints, Promising Shows, and 'DTF St. Louis' Finale,
How People Watch TV Wrong with 'DTF St. Louis,' 'Rooster,' and 'Shrinking'

S1 Ep 275Steve Carell's Greatness in 'Rooster' and the Tones of 'DTF St. Louis'
EThis week, per usual, host Blaine opens the episode with an introduction and overview of what's to come (0:02). From there with Adam and Donovan, they discuss the non-spoilers for the week. First, you have to see 'The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins' (1:02). From there, it's the big events in TV in the past week with 'The Pitt' and 'The Bachelorette,' but how do they know about this stuff (5:05)? Still in non-spoilers, the guys discuss the tones of 'DTF St. Louis' and how it achieves some specific styles of greatness (9:42). Their non-spoiler talk of the other HBO show 'Rooster' leads them to ask how great Steve Carell may be (12:48). Finally in non-spoilers, Blaine advises all to avoid both 'Imperfect Women' on Apple TV and 'Scarpetta' on Amazon Prime (20:24). This leads Donovan to reveal some news on trade paperbacks (23:30). From there, it's a short break and then the spoilers: 'DTF St Louis' specifics on how it is getting better and better (26:42). Lastly, some spoilers about the second episode of the HBO series 'Rooster': it's good, but how good (49:59)? For more, visit The Alabama Take website. To sign up for the site's newsletter rather than rely on social media, sign up here.To help both the podcast and The Alabama Take site itself, consider making a donation of any size with the link here.

S1 Ep 274'DTF St. Louis' and Its Vibes; Steve Carell Returns to the Spotlight in 'Rooster'
ETo help both the podcast and The Alabama Take site itself, consider making a donation of any size with the link here.In this week's episode of the TV and streaming podcast Taking It Down, Blaine welcomes and gives a quick overview of the episode (0:02) before introducing Adam and explaining Donovan's absence (1:31). From there, the two hosts are in non-spoilers and discuss a certain oddity to the series 'DTF St. Louis' found on HBO (1:31). They also discuss 'DTF St. Louis' in comparison to the new Amazon Prime series 'Scarpettta' (5:50). Then it's time to sing some praises for Steve Carell and his return to TV with the HBO series 'Rooster,' but they keep the spoilers away (9:53). After a break, they do a quick check in with 'Shrinking' to begin the spoiler section (21:20) before moving into exactly what makes 'DTF St. Louis' both strange and unique (24:14). After that, they disucss specifics of the 'Rooster' premiere and what about it gives them hope (46:18). To end spoilers, they add some thoughts on Oscar-nominated films (1:00:10) before getting a little more specific about the movie 'Hamnet' (1:01:39). For more, visit The Alabama Take website. To sign up for the site's newsletter rather than rely on social media, sign up here.

S1 Ep 273Unraveling 'DTF St. Louis' and 'Shrinking' Does Its Best
EIn the weekly episode, Blaine introduces the show with a welcome and overview as well as the topics of the week (0:03). When Donovan and Adam join Blaine, Blaine gives a special thank you to someone who helped with the fundraising for the host site and podcasts (1:23). In the non-spoiler section, the hosts introduce the the new series on HBO 'DTF St. Louis' and hint that it may be better than most critics would say (2:23). After that, they discuss without spoilers how 'Shrinking' may have aired its best episode yet (11:40). In the spoilers, they get into why 'DTF St. Louis' is so good (15:32) as well as how 'Shrinking' pulled out an excellent episode in a season that has not been as good (42:04). For more, visit The Alabama Take website. To sign up for the site's newsletter rather than rely on social media, sign up here.To help both the podcast and The Alabama Take site itself, consider making a donation of any size with the link here.