It’s reunion time this week on the podcast, as Noel checks back in with Outlander for the first time in years just as Claire and Jamie reunite in the much-anticipated “A. Malcolm.” Has time made the heart grow fonder? Does the episode work as well for Noel as regular viewer Kate? How does this episode speak to the traditions of melodrama and romance, and just how prevalent are these genres on TV right now?
Before we dive in with Outlander, though, we talk through another fun week in TV. As ever, we kick things off with the comedies, including a particularly strong Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, a somewhat mixed Jane the Virgin, Halloween-themed episodes of Fresh Off the Boat and Broad City, and another excellent The Good Place. Then we move over to the rest of the week’s TV, including a check-in with Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, a brief look at Queen Sugar and follow-up on Mindhunter season one, a loose discussion of The CW’s superhero shows (Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, and Arrow), and a more in-depth chat about the strong pre-World Series hiatus cliffhanger episode of The Exorcist.
Which musical-inspired Crazy Ex-Girlfriend song was our favorite this week? Which Huang best embodied their Seinfeld counterpart? How are The Flash and Arrow handling their overly large casts, and was that a flirt session between (former) Father Marcus and (Fish and Wildlife) Agent Morrow? (Spoiler alert: Yes, and more please!) Tune in for our thoughts on all of this and more on the latest episode of The Televerse.
Spotlight: Outlander’s “A. Malcolm” (1:23:20)
Our Week in Comedy
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (20:55)
Jane the Virgin (35:06)
Fresh Off the Boat (42:21)
Broad City (44:31)
The Good Place (48:13)
Our Week in Reality, Drama, and Genre
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (56:24)
Queen Sugar (58:27)
Mindhunter Season 1 (1:00:12)
The CW’s Superhero TV Roundup (1:04:14)
The Exorcist (1:15:36)
Music Featured: “I’ve Got My Head in the Clouds” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; “…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears; Excerpts from Bear McCreary’s score to Outlander, “A. Malcolm”
After four terrific seasons, this week we bid farewell to little-show-that-could (thank you, Peak TV!) Halt and Catch Fire. Friend of the show and The A.V. Club contributor Dennis Perkins returns to the DVD Shelf to help us break down the finale and celebrate the ups and downs of a show that started as Mad Men meets the 1980s computer tech race and grew into much, much more. Which shots stick in our minds? Which costumes? And how do we feel about the show’s full-circle ending?
Before we dive in with Halt and Catch Fire, though, Noel and Kate have a full week in TV to discuss. We start with the comedies, including the triumphant returns of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane the Virgin, season one of American Vandal, the finale of Survivor’s Remorse, and strong installments of Broad City and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Then we move on to the genre and drama offerings, including season one of Mindhunter, the finale of Room 104, another spooky Exorcist, and The CW’s superhero series, Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Supergirl.
Who’s out of line, WhiJo or Darryl? Can Adam contend in the pantheon of Jane’s beaus? Is John Cho still our only reason for watching The Exorcist, and what’s up with that beeping in Arrow’s score? And of course, #WhoDrewTheD-cks? Tune in for this and more, then leave your thoughts on Halt and Catch Fire and the rest of the week’s TV at TheTeleverse.org.
DVD Shelf: Halt and Catch Fire with Dennis Perkins (1:27:53)
Our Week in Comedy
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend premiere (10:41)
Jane the Virgin premiere (19:20)
American Vandal Season 1 (26:15)
Survivor’s Remorse finale (28:27)
Broad City (30:52)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (36:29)
Our Week in Genre and Drama
Mindhunter Season 1 (46:44)
Room 104 finale (57:27)
The Exorcist (1:01:18)
Arrow (1:07:37)
The Flash (1:11:45)
Legends of Tomorrow (1:16:22)
Supergirl (1:19:12)
Music Featured: “Let’s Generalize About Men” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; “Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads; Halt and Catch Fire Theme song
Articles Referenced: Mo Ryan’s piece at Variety about her assault by a TV executive; Lupita Nyong’o’s piece at The New York Times about Harvey Weinstein’s harassment of her; USA Today piece on the open letter to studio heads about sexual harassment in animation written and co-signed by 217 animators
Another week, another set of premieres. This week, Noel and Kate dive deep with The CW’s superhero premieres, spotlighting the returns of Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and Arrow. Which are off to a good start, which have us hiding behind our hands and dreading the next few episodes, and which should we really, truly break up with (even if we know we won’t)?
Before that, however, we talk through another full week in TV. We kick things off, as ever, with the comedies, including the much-anticipated premiere of The Rundown with Robin Thede, strong installments of Better Things, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and black-ish, and a creative and animated, if somewhat disappointing Broad City. Then we move over to the genre and drama entries, including DuckTales, Outlander, Star Trek: Discovery, Queen Sugar, and another moving Halt and Catch Fire.
What’s appropriate cookie etiquette? What makes Trek Trek? Which shows have us cracking up, getting misty, and waiting with bated breath? And who buys a media empire for their best bud? (C’mon now.) Tune in to hear our thoughts on all this and more, then leave your thoughts below in the comments!
Spotlight: The CW’s Superhero Premieres
Supergirl premiere (1:33:03)
The Flash premiere (1:47:39)
Legends of Tomorrow premiere (1:55:00)
Arrow premiere (2:01:49)
Our Week in Comedy
The Rundown with Robin Thede premiere (22:58)
Better Things (29:22)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (30:46)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (37:00)
black-ish (42:00)
Broad City (47:08)
Our Week in Genre and Drama
DuckTales (53:48)
Outlander (59:55)
Star Trek: Discovery (1:03:39)
Queen Sugar (1:15:40)
Halt and Catch Fire (1:20:33)
Music Featured: “MICHUUL” by Duckwrth; “Fish Heads” by Barnes & Barnes; “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga
Fall premieres and returns continue this week, giving us plenty to discuss on the podcast. First, we dive in with the comedies, including the premieres of Bob’s Burgers, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ghosted, black-ish, Fresh Off the Boat, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, and The Mayor, as well as another delightful DuckTales and a table-setting The Good Place. Next, we look at the genre and drama offerings, including the premieres of Marvel’s Inhumans, The Exorcist, The Gifted, and Queen Sugar, Outlander, and another moving Halt and Catch Fire.
Afterward, writer and The A.V. Club contributor Zack Handlen returns to the podcast to help Kate break down Rick and Morty season three. We look at the show’s structure and morality, how it fits into the show’s overall progression, and what the season three finale means for season four.
Season Spotlight: Rick and Morty Season 3 with Zack Handlen (1:24:48)
Our Week in Comedy
Bob’s Burgers premiere (11:15)
Curb Your Enthusiasm premiere (15:58)
Ghosted premiere (20:11)
black-ish premiere (23:24)
Fresh Off the Boat premiere (30:13)
Kevin (Probably) Saves the World premiere (34:43)
The Mayor premiere (38:24)
DuckTales (41:02)
The Good Place (43:29)
Our Week in Genre and Drama
Marvel’s Inhumans premiere (50:06)
The Exorcist premiere (55:30)
The Gifted premiere (1:00:49)
Queen Sugar midseason premiere (1:05:33)
Outlander (1:10:59)
Halt and Catch Fire (1:14:21)
Music Featured: “We Built That,” sung by the cast of black-ish in the season premiere; “Baby Mine” by Bette Midler; Rick and Morty Theme song