With (American) Thanksgiving on the early side this year, TV opted to celebrate with viewers instead of taking the week off. First up this episode, Noel and Kate dive in with the comedies, including Thanksgiving-themed episodes of Bob’s Burgers and Brooklyn Nine-Nine and shake-up-filled episodes of Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Then we move on to the drama and genre offerings, including the premieres of She’s Gotta Have It, Godless, The Punisher, and Marvel’s Runaways, a Billy Joel-tastic Arrow, and the long awaited (or dreaded) return of Mon-El to Supergirl. Afterward, it’s time for one more check-in on our 2017 TV resolutions to watch more streaming series (Kate) and anime (Noel). How are our latest explorations of these mediums panning out? Listen in, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV and our latest resolution viewing, Danny the Manny and The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, and Recovery of an MMO Junkie and TWOCAR!.
2017 TV Resolution Check-in #5 (1:13:06)
Danny the Manny
The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo
Recovery of an MMO Junkie
TWOCAR!
Our Week in Comedy
Bob’s Burgers (11:47)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (15:48)
Jane the Virgin (18:09)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (23:15)
Our Week in Drama and Genre
She’s Gotta Have It Season 1 (35:46)
Godless premiere (39:46)
The Punisher Season 1 (44:54)
Marvel’s Runaways premiere (47:12)
Arrow (56:47)
Supergirl (1:00:16)
Music Featured: “A Diagnosis” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; “Priestess” by Pumarosa; Recovery of an MMO Junkie Theme song
It’s a week of highs and lows this episode, with interesting finales and memorably powerful episodes alongside truly ridiculous ones. First up, Noel and Kate talk through the week’s comedy: a revealing Jane the Virgin, the first of hopefully many wedding-themed Brooklyn Nine-Nines, a classic issue-oriented black-ish, and the intense culmination of Rebecca’s journey so far on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Then we look at the week’s genre and drama offerings: the finales of Star Trek: Discovery and Queen Sugar, another intense The Exorcist and emotional Supergirl, and some of the season’s least thrilling installments of Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow.
Afterward, we head to the DVD Shelf to dive in with the second season of Lady Dynamite. How does Maria fare in her latest round of adventures? Are season two’s time jumps as engaging and effective as season one’s? And what will happen when Maria is presented the Most Sacred Lady Blazer? All of this and more as Noel and Kate break down the colorful, at times confusing, and always compelling Lady Dynamite.
Season Spotlight: Lady Dynamite Season 2 (1:27:53)
Our Week in Comedy
Jane the Virgin (28:33)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (37:07)
black-ish (38:34)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (44:12)
Our Week in Genre and Drama
Star Trek: Discovery midseason finale (55:33)
The Exorcist (1:00:31)
Arrow (1:03:06)
The Flash (1:05:18)
Legends of Tomorrow (1:09:09)
Supergirl (1:12:49)
Queen Sugar finale (1:15:43)
Music Featured: “I Feel Like This Isn’t About Me” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; “The Sweet Escape” (feat. Akon) by Gwen Stefani
Articles Referenced: Teen Vogue’s compellation of recent sexual harassment and assault allegations
Errata: During the discussion of black-ish, Kate mentions that the series is on its fifth season. This is incorrect; black-ish is currently in its fourth season. The Televerse regrets the error!
With several weighty episodes to break down, we keep the show list manageable this week. First up are the comedies, with looks at a sobriety-focused Mom, Fresh Off the Boat’s charming, Melissa Etheridge-fueled coming out episode, another Adam-heavy Jane the Virgin, and a Swimfan-inspired Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Next up are the drama and genre entries, including the premiere of USA’s Damnation, the penultimate Queen Sugar, the post-baseball return of The Exorcist, and the dreaded Sanvers breakup episode of Supergirl. Afterward, we head over to Netflix and dive in with the latest Margaret Atwood adaptation, the miniseries Alias Grace.
What’s the right amount of ‘90s for a ‘90s-set sitcom? Is there anything Jane can do to get us off the dock and aboard the Goode Shippe Jadam? When will Rose wise up and call in the priests, and is there any way for Supergirl to avoid SuperCorp as endgame without betraying the only-just-barely-sub-text? Tune in for Noel and Kate’s takes on the week’s TV, then reach out with your own.
DVD Shelf: Alias Grace (1:18:13)
Our Week in Comedy
Mom (16:17)
Fresh Off the Boat (21:40)
Jane the Virgin (28:51)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (33:29)
Our Week in Drama and Genre
Damnation premiere (41:11)
Queen Sugar (46:30)
The Exorcist (54:11)
Supergirl (59:22)
Music Featured: “The End of the Movie” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; “All Through the Night” by Cyndi Lauper
Halloween may be over, but we extend the spooky season a little longer to talk Stranger Things season two this week on the podcast. What were the tricks and treats of the new season? Are we #TeamJonathan or #TeamSteve? Which kids got a raw deal this time around, and who got long-overdue development? And does anyone care about the adults?
Before we dive back into the Upside Down, however, we have a full week of TV to discuss. First up are the comedy and reality episodes, including the premiere of Mom, a personal Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, strong installments of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and black-ish, and the midseason finale of The Good Place. Then we follow that up with the drama and genre entries, including another powerful Queen Sugar, potent (and perhaps problematic) developments from Supergirl, The Flash, and Arrow, and Star Trek: Discovery’s big time loop episode.
Where’s the line between writers trusting their casts and actors saving underwritten dialogue? Does it really matter, if the scenes still play? Is comedy required and inherent to time loop episodes? And when don’t you need a pantsuit? All of this and more as Noel and Kate break down the latest in TV.
Season Spotlight: Stranger Things Season 2 (1:42:52)
Our Week in Comedy and Reality
Mom premiere (18:47)
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (23:57)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (29:32)
black-ish (44:00)
The Good Place (49:58)
Our Week in Reality, Drama, and Genre
Queen Sugar (59:52)
Supergirl (1:13:51)
The Flash (1:22:53)
Arrow (1:26:53)
Star Trek: Discovery (1:30:11)
Music Featured: “I Go to the Zoo” from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend; “The Little Horses (Lullaby)” by Aaron Copland (arranged from an American folk song likely of African American origin), as performed by Bruce Hubbard and Saint Luke’s Chamber Ensemble
Video Discussed: “Let’s Have Intercourse,” performed live by Scott Michael Foster at a Crazy Ex-Girlfriend For Your Consideration event