We have many anniversaries here at The Televerse, but this episode brings a big one: our eighth annual Make-You-Watchathon. Each year, we celebrate by choosing one show to make each other watch, pushing our comfort zones and prompting each other to finally catch up with particularly meaningful and beloved series. This year, Kate’s up first, and she’s assigned Noel Schitt’s Creek season one. Noel’s pick is a favorite (semi-) recent anime, 2016’s Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju. Before we can get to the Make-You-Watchathon, though, we take a look at our week in TV, including a public transit-centered Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, Kate’s continued catch-up with Kim’s Convenience, the latest The Terror: Infamy, Mindhunter season two, the Pose finale, and another dramatic Queen Sugar. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV, our Make-You-Watchathon picks, and eight long years of The Televerse. Thank you for listening!

Make-You-Watchathon 8
Kate’s pick: Schitt’s Creek Season 1 (55:38)
Noel’s pick: Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (1:23:42)

Our Week in TV
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (18:22)
Kim’s Convenience Seasons 2 and 3 (27:13)
The Terror: Infamy (31:47)
Mindhunter Season 2 (36:10)
Pose finale (39:07)
Queen Sugar (42:56)

Music Featured:  The Star-Spangled Banner, as performed by Whitney Houston; Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju Theme song

Time jumps, period pieces, and oh-so-relatable moments: TV had a lot to offer this week, giving us plenty to discuss on the podcast. First up, Noel and Kate talk through the highlights of their week in TV, including A Black Lady Sketch Show, Kate’s catch-up with season one of Kim’s Convenience, the much-anticipated premiere of The Terror: Infamy, another lovely Pose, and the season finale of Claws and series finale of Elementary. Then, we head to the spotlight section to talk season three of GLOW. Was the move to Vegas enough to win over GLOW skeptic Kate, or is Noel still the more invested of the two? Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on the week’s TV, GLOW, and next week’s return of the Make-You-Watchathon.

Season Spotlight: GLOW Season 3 (1:01:04)

Our Week in TV
A Black Lady Sketch Show (13:20)
Kim’s Convenience Season 1 (18:06)
The Terror: Infamy premiere (25:59)
Pose (37:39)
Claws finale (40:34)
Elementary finale (41:54)

The summer is winding down, which means yet another round of finales and premieres. Noel and Kate kick things off this episode with Our Week in TV, including the premieres of Patriot Act with Hasan Minjah and A Black Lady Sketch Show, the finales of grown-ish and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, a roundup of Netflix reality competition shows—Sugar Rush, Blown Away, and Awake: The Million Dollar Game—and Queen Sugar. Afterward, we make a long-overdue return to the DVD Shelf, with friend of the show Dais Johnston joining us to explore the influential ‘90s anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, newly available on Netflix.

DVD Shelf: Neon Genesis Evangelion with Dais Johnston (1:08:04)

Our Week in TV
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj premiere (6:02)
A Black Lady Sketch Show premiere (12:19)
grown-ish finale (15:05)
Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD finale (20:11)
Netflix Reality Competition Roundup
     Sugar Rush (28:59)
     Blown Away (32:44)
     Awake: The Million Dollar Game (40:07)
Queen Sugar (51:02)

Music Featured:  “Borderline” by Florrie; Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme song

There’s often drama to spare in summer TV, and this week did not disappoint, with comedies, dramas, and reality delivering twists and turns to spare. Noel and Kate kick things off with the week in TV, starting with the comedies, including the series finale of Jane the Virgin, season finale of Archer: 1999, and mixed episodes of grown-ish and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Then Kate talks drama and reality, checking in with Claws, Pose, and SYTYCD, before rounding out the week by breaking down the TV side of the CNN Democratic Presidential Primary Debates with Noel. Then we head over to the season spotlight for a belated look at Veronica Mars season four: the state of the series, our thoughts on the season, and—after a spoiler warning—the season’s big swings. Take a listen, then reach out with your thoughts on Veronica Mars, the week’s TV, and more. Will you be back for season five, fellow (or former) marshmallows?

Season Spotlight: Veronica Mars Season 4 (54:47)

Our Week in TV
Jane the Virgin finale (12:27)
Archer: 1999 finale (23:20)
grown-ish (24:53)
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (29:25)
Claws (34:30)
Pose (37:11)
SYTYCD (38:22)
CNN Democratic Presidential Primary Debates (40:25)

Music Featured:  “Una Flor” by Juanes