Charles Holmes and Van Lathan share their thoughts on the first two episodes of ‘The Bear’ Season 2. They discuss the return of the beloved FX series and what it needs to do in order to live up to its excellent predecessor, the different stakes that accompany opening a brand-new restaurant as opposed to maintaining one, and how the arcs of the show’s main trio of characters intertwine. Along the way, the guys explain the meaning behind Michelin stars and how the pursuit of them will move the sto...
Jun 22, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joanna Robinson and Van Lathan are back to break down the final three episodes of ‘Black Mirror’ Season 6. They open by talking about series creator Charlie Brooker’s desire to expand the confines of what a ‘Black Mirror’ episode can be this season. Next, they discuss why “Mazey Day” fell so flat before sharing their personal bottom five episodes of the Netflix anthology. Later, they discuss the unbelievable twist ending of “Beyond the Sea,” the lengthy run time of “Demon 79,” as well as how the...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joanna Robinson and Van Lathan are here to unpack the first two episodes of ‘Black Mirror’ Season 6. They briefly talk about the shows that came before it and that inspired the Netflix anthology series, as well as their thoughts on past seasons. Next, they share their personal top five ‘Black Mirror’ episodes before diving into what makes “Joan Is Awful” so compelling. Later, they discuss the overarching themes of the season, point out a handful of in-world Easter eggs, and break down series cre...
Jun 16, 2023•55 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sean Fennessey is joined by ‘Barry’ co-creator-star-director Bill Hader to break down the series finale. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Bill Hader Producers: Bobby Wagner and Stefan Anderson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 09, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sean Fennessey is joined by ‘Barry’ co-creator, star, and director Bill Hader to break down the sixth and seventh episodes of the fourth season. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Bill Hader Producers: Bobby Wagner and Stefan Anderson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joanna Robinson is joined by Van Lathan to share their closing thoughts on ‘Succession’ Season 4 and the HBO series as a whole. They discuss Kendall’s fall from grace this season, how the show’s ending compares to ‘Hamlet,’ and the trickle-down effect of the internal strife among the Roy siblings. Along the way, they talk about how it places intimate family dynamics in conversation with the impact of American capitalism and why Lukas Matsson works as the ideal Waystar Royco successor. Later, Joa...
May 30, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill and Sean are back to break down the ‘Succession’ series finale. They discuss how the final episode stuck the landing and stayed true to the show’s themes, what went into Shiv’s last-minute decision to back out, and Kendall’s fate. Along the way, they talk about Tom and Lukas Matsson’s new partnership and the emptiness that comes with the Waystar crown. They close by unpacking the emotional moment between the Roy siblings as they watch an old video of Logan and the intense boardroom vote bef...
May 29, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Wos and Rob start the pod by breaking down the individual performances of each of the kids during their the eulogies for Logan Roy and talk about the importance of letting stuff go when facing the finality of life. They then dive into their plot and character predictions for next week’s series finale and discuss how ‘Succession’ was so great at mirroring some of society's most critical real-world media events (16:34). Hosts: Wosny Lambre and Rob Mahoney Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Learn mor...
May 26, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mallory and Joanna break down the Season 2 finale of 'Yellowjackets.' They talk about everything that happens in the episode, from the crowning of a new antler queen in the 1996 timeline to a renewed ritual and a shocking death in present day. They also look ahead to where the story could go next season and beyond. Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 26, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill, Sean, and Joanna are back to break down the penultimate episode of ‘Succession’ Season 4. They discuss Roman Roy’s disconcerting meltdown at Logan’s funeral, why “Church and State” is a masterpiece episode of television, and the indelible performances across the board. Along the way, they briefly talk about series creator Jesse Armstrong’s career before ‘Succession’ and why it might be the British writer’s magnum opus. They close by recapping the eulogies and noting Ken’s performative natu...
May 22, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Wos begin their conversation by talking about how humorous and political Episode 8 was compared to the rest of the series and breaking down the current state of mind of each of the siblings. They then examine Justin Kirk’s performance as Jeryd Mencken and draw parallels between the controversial character and some real-life individuals in American politics (10:41). After the break, they discuss Shiv’s plethora of strategic miscalculations, debate if Kendall will ultimately be wearing t...
May 19, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mallory and Joanna break down ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2, Episode 8: "It Chooses." They start by examining Walter’s motives and where his story might go in the finale. Then, they discuss the confessions of Shauna and Misty in the sharing shack and the touching conversation between Jeff and Callie. They also talk about the dark and unusually quick decision that the girls made in the 1996 timeline, as well as the episode’s tragic ending. Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin Associate Producer: C...
May 19, 2023•2 hr 41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill, Sean, and Joanna are back to break down the eighth episode of ‘Succession’ Season 4. They discuss the harrowing and accurate portrayal of a presidential election night, Roman’s true nature, and the terrifying impact that the Roy family has on the rest of the country. Along the way, they talk about Justin Kirk’s chilling performance as the far-right presidential candidate and the media’s influence on American politics. They close by unpacking a fan conspiracy theory about Lukas Matsson and ...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Wos immediately dive into the brutal balcony fight between Tom and Shiv and detail what it revealed about their relationship throughout the series. They then examine Kendall’s current state of affairs and speculate on what’s coming up in Episode 8 (9:31) before breaking down the entertaining Matsson-Kendall party showdown and drawing comparisons between ‘Succession’ and ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (17:55). Later, Joanna Robinson is joined by ‘Succession’ star Alexander Skarsgard to talk ...
May 12, 2023•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mallory and Joanna break down ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2, Episode 7: "Burial." They get into everyone’s reaction to Lottie’s “intentional community,” Van’s tragic reveal, and the cops finding Adam’s body. They also discuss everything happening in the 1996 timeline, from Shauna unleashing her anger on Lottie to Misty’s fake search for Crystal. Then, of course they had to talk about Misty’s incredible musical vision. Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga Learn...
May 12, 2023•2 hr 44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sean Fennessey is joined by ‘Barry’ cocreator-director-star Bill Hader to break down the fifth episode of the season and why he felt like it was time to take a big swing in the narrative structure of the show. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Bill Hader Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 08, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill, Sean, and Joanna are back to break down the seventh episode of ‘Succession’ Season 4. They discuss the brutally honest confrontation between Shiv and Tom and whether the two can actually recover this time, the reveal of Matsson’s bogus subscriber numbers, and Kendall’s heated meetup with Rava. Along the way, they talk about the shifting power dynamics between the siblings and the chaos of the pre-election party. They close by updating their predictions on who will be running Waystar Royco ...
May 08, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week Wos is joined by Rob Mahoney. Their discussion begins by examining the growing cracks in the Roy brothers’ alliance, praising Lukas Matsson’s role as a narrative chaos agent, and talking about some of their favorite scenes from Episode 6. After the break, they shine a light on the nuances of Tom and Shiv’s onscreen dynamics and dissect the Episode 7 preview (15:48). Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Rob Mahoney Producers: Richie Bozek and Chris Sutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit po...
May 05, 2023•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mallory and Joanna break down ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2, Episode 6: "Qui." They break down everything from Callie and Shauna’s interrogation to Misty’s enjoyment of being “famous’ on Lottie’s compound. They also discuss Shauna, Van, and Tai finally joining the rest of the characters and the tragic ending to the episode. Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 05, 2023•2 hr 45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sean Fennessey is joined by ‘Barry’ cocreator-director-star Bill Hader to break down the fourth episode of the season, including the various influences Hader drew from in stitching together the episode. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Bill Hader Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 01, 2023•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill, Sean, and Joanna are back to break down the sixth episode of ‘Succession’ Season 4. They discuss how this episode effectively satirizes the tech and Hollywood industries, Kendall Roy in rare form onstage, and Lukas Matsson’s strategy to drive a wedge between the Roy siblings. Along the way, they talk about an all-time low for Roman and his destructive impulsiveness as well as Tom’s comeback. They close by questioning the legitimacy of the Living+ product launch and updating their predictio...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Wos start the pod by discussing how Kendall Roy’s transparent fronting was consistently being tested during the Scandinavian trip, and then give flowers to Alexander Skarsgard's excellent portrayal of Lukas Matsson. They later dive into banquet etiquette, the glaring culture clash between the European and American corporate factions, and how Matsson utilized his imposing presence throughout the retreat (6:04). Next, they attempt to decipher the intricate commentary and interactions bet...
Apr 28, 2023•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney reunite to discuss the true crime drama ‘Love & Death,’ based on the story of Candy Montgomery (1:00). Then Joanna speaks with show writer David E. Kelly and director Lesli Linka Glatter about their collaborative effort on the show (50:00). Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Rob Mahoney Guests: Lesli Linka Glatter and David E. Kelley Producers: Sasha Ashall and Jonathan Kermah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 27, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sean Fennessey is joined by ‘Barry’ cocreator-director-star Bill Hader to break down the third episode of the season, as well as its shocking ending. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Bill Hader Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 24, 2023•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill, Sean, and Joanna are back to break down the fifth episode of ‘Succession’ Season 4. They discuss the alarming revelations regarding Lukas Matsson’s personal life and the complicated dynamic between him and the Roy siblings. Along the way, they also talk about Roman and Kendall’s inability to effectively handle the GoJo deal and Shiv’s behind-the-scenes strategic maneuvering. They close with predictions on who will be running Waystar Royco at the end of the season. Hosts: Bill Simmons, Sean...
Apr 24, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Wos begin their conversation by dissecting the siblings' state of mind in the wake of Logan’s untimely death and Marcia’s icy return to the dramatic fold. After the break, they discuss the day-by-day time layout of the season, their favorite scenes from Episode 4, and the ‘Succession’-like scandals currently surrounding Fox News and Rupert Murdoch (14:00). Finally, they share what they’re looking out for in Episode 5 (20:34). Hosts: Chris Ryan and Wosny Lambre Producers: Chris Sutton a...
Apr 21, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mallory and Joanna break down ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2, Episode 5: "Two Truths and a Lie." They break down Javi’s return, Lottie’s obsession with Shauna’s baby, and the tragic end to Misty and Crystal’s friendship. Plus, they talk about Randy’s inability to get the job done when called upon, where dark Tai wants to go with Van, and when Shauna will join the rest of the Yellowjackets to confront Lottie. Hosts: Joanna Robinson and Mallory Rubin Associate Producer: Carlos Chiriboga Learn more about...
Apr 21, 2023•2 hr 52 min•Transcript available on Metacast ‘Barry’ is back for its fourth and final season. Sean Fennessey is joined by the show’s cocreator-star-director, Bill Hader, to break down the first two episodes of the season. Host: Sean Fennessey Guest: Bill Hader Producer: Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill, Sean, and Joanna are back to break down the fourth episode of ‘Succession’ Season 4. They discuss Shiv’s pregnancy reveal, the complicated dynamics that arise when family and business are intertwined, and David Rasche’s hilarious performance as Karl. Along the way, they theorize how this episode might be setting up the rise of Shiv and the fall of Kendall as well as whether or not the found piece of paper works as a storytelling device. Later, Joanna is joined by ‘Succession’ star Arian Mo...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Wos begin the pod by reflecting on their own personal experiences with loss as they process the death of Logan Roy on the show. They then compare Brian Cox’s riveting portrayal to other iconic TV leads and dissect the reactions of Logan's family and staff as the events of the episode unfolded (6:24). Next, they talk about their relationship with Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty as native New Yorkers, and examine some of the key scenes (13:34). After the break they speculate on th...
Apr 14, 2023•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
