The Televerse #329- Top 20 TV Series of 2017

The end of 2017 is right around the corner (already? And also somehow, finally!), which means it’s time for The List-ening, starting with The Televerse’s picks for the Top 20 TV Series of 2017. Noel and Kate run down their picks, 20 through 11, and have a quick chat about the year in TV, then dive in deeper with their top 10 series of the year. Which series made the list, which just missed the cut, and which are we surprised to see turning up elsewhere? All of this as more as Noel and Kate reflect on an interesting, at times challenging, and compelling year in TV.

By |2017-12-23T18:57:24-06:00December 23rd, 2017|The Televerse|2 Comments
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The Televerse #328- Holiday Omnibus 3: Christmas à la M*A*S*H, Seinfeld, Futurama, and Veronica Mars

As 2017 starts to wind down, we take a moment this week to reflect on holiday episodes of yore, looking back at holiday episodes of M*A*S*H, Seinfeld, Futurama, and Veronica Mars in our latest installment of our Holiday Omnibus segment. Before that, though, we have plenty of TV to discuss, as series head into the holiday season with fall finales galore. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Jane the Virgin bowed out for 2017 with strong episodes, Bob’s Burgers celebrates the season in traditionally entertaining fashion, Outlander closes its third season and begins a new chapter in a new continent, The Exorcist heads towards its second season finale, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine gives Rosa her due and brings Gina back into the fold. Do our Holiday Omnibus selections live up to our memories of them? Which are better left off the Christmas (and Festivus, and X-Mas) viewing schedules? And will we ever tire of Bob’s Burgers holiday episodes? All of this and more as The Televerse closes out its weekly coverage for 2017, and heads into The 2017 (Best Of) Listening.

By |2017-12-16T13:12:47-06:00December 16th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #325- 2017 TV Resolution Check-in #5: Danny the Manny, The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo, Recovery of an MMO Junkie, TWOCAR!

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!.

By |2017-11-25T22:29:38-06:00November 25th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #324- Spotlight on Lady Dynamite Season 2

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.

By |2017-11-18T21:29:49-06:00November 18th, 2017|The Televerse|2 Comments
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The Televerse #323- Spotlight on Alias Grace

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 chime in below with your own.

By |2017-11-11T15:30:09-06:00November 11th, 2017|The Televerse|1 Comment
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The Televerse #322- Spotlight on Stranger Things Season 2

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.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:20-06:00November 4th, 2017|The Televerse|2 Comments
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The Televerse #321- Spotlight on Outlander’s “A. Malcolm”

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.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:20-06:00October 28th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #320- Halt and Catch Fire with Dennis Perkins

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 below.

By |2017-10-21T10:10:52-06:00October 21st, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #284- Spotlight on Jane the Virgin, “Chapter Fifty-Four”

Between season finales, premieres, previews, and a surprise shake-up on Jane the Virgin, it’s been a big week in TV. First up this episode, Noel and Kate talk comedy, looking at the premiere of Comedy Central’s Detroiters and some of ABC’s Valentine’s Day comedies before having an unusually contentious discussion of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s season two finale. Next up are the drama and genre offerings, with Noel previewing CBS All Access’ The Good Fight, Kate joining in on Noel’s skepticism over Legion, and both enjoying the role reversals on this week’s Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. Afterward, it’s time to spotlight Jane the Virgin, which closed out Part Two with the lovely and emotional “Chapter Fifty-Four.” Spoilers abound, so wait to listen to the spotlight until you’re caught up. Chime in with your thoughts in the comments, and let us know who to look out for at ClexaCon!

By |2017-02-11T13:58:24-06:00February 11th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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The Televerse #283- Spotlight on Steven Universe and Adventure Time: Islands

This week on the podcast, Steven Universe is back with another StevenBomb and Adventure Time takes a second stab at the miniseries format with Islands, so Noel and Kate resurrect the Spotlight, diving in with both animated series in lieu of the DVD Shelf. Before this, however, we talk comedy, including the premieres of Powerless and Santa Clarita Diet, Superstore, Jane the Virgin, the penultimate Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and an energizing Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, followed by a look at the genre and drama entries, including Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow, and a refreshing change of pace from Elementary.

By |2019-06-06T06:39:22-06:00February 4th, 2017|The Televerse|0 Comments
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