Today's Episode

Jonas Pate walked outside with his family one day in Wilmington, North Carolina, and said… let’s make a band. Then he X-Factor-auditioned 5,000 kids and pieced together The Runarounds. Now that same band is playing fictional versions of themselves in a brand-new teen music drama that dropped September 1. It’s not a direct Outer Banks spin-off, but it does take place in the same universe. On the podcast, we review the hour-long pilot, which follows Charlie Cooper and his bandmates post-graduation as they chase girls, gigs, and fame. We cover our comparisons (Daisy Jones & The Six, That Thing You Do, The Summer I Turned Pretty), share trivia and our rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode.

The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is now streaming on Hulu. In this podcast, we discuss the first three installments (“Amanda,” “Ci vediamo più tardi,” and “The Guardian of Perugia”) of K.J. Steinberg’s limited series, which dramatizes the early days of Knox’s arrest, interrogation, and time behind bars following the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher. We talk performances, direction, accuracy vs. embellishment, and how this version compares to Amanda’s own memoir Waiting to Be Heard. From coercion tactics to media spin to systemic injustice, there’s plenty to dig into. Tune in for our thoughts and rating. Welcome to Today's Episode!

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf rewinds the clock to chart Ben Edwards’ (Taylor Kitsch) path from SEAL to CIA operative. Set in 2015 during the real-life Inherent Resolve campaign, the series gives us Iraq, covert missions, bombings, and more uses of the word “brother” than a Desmond Hume highlight reel. We cover the three-episode premiere (“Inherent Resolve,” “The Audition,” “What’s Past Is Prologue”), how it compares to The Terminal List, and our rating. Tune in and enjoy. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Netflix’s Long Story Short, created by BoJack Horseman’s Raphael Bob-Waksberg, is a time-hopping animated family comedy. We follow the Cooper/Schwartz/Schwoopers across key milestones in the first two episodes, “Yoshi’s Bar Mitzvah” and “Hannah’s Dance Recital.” Cashing in on nostalgia, past trauma, and the stresses of marriage, kids, and growing older, we cover comparisons, pros, cons, and our rating. Tune in for a tight recap and decide whether this family saga is worth your time. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

After years of silence, USA scripted TV is back with a one-off legal-drama throwback based on John Grisham’s 1995 novel The Rainmaker. After a young paralegal gets canned from a big firm, plan B lands him at an ambulance-chasing, Better Call Saul–type outfit where clients are scarce. Starring Milo Callaghan as Rudy Baylor, we review the hour long pilot, what’s changed from the book/film, and how it stacks up against other shows in the genre (Presumed Innocent, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Suits). Tune in for our full take and rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Jason Momoa leads this Hawaiian historical epic about rival kingdoms, brutal power struggles, and the rise of Kamehameha the Great. In this podcast review of Chief of War, we cover the first four episodes—Kaʻiana’s journey from retired warrior to rebel, the political savvy of Kaʻahumanu, foreign influence, Kahekili’s ruthless schemes, and the mounting civil war. From cliff dives and shark hunts to pirate markets and prophecies, this series unique pacing brings sweeping action along with cultural pride. Tune in for our take on the story, standout performances, favorite moments, and final rating.

In space, no one can hear you scream—but on Earth, we can! Alien: Earth, FX’s ambitious new prequel series from Noah Hawley (Fargo, Legion), crash-lands into the Alien universe with hybrid synths, trillionaire tech bros, slurpy space leeches, zombie cats, and—of course—a Black Sabbath soundtrack. Set in 2120—two years before Ridley Scott’s original (he was busy with Dope Thief)—we follow Wendy (darling), a hybrid child with a superhuman body, as she teams up with her Avenger-esque crew to aid a rescue mission after a ship full of Xenomorphs and other foreign contaminants crash-lands on Earth. We break down the first two episodes, highlight what makes this show work (or not), and share our favorite scenes and characters. Tune in for our thoughts, some trivia, and our rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Time flies when you’re time traveling. It’s been 11 years since Outlander first premiered on Starz, and the prequel is here to keep the franchise’s blood pumping. Blood of My Blood follows the stories of Jamie and Claire’s parents. Naturally, the next spin-off will probably trace their grandparents and great-grandparents until we discover everyone is related and Scottish. Take that, 23andMe. Premiering August 8, the show’s first two episodes introduce both love stories, one set in WWI England and the other in 1714 Scotland. In this episode, we talk about our favorite and least favorite moments, some trivia, and determine our rating. Tune in, and ang may yer lum reek. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Set in postwar 1946 London, Bookish follows bibliophile Gabriel Book, who runs a secondhand shop and solves crimes through his encyclopedic literary knowledge. Created by Sherlock's Mark Gatiss and historian Matthew Sweet, this “cozy crime with an edge” brings vintage aesthetic and wit to a world still reeling from the aftermath of The Blitz. In this podcast, we discuss the first story (2 episodes), the mystery, the characters, the humor, and how it compares to other shows like The Jetty, Monsieur Spade, and Department Q. Tune in for our rating and trivia. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Netflix’s Untamed is a six-episode mystery set against the majestic backdrop of Yosemite National Park (sort of). When a Jane Doe plunges from El Capitan, federal agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) of the Investigative Services Branch is called in to uncover what really happened. Paired with rookie ranger Naya, he follows clues through the park, interviewing nomads, taking down drug rings, and confronting evil ex-boyfriends along the way. We break down the jump scares and twists, including the final reveal that wraps it all up. Tune in for our thoughts, comparisons, and rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Twisted Metal is Peacock's high-octane post-apocalyptic action comedy based on PlayStation’s beloved video game series. Following in the footsteps of The Last of Us, this marks Sony’s second major video game adaptation. Season 2 kicked off with three episodes—“PRSRPNT,” “DOLF4C3,” and “T3STDRV”—which premiered on Thursday, July 31. Set months after John Doe’s dramatic realization about New San Francisco, the story introduces Anthony Carrigan as Calypso, unveils a new Raven, and finds Quiet allied with Dollface’s ruthless gang. Tune in as we discuss standout moments, character developments, interesting production details, as well as our rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

The Hunting Wives, based on May Cobb’s bestselling novel, is a soapy thriller set in the fictional East Texas town of Maple Brook. When Sophie (Brittany Snow) relocates with her husband, she’s drawn into an elite clique of women who drink, shoot skeet, and gossip like there’s no tomorrow. In this podcast, we discuss the hour-long pilot which focuses on Sophie O'Neil moving in and finding her new bestie Margo, a forest murder, and a bunch of other weirdness. Tune in to hear our rating. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

South Park is back for Season 27 with “Sermon on the Mount,” a timely premiere that sees PC Principal turn uber religious when woke culture is declared dead and President Trump sues the town for protesting his decisions. Cartman faces another existential crisis, while Randy and the rest of the parents spearhead their outrage until an intervention by none other than Jesus. In this podcast, we unpack the episode’s takedowns of Trump and Paramount, and share our favorite jokes (the deep-fake Trump PSA, the ChatGPT-wives, and the reveal of Satan’s new lover). Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Netflix’s División Palermo (Community Squad) took home the 2024 International Emmy for Best Comedy. Created by and starring Santiago Korovsky, this Argentinian comedy follows Felipe, a mild-mannered Jewish man placed in a PR-driven “Urban Guard” alongside various misfits, including a one-armed playwright, a blind sharpshooter, and two real cops. In the second season, Felipe secretly infiltrates a local crime operation, confronting baristas, mafia members, as well as his own IBS. The show blends absurdist humor with thoughtful commentary on tokenism and performative politics, reminiscent of series like This Fool, No Activity, and English Teacher. We break down season 2 and highlight the standout moments. Tune in, and welcome to Today’s Episode!

MGM+’s The Institute nabs teen prodigy Luke Ellis and places him in a hidden facility where kids with extraordinary powers are tested and enhanced. Part thriller, part YA sci-fi, we unpack the first two episodes of Stephen King's latest mystery. What happens to the kids who graduate to the back half? Why are the administrators so proudly evil? And what’s with the creepy dots? We also compare the show to favorites like Severance, Stranger Things, and Tower Prep. Tune in to hear our full thoughts. Welcome to Today’s Episode!

Dexter is back—again! Showtime's serial killer refuses to stay dead in Dexter: Resurrection, the third series revival following the original series and New Blood. Michael C. Hall returns as Dexter Morgan, freshly out of a 10-week coma, chasing down his wayward son Harrison through NYC, where serial killers and suspicious characters await at every corner. Featuring newcomers like Uma Thurman and Peter Dinklage, this season retcons a lot and embraces the crazy soul of the universe its set in. We discuss the premiere two episodes, our favorite (and most frustrating) moments, and shoot off our questions. Tune in, and welcome to Today's Episode!

Nyan Cat is back... well, not exactly. In this weird manga-adapted anime, we follow survivors of a catpocalypse, where a mysterious virus infecting feline friends has made it so that any interaction turns humans into cats. We join Kunagi and Kaoru as they attempt to escape hordes of whiskered predators, while also learning about their backstories working at a cat café. In the podcast, we compare the show to series like Exploding Kittens, Doctor Who, and Uzumaki, while asking the important questions that such a wild premise inspires. Tune in, and welcome to Today’s Episode!

Disney's MCU expands again with Ironheart. Dominique Thorne returns as Riri Williams, a teenage super-genius from Chicago who builds her own Iron Man-inspired suit after tragedy strikes close to home. In this podcast, we discuss the full first season (all 6 episodes), breaking down the storyline, standout performances, and intriguing themes of making deals with the devil. We also cover differences from the comic, share our thoughts on other characters (like Anthony Ramos as The Hood and Obadiah Stane's son played by Alden Ehrenreich), compare reactions from critics and fans, and give our final rating. Tune in and enjoy! Welcome to Today’s Episode!

CGI babies, crazy ladies, lots of stabbing, sneaking, terrible English dubs, curious side stories, BTC bros, and lunchboxes... Netflix’s Squid Game returns for its third and final season, and we’re treated to one last round of deadly childhood games. With Seong Gi-hun (Player 456) emotionally broken, we follow survivors, saboteurs, shamans, and psychos. In this podcast, we break down all 6 episodes, highlight our top five moments as well as our five least favorite, and discuss the show's finale and its cliffhanger. Welcome to Today's Episode!

Smoke, Apple TV+’s latest crime drama from Dennis Lehane (Black Bird), pits arson specialist Dave Gudsen (Taron Egerton) and detective Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett) against two arsonists terrorizing the fictional town of Umberland. Inspired by the Firebug podcast and true events, the show plays out as a mystery-thriller filled with twists that will leave you questioning who to trust. We evaluate the first two episodes, the performances, and the creative changes to the story of real-life arsonist John Orr—and compare it to other recent crime dramas. Welcome to Today’s Episode!