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.

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