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Streaming is scattered. What's worth watching? Taking It Down is intelligent Southern accents covering scattered TV, catered to thinkers in the working class. Recommendations first, insights and spoilers later. Watch TV from a different angle. Every Tuesday morning, editor-in-chief of The Alabama Take Blaine Duncan is joined by Adam Morrow, Donovan Reinwald, and others to recommend and analyze what's on TV and streaming. You've earned your time; know where to spend it.
Blaine begins the episode with a podcast overview and the generalities of this week's episode (0:02).
Once Donovan joins, they discuss the return of the longest-running TV show, 'It's Always Sunny In Philadephia' and determine how its sustained its longevity (3:15). From there, they have brief discussion on the Apple TV+ series 'Stick' and its most recent episode (11:14). To conclude the non-spoiler segment, they give thought to 'The Bear' as a whole season (14:42).
After a short break, it's time to discuss the ridiculous plot points of both 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' and 'Abbott Elementary,' as the gang end their time there (14:57). Both hosts agree that the Apple TV+ 'Stick' had its best episode thus far, and they explain why (32:38). Finally, it's the last four episodes of the fourth season of 'The Bear' (35:38) Was it better than season three? Were problems solved? All that, and more on this week's Taking It Down episode.
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Weekly host Blaine welcomes and gives an overview for the episode to begin (0:02).
Once Donovan and Adam join, Blaine describes how he managed to miss the last few episodes of 'The Bear' and it has everything to do with the Disney+ series 'Andor' (2:08).
Also in the non-spoiler section, the guys have an email on 'Your Friends & Neighbors' on Apple TV+ (7:42), they discuss how 'Stick' is addressing all of their concerns (9:10), and somehow the non-spoiler talk about 'The Bear' turns into a treatise on smoking (11:38).
After the break, they detail how 'Stick' became even better (16:13) and how 'The Bear' needed season three for the current season four (35:36).
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This week on Taking It Down, Blaine begins with a welcome and an overview of the episode (0:02) before welcoming Adam and Donovan to discuss the big Bruce Springsteen music release which coincides with the trailer for his own biopic (1:03).
Beginning the non-spoiler section properly, Blaine gives a sense of 'Smoke' from Apple TV+ and if it may be worth the time (6:09) before mentioning this week's episode of 'Stick' (10:08). All of the hosts give broad ideas on this current season of 'The Bear,' which aired its fourth season this weekend continuing to do so with the Netflix model (11:49).
In the spoiler section, the crew discuss the questions and answers of the first three episodes of the fourth season of 'The Bear' (21:15).
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This week, Blaine has a special guest to give the overview of the weekly episode (0:02) before he brings in co-hosts Adam and Donovan. Adam finally watched an episode of 'Your Friends and Neighbors' on Apple TV+ and he keeps it going with non-spoiler ideas on if he'll continue the series (0:49).
Also in the non-spoiler section is the other Apple TV+ show of the week with 'Stick,' which takes us into our golf adventures (5:35). Blaine and Donovan discuss broad ideas on if 'Dept. Q' succeeded its goal (12:58).
In the spoilers, it's back to 'Stick' and why it can't find balanced despite being a fun show (16:58). Finally, with all of the series now seen, Blaine and Donovan determine if the whole mystery was ever worth it (38:20).
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This week, Donovan begins the non-spoiler section with a brief review of 'The Phoenician Scheme,' Wes Anderson's latest (1:11). Then Blaine and Donovan discuss some non-spoiler thoughts on 'Stick' and where it is on Apple TV+ (6:14). Donovan gives his overview of 'Andor,' the Star Wars spinoff, now that it is complete (8:14). Finally to end the non-spoiler segment, Blaine and Donovan discuss the dark world of 'Dept. Q' (12:25).
After the break, it's only 'Dept. Q' on Netflix and the focus is where it lands as far as crime thrillers go: does it go beyond the genre (19:28)?
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Blaine begins the episode with a welcome and overview (0:02) before he offers Adam and Donovan a recommendation and a nod to Apple TV's 'Stick,' featuring Owen Wilson, which has a surprising potential to charm us all—if it can manage to steer clear of its own sand traps (1:04).
From there and still in the non-spoiler section, Blaine and Donovan take a hard look at FX’s 'Adults,' a show that’s trying to capture an essence (3:37). Still in non-spoilers, all three hosts round it out with 'Bono: Songs of Surrender,' a documentary that goes beyond mere fanfare (7:07).
In the spoiler segment after the break, Blaine and Donovan get into the specifics of what makes 'Adults' fail miserably (15:53) as well as what allows for 'Bono: Songs of Surrender' soar above mere U2 history (28:18).
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Blaine and his sidekick begin with an announcement about the home site The Alabama Take (0:01) before getting into what the episode covers for the week (0:45).
Once Adam and Donovan join, Blaine breaks down some things about Todd Chrisley (1:26) before they briefly discuss the new Wes Anderson trailer (4:09) and theater expectations gone wrong (6:27).
From there, it's the usual non-spoiler section where Blaine broadly explains how 'Duster' goes sideways (8:51), an overview of this season of 'Hacks' on Max (11:03), general feelings on the season of '100 Foot Wave' (16:19), and the overall thoughts of 'The Last of Us' (19:20).
In the spoiler section, Adam and Donovan break down 'Hacks' (21:34). Blaine and Adam discuss the profundities of '100 Foot Wave' (36:03). And finally, Donovan and Blaine try to determine if 'The Last of Us' ends fairly (53:30).
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Blaine begins the episode with a quick welcome before offering an overview of the episode's discussions (0:01).
Once Adam and Donovan join the podcast, the three say hello to some specific listeners (1:16). They then have a brief tangent on celebrity deaths prompted by the recent passing of George Wendt (5:13). From there, they run down a list of possible streaming television shows that could be worth your time (8:36).
Continuing the non-spoiler section, they broadly discuss 'The Studio' and its completion on Apple TV+ (24:21) as well as the season thus far of HBO's 'The Last of Us' (27:51).
In the spoiler section, the hosts break down why 'The Studio' works so well as a deeper comedy (30:39) and how the thematic shift in 'The Last of Us' may be more natural than they realized (51:51).
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Blaine, Adam, and Donovan reunite after a couple of weeks away from the microphones.
First, Blaine welcomes listeners and discusses how listeners can now join The Alabama Take site (0:02).
Adam and Donovan rave about The Alabama Take's newsletter (1:33) before Blaine points to Adam's talents and how not only is he booming but how listeners can find him beyond the podcast (3:36).
Then the podcast gets into the TV and streaming, sort of: to begin with no spoilers, Adam explains why the film 'Sinners' could be a topic for next week as well as why people need to watch it (4:53). They also discuss '100 Foot Wave' and its return to HBO (8:36), 'The Studio' on Apple TV+ (13:45), and 'The Last of Us' and its new season in the non-spoiler section (17:53).
In the spoiler section, the three hosts discuss details on 'The Studio' (20:13) and how it isn't just 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' as well as how 'The Last of Us' nearly had them bailing on the show (36:15).
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Blaine, Adam, and Donovan gather together again before a week off.
As always, the episode begins with a section devoted to non-spoilers: Blaine offers a welcome and some episode notes for the week (0:02). After Adam and Donovan join, the three discuss the deluge of television choices that seem high quality and how you could easily see Adam in person in a few months (2:13). Though 'Black Mirror' dropped a new season this weekend, the hosts ponder if its time has come and gone (4:09). Blaine asks Donovan about the lingering images of 'Adolescence' without spoilers as well as the news about it being a part of education (5:46). In a funny moment, Adam admits that the new Apple TV+ show 'The Studio' fills him with anxiety (8:53). Donovan and Adam give ideas on why they enjoy 'Hacks' on Max so much as it returns for its new season (12:49). It's an easy sell, but Blaine hooks the two co-hosts on the other new Apple TV+ series, 'Your Friends and Neighbors,' starring Jon Hamm (16:57). Lastly in the opening segment, they touch on 'The White Lotus' and its recent season (22:39).
After a break, Blaine has a quick question on 'Hacks' that could be a spoiler (26:28) before they complete a character-by-character critique of 'The White Lotus' and its third season as well as a quick ranking of the three seasons (27:22).
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