Episodes

  • #257: "Task" Comes To A Redeeming Finish (Season Finale Review)

    #257: "Task" Comes To A Redeeming Finish (Season Finale Review)
    Oct 26 2025
    Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are back to share their thoughts on the final two episodes of Task, where Brad Ingelsby has grown as a showrunner, the themes of redemption that ran through the series, and whether or not there should be a second season. What did YOU think about Task? Email the show at: crossingstreamstvpodcast@gmail.com and we'll read your replies on a future show!

    SHOW NOTES/TIMES

    :30 intro/housekeeping
    2:45 overall thoughts on the full season of Task
    11:00 themes of redemption
    14:30 is Grasso going to jail or was he redeemed too?
    19:00 Would Tom have really let Maeve keep the money?
    22:00 Episode Six was a BANGER
    29:30 should there be a second season of Task?
    34:00 What We’re Watching
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    52 mins
  • #256: The Lowdown In-Progress Review (Episodes 1-5), Platonic S2 Finale Review

    #256: The Lowdown In-Progress Review (Episodes 1-5), Platonic S2 Finale Review
    Oct 19 2025
    Craig Elsten and Chris Reed get together to discuss a show that each believes will be in their respective Top-10 lists by the end of the year, The Lowdown on FX (and Hulu/Disney+). The guys go through the incredible cast and performances, the overall vibe of the show and where they think the first season might wind up. Then, a look at how Platonic wrapped up its second season, what the creators have left for a third season, and if lower stakes might actually help the show's longevity.

    Don't forget, you can email the show at crossingstreamstvpodcast@gmail.com with your thoughts on this show, or any of the others we've covered! We'll read your emails on a future podcast.

    SHOW TIMING NOTES

    :30 Intro/housekeeping
    3:00 Initial thoughts on The Lowdown
    5:00 Ethan Hawke star turn as Lee Raybon
    9:00 getting into the mysteries of the show
    14:00 An all-star supporting cast
    17:30 the many influences of The Lowdown
    22:30 guessing where we are headed in the last episodes
    26:15 Peter Dinklage shows up in ep5 to win an Emmy
    32:45 Platonic season two finale review
    35:45 How many times can Will and Sylvia fight and get back together as friends?
    42:30 Who had the worse fictional novel, Platonic or Smoke?
    44:00 Could Platonic last longer with smaller stakes?
    48:30 Flowers for supporting cast performances
    52:30 What We’re Watching
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • #255: Peacemaker Season Two Finale Review (with Danny Deskjob)

    #255: Peacemaker Season Two Finale Review (with Danny Deskjob)
    Oct 10 2025
    In a bonus edition on this week's Crossing Streams feed, Craig Elsten is joined by Danny Deskjob to review season two of Peacemaker, on HBO Max. The guys start with a 15-minute non-spoiler zone, to generally discuss the show. Then they get into all the spoilers from season two, including some controversial decisions made in the season finale, and the announcement from James Gunn on Friday that Peacemaker would likely not come back for a third season, but instead have its characters folded into other DCU properties.

    SHOW NOTES

    :30 Intro/housekeeping
    NON-SPOILER ZONE
    4:15 thoughts on Peacemaker the series as a whole
    9:00 Peacemaker succeeds as an R-rated comedy
    11:00 the best intro on TV 13:00 going through the cast of Peacemaker
    17:45 a multiverse story that actually works
    SPOILER ZONE
    19:30 Was this a seven-episode season and a one-episode DCU set-up for the future?
    24:30 going through the major plot points of season two
    27:30 the use of Earth-X as Peacemaker’s alternate universe
    32:30 the best parts of the finale
    36:30 critiques of the finale
    38:30 incepting Foxy Shazam into all of our lives
    44:00 using the *series* finale of Peacemaker as a set-up for future DCU properties
    53:00 What’s Danny Watching
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    57 mins
  • #254: "Task" In-Progress Review (Episodes 1-5)

    #254: "Task" In-Progress Review (Episodes 1-5)
    Oct 8 2025
    Craig Elsten and Chris Reed are most of the way down the tracks on the riveting HBO Sunday night drama, Task. In this episode, the guys begin with non-spoiler thoughts on the show for anyone who may not have watched yet or gotten up-to-date. Then, they go through the key storylines through the first five episodes of the show, and offer thoughts on the final two episodes to come.

    SHOW RUNDOWN

    :30 Intro
    NON-SPOILER ZONE
    3:00 Initial thoughts on Task as a whole so far
    6:00 Showrunner Brad Ingelsby, comps to Mare of Easttown
    10:00 An appreciation of the consequences of action in Task
    2:00 Basic show set-up 16:00 Exploring the secondary characters
    18:45 Chris’ thoughts on the portrayal of the biker gang Dark Hearts
    22:00 Is Maeve the show’s emotional center?
    SPOILER ZONE
    26:30 Talking about episode five
    27:45 Where the Heat-to-Task comparison fails
    32:30 Discussion of the mole within the task force
    37:00 the use of religion in Task
    42:00 Is Task a little too writer-y, or just right for HBO Sunday night?
    45:00 predictions for the final two episodes
    51:00 Is the Sam storyline over with?
    52:45 What We’re Watching
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    1 hr
  • #253: Did Alien Earth Blow It With The Finale? (with Ken Gartin)

    #253: Did Alien Earth Blow It With The Finale? (with Ken Gartin)
    Sep 25 2025
    Craig and Chris are again joined by Ken Gartin to go through the finale of Alien: Earth. Two of our three panelists were really let down by the finale, while one saw the promise for future seasons. What did you think? Email the show at crossingstreamstvpodcast@gmail.com!

    SHOW NOTES

    :30 Intro
    3:00 Initial thoughts on the season one finale
    10:30 The deathpool that wasn’t
    14:45 how does a season finale wind up so static?
    20:00 Is Sydney overpowered?
    26:00 What is the extent of the Eyeball’s abilities?
    31:30 Has Alien: Earth made the Xenomorph too tame?
    39:30 Has the finale changed your opinion of the season as a whole?
    51:30 What We’re Watching
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • #252: Midseason Check-In on Alien:Earth (with Ken Gartin)

    #252: Midseason Check-In on Alien:Earth (with Ken Gartin)
    Sep 16 2025
    Ken Gartin returns to join Craig and Chris and review the middle portion (episodes 3-6) of FX's Alien:Earth. The guys thought it would be a shorter episode, but nope! Too much fun breaking down all the plot twists and possibilities for the endgame.

    SHOW NOTES/TIME CODES

    :30 Intro, show set-up
    1:45 initial thoughts from everyone on where Alien:Earth stands right now
    5:30 getting into episode 3
    10:00 Sydney’s brand-new power of Alien language
    15:00 The Eye is the smartest character on the show?
    18:00 Episode 4, the Nibs situation—and the question of humanity
    24:00 Episode 5, Noah Hawley’s take on the OG Alien movie
    36:00 Episode 6, key plot points, who will the Eye jump into next?
    40:00 the endgame of season one kicks off in episode 6’s final act
    44:30 what is Kirsh up to and why is he letting things happen?
    47:30 Is this Alien:Earth, or Alien:Island? There are too few people
    54:30 Craig’s guess on how the show will end
    1:08:30 What’s Ken Watching?
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • #251: In-Season Thoughts on Platonic and The Paper

    #251: In-Season Thoughts on Platonic and The Paper
    Sep 12 2025
    Craig and Chris have two episodes to bring you on the Crossing Streams feed this week! First up, a look at two comedies in full swing, Platonic (season two now on AppleTV+) and The Paper (all episodes streaming on Peacock). Chris appears on episode 6 of Platonic season two and tells the story of his day on set, plus much more!

    TIME CUES

    :30 Intro
    3:00 housekeeping/show set-up
    5:30 Platonic—premise of the show
    6:30 Opening thoughts on Platonic
    13:30 season two storylines
    19:00 Chris’ story of his day on Platonic (S2E6)
    21:30 Did it make sense for Will to back out of his marriage to Jenna?
    26:15 the very-funny Jeopardy arc, and great guest casting
    31:30 The Paper, why dropped as a binge model?
    34:00 Playing off & recycling the model of The Office
    39:00 Do we like The Paper so far?
    42:30 Thoughts on Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore
    48:00 is the mockumentary format overplayed?
    52:45 What We’re Watching
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • #250: Alien: Earth Episode 1-3 + "Smoke" Season Finale Spoilers (with Ken Gartin and Chris Reed)

    #250: Alien: Earth Episode 1-3 + "Smoke" Season Finale Spoilers (with Ken Gartin and Chris Reed)
    Aug 25 2025
    Ken Gartin makes his triumphant return to the Crossing Streams feed to lead our discussion of the brand-new FX series, "Alien: Earth". Chris Reed had NEVER watched any Alien content, so he's in for a spooky surprise! Later in the show, Craig and Chris go through the explosive finale of Smoke (on AppleTV+) and talk about how the show has gone under the radar of a lot of fans and reviewers.

    SHOW NOTES


    • :30 Intro, welcome Ken Gartin
    • 2:00 Chris is an Alien newbie, Ken’s seen it all
    • 6:15 Broad thoughts on Alien Earth so far
    • 12:30 Alien Earth plot overview as set-up
    • 19:30 Noah Hawley puts his stamp on iconic IP, does it work?
    • 25:00 Performance of Sydney Chandler as Wendy
    • 29:30 Quibbles: plot armor and a Xenomorph problem
    • 37:00 Morrow is a badass, and the rest of main characters
    • 41:30 Where do we see Alien Earth going the rest of the season
    • 47:45 Smoke Finale opening thoughts: this show should be better-rated than it is
    • 52:15 Jurnee Smollett’s performance as Detective Calderone
    • 55:30 Calderone breaking bad
    • 1:00:00 This was a REALLY satisfying season finale
    • 1:09:45 What We’re Watching
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    1 hr and 18 mins