Euphoria, Big Mood, and The Miniature Wife

13 Apr 2026 · 1 h 23 min · 38 chapters

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In short

The hosts celebrate Steph Seeland’s birthday, then trade TV/film recommendations and news, plus a listener question about how favorite songs are used in TV.

Guests

No episode guests. The “guests” mentioned are cast/people discussed in show segments: Matthew McFadden and Elizabeth Banks (The Miniature Wife), Nicola Coughlin and Lydia West (Big Mood), and Zendaya and Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria). Other referenced performers include Sheridan Smith, Michael Socha, Emma Laird, Sam Riley, Laura Fraser, Lindsay Duncan, Minnie Driver, Stephen Amell, Richard Gad, Stefan Godoshevsky, Richard Laxton, Jamie Bell, Sarah Silverman, Andrew Rannells, and others.

Key claims

Avocado Mattress uses organic, cooling materials (organic latex, wool, cotton) and is GOTS-certified; GoFundMe can raise $5K quickly via a 30-second specific video. TV takes: The Murder Line is “enjoyable” but not prestige; The Boys season 5 is crass yet charming; Copenhagen Test is consistently good (about three stars); Babies is emotionally intense and “one of the shows of the year.”

Notable examples

Running Up That Hill in Stranger Things; Love Story in The Bear; Pearl Jam “Animal” in The Bear; Jeff Buckley “Last Goodbye” in Sex Education.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Celebrating Steph Day

2:33 to 4:25

The hosts discuss Steph's birthday and their plans to celebrate.

“Specifically, it is Steph Seeland's birthday and to celebrate she has chosen to be as far away from the three of us as humanly possible.”

Upcoming Shows to Watch

4:25 to 6:07

Kay discusses three upcoming shows she has seen, including The Cage.

“I'm not going to say a lot about them because they will be reviewed and I don't want to get a shot.”

Mint and Margot's Got Money Troubles

6:07 to 8:01

Discussion on the romantic crime drama Mint and the new drama Margot's Got Money Troubles.

“yes yes I have interviewed him before, I think, but I can't remember.”

The Murder Line Overview

8:01 to 10:00

Insight into the Canadian crime drama The Murder Line starring Minnie Driver.

“and it stars Michelle Pfeiffer, his wife, Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman, etc.”

Viewing Patterns and Critique

10:00 to 12:14

Discussion about the unusual release patterns of The Murder Line and its reception.

“It's on consecutive nights at random different times.”

The Boys Final Season Review

12:14 to 14:00

James shares his experience watching the final season of The Boys and its content.

“screeners only Disney and Amazon still do that slightly obnoxious thing where your email is in massive letters across the middle of the screen to the best of my knowledge it is only Disney and Amazon that do that now.”

Explosive Themes in Euphoria

14:00 to 15:00

Discussing the intense and graphic content of Euphoria's latest season.

“Now I have some questions about the boys.”

Screeners and Viewing Preferences

15:00 to 17:40

Sharing experiences about screeners and viewing formats for shows.

“Oh, yeah, making sure that I wasn't recording it illicitly.”

The Copenhagen Test Review

17:40 to 21:40

Reviewing The Copenhagen Test and discussing its strengths and weaknesses.

“And it maintained your interest in the tree.”

New Shows and Upcoming Reviews

21:40 to 24:20

Discussing various new shows they've been watching and reviewing.

“Margot's Got Money Troubles, as previously mentioned.”
Show all 38 chapters

Listener Engagement and Email Updates

24:20 to 27:30

Introducing a new listener email and discussing listener questions.

“But just in case, you will recall, on last week's podcast, I mentioned, I discussed, I essentially had therapy for my recent interview with David Chase for The Sopranos.”

Songs in TV Shows: A Listener's Question

27:30 to 28:00

Exploring listener comments on the use of songs in television and their effectiveness.

“So we now have multiple things that will go to the same mailbox.”

TV Songs and Their Impact

28:00 to 28:40

Discussing favorite songs featured in TV shows and their effectiveness.

“Personally, I love when the version of Have You Seen Me Lately from the above mentioned album was used in The Bear.”

Highlighting Memorable Needle Drops

28:40 to 30:00

Exploring iconic needle drops in shows like 'The Bear' and 'The Office'.

“It's just kind of setting the scene, really.”

The Power of Kate Bush's 'Running Up That Hill'

30:00 to 31:20

Examining the cultural impact of Kate Bush's song in 'Stranger Things'.

“Sometimes you have to look up one of these questions.”

Favorite Songs from Recent Shows

31:20 to 34:20

Discussing personal favorite songs featured in current TV shows.

“Wait, do you mean broadened the fan base?”

Songs That Stick with Us

34:20 to 36:40

Exploring songs that linger in memory after watching TV shows.

“And actually then, last night when I was Googling it, I saw there's a video of all the cast in a studio singing it.”

Exciting News in TV

39:41 to 41:30

Discussing new series announcements and casting news.

“So that was going to be Joanna's nemesis in conversion class.”

Thoughts on 'Peaky Blinders' Casting

41:30 to 42:01

Analyzing the casting changes in 'Peaky Blinders' and its implications.

“Jamie Bell is replacing Shifty Barry Kogan as Duke Shelby in the follow-up series to Peaky Blinders, which takes place 10 years after the film Peaky Blinders, The Immortal Man, which was set during the Second World War.”

Jamie Bell and Barry Keoghan's Casting Dynamics

42:01 to 43:11

Exploration of the casting choices for characters in upcoming films.

“I think it probably is because he's very busy.”

Character Development and Inconsistencies

43:12 to 45:05

Discussion on the inconsistencies in character development in recent films.

“I don't think he had a lot to work with in the film.”

Alien Earth and Its Needle Drops

45:06 to 47:23

Analysis of the music choices and themes in Alien Earth.

“and just just the fact that Alien Earth Season 2 is Gathering Peace from Noah Hawley, etc.”

Casting News and Upcoming Shows

47:24 to 49:56

Updates on casting news in upcoming series, including Mindy Kaling's new show.

“to no one's great surprise is going to be in Ryan Murphy's next series and Ryan Murphy has now got to the point so he's doing American Horror Story season 13 which I did not know was happening.”

Return of Euphoria: Expectations vs Reality

49:57 to 53:07

Initial reactions to the return of Euphoria and its challenges.

“we have Well, it's a euphoric day because after a four-year absence, Sam Levinson's Euphoria is back on Sky and HBO Max.”

Critique of Euphoria's New Direction

53:08 to 56:01

In-depth critique of the thematic and character shifts in Euphoria's new season.

“Because they had the strike, they had everything.”

Euphoria's Current State: A Disappointment

56:01 to 58:23

The hosts share their thoughts on the disappointing new season of Euphoria, discussing its unfocused storytelling and character development.

Zendaya's Performance and Show's Direction

58:24 to 1:01:41

Discussion on Zendaya's charismatic performance contrasted with the show's lack of direction and focus in the new season.

“I mean, it's difficult for me because I don't watch Euphoria.”

The Challenges of Continuing Euphoria

1:01:42 to 1:03:22

Exploring the challenges and controversies surrounding the continuation of Euphoria beyond its successful earlier seasons.

“It feels like it's a show that if they had been able to end it on their own terms shortly after the second season, they probably could have done.”

The Miniature Wife: Concept and Execution

1:03:50 to 1:07:23

A detailed discussion about the premise of The Miniature Wife and the implications of its narrative and execution.

“I mean, as you say, Matthew McFadden is this kind of self-obsessed scientist who creates this gizmo that can reduce things in size.”

Critique of The Miniature Wife's Length

1:07:24 to 1:10:00

Hosts critique the extended length of The Miniature Wife series, questioning its ability to sustain the story over ten episodes.

“I mean, as you say, it started off as a short story.”

Critique of Absurdity in Storytelling

1:10:00 to 1:11:39

Explore the challenges and misfires in adapting absurd premises into serious narratives.

“but you can do it seriously or seriously within certain bounds.”

Character Analysis and Show Quality

1:11:40 to 1:13:40

Discuss the unlikable characters and the overall disappointing quality of a new show.

“I know it's probably a silly thing to say, but because in that first moment, you know she shrunk, so you're just working towards this point.”

Introduction to 'Big Mood' Series 2

1:13:41 to 1:15:50

Learn about the return of 'Big Mood' and its central character dynamics.

“We couldn't review it last week because it was in Barco.”

Thematic Depth in 'Big Mood'

1:15:51 to 1:18:39

Examine the themes of friendship and mental health in the new season of 'Big Mood'.

Humor and Writing Quality

1:18:40 to 1:20:48

Discuss the effective humor and writing style that enhances the portrayal of relationships in 'Big Mood'.

“I think the dialogue is excellent and believable and funny when it needs to be funny.”

Expectations and Anticipation for Upcoming Shows

1:20:49 to 1:22:06

Preview new shows and expectations for future episodes, including key cast details.

“The character of Flopsy was a lot, but also genuinely funny.”

Next Week's Show Preview

1:24:16 to 1:25:14

Get insights into the upcoming guests and shows to be discussed.

“And, of course, we are still soliciting five-star reviews on whatever podcast platform is your favourite.”

Farewell and Final Thoughts

1:25:14 to 1:25:59

Listen in on the hosts' light-hearted banter and goodbyes.

“I might watch some more episodes of The Boyd.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

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2:07On Pilot TV this week, we are exploring marital minutiae with Matthew McFadden and Elizabeth Banks in The Miniature Wife on Sky, revisiting a difficult friendship with Nicola Coughlin and Lydia West in the return of Big Mood to Channel 4 and finding out what's been happening in the world of Euphoria on Sky and HBO Max as Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and the gang return after a four-year break. I'm James Dyer and welcome to Violet TV, your essential guide to every show that matters and today is a very, very exciting day. Why, you ask? Because it is Steph Day. Specifically, it is Steph Seeland's birthday and to celebrate she has chosen to be as far away from the three of us as humanly possible.

2:50Well, you don't know that. She might just be as far away as humanly possible from you. I mean, that's true. And secretly Kay and I are meeting us. We're having dinner later. Is that what's happening? There's actually a party tonight, isn't there? Don't be sad. And I'm not invited. That's what it is. Yes. Wow. No, she would never do that to you. You would always be guest of honour, James. Thank you very much for lying to me. Kay Ribeiro, Boyd Hilton, you are both here. How are you celebrating Steph Day? Obviously, apart from the party that you're having without me later on. That's primarily it.

3:14Just, you know, constantly thinking my favourite memories of Steph, the fun times we've had together. Without me. Yeah, without you. On basic binges. I'm just thinking a lot about basic binges. Did you get her a cake? Was it a creamy, fruity, spongy cake? You leave my creamy cake out of it. No, not yet. But I plan to spend some quality time with her and I will be buying her. As you know, she's a sweet fiend. A Pat Fowl cake. Yeah, definitely. What about you guys? What have you got for Steph, more importantly? Well, I gave Steph the greatest gift of all, the gift of my friendship. Oh, God. I think she wants a refund.

3:48I've given her an even better gift, which is the gift of being able to organise our podcast recordings next week. Yeah, that's true. I mean, what more could she want? So what I'm hearing is you've got nothing for your co-pilot, basically. Yeah, I mean, basically. Okay, fine. Must do better. But yes, that is true. Boyd is putting Steph in charge of all technical things next week when I'm off. If you listen to this, Steph, and I know you do listen, thank heavens for you. What a hero. And happy birthday right now. Yes. It doesn't feel like a gift. Happy birthday, Steph. Gifts come in many different sizes.

4:19They do. They do. Okay, good. What have you been watching, Kay? So, I've been watching three things that aren't out yet. I'm not going to say a lot about them because they will be reviewed and I don't want to get a shot. You say that, you don't know. Yeah, maybe they won't be. Unless you've run them past James already. Our lord and saviour. I'm saying it now that if you don't review it, you're do-fi. Do-fi. Yeah, it would be an egregious turn of events. Go on. First up is The Cage I'm going to talk about. So that's going to be on ITV. That is Tony Schumacher's new crime drama. It's set in a casino.

4:55It stars Sheridan Smith and Michael Socia. Am I saying that right? I mean, we should be asking you since you are in the pocket of Big Cage. Yes, I am. And that's coming up soon. And all I would say is make sure you watch it. No, you can't. Why? so that's based on the work that's a value judgment no no but she's saying make sure you watch it because she's literally being paid to say it so it's fine so it's not a spoiler or am I saying make sure you watch it and form an opinion of yourself or am I saying watch it because based on the work of Tony Schumacher prior so you know like the responder etc well the responder yeah he's brilliant Tony Schumacher he's absolutely brilliant and I did did a couple of Q &As with him for the responder I think before you were replaced by Kate yeah exactly but I think Sheridan Smith we think we believe we hope that Sheridan Smith is going to come into the studio be in this studio yes we will cage her in the studio that's weird I think that's when ITV say actually she can't come in yeah fair enough she's going to go in James' cage so yeah we can ask her how to say Michael Socia's name yes I think it's Socia I think it's Socia I've heard a few different ones different versions yeah there are multiple interpretations I mean in many ways we could ask him yes yes I have interviewed him before, I think, but I can't remember.

6:11You just called him Mike. Exactly. Mike, yes. Anyway, the other thing I want to talk about is Mint, and that's coming up on BBC. It's a romantic crime drama. It's written by and directed by Charlotte Regan, Regan, Regan Regan, and it's set in Scotland. I don't know why I can't say any names. Now, what would you say? I think it's Regan because it's R-E-G-A-N. Oh, then Regan. There's no R-E-A-G. You need an A for Regan. Ronald Regan. Yes. So I think it's Regan, yes. And she directed that film. Riddled by self-doubt at the moment. I am with all my names. Sorry. Yes. She directed that excellent film, didn't she?

6:44That excellent Indian film, Scrapper. Yeah, Scrapper. Yeah, and this is a TV project. Yeah, it's set in Scotland. And it's about the three female members of this crime family and their relationships. And it stars Emma Laird, Sam Riley, Laura Fraser and Lindsay Duncan. and it's about the daughter's potential romance with a rival crime family's son. And yes, I can't say anything about it. Is that character played by Loyal Karner, the rap musician? I believe so, yeah. Yeah, who I once sat next to at the Southbank Show Awards, Loyal Karner, he's a highly respected... Are these the new brags people you sat next to?

7:26I knew about that. Regular brags, regular sat-next-to brags, awards ceremonies brags. I've got one coming up in a minute actually yeah and he was an absolute delight and he's incredibly talented and I think this is one of his first acting jobs I think so yeah I think that came up in an interview I read so that's Mint that's on BBC and then the last thing I want to tell you about is actually no two things one is Margot's Got Money Troubles on Apple TV on the 15th of April it's on my list as well okay I'll let Boyd talk about that except he can't because you're going to be reviewing it next week I was just going to mention it yeah I was just going to say I've watched it it's David E.

8:00Kelly's new drama and it stars Michelle Pfeiffer, his wife, Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Nick Offerman, etc. And we will be talking about it next week. So that's all I shall say. Ironically, I have seen that and I will not be on next week to talk about it. I've also watched all of Criminal Record and I won't be able to talk about that either. That's quite frustrating. Why don't you do a voice note? I should do a voice note, reviews of both of them. Yeah, so we can just play you in and then fade you out. And then the last thing I want to talk about because we're not reviewing it and it's this week is...

8:30What are you laughing at? I don't know, just the last thing. Carry on. The Murder Line, which is out on the 18th of April. It's ITV1. It's a Canadian crime drama, and it stars Minnie Driver. She plays the matriarch of a crime family who's hunting a missing consignment of drugs, and she locks horns with Suits LA star Stephen Amell, who is a smouldering small-town police officer who is trying to distance his best friend from childhood from these drugs, but suggests that maybe he's got a murky past too. I think you are allowed to say what you think of that because I don't think we're going to get around to reviewing it and I don't think it's embargoed.

9:11So is it good? Would you recommend? Are you compromised? It was one of the possible choices for review. I think it's enjoyable. It's not a prestige crime drama, but it's enjoyable. It's nice to see Minnie in this different role because recently we saw her in Paris as a ditty socialite. So it's quite fun seeing her being menacing. So yeah, I enjoyed it. I don't know if I'll necessarily have time to watch more. Fans of broadcast strategies will be interested to know that this is going out. It's got a really weird release pattern, this programme, this series. All five parts in one week, but it starts on Saturday night on ITV at 9 o 'clock.

9:51Can't get more prime time than that. Then it ends up being at like 11 on Thursday or something like that. I was looking at the schedule for it. Saturday and Thursday? No, no. It's on consecutive nights at random different times. Why are they trying to bury it? Then it goes like 10. Then it goes back to... It's mad, honestly. And it just goes to prove... I was talking to Russell T. Davis recently, and he was saying that no one knows when and how to release things now. So they're just sometimes... Of the Netflix model, everything comes at the same time, unless they decide to do it in three different volumes or whatever.

10:26or sometimes Apple is like two or three episodes first, then the rest weekly and then back to two at the end. Or this one, which is run at consecutive nights but in randomly different times. Surely they should go for some kind of consistency over the timings. Well, you know, when you've got... I think they're currently airing probably I'm a Celebrity South Africa, which means that all of the weeknight 9pm starts to film and they, for some reason, decided they have to show this killing series. Killing... The Murder Line. Murder Line. Killing Line. The Murder Line needs to be on in one week and we're going to show it whenever we can during that week.

10:58That seems to be what's happened. Anyway, because I am obsessed with these things, I took notes. No, that's an interesting addendum. I mean, interesting. Ish. Yeah. Ish doing a lot of heavy lifting there. What a diss, especially coming from him. Such a diss, yeah, exactly. At least it wasn't a 15-minute explanation of the latest Star Trek. Well, funny you should say that. No, no, no, no. I haven't watched any Star Trek. But I have done a few things. Criminal and Margot, I have mentioned already. I have seen those. Annoyingly. I watched them very far in advance not realising I would be off what are you going to do there's your man who cannot keep himself off the Apple TV screen a little bit yeah a little bit it's very easy to use that's his drug of choice it is my drug of choice but do you know what and I've had a bit of a I've had a I've gone I've disappeared down a portal rabbit hole this week because just before Easter almost all of the episodes of The Boys arrived and I was so excited I was like yes I'm going to watch this have an Easter exactly as Jesus would have wanted I'm going to watch the boys and very very excited about that except there are two things now of all the screenings and to be fair this is the privilege section I appreciate this is going to make you seem like a terrible human being also possibly the boring section you just had a go at Boyd I am this is now my turn to bore people so of all the screeners only Disney and Amazon still do that slightly obnoxious thing where your email is in massive letters across the middle of the screen to the best of my knowledge it is only Disney and Amazon that do that now.

12:27Most others have found much more subtle, slightly more sophisticated ways of doing it. Also, just a little side note, in my case, my name is spelt wrong. So it's even more infuriating. Are there any of them that spell it correctly? Everyone else, except for this one platform. Wow. Especially correctly. Oh, that's good. Okay, so we're getting there. Kate Rivero. So the boys' screen has turned up. Not only did it have the big email address, but it also had hard-coded, forced subtitles. Now, as you know, I don't get on with subtitles, because I can't stop my eyes from flicking down and reading them.

13:02I find it very distracting. But this wasn't just speech subtitles, it was hard-of-hearing subtitles. It was like grunting noise, music becomes intense, you know, the ones which describes everything that's going on. Add that to the massive watermark, and like the entire screen was like 99 % text. Maybe you should have just closed your eyes and let the words just wash over you. You know what? I tried. I watched maybe eight, nine minutes of it, and I had to tap out. I genuinely, I feel like I'm getting a headache. There's words everywhere. What am I looking at? Ah! And I couldn't deal with it. So I had to stop watching it.

13:31So I have not watched all of the boys. But I have, however, watched the first two episodes now because they have aired. The boys, the final season, boys season five, has aired. And it has to be said, I'm enjoying it a lot. And I'm still quite surprised how much I enjoy it because it's very crass and very crude. and there's loads and loads of toilet gags in it. And that is so not me. So once again, just showing that he is complete hypocrite and inconsistent. Right, but that's totally not my sense of humour. And yet there is something just very charming about the show. Is Holiday Granger in it somewhere?

14:02No. Hypocrite, thy name is James. Yeah, I mean, it's fair. It's fair. Now I have some questions about the boys. Are they all exploding still? There are lots of explosions and there's lots of blood and bodily functions. and ejaculations and all those things. I was going to say, in terms of the sex scenes, because the last time we had a train of... Right. Yeah. Rimming. Well, that... Yes. It's the only way to... I'm trying to think of another way of putting it. They try and top themselves each season. Now, I've only watched the first two. There has been nothing yet. Okay. There has been... There's been forceful lava ejaculation, but I don't think that counts.

14:41Forceful lava. Yeah, you know, don't ask. Don't ask. As in like soap lava? No. as in L-A-V-A as in Molson Volcanic literally a hot mess a very messy hot mess yes very much so but I am loving it so I'm looking forward to watching this and I'm going to be watching it now weekly as they drop because I can't deal with the subtitles just like a regular person James the sadness of this is the lovely publicist I believe of handling the show reached out and said we're giving you these screeners it's going to be great little did he know that James would then be slagging off the screen yeah and I was just I'm ingrate that I am yeah totally I know I know no it was lovely of them to provide them but but it wasn't your standard I went I remember that time when I had to go I went into Netflix and watched the I think I can't remember what season it was of The Witcher and they had the subtitles on and I was like an in office screening I really wanted to get up and say please don't have subtitles it's so upsetting yes not the early days of Apple TV when it first launched in order to watch the shows you had to go into the Apple office which was then in near Oxford Circus around the back of Oxford Circus they've since moved to Hanover Square yeah Hanover Square they've since moved to what's it called with all the Battersea Power Station yeah anyway and you have to go in to this building and you're putting a small enclosed airless windowless room with a security man watching you watching the thing it was insane well Netflix have done that as well I watched I think season 2 of The Witcher that way I watched every episode in a little room in a basement at Netflix with a guard outside with a guard No, no, this guy was in the room.

16:14Oh, no one was in the room. Oh, yeah, making sure that I wasn't recording it illicitly. What he's literally sitting there watching, it's all uncomfortable. And of course... Was it C? Whatever the hell it was, had like myriad nudity, you know. Oh, God. Anyway, I'll get to that later, because, yeah. Wow. But that's not the only thing I've been watching. Oh, okay, no, of course not. So, I was directed by one, Kay Ribeiro, to watch the rest of the Copenhagen Test. And I watched every single episode of the Copenhagen Test to report back to you. Oh, yes. Yes. And I did watch it. I had a mind blank. I was like, which one's that?

16:48This is the one with Simu Liu and where he's with the brain hacking and the spy stuff. I was more into it than you would think. Yeah. Do you know what? It's quite resoundingly three stars all the way through. It never becomes great, but it's always pretty consistently good. And I was swept along with it. I didn't regret watching it. It's quite fun. There are moments where they kind of again hand wave the science a little bit. And that's fine, because it's like... But it gets... We talked about this on Pilot Plus, about having consistent internal logic. It doesn't always have that. And some of the characters behave in a slightly mad way.

17:21But it's fun. It's fun as a standalone piece. But it also then, as with all these things, tees up a potentially larger story at the end, which is interesting. And would you want to watch that story? I would, yeah. If we get a season two of The Copenhagen Test, I'm going to watch it. I think I read the Have Green Lotus circumstances. Which would be good, yeah. And how many apps was this series? I think it was eight. I want to say eight, yeah. And it maintained your interest in the tree. It maintained my interest throughout. I thought they played it quite well. Oh, good. And I thought Melissa Barrera's character was not what I expected her to be.

17:53So, yeah, I thought, all in all, three stars. But fun. Oh, very good. Thanks for reporting back. A warm three stars. Thanks for doing your homework. Thank you. Okay. Hi, Boyd. Hi. You usually queue me up. Oh, fine, fine. I can queue you up. Boyd, tell me. What have you been watching? I do a drum roll but I think it would just be bad for the microphone so imagine a drum roll and fanfares and cheerleaders stuff that's on right now um babies so we review babies and um it's brilliant absolutely brilliant it gets even better I think I've carried on watching it up to episode 4 it's of 6 you can't binge watch it because I can't I mean it's just so emotional emotionally well Steph had to skip to the end so yeah so we've had a lot of feedback from people who thankful to Steph for being her incredible review from you know based on her experiences.

18:43But it is absolutely incredible. Have I said that word twice already about it? Yeah, but just say what you see, Boyd. Thank you. Papa S.E.A. do. The two of them are just so good. I think particularly him, because it feels like he's the most normal guy you can imagine. And he's probably the most normal, unassuming character that he's played in his career. And yet it's completely... it's almost like transparent acting where it's so naturalistic so I think he's incredible she's incredible as well but just the writing and the boldness I've seen people saying nothing happens along stretches but Stefan Godoshevsky the writer, that is his thing of making a toasted sandwich and communicating at the same time somehow the making of the toasted sandwich makes it more believable and real and all of that That's like with Mum.

19:39Yeah, all of his stuff. Going back to him and her right at the beginning of his career. And you know he also wrote and sang the songs that were in, Babies, as well? Oh, really? He's now directing it, because Richard Laxton directed the original Him and Her back in the day. And Richard Laxton is now one of his exec producers on this. And I think he's passed the directorial baton, so to speak, onto Stefan, who now writes, produces, directs, and does the music, does the theme tune. When's he going to act in it? I know, I mean, probably, I'm sure he will. Because I think he started out as an actor as well.

20:11Anyway, it's going to be one of the shows of the year. I'm telling you now, the responses, people come up to me in the office, it's one of those, you know, where everyone's like, are you watching this show? And I was slightly, it started on Easter Sunday, and I thought that was a bold, possibly even bizarre choice for like a holiday, bank holiday weekend, etc., a long weekend, an intense, you know, emotionally kind of exhausting sometimes show. But I think it's paid off because I think it did pretty well in the ratings and I think it's going to build. I think word of mouth is going to build. And pretty much everyone seemed a captive audience.

20:44I'm like, oh, yeah, I'm going to watch this thing. And it's incredibly moving. So, babies. I started out by saying things are on now as if I was going to mention it in one sentence and I've ended up rambling on and on for about 10 minutes. The capture, James and I are both watching this. We are captured. We are captured. Enraptured and captured. We talked about on Pilot Plus how there was a scene that was completely preposterous that should have been dealt with by someone in the penultimate episode. But I'm still loving it. It's still one of the most riveting and exciting, thrilling series of the year so far.

21:13So there's that. And then, like you, Kay, I've got loads of stuff that I've had to watch in advance. So I interviewed Richard Gad yesterday for an interview that will go out soon for his new series Half Man, which, talking about unusual delivery tactics, that's going on iPlayer first, weekly. so it's not all going out on iPlayer but it is going out on iPlayer before it goes on BBC One Live so to speak a few days later but it is weekly so I found that slightly odd and weird but that's a fascinating show is all I'd say and Richard Gad was an absolute delight and remembered that I talked to him at the BAFTAs so I'm not sure if I sat next to him at the BAFTAs but I definitely had quite a long chat with him at the BAFTAs I've also watched these shows for upcoming review which are all embargoed Beef Season 2 Boom Yes, on the Netflix.

22:02Interesting. Margot's Got Money Troubles, as previously mentioned. Very interesting. And Unchosen, the religious cult drama on Netflix coming up. Also very, very, very interesting. Interesting being pretty much the only adjective you're allowed to use at this point. The only one you're allowed to say. Remember we used to refer obliquely to trailers of... Ah, yes. Remember the glorious days of that running joke? Yes. I might bring it back. But they're all fascinating. Yes, it's an endlessly intriguing time for television. Oh, and one more thing I wanted to mention. SNL is just going from strength to strength.

22:38It gets better every week. I mean, it's losing viewers to some extent, but it was always going to be like a big event. People will watch the first one, now it's going to settle down to having less viewers. I didn't have that many viewers to begin with. It's sturdy for a Saturday night on Sky One. I think you're fine. Anyway, it's really, really good now. There was a brilliant joke last week about Jesus Christ and Palestine and stuff. And I thought Riz Ahmed was really threw himself into it. Sometimes like guest hosts, you know, in the American one, almost sensed the reluctance a little bit. But he played a massive variety of different characters.

23:11I thought he was really funny and they came out with some really good sketches for him. And I really liked it and it was great. And I'm really, still really pleased that they're doing it. Hopefully, long may it continue. Okay. Indeed. I've now finished my segment. Yeah. I want another Columbo star. One more thing. It's over. I do believe, Boydie, now we're not going to be able to do this on next week's Pilot Plus because I'm not on next week's Pilot Plus. Controversial. You and I need to do a spoiler chat for the capture. Yes, we do. We do. Smack it. 100 % we need to do that. Also, you need to finish watching Paradise.

23:45By popular demand, the listeners are demanding a Paradise spoiler. Oh, yeah, okay. I'm really behind on Paradise. Yeah, you do. But, you know, your book is finished, Boydie. The book is finished. Well, is it though? It's handed in. It's handed in. You've handed in your homework. There's a big difference between handling it and finishing it. Until you get the revisions back, it's finished. Let's see what happens, yeah. Okay. I will endeavour to catch up on Paradiso. And if that isn't enough to motivate people to subscribe to Pilot Plus, which is, lest we forget, only£3.49 per month. Cheap. For which you get an extra show.

24:15Occasional spoiler specials. No ads and the regular podcast. It's like 18 hours early. Like, it's wild. It's well worth your time. But just in case, you will recall, on last week's podcast, I mentioned, I discussed, I essentially had therapy for my recent interview with David Chase for The Sopranos. I have as a special surprise drop put the entire thing out, unedited on the Pilot Plus family. Fuck paradise. This is my priority. I am on it. That would be your paradise, just watching it. I want to listen to this. Is there a visual version as well? I have not put the video up, no. Perhaps down the line, but I do have the video.

24:53I quite want to see David Chase's facial expressions as you try to come up with some questions. Genuinely. I do have the video. HBO were good enough to film it. I think presumably as blackmail against me. But yes, I've put the audio out so people can listen to that interview in all its glory. I have to say, listening back to it, I'm not sure that how bum-clenchingly tense I was through this actually comes across. You internalized it. I always thought it would be fine. I think Nick and I styled it out quite well. There's two of you. If you'd have been really brave, it'd just been a one-on-one. Oh, yeah, that would have been, I would have died.

25:29But I was fairly sweaty by the end. I think it's fairly safe to say. Oh, fair enough. It sounded horrific. Well, if you want to listen to that in all its glory. Just look at the photo on Nick's Instagram, you'll understand everything. I have put that photo up as the cover for that particular episode as well. Him scowling at the camera. But yeah, it's a lot of fun. So if you subscribe to Pilot Plus, then you can listen to that now. And if you don't subscribe to Pilot Plus, then you should. so then you can listen to it. Is he, by the way, David Chase, I'm sure he didn't ask him this because it's a bit rude, but is he working on something now, new?

25:57He was working on something recently. He'd done a pilot, but he did not get picked up, as is my understanding of it. I don't think it's going ahead now. You definitely didn't want to ask him that then. Didn't ask him that, no. So he may be working on something else now, but a recent thing he worked on isn't going serious, so I don't know. Maybe that's why he was scowling. Yes, maybe. Okie dokie, okie dokie. Should we have a listener question? Please, God. let's have a listener question let me find the listener question for it is here this listener question comes from Elliot and Elliot says Elliot sorry that was troubling was that E.T.?

Read the full transcript

26:32I was trying to do E.T. it came out wrong how do you do it? go on do it I'm not doing an E.T. for you I'm not doing an E.T. for you I'm not doing an E.T. for you I'm doing like an ouch yeah it's a film but it's fine it is a film a rare film reference listen it's a classic one of my favourite films ridiculous human beings true story yeah okay this is from Elliot and Elliot says question for the post bag oh I should say we have a note we have the new email address has come into effect oh wow it's true give the audience what they want give them what they want you asked for it by popular demand you can now email us at postbag at pilot tv pod dot com that is postbag at pilot tv pod dot com to be fair the old one pilot tv at empire magazine dot com goes to the same place so if you want to keep using that it's fine but we have an all new email address Why has that come about?

27:20Was it just that you wanted to do another administrative task? It's a thing that I just felt compelled to do. Do you want to know something else? Letters at pilottvpod.com also works. Letters? Yeah. It's your letters. In case people forgot postbag. Interesting. So we now have multiple things that will go to the same mailbox. This is fascinating. Let's move on. Let's move on. Elliot, that was your question. I'm so sorry. No. Elliot says, After the recent discussion of the Counting Crows documentary by James, yes, I was wondering if he's listened to Across a Wire live from New York it's a live album of theirs and with more reflective stripped back versions of songs like Mr Jones and Round Here even changing the lyrics of some songs seems like it would be a good accompaniment to the themes of the documentary they do that a lot with their live stuff if you've ever seen Candid Crow's live they mix up the melodies and change them up I saw them at Shepherds Bush Empire in the 90s and they did that and it was good anyway that's not the question he said his question is Do you have any examples of when your favourite songs have been used in TV shows and whether this was a good or a bad thing?

28:22Personally, I love when the version of Have You Seen Me Lately from the above mentioned album was used in The Bear. That is a good moment. On the other hand, Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye being used in the last episode of Sex Education didn't sit right with me even though it's one of my favourite songs. Maybe sometimes great songs feel like an easy way out for shows. What's our listener called? This is Elliot. Oh, yeah, duh. Yeah.

28:46I think of loads of examples of when I think they're really good and it really works okay okay each of these can be one of your favourite songs yeah they are all among my favourite songs the bear is one of the best things about the bear are its needle drops yes it's absolutely what's the best bear needle drop my favourite bear needle drop is season 2 episode 1 I've mentioned it before I'll mention it again Bruce Hornsby in the Range the show goes on which is one of the it's not only one of my favourite songs it's one of the best songs ever it's up there with Tiny Dancer, Elton John I just think it's almost similar it's got a similar kind of west coast piano based I can't think of it I need to listen to it the vibe is kind of similar in a way and it's just deployed right at the beginning to kind of show shots of Chicago you know in the way it's beautifully filmed.

29:43It's just kind of setting the scene, really. And the show goes on. It just all fits brilliantly. And I listen to that song pretty much every other day. Because it's one of your favourite songs. It's one of my favourite songs. And it's in one of your favourite shows. It is, exactly. Then I think classic ones. Sometimes you have to look up one of these questions. But there's so many that will always be in my mind. and I think in the office in the UK office the final Christmas special the final episode deployed Alison Moyet known as Elf in Yazoo her band Yazoo back in the day back in the 80s and the song Only You and it's playing in the background in the kind of disco of the office and then you get back for good as well on top of that another take that another all time classic so you've got two of the best songs ever in the one within about five minutes of each other in the Office finale.

30:39And this is a really obvious one. It's probably the most prominent needle drop of, I would say, the last five years in television. Okay. No, you can't think what I'm going to say? Well, if this were still the noughties, I'd have said it was Imogen Heap's Hide and Seek or Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah, but it isn't. In the last five years, it is Running Up That Hill. Oh, Kate Bush. Yeah, fair enough. And I seriously think that that song transformed the show to some extent. I think it broadened out the base of the show. You know, I have no scientific proof for this apart from actually I did see the Duffer brothers talking about it in the build up to the last season because they kind of had it again in the final season.

31:18But that scene... Wait, do you mean broadened the fan base? What do you mean? Broadened its audience. I think people who wouldn't normally watch that show or shows like it kind of quite fantasy based you know, which James is always using you as the example of people who's closed mind-git. A hater. Apparently you hate sci-fi and fantasy, but I think you look like Mike's frothing at the mouth. Copenhagen, now you put that as an example. No. I watched the first episode and enjoyed it. So I just think it is an absolute legendary use of that song, and it worked brilliantly in every way. It is actually woven into the storyline, woven into the plot.

31:54Because it's totemic. And it is absolutely 100 % one of my favourite songs of all time. In the top 10, I think. And I love Kate Bush. Can you release your top tens? Boyd's list. I want Boyd's top ten. Songs, shows, movies. Totally. Life experiences, everything. Yeah, whatever you want. So, yes, that is, I think that is the most influential and went back to number one. In fact, I think it went to number one for the first song. I think it only got to number two when it originally came out in the 80s, running out of that hill. And it's just, it enlarged the fame of that song and of Kate Bush and of the show.

32:28It just, everything about it was magnificent. The bear one you mentioned is the incorrect answer. Because the best needle drops... A classic retort. Exactly. You're just wrong. Two needle drops from the bear I would mention are... They're all from season two. Season two has the best needle drops from the bear, I think. But season two, episode 10, the Pearl Jam's animal plays when they're doing the service in the restaurant. I love that song. That's from Versus' second Pearl Jam album. It's brilliant. I think that's a great example. But of course, the best one, appropriately is from the very best episode of The Bear, also season two, which is, of course, the episode Forks.

33:08And it is Love Story by Taylor Swift when Richie is driving in the car, and you know it's true. You know it's true. Oh, God, so predictable. I don't know why I didn't see that coming. I think that's fabulous. So that's a big one for me. What else would I say? There are a lot of songs that I'm obsessed with now, but I wasn't necessarily when I watched the show, if that makes sense. Yes, because that was going to be my answer. I wasn't going to answer the question. You were going to do your own thing, of course. Well, no, because I couldn't really think of, because I don't have like just two or three specific favourite songs of all time.

33:40I just, you know. You don't have a list. I don't have a Boyd definitive list. So instead, I just listed a couple of songs that then got in my head and I couldn't get them out when the show was on, which was last year with Rivals and Christa Berg's Lady in Red. Just could not get that out of my head because there was this big scene with Rupert Campbell Black and Taggy and it was just like extraordinary. So yeah, that lived free in my head for quite a while. And then also, and it is bringing up shrinking, I'm sorry for people who hate it, but A Thousand Years, which I believe was part of the Twilight soundtrack and is by Christina Perri, they had it in this recent season and it was so emotional and brilliant.

34:21And actually then, last night when I was Googling it, I saw there's a video of all the cast in a studio singing it. and she popped by as well and so anyone who's a fan of shrinking check out that video but yeah that song as well I thought was very touching I'm a sucker for a kind of a classical arrangement of a pop song you know which Bridgerton does very well but also Westworld did extremely well with those kind of piano versions of songs but if I'm going to pick one of those I would get one that I think you would approve of Boydie from The Leftovers the piano arrangement of The Pixies Where Is My Mind which I think it's used a few times on that show but the one I remember it from as the international assassin episode from season two.

34:59But that's great. And it is from French pianist Maxence Cyril. Of course. Yeah. Which, of course, you knew. But what we were talking about is the ones that kind of stuck with me were from the Normal People soundtrack. So, Matroma by The Say, Dogwood Blossom by Theon Reagan, and Berlin by Ryex were three of them. And also, there is a dance remix of Hey Now by London Grammar, which is the one that plays in the first episode in the nightclub that's a banger love that what else have I got Don't Stop Believing by The Sopranos I mainly know that song from Glee randomly do you remember because that was the first season song that they were sang on Glee so that's I think and that I want to say did that predate The Sopranos finale I think it did so that's kind of how I knew that song but I liked that when it turned up in The Sopranos and we talked about that with David Chase during my incredibly awkward interview two others Fade Into You by Mazzy Star which is an American horror story but also Into Dust by Mazzy Star, which plays in Boydy, True Detective Night Country.

36:01At the end of that, do you remember that? Really well used when they're in the... Yeah, I'm not going to spoil what happens in Night Country. James, you know what you should do? Because you're in this administrative mood, you should put together a Spotify playlist of all these songs. I should have done. Pilot listeners. That is actually true. I probably should have done that. Some of us still use Apple Music, Kay. Okay. Just saying. Boyd's got a tattoo and he's being put. That's it. He's in the pocket of big Apple Music. I think that's most of them. I would say the Cranberries are used quite a lot in Derry Girls, but Zombie in the season one finale, where it transitions from, I think it's Madonna, isn't it, to Zombie in Snowmation with the Dancing.

36:34That's cropped up like two or three times recently as well, I think. Has it? I'm sure I watched something the other day that that is in. I can't remember what it was, obviously. And I think Dreams is the one that plays in the actual finale of the final season. Yeah. But yeah, the Cranberries get a lot of playtime in Derry Girls. And I think that's broadly speaking, I suppose people will be expecting me to say something West Wing related, but you know unless you're going to go kind of like dire straits from two cathedrals which I'm not a massive dire straits fan so I'm not going to do that but I will say I knew I knew Ronnie Jordan's The Jackal before it was on the West Wing so I can say that fair enough I wanted to mention Ronnie up there I forgot it's also used in It's a Sin of course it was used in It's a Sin before it was used in oh right yeah in Stranger Things so and they had to get permission from Kate Bush and everything did they?

37:20well I suppose they would have done wouldn't they? yes did you because David Chase one of the things that he enjoyed most about The Sopranos was dropping the songs he actually that's genuinely the part of making that show he enjoyed the most was picking the songs and dropping them in I think it's a really like important massively important thing I think it met the bear half of the reason why I love the bear so much is how his music taste is exactly I could have reeled off six or seven other songs that were all contenders for my favourite songs of all time he uses an Elvis Costello song no one ever uses Elvis Costello songs things like that so yeah it's almost made by the needle drops and there's one coming up in the summer about your review I will mention just keep you on your toes is there yes a needle drop and a name drop we'll get to that too yeah okay okay that was this week's listener question if you would like to send in a question and please do send them in for Pilot Plus that would be good and for this very podcast as well I like that I have two little folders one for Pilot Plus and one for the regular podcast and I can kind of like try and discern whether one is a plus question or a regular pod question.

38:23So maybe have that in your head when you send it in. But the email address is, of course, postbag at pilotTVpod.com. Isn't that exciting? Kate's excited. I'm very excited. Yeah, I thought you were. I'm very excited not to be triaging it. Good, good. I'm sure you are. I don't know how this ended up back on my plate, but here we are. This podcast is brought to you by Avocado Mattress. And if healthy, comfortable sleep matters to you, this is one organic brand worth knowing. That's because what you sleep on actually matters. Most mattresses rely on synthetic foams and chemical materials that trap heat, break down over time, or off gas.

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39:35Get up to 15 % off at avocadogreenmattress.com. avocadogreenmattress.com. Okay, let's move into news. What news do you have for me? Nobody wants this Series 3. They've named some new... That was on my list. Carry on. Nobody wants this. this is the thing James I saw this and I was like I don't know if we need another series is the truth of it I mean if it's better than the second one I'm in but I struggled through that second series me too we've discussed this haven't we well anyway they have got some new cast members named three of which are Sarah Silverman who's going to play a rabbi Rabbi Eden if you will who is a warm quirky teacher of an intro to Judaism class and a supportive presence for Joanne and Noah then also Andrew Rannells as Sebastian.

40:21So that was going to be Joanna's nemesis in conversion class. Just two of the nine names mentioned. Will they have learned proper mic technique? Will they start using headphones? All these questions and more will be answered. Will they be less annoying? Who knows? Who knows? This is what, there's a horror film, an A24 horror film called Undertone, which is about podcasts that kill you. And I, there are many things about that film to love, but the thing I loved the most was they, proper headphones, mic technique, like these, I believed they were podcasters. Yeah. that's why you hate this show isn't it because of its continuous flying in the face the contempt they have for actual podcast production it's a disgrace shocking I was going to do that news story as well and I just I think it's good news all around because both Andrew Reynolds who's famous for girls he was brilliant in girls remember he was Lena Dunham's mate oh the best mate yeah he's fantastic and he's good at everything and Sarah Silverman is a goddess for me she is someone who should be in everything and she should be doing her own I don't know why She's one of your favourite actresses.

41:18She's one of my favourite actresses. The top ten list coming for that. I want to put all this together. I absolutely love her. So her coming into something like that is very good news. Maybe you'll elevate it. Single-handedly, she will elevate it, Kate. I promise you now. Fingers crossed. She's that good. There you go. Did you see the Peaky News? No. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Jamie Bell is replacing Shifty Barry Kogan as Duke Shelby in the follow-up series to Peaky Blinders, which takes place 10 years after the film Peaky Blinders, The Immortal Man, which was set during the Second World War. So this is 10 years after the war ends, and it's now Jamie Bell.

41:57I didn't see this coming. Wait, is that because Baz is busy? What's going on? I think it probably is because he's very busy. Yeah, he's very in demand in Hollywood, and he's just done that Crime 101 film he's really good in. It could be that. It could be... It's a big commitment. Is there a big age gap between the two of them? I don't know. I genuinely don't know how old Jamie Bell is. Well, having said that, Jamie Bell is probably at least a decade older. Yeah. Barry Keogh is probably around 30, 30, 30. So he does need to skip forward 10 years. Yeah, so it makes sense from that point of view.

42:26I've just, of course, seen Jamie Bell in Half Man. Yes. Richard Gass Half Man, as previously mentioned, which I cannot possibly go into any detail of, because it's in... But it's very interesting. But it's very, very interesting, and he is so, so interesting in it. And he can do... He does... He's Scottish. He does Scottish. And very convincingly, I think. Is this Bell? Jamie Bell, yeah. The Bell. Bell man. Crudely, not James, the Bellend. No, exactly. Well, but Jamie Bell gives good Jamie Bellend, as we found out in Shining Girls. So I think he's actually going to be good as Duke Shelby, who is a Bellend.

42:56Oh, fine. Yeah, right, completely. And he's a semi-Bellend in Half Men, but we'll get to that. So I think it's a good choice, is what I'm saying, bottom line. What do I know? But I think it completely makes sense. I'm not wild about the character of Duke Shelby. I think Barry Kogan is actually, you know, he's very good. I don't think he had a lot to work with in the film. I don't think the character had a lot to him. Well, I think, to start with, he was like just a complete psychopathic idiot, right? And then he kind of, and then too quickly, I think the floor... He was quite inconsistent. Yes, I didn't take part in the, if you had to put that out.

43:31The spoiler special. I believe it is up there. You were invited. No, no, no, I was invited. Literally, Kate, I was invited half an hour's notice. Yeah. Yeah, there was like... James. Not me, it's Chris. nothing to do with me Chris Hewitt master of the Empire podcast obviously because it was a film quite rightly yes the Peaky Blinders film asked me to take part and I was literally was like are we doing it in an hour's time I was like no okay busy man anyway did you discuss I'm sure you discussed the very problem one of the big problems with the film is he very quickly Barry Keoghan's kind of changes within about five seconds and you're like oh so yes in what way in the way that he starts as a complete bellend absolute psychopathic bellend killing people left right and centre doesn't give a shit and then kind of suddenly he does give a shit like you know he completely does a reverse ferret yeah he's not the most fleshed out character I would say so that's the issue I think yeah but presumably in you know it's incredible Stephen Knight by the way I know he's even busier I know he's even busier I do think like him and Jack Thorne are having some kind of competition absolutely it's yeah incredible yeah so anyway I wonder if he's finished the James Bond script yet we shall see we shall Jamie Bell Jamie Bell Duke Shelby thumbs up from me yeah thumbs up from Boydie and Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things is going to be in it as well yeah who's good Charlie Heaton was great in industry this season yeah as the journalist yeah he was fantastic in that so all round good casting news as is you must your ears must have pricked up when I saw this which is Alien Earth casting news I did see that yes Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones fame and just just the fact that Alien Earth Season 2 is Gathering Peace from Noah Hawley, etc.

45:14Speaking of needle drops, speaking of needle drops, I can't believe we didn't think of Alien Earth. Alien Earth had spectacular needle drops at the end of every episode. And it was very kind of like 19s sort of grunge coded as well. So I think every single... And they used Animal in that as well. Yeah. So, oh my God, I can't believe I forgot that. Yeah. But they used a ton of stuff. I really, really loved all of the... Yeah, it was good. All of the fun. I had issues with the last segment of Alien Earth, but I still thought it was brilliant. Without spoilers. We went through this a lot. Don't you remember?

45:45Because I didn't like the fact that the alien was suddenly in broad daylight. Spoilers. I suppose you can say that. It's fine. I'll allow it. Thank you. I said it all the time. Yes, you did. You didn't like it. It's like the alien was in corridors, the combination of corridors and aliens. No, corridors was okay. Darkly lit corridors is where the alien should be. So, hang on. It's when he's in broad sunlight in the day, in the middle of this fucking... That's why I didn't like it. So your complaint was there weren't enough corridors. Yeah. Jesus Christ. They weren't dark enough. I'll give you my top ten list of movie corridors.

46:14Oh, God. Yeah. No, but generally all round, it was pretty great. I did really enjoy it. Yeah. With great needle drops. With great needle drops. Some of my favourite songs. Exactly. That could be the day where I remember some of my favourite songs. Just a full partridge. Yeah, yeah. Himesh Patel is going to be in the X-Files reboot. which is interesting but crucially though he is going to be teaming up with Danielle Deadwiler so it's a kind of station what's it was it station 11 yeah station 11 reunion yeah that is good that is interesting station 11 a show that I watched I think all but the last two episodes of and never finished I don't think I finished it either and it got everyone it was everyone's show of the year it's amazing it's quite slow it was quite slow whisper it now I'm sorry I never made it intentionally slow and creepy James' decrepit old voice thanks anything else in the world of news I it was news this is news to me that this was happening but it is and it's another casting thing all of these stories have to be casting things but Sarah Paulson to no one's great surprise is going to be in Ryan Murphy's next series and Ryan Murphy has now got to the point so he's doing American Horror Story season 13 which I did not know was happening.

47:3513? 13. And that's, by the way, in between all the other shows like The Beauty which has a great needle drop in it in a sailing crystal cross. I'll get to him later. But yeah, they're doing American Horror Story 13 which is going to be some kind of sequel to the Coven season of American Horror Story which was one of the best seasons and it's called The Supreme Rises which made me laugh because I thought it was Supreme but I'm wearing a Supreme jumper right now. You are. But the cast for this latest season. It's like a it's like a Ryan Murphy reunion of every actor he's ever worked with constantly.

48:11Spoiler, is Sarah Paulson in it? Sarah Paulson's the headline story. She's the headline story. Joining Jessica Lange. Lange? Lange. Lange. Lange. Okay, so everyone, Evan Peters. Evan Peters, who was in The Beauty and I interviewed him for that and I made the point that his whole career could be just being in Ryan Murphy shows because he's in so many of them. I'm sure he liked that. Yeah. He didn't mind. Kind of, maybe. Who can tell? Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billy Lord, Leslie Grossman, etc. And, this is quite exciting, Ariana Grande. He always loves a bit of stunt casting. And Ariana Grande, who's been in, she was in Scream Queens.

48:50Do you remember Scream Queens? I think it was a one season wonder that he did. She was in that, but this is her first big acting thing, I think, for quite a while. Fans of hers will probably... Wow. Series 13, unlucky for some, not for Ryan Murphy's bank balance. Exactly. And those cast members. For sure. So anyway, it's on its way and Ryan Murphy's is even busier than Stephen Knight and others. So yeah. Jack Thorne. Jack Thorne. I've got some Mindy Kaling news. So Disney have announced that on the 2nd of June her new series will be landing. It is called Not Suitable for Work and it's apparently about five work-obsessed 20-somethings striving for professional success and if they have time, personal happiness in Manhattan's most glamorous neighbourhood, Murray Hill.

49:36NSFW. So you'll be watching on the Northern Line. And it will star Ella Hunt, Avantika, Will Angus, Jack Martin, Nicholas Devourney and Jay Ellis and many, many more that I'm not going to read. So yeah, that's exciting. Everyone loves a bit of Mindy Kaling. Okay, that is it for news and let's move on to this week's reviews. And first up this week, we have Well, it's a euphoric day because after a four-year absence, Sam Levinson's Euphoria is back on Sky and HBO Max. Four years in the real world, of course, but five years in the universe of Euphoria. And, of course, that means it is no longer a high school show.

50:16This isn't 21 Jump Street. None of them can pass as teenagers. So Rue and Nate and Jules and Cassie and co are all now out in the big wide world. It's not going entirely to plan. I think it's fairly safe to say. Boydie, how euphoric were you that this is finally back? Well, I was very excited, actually, that it was finally back, because I'm a big Euphoria fan, as I'm sure listeners, if not you, James, will remember. No, I don't remember, but yes, I believe you. There's no reason why you should keep tabs on. It's one of your favourite shows. Well, if you don't provide us with your list, Boyd, how are we going to know?

50:48Well, it would have been in my list for the top shows of the year when they came out, I think. I loved Euphoria. I thought it was, you know, when it started, It was like the most extreme, wild, daring, dare I say it, bold of all teen dramas. It made Skins look like something out of CBeebies, basically. Rampant drug use. Obviously, Zendaya's playing a kind of drug addict slash dealer, in a way. And then, you know, its attitude towards sexuality and gender and sex itself was extraordinary. and it just felt very much of the moment very up to date in terms of how young people in America particularly conduct themselves and what you can and can't say and that whole language of talking about people's individuality and labelling people and all of that, it just felt absolutely on the button and it had this incredible cast and it was kind of Sam Levinson directed it brilliantly, a very showy director.

51:49I remember season two, episode one, started with this extraordinary tracking shot, and it had this kind of moment of extreme violence. He loves his violence, his gore, his bloodletting, all of that. As much as he does, nearly as much as he does rampant nudity throughout the whole thing. Do you remember in season one, there was a scene where Jacob Elordi's character went into the dressing room, and there was like about 30 penises. Oh my god, yes. Cockapalooza. Yes, I remember. Yeah, penis-a-loser. Dicolopalooza. Whatever. Anyway, it was, so all of these things, right? All of these things made it really special.

52:23It was very focused. It was very, very well written, I thought. It kind of, it was compelling, gripping. It was like mixed thriller with, again, with teen drama and romance. And there were kind of like interesting threads, like the Jacob Allardy's dad being secretly gay and having this, well, not relationship, but it was just. That was the late, great Eric Dane, wasn't it? Eric Dane, who tragically died earlier this year. Yeah. And he was back in the show. and it's really moving actually because you can tell there's something not quite right with him in the show and he passed away sadly recently so anyway, this is all my way of saying I loved Euphoria, both seasons one and two this is a fucking disaster oh my god I'm sorry I was not expecting you to go there oh my god I remember the build up to this show I would say about nine months to a year ago maybe a year ago the stories went around in the kind of showbiz press that variety and I reported that in the show they were having trouble getting everyone together because now of course Jacob Elordi Sidney Sweeney Zendaya are massive stars right among the biggest most saw after film actors in the world right now and they're all back in the show but there was the story went around that everyone was having trouble with the scripts that Sam Levington couldn't get all the stuff together there was a bit of a shambles and at one point there was even rumours they were going to cancel this season entirely and just not go ahead with it because it was proving difficult.

53:50Because they had the strike, they had everything. There were so many problems going into it. Lots of problems to deal with, et cetera, creative and, you know, kind of planning reasons. Anyway, this is such a mess and it's so sad. It's so, it really, I'm really crushingly disappointed by it because it's difficult, you know, when you've got a high school show, as this was, about, you know, teens and students, you've got the precinct is there it's a natural area to which to set the show the school and then you know there'll be lots of stuff in and out of the school and in the you know they'll be going to events and parties and things like that but you just felt grounded and focused on a tight-knit group of characters who are all at the same school and they're all doing things related to that school like putting on the school play was one of the Maud Apatow's character did that they handled that really well they've all now they've all left you what you've got is a kind of unfocused melange of characters who don't suddenly don't seem to have any of the things that drove them in the first two series happening to them anymore you know zendai's working in a strip club of course she is and oh my god i've one of my big um tropes that annoys me in male driven or tv dramas created by men with a very male gaze and this bloody hell this has a male gaze it's season three I mean season one and two you could discuss it because there was probably as much male nudity as there was female with the aforementioned penis test in that shot this time around half the cast are young women who are spending almost all their time in this show with hardly any clothes on if any clothes on and that includes Sydney Sweeney's character etc there's a lot of shots of all of these women in the states of undress close ups of their bodily parts etc which I found really uncomfortable they've really taken it to a new level partly because half of it is set in a strip club where Zendaya or Zendaya's character works and it's such a cliche for me it's such an old trip to have scenes set in strip clubs I just find the whole thing and this has taken it to a whole new level because half the whole fucking show is set in a strip club so that annoyed me Sidney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi's characters are engaged to be married he's got a massive, they're living in this ludicrous house, unbelievably massive like mansion she's doing OnlyFans and he's kind of annoyed by that it's trying to be very current you know, certainly particularly with the OnlyFans thing but I've now got three I think at least shows where we've got OnlyFans related storylines coming up, one of which you mentioned already and so that does, so on one level it's like oh yeah you're dealing with something very current and new but actually everyone's kind of dealing with that all together already and what you're saying about it, nothing particularly interesting it's just I cannot I cannot exaggerate how much of the extent to which it's a mess it's just rambling seems to go on too long it opens with why do you think this has happened?

56:42I think this has happened it opens just to say it opens with this long journey of Zendaya's character in this beaten up old car and there's an extended bit where she drives up this ramp to go over a barrier I think it's the US-Mexican border maybe or something yeah it's basically Trump's wall it's Trump's wall I'm not right you're saying something about Trump's wall I don't know what you're saying you're saying something to the two and she's driving along this is the the best thing about it is the needle drop of Christopher Cross's Ride Like the Wind which is brilliant apart from that and she it takes like 10 minutes for her to negotiate this thing and it's like already we get the point it's nicely shot she's great but it's just irrelevant it just doesn't need to be there it doesn't need to go on that long and every subsequently almost every single scene I've watched the first three episodes by the way which is what they've sent out to critics everything goes on too long every storyline is forced you don't believe a word of it for a second.

57:34One of the great things about the first two seasons, even though it was dealing with quite extreme behaviour and people going through extremes of drug abuse and sexuality, etc., and people were being, you know, blackmailed, there was like porn blackmail and all of that, it felt very, it weirdly felt very grounded and focused. That's one of the best things about it. This is all over the place. It's the most unfocused, non-grounded thing I've seen in ages. And it's like Sam Levington, the creator, writer, producer, He's got too much power. He can do what he likes, and he is doing what he likes, but it's just an absolute gigantic mess.

58:08And, yeah, I'm almost speechless. I know it's my job to come up with the right words. But, yeah, I found it really annoying and irritating and unbelievable. There's nothing worse than Boyd's disappointment. Yeah, they've disappointed Boyd. Yeah. I mean, it's difficult for me because I don't watch Euphoria. I saw at least one of the specials. I saw, I think, the first couple from season one. We must have reviewed it. Yeah, we reviewed season two as well, I think. And it's always been incredibly bold in what it set out to do, and it's a very impressive show. This, I think, maybe didn't jar with me as much because I haven't been following it all the way through, but it did feel very unfocused, and it felt I wasn't quite sure where it was going.

58:50But I think Zendaya is so charismatic in that role as Rue, and she inhabits it so naturally that she's very watchable. So that first episode in particular, which is a slightly, slightly is not even the word, it's a very rambling exploration of what she's doing and where her life is at. And it doesn't really go anywhere. But I kind of went with it just based on vibes. Because I think she's very good in that and just seeing how her life has kind of inevitably turned out the way it has. She is the absolute reason. She's brilliant. And I agree. The starting scene, I was probably going on too long and everything, going over the barrier.

59:27But yeah, you're right. she's incredibly watchable and she's great etc the Elordi and Sweeney storyline I had no time for at all no no it's just yeah exactly yeah absolutely none but and that where that goes is just it's both kind of grotesque and just ridiculous yeah yeah I mean there's I mean there are still some shocking moments in this there's a lot involving drug mewling there's a big there's a whole scene involving that including a dog which I won't even get into which is just No harm comes to the dog. The dog is fine. There's a lot of animal. There's a pig section. Pig section? Yeah. Sorry.

1:00:07There's a lot. It's too much. You could almost subtitle this as, you know, Euphoria, It's a Lot. And not in a good way. It's throwing it all in. Carry on. Sorry. How many of you are? Just the first one. You can get beyond the first one. Yeah. But I thought, you get Adewali, Akidnoia, Agbaje is in the first one as well. And obviously, he'll be in more of it, too, as Rue's new employer. But that's, yeah, like, that was an odd way to end the episode. I'm not going to ruin it, but the way it chooses to end it, it's quite tense, it's quite stressful, but I also feel like I've seen that so many times before.

1:00:46It seemed like an odd device to close out that first episode with. Yeah, I mean, there's so many things you've seen before. Don't start Boyd off again. Look, he looks so sad. He's so disappointed. Do you know what, though? this is the thing about I absolutely I'm going to watch the rest I will watch the rest in the hope it picks up at this point it feels like self-harm would yeah I mean verging on it but I'm fascinated to see I'm absolutely I think and there's there's an element of it because there's a whole there's a thread which is like showbiz agents and actors and directors kind of being problematic and you think this is this is a semi-autobiographical thing from Sam Levinson he's a controversial figure and you know a lot of people think he's an idiot but you know that's unfair I think he did a brilliant job with the first two seasons but it's just all gone to hell in this one so far after three episodes that's all I can judge keep us posted though I'm annoyed that you we should say that you you haven't opted out of reviewing it you didn't get the screeners in time so yeah fascinated to know what you thought of it but yeah it's it's a fascinating failure really fascinating failure wow I think it is it's a really interesting story I think yeah because because it is yeah so you would have preferred for there to be no third series than this no I wouldn't say that because it's so it's so on one level there are so many things wrong with it that it's fascinating yeah it's extraordinary it's like you know if Martin Scorsese or Paul Thomas Anderson or one of those brilliant directors who clearly Sam Levinson is influenced by by the way it's got all of the Brian De Palme all the kind of classic you know American film directors that he's influenced by so it's if you know if any of them came up with something this shambolic it's actually fascinating so on one level you know yeah it's so extraordinary that it's it's worth seeing just to kind of decide what you think about it anyway I could talk about it all day rather than So I'd much rather it existed in its mad form than be boring and, you know, not unambitious.

1:02:59And, you know, it's none of that. It's not that. It's just, yeah, it's just... It feels like it's a show that if they had been able to end it on their own terms shortly after the second season, they probably could have done. Maybe. But time had passed, and it feels like now they felt they kind of could do another season rather than they should or needed to do another season to finish the story. Yeah. there is an element of that but also I think he's just drunk on his own kind of like power and freedom to do what the hell he wants to do well he's provoked the ire of the boys there so I'm not angry I'm just disappointed oh no that's the worst Euphoria then which is available on this is on Sky Atlantic and now from today Sky Atlantic now and HBO Max and HBO Max wow you can watch it anywhere it's one of those they really want you to watch it yeah you have many many options next up we have The Miniature Wife on Sky Atlantic based on Manuel Gonzalez short story and this sees Matthew McFadgen as a narcissistic scientist whose penchant for miniaturization takes a turn for the toxic when he uses it to keep his wife played by Elizabeth Banks from leaving reducing her to about six inches tall kind of honey eye shrunk well you essentially this has been described as the War of the Roses meets Ant-Man Okay, would you say, obviously Ant-Man fan that you are, that this is an accurate assessment?

1:04:26I'm guessing so, yeah. I mean, as you say, Matthew McFadden is this kind of self-obsessed scientist who creates this gizmo that can reduce things in size. And it's primarily, he's doing it to, he calls it agriculture biotech or something. I mean, it's one of those things where you have to just not think about it too deeply, just accept that he's got this machine that will shrink things. And the thing is, I would say, I don't think he does it intentionally. He doesn't intentionally reduce his wife. It's an accident. That's the whole thing you have to bind to. Is it? It starts off being an accident.

1:05:02Is it? I think it starts off being an accident. I don't think it is. I think, yeah, we can't really spoil this. Let's just say it happens. I would question whether it's an accident. I think there's an element of impulse, let's say. What James is, yeah, actually, maybe. I actually can't remember. I watched this so long ago. And now you come to mention, I can't remember whether it's deliberate or not. I think it starts off nudging something and then maybe it's intentional. Yeah, I was with you. I came away with it. I think I came away with it. I am absolutely certain it's deliberate. But I think it's an impulse.

1:05:34I think it's just like, oh, it's just done. Yes, I think that's right. We won't spoil it if we haven't seen it. It doesn't really matter. It doesn't matter. Yeah, she's shrunk. Yeah, she's small. She's small. She's little. And the whole thing is, is that we kind of, It's a way of exploring their relationship because prior to this, obviously, there's the requisite flashback. And then we see the dynamics, which are very toxic. It's a dysfunctional relationship. They're constantly at each other's throats. And he's seeing it as a kind of last chance saloon that if this can work and you can get investment, then they'll get loads of money.

1:06:06They can go away. Maybe they can salvage this relationship, the marriage. But as we've just said, it goes badly because he shrinks her. and you know what I think it does a good job of is painting a picture of this awful marriage and the fact that he is like a narcissist and emotionally unavailable and he prioritises his career and his happiness over hers the arguing and the bickering is a lot I would say that is it reaches a crescendo and you know you kind of want to shrink yourself but you know I think you know it's doing I liked what it's enjoyable I mean she is feeling shrunken in her life and reduced by him then she gets physically reduced I can see what they're doing there metaphors exactly he's leaving no room for her and soon there's like plenty of room because she is miniature so my whole thing is and also it does pose that eternal question I'm sure you guys you know does size really matter right which it will answer in time but while I enjoyed the first episode and I think Banks and McFadden have great chemistry even if they are squabbling non-stop is okay we get it she shrunk now it's going to be like how do they rectify that how do they get on and the funny you know situations that will arise from that I get it but this is I believe 10 episodes yeah talk about something that needs shrinking so it's like yeah so this first episode yeah it's enjoyable I got to the end of it I was like oh okay yeah great maybe the second episode I can get because then I'll be like okay what happens another eight after that No, I just, this is stretched too far.

1:07:47I mean, as you say, it started off as a short story. A short story. Emphasis on short. Short, small. They have not shrunk the story. They've elongated it way too long. And so I, honestly, like I love the actors and it's kind of a funny premise, but it's not enough to sustain, you know, me watching it anymore, but also the length of time it's been given. Kate is out. I'm out. Boydie. Honestly, the disease of extended seasons of shows like this is getting out of hand. This is at best four parts. I'm sorry, maybe five. It's a 90-minute film is what it is. Maybe it's a 90-minute film, indeed, yeah.

1:08:28I think James is right. I watched a show the other night that had so much story and character in it. 5.45 an episode, brilliant, perfect. Ten, oh, God. Ten, Boyd. This thing is insane, whoever decided it should be 10 episodes. They should be fired. Take that back. I don't want anyone fired. But, you know, it's like... I think that's Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner. Oh, my God. But somebody, was it made for... Are they half out? 45. Yeah. Well, I think the first episode, I want to say, about 38 minutes. Best part of 40 minutes, yeah. Some of them hit 45, believe me. I've queued up. Oh, there's just...

1:09:01It's a one joke. Yes. One note idea, which is explained in the title. And everyone's fine. Actually, well, having said that, I blame the directors, but Matthew McFadden's working at a too high register for me. I was going on about registers. Yes, with big mistakes. You're very sensitive to it at the moment. Yeah, I am a bit, for some reason. But funnily enough, because she's shrunk down, of course, she has to shout, you know, literally to get attention. Yeah. And he shouts back. So there's a lot of shouting at each other. But even when she's full size, they're at each other's throats. I was going to say, He also shouts too much in the lab at the kind of highly stylized, rather unbelievable scientists he's working with.

1:09:43And as are the investors, who are also kind of ridiculous and unbelievable and heightened. So there's a whole, yeah, James has already... Yeah, my silly alarm went off very early on with this one. No, I'm with you in this case. But the whole concept is silly, right? But you can execute a fantastical or even silly concept, but you can do it seriously or seriously within certain bounds. There's a version of this story that would be ten times better if it was just... It's an absurd premise, so do it realistically. I was so frustrated. That's what I expected, I have to say, before I'd watched the second of it.

1:10:18I hadn't seen any track. I think, Matthew and Faddy, it's a fun, interesting idea, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, the classic films in the 50s and 60s, and they were all, you know, giant cats, you know, the cat attacking the poor, you know, six-inch high person. All of that is like intrinsically should be fun or interesting or whatever. But because you've got the concept, and then you've decided that the tone of this thing should be extreme and over-the-top as well, it just doesn't work fundamentally. No, you don't need it. You don't give a shit about anything that happens with it. Maybe we're in our absurd over-the-top era.

1:10:53Maybe that's what's happening. Maybe, but I'm with you. I think pick one. like take a mundane situation make it absurd that's funny take a ridiculous situation treat it seriously that's also funny but taking something absurd and making it more absurd is just it's exhausting that's the word it's exhausting and it's insufferable two exhausting shows in a week and go on it's exhausting and because of the length it's a marathon yeah but yeah I keep I keep coming back to that that is like I really want to know what did they think it's a short story it's not even adapted to a novel the clue is in there there's the clue when you adapt something from a short story there's a very simple idea you can explain in one sentence and you'd end up making ten episodes of TV about it something has gone horribly wrong so it's just it's just a massive misfire for me and I have no interest in watching one more second of it no neither do I I barely got through this first episode because I thought the characters are both of them detestable I hate spending time with them they're deeply deeply irritating all of the other characters are basically caricatures they're massively heightened completely unbelievable and also very irritating.

1:11:57I tell you who still is the show. Sorry. Also, sorry, last thing. I know it's probably a silly thing to say, but because in that first moment, you know she shrunk, so you're just working towards this point. So, do you know what I mean? So it's like irritating. Thank you for my... I knew there was something else I wanted to say. Two more things I wanted to say. One is, on that point, this is the ultimate example of a show that does not need to start with the theme starting in the middle and then flashing back. We know what's going to happen in the title. In the title. So just build up to it chronologically.

1:12:23it would have been much better more interesting how we get to that point also the cold open where we start with her small and then it goes back to however many weeks earlier the I'm doing it the compositing is shocking oh my god no I know James you are right I was meant to say that as well sorry the effects are just oh they look terrible the whole thing rests on the visual effects and they're terrible and they're awful they're just awful is it just me no no no even I and I never I also to the point where I also possibly thought it was unfinished who knows is there a note saying but no I don't think there are I think this is no I think that's just the show anyway the final thing is Sean Clifford she's good as her agent yeah she's funny she has some she has some funny moments and I would like rather have seen an entire series about her and her job as a book agent not enough to warrant 10 episodes no no no but she came out of it you know fine but even O.T.

1:13:10Fagbenly who plays her sort of like boyfriend again just so heightened and so annoying yeah I really kind of hated every minute of this which is so shocking to me because it's Matthew Maffadian right I should love this. And yet. I'm sure it was fun to make. Well, I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it was fun to make. You know, they're both really talented. That's the poster quote, isn't it? I'm sure it was fun to make. Boyd Hilton. Not fun to watch. Fun to make, not fun to watch. A miniature wife then, which is on Sky and Now. Now, I believe. Now. We couldn't review it last week because it was in Barco.

1:13:47Now we know why. Now we know why. Yeah, it is on Sky now and now, now, now. Great. Finally this week, we have the return of Big Mood on Channel 4, which is Camellia Whitehill's show. And you will recall at the end of season one, or you may not if you didn't watch it, but if you did, you will know that Maggie and Eddie's friendship imploded with a complete no-contact break. This is, of course, Nicola Coughlin, who played Maggie, who has bipolar disorder, and Lydia West, who plays Eddie, and they've been friends forever. Except now, they are not. And having not seen each other for an extended period, the two find themselves under bridesmaids, if you will, at the wedding from hell.

1:14:26Nicola Coughlin described the vibe for Series 2 as indie sleaze. So we turn now to Pilot TV's sleaze expert, Boyd Hilton.

1:14:38Kate laughing too much at that. It's really where you laugh, sorry. James has been on quite a good form recently. By the way, a lot of people were talking about the poem. Oh, the poem. The poem was excellent. Yeah, this morning someone showed me a very name and was just like, oh my God, the poem. I was like, yeah. I give them credit for that. Oh, yeah. To even be asked to do it. That's a weird discovery. I don't know what Nicola Coughlin means like that, really. Indie sleaze. Indie sleaze, yeah. I mean, indie I get, but it's all that. It's a vibe, boy. Just don't do it. The first series of this was critically acclaimed.

1:15:09I think it was Channel 4's biggest comedy since Derry Girls, essentially. Didn't it win like a Best Comedy Award the year that it came out? I think so, yeah. Didn't you host the thing for this? Am I right? No? No. Oh. oh okay a rare instance where Kay didn't steal that one from you yeah yeah yeah sorry just taking just carry on can I get you something to eat do you need a burger are you hungry yeah I am anyway yeah no I think you're right it was critically acclaimed and I think I remember the first series really being impressed by how it does mix comedy and drama and emotion and I think it's one of the most successful attempts at doing that so you know a lot of comedies these days that we sound like an old twat are neither out and out silly sitcom style which of course is James' favourite or kind of like more what's your favourite show the Apple show the Harrison Ford Apple show Shrinking Shrinking which is like character based you know kind of believable real characters saying funny stuff right with heart with heart yeah definitely and dealing with a lot of stuff serious stuff so there's people with you know Parkinson's there's people going through bereavement etc those things and this this does that very well as well and i think actually it mixes both so i think there are some moments where for example the character of ryan luke featherstone who still was the show he gets all the funny lines right he's he's their um best gay mate he is intrinsically funny and um has great timing and he's given lots of pop culture references there's a reference to heat by the way there is episode one which is like I'll say the line actually what is the line?

1:16:47the line so they're basically being lectured by the wedding organiser Flopsy oh she's the wedding name Flopsy she's like she is the sort of maid of honour from hell yeah she's hilarious she's very funny and she's explaining that the bride did a pre-marital juice cleanse on the night to which to which Nicola Coughlin's character says I will never forgive Heat magazine for what it did to us and I thought that was quite and I think it's I don't think it's I think it's fine I think it's a funny reference to Heat magazine but but there's loads of pop culture references like that throughout the whole thing but handled in a very skillful way I think because people I think people do trade in converse in that way with you know maybe not as to the witty level this has it's a slightly heightened dialogue but I think overall the balance between the comedy the one liners the believable stuff and the and the bottom line emotional undercurrent of the whole thing which is a really interesting question about can two best friends deal with the fact that one of them has absolute diagnosed mental health issues which inevitably puts strain on said friendship and does the other person in that friendship do they have a right if you like not so much morally but as a friend to kind of abandon them if it gets too much for them so you know i mean i think that seems that that that um dilemma if you like that fundamental kind of um uh decision by by the by the key characters is fascinating to watch unfold and i think it's a genuinely kind of because they haven't seen each other as this season starts they haven't seen each other for ages they've kind of they're kind of estranged from each other and it's how they deal with that the forms of the emotional undercurrent of the whole thing and it's quite funny as well it's paid for laughs at the same time and i think i think it's all down to the writing and and the and your two leads both of which are really good.

1:18:40I think the dialogue is excellent and believable and funny when it needs to be funny. I think both Nicola Coughlin and Lydia West, who, by the way, first started in Russell T Davies' Years and Years. That was her first big role. She's brilliant. They're both fantastic. Completely authentic, believable, real, naturalistic performances. And they're dealing with some really good, interesting, so I think it's a really good show. I thought the first episode, I only watched the first one. I think it opens with a double bill, doesn't it? Yeah. And it's really funny. I think, agree with everything you say.

1:19:10I think also from the point of view of the observations about a middle class wedding in their 30s and how that all pans out but also the fact that Nicola's character has been reduced to being a junior bridesmaid and her feeling of hurt about that because she considers herself to be in her stable girl era she's managing her meds and she's feeling good and also she's on tenterhooks because she's waiting to see if Eddie will turn up and she does and so it's that awkwardness and pain of their estrangement and how they're going to get past that if they can at all but I think what Camilla Whitehill does so well is this sort of excavating and exploring of you know a female friendship and the difficult conversations that go unsaid and the resentments that can build irrespective of the mental health issues that can go unsaid and that can build over time and when there's a codependency and when one you know is in a different place to the other and decides to break free invert commas and seek independence slash put in some boundaries and how hard that is and I think she does it really really well and also I've heard from people who watch it who have experienced you know like either bipolar or mental health issues that also she you know she does that in a very authentic, real way.

1:20:30But with edgy humour. I really enjoyed it. I think it's great. It's really well written. Like, really, really well written. And I think that comes across in each scene. Like, it is... It took me a while to get back into the tone of it because sometimes it verges onto the heightened side, which isn't always for me. But actually with this, because the writing's so good, you kind of go with it. The character of Flopsy was a lot, but also genuinely funny. Also the best name ever. and there's a whole thing about a Surrey wedding and it's just yeah this is what I'm saying isn't it the observations of like you know these sort of Surrey middle class weddings that happen in the 30s and the expectations and yeah I find this fascinating though because Camilla Whitehill who wrote this created this is Nicola Coughlin's best friend and she has written a sitcom about a toxic friendship with Nicola Coughlin I'm like should we be reading into this like what is this but yeah it's a really well written really well realised show it's very good indeed and Rupert Everett is in this season this second season is he?

1:21:31yes he is he's not in the first episode he's not in the first episode okay I mean that's a good thing Rupert Everett being in your series can only be a good thing indeed I forgot that they were best friends that's right yeah remember going to a screen I might have even hosted a screen for season one that's hilarious if you did I may have done but I might have just attended it but yeah I remember distinctly that the creator was very funny she's very funny as well as you can tell from this yeah yeah big mood series 2 then which lands on channel 4 when Boidy Thursday the 16th of April 10pm 2026 magnificent and what else is out this week well there is you will be delighted to know channel 5 it's got a new thriller and this one actually has got I would say a very interesting cast because Joanna Scanlon is in it as is and it's written by Sally Abbott who's a good writer and Paul Matthew Thompson's in it from Ridley and it's called Miss Girl and it starts today Monday and it runs all across the week at 9 o 'clock at the same time, unlike the killing thing, the murder.

1:22:35Yeah, it's at a consistent time each day and not just randomly on whenever they could fit it in. So that's on. What else? Well, Margot's got Money Troubles, which you guys will be reviewing on Pilot Plus, I believe. Correct. Yes. That starts on Apple TV on Wednesday, the 15th of April, 2026. Beef, season two, which is a completely new story. So Beef is an anthology show. It's an anthology, yeah. Which is a different beef that gets out of hand in each season. And this one is back on Netflix on Thursday. And this one stars Katie Spenny, Charles Melton, Oliver Isaac, not Oliver. Oliver Isaac, yes.

1:23:13And Carey Mulligan. That is a good cast. And I have seen some of this and it's fascinating. Is it stressful? It's quite stressful. Okay. I think you'll be fine with it. Bergerac I knew there was something that Kate hosted and it was definitely Bergerac it's on the 16th you and drama on Thursday the 16th exactly yeah 2025 and then of course the murder line which is on basically at some point on some day really anyone that started on Saturday and is it on at some point throughout the week yeah for sure yes I think that's probably about it what is our pick of this week big mood yeah it kind of is isn't it It has to be, surely.

1:23:54Yeah. Okay, right. That is it for this week's show. If you would like to get in contact with this show, the email address, of course, is postbag at pilottvpod.com. Yes, I am unduly proud of having sorted that out. You can follow us on the social medias at pilottvpod, at Boyd Hilton, at Kay Ribeiro, at Steph Seelan, at James C. Dyer. These are all of our various handles. And, of course, we are still soliciting five-star reviews on whatever podcast platform is your favourite. Only five stars, though. We will accept. Nothing less. On next week's show, I don't care what you're doing because I'm not here.

1:24:31That's the spirit, James. What a balance. Yeah. But there are some things going on next week, we should say. So on next week's show, we will very likely have Kush Jumbo and Peter Capaldi on talking about Criminal Record if you are indeed reviewing Criminal Record next week, which I assume you will be doing. There's quite a few other things. There's Mint on BBC. There's Kevin on Prime. Unchosen on Netflix as we've mentioned what else is there the new Stranger Things Tales from 85 spin off will almost certainly be embargoed animated yeah it is animated so sorry and Halfman comes next week to BBC One well it comes to iPlayer interesting interesting debate about what week we should do that well maybe we'll do it on the BBC One week maybe maybe we won't who knows I don't care I'm not going to be here so you're on your own unbelievable lazy not sure this is the right vibe James that's fine I'm checking out shoddy behaviour yeah he mentally checked out a long time ago I mean that's true but I'm actually bodily, physically checking out this time.

1:25:25Are you going camping with your mates? I am not going to go camping. I might watch some more episodes of The Boyd. The Boyd? Wow. I thought that was a joke. Wow. It's a Freudian slip there, isn't it? That's a real insight. That's what it is. I might be watching The Boys, but I'll be thinking of you. He's obsessed. He's just got some cameras set up in your place and he's just not going to be watching his screens. It's probably just harking back to the days when I used to watch The Boys with Boyd's email address across the middle of it. Now I get my own, so it's slightly different. Anyway, on that note, it is goodbye from me, it is goodbye from the K, and it is goodbye from the Boyd.

1:25:58They will see you next week. I will see you the week after. Pilots out.

From the publisher

Euphoria makes its long-awaited return to our screens this week, after a four year hiatus. But can it possibly meet Boyd’s lofty expectations when it lands on Sky/HBO Max (47:06)? And speaking of Sky, Matthew Macfadyen and Elizabeth Banks’ size-shifting comedy The Miniature Wife also lands on that platform (1:01:04), and hit comedy Big Mood returns for another run on Channel 4 (1:11:05). Plus, we bust out our (metaphorical) turntables to thrash out our favourite TV needle drops, there’s a lot of unnecessary watermark chat, and you’re all invited to Steph’s birthday party. Except James.

Note: time stamps are approximate as the ads throw them out, so are only meant as a guide. If you want to avoid this and would like the podcast entirely ad-free (as well as 17 hours early, with a second weekly show and spoiler specials) then sign up to Pilot+!

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