Podcast Summary: All Of It – "A Spring TV Preview"

Host: Matt Katz (filling in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Catherine Van Arendonk (Vulture TV Critic)
Date: February 28, 2024
Episode Focus: A comprehensive preview of the most anticipated Spring TV shows with guidance on what to prioritize from an expert TV critic, including listener recommendations and tips for all tastes.

Overview of the Episode

This episode of All Of It dives into the packed Spring TV schedule, helping listeners navigate an overwhelming array of new series and returning favorites. Host Matt Katz welcomes TV critic Catherine Van Arendonk to break down big, buzzy shows as well as under-the-radar gems, offer genre-spanning recommendations, and respond to live listener questions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "Shogun" (FX/Hulu) – A Grand Reimagining

• Premise & Context:
  • Based on James Clavell's novel and the legendary 1980 miniseries, "Shogun" follows an Englishman shipwrecked in 1600s feudal Japan.
  • “The majority of appeal and the sort of approach and promise of a new Shogun is to take that same story and to still include that ... English sailor ... but a lot of the rest of the story comes at it with a more Japanese-centric approach.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 02:06)
• What’s New:
  • Moves away from the original’s Western-centric lens; Japanese characters are more fleshed out and central.
  • Shifts from a "fish-out-of-water" story to a multi-POV, political-intrigue ensemble, akin to "Game of Thrones."
• Vibe & Content Warnings:
  • Lush, immersive production; costumes and performances praised.
  • “It is very violent ... there are going to be scenes you might want to cover your eyes a little bit.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 04:16)
• Memorable Moment:
  • “It is much more from their [Japanese characters'] point of view ... all of these different relationships between families that will remind people of something more like ‘Game of Thrones–’ or ‘Succession, maybe.’” (Matt Katz, 04:01)

2. "Three-Body Problem" (Netflix) – Prestige Sci-Fi with a Twist

• Premise:
  • Adaptation of the critically acclaimed Chinese sci-fi novel, revolving around a scientist’s first contact with extraterrestrials, and the complex consequences that reverberate through human history and a video game universe.
• Adaptation Challenges:
  • The novel is highly philosophical and abstract; TV adaptation aims to make it more character-driven while preserving big ideas.
  • “I have to say I was very dubious about how you would actually do this because the novel is very slow ... The Netflix adaptation has thought through a lot of those adaptation problems in ways that are pretty smart.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 05:11)
• Comparison to Other Adaptations:
  • Netflix’s take focuses on character embodiment of ideas; a Chinese adaptation (now on Peacock) is more faithful but 'soapier.'
• Violence Level:
  • “It is much less violent ... it is a different kind of adaptation challenge.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 05:11)

3. Listener Call-In and Rapid Reviews

– "Masters of the Air" (Apple TV+)

• Listener Praise:
  • “It's fantastic ... If you like ‘Band of Brothers,’ it's the next part of the World War II epic miniseries ... engaging, interesting, spectacular to watch. It's gory, it's emotional. It's everything. Love it!” (Betsy, 08:31)
• Catherine’s Take:
  • “Peak dad television ... Dudes in airplanes ... doing the best that they possibly can in very strenuous circumstances.” (09:05)

– "Manhunt" (Apple TV+)

• For Fans of Prestige & History:
  • “If you are looking for something that is a little bit less big global disaster ... but still in that kind of prestige space, Apple is really owning that whole vibe right now.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 09:55)
  • Historical drama about the search for John Wilkes Booth, starring Tobias Menzies.
• Tone:
  • Features “true crime rhythms ... but without that exploitative sense of a lot of the true crime documentaries.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 10:56)
• Authenticity:
  • Based on James Swanson’s well-researched book; “It’s close enough” to historically accurate. (Catherine Van Arendonk, 12:23)

– "Girls5Eva" (Netflix, formerly Peacock)

• Premise:
  • Comedy about an early-2000s girl group attempting a comeback as adults.
• Why Catherine Loves It:
  • “It is a show for people who like ‘30 Rock’... created by and written by Tina Fey ... snappy, super referential, very fast, very sly sense of humor, very silly gags.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 13:23)
• Family Viewing?:
  • “I think that you can. There are some jokes that you will have to explain ... it is my almost-10-year-old daughter's favorite thing.” (Catherine Van Arendonk, 14:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Game of Thrones vs. Succession Heads to Heads:
  “There are fewer beheadings in succession.”
  – Catherine Van Arendonk ([04:03])
• Violence Advisory for "Shogun":
  “There are going to be scenes where you might want to cover your eyes a little bit. But it is just a beautiful, beautiful production.”
  – Catherine Van Arendonk ([04:16])
• Describing "Masters of the Air":
  “Peak dad television … Dudes in airplanes … doing the best that they possibly can in very strenuous circumstances.”
  – Catherine Van Arendonk ([09:05])
• On "Girls5Eva":
  “I am ready for Girls5Eva to just take over.”
  – Catherine Van Arendonk ([14:23])
• Historical Accuracy in Dramatized TV:
  “It’s based on a well-researched book by James Swanson ... As to whether his American accent is fully accurate, I mean, you know, we’re all doing the best we can out here...”
  – Catherine Van Arendonk ([12:23])

Additional Spring Recommendations (Rapid-Fire)

([15:07-15:50])

• For Fans of "Our Flag Means Death":
  • The Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin (Apple TV+)
• Procedural Lovers:
  • Elsbeth (CBS) – “A kind of Columbo style procedural show, but it is full of all of the sort of specific quirkiness and flavor of those earlier [Good Wife/Good Fight] shows ... maybe network TV is finally going to come back.” – Catherine Van Arendonk ([15:50])

Episode Flow & Engaging Moments

• Friendly banter and pop culture references (comparing violence levels in "Game of Thrones" vs. "Succession").
• Direct listener engagement with call-ins and texts, keeping picks practical and personalized.
• Balanced critique: Catherine gives both content warnings and programming enthusiasm.
• Light-hearted moments (family viewing recommendations, banter over dad TV, love for silly comedies).

Time-Stamped Segment Guide

• [02:06] Shogun—Premise, difference from original, style, violence.
• [04:44] Three-Body Problem—Novel to screen adaptation, American vs. Chinese versions.
• [08:31] Masters of the Air—Listener review; Catherine's take.
• [09:55] Manhunt—Prestige, historical drama, accuracy.
• [13:05] Girls5Eva—Revival, humor, suitability for kids.
• [15:07] Rapid-fire picks: Dick Turpin, Elsbeth.

Conclusion

Catherine Van Arendonk delivers a lively, thoughtful, and genre-spanning guide to Spring's biggest (and sleeper) TV shows, helping both prestige aficionados and comfort seekers find something new to add to their queue. From lush Japanese epics and cerebral sci-fi to riotous musicals and punchy procedurals, her expertise highlights a season bursting with options. The episode is essential listening for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the ever-expanding TV universe.

“Katherine [Van Arendonk] is the Vulture TV critic and she often joins us here on All Of It to tell us what we should be watching.”
– Matt Katz ([15:50])