The Watch – Episode Summary

Podcast: The Watch (The Ringer)
Hosts: Chris Ryan & Andy Greenwald
Date: November 20, 2025
Episode Title: HBO’s Wave of Renewals. Plus, ‘The Beast in Me,’ ‘The Chair Company’ E6, and ‘I Love LA’ E3.

Overview

In this episode, Andy and Chris discuss major industry news—HBO’s flurry of show renewals amidst potential corporate sales and streaming mergers. The conversation then pivots to reviews and impressions of recent TV series, including Netflix’s The Beast in Me, All Her Fault, Down Cemetery Road, The Chair Company, and I Love LA. The duo reflect on the changing rhythms and health of the TV industry post-strike, the current glut of “pretty good” shows, the machinery of renewals and streaming strategies, and the joys and quirks of character-driven comedies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Industry Upheaval: Warner Brothers Discovery & HBO's Future

• Corporate Bids & Streaming Takeovers

  • Chris and Andy break down rumors of outside bids for Warner Brothers Discovery from Paramount (possibly with Middle Eastern investment that was later denied), Comcast/Universal, and Netflix.
  • They discuss how these bids are for various pieces of the company (linear TV vs. streaming vs. studio assets) and speculate on the odd scenarios possible if the company is broken into parts (e.g., HBO content separated from the Warner Bros. library it draws on).
  • "So much of HBO's agenda and schedule is defined by proprietary IP coming from Warner Brothers. What would happen? Would future seasons of the IT show be on Netflix?" — Andy [09:46]

• HBO’s Programming Changes & IP Focus

  • Kasey Bloys (HBO’s chief) made key renewal announcements, which the hosts interpret as a signal of ongoing stability despite corporate chaos.
  • The shift to mostly IP-based series (e.g., from the Warner Bros. stable) is partly because studios now keep their movies, eroding HBO's old model of movie premieres.
  • "He said that the old version, the previous iterations of HBO could rely on a robust post theatrical slate... Now, it's almost all original program..." — Andy [11:05]

2. Renewal Announcements & HBO Programming Cadence

• Major Renewals Confirmed

  • Task is coming back with Brad Inglesby and Mark Ruffalo, rewarding its breakout success.
  • Chair Company and I Love LA, two comedies, both renewed for season 2.
  • Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gets a season 2 before season 1 airs.
  • House of the Dragon is renewed for a fourth season (possibly final), and White Lotus is officially set in France.
  • "Today's... batch of announcements from Kasey Bloys suggests there will be an HBO going forward." — Chris [10:30]
  • Discussion on why shows like Task and True Detective sometimes struggle with follow-up seasons and the anthology format.

• Programming Rhythm & Audience Trust

  • Andy praises the strategic value of early renewals: "It's about building in some continuity, giving them creatively a chance to figure out what's going on, but also to just be back on the air..." [21:52]
  • There's nostalgia and hope for the pre-pandemic, pre-strike rhythm: "This feels like a real return to pre-strike, almost pre-Covid behaviors... there is stability. We're building from a place of strength." — Chris [21:56]

3. State of TV: The "Pretty Good But Not Great" Era

• Volume Without Standouts

  • Both hosts note an abundance of quality shows—Death by Lightning, Down Cemetery Road, The Beast in Me, All Her Fault, The Chair Company, etc.—but few new “headliners.”
  • Andy notes: “I feel like I like a lot of stuff and don't love anything... a little bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount that kind of got dropped out at once here.” [24:20]
  • Yet, Chris feels there’s a healthy “cadence” and admires that Netflix is producing varied and worthwhile genre TV: “This is what I want Netflix to be doing.” [26:28]

• Format, Pacing, & Structure

  • Both confess to falling asleep or drifting during shows—sign of both age and viewing glut. There’s praise for shorter series (e.g., 4-episode Death by Lightning) over unwieldy 8–10 episode “limited” dramas.
  • "When we're budgeting our time as viewers... eight episodes... for a story that's moving only in one direction, towards an ending—eight is a lot." — Andy [48:18]

4. Show Deep Dives & Critiques

a. All Her Fault [30:04]

• Based on Andrea Mara’s novel, starring Sarah Snook, Jake Lacy, Dakota Fanning.
• Described as a “female-led crime show” with true crime vibes.
• Chris’s wife “compulsively watched it”—“She thought it was a bit silly in places, but it was like, I must get to the end.” [31:33]

b. The Beast in Me [33:41 - 48:18]

• Netflix drama starring Claire Danes (Aggie Wiggs, a New Yorker journalist rocked by tragedy) and Matthew Rhys (her enigmatic, possibly dangerous neighbor Niles Jarvis).
• Satirical elements, slight camp tone; touches on highbrow NYC media, true crime tropes, and dark suburban secrets.
• “It is pitched at a degree that is perilously close to camp... it's tough. There's so many cooks in the kitchen here.” — Andy [39:03]
• Uneven but stylish, the hosts question if the show is knowingly commenting on our appetite for streaming thrillers.
• “Tonally, Danes is doing Claire Danes... and Matthew Rhys is doing something very different… they're not always in lockstep.” — Chris [42:45]
• Both are curious but cautious about investing in all 8 episodes.

c. Down Cemetery Road [50:42]

• Oxford-based drama (drawn from Mick Herron’s books), strong on atmosphere and main characters.
• Some viewers have noted a drop in quality/clarity after episode 2 as the plot gets busier and more convoluted, but Andy and Chris still find it enjoyable for the solid leads and character work.
• “The two leads are so good. And I just. So far, I don't find it cloying that the show becomes charmed by ancillary characters.” — Andy [52:25]

d. The Chair Company E6 [54:36]

• Chris and Andy are full of love for this “weird, weird comedy” that’s reminiscent in part of Twin Peaks for its blend of mundane absurdity and sudden horror.
• Praised for: wildly inventive tone, specific comedic voice, standout supporting turns (e.g., Lou Diamond Phillips).
• “I have no fucking idea what's going to happen on this show and I honestly, honestly don't care. I'm delighted by it.” — Andy [56:41]

e. I Love LA E3 [56:44]

• A satire of Gen Z/young millennial influencer culture starring Odessa Zion, Rachel Sennott, and Josh Hutcherson.
• The hosts grapple with connecting to its humor and meta-ness, though Chris especially praises Odessa’s performance: “The Odessa Zion character can go in a lot of different directions, and she's phenomenal, and she's a dynamo, force of nature.” [63:06]
• Andy finds it too "meta" and lacking a clear emotional anchor, yet both see potential as it finds its footing.
• “Think of this more like Entourage and How to Make it in America than girls.” — Andy [60:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On HBO’s Renewals Amid Chaos:
  "Not only that, all of these moves really feel like a... reasonable and respectable attempt to put some order around an industry and perhaps even a company that is in chaos. This feels like responsible stewardship." — Andy [19:55]

• On TV Glut:
  "This is a funny time where I feel like I like a lot of stuff and don't love anything." — Chris [24:20]

• On Streaming Algorithms & TV Formula:
  "There is an algorithmic formula, obviously. And so anytime anything deviates a little bit from it... that's good... for the industry." — Andy [26:52]

• On Modern Streaming Structures:
  "When we're budgeting our time as viewers... the shape of this for seven more hours feels unwieldy... more promising than if it was four to six." — Andy [46:58]

• Comedy Praise:
  "I love this show so much... Because the thing about Twin Peaks is that it's fucking hilarious, and it always was. And David Lynch's stuff is all funny until suddenly... it's horrifying. And this show exists on the same frequency." — Andy [55:13]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:24] Warner Brothers Discovery bids, streaming industry shake-ups
• [10:13] HBO's new IP-heavy strategy; programming challenges
• [13:24] Confirmation of Task renewal and discussion on True Detective
• [18:21] More renewals: I Love LA, Chair Company, Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, House of the Dragon, White Lotus
• [24:18] “State of TV” discussion—industry is flooded with “pretty good” but not great shows
• [30:04] All Her Fault impressions
• [33:41] The Beast in Me detailed discussion
• [50:51] Down Cemetery Road analysis
• [54:36] The Chair Company E6 review
• [56:44] I Love LA E3 review

Conclusion

Chris and Andy bring characteristic wit and critical acumen as they traverse a complicated, changing TV landscape—one where streaming titans, beloved HBO originals, and offbeat comedies not only coexist but shape-shift amid corporate chaos. Their reviews balance honest critique with affection, drawing on decades of fandom and professional critique. At the heart is a shared yearning for rhythm, creativity, and surprise in TV—whether it’s the next big drama or a weird, beautiful comedy about chair salesmen.

Selected and accurate to conversation. For a full breakdown, listen to individual show discussions using the timestamps above.